1034: Chapter One Thousand and Eighteen: So That’s How It Is 1034: Chapter One Thousand and Eighteen: So That’s How It Is Gao Yang felt he could hardly bear it any longer.
War wasn’t a joke—it was about life and death.
To deploy a well-trained Special Forces unit to a tough battlefield could potentially end in heavy casualties and failure.
Sending some soldiers to unsuitable combat positions while expecting them to enter the fray within a month was tantamount to murder.
The selection process for Special Forces was supposed to be about picking the best of the best, favoring quality over quantity.
Even though picking the best didn’t guarantee victory, a higher starting point was ultimately advantageous.
Faru could no longer think of anything to say.
He sat there, furrowing his brows, deep in thought.
As for Gao Yang, his complexion had turned ashen with anger.
Gao Yang didn’t care about whatever complex reasons there were.
It was Marshal’s prerogative to decide who to send to their deaths, and that wasn’t Gao Yang’s concern.
However, he would absolutely not be the one leading these unqualified soldiers to their demise.
Someone wanted to murder these soldiers, and he wouldn’t be that executioner, not even indirectly.
Gao Yang, his face a shade of iron blue, was about to speak when Dani suddenly said from the side, “Colonel Gongyang, please come here for a moment.
I have some personal matters I’d like to consult you about.”
Gao Yang looked at Dani in surprise, noticing the tense expression on his face.
After a moment of hesitation, Gao Yang finally turned to the Major next to him and whispered apologetically, “Excuse me for a moment.”
When they reached a place where no one could overhear them, Dani asked anxiously in a low voice, “Colonel, are you angry?”
Gao Yang spread his hands and said discontentedly, “It’s obvious I’m not in a good mood right now.
What we are doing is murder, sending the wrong people to the wrong battlefield.
This, I cannot do.”
Dani asked quietly, “What do you plan to say?”
“Either change the personnel or change the commanding officer.
Of course, Faru is the official commander.
What I mean is, if they want us to cooperate, then form a unit that I believe can work together, rather than push a bunch of soldiers to their deaths with a time limit!”
Dani sighed and said, “I guessed you would say these things.
Listen to me, Gongyang, don’t do this.”
Gao Yang gave Dani a puzzled look but saw bitterness on Dani’s face as he said, “Colonel, you don’t understand the situation here.
How should I put it?
Well, this involves the higher-ups.
We’re friends, but I can only reveal a little to you.”
After glancing at Faru, Dani leaned closer to Gao Yang and whispered, “The civil war has reached this point, and the political situation is chaotic.”
Gao Yang glanced at Dani in surprise but saw him nod and then say with a wry smile, “Marshal commands the Republican Guard and the Fourth Armored Division.
His military achievements are…
well, regarding the formation of a Special Strike Force, they hope to achieve quick victories and rapidly build, er, prestige.”
Gao Yang said quietly, “Then all the more reason to select elite troops and excellent commanders.
Why would they…”
Before Gao Yang could finish, Dani interrupted, “The intel I’ve got is that Marshal has had some minor conflicts with a few other generals—disputes over pride.
Some have questioned his idea of establishing Special Forces.
This has made Marshal very dissatisfied, so he has decided to push through with this decision.”
Gao Yang understood why Marshal wanted to establish a Special Forces unit.
Dani didn’t need to say; Gao could roughly guess.
Despite Dani’s lengthy explanation, Gao still couldn’t comprehend why Marshal would send unfit people into battle, especially with a deadline.
Dani quickly clarified Gao’s confusion.
After pausing as if hesitating whether to speak, Dani soon lowered his voice and said, “Those selected are all Alawites.”
Gao Yang suddenly understood.
Seeing Gao’s realization, Dani nodded and whispered, “It looks like you understand, so I won’t elaborate.
You just need to know that all those sent for your selection are Alawites.”
Gao knew why the reconnaissance force, which was apt to be the source to reinforce the Special Strike Force, had ended up only sending thirty soldiers—the entire lower-ranking officer and soldier contingent of the reconnaissance force were Alawites.
Gao Yang sighed quietly, “No wonder.”
Dani nodded and said, “It seems Faru has come to understand.
Gongyang, we are on good terms, and I admire you.
Most importantly, since you arrived, my prospects seem a lot brighter.
Whether it’s out of friendship or consideration for my own future, I suggest you don’t say anything.”
Gao Yang exhaled and lamented, “I understand.
There’s no room for change in this matter now.”
Dani said sternly, “Yes, there’s no possibility for change in this matter because it involves…
well, it’s better we don’t talk about it.”
