Rebirth in the Dragon Kingdom: The Strongest Blade

Chapter 26 Decapitation Operation

At 1 a.m., the Hunter Blade Special Forces decapitation team set off.

Lin Zhe, along with Lao Ma, Da Liu, and three other team members, slipped into the night like ghosts. The route they chose was indeed treacherous—it involved crossing two mountains and a river valley, almost entirely through uninhabited areas.

But this route is also the safest. The Blue Army's defenses are mainly deployed along major transportation routes and in open areas, making them relatively weak in these deep mountain forests.

"Team Leader Lin, there's a checkpoint ahead," Old Ma, who was in charge of clearing the way, relayed the message through his personal terminal.

Lin Zhe lay prone on the hillside, observing with night vision goggles. Three hundred meters ahead, there was a makeshift outpost with four Blue Army soldiers, two tents, and a searchlight.

"Go around it," Lin Zhe ordered. "Don't alert them."

The six men silently bypassed the outpost from the side, using the dense bushes as cover, and successfully bypassed the first line of defense.

Over the next three hours, they bypassed four Blue Team strongholds. Each time was extremely dangerous, but each time they succeeded.

At four in the morning, only two kilometers remained between the Blue Army command post and this point. From here on, security tightened significantly. Patrols increased, and more sentries were deployed.

"Team Leader Lin, we can't get through," Da Liu whispered. "There are at least twenty hidden sentries ahead, very densely packed."

Lin Zhe carefully observed the terrain. It was a relatively open valley, with the Blue Army command post located in the center. To get closer, they would have to cross this open area.

Forcing their way in is definitely not an option; if they are exposed, the decapitation operation will fail.

"Wait a minute." Lin Zhe suddenly thought of something, "Eavesdropping equipment." The equipment that had been infiltrated and installed before the exercise came into play.

He opened his individual terminal and pulled up the intercepted communications from the opposing force. Soon, he found useful information—at 4:30 a.m., a supply convoy was about to enter the command post.

"The opportunity has arrived." Lin Zhe's eyes lit up. "The supply convoy will be at 4:30. We'll infiltrate."

"How do you make a living?" Old Ma asked.

"Hit the car, change clothes," Lin Zhe said succinctly. "Old Ma, Big Liu, you two come with me to hijack the car. The rest of you wait here."

The three men stealthily made their way towards the convoy's likely route. Sure enough, at 4:25, two military trucks arrived. They weren't driving fast because of the poor road conditions.

Lin Zhe and his two companions lay in ambush in the roadside bushes. When the first car passed and the second car came along, Lin Zhe suddenly rushed out and leaped onto the back panel of the car!

Before the driver and the guards in the cab could react, Lin Zhe had already opened the car door and climbed into the cab.

"Don't move, you've 'sacrificed' yourselves." Lin Zhe pointed his gun at the two men.

The driver and the guards were stunned for a few seconds, then smiled wryly and took off their helmets—according to the exercise rules, they were indeed "dead".

"Old Ma, drive," Lin Zhe said to Old Ma, who had followed.

Old Ma got into the driver's seat, and Lin Zhe and Da Liu changed into Blue Army uniforms. They tied up the "fallen" driver and escort soldier and stuffed them into the bushes—according to the exercise rules, they couldn't move or send messages now.

The convoy continued forward. With passes and Blue Army uniforms, they successfully passed the last checkpoint and entered the command post area.

The command post was larger than I had imagined. It contained over a dozen tents, dozens of vehicles, and a makeshift communication antenna. Security was tight, with sentries everywhere.

"Team Leader Lin, what should we do?" Da Liu asked in a low voice.

Lin Zhe observed the layout of the command post. It was much more heavily guarded than when the listening equipment was installed. The largest tent was the operations command room, surrounded by four guards. The smaller tents next to it were probably the officers' rest room and communications room.

