First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Admonition

After the lieutenant finished the announcement, the intense pre-game preparations began. All personnel were required to be in position within an hour, with the first batch of students heading up the mountain.

Instructor Fu reiterated the activity rules to them once more before leaving them to their own devices, hurrying off to draw lots. After all, this time they were opponents.

The second combat exercise used a voluntary team formation method. After gathering their team members, participants registered at the statistics point and then drew numbers by group.

Lian Sheng had already secured Lu Mingyuan, leaving two vacant spots in her team. Not having any particular candidates in mind, she approached Zheng Lei and Shen Yu, both of whom readily agreed.

The four team members gathered to discuss their battle plan, creating a sense of familiarity mixed with strangeness. After exchanging a few awkward glances and hesitant smiles, Lian Sheng rubbed her nose and had them reintroduce themselves.

Although Zheng Lei and Shen Yu had participated in the initial hunting battle with Lian Sheng, they hadn't actually operated together. They'd been randomly grouped once before but with minimal interaction—at most, they were vaguely familiar faces. Lu Mingyuan, on the other hand, had gone through a major melee with Lian Sheng, so they each had a good understanding of the other.

Their team composition was somewhat puzzling—four command department students, the standard setup for benchwarmers.

Lian Sheng represented the team in drawing lots and had incredible luck, pulling number thirty-one directly. She then went to ask Meng Jiangwu about his team's number. Their group's luck was decent too—eightieth group, near the edge of the first batch.

Three hundred students would take the field at once, meaning seventy-five groups. For every four students coming down the mountain, one group could go up.

When Zhao Zhuoluo saw Lian Sheng talking to Meng Jiangwu, he could guess she was asking about their team's affairs but pretended not to notice. After Meng Jiangwu returned, Zhao personally repeated their team's plan to him again.

After running between both sides, even the slowest person would understand what these people were hinting at.

They wanted to cooperate but weren't certain yet, so they were using him as a bridge. They'd decide based on the situation.

Zhao Zhuoluo might have many options—after all, he already had a very complete team, only lacking a sniper. If that position were filled, they could definitely operate independently as a four-man team, avoiding splitting their points. But Lian Sheng had no choice—she urgently needed high-combat-power partners she could trust.

Thanks to this so-called "winner's privilege" that provided them with negotiation opportunities.

Lian Sheng believed the original intent of this rule was to have them select members from opposing teams, either weakening the other side or laying groundwork for later cooperation. The tragedy was that only Zhao Zhuoluo had a fixed team, turning it into an exploitative clause targeting him alone.

To promote harmony among the people and show her sincerity, Lian Sheng shared her team's arrangements with Meng Jiangwu, entrusting him with the heavy responsibility of inter-team diplomacy.

The four of them put on bulletproof gear, choosing two sniper rifles, one lightweight pistol, and one submachine gun.

This time the supply point provided each of them with a wooden knife.

Lian Sheng hefted it in her hand: "When we're out of bullets, we can still fight hand-to-hand."

Shen Yu said with exasperation: "Honestly, whether we have bullets or not, there won't be any hand-to-hand opportunities."

With firearms available, people would generally maintain a safe distance—who would engage in close combat? Besides, in actual hand-to-hand combat, who could defeat the instructors?

At exactly seven in the morning, the night's accumulated chill was dispersed by the blazing sunlight. Everyone was sweating in their heavy gear before even starting to move.

The seventy-five groups split up, following instructors up the mountain from different directions. When they reached the mountainside, the clock started, and the exercise officially began.

Lu Mingyuan took the lead.

The instructors were now generally dispersed around main paths—areas with wide visibility and high traffic. Lian Sheng decided not to confront the instructors head-on for now—establishing their battle lines was the top priority.

A nearby team approached them, inviting them to join in sniping instructors together, but Lian Sheng politely declined. They parted ways with several teams that had entered the mountain together, moving to ambush positions nearby.

The other teams couldn't understand their departure at all. Clearly they had a common enemy now, and a powerful one at that. The priority should be uniting to create chaos and score some hits—even one point would be profit. Why refuse?

So the others marched onward up the mountain with great momentum.

Lu Mingyuan chose a relatively safe spot where they hid in the grass, waiting for Zhao Zhuoluo's team to join them.

They hadn't been lying there long when Zheng Lei grew anxious: "Are you sure they'll come? That's Zhao Zhuoluo we're talking about—why would he team up with us?"

"Because there's—" Lian Sheng pointed at herself.

Zheng Lei and Shen Yu both made scoffing noises.

The two pressed their heads to the ground as if they could hear distant fighting.

