Beginning

There was no need to keep the exercise hidden from everyone. To put it plainly, it was mainly kept from the new recruits to create a sense of tension, then tell them it was an exercise after it began.

It was meant to test their usual training—to see how they reacted during an emergency assembly or under Level One combat readiness.

The veterans naturally knew, because they could tell the difference between blank rounds and live ammunition, and they had taken part in more than one exercise before. It was just that this one was on a somewhat larger scale.

"Not bad. It's an exercise."

"I'd rather bring live rounds." Jiang Yan Hai hesitated before speaking. The Type 10 Rifle had no dedicated blank rounds because they were too expensive. Perhaps the Special Forces had them, since the rifle was already standard issue for them, but they did not have them here.

That was also why Gong Jian had given him a heads-up.

"If you bring live rounds, how are you supposed to use that rifle?" Gong Jian asked helplessly. During exercises, casualties were determined using individual laser systems, and everyone fired blanks. The other Type 88 sniper rifles also used blanks, so they could be used directly, but Jiang Yan Hai's rifle could not.

"The Type 10 Rifle isn't meant for attacking personnel anyway. It's mainly an anti-materiel weapon. During the exercise, I can attack enemy equipment or something. There are equipment-loss contingencies for every exercise anyway, right?" Jiang Yan Hai smiled.

He had not forgotten that in the TV drama, He Chen Guang and the others had even shot down a drone. A military drone was worth several million; if they could shoot one of those for fun, then equipment losses during exercises must have had a certain acceptable range.

Speaking of which, the technology in this world seemed slightly more advanced than in reality, at least when it came to certain individual weapons used in exercises.

For example, the method of using laser hits to determine exercise casualties could simulate real conditions to the greatest extent possible.

"You..." Gong Jian was speechless. He was still thinking about shooting equipment? The problem was that anything hit by his rifle would not end well. How much would all that damaged equipment cost?

"Forget it. Just bring it. I'll find a way to get you ammunition." Gong Jian thought it over. Exercises were not completely without live rounds. Tank shells and the like were live ammunition, of course, but before firing them, they would make sure there were no friendly troops around the target.

But rifles absolutely could not use live rounds. If something went wrong, it could cause casualties. Even if every exercise had an acceptable casualty quota, that was unacceptable.

No one wanted their bullets aimed at their own comrades.

Just because they did not have Type 10 Rifle blanks here did not mean nowhere else had them.

Sure enough, when ammunition was issued that evening, every soldier received rounds according to wartime standards. Jiang Yan Hai naturally received rifle ammunition as well. He took it and looked at it curiously, only to find that it was almost indistinguishable from live ammunition.

Of course, it was only almost indistinguishable. In reality, all live ammunition had already been collected, and the rounds issued were all blanks.

Afterward, Gong Jian secretly gave Jiang Yan Hai Type 10 Rifle ammunition separately. It too was nearly identical to live rounds, at least in appearance.

"These are blanks?" Jiang Yan Hai asked curiously.

"Yes. They're the latest type of blanks. The bullet heads are made from a special polyethylene material. Within a few meters after being fired, they burn up and completely decompose. They're more convenient, environmentally friendly, and realistic. There are three hundred rounds total, so use them sparingly." Gong Jian smiled.

"All right, that's it. Perform well tomorrow. And keep this confidential."

After giving Jiang Yan Hai that reminder, Gong Jian left directly.

Jiang Yan Hai took a deep breath. Tomorrow, he would take a new step forward in this army.

"Tomorrow, we'll be doing a fully equipped cross-country march, so you'd better get your packs ready tonight." After returning to the squad, Old Hei officially delivered the news to everyone, which also explained why they had been issued ammunition according to wartime standards.

All the snipers' equipment had already been issued, and Jiang Yan Hai began organizing his gear. Anything that needed to go into his pack had to be packed in advance, and he also had to prepare his Ghillie suit and the rest.

The night passed without incident. Jiang Yan Hai slept soundly. After being put through the wringer by the Red Star Engine, no matter how serious things were, he could fall asleep immediately whenever it was time to rest. At the same time, the slightest disturbance would wake him at once.

The next morning, the promised armed cross-country march never came. Instead, the entire camp was filled with the piercing alarm of Level One combat readiness. The whole base seemed to come alive in an instant as countless soldiers began assembling from all directions.

Though hurried, everything remained orderly. Whether it was because of the plot or not, Li Er Niu still failed to show up during assembly.

Jiang Yan Hai was somewhat speechless. To be honest, when he had watched the TV drama, he had thought there should not be someone as one-track-minded as Li Er Niu in the modern information age. But after meeting him, Jiang Yan Hai understood that such people really did exist!

It seemed he would have to move faster when he rescued Master Kang later. Otherwise, Er Niu might really drag Master Kang down with him.

Everyone boarded the vehicles in perfect order, and the convoy quickly left the military district base and headed directly into the exercise zone.

There were no major problems along the way. Although the Iron Fist Regiment was only a regiment, the area it was responsible for defending in the exercise was vast. After several hours, Jiang Yan Hai had been jostled around so much in the vehicle that he was nearly asleep.

"Hey, Old Jiang, you can sleep through this?" He Chen Guang, seated across from Jiang Yan Hai, nudged him with his foot.

"Make the most of every moment of rest. I'm afraid we won't get any time to rest after this." Jiang Yan Hai smiled.

"Aren't you excited?"

He Chen Guang was speechless. Looking around, not only were the new recruits excited, but even some of the veterans wore eager expressions. Jiang Yan Hai, on the other hand, remained completely calm.

"Excited? Of course I'm excited." Jiang Yan Hai shrugged.

He Chen Guang: "..."

Where did he look excited at all?

As they spoke, Gong Jian, seated in the front passenger seat, suddenly pressed his earpiece and began communicating. Jiang Yan Hai immediately took a deep breath. It was time for them to take the field!

Sure enough, the moment that thought crossed Jiang Yan Hai's mind, Gong Jian turned around and began issuing orders.

"Stop the vehicle! Everyone, get out! Move, get out! Number One has been ambushed. The helicopter will be here soon." At Gong Jian's command, everyone immediately rose to their feet.

"See? I told you. We probably won't be getting any rest anytime soon." Jiang Yan Hai took a deep breath and said with a smile.

Then he stood up and punched He Chen Guang lightly on the shoulder. "Good luck."

"Good luck." He Chen Guang also smiled and said it softly, then the two of them quickly jumped out of the vehicle.