First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 180
Chapter 180: Weaponry
They, along with Lian Sheng, made a total of seven people, all looking like hungry chicks waiting to be fed.
Lian Sheng thought to herself, This ancestor still needs to be fed? Maybe I shouldn't be one after all.
But she was genuinely hungry.
After cleaning all day without a drop of water, unlike the instructor who only supervised, patrolled without doing any work, and even managed to snag an apple from somewhere to reward himself.
Most students were probably in their rooms snacking to satisfy their cravings. But Lian Sheng wanted something hot.
Lian Sheng went to unpack her suitcase. Lin Lie had packed a lot of seasonings for her.
Ordinary ingredients were available in the 12th District, but what one might miss the most would be the taste of seasonings.
Lin Lie truly lived up to being a mother!
Fang Jianchen pointed proudly at the vegetables next to the pot: "When I realized we'd be staying in civilian housing, I anticipated this outcome. So at noon, I went to the nearby market to buy some stuff in advance. But I wasn't sure if we could use their fridge, so I only bought a little."
The instructor had given them a hint, saying people in the 12th District didn't like soldiers. Plus, despite staying here, the host had never shown up. It was clear that while they had offered their home, fear or dislike was the predominant sentiment.
Lian Sheng tossed out a pack of hotpot base, and everyone gasped in unison, crowding around. They were not disappointed!
After confirming the door was tightly shut, they opened the windows for ventilation. The seven of them huddled together, holding small bowls, and started boiling hotpot in the room.
Amid the hazy smoke, Ji Ban looked up and said, "I think if the landlord finds out, we might get beaten."
Cheng Ze asked, "Why? We cooked our own food, we earned it."
"Because of the smoke," Ji Ban pointed upward. "This will stain the walls yellow."
Everyone: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Everyone: "..."
As they pondered how to deal with the stained section of the wall, a knock suddenly came from the door.
Lian Sheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "Come in."
Fang Jianchen almost simultaneously blurted out, "We've already finished eating!"
Lian Sheng: "..."
Lian Sheng: "..."
Lian Sheng: "..."
The girl at the door: "..."
The girl peeked in and asked softly, "Are you full then?"
She had long red hair, a face dotted with freckles, and a round, fair complexion, looking about seventeen or eighteen. She wore pajamas, clearly ready for bed.
Fang Jianchen glanced down at her hands and shook his head. "We could eat a little more."
The girl then placed the fruit she was holding on the floor, pushed it forward, and whispered, "Then make do with this for now. Also, there's a kitchen on the first floor."
Lian Sheng asked, "Does it smell?"
The girl replied, "The smell isn't bad..."
Everyone relaxed.
The girl continued, "But it's very loud."
The girl mimicked: "Grab two more lettuce leaves! Put the meat in first. That's not cooked yet, keep boiling it! Add water, add water!"
Fang Jianchen, his brain short-circuiting, said, "So... do you want to join us? We still have some leftovers in the pot."
The girl said, "No, I just want you to finish quickly and go to bed."
Lian Sheng, torn between laughter and tears, said, "Sorry, we'll clean up right away."
The girl stared at them for a moment, smoothed her hair, and gently closed the door.
Lian Sheng: "I was going to say the soundproofing here..."
Ye Buqing tapped the floor experimentally. "Thin walls, understandable."
"You don't think this is..." Fang Jianchen lowered his voice, "an illegal construction, right? The quality is this bad?"
It was practically like having a listening device in the room.
Lian Sheng said, "This is also an opportunity. From now on, remember to compliment the girl every time you come back."
They quickly gathered the pots and bowls and took them to the kitchen sink on the first floor.
Having witnessed the building's miraculous lack of soundproofing, they didn't dare run the water to wash the dishes and decided to deal with it tomorrow. But leaving them in the sink wasn't an option either, so they eventually placed them on the rack outside.
The next morning, at five o'clock sharp, the instructor came to wake them up.
It was still dark outside, with temperatures near freezing. The air was damp, making it feel even colder. Everyone crawled out of their blankets, immediately shivering from the cold wind.
After silently getting ready, they followed the instructor out of the building and jogged in formation toward the training base.
The nearby market was already starting to set up stalls. Fang Jianchen couldn't help but look, finding it novel. He was about to speak when the wind rushed into his mouth, forcing him to shut it.
Though they'd only been here for half a day, they already knew the most grueling thing about the 12th District might be the weather.
High humidity, drastic temperature swings, and strong winds. It probably rained a lot too. If they couldn't adjust, many of them would likely fall ill.
The instructor picked up the pace, leading the run. After half an hour, they finally warmed up. Breathing heavily, their limbs no longer stiff from the cold.
