Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

"Squad leader, it's so dark! We can't see anything, how are we going to find our squad's tanks?" Gangzhu muttered.

"Shut up, you tinplate! All that memorization of parking spaces has been for nothing. Hurry up and follow me, get in the car!" Xiao Wenwu couldn't help but scold.

……

After all personnel from each shift had boarded the vehicle, the commander pressed the intercom button and shouted into the radio: "Command vehicle, vehicle 701, all positions are ready, engine warm-up complete, communication normal, requesting maneuver orders!"

……

"Command vehicle, vehicle 703, all positions are ready, engine warm-up complete, communication normal. Requesting maneuver orders!"

……

"Command vehicle, vehicle 709, all positions are ready, engine warm-up complete, communication normal. Requesting maneuver orders!"

……

"Command vehicle, vehicle 712, all positions are ready, engine warm-up complete, communication normal. Requesting maneuver orders!"

Gao Cheng raised his hand to check his watch. From the time the whistle was blown to the time when everyone had boarded the vehicle, it took three minutes and thirty seconds, which was more than thirty seconds slower than when there were no new recruits.

However, considering the new recruits who have only been in the unit for less than two months, this result is still quite good.

He picked up the microphone, pressed the call button, and announced, "Attention all personnel, target training ground number one, speed 20, lights off."

"701 received."

……

"709 received."

……

"712 received."

The voices of the train commanders responding to the orders came through the walkie-talkies.

"Heading 218, speed 20, lights out, training ground number one, move out."

With the commander's order given, armored vehicle No. 701 rumbled out and drove off, followed by other vehicles in succession.

……

三个装甲侦察排的九辆ZBD-86加上连部一辆编号700的YW701式装甲指挥车之后就是火力侦察排的一辆改装做为排指的ZBD-86以及两辆63式履带装甲输送车的火力改装版。

The Type 63 tracked armored personnel carrier is low in cost and has a large load capacity. The modified version of the Seventh Company is even more extraordinary. Not only is an 82mm mortar mount mounting slot added to the inside of the vehicle, but there is also a PF98 120mm rocket launcher storage rack.

The vehicle also features firing windows on its sides, allowing the gunner to aim and fire from inside without being fully exposed. A 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun is mounted on the roof, enhancing its self-defense and low-altitude suppression capabilities.

These two vehicles, serving as accompanying fire support platforms, carry mortar and rocket launcher squads and remain concealed 500 to 800 meters behind the reconnaissance platoon. Upon receiving orders, they share intelligence with the ZBD-86s modified by the platoon command and quickly deploy fire coverage.

Even though the twelve vehicles were traveling at a speed of 20 km/h and the engine speed was kept at 1300 RPM, and they were trying to keep the noise down, these were still huge vehicles weighing over ten tons.

The roar of the engines, the clanging of the tracks hitting the hard surface, and the creaking of the track pins rubbing against the road wheels woke up the Sixth Company commander as the convoy passed by the Sixth Company's camp.

The sixth company commander sat up abruptly in bed. "Damn it, those two guys, Lao Qi and Xiao Qi, are they pulling an emergency vehicle or practicing driving in the middle of the night? I can't let these brats be idle either. Anyway, I can't sleep, so they all have to get up and keep me company."

……

Soon, the vehicles arrived at the entrance of Training Ground No. 1. After passing this entrance, the road became much more difficult to navigate. It was specially built to simulate various combat terrains, with the aim of allowing the crews to practice their skills and tactics in an environment completely close to the battlefield.

Basic obstacle course terrain is standard equipment for training grounds, including anti-tank ditches that are 2-3 meters wide and about 1.5 meters deep.

The slope is between 25 and 30 degrees, simulating the earthen ridges and steep slopes of a mountain march.

Circular craters of varying sizes and random spacing are a simulated cluster of bomb craters.

A shallow beach with a water depth of half a meter to one meter, simulating a river, and a wading area with rice paddy terrain.

……

These are all for training various driving skills of armored vehicles, such as crossing backfill, turning and avoiding obstacles, and maintaining a constant speed at low speed. They also test the power control of the armored vehicle's engine and the traction of its tracks.

There are also training grounds that test the coordination of infantry, engineers and other branches of the armed forces, such as forest concealment areas, village simulation areas, open shooting ranges and so on.

Some military regions also add targeted terrain to their training grounds based on the local environment, such as snowy fields and ice training grounds in the north or muddy swamps in the south, to simulate combat environments under different climates.

Moreover, the terrain of these training grounds is not fixed. The engineers will regularly adjust the positions of shell craters and trenches to avoid the crews developing muscle memory for fixed routes and to better reflect the uncertainties of actual combat.

Especially during nighttime training, no additional lighting is provided for any terrain, relying entirely on starlight, the low-light instruments of the vehicle, and the commander's night vision device for navigation, which greatly increases the difficulty.

Without the slightest hesitation, the armored vehicle rumbled into Training Ground No. 1.

According to the pre-set enemy situation, Zhang Anbang reported to the commander, "Company commander, there is an enemy infrared sensor ahead. Should we send a platoon to dismount and infiltrate, destroy it, and then the main force convoy will follow up?"

Gao Cheng nodded, picked up the microphone, and said, "First platoon, get out of the vehicles and infiltrate. Destroy the Blue Army's infrared sensors within ten minutes. The convoy will remain concealed and await orders. Be careful to remain hidden and do not expose yourselves."

