From the 7th Steel Company to the Synthetic Division

"It seems there's a big gap."

Xu Xiaocun shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth, his eyes filled with a sense of desolation and helplessness.

"Hmm? Who do you think has a bigger gap?" Chu Zhangan asked hurriedly after swallowing his rice.

"We and the Seventh Steel Brigade."

Xu Xiaocun put the lunchbox on the table, unconsciously picking at the rice with his chopsticks, and said, "Their combat concepts are very new, and their tactics are very advanced. We've really been keeping up with them all day."

"hehe."

Chu Zhangang smiled and said, "Old Xu, you're still leaving yourself some room to maneuver. I think it's not that we're overwhelmed, but rather that we can't handle it, don't you think?"

Xu Xiaocun gave a bitter smile, but didn't reply. He simply picked up his water glass and drank some water.

"Old Xu, you're not acting like the political commissar of the 909th Brigade anymore," Chu Zhangang said meaningfully.

“Why don’t I look like the political commissar of the 909th Brigade?” Xu Xiaocun said, quite indignantly.

"This battle hasn't even officially started yet, it's only just begun, are you already prepared to admit defeat?" Chu Zhangang squinted, deliberately using a provocation tactic.

"It's not admitting defeat, phew~"

Village Chief Xu Xiao sighed and said, "I think it makes sense for the theater command to create such a professional combined arms brigade to participate in the theater command's combat training. It's really refreshing, at least for me."

"Then tell me, how exactly will it be refreshing?" Chu Zhan asked, taking his time.

“We’ve participated in exercises before, serving as both the Blue Team and the Red Team, but…”

Xu Xiaocun paused for a moment, then emphasized, "Our opponents have never changed. They are all troops we know very well, along with familiar leaders and familiar equipment."

Even the tactics, strategies, and training methods are all products of a training syllabus. Once a war breaks out, both sides actually know what the other is going to do.

The marching and camping routes were all pretty much the same, and the tactical commands were basically the same. Whether you won or lost depended only partly on your ability and at least half on luck.

To be honest, this kind of confrontation is really just going through the motions, it's just formalism. As for its effect, it has some, but not much.

But this time it's different, completely different, it's absolutely revolutionary.

Look at us, a fully equipped motorized infantry brigade that has been training and working together for many years and has been converted from a division to a brigade for more than half a year, versus a newly formed Steel Seventh Brigade that, to put it bluntly, is only half the strength of a brigade at most.

Based on our previous exercises, the 7th Steel Brigade would not be a match for us in a single round; we could destroy it in a single encounter.

But now, we are struggling to keep up and are forced to follow in their footsteps.

What does this mean? It means that their organization, tactics, and style of play are too unfamiliar to us. Being unfamiliar with them, we are always on the defensive, always a step behind, which leads to our helplessness.

This doesn't feel like fighting against domestic troops; it feels more like encountering an unfamiliar foreign army.

Under the command and leadership of Chen Jun, the 7th Steel Brigade has been carrying out sweeping information-based transformations of its tactics, methods, models, and organization since the combined arms company era.

It has taken several years to get to where it is today, and it has indeed completely changed from the core, breaking away from the traditional army.

Having entered the era of digital contract warfare ahead of schedule, and with equipment and facilities basically in line with international standards, the 7th Steel Brigade is indeed an unfamiliar "foreign army" to the domestic army forces that have not yet completed their transformation.

Xu Xiaocun is making a very rational analysis based on his own personal experience.

They're involved in politics.

Their personality and emotions are relatively more rational.

However, as the leader of a unit, a brigade commander who would rather die than back down needs to have even greater courage and fighting spirit, and his personality is relatively more competitive.

Xu Xiaocun kept talking about the strength of the 7th Steel Brigade, which was tantamount to saying that the 909th Brigade was weak.

This made Chu Zhangang very uncomfortable, and he couldn't help but retort: ​​"I absolutely do not deny that the Seventh Steel Brigade is currently in the lead."

However, to say that this combat mode is the most advanced mode is, I think, a bit too early.

Is this how modern warfare is fought, using such underhanded tactics? It looks more like a street brawl, completely disregarding rules, resorting to eye-gouging and groin-grabbing tactics.

Chu Zhangang was indeed somewhat unconvinced; his current thoughts were actually similar to Wang Kezheng's.

He believes that since it is a regulated exercise, both sides should fight according to the rules of the exercise, rather than using unconventional tricks.

To put it figuratively...

Chu Zhangang's idea was like a regular boxing match, where everyone would have to wear gloves and fight according to the rules, and only then would he be truly convinced of his defeat.

