First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Start of Battle

After learning her points were insufficient, Lian Sheng felt quite disappointed. So she went out for another run to cool down.

Seeing her drenched in sweat and pale, Meng Jiangwu had to remind her, "My points are higher than yours now. It's useless no matter how many laps you run. Being outside the top two in the Command Department is meaningless."

Lian Sheng covered her face with a towel, regulating her breath, unable to speak for a moment.

After taking several deep breaths, she finally said, "It doesn't matter. If there's no commander-in-chief, there's still a centurion. If worse comes to worst, there's a decurion, and if even worse, there's a squad leader."

Everyone: "..."

Shen Yu asked, "Do you want to be a commander that badly?"

"Of course," Lian Sheng pointed to her head, "Because right now, this is my only foundation. If I can't be a commander, then there's no need for me to be on the battlefield."

If it were the Lian Sheng from before, capable of scaling walls and possessing immense strength, she could confidently charge into battle even if she couldn't be a commander. She could say she could complete any reasonably assigned task.

But now, she couldn't. Her best position was commander.

Moreover, such a crucial position as commander must be held by someone with absolute strength. After the previous two exercises, she hadn't discovered such talent.

Oh, Ji Fangxiao was quite good. Timing, location, popular support – he had almost everything. But who should the other opponent be?

If Lian Sheng became a regular soldier, it would be a loss, a huge loss.

Zheng Lei said, "But only the top two in points can be designated commander-in-chief. Those ranked lower, their points basically just serve as a reference for the commander-in-chief when assigning duties. Your exercise performance is already outstanding; how many points are left now doesn't really matter much."

Lian Sheng wiped her hands, tossed the towel back into the basin, and said, "It's all training anyway. No effort is ever wasted."

The others fell silent.

That was indeed true. Initially, Lian Sheng struggled to run two laps around the outer field. Now, even in poor condition, she could run three laps on her own. Her short-term improvement was very obvious.

Because of the inhuman point deduction rules during daily training, Lian Sheng particularly loved the combat exercise segment.

With only three days left in the military exercise, the Red vs. White Faction Battle finally officially began. This was the most crucial part of the three combat exercises.

Group combat, likely involving direct confrontation. A stage for both command and combat branches. A carnival for the entire military department.

The Red vs. White Faction Battle involved dividing students into red and white factions through a lottery. The lottery still used the small group format, maintaining the lineup from the previous instructor vs. instructor match. This way, having cooperated before would make things smoother. However, internal reorganization might occur within the factions.

Each faction occupied one side of the mountain, with spheres of influence evenly divided.

They would compete by eliminating opponents, seizing supplies, capturing territory, and finally receiving a comprehensive score.

The two criteria for points:

One, the number of surviving members on one's side at the end of the activity. One point per person.

Two, the number of enemy members within one's sphere of influence at the end of the activity. Minus one point per person.

The activity ends when the total number of people is less than two hundred.

Everyone prepared before 5 AM, finished breakfast, and gathered. The instructor repeated the rules for them.

Instructor Fu said, "Supplies will be randomly placed on the ground, usually in obvious locations. Inside are ten bullets. Supplies can only be picked up, not moved. I repeat, supplies can only be picked up, not moved! Any student violating the rules will be immediately removed from the field!"

"Everyone, remember your identity and mission, obey orders and follow commands! If you act without authorization, be prepared to accept punishment!" Instructor Fu shouted loudly. "This is a collective action, individual heroism is strictly forbidden!"

Everyone responded, "Yes!"

Half an hour later, the Lieutenant walked onto the command platform to host the opening of the faction battle.

The two individuals with the highest scores in the Command Department chose the red and white factions and served as commanders-in-chief.

The top three individuals in total points could represent their four-person squad and freely choose a faction. The rest needed to draw lots.

Lian Sheng's points were deducted drastically, but she wasn't at the bottom in the Command Department, hanging around the middle.

The two with the highest scores this time were, unsurprisingly, Ji Fangxiao, and another fourth-year student Lian Sheng didn't know, named Jiang Jiake.

The two walked onto the command platform. Ji Fangxiao chose the red faction first, occupying the southern mountain area. Jiang Jiake passively got white.

Then, Zhao Zhuoluo, as the top scorer, joined the red faction.

Although he didn't particularly like cooperating with Ji Fangxiao, he couldn't deny his strength. Considering the outcome, this was the optimal choice. Besides, the unlucky Fang Jianchen was still Ji Fangxiao's teammate.