By seven o'clock, they reached the training base.
As the sun rose, the temperature soared again. Upon arrival, everyone started shedding layers.
The base in the 12th District was very rudimentary, with a small footprint. Judging by the outer security and defense systems, the style was somewhat traditional.
Equipment and materials were haphazardly stacked outside, and even the watchtowers were manned manually.
Compared to this, the 36th District's base was like a luxury suite.
Lian Sheng observed quietly.
Given the local prices, it seemed the 12th District had invested most of its funds into maintaining daily resources for its residents—a very enlightened approach. Despite having strong military defenses, they still chose a remote, small plot of land far from residents for their base.
If this were a peaceful district, it probably wouldn't be worse off than the 29th District.
When they arrived, the local soldiers were already training. Their shouts shook the sky, most of them young.
They ran past without a glance, then lined up to enter the cafeteria.
The instructor waved at them. "Come on, let's go eat breakfast first."
Everyone lined up behind the soldiers and entered the cafeteria.
Only after getting in line did Lian Sheng notice two pots in the cafeteria. The one serving them had more rice than broth, a full bowl. Side dishes, buns, and eggs were self-serve, placed to the side.
The one for the regular soldiers only had a bowl of porridge and a small side dish.
Everyone took their trays and found seats, eating in silence.
The instructor slurped his porridge quickly and urged, "Hurry up and eat."
Ji Ban, who usually ate slowly, grew anxious and asked, "What's the rush? Is there an emergency?"
The instructor swallowed a bite of bun without much chewing and said, "Our meals are paid for separately by the Alliance. The ingredients on the left are for us. But how many portions do you think that is?"
It had to be at least a hundred servings.
"After we finish eating, the rest can be distributed to the other soldiers. If we're late, the porridge and buns will be cold, so eat quickly." The instructor added, "Be good, everyone. If you're still hungry, we can buy some fruit later. Food here isn't expensive."
Lian Sheng asked, "Do soldiers here get high subsidies?"
"How could they? Post-war reconstruction consumes half the total budget. There are frequent local conflicts here. Routine weapon maintenance is already a problem—how much subsidy could soldiers get? Keeping them fed is already an achievement." The instructor said, "Don't worry, everyone goes through this. You'll train at the base, which is the farthest from the combat zone. It's relatively safe."
Everyone was stunned.
Being a soldier here was like this? Yesterday, they'd felt sorry for themselves. Now, they realized they were just being spoiled.
They finished breakfast in five minutes, leaving nothing behind, then headed out to the open field.
A squad was resting on the field.
Aside from those sitting in groups, a few scattered soldiers sat around, holding breakfast, eating expressionlessly, seemingly out of place.
The instructor went over to greet them. "Excuse me, where is Lieutenant Colonel Cornell?"
The soldier replied, "Probably outside the back wall."
The instructor said, "Thanks."
The instructor waved at them again and led them around to the perimeter.
From afar, they saw a golden-haired boy leaning against the wall, seemingly sunbathing. The instructor approached and called out, "Lieutenant Colonel Cornell."
The people behind him were stunned, murmuring, "No way, he's already a lieutenant colonel? So young?!"
Lian Sheng recognized him as the boy she'd entrusted her last words to.
Cornell flicked his cap onto his head and stood to face them.
His muscles were well-defined. He stood about 185 cm tall. His face held a vague familiarity, but Lian Sheng couldn't place it.
His expression was blank, unreadable. He saluted the instructor perfunctorily.
His gaze swept over the group, then settled on Lian Sheng. "Five hundred meters?"
Lian Sheng: "Huh?"
The boy thought for a moment. "Big bed?"
The boy racked his brain. "Hundred Meter Flying Dagger?"
The boy gave up. "What's your name?"
"..." Lian Sheng said, "My name is Dad."
Cornell's face remained impassive, his tone flat, as if her words meant nothing to him. He turned and said, "I'm your instructor. Follow me."
This reaction was something Lian Sheng wasn't used to.
The instructor reminded them, "I'm heading back now. I'll pick you up tonight. Don't wander off, or you'll get lost. Lieutenant Colonel Cornell, thank you."
Cornell nodded casually.
As soon as the instructor left, someone vaulted over the wall and landed beside them.
His uniform was sloppily worn, sleeves rolled up—his appearance was utterly unconventional.
A young man with wheat-colored skin, he grinned and said, "You're so lucky. Coming to the military and getting escorted like kindergarteners."
Was this an insult? It had to be.
"But no one escorted me to kindergarten," the boy suddenly grinned wider. "I never even went to kindergarten!"
