1031: Chapter One Thousand Fifteen: Prepare to Start Spraying 1031: Chapter One Thousand Fifteen: Prepare to Start Spraying Gao Yang wanted to just turn around and walk away; he was done with this mess.
What else could he do?
Just let it go cold.
Playing was one thing, but even big shots shouldn’t mess around like this.
Gao Yang was here for revenge, not to volunteer his help with training people.
Use them if they can be used; if not, to hell with it.
After all, he never expected any assistance when he came to Syria in the first place.
However, just walking away was easier thought than done; he was still on their turf.
Regardless, he couldn’t do without their helicopter, so Gao had to at least consider their feelings.
Shrugging his shoulders, Gao said, “What else can be done?
Do what needs to be done.
Start picking people.
It’s impossible to get them ready for the battlefield in such a short time.
First, select the people, then focus on training.”
All the preparation methods Farouk had ready were now useless, which somewhat troubled him.
Seeing Farouk’s dazed look, the major coughed lightly and said, “The general wants to see results soon; he’s waiting for good news.
The longest it can take is one month, of course, the shorter, the better.”
Farouk, being a military officer and an infantryman, knew his stuff when it came to war, but he genuinely had no idea how to lead a bunch of folks who weren’t even infantry into special operations.
The crux of the problem was that Marshall had high hopes for this combat unit, officially named the Republic Guard Special Strike Force, and even now, there might be a streak of spitefulness involved.
The most troublesome aspect was that Marshall wasn’t just looking for training; he wanted these people in the fight, actually to participate in the war.
And the most, most troublesome part was the time constraint; they had to be battle-ready and deployed within a month.
It was like a bad joke!
Gao immediately got angry.
Therefore, he decided he definitely shouldn’t get involved.
The only way he could help Farouk was to find a way to help him quickly escape from this volcano and let Marshall send his own trusted men to command the troops.
As for Farouk, it would be better to let him return to his old unit.
That would be far better than getting played to death in the Republican Guard.
Farouk was utterly dumbstruck.
Even regular infantry couldn’t be formed and sent into battle in a month, let alone this Guard unit.
It’s one thing sending them to their deaths as cannon fodder, but this was a unit under Marshall’s special attention.
If Farouk dared to treat these men as cannon fodder, Marshall would have him killed even faster.
Watching the expression on Gao Yang and Farouk’s faces, the major coughed again and said, “So, to see results as quickly as possible, the general has decided to spare no expense.
Equipment, training – everything will be the best.
If these men aren’t right, you can choose again.
Anyone from the entire Republic Guard Squad and Fourth Armored Division, as long as their rank is lieutenant or below, is yours to pick.”
Gao remained silent, and Farouk’s expression lightened a bit, but he still said with a pained look, “For training, there must be instructors, right?”
The major glanced at Gao, then said softly, “I know, there will be instructors.
Once your unit is up and running, the instructors can come.”
Intrigued, Farouk asked, “Who?”
A confident smile appeared on the major’s face as he said, “Russians, people from Signal Flag.
The rest, you’ll know soon enough.”
Russia’s staunch support for Syria was no secret, and that Russia would send people to train Syrian Special Forces wasn’t surprising.
Finally, Farouk’s expression improved.
The major continued, “So you must select your members quickly.”
Farouk looked at Gao again for help.
Gao initially wanted to stay completely out of it, but seeing Farouk’s bitter face, he figured he better lend a hand.
Farouk had no idea how to pick members for the Special Forces.
Gao decided it was best to take over the task himself.
He wouldn’t be staying much longer and didn’t need to please anyone else.
When those higher up screw things up and then lash out at those below, nothing could be more normal.
If Farouk led this haphazardly assembled unit into battle within a month, it’d be a miracle if there was a good outcome, without him taking the blame.
That’s what Gao thought.
By helping Farouk choose people, he could take some of the heat off him.
Just in case Farouk couldn’t get rid of this hot potato, and couldn’t find someone else to take the blame, it wasn’t impossible for him to get the chop.
Friends should help each other out in tough times; with that change in mindset, Gao, without another word, stepped forward and shouted to the large formation of people, “Everyone, right turn!”
Gao walked to the front of the formation, pointed towards the house closest to them, and shouted, “I’ll be waiting for you there.
Now, everyone is to run one lap around the airport fence to the point I designated.
Single file, double time!”
Over a hundred people, without any fuss, started running in the direction Gao pointed, beginning with the first row.
As the first row took off, the second row followed, and quickly, the entire formation of more than a hundred people was running.
Gao’s recent string of significant victories meant his prestige was at its peak.
As long as he didn’t go too far, no one could object to what he did.
