Ace Special Forces in Movies and TV Shows

Chapter 0047: There Will Always Be Inevitable Eliminators

Before announcing the elimination list, Meng Jianguo had a conversation with Zheng Yingqi.

"Zheng Yingqi, your marksmanship is among the best I've ever seen. I hope you can come with me to the regiment. Believe me, in a year, you will definitely be an excellent sniper." Meng Jianguo cut straight to the chase, trying to poach Gao Cheng's talent. If Gao Cheng were here, he might regret bringing this guy into the picture.

Meng Jianguo's words implied a clear meaning: if you go to the regiment, you will definitely become an excellent sniper and a technical talent, so you will not face being discharged. Even if you cannot be promoted to officer, as a technical talent, it will be easy for you to secure a valuable spot in the team.

This is something Cheng Cai has always longed for!

In order to stay in the team, he even betrayed the Steel Seventh Company and went to the Red Third Company.

But Zheng Yingqi had no such thoughts. He was just waiting for the start of the large-scale exercise, and then he would "weigh" Old A and join Old A in the future. Every man longs for the special forces, not to mention there is a hidden system. No matter how you look at it, joining Old A is Zheng Yingqi's goal.

Therefore, he declined Meng Jianguo's offer:

"Instructor, I'm a soldier from the Seventh Company. I haven't fully embraced the spirit and essence of the Seventh Company yet, so... I don't want to leave the Seventh Company!"

"Think about it again," Meng Jianguo tried again. "I don't know what's so appealing about the Seventh Company, but as a soldier, I feel that being a better soldier is my greatest aspiration."

"Instructor, I feel that I can only grow into an excellent soldier in the Seventh Company. Right now... I don't feel qualified to leave the Seventh Company. I remember very clearly that the squad leader said the Seventh Company is all about 'never abandoning or giving up.' In the Seventh Company, we live alongside the martyrs. I've always wanted to experience this spirit of 'never abandoning or giving up,' and to understand the spirit that the squad leader and Deputy Squad Leader Wu are so proud of..."

I've always thought that only when I truly understand this spirit can I be considered a qualified soldier. Right now, aside from my slightly better military skills, everything else... is actually far from qualified. I don't want to become a piece of scrap iron that the Steel Seventh Company failed to forge!

Zheng Yingqi opened up, and this was the first time he had ever confided in anyone else—in his previous life, he had lived for thirty years in a daze. In the army, he was actually different from the soldiers, just like Wu Liuyi's evaluation: "slick"!

He always weighed the pros and cons in his mind. Although he was accepted by everyone in this group of passionate men because of his excellence, Zheng Yingqi knew himself. He was "slicker" than the other soldiers, so he made himself look like a good soldier by constantly doing extra training. But he knew that he was not yet a good soldier.

Sometimes he would think, "Could I be like Xu Sanduo, paving a road and doing something meaningful in that forgotten place?"

Will he, like Cheng Cai, have a sudden awakening and be able to strictly demand of himself? Can he turn Class 5's camp into a shining star?

No! I know I can't! I'm accepted in the Steel Seventh Company because of my hard work, but the reason I work so hard is because there are so many outstanding people here. Being with them is what motivates me. But if I were to be exiled to the maintenance station alone, I... I'm not even as good as those three clowns from the Fifth Platoon.

This was Zheng Yingqi's own answer. He could recognize himself, so he was even more unwilling to leave the Seventh Company now. Since he had joined the army and entered this excellent group, if he couldn't become an excellent soldier, then... wouldn't that be too much of a failure?

Meng Jianguo was also surprised. He had been in the military for more than ten years and had seen many soldiers of all kinds. The sniper's eyes allowed him to see into the hearts of the soldiers. After so much contact, he naturally saw into Zheng Yingqi's heart. Under the strict and demanding requirements, Meng Jianguo saw through Zheng Yingqi's "slick" nature.

Because he saw through it all, Meng Jianguo thought that the essence of "slickness" was nothing more than weighing the pros and cons, and that going to the regimental headquarters was a great opportunity. However, he did not expect that Zheng Yingqi would reject him so decisively and even say these heartfelt words.

He smiled bitterly to himself, realizing that this was truly the first time he had misjudged someone...

But he was also happy. What a wonderful soldier he was! A soldier who could recognize himself and had such aspirations!

"If... if one day you feel you're an excellent soldier, come find me at the regimental headquarters. I'll welcome you anytime!" Meng Jianguo said this last sentence, still reluctant to part.

Zheng Yingqi nodded. This feeling of being recognized was wonderful. After thanking Meng Jianguo, he thought of Cheng Cai and quickly said, "Instructor, I think Cheng Cai is good too! His talent is just as great."

