First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: True or False

With just a few words, Lian Sheng smoothly defused a potential clash while also disrupting the opponent's rhythm.

One instructor exclaimed: "Damn! I almost believed her myself!"

Another instructor crossed his arms and marveled: "Having someone in the platoon who can talk to humans like a human and ghosts like a ghost... Old Fu, you've really suffered."

A third instructor added: "You're overthinking it. Lian Sheng has great self-control. Didn't you see during training? She didn't need Old Fu's supervision at all."

The second instructor clarified: "I didn't mean he's tired from managing her. I meant he's tired from being tricked by her."

Instructor Fu: "...Brother, you should draw your sword too."

When the rear support arrived, Lian Sheng's group was collecting bullets. The "corpses" on the ground had already been quickly retrieved.

The newcomers dragged some makeshift camouflage made of weeds and vines, looking confused as they glanced around: "Where are they?"

Lian Sheng: "You scared them off."

8th Company members: "..."

The 2nd Platoon leader said: "We didn't hear any gunfire."

Lian Sheng, squatting on the ground, patted his leg: "Move aside, we're collecting spoils of war here."

The platoon leader lifted his foot and stepped back in surprise: "How are there so many bullets?"

Zheng Lei laughed heartily: "Payment for their IQ tax."

Since the bullets had smooth contours and had been scattered when thrown, they had rolled everywhere. The 2nd Platoon members helped gather them.

Lian Sheng handed hers to Lu Mingyuan, who sorted them into his backpack, asking: "Did he really believe you? He's never worked with you before—it's unlikely he'd trust you."

Shen Yu said honestly: "Having worked with her would make trusting her even less likely."

"Fang Jianchen isn't a commander—whether he believes me doesn't matter. What matters is whether Ji Fangxiao wavers," Lian Sheng said. "If Ji Fangxiao wavers, he'll definitely test the waters. Otherwise, it would be hard for him to proceed with his plans."

The hundred bullets were the price paid for Lian Sheng correctly guessing their strategy.

Since their own intelligence had been exposed, they wanted to obtain some possibly true information to use as reference for analyzing their opponents.

Ji Fangxiao would most likely send Fang Jianchen to test the waters. Even if Lian Sheng's words were a trap, they held significant value. The white team's response strategy could directly indicate whether his earlier guesses were correct.

Lian Sheng shouldered her rifle: "Tell them Fang Jianchen's head is on its way—have the central route ready to receive it."

Lu Mingyuan was speechless but still relayed the message through the comms.

Lu Mingyuan asked: "Why do you keep tricking him? How many times is this now? Are you targeting him?"

He almost felt sorry for Fang Jianchen.

Lian Sheng said innocently: "I'm also curious—why does he keep delivering himself to me?"

Lu Mingyuan: "..."

The 8th Company's 2nd Platoon members saw that their situation was under control. Jiang Jiake was still issuing commands through the comms. They dropped the bullets and hurried off toward their objective.

Lian Sheng's platoon was still cleaning up. Shen Yu and others gathered around her, asking: "Platoon Leader Lian, how did you know the enemy's strategy? The match just started!"

Another male student looked up and exclaimed: "Just started? The confrontation hasn't even begun yet!"

The others agreed: "This is insane! Are you cheating? Did you eavesdrop on something before the match?"

"I didn't know," Lian Sheng said. "I just bluffed first. We were going to fight anyway—if the bluff failed, no harm done. But if it worked, wouldn't that be fun?"

The group: "..."

Zheng Lei gave a thumbs-up in admiration: "Truly ruthless."

"All warfare is based on deception," Lian Sheng said. "What commander isn't ruthless? Honest people aren't suited for this."

The group chuckled and dispersed.

Lian Sheng's guesses were undoubtedly based on some analysis—otherwise, they wouldn't have been so accurate.

But these were matters for the command department. Explaining them thoroughly would require hours of theory. By answering this way, Lian Sheng avoided further questions.

Being a commander was exhausting work. Correctly guessing an opponent's strategy was rewarding, but the guessing process itself was mental torture.

One had to consider every angle. Based on battle analysis and intelligence, commanders had to predict how the situation would develop. Wasn't command about seeing further than others?

But intelligence could be true or false—you had to consider what the enemy wanted you to think versus what they didn't.

This kind of confusion was frustrating and maddening.

