ebookland Chapter 253 Traffic Controller!
Chapter 253 Traffic Controller!
Such adversarial exercises are common in the military every year, nothing unusual. However, this year's are different from previous years, mainly due to the external environment. Relations with Russia to the north remain tense, with both sides deploying millions of troops along the thousands of kilometers of border, creating a tense and war-torn atmosphere.
Therefore, the number of participants, types of service, and scope of this exercise are the largest ever. Firstly, it allows for better coordination of command and control across different branches of the armed forces, ensuring a rapid and efficient response. Secondly, it serves as a deterrent to the Russians in the north. However, despite the large-scale operation, these recruits, who have only been in the military for less than a year, won't be assigned any important tasks. Being reconnaissance soldiers, their main role is perimeter reconnaissance. He, Haiyang, Ningwei, and Mantun formed a reconnaissance team.
On the first day of the exercise, all participating teams lined up in formation on the training ground. The leader gave a brief speech, which served as a kind of mobilization rally, lasting only about ten minutes. Then the teams dispersed, each going about their assigned tasks and immersing themselves in the exercise.
Zhong Yuemin and his group, wearing red armbands, arrived at the designated reconnaissance point. Zhang Haiyang was eager to try his hand at it.
"Yuemin, do you think we should go ahead and capture a prisoner to find out what the Blue Army's battle plan is?"
Zhong Yuemin pointed to a dry ditch on one side, where there were many yellowed withered grasses. He jumped down and leaned against one side lazily.
The three of them immediately jumped down as well. Zhang Haiyang said alertly:
"Yuemin, is there enemy activity?" He lay prone along the edge of the ditch, staring into the distance, his face wary.
There's nothing in front of us?
"Ocean, take a break, you're acting like you've been injected with chicken blood!"
Zhong Yuemin pulled him down.
"What enemy situation? It's sandstorm up here, our mouths are full of sand. It's nice to hide here and avoid the wind, we can even sleep. Isn't that great?"
"Yuemin, how did you become so degenerate!"
Zhang Haiyang sat down to one side.
"This is an exercise. Didn't you hear what the leader said? We need to take it seriously and be fully focused. I know you don't want to make a name for yourself, but you still have to fulfill your responsibilities. We are the eyes and ears of our own troops, constantly monitoring the movements of the opposing force. Neglecting our duties will only harm our comrades."
"Okay, Haiyang, your eloquence has improved a lot, you've got a whole repertoire of things to say. But I'm not taking the blame for this. Who said I neglected my duties? I was just hiding in the ditch, concealing myself, and keeping a close eye on the Blue Team's movements."
Zhong Yuemin patted the man on the shoulder as he spoke.
"Having fighting spirit is a good thing, but I have to tell you a harsh reality."
"What reality?"
Do you know what branch of the military we are?
"A scout!"
"Where's the mission?"
"Reconnoiter the Blue Army's movements, and report immediately if any enemy activity is detected!"
Zhong Yuemin nodded, "Then why were we sent here? And specifically assigned to this place!"
"This is a necessity for combat. How would I know the command's intentions? We just need to obey orders."
"What combat intentions? It's just that both sides lay out their plans and speak frankly. There are no secrets. To put it simply, both sides play by the rules and don't play any tricks. Just complete the exercise without tacit understanding, and that's OK."
"Really?"
“We’re here for reconnaissance. Let me ask you, are we told we’re going to a designated location for reconnaissance, and then we’re not allowed to do anything so-called ‘violations’? Our company commander is just afraid that you, this troublemaker, will cause trouble later, so he’s putting you in a difficult position in advance. So, don’t expect to make any merits or stand out. Actually, this is quite good. You can just rest here for a while and don’t have to do drills and training every day. It’s not a bad deal.”
After this analysis, Zhang Haiyang immediately deflated.
"Damn, this is so boring. I was so excited last night, but it turns out I'm just a dead pawn. This is even less exciting than fighting with people in the capital."
"Stop complaining, this is a great job, others would love to have it!"
He reached out and picked a withered blade of grass from the side, held it in his mouth, crossed his legs, and relaxed leisurely.
For the next few days, as he said, their reconnaissance team didn't move an inch, and no one came to assign them any tasks. They would just lie in the ditch all day long, at most pointing out directions to friendly units or giving directions when people asked for them. They had become traffic controllers, and they were even teased by passing soldiers.
“Mantun, Haiyang… you guys have it so easy. You just take a trip in the ditch and another day is gone. We’re in a terrible situation. We still have to fight against the Blue Army. We ran more than 30 kilometers yesterday and we’re exhausted.”
“We can’t be envious of them. We’re the main force, after all. Their role is reconnaissance… no, they’re just traffic controllers, responsible for directing traffic and giving directions. My grandma can do that too.”
"Hahaha..." The others burst into laughter.
Zhong Yuemin remained lying down, pretending not to hear, but Zhang Haiyang wouldn't stand for it and retorted.
"What are you laughing at?! You still have the nerve to laugh? The battle has turned out like this. As far as I know, the casualty ratio between our Red Team and the Blue Team is 6 to 1. We're trading 6 for 1. Are you all pigs? No, you're not even as good as pigs. At least pigs can at least kill a few people. You dare to call yourselves the main force? I'm ashamed for you."
"Hey, I'm talking about the ocean!"
One is unwilling,
“Jokes aside, why are you resorting to personal attacks? If you’re so great, why don’t you guys go and fight? You just hide in this ditch, keeping your heads down and showing your tails. At least the few of us shed blood and sweat, and we have a clear conscience.”
"Yes, yes!"
"I bother!"
Zhang Haiyang spat, "Bleeding and sweating? You guys must be scared to death."
"Comrades, we're all on the Red Team, comrades-in-arms, so let's not fight amongst ourselves!"
Seeing that the two sides were getting increasingly angry, Man Tun stepped in to mediate.
"You guys get on with your mission now, don't delay!"
The group left in a huff, not forgetting to leave a message.
"You guys will be the traffic controllers, we're off to fight the enemy and earn merit, comrades, let's go!"
Zhang Haiyang spat fiercely in their direction.
"He's supposed to be killing enemies and making meritorious contributions? He's just gone to deliver heads to the Blue Army again, humph!"
After saying that, he kicked Zhong Yuemin, who was 'asleep' to the side.
"Yuemin, you can still sleep? You've lost all your guts!"
Zhong Yuemin squinted his eyes a crack and chuckled.
"Arguing and bickering with people, is that what you call having guts? How childish! Save your energy and stop these pointless arguments. You need to work on your temper more. You get angry just because someone says a few words."
Zhang Haiyang pursed his lips.
"I don't have your composure, Director Zhong. I've really had enough these past few days. It feels like I have a lot of skills but we're stuck in the kitchen cooking and lighting fires, with nowhere to use them. It's really frustrating. Ning Wei, Man Tun, you two must feel the same way, right?"
The two nodded, realizing that it really didn't feel right!
Zhong Yuemin glanced at the three of them, sat up, dusted himself off, and said:
"This exercise is about to end. Based on the current trend, the Blue Army will win a great victory, and the Red Army will suffer a crushing defeat!"