"Chengcai..." Meng Jianguo looked at Chengcai not far away. He knew that as long as he looked over, Chengcai's performance would be excellent, but he would still keep an eye on Chengcai and observe his "excellence". "Chengcai has good talent, but he needs to calm down... for two years. If his mental state stabilizes after two years, he will be an excellent sniper. At that time, even if your company commander turns against me, I will still bring him to the regimental headquarters. Right now, he still needs to be tempered in the Seventh Company."

Unexpectedly, Meng Jianguo had such a sharp eye. Zheng Yingqi was surprised by Meng Jianguo's judgment after learning about Cheng Cai's situation. Seeing Zheng Yingqi's expression, Meng Jianguo said irritably, "Go to training. The list of those who will stay or leave will be announced later. If you agree to come to the regimental headquarters with me, I won't worry about Gan Xiaoning and Wu Liuyi's fate. Right now, I still have a headache."

Unexpectedly, today was the day the list was announced. Zheng Yingqi hurriedly asked with a forced smile, "Instructor, so who have you decided to stay and who will leave?"

He was, of course, asking about Gan Xiaoning and Wu Liuyi.

"I haven't decided yet, can you give me some advice?" Meng Jianguo asked.

Zheng Yingqi shook his head fiercely. They were all his good comrades-in-arms, how could he choose? He immediately turned and ran away, saying before he ran, "This matter will have to be taken care of by the instructor. How would I know?" After saying that, he disappeared without a trace.

Seeing Zheng Yingqi slip away, Meng Jianguo muttered under his breath, "Old fox."

"He's slick, but I'm getting more and more satisfied with this kid." Gao Cheng's voice came from behind the wall—the dignified company commander of the Seventh Steel Company was actually squatting in a corner. If people knew this, they would laugh him to death.

Gao Cheng knew he was in the wrong, so he didn't bother to crawl out from behind the wall: "Meng Ban, you've lost this bet!"

"I lost," Meng Jianguo said, accepting his defeat wholeheartedly. "Gao Lian's eye for talent is indeed top-notch; I'm completely convinced."

"Then the bet has to be honored, right? I'll go back and call him over right now!" Gao Cheng smiled broadly. Meng Jianguo had long been eyeing Zheng Yingqi, and Gao Cheng naturally knew this, but Meng Jianguo was too embarrassed to directly poach him. In the end, he took the initiative to approach Gao Cheng and said:

Zheng Yingqi is too talented. It's a waste to keep him in the Seventh Company as a marksman. Let him come with me to the regimental headquarters to learn sniping.

Gao Cheng immediately objected, which was of course impossible. Meng Jianguo then offered bait: "I'll poach Zheng Yingqi and let him choose. If he agrees to go, I'll bring you a few more snipers for the rest of the time. If he doesn't agree, I'll still bring you a few more snipers. How about that?"

Gao Cheng wanted to refuse, but Meng Jianguo said, "You'd better think this through. There are only a limited number of spots for staying in the army each year. How long can a soldier like him stay in your Seventh Company? As far as I know, it's extremely difficult for an excellent squad leader like Shi Jin to stay!"

Gao Cheng sighed. "It's good to be in a government office. They have a much better position than us at the grassroots level, even in terms of quotas." He had no choice but to give in, but his heart was filled with complicated feelings. So he quietly slipped over to eavesdrop.

But he never expected Zheng Yingqi to say such a thing. This feeling was even more satisfying than drinking iced plum juice on a hot day!

"Wait," Meng Jianguo hurriedly called out as Gao Cheng was about to leave, asking, "Of Wu Liuyi and Gan Xiaoning from Class Three, who's going and who's staying?"

Gao Cheng stopped, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Let's eliminate Wu Liuyi."

"Huh?" Meng Jianguo was surprised. He had noticed from their daily interactions that Wu Liuyi and Gao Cheng had a very good relationship. He thought Gao Cheng would be inclined to eliminate Gan Xiaoning, but he didn't expect Gao Cheng to choose Wu Liuyi. He couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

Gao Cheng sighed: "Wu Liuyi, that soldier, always wants to be the first. If he can't be number one, he considers it a failure. He's too competitive. I'm afraid he won't be able to keep up with Zheng Yingqi as a precision marksman."

Gao Cheng's concerns were quite reasonable—some people are so gifted by God that it's infuriating, their talent is unreasonable, like Zheng Yingqi. Take his shooting talent, for example, can you catch up with him through hard work and practice? Wu Liuyi is also the kind of person who never admits defeat, so it's not a good thing for him to compete with Zheng Yingqi for a long time.

