First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 238
Chapter 238: Extra 7: Instructor Lian and Her Little Companions
The Red and White teams ascended the mountain separately, assigned to the northern and southern peaks respectively.
The instructors observing their condition felt the outcome might be somewhat pitiful to witness.
The Red team members strode with confident bearing, their faces practically glowing with assured victory, their demeanor relaxed. In contrast, the White team appeared listless, clearly lacking proper rest, heads bowed as they climbed without uttering a word.
Though... though they knew the White team's commander was Lian Sheng, the objective gap in strength between the two sides remained. While Lian Sheng was outstanding among students—albeit only among students—combined with this bizarre atmosphere, the instructors mentally lit a row of candles for her.
Normally for Red vs. White faction battles, instructors would crowd into the monitoring room to observe and analyze afterward. But since Lu Mingyuan was at the base this time—a professional data analyst who could perfectly reconstruct the battle—they chose an open-air location, asking him to project the screens outside so they could comfortably sit and watch.
Lu Mingyuan's modeling used the mountain's actual terrain data as its foundation—it had taken him and Zhou Shirui considerable time to resurvey the map and create this simulation model—then applied student positioning data for analysis and marking.
Most data analysts create simplified models to present battle situations more clearly, using minimal map details and representing movements or clashes with segmented lines.
While simple, intuitive data changes are good for commanders, they make for poor viewing, appearing rather dull.
So he had Ji Ban connect two additional lines from the monitoring room, simultaneously streaming the mountain surveillance feeds to the open area. They could switch to whichever side had more exciting action.
What a luxurious setup.
Lian Sheng led her team to the dividing line between factions, then continued deeper into their assigned territory. Selecting a nearby position, they temporarily halted.
Over four hundred people crowded together made for quite an impressive sight.
They waited for Lian Sheng to deliver some pre-battle motivation before dispersing to their positions.
Lian Sheng scanned the area, found a relatively round rock, and stepped onto it, shouting: "Wake up, wake up! If anyone's still sleepy, I can slap you awake."
The students lifted their heads to look at her.
"Not sleepy, Instructor, just feel weak all over."
"Not exactly weak, more like limbs gone numb."
"No, I'd rather keep studying."
Lian Sheng asked: "Remember what I taught you yesterday?"
The students nodded: "Remember."
Lian Sheng slapped a randomly broken branch against her palm: "This time, I've assigned at least one data analyst to each squad. Don't lose them—they're key to winning this match. Of course, their physical abilities might not make them primary combatants. More importantly, it's about coordination between teammates. The enemy forces will teach you that lesson."
Pointing at them, she continued: "Whether you're logistics, command, infantry, navy or air force, I have high expectations. Frankly, this instructor has rarely lost in her life. Don't make me set a new low record—I won't be happy."
Even among this motley crew, they still had confidence in themselves.
One student stared at her before finally asking: "Instructor, aren't you carrying a gun?"
Not even a pistol visible on her waist.
Lian Sheng said: "Don't need one. I said I wouldn't attack them. Wouldn't be fair otherwise."
The students immediately erupted in righteous indignation, collectively cursing: "The other side is too shameless! How could they make such demands?"
Their most formidable fighter rendered useless with a single sentence! Remembering how instructors could take on ten students single-handedly during instructor matches, the White team members felt they'd lost an entire company!
"What's it got to do with them? I proposed it myself." Lian Sheng snapped the branch in her hands: "I still have some pride. At my age, it'd be embarrassing to personally take them on. Besides, if I intervened, it would change the nature of this exercise. I'd rather you win through your own abilities—it'll reflect better on you later."
Students shouted:
"Instructor, think of us! We can afford to lose face!"
"Instructor, can you at least promise we won't end with negative points..."
Ignoring them, Lian Sheng continued: "Your squad leaders are the data analysts. During movements, leaders must report positions regularly—at least every five minutes. During rapid position changes, report every minute. Immediate reporting for zone shifts. Only one report needed for coordinated movements. Don't forget proper reporting format—we need accurate real-time data. So commanders bear heavy responsibility—stay alert. Keep your teammates in check—no wild sprints through the woods."