"I'm Harry!" The boy nudged Cornell. "Why don't you introduce me?"
Cornell remained silent, leading the way.
Harry, used to this, followed and drawled, "Cornell! How's it going? I filed a report—I'm training with you today!"
Cornell ignored him. Harry amused himself by interacting with the group.
He circled around, then spotted Lian Sheng.
Their eyes met, and Lian Sheng immediately sensed trouble.
Harry snapped his fingers excitedly and sidled up. "Oh, I know you! The three of us rescued you in the 36th District. Remember us?"
Lian Sheng had to say, "Thank you for that."
Harry waved it off. "No need. It wasn't really our choice anyway."
Lian Sheng: "..." How was she supposed to respond to that?
"Your people said you'd already taken the signal tower in the 36th District, and the Gelen forces were retreating, planning to silence witnesses. They told us to rush in for a rescue. Our boss believed it, so we went." Harry shrugged. "But as soon as we entered the city, we knew we'd been tricked—there was no signal! But we couldn't turn back without getting chewed out, so we just charged in."
"..." Lian Sheng thought Hundred Meter Flying Dagger was too clever for his own good. She rubbed her face. "Still, thank you."
Harry waved magnanimously. "Don't mention it. Thank the guy who gave the order. I've been cursing him nonstop lately."
Cornell led them through a small gate to a corner, pointing at a row of boxes. "This is your gear. One per person. Go get it."
Lian Sheng and the others each took a box and opened it. Inside were firearms and some auxiliary tools.
"Know how to use these? Put them all on. Stuff them wherever you can, but remember where you put them." Cornell pointed at another pile. "Put on the clothes. Wash them after use."
Harry repeated everything, hands behind his head, swaying beside Cornell. "I'll help train them. I'll train with you."
Cornell simply shoved him away.
Zhao Zhuoluo spun a grenade in his hand. "Are these real or fake?"
They were incredibly realistic—weight, texture, appearance, every detail was perfect. But the armory also included directional explosives, which couldn't possibly be for training.
Cornell said, "Fake. Training materials."
He took one and tossed it outside.
The black grenade landed and emitted a red light, marking its effective kill radius.
"The red line is its lethal range. Anyone inside is dead." Cornell suited up as well. "Today, we're guarding the watchtower and doing some positional drills."
Everyone followed instructions and geared up.
Cornell pointed at them one by one, counting. "One, two, three, four..."
Zhao Zhuoluo reminded him, "There are sixty-seven of us."
Cornell ignored him and kept counting until he reached sixty-seven.
Everyone was baffled until Cornell said, "Remember the numbers I just called. Those are your names now."
The watchtower stood not far outside the wall. Once they were geared up, Cornell led them over.
A squad was patrolling the outer perimeter. Cornell called them over. After assembling, they lined up behind him—about thirty-five soldiers.
Cornell pointed at Lian Sheng's group. "You guard the watchtower. We'll attack in half an hour. We're leaving now."
Harry tagged along uninvited. "I'll help you! I'll help!"
Watching them decisively leave the watchtower, everyone was stunned.
This training method—or team arrangement—was incredibly casual.
They looked up at the watchtower, then at Lian Sheng, waiting for her input.
Lian Sheng said, "Then let's get ready. I'll take command."
"First, familiarize yourselves with your weapons. Disperse and take positions." Lian Sheng adjusted her comms. "Confirm comms are working. Lu Mingyuan, start mapping."
Lu Mingyuan paused, then nodded.
Lian Sheng asked, "Who knows how to operate the watchtower?"
"Me, me!" Ji Ban raised his hand. "I can operate most machines!"
Lian Sheng said, "Then you and Lu Mingyuan go to the watchtower. You'll relay combat updates. The rest of you, find positions around the watchtower to ambush."
One boy hesitated. "Isn't it weird to ambush near the watchtower? That's not standard procedure."
Lian Sheng snorted. "He said he'd attack in half an hour. Why be polite?"
She patted her pants pocket. "Any questions about the gear in the boxes?"
The auxiliary tools were all new. In the past, they wouldn't have known how to use them. But in the 29th District, Lin Lie had given them lessons and demonstrations. They just weren't very familiar yet.
Seeing no objections, Lian Sheng said, "Then let's begin. Our goal is to ambush and win this. Confidence?"
Everyone replied, "Yes!"
Lian Sheng said, "Report positions in ten minutes. Disperse!"
Everyone shouldered their weapons. Those who knew each other paired up and found suitable spots.
In front of the watchtower was a large open area. Beyond that, the terrain became denser with residential buildings and greenery—perfect for ambushes.
