First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 99
Chapter 99: Suppression
"What an excellent deputy commander!" Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said with exasperation. "What do you think?"
Zhou Shirui: "...Good."
Ji Fangxiao found the scene rather bizarre: "...So what's your conclusion?"
Lian Sheng: "Be an upright person."
Bright Bulb: "Be a smart person!"
Lian Sheng declared righteously: "I shall reject his kind offer!"
Turning to the comrades who came to tip her off, Lian Sheng replied solemnly: "Thank you for your kind reminder and your noble quality of hating evil. However, I still hope both sides can engage in serious combat. Since this is a battlefield, as military academy students, we should always discipline ourselves with strict military conduct. If everyone uses such despicable means to disrupt battlefield order, it will become meaningless, and the reason we stand here would merely be someone's pastime entertainment. Therefore, this has nothing to do with the enemy's tactics or the final outcome—it's about our own convictions and dignity."
"From the moment the battle begins, we are enemies. Please don't hesitate to raise your weapons and fight with all your might for victory!"
The male student opposite was quite perceptive, responding loudly: "Yes! Salute to Colonel Liliana!"
Lian Sheng: "Salute!"
Zhou Shirui beside Lian Sheng: "..."
Bro, this is a bit too fake.
Lian Sheng turned her head and raised an eyebrow at him.
A general who can't flatter is prone to an early demise.
"Uh..." Stroke of Brilliance looked at the screen and said, "The Piaoqi Great General has righteously rejected intelligence from the enemy's friendly forces and confirmed them as enemies. So what should she do now?"
Liliana curled her lips: "Although what she just said sounds foolish, it is indeed the self-awareness and bottom line a soldier should have. A soldier who likes to toe the line or make excuses wouldn't last a day in my army."
Stroke of Brilliance glanced at the fans frantically spamming comments below, mostly calling the Piaoqi Great General pretentious and arguing for Xia Yanfeng. Clearing his throat, he asked on their behalf: "But such behavior isn't uncommon in Sanyao, and realistically speaking, the absence of spies is unrealistic. So for the battlefield, isn't this also a form of strategy and preparation?"
The background noise fell silent for a few seconds as Liliana didn't respond.
Though they weren't commentating together in person, Stroke of Brilliance could still feel the invisible killing intent from across the distance.
Just as he was about to laugh it off awkwardly, Liliana spoke: "Originally, the large battlefield only had five thousand people to test the commanders' tactical skills and the soldiers' teamwork. If you want to make excuses and nitpick about so-called realism, then what's even more unrealistic is relying on so-called spy warfare for every operation. Hmm? Do you think the military department plants a spy so easily? Do you think spy selection doesn't require IQ assessments? Do you think even if there were spies, they'd dare to transmit intelligence so frequently? Nonsense!"
If her earlier tone was calm yet authoritative, now everyone could sense her displeasure. She rarely spoke so much at once, and every word carried harsh criticism.
"Or do you think having so many spies in one team should be considered realistic? Why use such hypocritical excuses to cover up unfair facts? Admitting one's shortcomings is indeed difficult, but reversing black and white to conceal hypocrisy is utterly despicable! If this were under my command, such situations would never be tolerated! This is the collective pride of our entire Expeditionary Sixth Army!"
Stroke of Brilliance shrank his neck and laughed awkwardly: "So you think Ms. Xia Yanfeng's behavior..."
"Isn't she an actress?" Liliana suddenly deflated, as if bored. "Don't worry, we won't hold others to our standards."
Stroke of Brilliance: "Ms. Xia Yanfeng herself aspires to join the military but lacks professional training, so she's missing some awareness. However, these are just minor issues that can be corrected..."
"Rule-breaking is never clever nor something to be proud of, no matter the circumstances. If you choose to participate in the game, don't question the rules' fairness to seek special privileges." Liliana cut him off. "Ultimately, what are they trying to prove with this competition? Popularity or skill? If it's the former, it's just entertainment. If it's the latter, it's a belief. I have nothing more to say about this."
Stroke of Brilliance could feel it—he could feel Liliana's intense resentment toward Xia Yanfeng, and the audience vaguely sensed it too.
The military academy students were nearly moved to tears.
