The company commander walked over, patted him on the shoulder, but didn't know what to say.

"Company commander, I'm alright."

Xia Mengsheng forced a smile.

"A mission is a mission."

But he knew in his heart that this was no ordinary task.

This was Commander Lei's punishment of him, and also a warning to all those who try to take advantage of their privileges.

And he, Xia Mengsheng, became the "chicken" used as a warning to others.

Back in the tent, Xia Mengsheng sat on his cot, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

He thought of his newlywed wife, Su Yuzhen, and his parents, and the thought that he might never see them again, and his eyes welled up with tears.

"Instructor..."

A young soldier stood timidly at the entrance of the tent.

"I...I'll go in your place."

Xia Mengsheng looked up and recognized that this was Xiao Wang, the youngest soldier in the company, who was only eighteen years old.

He shook his head and forced a smile.

"Don't talk nonsense, this is my mission."

"But......"

Tears welled up in Xiao Wang's eyes.

"That bunker..."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Xia Mengsheng stood up and rubbed Xiao Wang's head.

"Go prepare; we have a tough battle to fight tomorrow."

After Xiao Wang left, Xia Mengsheng finally couldn't hold back and punched the tent pole.

He didn't blame Commander Lei, or even his mother.

He only blamed himself, wondering why he had to be Xia Weiguo's son.

Why should someone have such a privileged background?

If he were just an ordinary soldier, perhaps things wouldn't be like this today.

As night fell, the camp gradually quieted down.

Xia Mengsheng lay on his cot, but he couldn't fall asleep.

He took out the photos he carried with him.

That's his wedding photo with Su Yuzhen.

The wife in the photo is smiling radiantly and is incredibly beautiful.

He gently stroked the photo, as if he could feel her warmth.

“Yuzhen…”

He called out softly, and tears finally welled up in his eyes.

"If I can't come back, you have to take good care of yourself..."

Outside the tent, the moonlight, like water, spilled onto this land where a fierce battle was about to break out.

By this time tomorrow, he might already be...

Xia Mengsheng dared not think any further.

He wiped away his tears, carefully put the photo back in his pocket, and then forced himself to close his eyes.

In any case, he needs to rest and conserve his energy for tomorrow's mission.

...

The time has come.

At three in the morning, the border mountains were still shrouded in deep darkness.

Xia Mengsheng was already dressed and sitting in the tent, doing a final check of his equipment.

His fingers gently caressed the explosive charge, feeling the hard texture of the TNT beneath the canvas.

Outside the tent, the occasional sound of patrolling soldiers' footsteps and the calls of unidentified birds could be heard in the distance.

"Instructor, it's time to go."

The company commander's voice came from outside the tent, low and restrained.

Xia Mengsheng took a deep breath, carefully slung the explosive pack over his shoulder, lifted the tent flap, and went outside.

The camp was bustling with activity, and the soldiers were silently making preparations for battle.

No one spoke; there was only the clanging of metal and the sound of boots hitting the dirt.

Xia Mengsheng's gaze swept over every young face; the oldest among them was only twenty-five, and the youngest was only eighteen.

"Demolition team, assemble!"

Xia Mengsheng gave the order, his voice more steady than he had expected.

Five figures quickly lined up in front of him.

Xiao Wang stood at the very edge, his small frame appearing particularly thin in his oversized military uniform.

Xia Mengsheng noticed that his fingers were trembling slightly.

"Comrades."

Xia Mengsheng lowered his voice.

"Today's mission is dangerous, but we must complete it. The enemy's bunker controls the entire valley; if we don't take it, the follow-up troops will pay an even greater price."

He paused for a moment, making eye contact with everyone.

"Remember, if I fall, Number Two will take over; if Number Two falls, Number Three will take over. In any case, the explosives must be delivered to the bunker."

The team members nodded silently, their faces displaying the unique mix of fear and excitement characteristic of young people.

Only Xiao Wang's eyes flickered with unease. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just swallowed.

"Set off!"

Xia Mengsheng took the lead, guiding his group silently away from the camp and stealthily heading towards the enemy.

The first light of dawn was just beginning to lighten the eastern horizon, providing them with a glimpse of the sky.

They advanced along a dry riverbed, the most concealed route marked by the scouts.

Xia Mengsheng moved with extreme caution, his ears catching any suspicious sounds.

Behind him, he could hear the heavy breathing of his teammates.

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, they spotted their target.

A concrete bunker crouches on the ridge like a monster.

The dark firing ports were pointed at every possible path they might approach.

"stop."

Xia Mengsheng raised his fist, and the group immediately crouched down to take cover.

He took out his binoculars and carefully observed the situation around the bunker.

"Two machine gun positions, and possibly a sniper."

He said in a low voice.

"We'll approach from the bushes on the left, using the terrain for cover."

The group continued forward, with three hundred meters remaining to the bunker.

Xia Mengsheng's heart began to race, and his palms began to sweat.

He forced himself to take a deep breath and stay calm.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle shattered the silence.

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