Ace Troops Episode 27 Recap
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General Zheng Yuan convened a meeting for all regimental cadres to watch footage of the Gulf War. He harshly criticized Regiment 720 for suffering from a severe "peace disease," stating that the officers and soldiers had been away from war for too long, treating their barracks as a pasture for raising chickens and ducks and exercises as a vanity fair, competing only for honors, promotions, and status, rather than victory on the battlefield.
Zheng Yuan acknowledged that while Company Commander Gao Liang's actions during the recent maneuver appeared to be cheating, they inadvertently exposed the pervasive superficiality within Regiment 720. Gao Liang had deliberately allowed Regiment 700 to win by letting his own ammunition dump be blown up, not for personal gain but to "smash his bones to blow up all this fake fog," revealing the true state of "fake training, fake maneuvers, fake victory, and fake morale."
Zheng Yuan dismissed the idea of punishing Gao Liang, emphasizing that Regiment 720 was a "negative example" of an army that risks "deaths in comfort" if it cannot win battles. He also pointed out a grenade incident that injured three and disabled two, calling it a "lesson paid by blood" for which the main leaders were responsible. Following the meeting, Zheng Yuan discussed reorganization plans with Chen Dashan.
Zheng initially considered appointing Lu Pingfan, Chief of Staff of Regiment 720, as the new Colonel, commending his talent despite his arrogance. However, Chen Dashan informed him that Lu Pingfan had already been transferred to the Command Academy. Zheng Yuan was furious at the loss of such a capable officer, likening it to losing a good gun in wartime, and accused Chen Dashan and the division-level cadres of being complacent.
He then emphatically decided to transfer Qin Hanyong back to Regiment 720 as its Colonel, threatening to "shoot him myself" if he refused. Qin Hanyong, who was serving as acting Colonel of Regiment 700, was deeply unhappy about this, as he had worked tirelessly for nearly two decades to reach that position, only to have it taken by Li Shaobing and effectively return to square one.
The former Colonel of Regiment 720, Song Jianshe, was transferred to the Logistics Department due to the severe problems exposed. Zheng Yuan, recalling Song Jianshe as a courageous war hero, questioned why he had lost his fighting spirit.
Song Jianshe, while affirming his unwavering loyalty to the army and his willingness to die on the battlefield if war broke out, argued that in peacetime, war should not be the primary mission, and soldiers should not have to shed blood for routine exercises. He believed the current era was about "peace and development," and many felt that combat effectiveness was less important, thinking everything could be solved through negotiation. Zheng Yuan vehemently disagreed, calling these ideas "stupid and naive."
He reminded Song Jianshe of the continuous conflicts since World War II and stressed that "though the world is at peace, forgetting war is dangerous." He advised Song to read Lenin’s "Imperialism" to understand the true mission of a soldier, attributing the failure of Regiment 720 to Song's misguided ideology, and expressed hope to see the "courageous Song Jianshe again."
Meanwhile, Song Jianshe had a terse conversation with Gao Liang, accusing him of being a "traitor" and his "jinx" or "nemesis." Gao Liang, in turn, berated Song for ruining the Ninth Company's honor and stated his demotion was to clean up Song's mess, settling a past debt between them. Gao Liang promised to revitalize the Ninth Company. Han Chunyu, reflecting on the situation, believed that Xia Lin, despite his demotion, was a diligent soldier and excellent executor.
However, she felt his focus on superficial achievements was misdirected, making him worse the more capable he was. She believed that if Xia Lin and Gao Liang could combine their strengths—Xia Lin's dedication to duty and Gao Liang's practical, results-oriented leadership—they would form a perfect commander. Han Chunyu had promised to marry Xia Lin during his lowest moment, but he remained fixated on defeating Gao Liang in a real victory before he could propose.
As the army progressed, its facilities and living conditions greatly improved, but Jiang Nanzheng felt her relationship with Gao Liang remained stagnant, with him constantly avoiding her. Zhao Hongying, seeing Gao Liang's hesitation, advised him that love requires effort and expression, and questioned why he, who was so bold in the past, was now afraid. Gao Liang admitted he felt "not good enough" for Nanzheng, who was "too excellent," fearing he would disappoint her.
Later, as Jiang Nanzheng prepared to leave for advanced studies, Gao Liang came to see her off and found Hou Jian, a colleague from the Technical Reconnaissance Bureau who had previously pursued Nanzheng, helping her. Gao Liang, declaring himself Nanzheng's boyfriend of four months, rudely dismissed Hou Jian. After Hou Jian left, Nanzheng confronted Gao Liang about his evasiveness and lack of confidence, asking if he even liked her.
Gao Liang again stammered that he "didn't think I'm good enough right now" and "didn't know" how to explain. He then fled, leaving a heartbroken Jiang Nanzheng sitting alone. Zhao Hongying, observing Nanzheng's distress, consoled her. Recalling her own experience with Qin Hanyong, who seemed oblivious to her recent miscarriage, Zhao Hongying advised Nanzheng to cherish the present sweetness of love, warning that many things change and become disappointing after marriage.
She encouraged Nanzheng not to give up on love or career, even when facing difficulties, emphasizing that women in the army often pay a much greater price than men to achieve success. Upon returning to Regiment 720, Qin Hanyong discussed how to rectify the current situation. Gao Liang vehemently advocated for restoring the "rascal spirit" of the old Ninth Company.
Acceding to Gao Liang's strong demands, Qin Hanyong went to the division headquarters to arrange the transfers of Niu Mancang from the Division Headquarters Administration and Registration Section and Jiang Weixing from Regiment 700's Publicity Unit, both old members of the Ninth Company known for their unruly yet effective ways. Qin Hanyong warned Gao Liang of severe consequences if the Ninth Company did not improve.
Gao Liang then personally recruited Jiang Weixing, who had just had a fight with his section chief, back to Regiment 720 as a Political Commissar. Six months later, under Gao Liang's leadership and the revitalized "old bully" spirit, Regiment 720 underwent a dramatic transformation, notably with the Ninth Company defeating First Company in a field infantry confrontation.
During an inspection, Zheng Yuan challenged the Ninth Company to a confrontation with the Night Tiger Company, giving them only one month to prepare. Gao Liang protested the tight schedule, but Zheng Yuan accused him of being "eager to win, but afraid of losing." Gao Liang accepted the challenge, promising to "beat the Night Tigers into weak cats."
Gu Yiye then announced to Gao Liang and their former comrades that he intended to marry Xiu after the competition, opting for a small, intimate ceremony rather than a grand one due to Xiu’s preferences and his own dislike for crowds. He also revealed that the winning unit of this confrontation would be integrated into a "pilot unit" for a new "Rapid Response Unit." Gao Liang added that foreign forces would also participate.
In the initial phase of the confrontation, Gu Yiye and Gao Liang found themselves on the same side, fighting against the Night Tiger Company, which was designated as the foreign force under Suvari's guidance. Working seamlessly together, they quickly overwhelmed the "foreign army," leading to their swift defeat. While the commanders praised the decisive victory, Zheng Yuan warned them not to underestimate the enemy, as more critical exercises, including anti-hijacking tactical simulations requiring personnel cooperation, were still to come. Gao Liang, in his characteristic manner, stated he would observe first before joining the next challenge.
