It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 40｜Yanshan Exercise
"This year's focus should be on restoring the economy and strengthening national defense. Rearmament should be put on the agenda earlier and given priority."

——The Grand Commander’s New Year’s Day Instructions in the Year of Jimao

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Time is like the sand between your fingers, slipping away quietly without you noticing.

Eight months have passed, and this winter is particularly warm.

Daytime temperatures in many parts of Jiangnan reached over 20 degrees Celsius, setting a historical temperature record for December. The northern Yanyun area can even be described as cool.

In such a warm winter, a supreme order was issued from Huaqing Pool.

"...The troops have neglected their military preparations for many years. Exercises must be conducted, and they must be large-scale and serious. This will test the troops' ability to fight. We should not worry about expenditures. We must conduct them swiftly and vigorously. This is my order."

The National Defense Forces conduct routine exercises every year, usually at the division level, and are called spring exercises or autumn exercises according to the season.

The last large-scale confrontation exercise was a long time ago, around 20 years ago. The top military leaders of the Grand Federation summarized and analyzed the experiences and lessons of the Western powers in the European war and carried out an army-level exercise.

Now, eighteen years later, with an order from the Supreme Leader, the Federal Armed Forces have been awakened like a sleeping lion.

The Advisory Council approved a temporary budget as special military funds for the exercise.

总开支计划高达7000万圆，国防军出动了4个常备步兵师、6个动员步兵师、2个工兵旅、1个伞兵旅、3个战车旅在内的22万人、345辆坦克、12370辆卡车与越野车。

The exercise is divided into two parts.

The first part is a peer-to-peer encounter similar to Beast Chess, designed to assess the performance of the participating units and whether the supernatural units are functioning as expected.

The second part is a simulated actual combat confrontation. The troops of both sides conduct a battle exercise based on an envisioned open scenario, aiming to test the comprehensive capabilities of field units, logistics units, and staff units.

12月2日清晨6时15分，当地气温5℃，燕山以北33公里处……

A long convoy was marching along a dirt road. The wheels of the trucks and the tracks of the tanks were covered in mud. The light snow that had fallen half a month ago had melted, making the ground a little muddy.

After arriving at the designated resting point, the marching team stopped.

Cars need to be refueled and inspected, and people need to eat and rest.

A sidecar motorcycle came lurching over. The messenger jumped off, tilted his head and saluted the tank next to him, saying, "Report, vehicle number 11 has broken down. The radiator is broken. Repairs are underway."

The tank commander was Shang Ke. He nodded and said, "Got it. Return to the team."

As soon as the messenger left, another person came from the battalion headquarters and informed him to go to the battalion headquarters for a meeting.

Shang Ke lowered his head and said something to the crew members, then climbed out of the turret, jumped to the rear of the vehicle and then jumped to the ground.

The armband he now wears reads JZ1, which stands for the Army's 1st Training Tank Brigade.

This is a young unit, formed only last month, consisting of a group of new recruits and students from the Gandan Tank Academy. It adopts an experimental two-regiment system - one tank regiment and one motorized infantry regiment.

The armored and infantry units are evenly distributed, neither too many nor too few.

This compilation principle is what Shang has always strongly recommended and repeatedly emphasized, and it has also been recognized by many professors.

The General Headquarters actually only regarded this training brigade as a temporary pilot unit. The military top brass hoped that this large-scale exercise would serve as the final word and avoid disputes caused by different opinions.

Shang Ke's performance in the Tank Academy was exceptionally outstanding. His overall scores had never fallen out of the top ten, and he was a well-known idea king in the school. Therefore, it was no surprise that he became a company commander this time.

The tank regiment of the training tank brigade was organized into three battalions and six companies, meaning each battalion had one company each of cavalry tanks and infantry tanks, in addition to a maintenance and support unit. The battalion headquarters was small, with only a few armored vehicles and a total of no more than twenty people.

In the bleak north wind, the officers gathered together to discuss the map.

"…The situation on the 24th Division's flank is unclear. We only know that the enemy has seized several high grounds. Our regiment has been ordered to withdraw a unit to support their counterattack."

The deputy battalion commander this time was one of the professors of the advanced science short-term training class. He was an easy-going old man with the rank of colonel and he loved to joke around.

He said succinctly, "The military estimates that the Blue Army is about to launch a large-scale offensive. We can't send too many troops out. One company at most is enough. Zhicheng, you're a smart kid. I'll leave it to you. You'll act accordingly."

Shang Ke stared at the map, thinking in his mind. He was a little slow to react, and quickly saluted and said, "Understood! Don't worry, teacher!"

"Not in school anymore, it's called a position on the battlefield."

"Yes! Captain! The unit will depart in two hours at the earliest."

The second phase of the exercise is divided into the Red Team and the Blue Team. The opening scenario is roughly as follows:
The Red Army is in a defensive posture. The campaign goal is to delay the Blue Army's actions for at least 120 hours, and on this basis, cause no less than 15% combat casualties to the Blue Army.

The Red Army is at a disadvantage in terms of manpower, but has higher quality, with 3 regular infantry divisions, 1 mobilized infantry division, and 1 training tank brigade.

The Blue side has an advantage in terms of manpower, but lower quality. It has 1 regular infantry division, 6 mobilized infantry divisions, 1 paratrooper brigade, and 2 tank brigades.

Now a day and a night have passed, and both sides are busy deploying troops and adjusting their deployments.

The Blue side is still conducting battle reconnaissance, selecting areas suitable for breakthroughs, and continuously sending small units to conduct deep infiltration.

"Are you fucking crazy? I'll give you a promotion!"

As soon as Shang Ke returned to his unit, he heard someone roaring. He saw a burly sergeant beating up a warrant officer cadet like a chicken.

why?
Because this guy is very brave, he was just smoking next to the tanker truck.

The air is filled with the unique smell of gasoline, and a steady stream of No. 78 gasoline flows from the refueling pipe into the tank's fuel tank. The total capacity of the Type 35 cavalry fighting vehicle's fuel tank is 240 liters, which can drive it to travel up to 200 kilometers on the road.

"...The checkpoints in these two places should still be there, and we'll be able to contact the 24th Division by then. Okay, that's it. Take this time to rest and then set off."

Shang Ke called the squad leaders to a meeting, quickly issued tasks, and planned the marching route according to the map.

The soldiers were busy and tense, and could only take advantage of the gaps in their time to eat and drink.

Clean the mud off the tracks and road wheels, check if the engine lubricating oil is sufficient, and make sure the water in the cooling water tank is not exhausted...

Shang Ke himself cannot be lazy. If he is missing from the four-person crew, the burden on the others will increase greatly, not to mention that there is a girl in the crew.

The gunner of this vehicle is named Li Qingsheng. She is one of the first batch of students after the public expansion of the supernatural ability training base.

Shang Ke said as he looked at the map, "Xiao Sheng, pass me the kettle."

"Okay." She handed over the kettle.

"How does it feel to be working non-stop like this? Can you handle it?"

Li Qingsheng, who was wiping the scope, nodded and replied, "No problem, I'm not tired at all."

This kettle has been placed in the corner of the engine compartment partition so that there is a constant supply of heat to help keep it warm.

Engine oil mixed with mud stuck to clothes, and even the water in the kettle seemed to have a faint smell of engine oil. To be honest, the job of an armored soldier is not a good one.

All ready to go!

(End of this chapter)