"Wait," Lin Zhe said. "The monitoring shows that Zhang Dajiang is going to hold a combat meeting at 5:00 sharp. All the senior officers will be in the command room then, and we'll take them all down in one fell swoop."

Time ticked by. At 4:50, the officers began to walk toward the command tent. Lin Zhe counted eight people in total, including Zhang Dajiang.

The meeting began at five o'clock. Discussions could be heard coming from inside the tent.

"Now's the time." Lin Zhe gestured. "Old Ma, you take care of the guards at the gate. Da Liu, you take two men and guard the outer perimeter to prevent anyone from escaping. The other two, come with me into the tent."

action!

Old Ma silently approached the guards at the command room door. The two guards were chatting, completely unaware of the danger behind them. Old Ma, one in each hand, "killed" both of them simultaneously—his movements clean and swift.

Lin Zhe, along with two team members, quickly rushed into the tent!

Inside the tent, Zhang Dajiang stood in front of a map and spoke: "...We must hold the eastern front, otherwise..."

Before he could finish speaking, the curtain was lifted, and three "Blue Army soldiers" rushed in.

"Who goes there?!" a colonel shouted.

Lin Zhe didn't say anything, but raised his hand and fired a shot—the laser dot lit up on Zhang Dajiang's chest.

"You..." Zhang Dajiang was stunned.

The other officers reacted quickly; some tried to draw their guns, others tried to call for guards. But Lin Zhe and his two team members were faster. "Bang bang bang..." A series of laser beams flashed, and all eight senior officers were "killed."

The whole process took less than ten seconds.

"The exercise is over." Lin Zhe put away his gun. "Comrades, you have 'sacrificed' yourselves."

The tent was deathly silent. The officers looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

"You... are Red Army special forces?" Zhang Dajiang was the first to react, his face turning ashen.

"Yes, sir," Lin Zhe replied, his face painted with face paint and his voice deliberately lowered.

"How did you get in?" a major general asked. "There are so many guards outside..."

"They came in through the main gate," Lin Zhe said. "They came in in a supply truck."

The officers exchanged bewildered glances. A supply truck? That was indeed the easiest way to sneak in.

"Good...very good!" Zhang Dajiang said through gritted teeth, "That old bastard Chen Jianfeng, he won this time."

He walked up to Lin Zhe and carefully examined the young man. Although he was covered in body paint, he looked very young, and... his epaulets said he was a lieutenant colonel?

A twenty-one-year-old lieutenant colonel? Zhang Dajiang's heart skipped a beat. This was Lin Zhe, whom he had met once in Beijing...

Just then, gunshots and shouts rang out from outside. It was the "Sharp Sword" team members who had stayed behind who noticed the abnormality and rushed over.

But it was too late. Da Liu and Lao Ma held the outside, blocking the "Sharp Sword" team's attack. Although outnumbered, they held the advantageous terrain and the element of surprise made the battle fierce and evenly matched for a time.

Hearing the commotion outside, Lin Zhe said to the officers, "Comrades, according to the exercise rules, you are 'killed in action.' Please stay here and do not move."

After saying that, he led two team members out of the tent and joined the battle.

Outside, six members of the "Sharp Sword" team were on the offensive. Seeing Lin Zhe emerge, the captain leading the team shouted, "Drop your weapons! You're surrounded!"

Lin Zhe didn't speak, but raised his hand and fired a shot. The laser receiver on the captain's chest lit up—he was "killed."

"Captain!" the "Sword" team members exclaimed.

The battle has begun again. This time it's six against six, a fair fight.

But fairness only applies to numbers. In terms of strength, Hunter Blade clearly has the advantage. Lin Zhe's skills are beyond question, and Lao Ma and Da Liu are also top performers in the team. In less than five minutes, all six members of "Sharp Sword" were "killed".

The battle was over. Lin Zhe glanced at the time: 5:15.

"Reporting to command, the decapitation strike was a success." He reported through his individual terminal, "All senior commanders of the Blue Force have been 'killed'."

