First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 46
Chapter 46: Film
Since they said they could watch a film in the evening, and the instructors remained mysteriously tight-lipped, the students gradually dispersed. Now that they were hungry, everyone hurried off to dinner.
Jiang Jiake was a bit scared.
Because upon carefully recalling his own actions back then, he felt somewhat ashamed. If they edited in footage of him cursing at the start and discriminating against Lian Sheng, it would be over! The slaps to his face would be so loud they could become a lifelong shadow.
Voluntarily relinquishing authority was one thing, but having command snatched away mid-battle was another. Thinking carefully about the consequences was quite devastating.
Taking advantage of the early hour, he ran to find the technician in charge of editing to discuss it.
The door was slightly ajar. He quietly pushed it open a crack and saw only two people inside. The others had probably gone to eat.
Doctor Lin was explaining his cinematic aesthetics to the technician.
"Um." Jiang Jiake spoke up as he stepped forward. "Hello, instructors."
The two turned to glance at him, then quickly looked back at the screen before nodding expressionlessly.
"......" Jiang Jiake placed two bags of drinks on the table. "It's about the film. My performance in this match really wasn't great, so regarding my scenes..."
The technician said, "Got it, got it. Don't worry. I've seen plenty of you youngsters' antics. We have standards—we won't make you look bad."
Jiang Jiake: "But instructor, your standards might differ from mine. How about letting me take a quick look first?"
The technician frowned. "Shoo, shoo! If everyone who wanted a look came by, would we be making personalized short films for them?"
Jiang Jiake said, "But I'm the protagonist! Instructor, I'm not just anyone—I'm the protagonist!"
The technician narrowed his eyes and replied, "Lian Sheng is the protagonist. You're all supporting characters."
Jiang Jiake: "......" No rebuttal for that!
Doctor Lin said, "Don't worry, we'll try to make your scenes pass by in a flash."
Jiang Jiake: "......"
He retreated to the door but overheard their conversation.
"This isn't a documentary—it's a movie. Tonight is a film-viewing class," Doctor Lin said. "Many have already participated in this exercise. If you don't polish and edit it, they won't enjoy watching it. Four-plus hours is also too long. Cut it."
The technician humbly sought advice: "What do you think?"
Doctor Lin: "This screening has a purpose—education. So you need to highlight the protagonist, with everything revolving around them. Keep two opponents as foils. Look, the list is already set. As for this random person, just give them a brief shot—don't waste too much time."
The technician exclaimed, "But isn't he a commander? Doesn't that make him a supporting character?"
Doctor Lin: "Those without contributions are extras. No matter how high their role is. And given his performance, if you include him, he probably wouldn't be happy either. You might as well forget about him."
Jiang Jiake: "......"
Were they talking about him? Why did it sound so heartbreaking?
But at least it meant he didn't need to worry anymore, right?
This was the first time they had edited students' exercise footage into a film. Because it was groundbreaking and significant, it would likely be preserved for posterity. So, considering the impact, they definitely wouldn't include negative portrayals of students. Instead, they would polish things up.
Of course, the White Team commander's performance in this match seemed beyond polishing, but they could still gloss over the worst parts.
At 8 p.m., the technical team finished rushing out the film.
It was essentially splicing together surveillance footage. They had followed the exercise in real-time and knew which moments were highlights and which audio clips to extract.
Though crudely made, the content was shocking enough.
The screening was held at the open-air command platform.
The instructors helped set up the equipment. The students sat cross-legged on the ground, looking up at the screen as they waited for it to start.
The hyper-realistic holographic projection startled even Lian Sheng at first glance.
In the footage, a figure charged forward with such force it seemed right in front of them. Lian Sheng instinctively raised her hand to block.
Zheng Lei, mistaking her gesture for reaching for water, eagerly handed her a bottle.
The students quieted down to watch.
The opening was an aerial shot, with both teams hidden in their respective positions. Then the whistle blew, and the camera zoomed in. The soldiers, guns slung over their shoulders, pushed through the wild grass as they advanced.
This segment showed both teams setting off. But the perspective shifts were exceptionally slick, keeping eyes glued to the screen.
The opening pace was slow, playing silently for half a minute as various angles let everyone clearly see both teams' initial deployments. Then sound finally kicked in.
The faint rustling of leaves, followed by the sound's owner pausing.
Ji Fangxiao's low voice spoke up: "From what I know of Jiang Jiake, he'll probably concentrate his forces to defend the front line. That means the White Team's rear will be vulnerable. If we can break through, it'll be our golden opportunity."
Ji Fangxiao sat cross-legged at the rear of his camp, studying the map before him. "This is Jiang Jiake's first time as commander, so his attention to detail might be lacking. That's our chance. Though we can't be certain, we can test it. If it works, then we can..."