Lian Sheng added: "No matter how chaotic the situation, everyone follows their squad leader! Let me repeat—either die where you stand, or stick to your leader like glue!"
The squad leaders hesitated: "Reporting this frequently? Isn't that excessive?"
Divided into nearly thirty squads (typically operating in groups of two or three), once battle commenced, aside from logistics personnel guarding supplies, squads would inevitably scatter. With minute-by-minute reporting amid chaos, the comms would become unusable—no one could distinguish voices.
If instructors couldn't extract useful information for proper deployment, any hesitation would worsen the situation.
Without mechanical aids for recording, deputy commanders would have to track positions purely by memory! What were they, supercomputers?
They feared Lian Sheng's overconfidence might backfire.
Lian Sheng looked at them, hopping off the rock: "Truthfully, few have ever doubted my deputy commanders. Though many have doubted me."
"You lack confidence—mostly my fault, since you don't trust me enough." Walking toward the students, she pushed against a tree: "No motivational speeches—let's get real."
Students watched curiously: "Instructor, what are you doing?"
Lian Sheng said: "Picking a sapling to destroy."
Selecting a relatively fragile tree, she shook it—leaves showered down as it trembled violently. Waving at those directly ahead, she gestured for them to move aside.
Though confused, students gradually retreated under peer pressure, clearing a wide path.
Lian Sheng flexed her fingers: "You know the saying—one chopstick snaps easily, ten held together won't break?"
The students stared, minds blanking. An absurd notion surfaced, becoming irresistible—they nearly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha instructor, think you're Lu Zhishen? Gonna uproot a willow tree?"
"Instructor, let me loosen the soil first."
"Instructor, want me to fetch an axe?"
"Instructor, stop joking—prep time's almost over."
Lian Sheng removed her glove, rolling up her sleeve slightly. With a twist at the wrist, her little finger sharpened into a literal hand blade.
Seeing her arm, all students fell silent. Whether shocked or awed, they stared unblinking, Adam's apples bobbing.
Eerie quiet enveloped the woods—only distant Red team chants carried on the wind.
Her arm was more famous than her person. Avoiding publicity, she only permitted upper-body shots in interviews.
Nothing made better promotional material than that arm—it looked undeniably cool.
For a while, even Harry called her "Astro Boy's Iron Arm."
Lian Sheng never clarified or explained, while public imagination ran wild—resulting in fantastical tales.
As ordinary people, these students had heard countless exaggerated legends about that prosthetic—mythical origin stories that became internet memes.
How Lian Sheng single-handedly blocked a mech's cannon to save a city, losing her left arm. How she charged through gunfire, painfully dismantling enemy strongholds one by one, sacrificing her left arm...
After hundreds of superhuman, physics-defying feats costing her left arm, she'd become an internet meme icon.
Knowing little about prosthetics, they viewed it as tragic—a symbol of regret.
Before they recovered, Lian Sheng swung her wrist and struck.
The already feeble sapling wobbled violently before crashing forward.
Dirt and leaves sprayed onto nearby students' faces. Those in front stood dumbfounded, staring at the wreckage at their feet.
The tree's fall still echoed:
"Thud"
"Thud—"
"Thud!"
Perhaps that was the sound of their minds exploding.
They suddenly realized—maybe those legends... were true after all.
Zhou Shirui looked skyward.
While the mountain's atmosphere turned bizarre, the base wasn't much better.
Lu Mingyuan felt the awkwardness transmit through the screen—not even loud breathing could be heard.
So he instinctively shut off the feed.
After two seconds, having recovered, he reopened it.
The instructors remained silent.
"Sorry," Lu Mingyuan said. "Got blinded. Need a moment."
Everyone nodded: Understood.
If even the composed instructors felt dazzled from afar, imagine the students' reactions.
Lian Sheng calmly donned her glove: "So whether it's one chopstick or ten doesn't matter—what counts is who's breaking them. I have high expectations—understood?"
The students mechanically turned, not registering her words. Their minds echoed one phrase:
Ancient times had Lu Zhishen uprooting willows! Modern times have General Lian chopping nameless trees!
Ahhh!
Someone's mental "Ah!" escaped verbally, triggering cathartic roars—meaningless syllables expressing excitement.
