Chapter 49: Doing One's Best

Chapter 49: Doing One's Best

No one expected anyone to dare speak out like that.

Yet, upon a second thought, it did make sense. The company's training schedule was laid out right there, and everyone simply focused on completing that specific routine. Who would bother with extra, independent training?

The company commander froze instantly, at a loss for words for a moment.

It was Guan Yuqi who came to his rescue. "We are a technical branch, so the requirements for our technical proficiency are naturally higher."

"However, what the outcome of this exercise was, everyone is well aware."

"We didn't even have time to showcase our strengths before we were caught completely off-guard by the enemy. Under such circumstances... do you still think it is unnecessary?"

At this, she paused, glanced at the company commander, and seeing him nod, she continued, "Besides, it is not that the commander wants to push you now, but rather that we have been driven to this point."

With her explanation, the company commander's defensive stance softened considerably. He let out a deep sigh and said, "Just today during the day, we received definitive news that our communications company is to be overhauled."

"Our performance in this exercise was indeed somewhat poor, and I... as the company commander, bear responsibility for that."

"But since matters have come to this, we must face it. Especially with the impending reorganization, none of us can escape it."

Upon hearing these words, everyone fell silent.

Whether male soldiers or female soldiers, none had any objections to raise.

They all knew that this reorganization was only a matter of time, but they hadn't expected it to arrive so soon.

They just hadn't expected it to begin with a sudden emergency muster.

"What about Xu Qiao then?" Guan Yuqi asked directly. "She had no idea there would be an emergency muster either, so why was she able to act so quickly?"

"Well, that aside, I suppose none of you need to worry about her, but the first thing we now have to face is the training of our military capabilities."

Seeing them like this, Guan Yuqi waved her hand with a trace of irritation. "Alright, everyone is dismissed to wash up!"

When the rest had dispersed, Xu Qiao's squad remained where they were.

As if guessing what they were thinking, the company commander directly challenged them, "What, do you feel like this is making things difficult for you?"

Consequently, during the subsequent deep-night forced march, they spared the company commander from wearing a darkened expression.

Having said this, he paused and then stated with great solemnity, "Therefore, starting today... no, starting right now, everyone will step up their military training!"

The few of them instantly snapped to their senses and hurriedly waved their hands. "No need, we are doing just fine right here."

They had thought that rest awaited them, but instead, a brand-new training schedule confronted them.

From marksmanship to hand-to-hand combat, and even other military drills, completely replaced their original training routine.

Xu Qiao had not partaken in the discussion because the moment she handed that piece of intelligence to the squad leader, she had foreseen such a scenario.

Hearing this, the crowd quickly scattered and ran back to wash up.

"If an order comes down, is it something I can refuse to obey, or something you can refuse to obey?"

"After breakfast, we are heading to the shooting range!"

Suddenly called out by name, Xu Qiao looked aside awkwardly. Sure enough, everyone's gaze was fixed on her.

Xu Qiao instinctively wanted to follow the others, but seeing that Guan Yuqi had not left, she stopped.

"Yet, what kind of people are we? We are soldiers!"

"During my past few months in the cooking squad, although most of my time was taken up by kitchen duties, my training was never neglected."

The group began to grasp her meaning; this could be considered sharpening their weapons right before the battle.

She then looked at them and joked, "Would you all like to go to the cooking squad for some tempering as well?"

Fortunately, this time, the entire company was not mobilized all at once; instead, the orders were filtered down to individual squads.

She smiled helplessly. "Squad leader, although my performance today was decent enough, you didn't have to pull so much resentment toward me like this, did you?"

The veteran soldiers, being more familiar with the squad leader, naturally showed a bit of lingering defiance at this moment. "Didn't the company commander say so himself? Our usual training doesn't include any of this at all. How could you expect us to react quickly?"

"Besides, since the superiors have such an intention, we must execute it."

"Is that understood?"

With that, she checked the time. "Our squad has no guard duty today; everyone participates in training."

Everyone was startled upon hearing this. They had considered this issue before, but asking them to prioritize military capabilities—wasn't that making things hard for them?

She immediately offered an explanation, "I am different from you. The usual training in the cooking squad follows the standards of combat squads in field units."

Guan Yuqi cast a sidelong glance at them. "If I had told you in advance, what would be the point of this emergency muster?"

"Is it really happening this soon?" The others had not expected their training to commence the moment it was mentioned.

"I certainly do not hope that when the time comes, facing those instructors, you lot miss the target entirely one by one. I cannot afford to lose that kind of face."

The company commander swept his gaze over them before continuing, "During this exercise, although we didn't get the chance to display our technical capabilities, since a rectification is underway, it means everyone will have to undergo testing."

Watching Guan Yuqi keep them behind, Cheng Yifei was the first to speak up. "Squad leader, you are being a bit unfair. You clearly knew there was going to be an emergency muster, yet you didn't give us a heads-up beforehand."

"Would you say I've found a blessing in disguise through this misfortune?"

Listening to their grumbling, the company commander no longer felt angry. Instead, he said, "I know you are all somewhat dissatisfied with this decision."

"I think the company commander is right. You all have been far too slack lately, and a single emergency muster exposed it completely."

The emergency muster had thrown everyone into chaos, though fortunately, their physical endurance training wasn't too shabby—after all, they were accustomed to running five kilometers fully equipped.

Guan Yuqi threw them an exasperated look. "If you want to stay here, just coasting along won't cut it anymore."

Yet, at the thought of diving straight into unfamiliar training routines, their faces clouded over with worry.

Yet, by the time everyone jogged back, the sky had already begun to brighten.

"Exactly, how long has it been since we practiced shooting or hand-to-hand combat? If we had practiced even a little bit, we wouldn't look this pathetic today, would we?"

"That's right, Company Commander! Most of our time goes into technical training. Who has the time for anything else?"

"Yet looking at you all now... I would rather have you embarrass yourselves here than embarrass yourselves in front of outsiders."

"Understood!" everyone shouted in unison.

"If we don't hurry, the food is going to get cold." Guan Yuqi cut them off directly. "We never know when the instructor delegation will arrive, but since the decision is made, the time left for us is very limited."

As she walked over, she asked, "Squad leader, this recent news... is it because of that telegram I intercepted?"

Guan Yuqi nodded. "That's right, precisely because of it."

"However, we don't have definitive news yet, and the regiment hasn't issued an official notice. All we can do is... try our best."