Zheng Lei grew increasingly agitated. Unable to hold back, he turned his head and said: "Opportunities missed won't return. The opening is the best time to score points—last year our team took advantage of the chaos to get two points!"

Lian Sheng said calmly: "Only two points."

Zheng Lei: "..."

Anyone unaware would never guess this was her first time participating in the exercise.

Zheng Lei poked his own face in astonishment: "Is this made of iron or something?"

Lian Sheng turned to look at him.

"You think the opening is good for scoring because it's chaotic enough. That applies to you, and to the instructors too," Lian Sheng said. "Chaos is an unstable state. Without absolute confidence, that's not called scoring points—it's called relying on luck. Only those without confidence would think to try their luck at the opening."

Shen Yu said: "But before, most of your points came from melees too."

That was why they thought Lian Sheng was someone who liked scoring points freely.

Lian Sheng patiently explained: "That was at night, when everyone's visibility was limited. I had already chosen my position and knew where my opponents were. Although the situation was chaotic, I had the overall battle under control. This time? It's broad daylight—we don't know our opponents' strength, numbers, or positions. There's a high chance of encountering danger midway, when we don't even have a clear picture of our own side."

The two fell silent.

"Most importantly, students' capabilities can't be compared to instructors'. Strength isn't a simple matter of adding or subtracting numbers. Without recognizing this, you'll only pointlessly increase your own casualties. Think about it—even if you trade ten student 'lives' for one instructor hit, instructors need to be hit three times before they're out. By then our own team might already be scattered—how should we fight after that? Our losses definitely wouldn't just be one member—it could determine the entire course of the battle. Do you know the phrase 'routed troops are no longer an army'? Do you know the difference in combat power between scattered soldiers and an organized team?" As Lian Sheng spoke, she recalled scenes from her past military training and unconsciously intensified her tone: "If you give up your advantage right at the start, it means you've already given up on this match."

Zheng Lei and Shen Yu hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. They knew what Lian Sheng was saying and understood the instructors' intentions. There's no such thing as a free lunch—those opening points would require equivalent risk.

The premise of Lian Sheng's plan was based on her confidence that her small team could take down instructors. But instructors might team up too—in the most favorable scenario, four against two, could four command students really score against instructors?

Ultimately, it came down to them... lacking confidence.

Lian Sheng said: "And don't forget, it's not just instructors who can eliminate you—other students can too. Instructors have absolute alliance lines between them—what we have is just plastic friendship at best."

Zheng Lei: "Right, the instructors have alliances, so we need to find more people to ally with—how else can we deal with the instructors?"

Meeting Lian Sheng's increasingly stern gaze, his voice unconsciously lowered until the last words were almost mumbled: "Relying just on us... wouldn't we be even more cannon fodder?"

Zheng Lei nudged Shen Yu, seeking an ally: "Right?"

Shen Yu hemmed and hawed: "We still need to recognize our actual situation. The three of us aren't accurate shooters, and your stamina isn't great—that's the truth, right?"

Lian Sheng lowered her eyes, the corners of her mouth tightening slightly. Those familiar with her would know she was displeased.

Undervaluing themselves while being impatient for quick results—a common failing of many people.

They only thought about scoring points, or rather, they only thought about the one or two points immediately before them. They'd already given up on anything higher or further.

If they were just foot soldiers, this would be enough. Being able to handle immediate tasks well was already quite good—Lian Sheng would even praise them for knowing how to seize opportunities. But these two had chosen the command department, hadn't they? As commanders, they needed to be cautious but also sufficiently audacious. With the match just starting and the situation still unclear, how could they already decide it was impossible?

Lian Sheng couldn't allow these people to give up so easily while she was right beside them.

What about her dignity as a general?

Feeling the team's intelligence was somewhat lacking, Lian Sheng quickly turned to ask: "Do you understand?"

Lu Mingyuan, who had been lying there silently listening, finally raised his head as if coming back to reality: "Ah? Oh. Actually I understand everything."

Lian Sheng: "I understand too." Which was why she thought they were wrong.

Lu Mingyuan paused to phrase his thoughts: "If it were me, or rather my original team, I'd also choose to go score points now."

Zheng Lei and Shen Yu seemed to have found an ally and became excited, clapping as they said: "See! Listen!"

Lian Sheng frowned.

"However," Lu Mingyuan took a dramatic breath before continuing, "if I were the overall commander of this match, I definitely wouldn't let my soldiers do this."

Zheng Lei and Shen Yu were caught off guard by his sudden turn, their expressions freezing as the rest of their words stuck in their throats.

After two seconds of silence, Zheng Lei tentatively verified: "Senior, you mean you're on Lian Sheng's side?"

Lu Mingyuan nodded: "I am."