Having Liliana as a commentator was fantastic. Across the entire Sanyao platform, no other commentator dared to speak so bluntly. Telling the truth to a bunch of fanatics required courage.
Sure enough, the comments section erupted into arguments again. Or rather, it had never stopped since the beginning.
"Careful, pretentiousness gets struck by lightning. Are military students or soldiers all like this when they talk?"
"Well said, hahaha! The goddess's roast was perfect!"
"How is my Feng despicable? Our fans volunteered, okay?"
"When deserters on the battlefield say, 'We volunteered,' don't you want to shove a gun barrel down their throats and shoot it out the other end?"
"Holy shit, comment above! Reported—for your own good, seriously."
"Stop with the 'my Feng' nonsense. Compare both sides' skills. Let's see if your Feng can win a single match without resorting to such tactics."
"Liliana clearly dislikes Xia Yanfeng. This judgment is biased."
"Yeah, as a commentator, shouldn't she at least remain impartial? Talking so big, but isn't she just the same?"
"Holy shit, a referee disliking a rule-breaking player is biased? A cop disliking a wrongdoer is biased? Do I owe the world's criminals an apology?"
"Comment above is twisting the argument. Everyone plays with friends—how is that a crime? Can you be any more exaggerated?"
Meanwhile, at the front lines, Lian Sheng's team.
The soldiers were still advancing in scattered formation.
A few company leaders mixed among the troops, searching for reliable comrades while marching. Generally, military academy students wouldn't pose major issues. Based on the numbers on their chests and random conversations, they gradually identified candidates.
After selecting a few, they were secretly sent back to base to retrieve signal converters.
Zhou Shirui hid their location markers on the map after they departed.
Lian Sheng ordered: "Upon reaching designated positions, all personnel hold your ground and switch to combat readiness. Do not deploy signal converters yet—await further instructions!"
Next, Lian Sheng had Zhou Shirui pull up private channels for several soldiers.
Lian Sheng said: "Scouts will now move forward to report. You are the selected personnel. Maintain silence and do not disclose your role. Proceed directly to assigned locations for reconnaissance, with the requirement to report frontline developments promptly."
These privately contacted individuals were randomly chosen from each squad.
After the first batch advanced, she selected a second group to position at another open area. The locations overlapped in visibility, ensuring that scouts from different batches had no contact and no knowledge of each other's identities or positions.
Lian Sheng couldn't rule out spies in her own ranks, but she couldn't avoid using these soldiers either. The only solution was to limit spies' actions through other means.
In overlapping fields of vision, if one scout reported developments while another didn't, it provided grounds for suspicion. If spies wanted to remain hidden longer, they'd have to demonstrate loyalty.
Her strategy was simple: small groups, multiple batches, cross-monitoring, and maintaining order.
If you have the skill, don't let your fox tail show.
Lian Sheng's team had wasted too much time and was still in the lower half of the map. The first batch of scouts ran ahead and soon reported enemy movements.
Judging by the distance, the opposing force was advancing much faster.
Lian Sheng contacted Ji Fangxiao: "It's your company they're targeting. They're heading your way with about one company's strength. Stay alert."
Ji Fangxiao, keeping his distance from the others, whispered: "Then let's regroup with the right flank first."
Lian Sheng: "Good. I'm coming too."
Their combat strength was too weak—achieving a two-to-one advantage was already impressive. They had to ensure numerical superiority in the first clash.
Xia's team had penetrated deep into enemy territory, seemingly brimming with confidence.
The second batch of soldiers sent to retrieve signal converters had arrived. The converters were placed around the signal station—Lian Sheng's location.
Lian Sheng randomly picked one soldier to stay behind while the others left with the heavy packs.
"Take off your uniform," Lian Sheng said, removing her own jacket. "From now on, you're sitting in the commander's seat. Do your best, comrade."
"..." The soldier said, "But the enemy won't get here that fast. Does it matter if I'm here or not?"
Lian Sheng: "By the time they arrive, it'll be too late to switch."
They exchanged uniforms, and Lian Sheng saluted him and Zhou Shirui: "Take care, you two. The commander is leaving first."
Lian Sheng slung her rifle over her shoulder and hurried to the front lines, continuing to issue orders along the way.
"Scouts confirming safe zones—find concealed locations to deploy converters."