Ji Fangxiao ranked second in total points, but since he was already commander-in-chief, the spot was passed down.

The next two teams, unsurprisingly, also joined Ji Fangxiao's team.

It could be said that Ji Fangxiao's initial advantage was set; he had directly gathered the three strongest combat teams.

Subsequently, Lian Sheng represented their squad to draw lots – a white slip.

Zheng Lei and Shen Yu felt a pang of disappointment, knowing the outcome wasn't optimistic. Lian Sheng calmly put the slip away, nodded, and said, "Pretty good." This made things interesting.

It was just that the white faction sounded a bit unlucky.

In the distance, Jiang Jiake shouted loudly through a megaphone, "Assemble! White faction assemble! Starting to assign duties now!"

Over four hundred people surged towards his position.

In teams of four, they reformed ranks, forming a circle around him.

Jiang Jiake held the point statistics for everyone. He divided the people into twenty platoons based on squads, each platoon about twenty-four people. Every three platoons formed a company. He basically didn't break up their original squads.

Based on the data, he selected twenty platoon leaders and eight company commanders.

Lian Sheng was promoted to platoon leader.

Hearing her name, she looked up and smiled with satisfaction.

Good judgment!

A platoon contained students from almost every major, which was quite reasonable. After assigning duties, they began arranging initial positions. This was handed over to Lu Mingyuan.

Then everyone went to put on equipment, choose weapons, and take their positions on the mountain.

This time, because there was a commander, the equipment included an additional communicator for their convenience. Optical computers and other smart devices still couldn't be brought up the mountain.

Lu Mingyuan led Lian Sheng and the others to the designated position. Near the height of the mountainside. Horizontally, it was neither close nor far from both factions' defensive lines.

They waited quietly for the whistle.

Lian Sheng squatted on the ground, asking, "Is everyone around this middle section?"

Lu Mingyuan said, "Yes."

Lian Sheng pondered for a moment, silent.

Soon, Jiang Jiake's voice came through the headset, "Is everyone in position? After getting in position, everyone search the surroundings for supply packs. Pick them up immediately when the competition starts."

Lian Sheng pressed her communicator with one hand, frowning slightly. She turned her head and asked, "What did he say?"

Lu Mingyuan looked at her strangely, repeated the words, and said, "Is your communicator unclear? Quickly report it and get a replacement."

Lian Sheng said, "I heard very clearly." That's why she felt she must have misheard.

To ensure fairness, the number of supplies in both factions' areas should be the same. This meant collecting as many of one's own bullets as possible and plundering enemy supplies to ensure sufficient ammunition for a long-term battle line. If managed well, it could also deal a certain blow to the opponent.

So, how to reasonably distribute bullets initially was a major problem.

To prevent the enemy from picking up one's own supplies, bullets on the ground definitely had to be collected. The key was who collected them and how many.

Having soldiers with insufficient combat power collect bullets was simply a waste. Dying while carrying a large amount of ammunition was equivalent to delivering supplies into the enemy's hands. While those with strong combat power and high survivability would be limited later due to insufficient initial reserves.

Additionally, although it was team combat, individual kill points were still crucial. The later battle situation was yet unknown; regarding bullet reserves, no one would complain about having too many.

The fear was that before the start, internal scrambling for supplies would begin within their own side.

This most important, most crucial aspect, was he going to let the soldiers handle it freely?

A major taboo!

Lian Sheng tapped her headset, "This thing? Can it talk to just one person?"

Lu Mingyuan surprisingly kept up with her pace of speech, "You mean private chat? No such function."

Lian Sheng could only speak directly on the public channel. Considering the other party's face, she spoke as tactfully as possible, "Commander-in-chief. Regarding bullet collection, shouldn't it be stricter? After all, this is closely related to the later combat style."

Jiang Jiake then casually said, "Everyone distribute the collection, no individual monopoly allowed. Priority is to recover supplies after teammates and enemies are eliminated."

Lian Sheng: "..."

Lian Sheng raised her hand and rubbed her forehead.

It's over.

Like Zhao Kuo armchair-theorizing, but at least he followed military manuals. Ma Su of the Three Kingdoms period, although also well-versed in military manuals, deliberately set up camp contrary to them.

Back then, she couldn't understand why he died. Now she... wasn't surprised anymore.

Before Lian Sheng could suggest again, Jiang Jiake impatiently issued another command.

"After the whistle blows, everyone maintain distance according to the current formation and advance forward. We must firmly defend our faction line!"

