From the 7th Steel Company to the Synthetic Division

Brigade Commander Wang wanted to figure out Chen Jun's true strength, so he kept a close eye on Chen Jun's eyes, determined to take in every single reaction and not miss even the smallest detail.

Even if Chen Jun is lying, Brigade Commander Wang can still get the information he wants from it.

Despite being only in his early twenties, Chen Jun is actually a seasoned veteran in the military. Commander Wang is simply showing off his limited skills in front of him.

"We have no grudges against either of you, and in principle we remain neutral."

Chen Jun spoke with absolute certainty, and there was no apparent problem.

"If we were to fight the Mountain Eagle Brigade, you wouldn't launch a surprise attack from behind, would you?" Brigade Commander Wang deliberately said this to provoke us.

He would never agree if Chen Jun showed even the slightest bit of guilt.

"How could that be? It's definitely not possible," Chen Jun immediately denied.

The more sincere your attitude, the more sincere you will be.

"But I've heard that as a professional adversary unit, you don't just attack whoever you have a grudge against. You specialize in stirring up trouble, like launching sneak attacks and creating problems. That's your profession, or rather, your main job."

Brigade Commander Wang continued to pressure Chen Jun, attempting to push him to his psychological limits.

"Hey, you're right."

Chen Jun did not refute, but instead went along with it, saying, "Because we are professional, we are excellent, but we have to consider whether the target we choose should be attacked."

"So, should we fight?" Brigade Commander Wang asked with a half-smile.

"Of course we shouldn't have fought you. If we should have fought you, why would we have come to visit you?" Chen Jun threw the question back at them.

"Would you help us take down the Mountain Eagle Brigade first?"

Commander Wang's choice of topic was quite subtle, and Chen Jun couldn't help but secretly admire his skill. He calmly replied, "Then we need to see if this Mountain Eagle Brigade deserves to be attacked."

Chen Jun's answer was tantamount to no answer, yet it was also tantamount to an answer.

Commander Wang was truly speechless. He could only smile helplessly and say, "As expected of the most cunning Blue Army, I have witnessed it firsthand."

"You said we're cunning, but a cunning person would never do a losing deal," Chen Jun said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

"Row!"

After probing for a long time without finding out anything, Commander Wang was completely convinced by Chen Jun's abilities. He slammed his hands on the table and readily said, "Alright, I accept your neutrality."

"Alright then, Commander Wang, it's getting late, so we'll take our leave now." With the matter settled, Chen Jun didn't linger any longer.

"Alright, before you leave, let me give you one last gift."

After finishing speaking, Brigade Commander Wang got up and walked to the side, picked up a document from the table, and handed it to Chen Jun, saying, "This is the Mountain Eagle Brigade's combat plan that we just intercepted and deciphered, and it contains some of our ideas."

Take it home and keep it to read later; it might inspire your actions.

When Gao Cheng and Ma Tianxiang heard about the battle plan, and that it was from another unit, the Mountain Eagle Brigade, they were both taken aback, but also a little pleased.

This intercepted intelligence, especially the operational plan, was extremely important to the 7th Steel Brigade.

As for Brigade Commander Wang's purpose in doing this, Gao Cheng and Ma Tianxiang couldn't guess for the time being, but they were certain of one thing: it was definitely not out of pure goodwill.

"This is really good stuff, Commander Wang, thank you so much."

Chen Jun also knew that this was not a free gift, but since it was the other party's good intention, he naturally couldn't speculate about it to their face. He could only wait until he got back to think about it carefully.

……

Chen Jun's conversation with the Tsunami Assault Brigade has essentially come to an end.

Meanwhile, the conversation between the 7th Steel Brigade and the Mountain Eagle Brigade had just gotten to the main topic.

"I originally wanted to go to your Xiaojinhu Airport with the brigade commander to apologize, but I didn't expect you to come first. We weren't prepared at all, so please forgive us for the poor hospitality."

Political Commissar Tian Baoguo first stepped forward to warm up the atmosphere, then Wang Qingrui took the lead and went straight to the point: "May I ask, Brigade Commander Xiahou, what brings you here today?"

“I heard a few months ago that the Capital Army has a professional opposing force. We are in the same industry, and I’ve been looking forward to a chance to spar with you. I never expected to actually spar with you this morning.”

Xiahou Lan laughed, but it was a forced smile. After a couple of breaths, he continued, "Back then, we didn't know it was you guys. We thought it was really the Red Army coming to attack. You guys really played the trick of using one wolf to devour another."

