Original subtitles

(Glory of Special Forces)

(This series is Shanghai's major literary and artistic project)

(Episode 22)

Brat,

you were still playing with mud when I was a soldier.

Can you still fight?

Come on.

Yan.

Can you still fight?

Lock him down!

You can still fight?

Bring it on.

Come on.

Do you need me to help you up? Come on.

Yan Po Yue, hang in there!

He won!

Yan, you won!

You won!

You won!

I have something to say.

At ease.

First, I would like to congratulate you guys

for passing the toughest,

most brutal,

most cruel,

and most inhumane torture training

of the special forces.

I believe

you guys will remember this experience forever.

But at the same time, I hope you guys can remember this.

Loyalty

is the baseline of every military operation.

In the future, no matter what kind of situation you get yourself into,

you need to defend it with your life.

Do you remember that?

Yes, sir!

Do you remember that?

Yes, sir!

Medical officer, get into position.

Ouch!

Doctor, go easy on him. He's afraid of pain.

He's a member of the special forces, yet he's afraid of pain?

Doctor, you may not know,

but that training was...

You mean the torture training? We do them every year.

Was everyone okay?

What could happen to them?

Those are just scratches.

Weren't you guys rolling on the ground while being dragged by a vehicle?

The veterans cleaned up the path before the training.

There were no obstacles on that path.

The veterans tested the path themselves. It's 100% safe.

As for the other training programmes,

they were only implemented after strict testing and evaluation.

So, the torture you've received

affects your mental state way more than your physical state.

Most people were just frightened out of their mind.

So, that's the case.

I'm done with your diagnosis. You're fine.

-We'll keep you here for observation. -Okay.

-Next. -Okay.

Xiao, it's your turn.

I think I feel much better after hearing the doctor's words.

Please come in.

-Xiao Xiao. -Captain Leng.

Captain Leng.

Lie down.

Don't get up.

What are you doing here?

How are you?

I feel fine. I think I'll be fine after resting for a few days.

Please have a seat, Captain Leng.

Xiao Xiao,

although you haven't fully recovered yet,

I still need to remind you this.

In the Cheetah Special Forces,

women need to work harder than men.

We might even have to endure more hardships

to carve a place for ourselves within the team.

It's especially true for the border area combat team.

I'm not afraid.

I believe I can overcome all of the obstacles.

Although men are strong,

women are both strong and delicate.

I'm confident in myself.

What is this?

It's nothing.

I just made it for fun.

Whom did you make this for?

No one. I made it as I was too bored.

Fine, I'll stop interrogating you.

You'd better get yourself examined.

You're seriously injured.

You didn't expect this, did you? That we could see each other again?

Have you got yourself examined?

I have.

That's good.

I'm planning to return to our company.

Do you have any message for our squad leader?

Wish him

a smooth journey for me.

Okay.

I'll relay the message to him.

I have something to tell you.

Actually,

I was planning to leave after Gao Zhun was eliminated.

I stayed

because I wanted to prove that I was just as good as the others.

What are you trying to say?

This is what I want to say.

Everyone has their own hope

for enlisting in the military.

Some of them wish to get into military schools.

Some of them wish to learn new skills.

Some of them wish to prove themselves, just like you.

Before this, I was sure that I could be an excellent special forces soldier.

But after the torture training,

I realised

that on the battlefield of special forces where all is fair,

it's highly likely that I might drag my teammates down.

As for me,

from now on, I just wish

to make more buddies

so that we can look after one another.

I think I'll stick to being the vice squad leader.

As for the special forces,

I think it's more suitable for people like you, Yan Po Yue.

It's fine.

Actually, I'm quite envious of you.

I'm serious.

Not everyone is like you.

You're talented, lucky,

and handsome.

You have a...

How do I put it?

You have an unstoppable drive.

I believe

that you can become the best soldier in the future.

I will never be wrong about that.

Thanks.

But no matter how strong you are,

you're still a soldier.

I just want to be a soldier

and fulfil my duty.

Goodbye, Yan Po Yue.

Although you have one less rival now,

you will encounter more in the future.

Why are you guys here?

Boss Chuan invited Daddy Kun here for a meal.

Only three people can go up.

Godfather.

Xing Tian, Miya, the three of us will go.

-Big Boss. -Daddy Kun.

Long time no see. Seems like your business is booming.

I was just trying to make a living. I'm no match for you.

Daddy Kun, please take a seat.

Okay.

Daddy Kun,

how many kids do you wish to buy this time?

Do you still care about that unprofitable business?

It's my old trade, you know?

I heard that you started a new business in China.

You were selling decent stuff for an excellent price, huh?

