Chapter Twenty-Two: Return to Base

  "It's really a big fish. The two lieutenant generals are the deputy commander of the Southern Xinjiang Military Region and the chief of staff." Lei Wei leaned against Xie Xiaoshuai.

  "Soldiers, which unit are you from?" a lieutenant general asked, an awe-inspiring old man with an air of iron and blood about him, who inspired reverence without being angry.

  "Reporting to the commander, we are the Rattlesnake Special Warfare Brigade." Lei Weili stood at attention, showing the due respect for a high-ranking officer. As the highest-ranking member of the team, it was his duty to answer the commander's questions.

  "This meeting of ours is top-secret, how did you get the intel and accurately find the location?" The deputy commander asked out of curiosity.

  "Sorry, sir, it's a secret, I can't tell you." Lei Wei replied.

  "Can you tell me about what happened a few days ago? Was it the masterpiece of your little team?" The deputy commander changed the subject.

  "Yes, sir, let us do it."

  "Although you behead me today, I must admit that you are excellent, with the smallest cost, in exchange for the greatest results, making our backyard lose fire. Well done, soldiers. But this is just a drill, I hope to see you so brave on the battlefield, cutting off the enemy's head." The deputy commander said seriously.

  "Thank you for your praise, when war breaks out, if our motherland needs us, we will die heroically and eliminate the enemy."

  "Alright, soldier, you can report the results now. We're ending the exercise." The deputy commander took the lead in tearing off the armband.

  Lei Wei gave a military salute to the deputy commander and then organized personnel to evacuate. They all did it calmly and composedly, without being carried away by their gains just now.

  "What a fine troop that is! If our army had such fighting power, what a sight it would be! Inform Xie Pingyang to come and see me." The deputy commander said enviously as he watched the retreating Rattlesnake squad members.

  "Pa Zhang, this is Chi Lian." Xie Xiao Shuai contacted Ren Tian Qi.

  "What's wrong, Chi Yan?"

  "Mission accomplished, target annihilated."

  "What did you gain?"

  "The other party's deputy commander and chief of staff."

  "Not bad, you've done a good job. You can withdraw now, you've played your role and shown your value, the rest of the things are not for you to participate in." Ren Tianqi said after a moment of silence.

  The special warfare squadron of the Rattlesnake is waiting for the return of the Sahara Fox team at the helicopter airport, led by Ren Tianqi and other high-level officials. They gaze up at the sky as the helicopters transform from small black dots to larger ones before landing.

  "Welcome back, hahaha, well done, you've finally made me proud!" Ren Tianqi punched Xiao Shuai's shoulder.

  "It's all thanks to Captain's great leadership." Xie Xiaoshuai flattered him with a slap on the back.

  "Spare me the theatrics, I've already told the cook to prepare dinner and then rest for the night. Come to my office tomorrow." Ren Tianqi waved his hand impatiently.

  "Yes." Xie Xiaoshuai led the Sand Fox team away.

  After dinner, Xie Xiaoshuai patted his belly contentedly. For the past few days, they had been having compressed biscuits for every meal, and the taste was really unbearable. So, having hot dishes and hot rice seemed like the most wonderful thing in the world to Sha Huo and the others. Then, several people rushed into the bathhouse, took a nice hot shower, washed themselves clean from head to toe, and finally fell onto their own small beds and slept soundly.

  The next morning, Xie Xiaoshuai knocked on Ren Tianqi's office door.

  "Reporting to the captain, Chi Yan Snake has arrived." Xie Xiao Shuai stood at the door, standing at attention and saluting.

  "Alright, alright, spare me the theatrics, come on in." Ren Tianqi raised his head.

  "Hehe! This is the way to show respect for the captain!" Xie Xiaoshuai chuckled and walked over to the chair, sitting down on his own.

  "With your sloppy appearance, can you still look dignified?" Ren Tianqi joked.

  "Let's get down to business, Captain. What task did you call me here for?" Xie Xiaoshuai put away his smile and became serious.