"Of course! This is one of our Deputy Chief of Staff Hong's specialties. How could he possibly fail?" Wang Qingrui said with a hint of pride.

There's no need to be modest at this time.

"Oh, really? Then I'll have to get to know them."

Xiahou Lan looked at Hong Yi and stood up, and Hong Yi also got up and left his seat.

"You're extraordinary; your playing style is very unique."

Xiahou Lan grasped Hong Yi's hand and said, "Your attack completely bypassed our airfield radar surveillance. I estimate that you flew close to the treetops from twenty kilometers away, flying at extremely low altitude to exploit radar blind spots."

"Brigade Commander Xiahou, you're quite something too. You guessed it all right." Hong Yi wasn't flattering him; he was stating a fact.

“I originally flew fighter jets, but after joining the Mountain Eagle Brigade, I switched to flying helicopters. I think we will have a chance to compete.” Xiahou Lan took the lead in declaring war.

It has a sense of the saying that one rarely encounters a worthy opponent in life, and one would regret it for the rest of one's life if one did not give it a good fight.

"I hope to have the opportunity to learn from Brigade Commander Xiahou; that would be my honor." Hong Yi accepted the challenge with a smile, showing no fear whatsoever.

Brigade Commander Wang saw that Xiahou Lan had been trying for a long time but still hadn't revealed his purpose.

He preferred to be straightforward and direct in his actions, and once again steered the conversation back on track, saying, "Brigade Commander Xiahou visited late at night and specifically requested to see Chief of Staff Chen, but unfortunately he's not here. However, you can leave your comments, and I can pass them on to him when he returns."

Wang Qingrui's words carried a hint of dismissal, implying that if he didn't want to talk, he should leave quickly.

"The three-way confrontation exercise will be held tomorrow. These three-way confrontation exercises should be prioritized. I originally wanted to talk to your Chief of Staff Chen, because as far as I know, your command is in the hands of Chief of Staff Chen."

Xiahou Lan was equally blunt, praising Chen Jun in front of Wang Qingrui, aiming to seize the initiative and control the narrative.

Wang Qingrui smiled but did not interrupt, still looking at Xiahou Lan with a calm gaze.

The command of the Steel Seventh Brigade was indeed in Chen Jun's hands, and the Steel Seventh Brigade was born because of Chen Jun, which is something everyone knows.

Besides, Wang Qingrui himself was well aware that he was just a transitional brigade commander.

After the Steel Seventh Brigade passes the acceptance and assessment exercise, it will welcome its real brigade commander, at which time he will relinquish this responsibility.

I was just here to lend a hand, so there's no need for me to get angry about this. Seeing Wang Qingrui's composure, Xiahou Lan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he continued, "I'm here to discuss with your Chief of Staff Chen Jun whether we should fight first, or wait until I finish off the Tsunami Assault Brigade before we clash."

"Is there any difference?" Tian Baoguo asked.

It's not like two companies are teaming up to fight another; it's just a matter of which one-on-one fight comes first. So, it doesn't really make a big difference which company to fight first.

At least for the 7th Steel Brigade, there was not much difference.

"Of course they are different."

Xiahou Lan returned to his seat and said, "Because we were originally only going to fight the Tsunami Assault Brigade, but now that you've joined in, I'm going to have to fight both the army and navy. I can't possibly handle two forces at the same time, can I?"

That's why I made a special trip to visit your 7th Steel Brigade, hoping to hear your thoughts.

Xiahou Lan has basically made his intentions clear: he wants to know the attitude and choice of the Seventh Steel Brigade, and it would be best to decide the match in advance.

If the 7th Steel Brigade chooses to fight him first, Xiahou Lan will later go to the Tsunami Assault Brigade to confirm with Brigade Commander Wang.

If the Steel Seventh Brigade chooses not to fight the Mountain Eagle Brigade, Xiahou Lan will still go to the Tsunami Assault Brigade to confirm that the Tsunami Assault Team will fight the first battle.

This would prevent a situation where two companies attack one, causing one of them to collapse quickly.

"So, Commander Xiahou wants to hear our thoughts and see our choices?" Wang Qingrui said with a smile.

“Yes, if you think it’s better for the two of us to fight first, then I’ll have to adjust my plans and change the operation plan against the Tsunami Assault Brigade from offensive to defensive. I’ll concentrate my forces and firepower to finish you off first, and then I’ll free up my resources to deal with Brigade Commander Wang.”

Xiahou Lan was really confident in himself, speaking as if the Steel Seventh Brigade and the Tsunami Assault Brigade were nothing special, and that he could easily cut them down in a one-on-one fight.