After sending people off to run, Gao turned back helplessly and glanced at Li Jinfang and Eileen, then waved his hands and said, “You two follow them, see if there’s anyone who passes muster.”
Li Jinfang and Eileen ran out, following the main force, simply observing attentively without speaking.
Farouk, after looking around, said to Gao Yang, “Running a lap around the airport has got to be about ten kilometers, right?
Hmm, how long is considered passing?
Or is it whoever gets back first that’s considered passing?”
Gao Yang shook his head and said, “No, it’s more complicated than that.
Let’s go wait at the finish line, you’ll find out soon enough.”
After speaking, Gao Yang waved his hand and said, “Let’s go back, sit down and wait.
We’ll be busy today.”
Returning to the residential area, Dani and Gilanor had also come out upon hearing the news, and the mercenaries were all present without exception.
With new soldiers coming, how could these bored guys stay put?
Dani had the orderlies bring out sunshades and chairs, and Gao Yang and the others sat in the shade, leisurely observing the soldiers running with binoculars.
However, Farouk couldn’t sit still, he kept standing, watching the soldiers lined up in a long queue, run into the distance.
Gao Yang, with binoculars in hand, noticed that these guys were indeed a bunch of misfits.
In fact, as the most elite troops of Syria, the Republic Guard couldn’t have chosen misfits.
On the contrary, these men were Syria’s finest, but they were elites of an armored unit, perhaps good clerical staff, good tank commanders, good officers, but they were definitely not qualified Special Forces soldiers.
An elite in the right place is elite; in the wrong place, he’s a misfit.
The elites of an armored unit sent to the wrong battlefield were naturally an unqualified unit, at least for a short time—they were all misfits.
Among the mercenaries, few could keep their mouths shut.
Watching that bunch run, Yake was the first to speak up.
“Do you believe that I could run faster than them even if I live for another twenty years?”
Ludwig, equally loose-lipped, laughed and said, “A bunch of women can run faster than them.”
Farouk glanced back with a look of dissatisfaction, then resumed watching the running soldiers with his hands clasped.
Li Qiu suddenly said, “I used to think we were pretty slack, but today, I’ve gained some confidence.
Not to mention anything else, but our guys can run pretty fast, huh.”
Cui Bo laughed heartily and said, “It’s a racial talent, being fast gives an advantage in running away.”
Li Qiu nodded and said, “Right, even just for running away, we’d have the edge over these rookies.”
Cui Bo smiled and said, “Maybe these guys are good shots.”
Li Qiu shook his head and said, “I doubt it.
Just by looking at them, you can tell.
If they can’t even escape properly, it’d be a miracle if they’re good with a gun.”
Farouk’s face turned green, Gao Yang turned to the group giggling behind him and said, “Shut it, all of you.
You’ll have your chance to speak later.”
Gao Yang’s words were still effective.
Although the group was still gesturing and commenting, at least no more mockery came forth.
As nearly half an hour approached, they could see the people in front were about to run back.
At that point, Yake couldn’t help but say, “It’s only been twenty-four minutes so far.
Looks like quite a few will make it back within forty minutes, not too shabby.”
Yake’s words were sarcastic, the irony quite evident.
After all, an unloaded ten-kilometer run on flat ground, and considering the airport perimeter might actually be less than ten kilometers, even the best time would be over thirty minutes—a performance unimpressive in the eyes of Yake and the others.
The first group made it back in thirty-four minutes, and that was the time for about a group of thirty people, who, judging by their apparel and appearance, seemed to come from the same unit.
As the foremost runners stood panting and drenched in sweat before Gao Yang and the others—managing to stay on their feet—those who came after them would flop onto the ground, without a care for how scorching it might be.
Their training was lacking, with just ten kilometers and no combat gear, and here they all were, too tired to move.
Gao Yang turned his head to the people behind him and said, “Alright, unleash your most venomous words on these rookies.
Hey, put some effort into it—let’s see who among you can get someone up first to fight back in anger.”
Ludwig turned to the group and said, “I bet a thousand dollars!
Everyone puts in a thousand, and the one who wins takes it all.
Let’s see who can get those rookies riled up first.
Mock them until they rise to throw a punch, and you win.
Your targets are your choice, group mockery is also fine, but just sarcasm, no personal attacks, and definitely no swearing at family.
A foul means a loss—who’s in?”
Yake responded first, “I’m in; here’s a thousand bucks.
Give all the money to Ram to hold, and let him be the judge.”
Those with money took it out, and those without could still participate, as long as they committed to paying later.
Thus, except for Glolov and Tommy, everyone stood in a line, ready to dive into the crowd and start roasting.(To be continued.
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