Resumo do episódio 9 de Ace Troops
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The recruits of the Ninth Company felt deeply humiliated by the First Company veterans, leading to a fight in the bathhouse. Niu Mancang had praised their night shooting skills, even noting the division commander's commendation, which angered the First Company veterans who called them "shameless" and a "Trash Company," questioning their ability to achieve high scores during the day.
During the altercation, Hongliu specifically defended Gao Liang's night vision and Gu Yiye's shooting prowess, reiterating the division commander's request for Gu Yiye to share his night shooting theory. Angered by the insults and feeling the company's dignity was at stake, Gu Yiye volunteered to run laps as punishment, declaring his intention to stay in the Ninth Company and defeat the First Company, or consider himself a loser.
Company Commander Qin Hanyong, observing their fierce ambition, allowed them to continue, recognizing it as the spirit he wanted to cultivate. After the recruits had pushed themselves on the running track, Qin Hanyong gathered them. Gao Liang expressed his frustration, feeling that the officers looked down on them, while Gu Yiye stated his sole ambition was to surpass the First Company. Qin Hanyong explained that a soldier's dignity comes from competition in training, not from fighting.
He urged them to strive to be elite soldiers not just within the regiment, but across the entire People's Liberation Army and even worldwide. He acknowledged their fear of failure despite hard work but asserted that without training, they would surely lose. He told them to write self-criticism reports but to continue training relentlessly. He then gave the injured a choice: seek medical treatment and rest, or continue training with him.
They all chose to follow him, pushing themselves so hard that they felt "enlightened" and united by a shared, fierce ambition. Meanwhile, Song Jianshe watched the Ninth Company's intensified training. He commended Qin Hanyong's hands-on leadership but warned that such "wild" soldiers could become difficult to manage. Qin Hanyong redefined "wild" as "bloody-minded," arguing that true combat effectiveness and cohesion come from overcoming setbacks, not strict control.
Song Jianshe later spoke with Qin Hanyong about the upcoming long-range raid training, implying he was graciously yielding the opportunity to the Ninth Company, along with a chance to co-train with the Communication Company's female soldiers. Qin Hanyong, however, proactively sought to partner with the Communication Company. Communication Company Commander Zhao Hongying met with Colonel Chen Dashan to discuss the long-range raid. She voiced concerns about its difficulty for female soldiers, whose physical endurance couldn't match men's.
She requested a "scientific" approach with separate time standards for men and women, and the assignment of an "excellent grassroots company" to assist her troops. Qin Hanyong arrived, enthusiastically welcoming Zhao Hongying's company, attributing his grinning to a technique the colonel taught him to overcome nervousness around female soldiers. Zhao Hongying expressed her preference for the Night Tiger Company, which was already taken, and subtly indicated her reluctance to train with Regiment 720, particularly the "notoriously backward" Ninth Company.
Qin Hanyong, seizing the opportunity, suggested the Pacesetter Company led by Lu Pingfan, whom he knew had pursued Zhao Hongying, sparking a lively exchange. Chen Dashan, taking Qin Hanyong's persistent arguments and Zhao Hongying's hesitance into account, ultimately decreed that the Ninth Company would partner with the Communication Company for the long-range raid. During a weighted mountain run, the female soldiers struggled, many collapsing from exhaustion at the finish line.
Jiang Weixing offered his water bottle, filled with orange-flavored soda, to Tong Bing, much to her surprise and the envy of others who questioned if it violated rules. Jiang Nanzheng arrived last, visibly spent. Gu Yiye, whose feet were severely blistered, tried to rush to her aid but was held back by comrades. Gao Liang, seizing the moment, helped Jiang Nanzheng up. She simply shouldered her rifle and waved him off, indicating she was fine, before walking away.
Division Commander Zheng Yuan visited Qin Hanyong, enjoying a meal and discussing the new long-range raid exercise. Zheng Yuan revealed it was adopted from scout training, a two-day, two-night, fully armed course. Qin Hanyong expressed concern about the potential for serious injuries, noting that other company commanders had suggested canceling it. Zheng Yuan insisted the exercise was crucial for testing soldiers' willpower and unique fighting spirit, helping to identify the most resilient.
He announced that the Night Tiger Company and the Ninth Company were selected for the two available spots. He explained that Lu Pingfan, commander of the First Company, had rationally declined, judging the exercise unsuitable for a "pacesetter company" focused on "following the rules." Zheng Yuan framed this as a pivotal opportunity for the Ninth Company to "change their fate."