It was like two people playing rock-paper-scissors. Ji Fangxiao knew Jiang Jiake liked leading with scissors, so he prepared to play rock. Then Lian Sheng suddenly appeared, saying she'd told Jiang Jiake about his scissors habit and Ji Fangxiao's rock counter. Should Ji Fangxiao believe her? Even if true, would Jiang Jiake actually change his strategy?

Countless possibilities emerged, exponentially increasing the information overload.

He couldn't determine the truth now because Lian Sheng had perfectly guessed his strategy, leaving him unsettled.

Ji Fangxiao asked: "Zhao Zhuoluo, are you encountering resistance on your end?"

"Yes," Zhao Zhuoluo said. "But it's coming from the sides, not the front. And we're almost breaking through."

Ji Fangxiao: "Fang Jianchen, how many ambushers did you see up front earlier?"

"Quite a few but I didn't get a clear look," Fang Jianchen said. "About two or three platoons?"

Ji Fangxiao pondered briefly: "Take some people to the central route and report the situation. See if Jiang Jiake really did guess our plan."

Fang Jianchen was meeting with rear supply personnel to redistribute ammunition to his team. Hearing this, he said: "Based on my two deaths at her hands, I'm telling you—she's pure evil! Don't trust her so easily!"

Ji Fangxiao mused: "But she did guess our plan correctly without missing details. Since she's on the white team, she would've reported upward. We can't rule out Jiang Jiake making preparations based on this."

Zhao Zhuoluo asked: "Should we stick to the plan then?"

Ji Fangxiao: "Hold your position for now—ensure your safety. Maintain the stalemate with them. Retreat if necessary. Fang Jianchen, prepare to scout the situation."

"Hey hey hey!" Fang Jianchen paused while holding his rifle, protesting: "How can you sacrifice your top sniper based on the enemy's deceitful words! Who wouldn't she trick? Have you forgotten the bloody lessons from before?"

Ji Fangxiao said: "I don't think there's anything she wouldn't do. Precisely because of that, her earlier words made some sense. A profit-seeker's choice isn't impossible."

This wasn't the first time Lian Sheng had made risky deals to earn points. He couldn't completely dismiss the possibility. Ji Fangxiao didn't know her well—only that her methods were unpredictable.

More importantly, he couldn't get a read on Jiang Jiake either now.

Cheng Ze chimed in: "Based on my experience working with her, she really would do anything."

"Go," Zhao Zhuoluo urged from his end. "We're running low on ammo."

Ji Fangxiao added: "Go. We're running out of time."

Fang Jianchen: "..."

After waiting a long time without Jiang Jiake's response, Lian Sheng instead heard his next command: "Central route defenses—quickly shift to both flanks! They're few in number—aim to eliminate them. Especially the right side—enemy position confirmed."

Lian Sheng frowned and signaled to Lu Mingyuan, who said: "Fang Jianchen might head to the central route—don't withdraw forces from there."

Hearing it was Lu Mingyuan speaking, Jiang Jiake paused: "There's no one at central. Which side attacked you—Fang Jianchen's group? Did they withdraw? Extend and push the left flank defenses outward—guard against any tricks."

Lian Sheng pressed her lips together, her mouth twitching.

In the monitoring room, sighs erupted.

Jiang Jiake's instructor covered his head, unable to bear watching, and patted Instructor Fu's shoulder mournfully: "Ah, my apologies to you."

"What a shame," another instructor lamented, slapping his thigh. "He couldn't wait to dump a gift-wrapped enemy right into his lap."

Instructor Fu frowned, thinking carefully: "From a non-omniscient perspective, I think Jiang Jiake's approach is reasonable. Because I wouldn't trust Lian Sheng either."

Lian Sheng's information was abrupt—no reasoning, no process, just a conclusion. And the conclusion seemed too good to be true.

Jiang Jiake had to coordinate over four hundred people with limited time while processing endless feedback. He had to instantly judge the validity and truth of information.

He'd already had conflicts with Lian Sheng before. Now, hearing reports from her team, he instinctively dismissed them. Instructor Fu believed that, considering Jiang Jiake's position, this wasn't an unforgivable mistake—just an unfortunate misstep.

The feeling during actual combat was completely different. The information they received was extremely limited, while the things they needed to guard against were incredibly complex.

Many decisions that seemed foolish to outsiders were actually conclusions drawn from incomplete information. Anyone could critique afterward—but how many could adapt in real time? Hadn't they all been fooled by Lian Sheng before?

Not everyone could foresee everything—geniuses were exceedingly rare. And the commander's role was especially unique—talent alone wasn't enough. It required effort and experience.

Endless effort and endless experience. It was a road that never ended.

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