Eyes wide, all lethargy gone, they radiated exhilaration.
Tired? What tired? They could party for three more days!
Lian Sheng covered her ears, kicking away a student attempting to hug her leg.
"Instructor, mwah!"
Lian Sheng coldly replied: "I reject your mwah."
"Shh." She signaled for quiet. "Not now—don't affect the enemy's morale. Save the excitement until after the match. It hasn't even started."
The students nodded unconditionally, heads bobbing like motorized toys.
Lian Sheng said: "Don't lose. Stay sharp, follow orders, keep your heads clear. Or I'll let them experience that sapling's fate."
"Vic—tory—!"
Lian Sheng shouted: "Now, squads proceed to assigned positions by number!"
Without hesitation, they saluted, shouldered guns, and rushed off with pounding hearts.
Unconditionally defend the War Goddess's honor!
Their earlier shouts alerted the Red team.
One male student asked: "What's with them? Shouting so loudly?"
Chen Yuzhou dug his ear: "Probably venting. Feel free to imitate—I'm not stopping you."
After this episode, when preparation time ended, the White team still hadn't calmed down.
Pumped with adrenaline, their morale was high but minds unsettled—somewhat disoriented.
Taking deep breaths, they quickly crouched to gather ammunition bags, passing them to logistics managers.
Lian Sheng and Zhou Shirui remained behind the main force, not interfering yet.
Overexcitement wasn't ideal but not disastrous either—they'd stabilize once combat began.
Initially positioning forces mid-slope in two groups for resource gathering, Lian Sheng held off sending scouts.
Their most valuable assets now were skilled individual fighters. Scouts needed speed, quick reflexes, and adaptability—high-risk roles requiring elite soldiers. Lian Sheng wanted to avoid unnecessary risks.
Even if they stayed put, the enemy would come to them.
Soon, a student urgently reported: "General Lian! Squads Six and Seven spotted enemies! They're not attacking recklessly—lurking nearby, likely scouting!"
Lian Sheng raised an eyebrow.
This fast, at just one location—probably a strike team or scouts.
Coolly, she said: "Don't shout—might make some general think I'm staging a coup."
As they considered alternative titles, she added: "Call me Grand General!"
The students froze momentarily before vibrating with enthusiasm over the new honorific.
Lightening the mood with humor, Lian Sheng began issuing calm commands.
"All units, follow orders!" she shouted. "With limited visibility, we can't confirm enemy numbers. Squads Six and Seven, assume combat positions as demonstrated."
The White team's slow movement and weak firepower made frontal assaults or rapid retreats inadvisable. When attacked, some must sacrifice themselves to cover others' repositioning.
Lian Sheng ordered: "Confirm positions and angles! With slow reflexes, don't waste time adjusting aim—by then, teammates may already be dead. Trust your comrades to cover you!"
The White team swiftly dispersed.
A dozen students took cover behind trees, each covering a specific angle, poised to fire when enemies appeared.
Five or six reserves stood ready to reinforce as needed.
Others continued scavenging nearby supplies while protecting ammunition handlers' withdrawal.
Suddenly, they felt like an impregnable fortress.
The Red team, seeing their opponents dig in rather than flee, grew puzzled.
The White team's cautious behavior—uncharacteristically careful—made them harder to track once concealed.
Using sniper scopes, they studied the enemy's disposition.
Though only occasional glimpses of heads appeared, they noticed pairs of gleaming eyes.
"Holy shit, are they freaks? Making creepy faces at me—do they have crushes?"
"With helmets on, who could tell it's you?"
"Ugly people should know their place."
Unable to resist, one Red team member shouted from behind a tree: "What's with the flirting?"
The White team members smiled smugly, humming: "Summer summer quietly passes, leaving little secrets, buried deep deep in my heart, never to tell you~"
"......" The Red team fell silent.
One Red member unconsciously sang along: "Never to tell you, only write in my diary?"
Clearly out of sync with their retro musical tastes, another grumbled: "Write in diary, then draw circles cursing you?"
The Red team reported: "Enemy's thoroughly insane. At least one squad confirmed—details unclear. Requesting orders."
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