Chapter 108:1 Can Do It?
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Third squad, line up!”
Wu Jianfeng shouted loudly and then turned to look at the recruits of the platoon.
“My third squad now consists of only five people. And there are five lanes here, which can accommodate five people training together. Pay attention and watch carefully!”
With that, he turned back again and gave the order, “Get ready for the 400 meters!”
The five members of the third squad quickly ran to the starting point of the training ground.
Meanwhile, the platoon leader gave another order, leading the group to the starting point of the training track, and then dismissed them on the spot, allowing everyone to stand outside the starting line and observe without being blocked by others.
Once everything was ready, Wu Jianfeng glanced at the lieutenant who had greeted him earlier.
“Ready!”
The lieutenant had a stopwatch in his hand.
“Charge!”
Instead of a typical starting signal like “start” or “go,” they shouted “Charge.”
The five veteran soldiers instantly began running.
The speed didn’t seem very fast, at least that’s what the new recruits thought.
“Is that it? I feel like I can run faster than them!” Beside Wang Ye, Liang Fan smacked his lips.
Wang Ye glanced at him and then said with a soft laugh, “I guess we’ll have a chance to try it later. If you really think you can run faster than them, you can give it a shot. If you succeed, the platoon leader will definitely look at you differently!”
This guy really thought that the 400 meters was just running on the track.
Didn’t he see the various obstacles ahead?
Of course, at this distance of a hundred meters, those obstacles didn’t look too challenging.
At least, from this distance, the obstacles that could be seen didn’t appear difficult.
In the minds of many new recruits, they were confident about overcoming these obstacles, especially when they saw the veterans effortlessly crossing them one by one.
In fact, many of the new recruits felt like it was just a walk in the park.
After all, in their eyes, the running figures of these veterans didn’t seem fast at all.
They ran the 400 meters, and the fastest time in the platoon was 51.38 seconds, while the slowest was around one minute and ten seconds.
Considering their own running speed over 400 meters, without the obstacles, many of them felt that they could run faster than the veterans, at least in the first hundred meters.
However, watching was just watching.
“1 minute 36 seconds 42…
1 minute 38 seconds 32.
1 minute 41.09 seconds.
1 minute 43 seconds 39 seconds.
1 minute 45 seconds 588.”
Exhausted panting filled the air as the five veterans returned.
“You’ve been running for so long. I feel like I can do it.”
“Just this?”
Upon hearing these results, someone in the crowd of recruits whispered.
Of course, these were the results of those with excellent physical fitness, mainly students from sports schools or even martial arts schools. The ordinary recruits remained low-key, and most of them felt a bit intimidated as they ran the second hundred meters and faced the obstacle course.
Qin Li, standing beside Wang Ye, said embarrassedly, “1 feel that the wall is actually quite high. There’s also a hole. People who jump into it disappear. I’m not sure if I can climb up that wall or get out of that hole.”
Two distinct mindsets.
“Do you think it’s very simple?” Wu Jianfeng stood in front of everyone and shouted again.
Looking at everyone, he suddenly smiled and said, “Don’t deny it. I know what you’re thinking.”
However, 1 don’t want to waste my breath on you. Whether it’s simple or not, just try it.”
As he was about to turn around, he suddenly stopped. Turning back, he shouted, “Oh, right, I’ll give you guys a little reward. If any of you can surpass the veterans’ results just now, I’ll guarantee you a third-class merit.”
Naturally, Wu Jianfeng wasn’t authorized to award a third-class merit.
However…
That decision wasn’t up to him.
The Iron Blood Company had established this rule a few years ago when a new recruit’s company commander and regiment commander brought the new recruits to the regiment headquarters for a tour after the first phase of formation training. They had undergone a four-hundred-meter obstacle-crossing training.
Because that’s what the regiment commander had declared at that time.
And the tradition had continued till now.
Of course, this third-class merit had never been claimed.
Even though it wasn’t the same batch of veterans or even the same company holding this event every year, no company commander would dare to hide their top performers at this time.
Even if they didn’t select the absolute best in the company, they would at least choose the top few in the 400-meter run.
And the veterans would definitely not go easy on them.
Of course, if a rookie managed to achieve a third-class merit, it would be a direct humiliation to the seasoned soldiers. Such a situation could lead to severe consequences, and they might be prepared to face dire repercussions. “Really?”
“Fuck, a third-class merit!”
“Let’s give it our all!”
Wu Jianfeng’s words immediately caused excitement and commotion among the recruits.
A third-class merit! Rumors had been circulating that Wang Ye was aiming to achieve a third-class merit, but it seemed he hadn’t accomplished it yet. Nevertheless, the class leaders had briefed them about the significance of military meritorious service and how two third-class merits could open the path to being recommended to military school.
Now, with the opportunity of earning a third-class merit right in front of them, how could they not be thrilled?
Some sports students and martial arts students even clenched their fists in determination.
In contrast, Wang Ye was more composed and calculating in his thoughts. He didn’t share the same level of arrogance as some of the enthusiastic rookies.
He was certain that the veterans hadn’t gone easy on him, and considering Wu Jianfeng’s words, obtaining this credit wouldn’t be easy at all. The chances of success were minuscule.
Silently, he observed the five seasoned soldiers who had just finished running and were panting heavily.
Then, he looked at the obstacle course.
His latest 400-meter test result was 59 seconds, and although he held back a bit, it wasn’t by much. Wang Ye estimated that he could push himself to go all out and run in 54 to 55 seconds at most. However, running on an empty track was different from navigating through obstacles on the course. The challenges and time consumption would undoubtedly be greater.
Wang Ye realized that he needed to slow down at the turning points, and the numerous obstacles scattered throughout the course added to the challenge. While he believed he could overcome these obstacles, he acknowledged that he wouldn’t be as agile as the seasoned veterans.
Not only was it his first time tackling these specific obstacles, but he also had to approach them with caution, which would inevitably slow him down.
After careful consideration, Wang Ye came to the conclusion that obtaining the third-class merit was like chasing a mirage – no matter how hard he tried, the result would likely remain the same.
Soon, the entire company was led into the training ground. The platoon leader explained the rules and techniques for crossing the obstacles, while Wu Jianfeng and the veterans of Iron Blood Company watched from the other side of the training ground, chatting and laughing as they pointed at the recruits.
Ten minutes later, the platoon leader took the recruits to familiarize themselves with the obstacles on the course. As they returned, many of the recruits had a change of heart. While the obstacles looked easy from a distance, up close, their height and the various requirements for crossing them made it more daunting.
The initial enthusiasm had given way to doubt. Could they really overcome these obstacles without getting stuck?
Indeed, the change in mentality was particularly evident among the recruits who initially had good physical fitness and were full of confidence. Even some of the soldiers who were known for their physical strength felt apprehensive when faced with the daunting obstacles.
The sight of the deep pit, in particular, caused many recruits to hesitate and contemplate retreating. Could they jump down and still find a way to climb back up? The platform seemed equally challenging—would they be able to scale it successfully?
Despite their doubts and fears, everyone knew they had to try. True knowledge and understanding could only be gained through firsthand experience. This was precisely the purpose of Wu Jianfeng bringing them all to the training ground—to push their limits, test their abilities, and help them recognize their strengths and weaknesses.
Facing the obstacles head-on was the only way to grow and improve, and Wu Jianfeng understood that firsthand experience was the most effective teacher in the military training environment.