The Steel Seventh Brigade's unregulated street boxing style completely disregards martial ethics and only seeks victory.

Chu Zhangang felt very uncomfortable and resentful.

If Chu Zhangang were to use street boxing techniques, he would certainly be willing. However, having risen from a private to a brigade commander in the army over the past twenty years, his mindset has become completely rigid.

Once you're trapped in traditional combat tactics, there's no way to break free.

Because Chu Zhangang didn't know the fighting style of the Seventh Steel Brigade, he could only stick to the traditional fighting style and deceive himself by looking down on this kind of street brawl.

"Hahaha."

Xu Xiaocun was amused by Chu Zhangang's words, and he could hear the childishness in them.

He had to explain, "None of us have experienced modern warfare firsthand; we've only seen it on television news and analyzed certain localized wars that have already occurred."

This is at best a case of watching the fire from across the river; you can see the surface but not the whole picture. We never imagined that the fire would spread to our own heads.

"Because we weren't prepared at all, we were caught completely off guard."

Xu Xiaocun's analysis was very insightful, and Chu Zhangang couldn't help but exclaim, "Old Xu, your statement is quite interesting; in a sense, it makes some sense."

However, this is not in line with our national conditions, military situation, or our development needs. What do you think?

Seeing that Chu Zhangang was being stubborn and wouldn't listen to reason, Xu Xiaocun stopped pressing the issue and said with a smile, "Alright, Old Chu, I won't argue with you anymore. You get some rest, and I'll arrange for the command post to follow."

"Hey, that's right."

Xu Xiaocun finished speaking and was about to leave when Chu Zhangang stopped him and asked seriously, "Hong Yi played the disappearance trick on me. It's been almost a day now, and we only had a few words exchanged. Was it really necessary?"

Chu Zhangang believed that Hong Yi was still having conflicts with him, so he deliberately disobeyed his orders and ignored him as the brigade commander, which made him increasingly unhappy.

"Probably not. He must have a reason for doing this. I'll give him another call."

Xu Xiaocun had no choice but to act as a peacemaker to prevent the conflict between them from escalating. After saying this, he picked up his phone and dialed Hong Yi's number again.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is out of service..."

Hearing the voice message on the phone, Xu Xiaocun was a little annoyed. He threw the phone on the table and said helplessly, "How can they cut off the service at such a critical time? Really."

"System shutdown??"

Chu Zhangang exclaimed in surprise and said angrily, "They shut down my phone during the day, and now that it's nighttime, they've completely shut it down."

What does Hong Yi mean? I don't understand Chen Jun of the Red Army. My own subordinates are playing new tactics with me? Playing tricks on me? Chu Zhangang had high expectations for the reconnaissance battalion, and Hong Yi's lack of cooperation was really making him very uncomfortable.

"How could this happen? It shouldn't be like this."

Xu Xiaocun muttered to himself, unable to understand, wanting to make an excuse but not knowing how to say it.

"The radio station has been silent, and the cell phones are also unreachable, which means we're completely out of contact. Isn't this deliberately trying to make people anxious? Old Xu, you should quickly call the other members of the reconnaissance team and get in touch with them as soon as possible."

Chu Zhangang was forced into a corner and had no choice but to put pressure on Xu Xiaocun.

"Okay, I'll think of a way."

Xu Xiaocun also felt that this matter was very problematic, and could only act according to Chu Zhangang's ideas, trying to make other phone calls to see if they could get in touch.

pity.

This tactic is destined to fail.

Because Hong Yi had already given an order in the afternoon, instructing the deputy battalion commander to inform everyone below that they were not allowed to use any communication devices.

Meanwhile, Hong Yi, who had completely lost contact with the brigade headquarters, was currently leading a group to conduct reconnaissance at the front lines.

Taking advantage of the poor visibility in the woods at night, they once again sneaked up to the vicinity of the 535 defense line to conduct close reconnaissance of the Red Army's positions.

"Captain, no situation has been found at the 535 forward position."

The soldier to Hong Yi's left, observing through night vision goggles, reported in a low voice.

The fact that the reconnaissance battalion of the 909th Brigade is equipped with night vision goggles suggests that the higher-ups have high expectations for this unit, and there is even a trend towards developing it into a special operations force.

Special operations and reconnaissance are separated by only a fine line; proper equipment and training are all that's needed to complete the transition.

Between special operations forces and special forces.

A difference of just one word makes a big difference.

Once Hong Yi determined that the area at the front was relatively safe, he immediately raised his hand above his head and waved.

A platoon of soldiers ran over in a low posture, and the platoon leader went straight to Hong Yi's side and lay down.

