First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Contradiction

Instructor Fang Jianchen nearly burst into tears when he saw this scene.

Jiang Jiake's instructor patted his shoulder and said, "Bro! Hold steady!"

The instructor said, "Little bro, I'm going to collect that guy's corpse first."

The instructor walked out of the monitoring room and waited at the camp. Before long, Fang Jianchen was brought down by the instructor on duty in the mountains.

Fang Jianchen tore off the white flag on his back and threw it to the ground, then simply sat by the roadside.

The instructor walked over, gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Killed at the start? You're really something now, huh?"

Fang Jianchen snorted, "I died for the organization. Though dead, I remain glorious."

The instructor made a dismissive sound, one hand in his pocket. "Do you know who took your head?"

Fang Jianchen shuddered, squinting his eyes as he asked sharply, "Who?"

The instructor replied, "Lian Sheng."

Fang Jianchen took a sharp breath, adjusting his helmet. "You're lying to me, right?"

The instructor confirmed, "No, it was Lian Sheng. You can check at the statistics if you don't believe me."

Fang Jianchen clutched his head and fell to the ground, rolling around. "I don't believe it! I don't believe it!"

Fang Jianchen felt that he might as well have been shot dead on the spot.

Three times now! When had he ever died three times at the hands of one person!

So many people fighting for the kill, yet none could compare to Lian Sheng. The White Team was doomed! Doomed!!

Fang Jianchen howled like a wolf, "Lian Sheng has betrayed me!"

The instructor looked at him coldly. "Why would you trust someone who's killed you twice? Wasn't it you who delivered your head to her?"

Fang Jianchen glanced up at him, then continued rolling on the ground in agony.

"It's all because Cheng Ze and the others spoke up for her," Fang Jianchen said. "Daddy was just following orders! Daddy got screwed over!"

The instructor nudged him with his foot. "Hey, take off your gear now."

"No!" Fang Jianchen hugged himself. "If I take it off, my exercise is over! I refuse!"

A vein pulsed on the instructor's forehead. "It's already over whether you take it off or not!"

Fang Jianchen declared, "As a male instructor, you have no right to undress me!"

The instructor: "..." What the hell!

The instructor stepped forward and directly confiscated his weapons, taking the firearms away to return them.

From a distance, the administrator watched a dark lump curled up dejectedly on the ground while munching on an apple. "What's he doing?"

"Grieving," the instructor said. "Having an episode."

After Fang Jianchen was eliminated, Zhao Zhuoluo's team fought a retreating battle to avoid being surrounded from multiple sides.

However, more and more enemy reinforcements arrived, and they had already missed their best opportunity.

Ji Fangxiao pieced everything together after connecting the dots and immediately understood Lian Sheng's situation. He urgently asked over the comms, "Zhao Zhuoluo, can you assault now? If possible, charge directly!"

Zhao Zhuoluo reported back, "No, we're running low on ammo. We're already retreating."

Ji Fangxiao frowned, also feeling it was a pity, and said, "Then return to camp first. Prioritize your own safety."

Their faction's elite troops had already lost one squad. Sacrificing two more platoons here would be too costly.

Zhao Zhuoluo and the others received the order and immediately began retreating in coordination. Ji Fangxiao sent another platoon from the rear to provide cover.

The group retreated near the faction line, and the White Team didn't dare pursue too deeply.

The first skirmish temporarily ceased. Both sides analyzed the battle situation and planned their next moves.

Cheng Ze reloaded his weapon and asked, "What's the situation now? What exactly is happening on their side?"

Ji Fangxiao pressed his fingers against his temples and took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he visualized the battle in his mind.

There were no optical computers here, no detailed data analysis results. Everything had to be deduced based on their own and the analysts' spatial imagination.

But they didn't have much time. The next offensive had to be quick—they couldn't let the enemy regain their footing.

After a moment of silence, Ji Fangxiao said, "Wait a moment. Sixth Company Commander, take the second and third platoons to the central route now."

The company commander gestured for his men to move out while asking, "Breakthrough at the center? Didn't their defense line pull back?"

"No, not a breakthrough," Ji Fangxiao said. "If they retreat, you advance. If they chase, you flee."

The company commander understood. "Harass their central route?"

Ji Fangxiao said, "Yes. Keep their forces dispersed. Everyone else! Assemble on the right flank and prepare for a strong assault! Zhao Zhuoluo will lead the troops and command the front line! Platoon leaders, stand by for orders. Distribute supplies and ensure sufficient ammunition."

Zhao Zhuoluo accepted the order and went to coordinate with the rear personnel.

On-site, they organized the formation, assigned positions, attack directions and sequences, and designated roles for assault or cover. Then they distributed at least twenty rounds of ammunition per person, keeping the supply managers protected in the center of the formation as they advanced.

This was what a real team looked like.

The instructors' gazes shifted between both sides, and they couldn't help but shake their heads.

One instructor sighed and said, "A battle requires not just command, but also experienced generals who can hold the line."

The one beside him added, "Not just generals, but coordination across all units."

Reconnaissance, vanguard, command, analysis, logistics, support... Each of these roles was indispensable, and every person had their own significance.

Commanders didn't understand frontline matters, and soldiers didn't grasp the bigger picture. These two sides were meant to complement each other, with trust serving as the bridge for their cooperation.

As long as everyone clearly understood their position and responsibilities, the entire team could function smoothly. It wasn't that the commander could micromanage the entire battle, handling every single affair of the army. Nor was it that holding everything in one's grasp meant complete control.

The larger the organization, the more leaders needed to learn to delegate authority.

The troops had already begun moving out. After arranging the positions for one group, Ji Fangxiao finally answered Cheng Ze's earlier question.