Daddy Kun, you do your business around the border area

while I sell them to the mainland.

There's no conflict between us, right?

That's fine.

I was just curious about your new business.

Daddy Kun, you...

You see, when you do business, you buy and sell things.

Hurry and bring us some of the new stuff.

Daddy Kun, you look pretty energetic.

I guess so.

It's decent.

Daddy Kun, we've been trading with each other for so many years.

The price is negotiable if we work out a long-term partnership.

Of course we will work out a long-term partnership.

Hurry, prepare the goods for Daddy Kun.

No need for that.

You guys are crossing us?

Who told you to be so greedy?

Someone is paying huge money to open a path into the mainland.

How dare you try to steal our business in the mainland?

Daddy Kun, please spare me on account of our bond.

I'll give you everything I have.

Do you think I need you to give me the things I desire?

Daddy Kun, we've found both the goods and the man.

So, were you the one

who developed the new type of meth?

Very good.

-I have no use for him. -Daddy Kun! Don't go!

Daddy Kun, please spare me!

Daddy Kun, please!

Daddy Kun, come back!

Daddy Kun!

I...

Tie up the loose ends.

Take it!

Right face!

Quick march!

Halt!

Right face!

The ceremony

will begin now!

Salute!

End of salutation!

Right face!

Quick march!

From today onward,

you guys will be a part of the Cheetah Special Forces officially.

Remember my words.

As a member of the special forces, you have to be brave.

When you have to risk your life,

it's all or nothing.

But when you're on the battlefield,

your priority

isn't to sacrifice yourself for a just cause.

Your priority is to complete the mission

and return here alive.

You all may have been through

many years of training on the training ground,

but no matter how hard you train

or how strong you look,

you all are still new recruits.

You all have to survive operations after operations

and accumulate practical experience bit by bit

until you become a veteran.

You need to transform your ferocity into slyness

and ruthlessness.

If you're alone, you'll have to fight alone for thousands of miles.

If you're together, you're undefeatable.

In the end,

you guys will bring honour and military merits back home.

That's the true Cheetah!

That's the soldier I want!

Understood?

Yes, sir!

Everybody!

Attention!

Left incline!

Cheetahs, repeat after me!

I'm a member of the most elite unit of the armed forces!

The badge on my chest represents my honour!

We're members of the most elite unit

of the armed forces!

The badges on our chests represent our honour!

(On top of an unknown mountain,)

(we polished our killing skills.)

(We might never get the chance to be mobilised)

(and fight for our country.)

(We might not accumulate)

(any military merits until the day we retire from the military.)

(When people ask us about our achievements in the military,)

(we will answer them in silence.)

(It's because the duty of a soldier)

(is to sweat profusely in the training ground.)

(If we achieve victories in our drills,)

(that could only mean that our training went well.)

(Just like the nuclear weapons)

(in the armoury that we will never use,)

(some of them were already stored for several decades.)

(In the end, all of them will be demolished.)

(However, there are values and meaning to their existence.)

(Similarly,)

(our motherland could only develop in peace due to the existence of)

(millions of guardians of the state.)

(Currently,)

(we can be sure)

(that no country dares to declare war against China.)

(The era)

(when you can make China cower in fear)

(just by launching several torpedoes from a battleship)

(is gone.)

(Those who turn the tides when everything seems hopeless are heroes.)

(Spending their youth without any regrets,)

(rolling around in the training ground,)

(achieving victories in their drills,)

(that's how they become the pillar of the state.)

(Rejecting the fear of risk and death)

(so that their family and friends)

(can live an ordinary and happy life)

(on a peaceful land,)

(they are what we call heroes.)

Morning, everyone.

Let me introduce myself.

Yue Kong.

I assume all of you still remember me.

-My head hurts when I see you. -I'm sorry.

It was a life-and-death struggle.

I had to give it my all.

You did give it your all.

But I didn't.

If you're not happy, let's spar again.

No, thanks.

Life-and-death struggle?

Do you bear a deep grudge against me?

No.

Veterans bullying the new recruits

are nothing special.

Veterans always keep their promises too.

I just want to know

if you will keep your promise.

If I lose, I'll follow your every order!

You want me to follow your every order?

Fine.

But first, you have to become an intelligent commander.

I don't want to die for nothing

because of your gentleness.

-I'm a good guy! -You mustn't leave!

What should we do then?

Let's do a vote.

If we return to our first encounter,

when you encounter someone suspicious

during your mission,

if you progress while escorting them, they will hinder your mission.

If you let them go,

they might expose your identity.

If you leave them at the same spot,

they might endanger your life.