Three armored vehicles in a row slowly came to a stop. The hatches clicked open, and the scouts filed out, crouching low as they disappeared into the darkness of the wasteland.

Inside the car, driver Li Xiang gripped the control lever, keeping the engine idling, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Even as drowsiness kept creeping in, he dared not relax for a moment.

He knew that any negligence at this moment could have serious consequences for him, such as having to clean the tracks of all the tanks in the company.

Zhang Anbang leaned against the bulkhead, raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples. Even though he was very strong now, he couldn't resist the natural physiological fatigue that crept up his spine at three in the morning, and his eyelids felt like they were about to fall asleep.

He turned his head and glanced at Gao Cheng beside him. The red indicator light on the radio panel flickered, and he could see that Jiang Jun's eyelids were also drooping, but like him, his eyes were bright and alert.

"Company Commander, these new recruits are quite good. With them, the emergency assembly time only exceeded the usual time by more than thirty seconds," Zhang Anbang said in a low voice. "They're really good."

Gao Cheng grinned, "Haha, that's right. Otherwise, what would we have done? We spent three months in basic training, what were we after? We, Old Gao, don't do anything that doesn't pay off."

Zhang Anbang really didn't want to mention how they were teased by the other fifteen company commanders because of this, after all, the best recruits in their recruit company were the best source of soldiers for the 702nd Company's sixteen companies.

After they had chosen all the good recruits, the other fifteen companies had to draw their remaining recruits from the ones they had chosen and from the recruits of other regiments.

It's easy to imagine that the recruits from other regiments were also handpicked, just like them. But that's the usual practice; when it's time to harvest, you give the best to others.

Eight minutes later, the voice of Platoon Leader Yun came through the walkie-talkie: "Report to the command vehicle, the Blue Army's infrared sensors have been destroyed, the route is safe, and you can proceed."

"Attention all crews, the day-and-night integrated training has officially begun. The first phase is armored vehicle operation and maneuver training. The target is the Black Pine Ridge area. The entire process must be conducted with covert maneuver, avoiding the Blue Army's simulated warning zone. You have two hours to arrive." Gao Cheng's command rang out again. The 701 armored vehicle started first, its tracks rolling across the ground, leading the entire convoy forward into the night.

Armored mobility is the foundation of armored reconnaissance companies. In general infantry tactics, the core of armored mobility is to move while concealing and to move quickly while concealing. It requires relying on armored vehicles to move quickly and to hide in complex terrain to avoid being discovered by the enemy.

The terrain is extremely complex, which places high demands on the driver's driving skills and the team's coordination.

"Company Commander, we're entering hilly terrain five kilometers ahead, with several ravines and muddy areas. The Blue Army has set up infrared sentries at the mountain pass," Zhang Anbang, as the deputy company commander, reported on the anticipated enemy situation.

Gao Cheng nodded. "What do you think?"

He was quite knowledgeable in armored vehicle command and would often share his experience with Zhang Anbang.

Zhang Anbang looked at the map in the dim light. "If we follow the conventional route, we will most likely be discovered. I suggest we split into three groups and infiltrate from the unnamed valley on the west side."

Gao Cheng picked up the map and traced the markings of the valley with his finger. "The unnamed valley is less than ten meters wide, the tracks are prone to slipping, and the vegetation on both sides is dense and obstructs the view. Once a vehicle breaks down, the following convoy will not be able to provide timely support."

Zhang Anbang nodded in agreement, and offered his own reasoning: "It is precisely because of the complex terrain that we can launch surprise attacks; war is all about deception."

Zhang Anbang said firmly, "I will lead the first platoon down the middle route, you will lead the second platoon down the left route, and the third platoon will lead the fire support platoon. After that, switch to low gear, engage anti-slip pawl, and keep the engine speed below 1,500 RPM to avoid the infrared equipment from detecting the heat source."

Gao Cheng paused for a moment, then laughed. "Not bad, Xiao Qi. We'll do it your way. When we change cars later, you'll go and point out the cars in each row."

After the convoy stopped and installed ice-crushing claws, it quickly disassembled. Zhang Anbang followed vehicle 703 at the back of the middle road, while vehicle 701 led the way. Driver Li Xiang, relying on his years of experience, accurately judged the terrain.

"There's a deep pit three meters to the left front; the tracks are likely to get stuck," the voice from the lead vehicle came through the communicator.

Zhang Anbang immediately ordered, "Turn left, engage differential gear, increase the load on the right track, and drive along the path of the dead tree root on the right."

Li Xiang followed orders and operated the vehicle. The tank slowly adjusted its direction, and the right track rolled over the dead tree roots, steadily avoiding the deep pit.

Gao Cheng's voice came through the walkie-talkie, "703, Blue Army mobile patrol vehicle spotted on the left flank. Notify all vehicles to shut down their engines and take cover."

"Yes."

Zhang Anbang immediately gave orders to the first platoon.

Two hours later, the various vehicle groups arrived at the Heisongling assembly point one after another, and no vehicle's position was exposed.

Standing on the command vehicle, Gao Cheng looked at the neatly lined-up armored vehicles. His serious tone was tinged with barely suppressed joy. "Hmm, not bad. Remember, armored reconnaissance vehicles are not assault tanks. Concealment is always more important than speed."