Chapter 54: Training Methods

Chapter 54: Training Methods

Xu Qiao truly came to regard her rifle as a close comrade-in-arms, achieving a hundred-hit-hundred-precision record even when there was no ammunition to feed it.

Of course, shooting back in those days was different from shooting at these ten-ring paper targets. Everyone was heading straight to the battlefield, and no one would stand still to let you shoot at them. Therefore, right from the very beginning, the training involved targets simulating moving humans.

Fortunately, as long as you hit the target, no one cared whether you hit the head or the chest.

Xu Qiao fired another round, emptying her magazine.

She lifted her head and waited for the target scoring announcement.

After several rounds, everyone had gradually grown accustomed to her rapid pace of shooting.

"Target number one, 65 rings; target number two, 76 rings... target number five, 97 rings..."

Hearing that she had once again scored in the nineties—though not a perfect score—still drew a wave of envious glances.

After several rounds of shooting, although everyone's scores had improved compared to before, shooting like this at a stationary target left them unable to deceive themselves into thinking they were doing well.

"Sigh, before I was assigned to my company from the recruit training camp, I could shoot ninety rings too," Han Yuqi complained with a helpless sigh.

"Whether it's shooting or hand-to-hand combat... I'm not much better than you all."

She was speaking the truth. The training courses back then were basically crash courses meant to be completed in just a few months before the trainees were dispatched to various battlefields.

Because she hadn't shot in a long time, the recoil made her shoulders ache terribly with every shot.

"A true marksman must be familiar with their weapon, familiar with every single part of it, and familiar with every component as if it were their own arm."

The subjects taught were extremely diverse, and those instructors crammed knowledge into their heads like force-feeding ducks, eager to stuff everything possible into her mind within those few months.

While waiting for the scores to be announced, Xu Qiao had kept her head down, pondering the internal structure of the weapon in her hands.

Hearing this, the others took a moment to process the thought.

Dismantling and assembling firearms was originally a fundamental skill that should be learned before shooting practice. However, the communications company was making a hasty preparation at the last minute and simply lacked the time for such systematic training.

"They always say sharpshooters are forged by burning through bullets. You just have to practice more. I refuse to believe I can't get back to my recruit camp form," Han Yuqi said defiantly.

Cheng Yifei also helplessly lowered her gun. "A hero shouldn't boast about past victories. Even if you scored a hundred rings in the recruit camp, it's useless if you can't hit it now."

Basically, everyone shared her view. Since time was limited, they could only rely on the simplest and fastest methods.

"If you achieved this level after only three months of study, then the instructor's capability was truly extraordinary," Guan Yuqi said, looking at her with deep emotion.

"My instructor told me back then that someone nurtured solely by burning through ammunition becomes nothing more than a mechanical target-shooting tool; they will never become a true marksman."

During those few months, the knowledge she acquired saved her life more times than she could count.

"What do you mean by 'slow is fast'?" Han Yuqi looked over in confusion. "Aren't we trying to improve our shooting scores as quickly as possible right now? Where would we find the time to ponder basic skills?"

With time pressing, she wanted to lead everyone in more training. While the intention was good, reality was cruel.

Yet she couldn't help but say a moment later, "However, we probably don't have three months."

"Only when you can truly control the weapon, wielding it at will as if it were your own arm, can you truly become a marksman."

With that, she looked at Xu Qiao and said, "If you have any methods that can improve everyone's scores, we are open to trying them."

Seeing her attitude, Xu Qiao did not hesitate further and spoke directly, "Squad Leader, I know everyone has just started training. If this goes on for too long, no one will be able to handle the recoil."

"People say sharpshooters are made of bullets, but other aspects are equally important."

Hearing that it would only take three months, the others looked over in disbelief.

"The fundamental skill of raising the rifle—though it comes slowly, it is the foundation after all. And then... firearm assembly and disassembly. These things seem unrelated to your ring score, but they are actually factors that influence your shooting performance."

Some comrades-in-arms had only interacted during those few months and were never seen again afterward.

Hearing this, the squad leader frowned. "Practicing like this isn't a solution either. Don't your shoulders hurt?"

Noticing the worried look on Guan Yuqi's face, Xu Qiao said directly, "Squad leader, actually, practicing marksmanship doesn't mean we have to rely entirely on burning through ammunition."

Xu Qiao wasn't upset; she simply replied, "The reason I can shoot so quickly and with such accuracy is truly not because I was fed countless bullets."

"If you have any different ideas, feel free to voice them. As long as it benefits our training, we can discuss it. Let's pool our wisdom and work hard together."

The others were somewhat dumbfounded. After a long moment, someone remarked, "Why does this sound a bit like studying a martial arts secret manual?"

Even if Guan Yuqi didn't want to end the session just like that, she had no alternative.

Xu Qiao thought for a moment. "Less than three months, and we didn't practice firearms all day long."

During those few months, the subjects they had to learn extended far beyond marksmanship; they touched upon anything that might be useful on the battlefield.

Yet upon reflection, she understood what Guan Yuqi meant. They weren't just here to train; their regular duties couldn't be neglected either. If tomorrow arrived and their arms were too sore to even lift, how could they get any work done?

She had to admit that she was deeply grateful for those few months of duck-stuffing education.

Realizing something then, she quickly added, "Although I am your squad leader, I... actually share the same background as you all. Over the past few years, my training has also leaned much more heavily toward technical aspects."

In this lifetime, she sometimes wondered: if she had been granted just a few more months, perhaps she wouldn't have died so young, and she could have held on a little longer.

Then she remembered something and nodded. "It does carry a bit of that flavor." Cheng Yifei nodded as well, then turned to Xu Qiao. "So how long did you practice to reach this level?"

"It's not like you all need to achieve my shooting speed. Isn't the goal simply to improve your target scores?" Xu Qiao suddenly countered with a question.

Guan Yuqi immediately grew interested. "Let's hear it."

Hearing her words, the group exchanged surprised glances. "J—just practiced for this short while?"

"For instance... the basic shooting posture and understanding the mechanics of the firearm. These fundamentals may seem slow to show results, but sometimes, slow is fast."

"Let's call it a day for now. If we keep practicing... tomorrow none of you will even be able to lift your arms, let alone report for duty," Guan Yuqi said with helpless resignation.

Guan Yuqi froze for a moment, then smiled with sudden realization. "That's right—we don't need three months."

"Then, following the training method you mentioned, do you think everyone's improvement will be faster?"

Xu Qiao nodded with absolute certainty. "Naturally."