Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

As the start time of the exercise drew near, the communications team at Base A had completed all the preparations for boarding and was waiting for the arrival of Yuan Lang, the commander-in-chief of the Blue Team, without being affected in the slightest.

Meanwhile, inside the command tent of the 77th Motorized Infantry Regiment of the Red Army, a constant buzzing noise filled the air as several officers condemned the Blue Army's shamelessness.

The staff officers whispered among themselves, as they had never seen anything like it before.

I had only heard that this professional blue team's playing style was very unethical, but now that I've experienced it firsthand, I suddenly feel that those rumors were an understatement.

This isn't just immoral; it's a severe lack of virtue in all five elements.

I've never seen anything like this done before.

When the order came from the director's office, Yuan Lang was preparing to board the plane. After hearing the order, he smiled and muttered to himself with a look of satisfaction, "It seems that there will be more and more tactics used in the exercises from now on, and they will become more and more interesting."

But I'll be busy again soon.

In stark contrast to the cheerful and relaxed Yuan Lang, who was full of anticipation, the 77th Motorized Infantry Regiment was anything but happy when they received the orders from the command center.

Communications staff officer Cui Xiaoke replied while following the instructions from the command center, "Yes, yes, understood, I will report immediately."

However, his voice grew softer and softer.

He then took off his headphones, his expression somewhat complicated, and approached the troupe leader, Liang Xi, to report, "Reporting to the troupe leader, the directing department has given orders..."

The Blue Team's actions were not in violation of regulations and were considered reasonable preliminary actions in a defensive operation.

The director ordered the exercise to proceed as planned, starting promptly at six o'clock.

As soon as those words were spoken, the tent fell into complete silence.

The faces of the officers and staff of the 77th Regiment were filled with helplessness, and the atmosphere was stifling.

"I understand," Liang Xi replied, then slammed his fist heavily on the edge of the sand table.

"These Blues players are so unethical, they're bullying us, this is absolutely bullying us! They're not playing by the rules at all."

Liang Xi was furious. They had conducted more than twenty drills over the past ten years, and every single one of them had been carried out according to procedures, plans, and standard processes.

Every single time, they wait until the signal flare is launched before starting the attack.

Even though it was said before the exercise that there was no pre-planned plan or script, he didn't take it seriously.

He still remembers the scene when he received the order.

After hanging up the phone, he and the regiment's political commissar, Lao Zhou, discussed it for a few minutes, feeling that this was a sign that the higher-ups were giving them, the frontline commanders, greater autonomy.

Who would have thought it would turn out like this?

Chief of Staff Mi Yangfei took out a cigarette, lit it, and said angrily, "This is just bullying honest people. We're here waiting obediently for the signal flare to start the exercise."

But they've already entered the war zone and started causing destruction.

The water source was simulated as being poisoned, and wired communications were cut off. Our water tanker truck had just set off, and it would be evening by the time it arrived.

The communications company commander, Ruan Huasheng, just reported that no damage has been found to the surface of the covered line so far, and the investigation is continuing.

These bastards probably didn't even use the dead folding method; they just used a hidden pinch or a two-way twist to destroy the outer layer, leaving no trace on the outer sheath.

That line was laid yesterday by 35 cable soldiers who carried the cable cart for more than four hours. Even if we exclude the lines that are currently in normal communication, the remaining lines are still more than four kilometers long.

Even if we use all the methods—including oscilloscope, segmentation, manual touch, and call-to-call—to find and fix all the breakpoints on a single wired circuit, it would still take an optimistic estimate of more than three hours.

Given the Blues' disastrous performance, they would have been able to reach our positions, let alone attack us.

Excuses are easy to find; the best defense is offense.

What's the point of this exercise? They've already put a knife to our throats, and it's not even time to start yet. They might as well just wait until 6 o'clock and then unleash their firepower on us.

This isn't a drill; they're treating us like the enemy.

Chief of Staff Mi became increasingly angry as he spoke. In all those exercises, the Red Team had always played steadily, showcasing their recent training results, planting the flag, winning, having a meal, and then going home. But this time, it turned out like this.

Political Commissar Zhou Junlin also looked grim, but after the Chief of Staff finished speaking, he spoke up as well. His speech was slow but steady: "Old Mi, don't complain. A soldier's duty is to obey orders."

Now that the strategist has given his conclusion, there's no point in complaining here. We should hurry up and think about how we should fight next. Are we really going to surrender like you suggested?

Chief of Staff Mi Yangfei's eyes widened immediately. "Old Zhou, you're the one talking nonsense. Surrender? How could that be? We're veteran Red Army soldiers."

The word "surrender" doesn't exist in our group's dictionary. I... I just can't stand it.

Regiment Commander Liang Xi forcefully stubbed out his cigarette. "You're right, the word 'surrender' doesn't exist in our regiment's dictionary."

Our predecessors faced far more difficult situations than this, yet they still managed to overcome them.

This time it's our fault for not taking precautions in advance. We keep saying that exercises are real combat, but we've never thought about it as real combat.

Although the Blue Team broke the rules, we must obey the command since the instructor has given the order.

Given their unscrupulous nature, our radio stations certainly won't survive; they'll be completely suppressed from the start. Wired communications must be preserved.

Liang Xi took a deep breath, his face serious. "Now pass on my order: the communications company, without checking specific breakpoints, immediately re-lay any broken lines and intensify patrols to ensure uninterrupted communication."

Notify all battalions and companies that all drinking water and domestic water must be immediately centralized and sealed off; no one is allowed to take any for personal use! The mess halls will only provide boiled water and necessary drinking water; strict thrift is required!

Contact the water tanker truck and hurry up to reach the camp before dark to supply water to each camp in sections!

Dispatch the water-finding team again to search for backup water sources, wells, and reservoirs, and to develop new water sources on-site!

"Yes," Communications Staff Officer Cui Xiaoke finished recording the order and quickly turned around to notify the battalions, companies, and local logistics.

Liang Xi scanned the sand table for a while, then said, "Old Zhou, Old Mi, since they're playing like this, we don't need to hide anything. Order the whole regiment to hurry up and eat, pack up, and make all the necessary preparations for battle."

At 5:50 a.m. sharp, each battalion and company took their respective combat positions. At 6:00 a.m. sharp, the artillery battalion opened fire on time, without a second's delay. Once the artillery fire extended, each infantry company immediately charged.

Since they're going to play for real, let's play along to the end.

Let them see that our 77th Regiment is an old unit with Red Army traditions, not a dough they can knead at will.

Political Commissar Zhou Junlin and Chief of Staff Mi Yangfei shouted in unison, "Yes, Regiment Commander, let's have a good fight with them!"

The atmosphere in the entire regiment changed drastically in an instant. The oppressive feeling that was originally extremely stifling now turned into a fierce atmosphere of impending bloodshed.