"Oh, I understand a little better now."

Hong Yi was very displeased with these words and asked, "Then may I ask Brigade Commander Xiahou, if our two sides fight first, how do you plan to end things?"

"We will concentrate all the troops and equipment of my brigade, and then deploy our air force bomber squadrons to launch the fiercest offensive. We will first bomb one or two of your battalions. Then we will completely and utterly drive you out of Division Nine," Xiahou Lan said confidently.

"So, according to you, we don't even have a place to settle down at the Wufeng Mountain base?" Commander Wang said calmly.

"That's what I mean."

Xiahou Lan's tone grew increasingly forceful as he spoke. He stood up, placed his hands on the table, and looked down at the table, saying, "Do you know where this place is?"

“The Wufengshan Training Base of the Central Plains Theater Army, right, Brigade Commander Xiahou?” Hong Yi said, frowning.

"Correct."

Xiahou Lan got up from his seat and walked slowly on the open ground next to him, saying, "This place has been a strategic location for military strategists to compete for control of the Central Plains throughout history. There is an unwritten rule for units that conduct exercises here."

If you lose, pack your bags and get out of here immediately. No one will throw you a farewell party, there won't be any extra time for you, you won't even be allowed to stay for half a day longer.

"Oh my, tsk tsk tsk, listen to this, how cruel it is."

Wang Qingrui was genuinely furious. Xiahou Lan was completely disregarding them, and his words carried a hint of sarcasm.

"This is the fierce style of the people from the Central Plains. I'm giving you a heads-up."

Xiahou Lan sensed Wang Qingrui's dissatisfaction, and since he couldn't be too forceful on someone else's turf, he softened his tone and said, "I've led troops in two exercises here, one of which we won, and the other we lost."

The victor is king and the loser is a bandit. After the victory, the base leaders and local people immediately came to congratulate the winner, bringing lavish meals of fish and meat, jars of liquor, and even gifts such as cell phones and computers.

Theatrical troupes from the county and city also came to the company to perform operas. The clattering and clanging went on for at least three days.

The loss would have been quite embarrassing.

That time, due to an intelligence leak, the Red Army got our airdrop time and drop location. As soon as we landed, more than half of the paratroopers were surrounded and killed by the Red Army. Before we even had lunch, we received a notice to leave the field, and then the water and electricity were cut off.

Even the local people came over, not to offer condolences, but to settle scores.

Some say that if you trample on his seedlings, you have to pay for each one. If you drink water from his well, he dares to charge you three times the price for the water. The old and the young all curse you as good-for-nothing soldiers and tell you to get out of here.

Such incidents are countless; it's truly shameful.

Xiahou Lan became emotional as she spoke, as if that scene from the past was being replayed.

After pausing for several breaths to calm himself down, he continued, "So, you need to be mentally prepared to participate in the exercise here."

Here, we can afford to win, but we can't afford to lose!

When Xiahou Lan said the last six words, he emphasized them.

Upon hearing Xiahou Lan's explanation, everyone present, from the brigade commander and political commissar to cadres like Hong Yi, became serious.

It is clear.

The local people here treat the team differently because they were specifically trained at the Wufengshan training base to do this, with the aim of humiliating the defeated team.

This extremely humiliating method was used to inspire the defeated troops to strive for improvement.

Simply put, it's a form of reverse psychology.

Each base has its own style and characteristics, which is the unique feature of the Wufengshan base.

However, even knowing that this was a tactic employed by the base, Wang Qingrui and the others still couldn't accept the devastating result of their defeat.

Their expressions turned serious.

If you lose, you'll be chased away like a dog; anyone with a shred of shame would find that unacceptable.

"Commander Xiahou, victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. There are objective reasons for failure. Failure is not a disgrace, but a necessary step on the road to success."

Tian Baoguo felt this was going too far and couldn't accept it, so he refuted it.

"The locals don't see it that way."

Xiahou Lan smiled and said, "Of course, there are also those who didn't leave. There's a suicide platform on Wufeng Mountain. It's said that many heroes and warriors committed suicide here after their defeats. I think you might as well give it a try."

Xiahou Lan's words were a bit too much and were clearly a provocation.

"Hehe, Commander Xiahou, don't try to scare us. I understand what you mean now."

Wang Qingrui snorted twice and said coldly, "You mean if we want to leave sooner, we should fight you first, and then we can get out of here as soon as we're done fighting?"

"If we don't want to leave and want to stay here and see what happens, then let you defeat the Red Army first? And then defeat us, so we can all get out of here too?" (End of Chapter)