Soon, the command post issued an order: "Exercise over! Red Army victorious!"

As the news spread, the entire exercise area gradually quieted down. The gunfire ceased, the artillery fire stopped, only the broadcast repeated: "Exercise over. All units cease operations..."

Inside the Blue Army command post, officers emerged from their tents one after another. Zhang Dajiang's face was grim—he had suffered a humiliating defeat in this exercise. From beginning to end, they had been led by the nose by the Red Army; their special forces had been completely annihilated, and their command post had been destroyed—it was a complete and utter defeat.

Lin Zhe led his team to pack up their equipment, preparing to leave. As they passed Zhang Dajiang, he stopped and saluted.

Zhang Dajiang returned the greeting, looked at the young man, and suddenly asked, "What's your name?"

Lin Zhe hesitated for a moment, but still answered, "Lin Zhe, Hunter Blade Special Forces of the Southwest Military Region."

Lin Zhe! It really was him! Zhang Dajiang's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "We met once in Jinghua? Chen Jianfeng often mentioned you to me."

"Sir, I remember that time I went to the General Armaments Department."

"Hmm." Zhang Dajiang looked Lin Zhe up and down. "Not bad. Your Hunter Blade team performed very well in this exercise."

"Thank you for the compliment, sir."

"However..." Zhang Dajiang changed the subject, "Winning one exercise is nothing. The real battlefield is far more brutal than that."

Lin Zhe nodded: "Commander, I understand. Modern warfare is not just about courage and numbers. Advanced equipment, high-tech personnel, and information-based command systems... these are the keys to future warfare."

These words were blunt, but Zhang Dajiang took them to heart. He was silent for a few seconds, then nodded: "You're right. We lost this exercise precisely because of these aspects—your individual soldier systems, your listening equipment, your tactical coordination... all of which are more advanced than ours."

He patted Lin Zhe on the shoulder: "Young man, do a good job. The future of the army is in the hands of your generation."

"yes!"

Lin Zhe led his team away from the command post. They hadn't gone far when they encountered a group of people—the members of the "Sharp Sword" special forces. The exercise was over, and they were free to move around.

The major leading the team saw Lin Zhe, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over.

"Lieutenant Colonel Lin?" the major asked.

Lin Zhe nodded: "Hello."

"I am Zhou Weiguo, captain of the 'Sharp Sword' special operations team." The major extended his hand. "We lost this exercise convincingly. Your Hunter Blade team... is far superior to last year's."

Lin Zhe shook hands with him: "Captain Zhou, you flatter me. 'Sharp Sword' is also very strong; we won with great difficulty."

"No need to be modest," Zhou Weiguo said with a wry smile. "Two squads were wiped out by your single squad, and the command post was taken down by your six men... The difference is not small."

He sized up Lin Zhe: "If I'm not mistaken, the changes in Hunter Blade over the past few months are related to you, aren't they?"

Lin Zhe did not deny it: "I just made some improvements to the training."

"Some improvements?" Zhou Weiguo shook his head. "This can't be explained by 'some improvements.' Lieutenant Colonel Lin, would you be interested in exchanging ideas? We 'Sharp Sword' also want to improve."

"Of course," Lin Zhe said. "We're all brother units, we can learn from each other."

The two chatted for a few minutes and exchanged contact information. Looking at Lin Zhe's young figure, Zhou Weiguo thought to himself, "This young man is no ordinary person."

Upon returning to the Red Army headquarters, Chen Jianfeng personally greeted them at the entrance.

"Lin Zhe! Well done!" Chen Jianfeng patted Lin Zhe's shoulder forcefully. "That old bastard Zhang Dajiang was practically bursting with rage on the phone just now! Haha, that felt great!"

"Commander, we have only completed our mission," Lin Zhe said modestly.

"Completed the mission? You exceeded expectations!" Chen Jianfeng laughed. "annihilating two 'Sharp Sword' squads, destroying the Blue Army command post, and even 'killing' all the senior officers... Such achievements are rare even in the entire army!"

