readbooksol Chapter 9: Strength Wins Over the Public
Chapter 9: Strength Wins Over the Public
Lin Zhe quickly adapted to real border defense life at the Eagle's Beak Cliff outpost. He would rise before dawn each day, check equipment, and lead patrols; return in the evening to summarize the situation and arrange the next day's tasks; and take turns on night watch, remaining vigilant for any unusual activity. This monotonous, yet incredibly responsible, border defense life was repetitive.
The military skills he learned from Chen Qingshan and Zhang Jianguo were thoroughly honed in the real border environment.
During jungle covert training, Lin Zhe could lie motionless for hours in damp bushes, breathing barely a whisper, making him difficult for even seasoned veterans to detect. On one night reconnaissance mission, his team successfully reached a point only 300 meters from a neighboring country's outpost, taking crucial intelligence photographs without being detected.
"Deputy Company Commander, where did you learn your stealth skills?" After a mission, veteran Liu couldn't help but ask. "I've been a soldier for eight years, and I've never seen anyone lie in the mud for four hours without even blinking."
While cleaning his gun, Lin Zhe replied, "It was taught to me by an old master. He said the highest level of infiltration is 'becoming one with the environment.' It's not that you're hiding, but that you've become part of the environment."
During mountain climbing training, Lin Zhe's agility and strength drew everyone's attention. Eagle's Beak Cliff has an almost vertical rock face, a crucial patrol route, where veteran soldiers rely on ropes to ascend and descend. The first time Lin Zhe passed by, he observed for a moment and then climbed up freehand, taking less time than the veterans using ropes.
"This...how is this possible?" Xiao Zhao was dumbfounded as he watched from below.
Lin Zhe shouted down from above, "There are several well-hidden footholds on the rock face. Come up here and I'll point them out to you."
Gradually, the soldiers at the outpost discovered that this young deputy company commander was not only knowledgeable but also truly capable. His patrol routes were more rational, his emergency plans more comprehensive, and he could even adjust training content according to weather changes. Most importantly, his physical fitness was outrageous—he could patrol continuously for ten hours carrying thirty kilograms of equipment, and still lead everyone in extra training upon returning.
"Deputy Company Commander, aren't you tired?" After a long patrol, young soldier Xiao Li collapsed on the ground, panting.
Lin Zhe handed over the water bottle: "You're tired, but you can still keep going. Physical fitness is a soldier's capital. The more you train, the more chances you have to survive on the battlefield."
Change was happening quietly. The soldiers no longer called Lin Zhe "student officer," but addressed him seriously as "deputy company commander"; when assigning tasks, there were no more questioning looks; and during rest periods, everyone was willing to gather around to listen to him talk about military theory or combat techniques.
But the real turning point came on a rest day after a company-wide comprehensive exercise.
It was a rare sunny day, the sunlight dispersing the mountain mist. After the drills, as usual, there was an hour of free time. The soldiers gathered in small groups on the training ground, some practicing with equipment, others sparring.
"Deputy Company Commander, send one over!" someone shouted.
Lin Zhe was inspecting the training equipment when he heard the noise and looked up. In the center of the training field, several soldiers were sparring, surrounded by a group of people. The one who shouted was Old Zhou, the squad leader of the third squad, a straightforward and forthright veteran.
"Deputy Company Commander, show us what you've got!" "Let us see!"
The shouts and commotion rose and fell. Lin Zhe understood that this was a tradition of the border troops—to let strength speak for itself. Although everyone's attitude towards him had improved, deep down they probably still wanted to see the true capabilities of this young officer.
"Okay." Lin Zhe took off his jacket, revealing his physical training clothes underneath. The tight-fitting training clothes outlined his perfect muscle lines, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and clearly visible chest and abdominal muscles.
"I'll go first!" A young man jumped out. He was Xiao Wang, a new recruit from the first platoon, just turned twenty, and was recognized as the "bottom of the class" in the entire company. He scratched his head a little embarrassedly, "Deputy Company Commander, my skills are just average. Please give me some pointers."
Lin Zhe smiled and nodded: "Okay, let's begin."
The two men assumed their fighting stances. Although Xiao Wang lacked experience, his movements were fairly standard, and he threw a straight punch at Lin Zhe's face. Lin Zhe didn't use any special fighting techniques; he simply dodged to the side, simultaneously tripping him lightly and pulling him away with his hand. Xiao Wang cried out in surprise and fell forward, but Lin Zhe caught him in time.
"Your lower body is unstable, and you shift your weight too far forward when you punch." Lin Zhe helped Xiao Wang steady. "Remember, use seven-tenths of your strength in your punch and reserve three-tenths for defense."
"Thank you, Deputy Company Commander!" Xiao Wang retreated, his face flushed.
"I'll give it a try!" This time, it was Cheng from Class Two who stepped up, a well-known fighter in the group. He was much more composed than Xiao Wang, moving around Lin Zhe, looking for an opportunity.
Suddenly, Acheng unleashed a flurry of punches. Lin Zhe continued to use standard military combat techniques, blocking, dodging, and counterattacking with fluid and natural movements. Thirty seconds later, Acheng lost his balance when Lin Zhe grabbed his arm joint and twisted it slightly.
