Chapter 25: Xu Guoqing’s Admiration

"Company Commander, reporting!"

Qi Tian strode into the command post, raised his hand in a crisp salute to Xu Guoqing, and stood at attention.

Before the echoes of his voice had even faded, a man with remarkably defined muscles standing beside Xu Guoqing stepped forward, clenching his fists as he spoke. "So, you’re the Qi Tian who led all the recruits in a counter-offensive? Kid, you’re good. I’ve got my eye on you!"

"It is my honor to be remembered by a Battalion Commander," Qi Tian replied calmly, his tone steady and composed. He wore an expression that suggested he hadn't taken the man's words to heart in the slightest.

His reaction only deepened the admiration of the recruits who had followed him into the command post. To remain as unshakable as Mount Tai in the face of such a pointed, hostile remark from a veteran Battalion Commander—this was the kind of person fit to lead them.

The reason for Qi Tian’s composure was simple. Xu Guoqing had previously made it clear that it was the Regimental Commander, Li Yunfei, who had ordered them to target him relentlessly. If even the Regimental Commander was leading the charge to make his life difficult, why would Qi Tian care about the threats of a mere Battalion Commander? That would be a joke.

"Ahem! Enough, let’s get down to business." Seeing the hot-tempered Second Battalion Commander ready to escalate the situation, Xu Guoqing and the First Battalion Commander quickly stepped in to hold him back.

"Qi Tian," Xu Guoqing said, his face brightening with excitement, his breathing slightly shallow as he looked at the young soldier. "Although your men took me out tonight and ended my command here, I must admit, I am extremely satisfied with your performance. If I’m not mistaken, the intel that veteran sent back earlier was a deliberate move on your part—a ruse to draw all our forces away from the main road. You lured them to the summit and the rear of the mountain to ambush you, while you took that opportunity to strike at our command post, right?"

This was the longest sentence Qi Tian had heard Xu Guoqing utter in the seventy-two hours he had known him. It was clear just how eager and impressed the commander truly was.

"Yes, Company Commander. I intentionally didn't let my men finish him off so I could mislead him and feed you false intelligence."

"Huff... I knew it. It all makes sense now." Xu Guoqing slapped his thigh, nodding repeatedly. "When that report came back, I felt like something was off, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Now I see—the problem was you. In the days I’ve spent observing you, I’ve realized you are a soldier with meticulous attention to detail and exceptional military instincts. Based on your track record, you shouldn't have made such an oversight. It’s a pity I realized it too late. If I had caught on sooner and set up an ambush nearby, then tonight’s final strike would have been launched by us veterans, not you. What a shame—we were just one step away!"

"Company Commander, even if you had realized it earlier, you still wouldn't have been able to catch Qi Tian or pull off that final strike," Song Wei interjected, stepping forward from the ranks of the recruits to report. "You might not know this, but before the final assault, Qi Tian had a contingency plan. He didn't rush the team forward; he had Zhang Meng and me lead separate units to sweep the perimeter first. We were checking specifically for any ambushes you might have left. If there were any, we would have been the ones captured, and we would have fought to the death to draw your fire, giving Qi Tian the chance to lead the rest of the brothers to safety. Once the time was up, they still would have secured the final victory!"

"What?!"

Hearing Song Wei’s account, Xu Guoqing jumped out of his chair in shock. The two Battalion Commanders beside him stared at Qi Tian with wide, incredulous eyes. It was clear that none of them had imagined Qi Tian had such a backup plan.

"My god, a recruit who has been in the army for less than four days, and he’s capable of such a perfect layout? Old Xu, you..." The First Battalion Commander was too stunned to finish his sentence. Even the Second Battalion Commander, who had been so antagonistic toward Qi Tian, couldn't help but nod in genuine admiration.

This recruit was not only brave and resourceful, but he also possessed the foresight to plan for the worst even on the cusp of victory, without letting success cloud his judgment. With such a temperament, he was destined for greatness.

"The tide rises as the waves pass; each generation surpasses the last!" Xu Guoqing said, his voice filled with deep respect and awe. "Kid, I’ve seen enough of tonight’s game. You haven't just conquered all the recruits—you’ve conquered us old bones, too! Go on back. There’s no point in continuing this game any further. It would just be you using our communication equipment to send false orders to the veterans on the mountain, letting them waste their time until dawn while you return to the Iron Fist Regiment to claim victory. Let’s leave some face for those veterans and for us old guys. Let’s call it a day."

Xu Guoqing spoke with a sincerity that would have been unthinkable to him just a few days ago. But now, he had no choice but to believe it. This recruit was simply too monstrously talented.

"Yes, sir," Qi Tian nodded slightly. He turned to the recruits and commanded firmly, "All units, about face! Double time, march!"

The forty-eight recruits moved in perfect, orderly fashion, their footsteps synchronized as they ran out. As the last man cleared the command post, a burst of cheers erupted outside. The recruits chanted Qi Tian’s name as if he were their hero, venting the pent-up tension of the night as they sprinted toward the Iron Fist Regiment.

Inside the command post, the three commanders exchanged looks and shook their heads with wry, helpless smiles. They couldn't even remember how many times they had teamed up to put recruits in their place, but they had never been so thoroughly outplayed, their paths to victory completely sealed off. It was a first for all of them.

Xu Guoqing knew that Regimental Commander Li Yunfei was likely still awake, waiting for the outcome of this cat-and-mouse game. He picked up his phone and reported the night's events in detail, specifically praising Qi Tian for nearly half an hour. It wasn't until the first light of dawn that he finally hung up.

...

At 6:15 AM, at the Southeast Military Region compound, beneath the residential building.

Leng Qiangguo, a man of early-morning habits, had just changed into his training gear, ready for his morning run. Just as he was about to set off, his phone rang with an urgent, insistent tone. He never kept this phone far from him, as it was the direct line for all officers in the Southeast Military Region. He knew that if someone was calling at this hour, something of vital importance must have occurred.

He walked quickly to a quiet corner and answered. "Hello, who is this?"

"Commander, it’s me, Li Yunfei of the Iron Fist Regiment."

On the other end, Li Yunfei sounded conflicted. After a moment of hesitation, he bit the bullet and said bitterly, "Commander, what kind of freak have you sent me? I beg you, take him away. This kid is not cut out to be a mere recruit. His military skills are ridiculously strong, and his tactical command and leadership charisma are on another level. If he stays in my regiment any longer, he’s going to turn the entire Iron Fist Regiment upside down!"