Chapter 85: Lu Yang, How Could We Live Without You!

"What's the situation?"

"We hid so well, how did we get discovered?"

"It was a rookie who found us; that's unreasonable!"

Three camouflage‑concealed recon soldiers watched the vehicle's distant silhouette, and the two‑meter‑tall monk was baffled.

They are all soldiers under Gao Feng, also reconnaissance troops of the Armored Seventh Company, currently conducting camouflage‑concealment training in the field.

Out of the blue a rookie snagged them out, and did so without any effort, which left the three of them baffled.

"You bunch of trash!"

The Squad Leader, like a Earth‑traveler, burst out of the ground from afar, ran up, pointed at the three, and started berating them.

"It must be that you gave yourself away; otherwise how could they see?"

"You're fined—no lunch today. Find a spot to lie down again; if you can't even camouflage right, what the hell are you eating!"

The three recon soldiers already had their faces painted green with camouflage ink, making them even greener, and they never expected to be caught by a rookie this time.

But at the same time, this sparked intense curiosity about the fresh‑looking rookie beside Gao Feng.

"Who is this kid, his gaze is so sharp—could he be a second‑time enlistee?"

"I think it's a coincidence, definitely a coincidence!"

"Right, it's a coincidence, we're veterans!"

"What are you talking about?"

"You want to send a rookie to the regiment's sniper training squad?"

"Gao Feng, are you kidding me, trying to make this regiment commander happy?"

In the regiment commander's office, Wang Zhongxi, having just finished lunch, returned to the office and lit a cigarette.

Gao Feng knocked and barged in, reporting that he wanted to slot a rookie from the New Recruit Company into the regiment's sniper training squad for joint training.

Wang Zhongxi was startled, coughing twice, his face full of question marks as he stared at him, thinking he had come all this way just to play a joke on him.

But Gao Feng's expression was solemn: "Regiment commander, I'm serious; this rookie fully qualifies for the sniper training squad because he… has an extraordinary talent!"

Wang Zhongxi flicked ash from his hand, laughing: "Extraordinary talent? Then tell me, what kind of extraordinary talent is that?"

Gao Feng: "Actually, you know this rookie."

"I know him?"

"His name is Lu Yang."

Wang Zhongxi dropped the half‑joking demeanor, set his cigarette in the ashtray, crossed his arms, elbows on the desk, stared seriously at him: "You, continue."

Gao Feng puffed out his chest: "Actually, I discovered this by chance; during Lu Yang's medical exam, a slight color‑weakness was found, almost getting him kicked out of the unit, you know that."

"Right, at that time I had the Deputy Political Commissioner put in a good word, asking for a favor."

"Then you should know that during the Second World War many outstanding snipers were color‑weak or color‑blind. This group has higher sensitivity to certain colors than ordinary people; they can more easily discern subtle color differences in complex environments."

"Moreover, this group's night‑vision ability is also stronger than that of ordinary people, making them better suited for low‑light missions!"

Wang Zhongxi said with interest: "Looks like you've done a lot of research. By your account, Lu Yang could have this potential? But you should know, not every color‑weak person can become an excellent sniper."

Gao Feng shook his head: "Regiment commander, what I said earlier wasn't a hypothesis, but a conclusion from my actual observations."

He recounted that night the Whole Company searched in vain, yet Lu Yang precisely located the wild boar's hideout three times.

Moreover, the points where Lu Yang fired all avoided the boar's vital spots, causing only injury, not death.

Even at close range, the rookie's steadiness with the gun was something ordinary people couldn't achieve.

Finally, Gao Feng described how he took Lu Yang to the outdoor training ground, where in the complex forest Lu Yang identified the recon soldiers conducting concealment training.

Although only three were found, Gao Feng believes that given enough time, he could root out each one!

After hearing Gao Feng's series of accounts, even the usually well‑informed regiment commander Wang Zhongxi felt a bit unsettled.

Wang Zhongxi reached for his teacup, intending to sip water to calm his excitement, but stopped halfway and instead slammed it onto the table.

"Your proposal, I agree to!"

"Send Lu Yang to the sniper training squad, and begin his training for the subsequent company ahead of schedule!"

"The New Recruit Company is already wrapping up; after this comes review of previous material, which for other recruits is the final push, but for Lu Yang it would be a waste of time!"

"I've made the decision: the training squad is in the regiment's Training Section, and the squad leader Xiao Guo is your man; just send the person over directly."

"Moreover, Lu Yang's heroic performance that night fully merits a regiment commendation."

"Yes, regiment commander!"

Gao Feng puffed out his chest; this time he also came to claim credit for Lu Yang.

After all, he appeared in battlefield first‑aid for the Whole Company, then subdued a wild boar, both featured in the military newspaper; a regiment commendation is more than deserved.