  "This time you kid really did a good job, but I still have to criticize you. I was right to let the Sand Fox team go behind enemy lines, but you kid actually played commander-in-chief, treating chicken feathers as imperial edicts." Ren Tianqi knocked on the table.

  "What's wrong with that, Captain? You said it yourself, we can work together when necessary. I really need to now." Xie Xiao Shuai looked very wronged.

  "You still have the nerve? I'm telling you, if it wasn't for your intel being extremely valuable, I would've gone to seek help from the military district commander with a thick face? Do you think I have the energy to mobilize so many departments to cooperate? Don't be naive, if it wasn't for the military district commander's trust in us and his orders, they wouldn't have cooperated so obediently. Do you know the value of a cruise missile? If it wasn't for the Bald Eagle being a huge threat, would it be worth using national strategic reserve resources? Although this is just an exercise without live ammo, its value is still unimaginable to you."

  Ren Tianqi picked up his teacup and took a sip before continuing: "However, the military district commander is very satisfied with our performance in this exercise. But don't get too cocky, kid. Don't let your tail get too high just because you've achieved some success. This time, I set up a stage for you to show off your skills and shut people's mouths. You're just a lowly soldier, why do you have so much to say? Of course, that's my business."

  "Thank you, Captain, for your concern. I will reflect on myself and correct my mistakes." Xie Xiao Shuai stood up in a pretentious manner.

  "Actually, I'm basically satisfied with your performance, but at the same time, I'm also curious, where did you learn these tactics from?"

  "Heh heh! During my school days, I studied hard to ensure good grades, but every day I would also research military publications. All my pocket money was spent on them. When I got home, I'd watch war movies, especially epic ones. Although they were all fake, they gave me a lot of inspiration." Xie Xiaoshuai relaxed again.

  "Doesn't this make things clear?"

  "By the way, Captain, do you know my old man?" Xie Xiaoshuai changed the subject.

  "We know each other well. We were brought up by the same class leader and your old squad leader."

  "But why did he run to the Southern Xinjiang Military Region?" Xie Xiaoshuai asked, revealing his inner doubts. These things Xie Pingyang had never told him before.

  "That year, the three of us were all quite outstanding and were promoted one after another, then each went to other regiments to take up important military posts. After the war in Southern Xinjiang broke out, your father and I were ordered to go and provide support, but he distinguished himself greatly in that battle, while I didn't achieve anything, afterwards he was retained by the commander of the Southern Xinjiang Military Region, and I returned to my original unit." Ren Tianqi couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy as he thought back on past events.

  "But why have I never heard the old man mention you before? There's no sign of you in any of his old family photos either."

  "Your father was a man of great principle, largely due to the confidentiality agreement, he destroyed all information about me, actually I did too. The commander of an elite special forces battalion, his identity is top secret."

  "Unexpectedly, this stubborn old man is actually quite cute."

  "There are many things you didn't think of. Was it a coincidence that you were assigned to the Wild Wolf Battalion when you enlisted? Is it normal for your new platoon leader to be the best assault commander of the Rattlesnake? Is it reasonable for you to be detained by the commander of the Wild Wolf Battalion? Did I, as the commander of this special operations battalion, personally go ask someone and then have you parachute into the camp just a few days after the selection process started without any reason?"

  Facing Ren Tianqi's string of questions, Xie Xiaoshuai's doubts in his heart were finally resolved. It turned out that from the first day he joined the army, there had always been the shadow of an old man.

  "So you're saying that I'm also being specially taken care of as the captain because of old man's sake?" Xie Xiaoshuai said with a bitter smile.

  "This has nothing to do with your father, it's because I appreciate you and think you can handle this position. After observing you, it also proves that you have such ability. The low military rank is not a problem, it will be solved, but you must grow up quickly. I will always keep the captain of the Sha Hu Xiao team for you, you need to work hard to take away the word 'deputy'." Ren Tianqi's words were sonorous and powerful.

  "I will work hard and won't let you down." Xie Xiaoshuai used an honorific for the first time, with tears welling up in his glasses.