Meng Jianguo understood Gao Cheng's concerns and said admiringly, "Gao Lian has thought things through!"

"Ban Meng, we don't do flattery here. Even if you try to flatter these soldiers, you still have to lead them!"

……

On the training field, the ten members of the training team stood in a row, their standard posture revealing their anxiety.

Although I didn't want this day to come, it still came.

In the Seventh Company, no one wanted to admit that they were inferior to others—even if they were, they had to grit their teeth and work hard on the training field, sweating and bleeding, to catch up.

But in the end, only six people will remain from this half-training camp.

The only ones who didn't break down were Zheng Yingqi and two other unorganized members. Everyone else was somewhat uneasy. After a month of training, everyone was about the same. Except for one or two really bad ones, everyone was pretty much the same. Who wouldn't be anxious?

"I've seen your performance over the past month or so," Meng Jianguo said sincerely, a phrase he'd uttered many times before. "But the final pilot program only needs six people, so only four can be eliminated. What I want to say is, those of you who are eliminated, it's not that you're not excellent, it's just that we only need these few people—I can guarantee you with my own hands that any one of you is an excellent soldier, a good soldier!"

Despite Meng Jianguo's eloquent words, the soldiers' hearts remained heavy.

Finally, it was time to announce the eliminated candidates: "Now, those whose names I call, step forward."

"Qin Xiang!"

"This is Class One." When Qin Xiang was called upon, he deflated like a punctured balloon, standing up with unspeakable disappointment and a forced smile.

The four students in Class 2 held their breath. With four students in Class 2, it meant that half of them would be eliminated.

"Li Feng!"

"Jingxu!"

The two men whose names were called stepped forward, forcing smiles like Qin Xiang—they were soldiers of the Seventh Company, soldiers of the Seventh Company shed blood and sweat but not tears!

Meng Jianguo looked at the three students from Class 3.

Zheng Yingqi was expressionless, Wu Liuyi's face was tense and expressionless, and Gan Xiaoning, with a guilty expression, gripped his modified Type 56 semi-automatic rifle tightly—he knew that after being eliminated, he would no longer be a soldier wielding this gun.

If they thought it was nonsense when they first saw the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle, now they can proudly say: those who take the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle are the best soldiers!

This is an honor; who would willingly give it up?

Meng Jianguo spoke up:

"Wu Liuyi!"

It's Wu Liuyi?

The soldiers stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Wu Liuyi himself was stunned. He knew Zheng Yingqi was the one who couldn't be eliminated; it would have to be either him or Gan Xiaoning. He felt he had a better chance of winning, but he never expected that the person chosen at the end would be...

It's yourself!

Wu Liu stepped forward, with the same pace as before.

Gan Xiaoning breathed a sigh of relief, but then became unhappy again—he understood what was going on with Deputy Squad Leader Wu, and Wu Liuyi was much better than him!

"Report!" Gan Xiaoning shouted.

"speak!"

"Why is it Squad Leader Wu?" Gan Xiaoning retorted, "Squad Leader Wu is better than me!"

Cheng Cai, who was watching from the sidelines, looked at Gan Xiaoning with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot. He couldn't understand how there could be such a person. "Only one of you and Wu Liuyi can be left. Since Wu Liuyi has been eliminated, that is your good fortune. What right do you have to question me?"

Are you stupid?!

"You've got water in your brain!" Cheng Cai thought to himself.

"Gan Xiaoning! Shut up!" Wu Liuyi shouted. Gan Xiaoning, neck stiff, stubborn as a mule, retorted, "Squad Leader Wu, I just don't accept it! I know I'm worse than you, but why you?"

Meng Jianguo wasn't angry; on the contrary, he felt gratified. Straightforward soldiers are always more tolerant.

"This was Company Commander Gao's decision. Wu Liuyi, Company Commander Gao said that if you can't understand it, go to him and he will give you a satisfactory explanation," Meng Jianguo said.

"Reporting, Instructor, I've figured it out!" Wu Liuyi shouted.

Meng Jianguo saluted the four men who had been eliminated, and he also admired the men of the Seventh Company.

"salute!"

The four eliminated men saluted Meng Jianguo respectfully, then turned right together and marched out in a line, their steps as firm as ever.

A gust of wind blew, and a few drops of rain fell on the dry ground, while the scorching sun still hung high in the sky.

As Zheng Yingqi watched the four figures slowly disappear into the distance, a sudden jolt went through his heart—if that day came, and the Seventh Company was gone, and everyone was leaving, would I feel good about it?

(Although it's still a single update, I just didn't separate the two chapters!)