Wang Zhongxi left his seat, walked up to him: "It's been many years, we haven't seen a rookie as diligent, promising, and extraordinarily talented as Lu Yang. Train him well, cultivate him well; I'm sure his future is limitless."

Gao Feng nodded vigorously: "Regiment commander, actually I've always treated Lu Yang as my own man to cultivate; once he moves to the next company I think…"

"Alright, I still have a meeting; you go handle your business."

Before he could finish, Wang Zhongxi grabbed the documents on the desk and hurried out.

Gao Feng jogged after him, determined, asking: "Regiment commander, this soldier's next company, may I take him?"

Wang Zhongxi waved his hand impatiently: "We'll discuss later, later; first you train this soldier well. Everything, prioritize the big matters."

Gao Feng: "We can't postpone, you have to agree first!"

Wang Zhongxi, a bit irritated, stopped: "Are you being annoying? Your Armored Seventh Company is renowned in the regiment."

"Which year's troop allocation wasn't you guys picking the leftovers, while others got the choice, and you expect me to say something?"

"You, you're just too impatient, too hot‑tempered; you rush everything, no wonder you can't become deputy battalion commander."

"The Xiao Guo you lead, same character as you; capable, but not meticulous, acts rashly!"

Gao Feng didn't catch the underlying tone of the regiment commander's words, and thought it was praising the soldier he led, as excellent as himself, daring and bold.

"Right, there's another matter."

"Chief, you speak."

"That Xiao Guo probably can't become regular this year."

"Why?"

Gao Feng got anxious; he was striving to get Guo Yongwen appointed as the sniper training team leader, just to help him shed the acting slot.

The matter was already almost certain, why does it flip just like that?

Wang Zhongxi also had his reasons: "The Regiment really has no officer slots, and Xiao Guo's cultural level is a bit… so the Regiment decided to extend his assessment period."

"He's good steel and a good soldier, but still needs fine polishing; it's not yet the time for the sword to leave its sheath."

Even though the Regiment Commander spoke beautifully, the Regiment never denied that soldier's contribution.

But Gao Feng had already made a promise early; now to break it, he's a bit at a loss how to face it.

Yet as Company Commander, he can understand the Regiment Commander's difficulty; the Special Third Regiment is a heroic unit, and staying on is far harder than in regular units.

When moving from Phase Three to Phase Four, slots are very limited, and each time a large batch of people is ruthlessly cut off.

Being a Non-commissioned Officer acting as Platoon Leader is already unprecedented; trying to remove the "acting" is as hard as an auxiliary police officer becoming a regular officer.

Wang Zhongxi patted his shoulder, comforting, "Some things, just wanting them doesn't guarantee you'll get them. Life is unsatisfactory ten out of nine times; where is there ever smooth sailing?"

"Regarding this, find a chance to do proper psychological work on Xiao Guo; don't let him develop complaints or negative emotions."

"I'll also try, as much as possible in the meeting, to secure more slots from the Division, so more outstanding soldiers can stay and be promoted."

When leaving, Wang Zhongxi crossed his arms, shook his head, and sighed, "Still suffers from a cultural deficit!"

Gao Feng's expression also grew complicated; indeed, he too suffers from a lack of culture.

Poor learning, unable to absorb, also incurs a big loss in the troops.

Xiao Guo's military ability and professional quality make him fine as an Assistant Squad Leader.

But after 2003, the troops restructured, fully emphasizing cultural quality education.

They not only regularly organize cultural exams, but also speeches, debates, writing assignments; especially the English test, Guo Yongwen keeps failing each time.

Precisely because of that, even though his ability is outstanding and he already holds a Second-Class Merit, he can still only be an Acting Platoon Leader.

If he could be as clever, as quick‑witted, as photographic as Lu Yang, and understand a bit of human affairs, he'd probably have broken through this barrier long ago.

Originally, Gao Feng intended to happily send Lu Yang off, while also asking Guo Yongwen to help train him well, but now he truly feels guilty inside.

As Company Commander, he used every relationship he should have, but the result turned out contrary to his wishes.

"Fine, after the training wraps up, we'll find a chance to talk to him properly, okay?"

"Now, all focus should be on fully cultivating Lu Yang!"

"This kid will surely become the backbone of the Seventh Company's backbone, the spine of the spine!"

"Huh, Assistant Squad Leader, you're leaving?"

"Where are you going, will you come back for dinner tonight?"

"Assistant Squad Leader, don't go, how can we get by without you?"

After returning to the New Recruit Company, Gao Feng led Lu Yang to pack their belongings.

The Third Squad recruits who saw this were terrified, and even Zhou Kaidong was in a panic.

In this squad, anyone can be gone, but Lu Yang cannot be lost!

"Company Commander, where exactly are you sending Lu Yang? The New Recruit Company isn't finished yet."

"Company Commander, does the Instructor know about this?"

"Company Commander, why are you constantly squinting and scratching your nose? Are you uncomfortable?"