On the training field, beside the fence, stood a 100-meter obstacle course.
It consisted of eight sets of obstacles: stepping posts, a trench, a low wall, a high-board platform, monkey bars, a balance beam, a high wall, and a low crawl net. From these came several variations: 100 meters, 200 meters, or even 300 meters.
But the most grueling one was the standard 400-meter obstacle course.
It required a 100-meter run first, then 200 meters back and forth through the obstacles, followed by a final 100-meter sprint back to the starting point. It was a required part of military physical training. For soldiers' evaluation, two minutes and thirty seconds was considered the passing line.
But in actual military training, passing also meant failing. No military commander would ever demand merely a "pass" from the officers and soldiers under his command...
With a cigarette hanging from his lips, Gao Cheng watched Wu Liuyi race for his life across the course and smiled at Wang Yan. "So? Confident?"
"How could I be? The old squad leader is the top soldier in our regiment—even in our division. You can tell his movements are all about technique. That hole in the low wall, if you don't handle it right, will scrape a big red welt right across your back. But I'll definitely beat two-thirty. I'm naturally fast, and my stamina's not bad either. The 200 meters of running between obstacles should improve my time quite a bit."
"I'll be watching, then. If you can't beat two-thirty, you're in for it."
"Easy." Wang Yan waved dismissively. "What matters is competing with the old squad leader. If all you're aiming for is passing, what's the point of being a soldier? Right, Company Commander?"
"Now that's what I call a good soldier. Look at him—no one even