Lian Sheng snorted and adjusted her lying position.

Lu Mingyuan said: "Since Lian Sheng has confidence, I'm willing to believe in her. There's not much difference between one point and zero, but the gap in experience between participating the whole way and being eliminated early is huge."

The two pondered this and increasingly found his reasoning sound.

The combat exercise only happened once a year—experience was far more valuable than points. If Lian Sheng truly had her own ideas, whether they succeeded or not, it was worth trying. Who wanted to be an aimless pawn? Their original purpose in studying command wasn't like this.

Shen Yu reached up to touch his face, only to remember he was wearing protective gear, and reluctantly lowered his hand again.

Zheng Lei humbly lowered his head: "Please continue enlightening us, leader."

Lian Sheng half-turned, pointing at them as she seriously criticized: "No matter when, never treat numbers as your most important asset. The losses would be extremely severe. The essence of war isn't slaughter—it's protection. Including protecting yourselves. Excessive sacrifice isn't something to be proud of, even in victory."

The two nodded earnestly.

More people didn't mean they could afford more deaths—no one should have to die. They'd committed one of the biggest mistakes a commander could make.

Lian Sheng: "I don't want to incur losses right at the start. I don't agree with trading many for one. Even if sacrifice is necessary, I'll make sure you die meaningfully."

Zheng Lei said thoughtfully: "Actually, it'd be best... not to sacrifice at all."

Lian Sheng patted his shoulder: "Then work hard. Friends, strive to survive until the end."

Zheng Lei looked at her hand, took a deep breath, and nodded.

Everyone started as foot soldiers—experience was paid for in blood. As long as they could learn these lessons, impulsiveness or ignorance weren't wrong. What mattered was that one day they could calmly reflect on right and wrong and truly grow.

Lian Sheng concluded with one last remark: "Young people, don't be too impatient."

The group: "..."

Only now did Zheng Lei and Shen Yu realize they'd been lectured at length by a freshman as if they were juniors. Dazed, it took them a while to process this. Just as they were about to complain, they heard someone behind them say exasperatedly: "If you're talking this loudly, why bother hiding here?"

They turned to look—four people were lying right behind them.

Zhao Zhuoluo had arrived surprisingly fast, indicating the turnover rate on the mountain was high too. Many had already been eliminated in a short time.

Instructors were indeed formidable—their cleanup speed was impressive.

"Yo, Zhao Zhuoluo," Lian Sheng got straight to the point, "Want to cooperate?"

Zhao Zhuoluo lacked a sniper, so he definitely needed to cooperate. Since he'd come here on Meng Jiangwu's suggestion, it showed he was inclined to work with them too. However, Fang Jianchen was currently with Ji Fangxiao's team—Lian Sheng guessed Ji Fangxiao also wanted to partner with him. And Zhao couldn't bring himself to abandon his comrade.

Sure enough, Zhao Zhuoluo said: "We have another team member with Ji Fangxiao right now. They haven't gone up yet, but they've already asked for my opinion."

He stopped there, making his meaning clear—he wanted to hear Lian Sheng's thoughts.

The group rolled over to face the newcomers, heads together as they discussed.

Lian Sheng spread her hands magnanimously: "No problem, we can all cooperate together and try it out."

The ideal situation would be two teams—Lian Sheng felt that was enough. More people would only complicate things and split achievements. But compared to Ji Fangxiao, their team wasn't very competitive. Lian Sheng couldn't let this partner slip away and had to compromise for now.

Zhao Zhuoluo clearly disliked working with Ji Fangxiao—he seemed hesitant now too. If she didn't show some sincerity, how could this work?

"Did you agree to meet somewhere? Why don't we all go together and discuss strategy," Lian Sheng offered proactively. "Along the way, we can grab some bullets and prepare properly."

Zhao Zhuoluo looked at her suspiciously.

There was something unnervingly obsequious about this person.

Behind him, Ye Buqing and Cheng Ze exchanged glances. Based on what they'd just overheard, if Fang Jianchen weren't with Ji Fangxiao, they'd prefer cooperating with Lian Sheng.

Lian Sheng truly met the standards of a commander. Her analysis demonstrated sufficient calmness and objectivity. More importantly, her combat philosophy aligned better with theirs. Ji Fangxiao's plans always involved many cannon fodder—interacting with him always carried an uneasy sense of wariness that made them uncomfortable.

Since she was willing, they could tentatively team up.

Ye Buqing was the first to extend his hand: "Sure, happy to cooperate."

Lian Sheng shook it.

"Let's go now then—the two places are quite far apart. By the time we get there it should be about right," Cheng Ze said, half-rising. "I'll scout ahead first—you all catch up later."

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