Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

As the convoy returned in the morning light, the tension and solemnity that had prevailed on the way to the training camp had given way to a more relaxed atmosphere.

Many veterans leaned against the partition of the carriage and closed their eyes to take a short rest, relieving themselves of the high-intensity pressure of nighttime infiltration, mountain infiltration, and close reconnaissance.

The march proceeded smoothly. At 9:30 a.m., the convoy entered the reconnaissance battalion's camp gate one by one. The guards at the gate stood at attention and saluted, their intense gazes sweeping over each returning vehicle.

The battalion headquarters had already issued a notice for a banquet to reward all officers and soldiers for successfully completing the winter training exercise.

The soldiers of the entire battalion disassembled various equipment in an orderly manner, and after the cooking team packed up the field mess cart, they threw themselves into another busy task.

After receiving the notification, the logistics department prepared all kinds of ingredients for the banquet well in advance.

After a brief rest, the cooking team, along with more than thirty temporary cooks transferred from various companies and battalions, threw themselves into a bustling and busy operation.

In just one hour, the aroma of cooking oil mixed with the rich smell of meat wafted out of the camp canteen, smelling many times better than the simple field meals during training.

At noon, the entire battalion assembled and lined up, taking their seats according to their assigned squads and platoons.

Gao Cheng stood at the front of the formation, his gaze sweeping over the entire battalion of officers and soldiers who still looked somewhat tired after their short rest, and began to give his comments in a deep voice.

"In 2004, we started the year with this short-term winter training exercise, which demonstrated the discipline and spirit that our reconnaissance battalion should have."

The ten-day training camp in the mountains, with its harsh cold, snow, and unfamiliar terrain, presented real-world challenges.

They conducted close reconnaissance day and night, with all personnel enduring the low temperatures and snow, achieving zero errors in concealment, location reconnaissance, and intelligence transmission.

The squads coordinated their firepower effectively, advancing and retreating with measured precision; their long-range and short-range firepower complemented each other decisively; every tactical maneuver was perfectly suited to real combat.

In the wilderness emergency survival assessment, which required building shelters within a limited time, ensuring food and lodging on-site, and maintaining self-sufficiency in harsh environments, no one backed down and no one held the team back.

Over the past ten days, all officers and soldiers of the battalion have carried out orders decisively, reacted quickly, endured hardship, shown great courage, and acted with discretion. This style is worthy of the name of the division's direct reconnaissance spearhead.

Of course, there are also flaws. Some teams are not very familiar with each other's coordination, young non-commissioned officers are conservative in their on-the-spot response, the speed of night reconnaissance and analysis is too slow, and there are also changes to the planned routes.

Under the leadership of Deputy Section Chief Zhang of the Training Section, the entire assessment team tracked, scored, and verified the entire process. During this ten-day winter field training exercise, all training subjects of the entire battalion met the standards and passed the test, with excellent results in the key and difficult reconnaissance subjects.

The division's directly subordinate reconnaissance battalion achieved excellent results in this winter training assessment.

As Gao Cheng finished speaking, a burst of applause erupted in the canteen. The ten days of climbing ice and snow were over, and everyone in the camp was happy with their excellent results.

Gao Cheng raised his hand and pressed down, "Alright, without further ado, the comrades in the cooking team have used their best skills to prepare a sumptuous lunch. Let's eat, eat to our hearts' content."

With the order to start the meal given, the banquet officially began.

The long tables were laden with dishes, including stewed mutton stew, braised pork belly, braised pork knuckle, braised chicken legs, and steamed pork with rice flour. These were accompanied by cold side dishes and home-style stir-fries, and there was plenty of steamed buns and rice for the main course.

A bucket of loose liquor and orange soda were placed on the corner of the table, catering to the tastes of both officers and soldiers.

At the officers' table, Gao Cheng, dressed in clean camouflage, chatted and ate with the officers at the same table, while also clinking glasses with the soldiers who came over to offer toasts.

Zhang Anbang sat to one side, his chopsticks moving up and down, pieces of meat going into his stomach one after another.

Gao Cheng shook his head at the sight. "Anbang, you really are here to freeload. The way you eat is like you haven't eaten for days."

Zhang Anbang swallowed the mutton in his mouth and nodded, "Of course! If you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your thinking. I've been with you guys in this desolate wilderness for ten days, so I have to eat as much as I can to make up for it."

There's an old saying: "Nourish yourself in winter, and you'll be strong as a tiger in spring; nourish yourself during the coldest days of winter, and you'll be free from illness next year." I feel like I've lost more than a pound in these ten days, so I'll take advantage of the mutton from your division's reconnaissance battalion to replenish myself.

"Haha," the officers at the same table laughed as they listened to the two bickering.

Soon, Zhang Anbang finished eating, put down his chopsticks, and began to offer toasts while holding a glass of orange juice.

That's right, most people at this dinner drank plain white liquor, while Zhang Anbang drank orange juice.

He's an officer, and he has to go back to the division headquarters building this afternoon. If he drinks, something bad will happen, a big one at that. Today is a happy time for the division's reconnaissance battalion to have a meal together, but the headquarters building is still open for business as usual on a weekday.

Zhang Anbang, carrying a glass of orange juice, clinked glasses with familiar soldiers along the way, and soon arrived at the table where Shi Jin was sitting.

The people sitting around this table are all acquaintances, including Shi Jin, Gan Xiaoning, Ma Xiaoshuai, Xiao Wenwu, Gangzhu, and several other old soldiers from the Seventh Company.

When Zhang Anbang brought over the orange juice, the group was clinking glasses with loose liquor. Upon seeing Zhang Anbang, they immediately stood up and shouted in unison, "Deputy Company Commander."

"Sit down, why are you standing up? Keep drinking," Zhang Anbang said, pulling over a chair and sitting down next to Shi Jin. "What are you chatting about? It's so lively."

Ma Xiaoshuai spoke first, "Deputy Company Commander, these old guys are talking about the Seventh Company. I, the last in the Seventh Company, am listening to their glorious history."

Gan Xiaoning grabbed Ma Xiaoshuai's shoulder and said, "You brat, who are you calling an old man? Tell me, who at this table can't beat you?"

We old guys aren't going to put up with your penny-pinching ways. How about we go out and play some games later?

Ma Xiaoshuai forcefully pried Gan Xiaoning's arm off and ran to Zhang Anbang's side in a flash. He tugged at Zhang Anbang's sleeve and said, "Deputy Company Commander, they bullied me. You have to stand up for me!"

Everyone couldn't help but gasp in surprise at Ma Xiaoshuai's appearance.

Xiao Wenwu went even further, saying, "Ma Xiaoshuai, you're an officer, why are you acting like this? If Squad Leader Wu were here, he'd give you a good beating."

Zhang Anbang quickly flicked his sleeves, "Ma Xiaoshuai, get off me right now. Only my wife can pull on these sleeves, don't you dare get involved."

Ma Xiaoshuai immediately shifted his attention to Shi Jin, who was standing next to Zhang Anbang. "Old squad leader, you can't just stand by and watch the show. I'm the youngest in the Steel Seventh Company, and they're bullying me to death. You're not doing anything about it, you're just laughing there."

Upon hearing this, Shi Jin, who had been watching the commotion with a smile, immediately waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Don't look at me, I can't control them. I never could, and now that I'm a technical sergeant, I can't control them at all."

Ma Xiaoshuai felt even more aggrieved. "You guys, you guys, I give up. I'll punish myself with three drinks, okay?"

"Hahaha."

Everyone laughed. This dinner party, held in conjunction with the division's reconnaissance battalion, was the largest gathering of the Steel Seventh Company since its reorganization.