If you kill them on the spot, it's too cruel.

Think about it.

What will you guys do

if you have another chance?

Not just you guys,

to every unit that will infiltrate the enemy backlines,

this kind of decision is unavoidable.

Navy SEAL,

it's one of the most famous special unit in the world.

Their whereabouts are unknown.

They do not have many members.

They only have around 1,600 members right now.

However, all of them are the cream of the crop.

Not only are they physically strong and capable,

but they are more intelligent than most.

During the selection, the elimination rate is over 70%.

And, they use live bullets for their drills and training.

That's why they have a high casualty rate.

And that's precisely why

they're one of the toughest special unit in the world.

The retreat mission you guys had undergone at the last phase

was designed based on their famous operation,

Operation Red Wings.

I have some information over here.

On June 2005,

in order to eliminate Ahmad Shah and the rest, the senior commanders

of a terrorist organisation,

Country A has decided to launch Operation Red Wings.

The operation began officially on the 28th.

Country A dispatched a four-man SEAL squad

for reconnaissance purposes.

On their journey, they met three shepherds.

In the end, they decided to let them go.

Due to that, their whereabouts were leaked.

After several hours,

more than 150 terrorists surrounded the four of them.

The four-man squad retreated towards the nearby villages

while requesting reinforcements from HQ.

As they were in the mountains, the wireless signal was terrible.

The commander only managed to send out the SOS signal right before he died.

In the end, only one of them survived.

After Country A's HQ had received the SOS signal,

they sent out a chopper on that evening.

16 Navy SEALs were dispatched to save them.

Due to thunderstorms

and pouring rain in the action area,

the rescue chopper was brought down by the ambushing terrorists.

Everyone on the chopper died.

After that, the command centre sent out

a huge number of choppers and A-10s.

That's how they were able to save the last man.

The command centre only managed to find

the bodies of those who were killed in action after several days.

Almost 20 members of the Navy SEAL were killed in action.

Operation Red Wings was declared a failure.

The failure of Operation Red Wings

had left a deep lesson behind for every army in the world.

At the same time, it had provided many insights

to modern mountain warfare.

Next, I have a question for you all.

If one of you were to be the commander of that operation,

what would you guys do?

Think about it.

-Sir. -Speak.

I think we need to be meticulous when we come up with operation plans.

Operation Red Wings was full of flaws.

Their failure had taught us

that we must be concerned about three factors

when we do operation planning.

First,

we should design our action plan to be most complete as possible.

From the action system

to the details of every personnel,

we mustn't omit any of them.

For example, the thunderstorms that occurred within the action area.

Their action plan

almost didn't take the surrounding weather into account at all.

Second,

they should prepare different solutions

for all types of emergencies.

For example, when the military launched their first rescue operation,

they never took things like ambushes into account.

They didn't prepare any possible solutions to it.

In the end, the chopper was shot down.

Third,

they should hold a simulation right before an operation.

They could rely on the training ground.

By holding simulations of

the operation repetitively,

they could discover their flaws and solve them in time.

They could make every personnel familiar with the operation details,

thus, reducing mistakes.

-That's all, sir. -Sit down.

The battlefield is ever-changing.

No one has time for all those simulations.

Xiao Yun Jie, louder!

Yes, sir!

I think communication

needs to be emphasised during mountain warfare.

Think about it.

If they could send out the SOS signal earlier,

if the four-man squad could maintain constant communication with the HQ,

the situation might be entirely different.

This tells us that mountain warfare is something special.

Tall mountains, thick forests, and steep valleys,

all of those have a huge impact on the wireless signal.

We should emphasise the quality of wireless radio communication.

This tells us

that we need to emphasise communication when it comes to mountain warfare.

According to different landscapes and regions,

we have to choose the best radio frequency, satellite phones,

communication equipment and so on.

We must make sure that our communication is smooth.

-That's all, sir. -Sit down.

Only the new guys are answering my question.

Where are the old guys?

We've studied the same scenario over 10 years ago.

Let the youngsters speak.

Don't put on airs.

Stand up. You can gain new insights by reviewing old materials.

I think the operation support mustn't lag behind.

The four-man squad was isolated from the start.

Even though the HQ had sent out reinforcements,

they didn't receive any support as the chopper was shot down.

All of those were fatal mistakes.

It shows the ineptitude of the operation support team.

After receiving the SOS signal,

they knew that a fierce battle was ongoing.

Even so, they didn't dispatch any drones

to do any reconnaissance.

They dispatched members of special forces without thinking it through.

And, they did so without any air cover.

That's why they were easily wiped up by the enemy ambush.

