Huang Yuhua's reprimand left Han Lang and all the team members feeling somewhat indignant.
The squad leader of the third squad was the first to voice his objection.
"Platoon Leader Huang, what you've said is a bit much. Yes, I admit, the primary responsibility for our third squad's failure to complete the outpost mission lies with me, but you can't blame Captain Han for that!"
With the third squad leader taking the lead, other members of the third squad also began to speak up in defense.
"That's right, Platoon Leader Huang. Although our results weren't ideal, it's not the squad leader's fault."
"Our strength is limited, and our combat experience is insufficient. We can accept poor results. But Captain Han's command was not wrong! Each squad's collective mission was completed by themselves. Captain Han was so far away, he couldn't help even if he wanted to!"
"I also agree to give the lowest score to our third squad. The collective results should be adjusted accordingly!"
Hearing the third squad members express their suggestions one after another, Huang Yuhua's expression grew increasingly grim. He frowned and retorted.
"According to your logic, if this were a real battlefield, would the sacrifices of your comrades have nothing to do with the commander, Han Lang?"
Huang Yuhua's tone clearly carried a hint of anger. Everyone, despite their inner dissatisfaction, did not continue to argue.
Only Tang Qin pouted, muttering to himself with an unhappy expression.
"It really has nothing to do with him! If we were all fighting together without support, it would be understandable. But this time, the third squad was wiped out. Even if we were stronger, we couldn't have rescued them from afar! Platoon Leader Huang is being too unreasonable!"
Tang Qin thought his voice was very low, but every word reached Huang Yuhua's ears.
"Tang Qin! If that's the case, then Han Lang, as the commander, should be responsible for the loss of the two comrades at the base of the ability users, shouldn't he?"
Tang Qin remained silent.
If he and Ma Long hadn't prevented Han Lang and Zhao Wu from intervening in the fight against the D-class ability user during the final assault, this loss might not have occurred.
Zhao Wu's face also flickered with a mixed expression, appearing somewhat guilty.
Tang Qin and the others were unaware, but he understood the situation clearly.
When fighting against the S-class ability user, Han Lang had already dealt with his opponent.
If he hadn't forbidden Han Lang from interfering in his own battle, perhaps Tang Qin and the others would have received support sooner, and the casualties on the periphery would have been avoided.
"But the sacrifices of the third and sixth squads were inevitable! Reducing our overall score because of this doesn't make sense!"
Tang Qin's statement echoed the thoughts of everyone. The mission to clear the outpost was designed to train each squad's individual combat capabilities. If such results were included in the overall assessment, everyone felt it was somewhat unreasonable.
However, Huang Yuhua let out a wry smile.
"Hmph! Do you think assessing individual squad combat capability has nothing to do with the commander? If the losses were necessary, why would we, as referees, maliciously deduct your points?"
"Think about it yourselves. There were no high-level ability users in the outpost! Given your strength, with a meticulous plan, the mission should not have failed!"
"If, before assigning the mission, Han Lang had dispatched a comrade to scout the distribution of ability users in the outpost, and discussed the attack plan with everyone before assigning tasks, would the third and sixth squads have suffered losses?"
"Don't forget! On the battlefield, every comrade is a living life! As a commander, if you cannot do everything in your power to avoid errors and minimize losses, then you are an unqualified commander, understand?"
Seeing Huang Yuhua getting increasingly agitated, Liu Xiaoxiao, who was standing nearby, also felt moved.
To prevent further conflict between Huang Yuhua and the team members, she quickly addressed everyone.
"Everyone! Platoon Leader Huang's strict demands on you are all for the purpose of increasing your chances of survival on future battlefields! We are comrades who will fight back-to-back. It is better to be strict in simulated training than to lose our lives on a real battlefield! Therefore, please don't hold any grudges. From a professional perspective, Han Lang, as the commander of this operation, is undeniably responsible for so many losses during the mission!"
Saying this, she turned her head to look at Han Lang specifically and said.
"Han Lang! You must also understand that as the champion of the rookie arena, besides independent combat ability, command is also one of the responsibilities you must undertake. Otherwise, if your abilities are subordinate to others, how many people will truly be convinced by you?"
Hearing Liu Xiaoxiao's insightful words, Han Lang immediately lowered his head.
Originally, like other team members, he thought that completing the mission was enough.
After all, the battlefield was the battlefield, and losses were inevitable!
But he had overlooked one crucial point.
If a battle resulted in losses that could have been avoided, the mistake was his as the commander!
After all, with greater ability comes greater responsibility!
Compared to the comrades who had lost their lives, what were these losses?
After much thought, Han Lang finally replied with conviction.
"Platoon Leader Huang and Platoon Leader Liu are right! This operation was not commanded effectively by me, the commander. I will definitely remember this lesson and summarize my experience. In the next mission, I will discuss more with my comrades and formulate more precise combat plans! At the same time, I will also reflect on myself. As a commander, I should not allow teammates to display individual heroism on the battlefield. While ensuring the completion of the mission, I will also protect the lives of my comrades!"
Hearing Han Lang begin to self-reflect, others naturally had nothing more to say.
After all, in this simulated battle, if it weren't for high-level cultivators like Han Lang and Zhao Wu, it was uncertain whether the final mission could have been completed.
Seeing everyone lower their heads, Huang Yuhua felt somewhat relieved.
"I am pleased that you can recognize your mistakes! However, in the army, admitting mistakes is not just about words. Especially for you, Han Lang, as the commander, you should reflect more deeply! I am punishing you with a 50-kilometer march with a heavy load, which is not excessive, is it?"
Just as Han Lang was about to accept this punishment, Ma Long was the first to object.
"This is not right, Platoon Leader Huang! If the battle failed, shouldn't each of us bear some responsibility? Why should only my young master be punished?"
"Yes! This is unfair. Captain Han was commanding for the first time. Although the results were not ideal, they were still quite good. Why should only he be punished?"
"If there's a punishment, let's all be punished together! I think we should all share it!"
"That's right! We are willing to advance and retreat with Captain Han!"
Hearing everyone indignantly defending Han Lang and even willing to share the responsibility.
This kind of cohesion made Huang Yuhua feel somewhat pleased.
However, his expression was unusually serious.
"Share? Thirty of you, sharing less than two kilometers each. Do you think it's that simple?"
"However, since you are so supportive of your captain, then fine! You will all accept the punishment together. All of you will march fifty kilometers with a heavy load, not one meter less! All present, attention!"
As Huang Yuhua issued his commands, there were initial murmurs of discontent among the crowd, but then, at a critical moment, someone shouted.
"What's fifty kilometers? We are a collective. Even if we are punished together, it is glorious and a cause for joy. So stop complaining, and let's consider this the first time we've advanced and retreated with Captain Han!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd fell silent.
They all became exceptionally well-behaved. Not only did they stop complaining, but they also started accepting the punishment with smiling faces, marching out in a grand procession!