"I know this map well," Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said. "Excellent deputy commander, let me recommend some spots. What do you think?"
He then listed several coordinates, which Zhou Shirui marked directly, ordering the soldiers to install the devices there.
Lian Sheng barked: "Converter deployment is assigned only to designated personnel! All others maintain positions! Scouts hold your ground! All troops except Sixth and Ninth Companies—continue advancing!"
Zhou Shirui erased the markers of the first ten soldiers wearing officers' uniforms, allowing them to move covertly.
Lian Sheng: "Sixth Company—move right! Ninth Company—move left!"
Lian Sheng's overall commands seemed chaotic since she was directing ten companies across different positions single-handedly. One moment she'd address First Company, the next Seventh Company.
Zhou Shirui usually repeated her orders separately to each company's channel afterward to ensure clarity.
So far, while the soldiers were confused about the purpose of her directives, they followed them accurately without mistakes.
Her ability to assign tasks so precisely despite not being on the front lines suggested that company leaders were embedded in their units, feeding her updates without revealing themselves.
A few soldiers peeked around cautiously, trying to identify the hidden leaders. But the surroundings were too noisy, the formation too disorderly—nothing stood out.
Meanwhile, Xia's raiding team received word that their targets were relocating.
First Company's leader said: "They haven't deployed converters yet. Seems they're vigilant."
Someone asked: "Do we keep chasing or switch targets?"
"Keep chasing. Their ranks are in disarray—we can easily pick them off. Besides, we don't know the other converter locations either. Their secrecy is impressive." The company leader laughed. "If two companies can't beat one, wouldn't that crush their morale even harder?"
By now, Lian Sheng had reached a fork in the road ahead. She continued forward while the green markers on the map veered left.
Almost no one noticed this subtle shift.
Liliana scanned the map, her eyelid twitching.
Ji Fangxiao was assigned to Sixth Company, Fang Jianchen to Ninth—both racing to regroup.
Ji Fangxiao said: "Too slow. Morale's rock bottom. We need to light a fire under them."
Lian Sheng was also furious: "Sixth and Ninth Companies—listen up! IDs 4132, 1156, 1792, 3815, 2573—halt, turn around, and open fire! Eliminate all stragglers behind you!"
The soldiers panicked momentarily, stopping to look back.
Ji Fangxiao raised his gun and took out two first. His weapon overheated, forcing him to pause and signal to others nearby.
Lian Sheng roared: "Are my orders unclear? Is 'march in a straight line' too complicated? If you can't follow instructions, are your brains smaller than walnuts?! Stop making excuses—I have every reason to suspect you're deliberately slowing us down!"
"Every minute on the battlefield is crucial! Undisciplined, disorganized soldiers are worse than mud! Everyone here today is fighting seriously, investing effort and dedication! If you signed up for this, show some basic responsibility—don't be a damn nuisance!"
Someone muttered: "We were just talking."
His voice echoed in the channel, startling those nearby.
Lian Sheng exploded: "I've given you three chances! First at the rally point, then at the deployment site—this is the third! If you have so much to chat about, log off and talk all you want! Stop testing my patience!"
"From now on, each company gets three overseers. Anyone lagging, slacking, or falling behind—they have authority to execute on sight!"
She then appointed overseers—trusted military academy members selected earlier.
They collected the fallen soldiers' weapons.
Lian Sheng barked: "Move out! Double time!"
This time, the troops finally picked up speed, sprinting toward the center.
From the start, Lian Sheng had suppressed them repeatedly.
Covert operations, brutal discipline. If she couldn't deliver results soon, these soldiers might snap under the pressure. After all, they weren't real troops.
During the military academy league matches, Lian Sheng thought those soldiers were chaotic enough—until she participated in a Sanyao netizen battle.
Later, she assumed that would be her limit, at least for a while. Yet barely two months later, here she was again.
Life, it seemed, was about constantly expanding one's horizons to keep one's temper in check.
Midway, Lian Sheng removed her backpack and installed a converter. Meanwhile, Ji Fangxiao and Fang Jianchen's units linked up. Based on map positions and scout reports, they adjusted their approach, preparing to engage. Lian Sheng relayed the details.
The first clash was about to begin.
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Boo pig teammates!
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