Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!-Chapter 701 - 522 military exercise_2

The twin burdens of physical and mental exhaustion made it difficult for these soldiers to maintain their most upright postures.

Veteran officers from the barracks, who had come to watch, stood in groups at a distance, pointing and chuckling at the group of new recruits who had just returned.

"Look at them, each and every one looking so pathetic… I've said it before, what's the use of this kind of training? General Bai, still too young."

"He even leads the team himself; I wonder how many died on the way for these people to return in such a miserable state."

Bai E's gaze swept indifferently around. Those whispers and rumors were clearly audible to his ears, yet they seemed as distant as mosquito hums— the difference was but a thought away for him.

On the surface, they indeed looked pitiable.

But the past ten or so days had polished these warriors in an extraordinary way.

Their true transformation was hidden deep within those pairs of bright eyes…

"Sound off!"

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

"…"

The tally was quickly concluded, and an astute, efficient NCO came to Bai E, saluted vigorously, and reported loudly, "Reporting to the commander, 2000 were scheduled, 1982 have returned! Awaiting instructions!"

Bai E nodded and ordered in a low voice, "Dismissed at will!"

Eighteen were lost—a regrettable inevitability.

This era was full of uncertainties, let alone in the wilderness not controlled by humans.

With such a large team, no matter how careful Bai E was, he could never look out for every single person.

Having said this, he turned and left.

Watching the new recruits disperse like mud, the gawking officers were now murmuring in confusion, "What? Only 18 dead?"

"Could they be falsifying numbers?"

To them, used to counting casualties of synthetic soldiers by the hundreds, this number seemed magically small.

These synthetic recruits were slow; they had only undergone three days of basic training before being taken out for more than ten days of grueling exercises without logistical support.

Let's remember the wilds are no friendly place—without clean water, sufficient calories in their food, or adequate medical facilities.

A minor sickness or infection could easily claim a life.

Not to mention the chaos that could ensue in a force of two thousand if command was not strong enough, with any small incident potentially spiraling out of control.

And yet... had General Bai actually taken a battalion of synthetic soldiers, fresh out of the factory for just three days, on an operation, and brought them all back intact?

"There's no exaggeration." An even more seasoned officer shook his head. The military formations made it easy to count, and these recruits who had been taken out for training and brought back managed to maintain their formation despite extreme fatigue.

With one glance, one could roughly tally the number.

"Geez~"

"So it's true… he really brought all these people back intact?"

An officer's expression turned uncertain, "Then the suggestions we made earlier..."

Should we withdraw them?

It seemed, upon reflection, that our General Bai might indeed have his own insights on command and strategy?

Considering that General Bai had previously shown dominating talent as soon as he rose to prominence in many fields, the speaking officer was already envisioning a future where he'd be embarrassed for making suggestions.

"Make them! Just make the suggestions!"

The officer who had first made that suggestion insisted stubbornly, though a serious expression appeared in his eyes, "But we can change some of the details… maybe like not allowing micro-management by the commander?"

In sand table offensives and defense exercises, apart from setting an overall strategic directive at the beginning to provide a context for the soldiers, any and all contingencies that arose during the process were not to be micromanaged by the commander.

He, Bai E, is awesome... well, let's just admit he's awesome! So what?

Can one person's awesomeness make a group of newly born artificial human rookies just as awesome as he is?

Even if you are extremely clever and arrange everything in great detail beforehand, the moment something unexpected happens, these rookies, who can only follow the book, will definitely be dumbfounded on the spot.

When the results of this opposing military exercise come out, won't General Bai have to start valuing us, who can actually get things done, and the system and exemplary role we can establish in the military?

"Let's go! Let's propose it now!"

...

Facing the officers who had proposed the "military exercise confrontation," Bai E's palm rested on top of the paper dossier they had presented, and he asked with an inquisitive look, "Two thousand against one thousand? Is this not a bit unfair for both sides?"

"You still think it's unfair?" An officer bent slightly at the waist, replying respectfully in a tone that sounded neither servile nor overbearing, "That's true... After all, they have only been manufactured for such a short time. Even after going through a training session led by you, sir, their experience is still too little. Well then, eight hundred. Two thousand against eight hundred. A fair fight against the veterans will let them grow faster~"

"Indeed... I also believe that a fair fight has a more effective training outcome," Bai E nodded, casually tossing the proposal on his office desk, "Let's make it two thousand against two thousand, and see how these new soldiers manage to push the veterans to their limits."

"Ah?"

"Ah?"

"Ah?"

Looking at the incredulous faces, Bai E watched them with a faint curiosity on his face, "What's the matter? Is there a problem?"

One officer swallowed his saliva before explaining with difficulty, "The same number of people, veterans would surely win, right?"

Their goal wasn't the military exercise itself but to make General Bai E see the absolute role that these mid and senior-level officers could play within the whole system.

Now it's two thousand against two thousand, veterans against rookies.

Without a doubt, winning would be expected, and how would that highlight their capabilities?

"Isn't it just to urge the new soldiers to progress quickly?" Bai E smiled faintly, concluding with a slap on the table, "A bit of pressure is needed for motivation to improve. I think they will put on a spectacular performance. If there are no other issues, then let's settle it this way."

Even after walking out of General Bai E's office, the officers who had proposed the idea were still in a fog, "He... He agreed?"

"Did he even look at the detailed terms we wrote?"

"Two thousand against two thousand? I think he's gone mad."

"No! It's confidence!" An officer's eyes gradually lit up, "Our General Bai, he really has a lot of confidence."

"But we all agreed not to allow micromanaging, right?"

"So, this confidence isn't limited to himself; even the soldiers he churns out, he believes they can do what he expects them to do."

...

Confidence?

I don't know.

Bai E doesn't even seem too concerned about this matter.

Every challenge is an opportunity for progress, and these officers who've always been cooped up in the barracks don't seem to just be loafing around all day.

The idea of this opposing military exercise is quite good, but as for how to do it, it doesn't much concern him.

He read every word of the proposal submitted by the officers, the name of the commander of the Red force clearly listed as his own, but Bai E can't even be bothered to act as that commander.

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Eating a little loss and learning some skills at the hands of their own people is always better than losing blood or even life at the hands of strangers later.

Being the commander meant not commanding at all, leaving it all to the low-ranking non-commissioned officers elected by those artificial human soldiers to discuss and decide how to act, whether capturing flags, occupying positions, or whatever else there was, was all up to them to perform.

During the three days in the small town, Bai E had seen Gong Yan teach these artificial human soldiers some tactics and strategies.

As for her skill level and whether these soldiers could perform to expectation, that was another story.

What Bai E was more concerned about at the moment was something else—

The ten-day period had arrived.