Chapter 4 Fission 9. Soldier's Song (5)

  Our big and small vehicles went through layers of checks, and by the time it was almost dawn, we arrived at our forward base. Until the vehicle stopped, our canvas was lifted by the deputy chief of staff, my sleepy eyes were not yet awake, and then I got off with my brothers. It wasn't until then that I took a few breaths of fresh air, but soon I was taken into the house.

  It wasn't until then that I realized our forward base was actually a construction site, only without people. It's clear that they built half of it and ran out of money, leaving just the shell. The Dog Head Brigade must have secretly scouted this area before the exercise and finally chose this place as the forward base for the special warfare squad to infiltrate the Blue Army's depth. It's absolutely not a coincidence. If we spend a bit more money to clean up this place, I don't know how they handled the local relations, but there are definitely guards wearing security uniforms at the entrance, and they really don't look like our soldiers. I have no idea where they came from, but this is something that can't be cut back on, even for a poor army.

  We, a group of special forces dressed young men, walked into the original migrant workers' simple brick house as if we had entered the wrong door. The curtains were naturally closed, and the daylight lamp was turned on. We just stood there foolishly in the room. I kept looking at the deputy chief of staff's small mustache wanting to laugh, but didn't dare to. The deputy chief of staff laughed first: "What are you looking at me for, kid?" Northeastern people have no way out, as soon as he opened his mouth, I felt like it was a comedy sketch.

  Everyone is happy. Everyone is happy. Only the Dog Head High School team isn't happy, he actually wants to be happy but just can't be happy. The war situation briefing meeting begins.

  This will be an unforgettable experience for me. The deputy chief of staff, a small Japanese officer with a middle parting and oily hair, solemnly introduced us to the intelligence gathered about the Cat Head Brigade. He instructed us to lift up a bed board in a dormitory, and oh my! A delicate handmade sand table appeared, made of sawdust, with small blue flags and a scale, and even had detailed information on the deployment of troops and unit numbers written in imitation Song Dynasty script. The deputy chief of staff explained which was which, how we would enter, several sets of plans, and how to respond to various situations. We listened attentively, without taking notes - it's all in our heads. Special forces operating behind enemy lines can't take notes, what if they're captured? Notes would betray everyone! So special forces have exceptionally good memories. Such complex information can be remembered after just one or two repetitions. If unclear, ask quickly, and you can remember it after two repetitions.

  The base of the Cat Head Brigade was also in a valley. We were about to sneak in under the cover of night and capture Lei Da-dui and his battalion commanders, who were also the special operations commandos of the Blue Army. We listened attentively, our minds remembering and actively analyzing our mission.

  The attitude is absolutely serious. Every link in it is very critical. Can you go in or not? How to capture when going in? How to come out? These are three major links, and there are many small links inside, none of which can be wrong. The precision of special warfare exceeds the imagination of ordinary people. It's not just a matter of going in with an AK or M60 and sweeping away, that's just sending yourself to death! You have to complete your mission! Ideally, without firing a shot, one bullet is not fired, one knife is not cut, like mercury entering, like mercury withdrawing. Secrecy is the ultimate pursuit of special warfare operations.

  The briefing was almost over, when the sound of vehicles faintly echoed outside, followed by a sudden knock on the door. We all tensed up, instinctively gripping our weapons tightly, and the indoor combat formation was already in place. Every door and window was within the firing range of my comrades.

  If it were war, it would be real bullets, and there would really be enemies, with flesh flying everywhere. If there were enemies, then of course there would also be ours. But this isn't war, so there aren't any real bullets, and of course no enemy is coming. It's that female cadre.

  "Target No. 1 has arrived!" Her tone was serious, a stark contrast to her outfit. The brothers hadn't even had time to adjust when the deputy commander and the Dog Head High School team all changed color. The deputy commander pointed at the sandbox: "Everyone get in!"

  We just jumped in and lay down at the bottom, and a piece of sawdust flew into our noses. Our noses were all itchy but nobody dared to sneeze. Then the bed board was covered up. Then I heard a crisp slap: "Damn! You son of a bitch! Again you're flirting with other women behind my back!" Before I could react, I heard the deputy chief of staff's northeastern accent: "What are you doing? Are you crazy?! Dare to hit me?!"

  Then there was a fight and quarrel between men and women. I was really stupid at the bottom, it was dark and I couldn't see others, but I guess others were also stunned. Then the door opened. The quarrel continued. But I saw several pairs of military boots through the gap under the bed.

  A pair of shiny large cowhide boots.

  The others were all a few pairs of high-top camouflage paratrooper boots just like ours. There were even more outside, and it was completely unclear. Cat head! I suddenly felt a thrill. I knew that the cat head troops had arrived. Were they charging at us? Had the wind leaked out? We grasped our weapons tightly.

  I saw our female cadre suddenly kneel down in front of the big leather boots, hugging his legs and crying: "Comrades of the Liberation Army, you've come just in time! You be the judge for me! He cheated on me and also cheated other women! Tell me, is he human or not?!"

  I was really shocked, the acting is so good! Then the deputy chief of staff pulled her up: "Don't lose face here anymore! Hurry up and get up!" It was noisy and quarrelsome. My god! To this day, I still recall with amazement the wisdom and acting talent of the field army cadres, who are not even professional agents! One is a commander, the other is a doctor, how can they act so well?!

  Those several cat heads did not move. It was just that pair of large leather boots that obviously belonged to an official, who casually took a few steps and didn't say anything. The two people were still quarreling loudly. The large leather boots turned around and walked away, going out the door. The cat heads' boots all followed along.

  "Where are we going, Lieutenant Thunder?" I heard a soldier ask. Whoa! This is Lieutenant Thunder! The captain of the Cat Head Corps?! I got excited and wanted to rush out and grab this son of a gun first! But a hand held me back. I turned my head and it was Dog Head High School Corps. This kid didn't say anything, just held me back like that. It's really painful! I didn't dare shout, so I endured it.

  Then the familiar assault motorcycle special troops sped away. The two of them still quarreled for a long time. Later, it gradually quieted down. The bed board was lifted, and we came out.

  The deputy chief of staff and the female cadre were all tangled up in a mess, but none of us laughed. We really didn't have time to laugh. The Cathead Thunder squad we were trying to capture had just slipped past us. This was not something any of us could have anticipated, I'm sure even the deputy chief of staff hadn't expected it.

  Dog Head High School team? Is it him?! Does he have that IQ?!

  Many years ago, on a morning, the Colonel of a special forces battalion of the People's Liberation Army suddenly rushed into a construction site. He also entered a large room where more than a dozen special forces operatives from another battalion were hiding under a bed board to capture him. He saw two dogs, male and female, fighting each other. He just looked at them like that, without saying anything.

  A dozen or so automatic weapons had their safeties off. In the event of war, these elegantly designed killing machines would fire countless bullets in an instant, tearing through the thin mattress and sending death kisses into his body. Of course, on the premise that he discovered the secret under the bed.

  A stone's throw away, two worlds. The result he found was the same as the end. Whether it was war or exercise, the outcome was the same. We can't escape, but neither can he. His chest badge will have to be torn off, and he'll have to quit the exercise. Did he find out? I'm sure he did now. Veterans who've been through battles, old special forces oilers, professional amateur musicians, do you think they can't see through loopholes? What's the understanding of people in the art world about human feelings and worldly affairs? What do you say?

  But he just didn't say it. That's what a master is like. Mutual destruction is the choice of fools. A master chooses one-sided victory. I think so now too.