165: Chapter 164 Opposing Force 165: Chapter 164 Opposing Force After watching the competition between Gao Yang and Simon, Morgan bade them farewell and went off to attend to his own matters.
Morgan would be leaving Israel the next day, but Simon would stay behind, and he planned to remain at the training camp to catch up with his old comrades.
Once they had seen off Morgan, Gao Yang and the others returned to the changing room to repack their belongings in preparation for moving to a new location, it was then that Gao Yang could no longer suppress his curiosity.
After getting Arthur’s permission, he used a satellite phone to make a call.
Gao Yang was extremely curious about what the national bird of Israel was but being told its Latin name was as good as not telling him anything, and he did not have a way to look it up on a computer.
However, he had a professional whom he could consult, so he directly called Buck Rodney, the zoologist and ornithologist.
Professionals are professionals indeed.
To a zoologist and ornithologist like Professor Buck, Gao Yang’s question was too simple.
Professor Buck not only told Gao Yang that the national bird of Israel was called the Hoopoe in Huaxia but also informed him that the Hoopoe was known as the “hua puban” or “Hu Gougou” in his hometown.
Professor Buck also casually mentioned to Gao Yang that the Hoopoe was very beautiful but emitted a stench similar to that of a corpse.
It was considered an ill omen and a carrion-eating bird in both the East and the West.
The reason Israel chose the Hoopoe as its national bird was also because it was explicitly stated in the Bible that the Hoopoe was an unclean bird, and Judaism has always been in opposition to Christianity.
Gao Yang didn’t care why Jacklan was nicknamed “Hoopoe,” he just felt uneasy not knowing the full story behind things.
After getting a definitive answer, he could wait without any worries to go to Wolfgang’s military base.
About half an hour later, while still at the training camp, the vehicle sent by Wolfgang to pick them up arrived.
The officer sent to retrieve Gao Yang and his group was a lieutenant showing his military rank, but he wore a black hood that only revealed his eyes, nose, and mouth.
After confirming that neither Gao Yang nor his companions were carrying cameras or phones of any kind and temporarily confiscating Gao Yang’s phone, the hooded officer led them to the car.
Upon reaching the car, the officer produced five black hoods and said, “I am ordered to escort you, but please put on these hoods.
Don’t misunderstand, it’s mandatory for all non-base personnel to wear this when entering.”
Gao Yang and his group had already encountered the Israeli military’s strict secrecy measures.
Although surprised about the need to wear hoods, they didn’t make much of it, understanding and complying with the rules was all that was needed.
Of course, the hoods Gao Yang and his group wore didn’t expose their eyes; they were essentially black sacks.
Once worn, they couldn’t see anything, and it was quite stifling.
To make matters worse, in what they thought would be a short ride, they were deliberately driven in circles for about two hours before they finally arrived.
It was only when Gao Yang and the others got out of the car and removed their hoods that they realized it was nearly dark, and an officer with the rank of lieutenant was standing outside the vehicle.
The lieutenant gave Gao Yang a slight smile and said, “Hello, you may call me Lieutenant M.
In the coming days, I will be your liaison officer and also your tactical instructor.
Your official training will start tomorrow.
We need to draw people to be responsible for each person’s targeted training, and the specific personnel arrangements will be made by this evening, so we are going to waste an evening.”
Gao Yang quickly shook hands with Lieutenant M and said, “I’m very grateful, please convey my thanks to General Wolfgang.”
Lieutenant M smiled and said, “Don’t mention it.
You are enjoying the highest level of treatment for foreign personnel, so unless otherwise indicated, your activities within the base are unrestricted.
Therefore, you may use the public bathrooms, and when interacting with our people on base, there’s no need for anyone to wear hoods anymore, which is good news for both you and us.”
After speaking, Lieutenant M gestured invitingly and pointed toward a row of barracks, saying, “Your accommodations have been arranged, please follow me.”
It was then that Gao Yang and his team realized they were among a row of barracks; as for other places, they could not see anything.
However, since Lieutenant M had said their movement was virtually unrestricted, they figured they would be able to get a full view of the base the next day.
After leading Gao Yang and his team to the door of one room, Lieutenant M said, “The two adjacent rooms are allocated to you.
Considering your special status, the officer’s quarters have been temporarily converted from soldiers’ quarters.
I apologize for this.
The commander will stay in the left room, and the other four will stay in the right room.
We can only offer limited accommodations, and for this, I apologize to everyone once again.”
Like other countries’ armed forces, Israel places great importance on hierarchical distinctions in treatment within the military.
An officer is an officer, and even if Gao was only the leader of a five-person team, he was entitled to officer’s treatment, a rule that is almost universally accepted in all regular armed forces.
Gao’s room was only for him.
Although the room was small, it was neatly arranged with a bed, a cabinet, a table, a chair, and a clothes rack – that was all the furniture in Gao’s room.
As for the room of Glolov and the rest, it was even simpler: besides four beds and a cabinet, there was nothing else.
However, none of them came for leisure; having a place to stay in a real special forces base was enough to leave them completely satisfied.
After leading Gao Yang and his team to their quarters, Lieutenant M, with a smile, said, “In the base, if wearing a military uniform, you must walk in military steps and salute.
Since you are here to be trained, you need to wear military uniforms.
Due to your special identity, you are enjoying the highest level of special treatment.
Since Frog and Ram are also training our staff, you will all temporarily receive the rank and treatment of officers.
To avoid any awkward situation within your group, Ram will be appointed a lieutenant, and the rest as second lieutenants.”
Gao, incredulous, pointed at Li Jinfang, then touched his own nose and said, “I can understand him training your people, but why am I included?”
Lieutenant M nodded seriously and said, “Of course, you and Frog will be training selected personnel in hand-to-hand combat.
Plus, all of you will serve as our opposing force, so in a sense, your entire group will be our instructors.
We hope to learn something from you while we teach you certain skills.”(To be continued.
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