Lian Sheng: "..."

This activity ultimately only assessed two points. One, the number of survivors on one's side, a bonus item. Two, the number of enemies within one's faction territory, a deduction item.

In other words, survive as long as possible and push the enemy out.

You could choose to attack, or choose to defend. Lian Sheng could understand both.

But, without investigating the enemy's strategy, Jiang Jiake directly ordered a formation that was neither offensive nor defensive. What was that supposed to mean?

If you called it offensive, his goal was to defend the faction line. If you called it defensive, arranging troops like this left the rear defenses empty. If the enemy invaded, it would be very difficult to drive them out again.

Lian Sheng lowered her head, exhaled, and asked, "Is this his first time as commander-in-chief?"

Lu Mingyuan nodded, "Yes."

Zheng Lei raised his hand, "He seems to hang out with Senior Ji."

Lian Sheng tilted her chin, signaling him to continue. She didn't know this commander-in-chief well enough; she felt a bit panicked. Could there be some deeper consideration she couldn't understand? Had tactics here, besides production levels, developed to such a miraculous extent?

Zheng Lei took small steps, leaned closer to her ear, and said, "I heard it's like this. For this exercise, he found several people from the Individual Combat Department to specifically help him farm points. Then, during the second exercise, he followed Senior Ji and also farmed quite a few points. Plus constantly participating in individual point competitions, he got second place this time."

Lian Sheng: "..."

Zheng Lei sighed with emotion, "Truly a life on easy mode."

Lian Sheng: "..."

A scourge upon the world.

After he finished speaking, Lian Sheng licked her lips and spoke again, "Commander-in-chief. Shouldn't the rear defenses be strengthened? If the opponent chooses a strong assault, it's hard for us to guarantee effectively stopping them..."

Jiang Jiake directly interrupted her, impatiently, "I have arrangements! I see things clearer than you from here. Just follow orders!"

Jiang Jiake lowered his head, looked at the map in his hand, and let out a light "heh".

Nothing better to do than question superiors' decisions to show off their own abilities. All bullshit! Really think becoming a platoon leader makes you somebody?

Lu Mingyuan also felt it was somewhat unreasonable, so he encouraged, "Be a bit more tactful. Commanders don't like being questioned."

Lian Sheng felt she had already been very tactful. Why would she need to please others? She had always been the one whose word was law.

Lian Sheng thought for a moment, then forced a fawning tone, "Most respected, wisest, unparalleled Commander-in-Chief Jiang, shouldn't the personnel arrangements and advance speed of each platoon be coordinated with each other?"

Because there was no communication between parties, differences in movement speed would create gaps in the attack formation, and gaps were opportunities for the enemy to break into the faction.

They weren't currently at the edge of the faction line; getting there took time. But if the opponent chose a strong assault, they would forgo the chance to pick up supplies, letting some people ambush at the edge of the faction line, attacking immediately after the whistle blew to plunder their supplies.

Given their current situation, it was very difficult to adapt.

Jiang Jiake: "With just one communicator, how can we coordinate the speeds of various parties?"

"Oh. I'm just stating the unreasonableness of the arrangement. If it can't be solved, this is a hidden danger," Lian Sheng paused, "Please, most respected, wisest, unparalleled Commander-in-Chief, consider it more."

"I have scouts, I know more than you! Besides, who would adopt such a risky strategy!" Jiang Jiake said angrily. "Red vs. White Faction Battle, I'm more familiar with it than you, I don't need your reminder. Lian Sheng, I repeat, follow your own orders! Don't undermine morale here!"

Lian Sheng: "..."

But when it came to fighting wars, she was definitely more familiar than him.

The first time someone mentioned seniority to her face, it felt incredibly novel.

Lian Sheng patiently analyzed with him, "Scouts not seeing doesn't mean it's not there. There are many hiding places in this mountain forest; obstructed vision is very normal..."

Lu Mingyuan patted her, "Lian Sheng, I can't hear your voice anymore."

"Huh?" Lian Sheng quickly asked, "What's wrong with your ears?"

Lu Mingyuan: "No, I mean you've been muted."

Lian Sheng: "..."

Zheng Lei: "I know, do you want to send him an 'mmp'?"

Lian Sheng shook her head, "Besides having good judgment, he basically has no other merits."

Behind the faction lines, Jiang Jiake clicked his tongue, saying to the person beside him, "Damn, shouldn't have listened to you, choosing Lian Sheng. This person is annoying."

---

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