Three platoons were then named to attempt flanking maneuvers on both sides.
The scene cut straight to the front line, where Lian Sheng's platoon faced Fang Jianchen.
Gunfire erupted as snipers showed off their skills.
Lian Sheng's voice provided narration over the gunfire: "I know your strategy—just guessing here. You brought people to..."
She guessed almost everything correctly, without missing a beat.
After a brief lull in the fighting, Fang Jianchen reported back truthfully. Ji Fangxiao fell silent.
The audience covered their mouths, gasping: "...No way!"
The White Team had been muted from hearing Lian Sheng's input early on. Yet from the very start, she had possessed a god's-eye view? If Jiang Jiake had listened to her even once, how could the White Team have ended up in such dire straits?
The Red Team members were equally baffled. When they first heard the news, even they had wavered internally. Having their strategy guessed flipped the dynamics of initiative entirely—yet the White Team hadn't acted on it. They couldn't understand why.
Jiang Jiake's face burned red as he kept his posture rigid, pretending not to hear the murmurs around him.
Seemingly to save him face, an instructor's voice chimed in, briefly explaining the myriad challenges and information a commander faced on the battlefield.
"Hmm. A real shame. But understandable. It's an extremely high bar for command skills."
Then it cut straight to the White Team being overwhelmed by the Red Team's concentrated assault.
The aerial view showed the White Team in complete disarray.
They looked like a leaderless mob, scattering in panic. Jiang Jiake's hoarse commands played in the background, but no one listened.
On the field, they could only see what was right in front of them. But now, from a macro view, the situation was even worse than they'd realized.
Chaotic movements, crumbling morale. Most were already fleeing blindly under pursuit.
"At this point, it's already a major strategic blunder... If they can't stabilize soon, panic will take over." Zhou Shirui calmly organized his charts as he stood. "I think you should ask Lian Sheng for her input."
"Lian Sheng, I'd like your thoughts on the situation," Jiang Jiake said. "Your thoughts on the current situation."
Everyone knew this part had been edited, so glances subtly drifted toward the involved parties.
Lian Sheng suddenly sat bolt upright, her voice bright and loud as she shouted: "Everyone, follow my orders—!"
Starting from this line, background music swelled in the film.
A rhythmic drumbeat pulsed alongside Lian Sheng's stirring rallying cries, echoing in their ears.
The technician spliced together a segment of the comms' chaotic, headache-inducing reports. Lian Sheng listened intently, hands on hips, while Lu Mingyuan sketched rapidly.
Lian Sheng patiently acknowledged each report. Once they finished, she raised her arm, pointing straight at the sky.
Just the four words—"Follow my orders!"—carried boundless force, as if everything was firmly within her grasp.
Her figure stood with its back to the camera as she coolly issued command after command.
Rapid-fire speech, yet crystal-clear enunciation, interspersed with reassurance...
Multiple scenes overlapped—Lian Sheng's back, soldiers charging forward, the map gradually filling with converging forces.
Then, amid earth-shaking shouts, the White Team broke through the encirclement and stormed the Red Team's camp.
"Whoa—whoa!!"
The audience erupted in cheers.
Experiencing it firsthand versus watching from the sidelines were completely different.
As the crowd roared, Lian Sheng tilted her head back and spread her arms. Countless phantom figures flooded her vision. Confidence and power radiated from her.
Using sheer manpower to calculate data, she had somehow unified their scattered allies into a single force.
This wasn't just a testament to the data analyst's skill. Her timely responses and commands proved Lian Sheng also held a complete battlefield map in her mind.
The audience's doubts were finally answered. How had the White Team managed such a comeback? For no other reason than their commander's absolute competence.
They dared say that across the entire Command Department, few could have pulled this off.
Spontaneous applause broke out, nearly drowning out the film.
From then on, the film was one climax after another.
The entire runtime showcased the two commanders' guessing games and deductions.
Their dialogue shifted with each scene, following the battle's progression—a proper war film full of deception.
Ji Fangxiao's meticulous planning versus Lian Sheng's flawless calculations. The Red Team's brimming confidence against Lian Sheng's relentless motivation.
In the end, Lian Sheng's deeper understanding of Ji Fangxiao—and Ji Fangxiao's excessive caution toward her—decided the outcome.
As Lian Sheng raised both arms to issue her final command, the White Team lunged forward, firing desperately. The film faded to black.
When the gunfire ceased, the audience was left dazed, a vague sense of loss hanging over them.
What left the deepest impression was Lian Sheng's voice.
From clear and bright to hoarse by the end. Every word seemed to roar straight into their blood, awakening their warrior instincts.
