Soldiers Assault: Starting from the 7th Steel Company

Chapter 185 First Visit to Zhurihe Training Base

"Hello, Director Tang!" Chen Jiang quickly realized that he had come to ask for a favor, so he had to be polite.

Tang Xinyi's lips curled into a beautiful smile, and she immediately understood the other party's purpose. "Isn't this the unyielding Deputy Battalion Commander Chen?"

"You two know each other?" The section chief thought the two were old friends, so he immediately invited Tang Xinyi to sit down and talk. However, Tang Xinyi had been rebuffed by Chen Jiang last time and was still angry.

"Know him?" Tang Xinyi glanced at Chen Jiang with a half-smile. "Know him more than just know him. Deputy Battalion Commander Chen is a tough nut to crack, even daring to reject questions from our investigation team."

The atmosphere in the office suddenly became subtle.

The head of the equipment department coughed lightly and subtly winked at the accompanying officer. The officer, quick-witted as ever, immediately smoothed things over: "Director Tang, Deputy Battalion Commander Chen has brought a reform plan this time, as you see..."

"The plan?" Tang Xinyi stretched out her slender fingers. "Let me take a look."

Chen Jiang immediately smiled and handed over a stack of materials. He had no choice but to bow his head when he was under someone else's roof.

Tang Xinyi took the document and flipped through it casually, then suddenly exclaimed "Huh?" The document not only specified the problems with the unit's existing equipment and training methods, but also detailed the key points for mechanized units to move towards digital units, and proposed the support that the equipment department needed to provide.

"Where did you learn all this?" Tang Xinyi's beautiful eyes widened slightly.

“I borrowed a few books from the National University of Defense Technology and studied them on my own.” Chen Jiang pointed calmly to the last page of the plan. “But the key is to rely on existing weapon and equipment platforms and improve the informatization level of existing weapons and equipment by using digital technology or embedding digital equipment, thereby enhancing the overall combat capability of mechanized forces. This requires less investment and yields quick results. What we lack is equipment and supporting technology.”

Chen Jiang certainly knew that information technology development was the main theme of the future of the military, but digitalized forces were the foundation for the construction and development of informationized forces and the initial stage of informationized force construction. Its construction practice would provide experience and ideas for the construction of informationized forces.

"What do you need?" Tang Xinyi was finally convinced by Chen Jiang's proposal, which was indeed her research direction, and the two coincided perfectly.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye, and the Seventh Company made rapid progress in physical fitness and military skills. Not only did they rank among the top in all subjects, but they also achieved new historical highs in the five-kilometer cross-country run and the 400-meter obstacle course, which they were not good at.

Gao Cheng was very pleased to see this and said that the current Seventh Company had been trained by Chen Jiang to the level of the original Steel Seventh Company. It was impossible for him to say that the Seventh Company had surpassed the Steel Seventh Company. To say that they were on par would already be very impressive.

At the same time, Tang Xinyi equipped the Seventh Company with the latest individual combat system. With this equipment, Chen Jiang was able to conduct real-time command of each soldier.

Efficiency has been greatly improved.

Another piece of good news is that the army group will conduct an "Operation Sharp Sword" exercise at the end of the year, and Chen Jiang's unit will most likely participate.

It's just unclear whether it's the Red or Blue team, because in previous exercises, the Red team has always been the attacking side and has a greater advantage.

In most exercises, the Red team basically crushes the Blue team, and in the end, everyone is happy—or rather, the Blue team is usually not very happy.

Chen Jiang also served as the Blue Team member; had he not taken an unconventional approach, he would most likely have failed miserably.

Not only the Seventh Company, but the entire Third Battalion hoped to make a name for themselves in this exercise, so they trained exceptionally hard. Tang Xinyi came to the battalion many times to guide the use of the new equipment. Chen Jiang knew that if the Third Battalion wanted to maximize its combat effectiveness, it had to work hard on the new equipment and tactics.

The exercise notification finally came down, and this time Chen Jiang's army group was to collectively head to the Zhurihe training base.

When the news spread, everyone was excited.

The Zhurihe Training Base is the largest and most modernized tactical training base in the entire army. It is located in Inner Mongolia and covers an area of ​​more than 1,000 square kilometers.

This vast border region is ideal for the large-scale assembly and advance of armored forces. Coupled with the relatively ideal weather, it is definitely a great place for large-scale military exercises!

The army group was quite far from the exercise location, so this exercise also tested the unit's ability to maneuver over long distances.

