Chapter 21: You, Step Aside, You're Eliminated!

Jiang Anguo's gaze fixed on the front; he saw these people's yearning for victory.

"If you want to admit defeat, if you don't want meat, just stand on the side and watch others win and eat meat." Of course Jiang Anguo said that on purpose.

"We want meat."

"Meat."

"No surrender."

Jiang Anguo was pleased, "Good, this is the spirit I want. I see the opposite side, I've prepared fifty jin of meat. Only one team will win, and now you can find your Captain."

"You have half an hour; after half an hour the competition officially begins. Mi Long, if your group wins, you'll be rewarded with one hundred jin of pork."

A murmur spread as everyone gathered; after all, this is pork, just like yesterday's pork, but everyone got only a tiny portion, just a taste of meat.

Now this is fifty jin of pork!

"Xiao Si, set up a few pots," Jiang Anguo shouted.

"Also, let me tell you, the team that loses won't starve; the potatoes are plenty, boiled in brine, they'll definitely fill you up."

"Now, tell me, do you want meat or potatoes?" Jiang Anguo roared, cutting through the crowd and flinging the Horn high.

"Meat."

"Meat."

"Meat."

The atmosphere had already been set, so Jiang Anguo needed no further words.

Short on personnel, they had to fetch over ten Wounded Soldiers to help; after all, this is food for more than a thousand mouths, and a single meal consumes a lot.

Jiang Anguo was the leader this time, and it was his first time being forced into leadership.

He knew logistics were important, but didn't expect them to be so troublesome; just the food alone exceeded his budget.

For a thousand people, each meal weighs a ton of food; the soldiers are only filled, with nothing else to eat, no meat, so the staple will be more abundant.

Two thousand jin; one point equals fifty jin of food, meaning a meal requires 40 points, and at least two meals a day require 80 points.

If points couldn't be added daily, Jiang Anguo couldn't sustain this unit; combat power, war, even meals would all be problems.

Jiang Anguo calculated based on filling stomachs; otherwise, less than four jin per person per day would kill them.

Most units struggle with meals; as long as they get enough to stay warm and full, it's fine. Jiang Anguo thought that since everyone risked their lives, they must be fed adequately.

Another thing: to subdue over a thousand people, he himself must pay the price.

For now, his points are sufficient; even if another two thousand join, it's fine, and he would become the Regiment Commander.

"Meng Fanle, keep an eye on things; before I announce the meal, no one may steal food. If anyone does, we'll see whether your mouth is faster or my gun." Jiang Anguo said to Meng Fanle.

Meng Fanle straightened up, "Yes, Camp Commander."

Jiang Anguo was pleased that Meng Fanle called him Camp Commander; these are his troops.

If more people act like that, his own team will grow.

Half an hour passed quickly; the potatoes in the big pot were boiling—one side salted boiled potatoes, the other side Red-braised Pork stewed with potatoes.

The pork had just hit the pot, and the aroma made many soldiers unable to resist—it was extremely fragrant.

"Attention, place both hands at the sides of your trousers. From now on, no one may move. Those whose names are called, step aside and sit to rest. Remember, you are a team; only the ultimately victorious team, with the fewest eliminated, may eat this Red-braised Pork." Jiang Anguo stood on his Command Platform—essentially a raised stone—and gave the orders.

With a swish, everyone stood at attention; though many's Military Posture was imperfect, it was clear everyone was trying.

"You step out; you can't even stand steady. You're the one being eliminated." Jiang Anguo, on the high platform, saw someone move and immediately rushed down.

Similarly, Xiao Si was also helping, so Jiang Anguo and Xiao Si were quite busy.

Clearly the effect was still lacking, but that's fine; this is only the first day of real training, and he has at least a month left for training.

Jiang Anguo stood before Mi Long; the hulking figure standing in Military Posture looked odd, his gaze as if to kill. "Mi Long, I like your unruly spirit. Rumor has it the whole camp says you're hard to get along with, but I see you have team spirit. Good, I hope you can fulfill the duties of a Captain."

As he walked to Mi Long's side, the soldiers nearby heard Jiang Anguo's words.

Jiang Anguo actually liked Mi Long; he has character, a fierce warrior, but his sharpness also needs to be tempered.

"Remember, the Captain chosen just now isn't permanent. From now on, through each training, I'll select the final Captain, and those Captains will become our future Platoon Leaders and Company Commanders. So train well; everyone has a chance." Jiang Weiguo's carrot was let out.

Just now the numbers were tallied: Mi Long's side had 149 people, while each of the other nine squads had 80 members plus their Captain, i. e., 81.

On the wounded side, Li Qing and Lei Ao were summarizing injuries on one hand and counting heads on the other; the number of casualties was frightening—364 in total.

Besides the two hundred‑plus who could move and were sitting or lying here, the other 97 had various illnesses or gunshot wounds, infected wounds, awaiting death.

Many were afflicted by malaria or even feverish colds.

Those on the brink of death were First-Class Medics; Li Qing and Lei Ao began treatment, with a veterinarian as their assistant.

For some with malaria or colds, the Bracelet on their wrist not only marked a color but Lei Ao also recorded the disease; the veterinarian could directly administer antibiotics and then observe later.

However, some severely wounded were already in critical condition; even a good surgery might not save them, and if they survived, they might be disabled. There's no other way—this is war, brutally cruel.

Jiang Anguo was eliminating personnel while mentally calculating his own unit; it could have nine hundred to a thousand combat troops, roughly a regiment's strength. A Reinforced Camp wouldn't count; in Jiang Anguo's view, a Reinforced Camp needs at least fifteen hundred people.