Besides that, they only dispatched a huge number of choppers

after the rescue chopper was shot down.

It was too late by then. They had missed the best rescue opportunity.

All of those showed

that their operation support team was lagging behind.

They weren't at the same frequency with the operation team.

And, retreat operations should be prioritised too.

After their first chopper was shot down,

they did something different the second time around

when they tried to rescue their men.

Not only did they do a detailed reconnaissance

around the target and his surroundings,

but they also dispatched air units to back up the rescue unit.

That caused their enemies

to fail their second ambush.

For most armies,

retreat operations aren't prioritised enough.

But, it turns out that retreating is an important aspect too.

We must never neglect it.

Sir, that's all.

-Sit down. -Yes, sir.

Great job.

I wish to give you all a reminder.

No matter what type of operation it is,

we mustn't neglect the deciding factor of being human.

The operation plan of Operation Red Wings was rough and full of flaws.

They underestimated their enemies.

This is closely related

to the arrogance of the soldiers themselves.

Along with the pace of current scientific technology advancement,

both weapons and equipment are being upgraded at an unprecedented speed.

Warfare is constantly changing too.

Future wars

will only demand more from soldiers.

If you cannot bring the human factor into play,

it will cause all sorts of problems.

It might even land us in desperate situations.

-Sir. -Speak.

Captain,

is there any difference in strength

between the Cheetah Special Forces and Navy SEAL?

If there's a difference,

how huge is the difference?

We can only tell who's better

after a head-on battle.

You guys are lucky that you're born in a peaceful country.

You've never experienced a large-scale war.

However,

the global situation is unpredictable.

A sudden war might break out at any time.

A regional war might break out at any time too.

By that time,

we can show our strength and verify how strong we are.

What's our target

if we're unable to do so?

-Bai Long. -Yes, sir.

-Tell him. -Yes, sir.

Our strongest rivals

are always the past us!

-Lu. -Speak.

Let's have a rematch later.

A rematch? Fine.

But you have to admit defeat if you lose this time.

Did I lose?

You hurt the hostage by accident. Doesn't that count as a loss?

Fine, it's my loss.

Let me ask you something.

What's in it for you to keep losing all the time?

There's plenty in it for me.

Wait a minute.

You lost during our training and assessment.

It's been over a month.

You're almost at the bottom of the table among cadres, you know?

What?

Do you wish to showcase our spirit?

Do you want everyone else to win except for you?

We're a family.

Winning or losing doesn't matter to me

when I'm not facing our enemies.

You don't act like yourself ever since Bai Long returned to the team.

Bai Long was also too much. He kept being mean to you.

But you shouldn't hold it against him.

I didn't hold it against him.

You're the one holding it against me.

What's there for me to hold it against you?

Wait.

Don't you think it's meaningless for you two to do this?

It's not Bai Long's problem. It's my problem.

Let me put it like this.

When there's a worm on a tree,

it will infest the tree and create a hole.

No matter how you try to cover it with leaves,

the hole is still there.

If so, you can just remove the leaves.

If I do so, it'll hurt our relationship.

But if I don't do so,

it makes me upset.

What can I do?

I would rather

chop down the tree.

That's fine too.

You should make an axe and chop down the tree then.

I'm the tree.

What am I then?

You?

You're the bird on the tree.

You catch the worm and remove the leaves every day.

The tree thinks that you're annoying.

What exactly do you want me to do then?

I'm tired.

What are you looking at?

I wish to learn from you.

We're comrades now.

Ask away.

How did you get yourself to this level?

Have you ever been on a mission before?

I have.

Have you killed a person before?

I have.

Have you ever thought of death before?

No.

Train as if every day is your last.

Wait.

That's just a hypothetical scenario.

I need an answer.

It's better if you don't have one.

If you do get an answer,

I'm sure it's because of a tragedy.

But that answer is strong enough to make you challenge Cao Ben.

He's not the answer.

He's the cause of it.

Captain.

Let's have a chat.

Okay, sit down.

Cao Ben, how many years have we known each other?

About six to seven years.

7 years, 6 months, and 18 days.

You're amazing.

I remember everything and everyone.

That's great.

I can ask you

when I forget anything.

Sure.

But can I ask you questions

when I want to know something?

Ask away.

A person whom I once thought was simple has become complicated.

Why?

I...

Did Lu Tu tell you something?

Don't believe in that fellow.

But of course, I know you trust me more than him.

I hope you can be happy from the bottom of your heart.

I don't want you to smile out of resignation.

I didn't do it out of resignation.

Yes.

I'm sure he has mentioned this,

but I'm not doing too well on the assessments lately.

But I promise I will readjust my state in time.