Gao Yang nodded and patted Dani’s shoulder, speaking softly, “I know; no need to say more.
There are some things we shouldn’t discuss.
Thanks, mate, for telling me all this.”
Dani frankly accepted Gao’s thanks, nodded, and then with a bitter smile, said, “We’re in the same trench now.
I’m not a military man now, but I know what war is all about.
Honestly, the situation doesn’t look too good.
Having to choose Special Forces from a bunch of amateurs is a real headache.
What do you plan to do?”
Gao Yang gave a wry smile, “What can be done?
We’ll just do what needs to be done.”
Dani cleared his throat softly and then whispered, “I suggest you might as well ask for those sixteen eliminated scouts to be returned, or symbolically eliminate one or two.
After all, their quality isn’t bad.
Among the soldiers you can select from, they are the best.”
Gao Yang shook his head, “No, I’d rather pick some blank sheets of paper than those who have been well-trained but whose ideas and tactical habits are already set in stone.
A blank sheet can be written on with whatever you want, but to write what you want on a sheet that’s already filled with words, you have to clean the paper first.
Now I even want to eliminate more of those from the reconnaissance force.”
After saying that, Gao Yang patted Dani on the back and spoke softly, “Alright, now I understand what’s going on.
I’ve got a clear picture.”
Dani laughed quietly, “Just make sure you do this well, and believe me, you can get great benefits, benefits beyond your imagination.”
Gao Yang smiled but did not respond.
Benefits, what benefits could he get, the high rank and generous rewards of Syria?
He’d rather receive a large sum of money, but considering Syria’s current economic situation, he might as well dismiss that thought.
Now that he knew what was going on, Gao Yang was no longer angry, nor did he think about useless things.
He would just pick from whoever Marshal sent over; there was nothing he could do to change that because it involved some of the struggles among the Syrian elite.
Sitting back in his original spot, although still not in a good mood, Gao Yang’s face no longer looked stern.
Just then, he watched two people stumble back to the finish line.
After making a show of checking his watch, Gao Yang said in a deep voice, “I estimate they won’t be back for at least another hour.”
The Major turned to Gao Yang, “Colonel, when do you think would be suitable for our next selection?”
Gao Yang waved his hand, “Today.
The sooner, the better.
Let’s finish the initial work and start training as quickly as possible.”
The Major thought for a moment and then nodded, “Alright, this afternoon, I’ll bring the rest of the people over.
Do we need to prepare anything else?”
Gao Yang asked, “One more question, where will the training be conducted after the personnel are selected?”
The Major spoke softly, “It would be best to go somewhere with a complete training field, but the General hopes that the Special Strike Force can be near your location.”
Gao Yang furrowed his brow; he had no desire to go to another training field.
First of all, he wouldn’t be able to get the necessary maintenance for helicopters that was only available at the airport, and most importantly, going to an army training field would mean no possibility of fixed-wing aircraft taking off and landing.
Gao Yang shook his head, “I must stay here, ready to deploy at any time.”
The Major firmly waved his hand, “Then we’ll do it here.
It’s just over a hundred people, no problem.
We’ll find a spot in the airport to transform into a training field.”
Gilanor wanted to say something but straightened up, ultimately saying nothing.
Gao Yang waved his hand and spoke gravely, “What about the equipment?”
The Major firmly stated, “Use the best of everything!”
Gao Yang nodded, “Are there any limitations?”
The Major shook his head, “No limitations.
Whatever we have, they can use.
If we don’t have it, we’ll buy it.”
Gao Yang nodded again and fell silent, lifting his binoculars and focusing on the soldiers in the distance.
Dani coughed lightly and said, “Their strength is exhausted.
I think no one can come back in a short time.
How about we wait in the office?
It won’t be too late to come out after they’ve returned.”
Gao Yang shook his head, “No, let’s watch.
Some things have to be observed in person.”
After their strength was exhausted, the time it took to run long distances became unpredictable.
It wasn’t until one and a half hours into the second round that the first unmanned group returned, panting and staggering.
The rule Gao Yang had set was to eliminate the last group.
Therefore, the first group that returned did so hand in hand, pulling each other along as they walked back together.
The second group also returned, five people walking back hand in hand.
When Li Jinfang was distributing the groups, he assigned members based on their physical strength, ensuring each group had fast and slow runners.
Gao Yang’s rule could not be considered a trap; the rule of eliminating the last one was easy to avoid.
As long as the five people reached the finish line together, without anyone being the last one, elimination could be avoided.
The teams that returned earlier had all stuck together, though they might not have known each other before, but the principle of not leaving a comrade behind was still known to everyone.
(To be continued.
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