9.Choose One

Ye Jingwen wasn't as calm as she appeared on the surface. She, too, felt an unusual attraction to Qin Hu, though it wasn't nearly as intense as his.

Her gaze immediately became scrutinizing as she looked at him.

Ye Jingwen was sure she had never met Qin Hu before, nor did she recognize anyone resembling him, but the feeling she experienced was so real.

How ridiculous! How could she, Ye Jingwen, possibly fall for a stranger at first sight? And, moreover, this stranger was just a weak, useless kid!

There had to be some reason for this, something she didn't understand... but what exactly was it?

Ye Jingwen couldn't figure it out, but she managed to stay calm. She shifted her gaze and coldly spoke, "Let's start the class. Generally, we divide weapons into three major categories: cold weapons, hot weapons, and energy weapons."

As she spoke, Ye Jingwen swiftly drew a jagged military knife from her waist with a single motion, her fingers intertwining as the knife spun and flipped expertly between her hands, dazzling the onlookers. Even Wang Ben was left gaping in astonishment.

With a swift motion, she sheathed the knife and continued, "This is a cold weapon. Besides the military knife, we also use bows and crossbows, but I don't have time for those, so we'll start directly with individual hot weapons, namely firearms... You must master the principles of firearms, know how to make simple guns, and learn to use various firearms, including but not limited to muskets, flintlock guns, pneumatic guns, and so on. In addition, you'll need to learn to operate individual missiles, infantry cannons, and other heavy infantry weapons."

"Then there are energy weapons, including but not limited to laser guns, ion guns, electric guns, plasma rifles, and electromagnetic rifles... Energy weapons are complex in structure, so you only need to learn how to use and maintain them. Repair and manufacturing can be skipped..."

Ye Jingwen rattled off a long list of information. The new recruits were stunned, many hearing about firearms in such detail for the first time.

Although most of them were new recruits, they weren't entirely unfamiliar with firearms. This was because Lan Cang Star, with only a history of about a hundred years of colonization, had vast lands and a small population, with many native species, some of which were dangerous. As a result, civilians here were legally allowed to own firearms, with each household having anywhere from three to five or even up to ten firearms. The civilian firearms stockpile was astonishing.

Legal civilian firearm ownership wasn't unique to Lan Cang Star. In any colonized planet with abundant native species, the government would encourage legal gun ownership during the early stages of colonization. Once the native species were fully eradicated, it would be too late to ban firearms... Although the proliferation of firearms led to some social issues, these were minor compared to the safety of all the settlers.

Because of the massive number of civilian firearms, when the Vesen invaders came, many civilians rose up to resist.

However, the government only allowed civilians to possess outdated firearms or pneumatic weapons. Energy weapons were for military use only, and even Qin Hu, a military offspring, had never come into contact with them.

From then on, all training focused on firearms, with Ye Jingwen flooding the recruits with all sorts of firearm knowledge, regardless of how much they could absorb.

Qin Hu gradually managed to suppress his inner urges and absorbed the firearm knowledge like a sponge.

He didn't care whether he fully understood it, he just needed to remember it for now.

Days later, deep within the base.

"I disagree!" Wang Ben slammed the table with a loud bang, his face burning with fury. "They're still kids! They haven't even completed their training, and now you want to send them to the battlefield? It's just sending them to die!"

Wang Zuo quickly tried to calm him down. "Sit down, don't get so worked up!"

"How can I not be worked up?" Wang Ben fumed, "You're committing a crime, a crime!"

Wang Zuo grabbed his younger brother by the arm. "Why are you yelling? Do you think Captain Zhao wants this?"

Wang Ben instinctively looked at Zhao Ding. Zhao Ding sighed. "Wang Ben, I understand your feelings, but you know the situation with the recent operations. Our losses have been devastating..."

Wang Ben interrupted in a rush, "Exactly! Because of the losses, we can't send them to the battlefield! I don't get it! The higher-ups keep ordering us to infiltrate Lanjing, but don't they consider our actual situation? Lanjing is a death trap! We've already lost so many, we can't keep throwing lives in there!"

Zhao Ding fell silent for a moment. "I can't tell you the purpose of the operation, but I can tell you it's absolutely necessary. Even if there's only one person left, we must continue!"

Wang Ben grew agitated. "How can you do this..."

Zhao Ding raised his hand to interrupt him. "It's not that we want to do this, it's that the situation forces us to. Wang Ben, don't let your emotions get in the way, just carry out the order."

"They're still kids!" Wang Ben stomped his feet in frustration.

Zhao Ding made a firm decision. "From the moment they entered this base, they are no longer kids. They are soldiers. Soldiers!"

Wang Ben froze, and after a long pause, he muttered hoarsely, "Captain Zhao, let the kids stay behind. I'll go!"

"Do you think you can solve the problem by going?" Zhao Ding tapped the table with his finger. "Can one person complete the mission?"

Wang Ben had already made up his mind. "If I go, fewer kids will have to go... Anyway, soon no one will be left."

The children in the training camp were all brought in during operations. With the heavy casualties in the military, if they infiltrated Lanjing again, they'd all be dead. The training camp wouldn't be able to continue.

Zhao Ding sighed again. "Alright, choose the ten best from the fastest trainees. Have them adapt to the equipment tomorrow and leave the day after."

"Only one day?"

"Wang Ben, enough!" Wang Zuo couldn't hold back any longer. "The higher-ups ordered them to depart tomorrow, and Captain Zhao managed to delay it for a day."

Wang Ben's lips moved, and he lowered his head, defeated. "I understand."

"Remember, pick the best ones." Zhao Ding said, "This way, they'll have a better chance of surviving."

Wang Ben nodded and left quietly, lost in thought.

Once he was gone, Wang Zuo anxiously asked, "Captain Zhao, is ten enough?"

Zhao Ding forced a smile. "Aren't we still here? The kids stay behind, and we go."

"We?" Wang Zuo was confused. "But there are hardly any of us left!"

Zhao Ding licked his lips. "Not just us, we'll mobilize everyone who's been trained, including the women."

Wang Zuo was stunned, hesitation showing on his face. "Is that appropriate? The men aren't all dead yet!"

"It doesn't matter," Zhao Ding lowered his gaze. "The men aren't all dead, but they're close. Now, we either send the women to the battlefield, or we send the children. Choose one. What else can I do?"

War drives women away, but when war comes, can women really stay out of it?

Wang Zuo clenched his teeth. "I understand!"

He turned to leave, but Zhao Ding suddenly called out.

"Come back!"

Wang Zuo paused and looked back, his expression one of inquiry.

Zhao Ding sighed. "Tell everyone the truth, and say it was my decision. This mission is voluntary."

"Captain?"

"It's settled." Zhao Ding said firmly.