-Are you sure? -Yes, sir.

But I'm not sure about that.

I've read your training report.

You've done pretty well on the training programmes.

But you had made mistakes during crucial moments.

After that, I reviewed the recordings of your training.

I realised that you didn't hesitate to commit mistakes

during crucial moments.

What does that mean?

That means

I was careless.

Last time, during our operation,

you even investigated a shell because it was suspicious.

Are you sure that you were careless?

Have you forgotten how to use a gun just because we don't use live bullets?

That's not it, Captain.

You see, I'm a veteran.

But even veterans

are human, right?

As humans, it's common for us to make mistakes.

It's understandable.

All humans have human nature.

And human nature is complicated.

But you had committed mistakes without any hesitations.

To me, that's not carelessness.

You did them on purpose.

But Captain, that's not true...

Even though Bai Long is back,

Cao Ben is leaving.

Do you think it's worth it?

Wait, Captain.

This has

nothing to do with Bai Long.

It's my problem.

I'm just tired.

Do you want to take a break?

Captain,

don't you think you guys were too nice to me in the past?

Maybe Bai Long is doing the right thing by treating me like this.

I understand what you mean now.

Regarding this incident,

no one could understand what you had been through.

Alright. You can enjoy your lunch break.

I'll make a move now.

Goodbye, Captain.

When we go on missions,

we usually move in squads.

So, after the party committee's discussion,

the five of you will make up the Cheetah Commando's ninth squad

within the First Corps.

As a usual squad contains eight members

while your squad only contains five members,

therefore,

I've selected three veterans to join your squad.

-Ma Liang. -Yes, sir!

He's our demolition expert.

He has defused more than 1,000 bombs.

-Mu Qing! -Yes, sir!

He's a top graduate of the army medical university.

He's a Master of Medicine.

-Yue Kong. -Yes, sir!

I think I don't need to introduce him.

You guys have spent a lot of time together before this.

He has put you guys through hell.

Yue Kong

is also the most senior sniper of the Cheetah Commando.

Sir!

Speak.

-What am I in charge of then? -You'll be our spotter.

You're in charge of spotting the targets and cooperating with Yue Kong.

What? Is there any problem?

No, sir.

Guo Xiao Xiao!

-Yes, sir! -Fall out!

Yes, sir!

Do you have any problems with that?

No, sir!

We're a combat unit!

If you don't have any problems with it,

you'd better keep your emotions away!

Listen up! The position you have right now

is the result of our strict selection, comparison,

and discussion!

If you're unhappy with the result, you may leave right now!

All of you'd better remember this. When you move as a squad,

your personal emotions might affect the entire squad

and cause unimaginable consequences.

Understood?

Yes, sir!

Guo Xiao Xiao,

do you understand me?

-Yes, sir. -Louder!

Yes, sir!

-Fall in. -Yes, sir!

-Yue Kong. -Yes, sir!

-Mu Qing. -Yes, sir!

-Ma Liang. -Yes, sir!

-Fall in! -Yes, sir!

-Bai Long. -Yes, sir!

You will be the squad leader.

Yes, sir!

-Yue Kong! -Yes, sir!

You will be the vice squad leader cum sniper.

Yes, sir!

-Guo Xiao Xiao. -Yes, sir!

You'll be the spotter for our sniper.

Yes, sir!

-Xiao Yun Jie. -Yes, sir!

-You'll be our machine gunner. -Yes, sir!

-Yan Po Yue! -Yes, sir!

-You'll be our shock troop. -Yes, sir!

-Xu Yang. -Yes, sir!

You'll be in charge of reconnaissance and communication!

Yes, sir!

-Mu Qing! -Yes, sir!

-You'll be the medic. -Yes, sir!

-Ma Liang! -Yes, sir!

-You'll be our demolition expert. -Yes, sir!

We've assigned professional instructors

to all of you

in order to enhance your skills.

And,

each of you has to work together with your squad

and execute regular tactical drills

to increase the chemistry of your squad at a rapid pace

and enhance your battle strength.

Understood?

Yes, sir!

Vice squad leader,

whose orders shall we follow in the future?

I'm caught in the middle too.

Follow the leader's order.

-Yan! -Lower your volume!

Stop!

Yan Po Yue!

Yes, sir!

Do you know what you have done?

You acted without permission! Half of your teammates are dead because of you!

Sir,

an eight-man squad isn't agile enough.

Our advance is too slow.

It hasn't achieved the effectiveness of a raid.

It'll only affect our speed if I act overcautiously.

Do you think you'll face enemies like them on the battlefield?

Do you think your enemies will show you mercy?

Do you think so?