Qin Hanyong, still feeling the sting of the First Company's insults, joked that Lu Pingfan must have been "scared" by their previous fight. Back in the barracks, the new recruits lamented their injuries after training, with blisters, swollen knees, and some even experiencing blood in their urine or losing toenails. Gu Yiye advised Gao Liang, whose knees were particularly swollen due to his weight, on proper running techniques and the importance of protein for recovery.
Gao Liang dismissed this as "being delicate," insisting on "brute force" and the "spirit and will." He declared he would run the full, longer distance, challenging anyone who chose a shorter one and proclaiming he would prove himself "the best among all." Other senior soldiers echoed his sentiment, choosing the longer distance.
The formal assessment for the long-range raid began under strict rules: each soldier carried 20 kilograms, including drinking water, with no external water sources or fires allowed, and water consumption could not reduce the total weight. At the first checkpoint, Zhao Hongliu of the Ninth Squad was eliminated for being "unqualified." Gao Liang also failed the weight check; enraged, he insisted on adding more bags, ignoring warnings that it would be too heavy, declaring he could "manage it."
At the second checkpoint, Gu Yiye passed. Gao Liang arrived much later, struggling, but refused help. Niu Mancang was disqualified and his progress card torn by an officer due to his severely bloodied foot, despite his pleas. The next morning, at the third checkpoint, soldiers were offered steamed buns and water, but only if they chose to quit the race. Jiang Weixing, upon arriving, decided to withdraw, stating he wouldn't continue that day and was eliminated.
Despite the temptation of food and water, the remaining soldiers, including Gu Yiye and Gao Liang, pressed on, with only ten kilometers left to the finish line. Later, Jiang Weixing, who had quit, was seen subtly stuffing buns into his comrades' pockets. He also attempted to give Gao Liang water discreetly. When an officer approached, Jiang Weixing quickly splashed the water on Gao Liang's face, making it appear as if he was cooling him down rather than providing illicit aid.
At a later checkpoint, Gao Liang's weight was found to be "underweight" and "unqualified," as was another soldier's. As the grueling race continued, the large contingent dwindled to a handful of determined individuals. A narration described how, in moments of extreme despair on the battlefield, physical strength and military skills would fail, leaving only animal instinct and sheer willpower to drive a soldier forward.
Gu Yiye and his companions, seeing what they believed was the finish line in sight, were dismayed when Song Jianshe started a car and drove the "finish line" further ahead. Exhausted and despairing, Gu Yiye could only smile grimly, continuing to run with every ounce of strength. Far behind, Gao Liang, whose backpack strap had broken, was repeatedly told he was too far behind, would fail, or was unqualified due to his broken equipment.
Yet, he refused to give up, continuing his arduous journey alone into the night, singing military songs to boost his morale, until an officer finally declared he had passed and told him to stop. The final results revealed that the Ninth Company achieved a 5% pass rate, surpassing the Night Tiger Company. Colonel Chen Dashan was ecstatic, hailing it as the regiment's best historical performance and declaring Qin Hanyong a role model.
Qin Hanyong, emboldened by the victory, requested increased food rations for his soldiers, explaining that the intensified training required better nutrition. He revealed he had already slaughtered the company's two pigs, and his soldiers still craved meat. Colonel Chen Dashan directed him to the Military Supplies Section, but the section chief refused, citing fixed budgets and the impossibility of special treatment. Undeterred, Qin Hanyong offered his remaining monthly salary, after sending money home, to buy meat.
When the cook pointed out it wasn't enough for the entire company, Qin Hanyong instructed him to buy pork bones, asking him to trim off any meat to stew with potatoes, and use the bones to make a rich soup, ensuring his soldiers could at least "have some fat." Jiang Nanzheng, now at the division headquarters, occasionally wrote to Gu Yiye.
She enclosed a letter in the socks he received, expressing her concern for him and noting that his company's training was even more intense. She cherished the poetry collection he had given her, appreciating its "freedom and vigor." Despite her current assignment at the Communication Company feeling like "Sergeant Han's beast-training camp," she was adapting, remembering their shared promises. She invited him to August Town for her upcoming 19th birthday, which would fall on a Sunday next month, promising to tell him a "veteran's story."