"Actually, our original plan was correct, and we guessed right. Jiang Jiake wanted to defend against us from the flanks," Ji Fangxiao said. "Although Lian Sheng guessed our plan, Jiang Jiake might not have believed her."

A commander hated nothing more than subordinates questioning their strategies and raising doubts. Repeated challenges could easily undermine their authority. This was especially true for Jiang Jiake, who already held some bias against Lian Sheng and had ample confidence in himself.

Because commanders saw things differently—they had their own considerations. Frontline soldiers often didn't understand this, and their suggestions were usually short-sighted and one-sided. This directly led to most commanders having a tendency toward stubbornness. Jiang Jiake was particularly obvious in this regard.

He made repeated mistakes and refused to reflect after being called out.

Ji Fangxiao continued, "Lian Sheng lured people to the central route. If this had been agreed upon, nearby troops should have gone to set up an encirclement, but they didn't. They took a long detour around the middle of the faction before intercepting Fang Jianchen's group, which means the commander didn't trust her words."

"The central defense line withdrew first before pulling back—a completely passive and delayed maneuver. If Lian Sheng hadn't intercepted, we might have successfully broken through," Ji Fangxiao said. "This means Jiang Jiake not only didn't trust her suggestions but also ignored her analysis."

Watching the opposing side blatantly ignore the correct answer and charge further down the wrong path was an indescribably complex feeling.

And when he thought about himself, it became even more complicated.

If Lian Sheng hadn't disrupted things earlier, making them cautious and slowing their advance, they might have already broken through from the right flank. Then they would have discovered the enemy's vulnerable rear and confirmed their plan was sound. They could have gathered their forces and broken through the central route that had been pried open.

Everything would have been perfect and logical.

What a shame to miss such a golden opportunity.

But it also proved that Jiang Jiake, as a first-time commander, wasn't quite up to par.

The only concern was whether Jiang Jiake would learn from his mistakes, accept Lian Sheng's advice, and adjust accordingly.

But it didn't matter—they now held the advantage.

They had missed once, but they wouldn't miss again.

On Jiang Jiake's side, they also received news that Zhao Zhuoluo's group had been repelled, and small enemy forces were now attacking the central route.

"I think they could have broken through earlier, but they didn't. They chose to wait and were driven back. This is contradictory—something must have happened," Zhou Shirui said. "It's strange that Fang Jianchen would willingly deliver himself to the central route. Maybe you should ask Lian Sheng for her opinion."

Jiang Jiake remained silent in thought.

Zhou Shirui shrugged.

The platoon leaders from the central route reported that there were no reinforcements, the enemy's offensive wasn't strong, and they could hold their ground.

Jiang Jiake nodded. "Good."

Before long, Lu Mingyuan's voice came over the public channel again: "Lian Sheng says to gather our forces first and not disperse them."

Jiang Jiake snapped, "Why does she keep contradicting me?"

Lu Mingyuan fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Lian Sheng says the enemy has already tested us. They shouldn't be sending small forces just to play around—they're probably trying to pin down our central defense line and scatter our forces. Our strategy might have been seen through, and the enemy is likely preparing for a strong assault. We need to respond quickly. Any later would be too late."

When you told a commander that their strategy had been seen through by the enemy—and this was only two hours into the match—any prideful person would fly into a rage.

Jiang Jiake was clearly such a person.

Jiang Jiake couldn't vent at Lu Mingyuan, nor could he mute a messenger. After all, Lian Sheng's platoon had twenty-four people—he couldn't possibly mute every single one.

Jiang Jiake roared, "The battle is a mess right now! Lian Sheng, what exactly have you done? You acted without orders, disrupted the battle plan, and made me misjudge the frontline situation. First, confess everything you've done!"

Zhou Shirui looked up at him and said, "Senior, there's no time to hear her explanation—we just need results. She's also part of the White Team and should understand the stakes. If we miss our chance, the responsibility is hers. Why not try her suggestion?"

Jiang Jiake pinched his chin and lowered his head without answering.

Lu Mingyuan said, "Lian Sheng says... the person talking to you now isn't her."

Jiang Jiake: "..."

Jiang Jiake forced himself to calm down. "Lu Mingyuan! We're peers, so I'm giving you face, but don't push me to the point where I have to turn against you!"

Lian Sheng stood with her hands on her hips, frowning. "'The principles of warfare state: if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, evade them; if weaker, avoid them.' Clearly, we're at a numerical disadvantage now. Not only that, but we're also scattered. A group of scattered soldiers charging at a prepared enemy force without any plan—I see no hope of victory."

"Plus, they've crossed the faction line. Given the mountainous terrain, they're attacking from higher ground, which is inherently disadvantageous for us," Lian Sheng said. "Look at the chaos on our side right now—is this a rescue mission? This is just wasting troops! Wait for the enemy's strong counterattack and see how many casualties we'll suffer!"

"I've been very patient in explaining and enduring someone who muted me!" Lian Sheng slammed her gun on the ground, her anger rising. "Listen to me—tell him he won't regret it! His orders are so sluggish—is he a woman?! Even women wield blades decisively! Does he know how many lives a timely order can save?!"

The others: "..."

Zheng Lei muttered, "Man, don't test my patience?"

Shen Yu kicked him. "Shut up! Stay serious!"

Lu Mingyuan automatically filtered out her sarcastic remarks and relayed the message.

"I think it's also a bit... too bold. Do you have a follow-up plan?" Lu Mingyuan asked after reporting, feeling uncertain himself. He doubted Jiang Jiake would accept it.

Lu Mingyuan reminded her, "The number of enemy troops in our faction territory counts against our score."

If they couldn't turn things around later, they might face the most devastating point deduction in history—perhaps even achieving the legendary feat of ending with negative points.

---

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