"Not bad, you have speed and power, but there's too little variation." Lin Zhe loosened his grip. "Fighting isn't about practicing routines; you have to adapt to the situation."
Acheng nodded in sincere admiration: "Deputy Company Commander, I've learned a lot."
Two soldiers were easily taken down, and the atmosphere became lively. Amid applause and cheers, three more soldiers who considered themselves quite capable took turns entering the fray. Lin Zhe remained composed, using only the most basic military combat techniques, but each defensive counterattack was perfectly timed, stopping short of causing serious injury.
"The deputy platoon leader is amazing!" "At this level, our platoon leader is probably only so-so, right?"
Listening to the surrounding discussions, Lin Zhe suddenly had a thought—he wanted to know just how strong he had become. After arriving in this world, through Chen Qingshan's special training and the cultivation of the Hunyuan Gong, he felt that his physical abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people, but he had never truly tested his limits.
"How about this," Lin Zhe looked around, "let's have five people come at us together."
The training ground fell silent instantly. The soldiers looked at each other, wondering if they had misheard.
"Deputy Company Commander, you mean... all five of you together?" Old Zhou asked uncertainly.
"Yes, five," Lin Zhe nodded. "That saves time."
These words caused the previously enthusiastic atmosphere to become somewhat awkward. The soldiers admired Lin Zhe's strength, but the idea of "one against five" sounded a bit too arrogant to them. Border troops were trained in real combat, not just for show.
"What, no one dares to step up?" Lin Zhe smiled.
"I'll go!" "Count me in!" "Deputy Company Commander, you'll regret this!"
Soon, five soldiers stepped forward, all of them above average in the company. They exchanged glances, clearly intending to take the matter seriously.
"start!"
Five men attacked from different directions. Lin Zhe initially used ordinary fighting techniques, dodging and weaving, parrying their moves. But he soon discovered that dealing with five experienced border guards simultaneously using only basic skills was indeed difficult. Although he could protect himself, a quick victory was not easy.
Two minutes passed, and although the five men failed to defeat Lin Zhe, Lin Zhe also failed to take them down. A growing crowd of onlookers gathered around the training field.
"Deputy Company Commander Lin's skills are indeed impressive..." "But taking on five opponents at once is still too difficult."
Lin Zhe quickly assessed the situation: while they might eventually win this way, it would be too time-consuming. Moreover, he wanted to test the power of his special combat skills under real combat pressure.
With a sudden change of heart, Lin Zhe's style changed.
What was originally a conventional military combat technique instantly transformed into a fierce and ruthless special forces fighting style. The range of motion decreased, but the speed increased dramatically. Every strike aimed directly at vital points such as joints and pressure points; while not fatal, a single blow would temporarily incapacitate the opponent.
"Snap!" A soldier was hit in the elbow joint, and his entire arm went numb instantly.
"Bang!" Another person was hit in the knee and staggered to their knees.
"Ah!" The third person's shoulder joint was locked, and he couldn't move.
In less than twenty seconds, all five men collapsed to the ground. Although none of them were injured, they were all unable to fight again for a short period of time.
The training ground fell silent, then erupted in thunderous applause and gasps of surprise.
"What...what kind of move is that?" "It was too fast, I didn't even see it!"
The commotion had already alerted the company headquarters. Company Commander Wang Dashan, the political instructor, and several other platoon leaders rushed over upon hearing the news, just in time to witness Lin Zhe instantly taking down five men.
Wang Dashan's pupils contracted slightly. He was a veteran, experienced and knowledgeable, and he immediately recognized that Lin Zhe wasn't using ordinary military combat techniques—it was a special forces killing technique, emphasizing speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness to defeat the enemy in one strike. Ordinary troops simply couldn't learn such skills.
"Company Commander!" Upon seeing Wang Dashan, the soldiers automatically made way for him.
Wang Dashan walked to the center of the field and looked at the five soldiers who had just stood up: "How was it?"
The five men looked ashamed: "Company commander, we...we've disgraced the company."
"It's not shameful." Wang Dashan turned to Lin Zhe, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Deputy Company Commander Lin, you've got impressive skills."
"Company Commander, you flatter me," Lin Zhe said calmly.
Wang Dashan stared at Lin Zhe for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "Looks like five aren't enough. How about we add five more?"
These words caused an uproar among those around. Ten against one? This was no longer a friendly sparring match, but a war of attrition.
Lin Zhe's eyes lit up. He was looking forward to testing his limits, and the company commander's suggestion suited him perfectly.
"Okay!" Lin Zhe replied without hesitation.
Wang Dashan called out five names, all of whom were the strongest veteran fighters in the company. Adding to the five from before, ten men surrounded Lin Zhe.
"start!"
This time, Lin Zhe held nothing back. He unleashed his special combat skills at full power, combining them with the superior stamina and reaction speed granted by his Hunyuan Gong (a martial arts technique), weaving through the crowd like the wind. Every strike brought someone to the ground; his movements were concise, swift, and ruthless, without any unnecessary actions.