Chen Jiang and his battalion's infantry fighting vehicles were all loaded onto the open freight cars of the military train, while Chen Jiang and his men rode in the passenger cars of the train.

Because they are soldiers, they must maintain military bearing and discipline at all times, even while sitting in the train carriage.

Instructor He Hongtao led everyone in singing military songs. Although some were off-key, everyone was very enthusiastic, and their high morale was a very good sign.

Chen Jiang stood at the junction of the carriages, looking out at the rapidly receding scenery through the narrow window.

The military train sped across the vast North China Plain, the wheels clattering rhythmically against the rails.
"Chen Jiang, want a cigarette?" Gao Cheng walked over to Chen Jiang and habitually offered him a Huazi cigarette.

Chen Jiang smiled and said, "Company Commander, you know me, I basically don't touch cigarettes or alcohol."

"Fine, fine, I'm annoyed by your behavior. You have an amazing alcohol tolerance, but you never drink on your own initiative, unlike me. I drink so many times, but my alcohol tolerance just doesn't seem to improve."

Gao Cheng put the cigarette in his mouth, lit it with a lighter, and took a satisfying puff.

"Company commander, can we smoke here?"

"It's alright, you can pull it out from the train's connecting joints, it's common sense." Gao Cheng was very happy. Chen Jiang finally had something he didn't understand, so that he, the former company commander, wouldn't seem too useless.

The greenhorn he had once picked out has long since shed his naivety and immaturity, and his eyes and every gesture exude composure.

"Company Commander, have you ever been to Zhurihe?" Chen Jiang had often heard about this place from the news in his previous life, but he had never been there himself.

"I haven't been there. It's a newly established base, but I estimate it's quite large." Gao Cheng wasn't exaggerating. He now somewhat regarded Chen Jiang as his brother-in-law, so he was very casual with him.

"Did you know that Chu Ning also came to Zhurihe this time?"

"Huh? She didn't mention it to me?" Chen Jiang was quite surprised. He and Chu Ning had been very busy lately, and they could only chat briefly on the phone. Occasionally, they would chat by text message, which was too time-consuming and didn't meet their needs.

"You know, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you need to spend more time and energy on my sister. I can see you care about her, and she cares about you too, but relationships require time and effort. I see you're a first-rate commander, but when it comes to winning over girls, you're even worse than me!" Gao Cheng said, somewhat displeased. Wasn't he just a blockhead? "Company Commander, it's just that I don't have much experience. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been single all this time." Chen Jiang was telling the truth. In his previous life, he was too busy with work to date, so he really didn't understand girls' feelings.

"Don't blame me for not reminding you, a girl as outstanding and beautiful as Chu Ning has a lot of suitors. You two are just boyfriend and girlfriend now, which isn't safe. I suggest you get engaged or something as soon as possible, that would be much more reliable!"

Chen Jiang was speechless for a moment after hearing this. Was such a short time appropriate?

But he had to admit that Gao Cheng did have some merit. "Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll talk to her about it after this exercise is over."

Seeing that his good "brother-in-law" was doing alright, Gao Cheng grinned and said, "He's a quick learner!"

"By the way, do your best this time and try to get rid of the major and be promoted to battalion commander." Gao Cheng knew that Chen Jiang's promotion speed was amazing, but if he wanted to marry Chu Ning, it would be best to have a high enough rank, so that he would have more face.

"Okay, okay, I'll do my best. I also want to fight well. New equipment and new tactics, I don't know if they'll work. I'm not confident." Chen Jiang mainly felt that this time the actual combat was put into practice too hastily, and he was afraid that something might go wrong during the actual combat.

Gao Cheng glanced at Chen Jiang, "When have you ever backed down? Show some guts! This exercise is unprecedented in scale, you must show your might! Reclaim the title of Steel Seventh Company! Do you hear me!"

Chen Jiang instantly felt immense pressure, but could only awkwardly reply, "Company Commander, when is your nephew due?"

He quickly changed the subject.

"Hehe," Gao Cheng's face lit up immediately when Chen Jiang mentioned this, "Next month, it'll definitely be a big, healthy boy!"

"Damn, Company Commander, you're still sexist?" Chen Jiang realized.

"No, no, I like both boys and girls, but I think it would be best if it were a boy, so he could join the army in the future, wouldn't that be great?"

Although Gao Cheng was stubborn, his words clearly revealed that he preferred boys.