This was truly—a commander's stage!
Midway through, there had been constant laughter. But now, silence prevailed.
They thought it was over and were about to applaud when, after a black screen, Lian Sheng reappeared.
These weren't continuous scenes but fragmented outtakes.
In the footage, Lian Sheng panted heavily at the rear of the formation. Hunched over, stumbling, her breathing labored. The heavy sniper rifle on her back weighed her down as she struggled forward.
Her comrades ahead pulled farther away, yet she still clutched her chest while continuing to rally them.
Lying in ambush in the grass, her head knocked against the ground, too exhausted to move. Yet her comms voice remained light as she taught them how to act and deceive the enemy.
Her hands trembled as she steadied her rifle. She took a deep breath, then gripped it tightly, peering through the scope.
A soldier botched an order. After a brief silence, an almost inaudible sigh escaped her before her voice regained its confident tone: "It's fine, follow my orders—"
This sigh was the outtakes' final note.
And it tugged at everyone's heartstrings.
Yes. She hadn't been as effortlessly flawless or invincibly strong as she seemed. Their initial biases toward her weren't unfounded—she did have many shortcomings.
In this battle, merely keeping up with the others had been a struggle. Yet through sheer charisma, she made them overlook her weaknesses.
Not only had she shouldered the commander's burden, but she had also become the team's soul.
When they faltered, she reignited their fighting spirit and belief in victory. Step by step, she led them out of despair, bearing the pressure alone.
They had stood up because of Lian Sheng.
Her iron will, unshakable conviction, her sense of responsibility and courage—how many could claim the same?
Why had they been so unreliable? In the end, they still made her sigh?
Looking back, they were disappointed in themselves too.
After all this, Lian Sheng had gotten zero points!
Zheng Lei turned to her, eyes brimming with tears. "Sis Lian, thank you. Really. I'm sorry."
Lian Sheng watched his emotional display but said nothing.
That sigh hadn't meant anything special—she just thought they were a bit... dumb.
The students were stirred, especially the White Team.
Lights flickered back on as an instructor stepped forward to address them.
The students quickly quieted down.
The instructor asked, "After watching, does anyone still think the Red Team lost because of command errors?"
No one spoke.
"Judging purely by soldier quality, the Red Team held the advantage from start to finish. They were calmer, more organized, more combat-ready. But if you were in Ji Fangxiao's position, could you have done better? Most of you couldn't." The instructor exhaled. "From what we just saw, I think Ji Fangxiao performed exceptionally well. With zero intel on the enemy, he made bold hypotheses. He mediated disputes among teammates and wisely considered suggestions. When ahead, he didn't grow arrogant; when trapped, he didn't panic."
The audience nodded.
True enough. Judging by the thrilling duel at the end, Ji Fangxiao had embodied what a commander should be. The enemy was just too cunning.
"When at a disadvantage, one dares to gamble. But when holding all the cards, would you? Of course not. That's human nature." The instructor said, "I believe Ji Fangxiao's greatest mistake was that his opponent understood him better than he understood himself."
"I told you earlier—your loss wasn't without reason. In this exercise, you were outmatched."
The instructor's words struck like thunder: "This world has people who excel at whatever they do. They always seem closer to success than you. But 'seem' is the key word. Success is never that simple. If it looks easy, you're lucky—because someone else has already endured the hardship."
The students lowered their heads, staring at their palms.
Whether the joy of victory or the bitterness of defeat, all had been washed away by now.
The instructor turned sideways. "Comrade Lian Sheng, please come up. Do you have anything to say to them?"
Lian Sheng stepped forward, gazing at the sea of dark heads and watching eyes. For a moment, she felt dazed.
She envied them. They were so fortunate.
During exercises, they still got hot soup and meals. They had advanced gear, rich knowledge, clear divisions of labor. Instructors who seemed strict but cared deeply. Medical support on standby with ample supplies.
They had endless chances to try again, opportunities to regret.
She hadn't.
On battlefields paved with bones, from the moment you set foot, there was no room for regret or retreat.
But this was fine too. The bright future she'd once imagined paled in comparison to even a fraction of what they had now.
Now, she was just another ordinary person.
What could she say to them?
Lian Sheng parted her lips slightly and nodded. "Do your best."
Without hardship to temper you, then please—step by step, walk firmly forward.
The instructor wanted her to say more, but the audience was already applauding enthusiastically.
"Well said—!" The students cheered. "So inspiring!!"
Instructor: "......"
Want to dive deeper into the story? You can request bonus chapters or grab the complete Part 1 (147 chapters) as an EPUB from my Ko-fi shop!
Thank you for the update~
ReplyDelete