Since the goal was an assault, everyone instinctively positioned themselves near the main road, finding cover and hiding.
Lu Mingyuan hurriedly mapped based on reported positions.
Lian Sheng hid behind a tall building, adjusting everyone's positions based on the map data on her comms. She also reminded them to mind their sightlines and the streets.
Half an hour later, Ji Ban announced, "Enemy approaching, enemy approaching."
Lian Sheng studied the scout's images. "Listen up! Frontline, hold your positions. Snipers, ready! Observe the enemy's strategy first—don't act rashly!"
Compared to Lian Sheng's caution, the assault team seemed sloppy.
Harry charged out first, going straight at them. He wasn't carrying a gun, just two grenades, sprinting along a wall.
It was unclear what type of grenades he held.
Their gear included multiple types of explosives, each person's box slightly different. Broadly, there were seven types.
Timed explosives. Pull-ring grenades. Directional high-yield explosives. Remote-controlled flying explosives. Gas grenades. Electromagnetic interference grenades. Smoke grenades.
Directional high-yield explosives came in horizontal and vertical variants. Electromagnetic interference grenades disrupted surveillance and comms.
There was also a propulsion-based auxiliary tool.
Lian Sheng said, "Watch out—he might have electromagnetic interference grenades. Flankers, stay quiet and don't give away your positions. Fang Jianchen, take the shot."
Fang Jianchen had already set up his sniper rifle, aiming at Harry. The distance wasn't extreme—the 12th District lacked tall buildings. He'd chosen a mid-height structure to cover both sides.
Because the range was relatively close, Harry's movements seemed especially agile.
Fang Jianchen adjusted his aim but couldn't guarantee a clean hit as Harry neared his optimal range. He fired.
The shot landed near Harry's feet, missing.
Harry was faster than expected.
Fang Jianchen reloaded, clicking his tongue. "He's too fast!"
Harry noticed the attack, sidestepped, and kept running. He turned and waved at Fang Jianchen's position, signaling he'd been spotted.
Fang Jianchen ducked behind the wall and reported, "He spotted me. Preparing to retreat—give me a safe route!"
Lian Sheng said, "Run now! He's priming a grenade for you."
Fang Jianchen froze. "You're kidding. That's way too far."
Lian Sheng repeated, "Run—!"
Fang Jianchen peeked out. Two grenades arced toward him.
As the first grenade began descending, the second detonated, emitting a red pulse.
In reality, the blast would've propelled the first grenade toward Fang Jianchen, possibly detonating above him.
The newly healed skin on his back would've been torn open again.
But this was training—both grenades harmlessly hit the ground. Fang Jianchen was safe.
But his mood was far from cheerful.
Lu Mingyuan ran simulations and said, "If you hadn't dodged, you'd be dead."
Fang Jianchen adjusted his cap, stunned. "Holy—! Seriously? What kind of person is this? Is this a video game?"
Harry grinned triumphantly and waved.
Aside from pull-ring grenades, which detonated from impact, timed and remote explosives were stable enough to withstand shocks. So, using one to propel another was theoretically possible.
But it required impeccable timing, angle, and feel—conditions most would deem impossible.
Who could guarantee the exact force, angle, or timing? Did he have a force meter in his hand or a protractor in his eye?
Was this a joke?
Fang Jianchen shuddered, unnerved. "...That was a fluke, right?"
"Don't try to outplay them with weapons! They're young but experienced soldiers! Look—the instructor's already a lieutenant colonel, and we're still trainees! Everyone, stay sharp!" Lian Sheng didn't dare underestimate them. "If they attack, prioritize evasion. Don't counterattack recklessly and expose yourselves. Hold your positions!"
She shouted, "They have way more combat experience than us! We're using weapons they've mastered long ago. Understand?"
Harry breached their first line of defense and advanced. After Fang Jianchen's close call, no one challenged him. They waited for the main force.
Lian Sheng, positioned midway, prepared to engage.
The second attacker was Cornell.
A boy muttered, "Hah, are they really coming one by one?"
Lian Sheng said, "Frontline, hold your ground. Wait for their main force! Snipers, focus on solo attackers! Ye Buqing, help Fang Jianchen find a better angle."
Fang Jianchen's position wasn't high enough. The buildings here were large, creating many blind spots.
Ye Buqing tried to relay live footage to Fang Jianchen to help him anticipate Cornell's movements.
But the slightest shift made the foliage rustle unnaturally.
Cornell instantly turned toward him.
Ye Buqing's face darkened. A bad feeling settled in his gut as he reported, "I've been spotted."
