The train carriage Zhao Yan was in contained a batch of new recruits who were about to head to the 152 Division, 3rd Regiment of the Yanzhou Military Region's subordinate forces.
This was a field army, and even more so a rapid reaction force with extremely high training intensity. It could be said that almost the entire division maintained a level 2 combat readiness state all year round.
Once there was any change, they could be thrown into the battlefield at any time.
Therefore, this batch of soldiers had also been selected to become the main characters of the military-themed live show "New Recruits".
In this live broadcast, undoubtedly many things would be exposed, but perhaps the higher-ups did not care, because by now Xia Country was already militarily dominant in the world.
It was necessary to flex muscles and give others a look from time to time.
I'm very strong, so I'm not afraid of you looking.
You've seen it, and you'll be afraid of me.
Moreover, what would be exposed would definitely only be things that could be exposed, things that couldn't be exposed, the cameras would definitely pan away.
Just like in the movies, when the male and female leads are on the bed biting each other, the cameras instantly pan away...
"Buddy, where are you from?" the person sitting opposite Zhao Yan struck up a conversation.
Zhao Yan looked him up and down; his skin was dark, and his smile revealed sincerity and kindness. At first glance, the image he gave off was that of a simple, honest man.
"Nanhua, Li Fei," Zhao Yan answered lightly.
From his memory, Li Fei came from an ordinary working-class family in Nanhua, which was over 2,000 kilometers away from Binhai, worlds apart.
The dark-skinned youth's eyes lit up excitedly as he laughed, "Same hometown! I'm also from Nanhua! Call me Dali."
"I'm from Nanhua too, Liu Xiaojun," the pale-skinned youth sitting next to Wang Dali chimed in.
Zhao Yan nodded at both of them in greeting.
Wang Dali was very enthusiastic, "Who'd have thought all three of us were from the same hometown, and even in the same military unit. It'd be great if we end up assigned to the same squad."
"What's so great about that, still trying to form small cliques in the army? The army relies on real skills!" said the youth beside Zhao Yan indifferently.
Only then did Zhao Yan take notice of him - medium height, wheatish complexion, clearly often worked out, with a hint of arrogance in his eyes, seeming to look down on everyone.
This kind of person was either really amazing or pretending to be amazing.
Zhao Yan laughed. He didn't bother with him.
Because no matter how amazing, he still wouldn't be as amazing as himself!
Wang Dali laughed, "We're all from the same hometown, we can help each other out in the army."
"Only incapable people need help. People like that are deadweight in my opinion," said the wheatish youth disdainfully.
Wang Dali's smile faded, rather embarrassed.
Liu Xiaojun smoothed things over for him, "What's your name?"
"Zhang Teng," said the wheatish youth.
What they didn't notice was that from the moment the four of them started talking, the cameras had been fixed on them.
After all, amidst the heavy atmosphere of farewells, bewilderment about the road ahead, and fatigue from the train ride, the fact that the four of them could chat so freely made them stand out.
And their conversation was also captured by the cameras for all the viewers watching the live show.
"That Zhang Teng is a bit cool! Based on all the military dramas I've watched, these kinds of people are always amazing!"
"Obviously. Who that isn't amazing dares to pretend to be amazing in an unfamiliar environment? He must really be amazing!"
"That Liu Xiaojun is refined and gentle-looking. He seems really handsome, gives off an aura."
"And that Wang Dali clearly has a warm personality, very down-to-earth. That Li Fei is the most ordinary and unremarkable of the four in terms of physique and looks.
"Right, among the four his physique and looks are the most ordinary. In a TV series he'd typically play the main character's background extra, an inconspicuous passerby A."
The livestream bullet screen was very active. Because it was live, everyone had watched many types of livestreams before, but this was still the first time there was a livestream covering the entire new recruit training period.
Previously similar programs were documentaries, and much of the content was cut out before being shown, and it was very likely scripted and acted, which didn't have the same sense of liveliness.
At this moment, the train began to slow down.
Everyone knew this meant it was arriving at the station.
"Alright new recruit comrades, everyone off the train!" shouted the deputy instructor of 4th Company after the train came to a complete stop.
After much effort, the new recruits finally managed to scramble off the train in a messy line carrying their luggage, chests emblazoned with large red flowers.
After all, it was unrealistic to expect them to disembark in an orderly fashion.
Standing on the platform, Zhao Yan looked around. Everywhere new soldiers were assembling in formations, red flowers clustered together on their chests, truly a sea of flowers.
There were also some civilians waiting to board the train not far away.
"Fall in, everyone from Nanhua come align yourselves with me in a column," shouted the deputy instructor responsible for picking up Zhao Yan's batch of recruits, one hand raised.
Only then did the new recruits who had been milling around like headless flies finally find purpose, scarcely managing to form untidy columns after tremendous effort.
"It's twelve thirty now," said the instructor checking his watch. "Everyone will wait here for about an hour. You can all go to the toilet, move around freely, but don't run off. Alright, dismissed!"
Having sat with sore backs and aching waists for so long on the train, everyone instantly streamed toward the toilet.
"Why do they keep filming us?" Wang Dali pointed to the New Recruits program team not far away, seemingly feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Because we're handsome," said Liu Xiaojun, even making some gestures at the camera, his open and easygoing personality clearly indicating a well-off family background - an ordinary family would not raise this kind of child.
Zhang Teng gave a cold snort. "Pathetic."
Although he said that, he kept sneaking glances at the camera, rather tsundere, just like an overly mature, pretending to be cool chuunibyou.
"I'm going to the bathroom," said Zhao Yan.
Liu Xiaojun followed along, "Let's go together."
The program team sent out a group to follow them. Because their performance on the train just now had attracted quite a few viewers, according to the traffic feedback the program team was now focusing on shooting the four of them.
Among this batch of recruits they were the protagonists, but among them, the four were the protagonists.
After all, there were too many people, it wasn't possible to film everyone, things would get chaotic. It was necessary to have a focal point.
"Got family in the military?" Liu Xiaojun asked.
Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"
"I feel like you're very steady, you have the aura of a leader," Liu Xiaojun muttered thoughtfully.
Zhao Yan smiled. "Maybe I was born to be a general, so fate led me to step into the barracks."
Liu Xiaojun was stunned.
The bullet screen also exploded, clamoring that they hadn't expected this nondescript guy to be so capable at pretending to be awesome.
"Peng peng peng!"
Suddenly, three gunshots rang out.
Xia Country had strict gun control so civilians and new recruits weren't sensitive to gunshots and couldn't discern them.
But the veterans who had come to pick up the new recruits instantly had drastic changes of expression.
"All new recruits assemble! Come back immediately! Don't run around!" the pick-up officers began shouting.
At the same time three men wielding guns charged onto the platform.
The scene instantly descended into chaos.