"Company Commander, lead your company down the slope ahead for 100 meters. You'll be able to receive a directional signal source. Then, follow the direction of the signal source straight in. That's gully number 30. You'll lie in ambush on both sides of the gully," Hong Yi ordered.

The reason why only one platoon came was that the leader was called the company commander by Hong Yi.

The reason is that the reconnaissance battalion of the 909th Brigade is a regimental-level organization, and a company is equivalent to a battalion. Hong Yi brought the company by plane, so although there were only a little over a hundred people, there were three company commanders.

After the divisions were reorganized into brigades, the artillery regiments were all converted into battalions, and the reconnaissance battalions will definitely be converted into reconnaissance battalions in the future. At that time, all levels of personnel will be reappointed and dismissed.

Some adjustments have already been made; for example, the company commander was not originally part of the reconnaissance brigade's system.

"Yes."

Upon receiving the order, the company commander raised his right hand and gestured, and the entire squad followed him as they leaped forward.

After the soldiers of this "company" set off, Hong Yi set off in another direction, and this time a group of fifty or sixty people came running over.

These are the remaining two companies of the First Company of the Reconnaissance Battalion, the last batch of troops brought by Hong Yi.

The other two squadrons of the reconnaissance battalion will arrive tomorrow morning and then also come to this place to lie in ambush.

After dozens of men arrived and lay down nearby, Hong Yi ordered the two men in front: "You two companies, advance to the woods 200 meters ahead of 535 and lie in ambush. I will have someone contact you in three days."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

The two company commanders responded and carefully retreated, leading their troops to begin their operation.

Hong Yi's strategy of using the cover of darkness to divide his troops into two groups and infiltrate the 535 defense line was indeed a brilliant move.

It can be said that he was highly skilled and daring.

If the Red Army hadn't found them, these two buried troops would have been like two time bombs, ready to deliver a devastating blow to the Red Army at any moment.

As for whether they can infiltrate the main force of the Blue Army, it remains to be seen whether Hong Yi's troops have the capability.

We have no way of knowing right now; we can only wait for the results.

……

Hong Yi's deployment has begun to show results, successfully planting two mines near the Red Army's gate. From a tactical and operational standpoint, there is nothing wrong with it.

However, it was indeed unwise of Hong Yi not to communicate his tactics and strategies to the brigade headquarters in advance.

The political commissar was extremely worried.

The brigade commander was furious.

"The deputy battalion commander, the chief of staff, and several company commanders—their cell phones are either disconnected or switched off. I can't contact any of them. I guess they must have launched a coordinated operation," Xu Xiaocun guessed.

"What a well-intentioned unified action."

Chu Zhangang said sarcastically, "The troops below have started their operations, and the higher-ups don't even know? Our brigade commander and political commissar don't even know what they're doing? Do you find that funny?"

"Uh……"

Xu Xiaocun genuinely wanted to speak up for Hong Yi. He could see that Hong Yi was a rare talent and didn't want him to have a conflict with the brigade commander. If the conflict between the two sides worsened, one of them would eventually have to leave.

Regardless of who leaves, it will be a huge loss for the 909th Brigade.

So even though Xu Xiaocun was speechless, he had to rack his brains to explain: "I think they are worried about exposing their target. After all, they are conducting reconnaissance in front of the enemy, so they have to be careful."

"Pfft, hahaha."

Chu Zhangang was genuinely amused and exasperated: "His ability to conceal himself is truly remarkable. He's so well-hidden that even we, as the brigade leaders, have no information about him whatsoever."

Old Xu, if anything goes wrong, the responsibility for the loss of control and oversight will fall on both of us.

For Chu Zhangang, being reorganized from a division to a brigade was a demotion, from the rank of commander-in-chief to deputy division commander. He didn't want to stay there for long; the position of deputy chief of staff of the group army was what he wanted to be.

Although the deputy chief of staff of the group army is also at the deputy division level, that is a group army headquarters unit.

Unlike in the brigade, where you'd remain a brigade commander until you died.

With a little experience at the army group headquarters, and given Chu Zhangang's expertise in interpersonal relationships, becoming a full-fledged chief of staff would only take a few years.

and so.

At this critical juncture, Chu Zhangang will not tolerate any unexpected events.

Xu Xiaocun had worked with Chu Zhangang for many years and could more or less guess Chu Zhangang's thoughts. Knowing that Chu Zhangang was in a difficult situation, he could only say gently, "Hong Yi has always been serious and meticulous in his work, pursuing perfection to the extreme. It's understandable that he cut off all contact to avoid exposing the troops." (End of this chapter)