He turned to flee, but Cornell had already pulled a grenade from his knee pouch and thrown it.
Ye Buqing was out.
Lian Sheng couldn't help but say, "Too fast!"
His reflexes and perception.
Not everyone had keen observational skills, and natural limits couldn't be overcome through training. Some people took forever to spot differences in pictures, while others noticed even the slightest leaf movement at a glance.
Cornell was a genius.
"Everyone, spread out! Increase the safety margin!" Lian Sheng ordered decisively. "Shift tactics from ambush to defense! Fall back! Tighten the perimeter!"
Everyone obeyed, crouching and retreating inward.
Cornell's ears twitched. He'd noticed. He tossed a smoke grenade near himself, then lobbed explosives at key points.
Several students yelled over comms, "Holy—!"
"Hey hey hey!" Lian Sheng barked. "This is an evacuation! Remember the rules? Stay low! Stay quiet! What are you doing?! Show some discipline! Stay calm, comrades!"
Ji Ban, in the watchtower, reported via surveillance, "Main enemy force incoming."
But Lian Sheng received no frontline updates—a whole group had gone silent.
They must've been hit by electromagnetic interference.
Lian Sheng rubbed her eyes.
"Focus on their main force first. Their strength should be manageable." Lian Sheng said calmly, "Attention! Enemy forces are approaching. Midline, split left and right—we'll intercept and reduce their numbers! I repeat, midline split left and right! Lu Mingyuan, mark the paths. Everyone, move as directed! Stay composed!"
Lian Sheng added, "Avoid direct clashes with their leaders. Leave those two to me. Your goal is to flank and encircle their main force! We have the numbers!"
Compared to Harry and Cornell, the others seemed like demons—combat was their nature, unstoppable. Every attack flowed naturally, without hesitation.
They feared no danger, charging headfirst into the fray. Even when throwing grenades, they remained calm yet fierce.
Forget skill—their mindset was already superior.
These weren't ordinary soldiers—they were human-shaped weapons rivaling mechs!
As the smoke cleared, Cornell suddenly halted. He raised a hand, hijacked their comms, and announced the training was paused.
Everyone lowered their weapons, confused.
Ji Ban whispered, "Does he think we're not worth fighting?"
Zhao Zhuoluo, guarding the rear, frowned. "But they haven't breached the final line."
Cornell said, "Too many of you died. The frontline is full of gaps. Adjust positions. We resume in ten minutes."
With that, he led his forces away.
Harry, who'd breached deep inside, groaned but followed.
Lian Sheng stood on the rooftop, hands on her hips, licking her lips.
"Listen up. Now that we know their strength, we can't underestimate them. But don't lose heart—this intel is valuable. We'll adjust tactics accordingly." Lian Sheng said, "The earlier failure was my fault. I misjudged the objective, leading to poor strategy. We start fresh now. Follow my orders closely—we'll be repositioning frequently! Also, keep an eye on your teammates' positions and adapt flexibly. We'll take it slow."
Initially, Lian Sheng had wondered why they'd train with such lopsided odds.
Announcing the attack time, location, and direction, plus the numerical disadvantage, left little room for victory.
So she'd aimed to win. Only now did she realize her mistake.
This was positional training, not combat simulation. The focus was on reactions under fire. Victory or defeat didn't matter. Panicking and exposing positions meant failure.
After so long without such drills, even she hadn't realized.
But couldn't Cornell have explained?
"Remember, our goal isn't to kill them but to stop them from reaching the watchtower. Prioritize survival while disrupting their advance." Lian Sheng said, "Reposition. Concentrate firepower, tighten the perimeter. Force their assault into a single lane. Fill gaps quickly. Fight a safe war of attrition."
Everyone acknowledged.
This wasn't offensive training but teamwork drills. Formations were useless without coordination. Battlefield formations shifted constantly—only through teamwork could they stabilize and adapt.
They resumed training. Though still uncoordinated, they now had a shared direction.
After repeated attempts, a basic framework emerged.
By noon, the drills ended. The base provided lunch, granting them an hour's rest.
Harry only bothered Cornell. The two sat apart, far from the group.
Cornell rarely responded.
Lian Sheng noticed that in earlier exercises, the two had acted alone—their subordinates never covered or assisted them.
Wiping her mouth, Lian Sheng asked a nearby soldier, "Why don't you train with them? How is he already a lieutenant colonel so young?"
The soldier chewed his bread. "War weapons."
Lian Sheng stared at their backs before turning back. "What do you mean?"
The soldier said, "That's what they're called. War weapons. They serve for life. We only serve four years, then leave."
War weapons?
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