He pulled Lin Zhe into the command post: "Come on, tell me in detail, how did you do it?"

Lin Zhe gave a brief report on the operation. Chen Jianfeng nodded repeatedly, "Good! Good! The tactics were well-executed, and the execution was excellent! Lin Zhe, you're not only capable individually, but your command skills are also outstanding!"

He paused, then suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, you met with Zhang Dajiang... right?"

"Yes, this is the second time we've met," Lin Zhe said. "I met him the time I went to the General Armaments Department with you."

"What was his reaction?"

"Nothing special, just... a little short of breath."

Chen Jianfeng laughed heartily: "That's the right thing to do! Losing so badly, it's no wonder you're holding your breath!"

After laughing, he said seriously, "Lin Zhe, you have made a great contribution in this exercise. The military region will award you a commendation. However... there is something I need to remind you of."

"Please speak."

"You're in the spotlight right now," Chen Jianfeng said. "A 21-year-old lieutenant colonel, three first-class merits, and such a record in this exercise... it's bound to attract more attention. It's a good thing, but also a pressure. You need to be mentally prepared."

"I understand," Lin Zhe nodded.

"Good, I understand." Chen Jianfeng patted his shoulder. "Go back and get some rest. The military region is holding a debriefing meeting in a few days, and you'll be giving a report. Also..."

He lowered his voice: "Zhang Dajiang might contact you again. It's about... his daughter."

Lin Zhe smiled wryly: "Commander, this matter..."

"I know, no rush," Chen Jianfeng said with a smile. "But Lin Zhe, you should still think about matters of the heart. Zhang Xueying is indeed a good girl."

"Thank you, Commander. I... I'll think about it some more."

"Okay, take your time thinking about it."

After leaving the command post, Lin Zhe returned to the special operations team's camp. His teammates were all waiting for him, and as soon as they saw him, they surrounded him.

"Captain Lin! We won!"

"I heard you wiped out the entire Blue Team command post?"

"That's amazing!"

Looking at his excited teammates, Lin Zhe felt a surge of warmth in his heart. These were his comrades-in-arms, this was his team.

"The credit belongs to everyone," he said. "Without your cooperation and the harassment by each team, the decapitation operation would not have been possible."

"That's all thanks to Captain Lin's excellent command!" Da Liu said. "Captain Lin, you don't know, I was a little nervous at first when we were fighting 'Sharp Sword.' But as the fight went on, I realized... we were stronger than them! That feeling was so exhilarating!"

The team members echoed their agreement. Indeed, this exercise showed them their progress—opponents they once looked up to were now capable of being defeated.

Lin Zhe looked at everyone and suddenly said, "But don't be arrogant. Winning this time doesn't mean we can win next time. 'Sharp Sword' will definitely learn from this experience and strengthen their training. If we don't improve, we might lose next time."

The team members quieted down and listened attentively.

"So, we'll rest for a day, and training will resume as usual the day after tomorrow," Lin Zhe said. "Furthermore, I plan to adjust the training plan and add some new subjects."

"What new subject?" Old Ma asked curiously.

Lin Zhe smiled slightly: "You'll find out when the time comes."

He had so much to teach these team members—his tactical concepts from his past life, the essence of Chen Qingshan's kung fu, and the training methods he had devised himself...

The road ahead is long, and the Hunter Blade Special Forces can become even stronger.

And he himself must continue to move forward. A 21-year-old lieutenant colonel, three first-class merits, deputy captain of a special operations team... these honors are both recognition and responsibility.

He had to live up to this military uniform, to the star insignia on his shoulders, and to those who trusted him.

It was late at night. Lin Zhe lay in bed, the images of the drill flashing through his mind, Zhang Dajiang's face, Zhang Xueying's smile...

What will the future hold? He doesn't know. But he does know that in this life, he will become the strongest soldier, lead the strongest army, and protect this country.