The soldiers were dumbfounded. They had never seen such a fighting style before—not pursuing overwhelming strength, but precisely striking weaknesses; not emphasizing the aesthetics of the moves, but only pursuing practical combat effectiveness.
One minute later, all ten people collapsed to the ground. Lin Zhe stood in the middle of the field, breathing slightly rapid, sweat beading on his forehead, but his posture remained upright.
The training ground was completely silent. Everyone was stunned; one man taking on ten veteran border guards was beyond their comprehension.
"Is that enough?" Lin Zhe looked at Wang Dashan, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of battle.
Wang Dashan took a deep breath. As the company commander, he had intended to dampen Lin Zhe's arrogance, but instead witnessed such a crushing performance. He had to admit that he had completely misjudged him—this nineteen-year-old young officer was not only not there to gain experience, but was also a hidden master.
"That's enough." Wang Dashan waved his hand. "Get up, all of you. Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"
The ten soldiers got up, their faces flushed, and their gazes toward Lin Zhe were completely different now—they looked at him with heartfelt respect, even a touch of worship.
"Deputy Company Commander, you're amazing!" "Teach us!" "We've never seen those moves before!"
The soldiers gathered around, chattering amongst themselves. They were generally older than Lin Zhe, but at this moment they addressed him as "Deputy Company Commander" with genuine sincerity.
Lin Zhe smiled: "Want to learn? Sure. But special combat techniques require a high level of physical fitness and systematic training. Starting tomorrow, you'll train for an extra hour every day. Anyone who can't stick to it can forget about learning."
"I promise to hold on!" "Deputy Company Commander, you keep your word!"
Wang Dashan stood outside the crowd, looking at Lin Zhe surrounded by soldiers, his feelings complicated. He walked to the political instructor and whispered, "Old Liu, we misjudged him."
Instructor Liu Wen pushed up his glasses: "It's more than just a misjudgment. Old Wang, did you notice? The techniques Lin Zhe used weren't those of ordinary special forces. I have an old comrade in the special forces brigade who's seen them train, and they weren't this...sharp."
Wang Dashan nodded: "Moreover, his physical strength is abnormally strong. In that match just now, an ordinary person would be exhausted or collapse from exhaustion, but look at him, he was only slightly out of breath."
"And his background," Liu Wen said in a low voice. "National University of Defense Technology, graduated in one year, volunteered to come to the border defense, and now he's showing this kind of skill... Old Wang, this deputy company commander is no ordinary person."
Looking at Lin Zhe, Wang Dashan recalled the words that Regiment Commander Zhao Tiezhu had said when he brought Lin Zhe here: "This soldier is no ordinary man. You should take good care of him." At the time, he thought it was just polite talk, but now he understood the deeper meaning behind the words.
"Regardless of his background, with his skills and willingness to come to this remote mountain village, he's a good soldier," Wang Dashan finally said. "Pass down the order: extra food tonight to celebrate the arrival of a highly skilled deputy company commander!"
The news quickly spread throughout the company and even reached the regimental headquarters. That evening's extra meal was exceptionally lively. Soldiers took turns offering Lin Zhe a glass of water—alcohol was forbidden at the border outpost, so water was the only substitute.
"Deputy Company Commander, I, Old Zhou, am convinced!" Old Zhou said, holding his water glass. "At first, I thought you were just a pretty face with no substance. I'll punish myself with a glass... no, a bowl of water!"
Lin Zhe smiled and clinked glasses with him: "Squad Leader Zhou, you flatter me. I'm young, and I still have a lot to learn from you veterans."
Wang Dashan also came over with a water glass: "Lin Zhe, I admit I underestimated you at first. I'd like to toast you, for your ability and for your choice—with your qualifications, you could have gone anywhere else, why did you choose to come to this most difficult place?"
"Company Commander, this is the toughest place, but it's also the best place to forge a person," Lin Zhe said earnestly. "I came to the border defense because I wanted to become a true soldier."
"You're a true soldier now." Wang Dashan patted him on the shoulder. "From today onwards, you'll be fully responsible for training at Eagle's Beak Cliff Outpost. I believe you can lead an even stronger team."
"Mission accomplished!"
Night deepened, and the outpost gradually quieted down. Lin Zhe lay in bed, reflecting on today's competition. Through this real battle, he gained a clear understanding of his own strength: using ordinary military combat techniques, he could easily deal with three to five people; using special combat techniques, ten to twenty people were no problem; if he used the killing techniques and Hunyuan Gong taught by Chen Qingshan, he would probably be even stronger.
But that wasn't enough. He knew the real battlefield was a hundred times more brutal than sparring. In the hail of bullets, hand-to-hand combat skills were merely a last resort. He still had much to learn—the art of command, tactical planning, crisis management...
Outside the window, the border night sky is dotted with stars. The faint howl of wolves echoes in the distance, adding to the desolate atmosphere.
Lin Zhe clenched his fist. In this life, he would start from the bottom and climb to the top of the military ranks step by step.
Eagle Beak Cliff Outpost will be the first real starting point of his military career.
Today's competition is just the beginning.