"Deputy Regiment Commander Gao, Chen Jiang, are you two hiding here having a good time?" Suddenly, He Hongtao arrived.

"Old He, your singing has improved a lot. I'm listening to it with great enthusiasm." Because He Hongtao had worked with Gao Cheng in the recruit training camp when Gao Cheng was the company commander of the Seventh Steel Company, the two were quite familiar with each other. Although they were now superior and subordinate, it didn't stop them from teasing each other sometimes.

"Come on, many of these soldiers are participating in such a large-scale exercise for the first time. They're a little nervous. They'll just yell a few words and it'll be over. Hey, Deputy Regiment Commander Gao, have a cigarette?" He Hongtao unconsciously held up two fingers.

"Hey Lao He, you've handed over all your salary to your wife? How come you can't even afford cigarettes?" Gao Cheng handed him half a pack of cigarettes. He was never stingy with his old comrade-in-arms.

"Hey, Hua Zi? Good cigarettes! You're a deputy regimental-level leader, your treatment is really good." He Hongtao didn't stand on ceremony with him, treating him like a VIP.

After saying that, he lit one himself, lit it skillfully, and glanced at Chen Jiang, saying, "Yeah, since you're not smoking, I won't share with you."

Chen Jiang smiled but didn't say anything.

He Hongtao is a very family-oriented man. Ever since his wife gave birth to a son, he has handed over all his salary, keeping only a small amount of money for himself each month. Even buying cigarettes has become a problem.

If it weren't for his desire to try and achieve the rank of deputy regimental commander so that he could be better positioned in civilian life, he probably would have already transferred back to civilian life.

"Chen Jiang, I don't think I ever saw you nervous when you were a new recruit." He Hongtao took a couple of puffs of his cigarette and started talking.

"No way, I was nervous too, but I was lucky to have a class monitor who was willing to mentor me."

"Well, Shi Jin is now a fourth-term sergeant. I wonder if we'll run into him this time. He switched to the test vehicle route, and I think he made the right choice!" He Hongtao wasn't very familiar with Shi Jin, since he wasn't a soldier he had led.

"What a waste! If he had studied a little higher and graduated from high school, I would have definitely brought him to my side!" Gao Cheng had deep feelings for Shi Jin, and he really couldn't bear to see Shi Jin leave the 702nd Regiment.

But he also knew that even if he stayed, his education level was too low, and he couldn't get promoted. For ordinary non-commissioned officers like them, the promotion from third to fourth grade was an insurmountable barrier.

As the three chatted, they recounted the stories of everyone from the Seventh Company. They discovered that most of them were doing quite well, especially Gao Cheng, who laughed heartily when he heard that Chen Jiang planned to bring Xu Sanduo over after he graduated from military academy.

"He can definitely become a platoon leader under you," Gao Cheng said confidently.

"Tch, you didn't want him back then, did you?" Seeing that no one else was around, He Hongtao decided to expose his shortcomings.

Gao Cheng was a little embarrassed. "Let's not talk about what happened back then. It's all in the past. Anyway, Xu Sanduo is now a true king of soldiers. It's good that he's back. He'll definitely achieve great things!"

Chen Jiang wholeheartedly agreed; it would be wonderful if these old comrades from the Seventh Steel Company could be together again.

As the three chatted, before they knew it, the train had entered the vast Inner Mongolian grasslands.

It unfolded in the twilight, like a giant emerald carpet stretching to the horizon. The evening breeze swept across the grass, creating undulating waves of green that shimmered with a golden-red glow in the sunlight. On the distant horizon, several white yurts were scattered like pearls, wisps of smoke rising straight into the darkening sky.

Several hours later, as evening approached, the train finally pulled into the military station near the base. From a distance, one could see fourteen large red characters written on a towering iron frame: "From here, march to the battlefield; train and learn to fight!"

It's so exciting to watch!

After the train came to a complete stop, all passengers disembarked in an orderly queue and then lined up.

The climate in Zhurihe is much colder and the sandstorms are much stronger than in the original military camp, but the soldiers of the Third Battalion still lined up and counted off with full enthusiasm and high morale.

Chen Jiang said a few words of encouragement to everyone, and looking at the infantry fighting vehicles being unloaded from the truck not far behind them, he was full of confidence.

The army's morale is good!

In addition, all the infantry fighting vehicles have undergone digital modifications, so this exercise will surely demonstrate our military might!
(End of this chapter)