193: The baptism of the hammer and the birth pains of the dark horse

The night wind at Shanghai Stadium carried the moist scent of the Huangpu River, and all eighty thousand seats were packed. Countless camera flashes flickered in the stands, each beam of light recording this historic moment—a Championship team, having traveled across the ocean, arrived in the East to challenge China's Olympic team before the Olympics.

Lin Feng sat in the away team's dugout, calmly surveying the vast stadium. Old John, next to him, nervously rubbed his hands, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Boss, the atmosphere here..." Old John's voice trembled slightly.

"It's great," Lin Feng interrupted him, his gaze fixed on Joe Hart, who was warming up, "John, watch closely. This is our first step towards the world."

On the field, 21-year-old Joe Hart was doing his final warm-up in front of the goal. Every save was clean and decisive, the aura of a top goalkeeper already beginning to show. Not far away, Vardy and Henderson were doing short sprints, battle fire burning in their eyes.

In the Chinese Olympic team's locker room, head coach Blazevic was giving his final tactical instructions.

"Gentlemen, don't be intimidated by their reputation," Old Bu's voice echoed in the locker room, "A Championship team is, after all, a second-tier League. We are a team preparing for the Olympics!"

Captain Zheng Zhi clapped his hands: "Did everyone hear that? Let them see the strength of Chinese football!"

But when the whistle for the start of the match sounded, the situation on the field immediately took a dramatic turn.

In the 3rd minute, Vardy received a through ball from Henderson, and his acceleration was astonishingly fast. The Olympic team's defender, Feng Xiaoting, chased back desperately but was still half a step too slow. Vardy calmly slotted the ball into the net, 1-0!

The Chinese fans in the stands were in an uproar. They hadn't expected this unknown English kid to possess such terrifying speed and calm finishing ability.

"This is impossible!" Blazevic roared from the sidelines, "Mark their number nine!"

But Hartlepool United's attack had only just begun. Henderson's orchestration in midfield was like a conductor's baton, every pass precisely tearing open the Olympic team's defense. Snodgrass's breakthroughs on the wing made the opposing full-backs miserable.

In the 28th minute, it was Vardy again. This time, he received a cross from Snodgrass, leapt high in the box, overpowering two defenders to head the ball into the net! 2-0!

Shanghai Stadium fell into a suffocating silence. Eighty thousand spectators watched helplessly as their supported team was being dominated by a group of "Championship players."

Zheng Zhi angrily kicked the turf: "Wake up! What are we doing?"

In the second half, the Olympic team launched a furious counterattack. In the 76th minute, Zheng Zhi took advantage of a free-kick opportunity, sending the ball into Hartlepool United's goal. Although Joe Hart made a save, the angle was too tricky.

2-1! The Olympic team pulled one back!

The Chinese fans in the stands rekindled their hope, and thunderous cheers once again filled the stadium. But Hartlepool United's young players did not panic. Under Lin Feng's pre-match tactical arrangements, they steadily controlled the pace of the game.

The final whistle blew, and the score was fixed at 2-1. Hartlepool United defeated the Olympic-preparing Chinese Olympic team away from home!

In the mixed interview zone after the match, Chinese reporters surrounded Vardy.

"Jamie, are you satisfied with your performance tonight?" The CCTV reporter's English was a bit broken.

Vardy wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled brightly: "This is just the beginning. We will prove to the whole world that Hartlepool United deserves any stage."

Meanwhile, in the stadium's VIP box, Lin Feng was meeting with representatives from the Chinese Football Association.

"Mr. Lin, your team has left a deep impression on us," Vice Chairman Wei Di of the Football Association said with a hint of respect in his voice, "We hope to cooperate with you in youth training."

Lin Feng nodded slightly: "Chairman Wei, talent knows no borders. If China has excellent young players, Hartlepool United's doors are always open to them."

A week later, Victoria Park hosted a heavyweight friendly match. Newcastle United arrived in this small town in northeast England with their star-studded lineup.

Michael Owen stood in the away team's locker room, looking gravely at the tactics board. The former Ballon d'Or winner was no longer young, but his desire for victory still burned like fire.

"Gentlemen, don't underestimate any opponent," Owen's voice rang out in the locker room, "They just defeated the Chinese Olympic team, their strength cannot be underestimated."

Damien Duff nodded beside him: "Michael is right. These lads are very energetic."

After the match began, the two teams displayed completely different styles. Newcastle United, with their rich experience and skilled tactical coordination, quickly controlled the pace of the game. But Hartlepool United's young players showed the courage of a newborn calf not fearing a tiger.

In the 35th minute, an opportunity arose. Snodgrass got a direct free-kick opportunity 25 meters outside the box. He took a deep breath, ran up, and shot!

The ball drew a beautiful arc, heading straight for the top right corner of the goal. Newcastle's goalkeeper, Harper, made a desperate save but was still half a beat too slow. 1-0!

Victoria Park instantly erupted! All the Hartlepool fans celebrated the goal wildly. Their team was actually leading a Premier League powerhouse!

But Newcastle United was, after all, a Premier League team. In the 68th minute, Owen used a clever run to receive a pass from a teammate in the box. Facing the onrushing Joe Hart, this experienced striker did not waste the opportunity. He deftly pushed the ball into the empty net, 1-1.

Ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Hartlepool United drew with Premier League powerhouse Newcastle United at home!

However, the real test was yet to come.

August 9th, Victoria Park, first round of the Championship.

Reading's team bus slowly drove into the stadium, and out of it stepped a group of tall, muscular players. Their eyes gleamed with wolf-like ferocity. This was a team known for its toughness, every attack like a hammer smashing against the opponent's defense.

In the locker room, Reading's head coach Steve Coppell was giving his final pep talk.

"Lads, they're just a bunch of kids," Coppell's voice was as rough as sandpaper, "Let's show them what the Championship is all about with our physicality!"

Kevin Doyle clenched his fist: "Coach, I'll make them feel the pain."

Stephen Hunt sneered and nodded: "The Championship isn't a playground."

After the match began, Reading immediately displayed their "hammer" nature. Every tackle was full of gunpowder, every physical contact put pressure on Hartlepool's young players.

In the 12th minute, Joe Hart faced the first real test of his professional career. Doyle received a cross from a teammate in the box, and his header was powerful. Hart made a flying save, barely tipping the ball over the bar for a corner.

"Well done, Joe!" Henderson loudly encouraged the young goalkeeper.

But Reading's attack had only just begun. They used their height advantage to constantly send high balls into Hartlepool's box. The young defense line seemed a bit flustered under this bombardment.

In the 34th minute, the opportunity finally came. Vardy successfully intercepted the ball in midfield, using his speed advantage to shake off the defender. Facing the onrushing goalkeeper, Vardy calmly slotted the ball in! 1-0!

Victoria Park erupted again! This was Hartlepool United's first goal in the Championship, of extraordinary significance.

Lin Feng nodded slightly in the box, but his expression remained serious. The Player Radar showed that the team's physical exertion had reached a dangerous level. The physical intensity of the Championship far exceeded any match they had experienced before.

Sure enough, the situation in the second half took a sharp turn for the worse.

In the 58th minute, Hunt took advantage of a corner kick, out-jumping the young defender in the box to head the ball in. 1-1!

In the 73rd minute, an even bigger blow came. Doyle received a pass from a teammate in the box, turned, and shot, the ball finding the top corner of the net. 2-1! Reading completed the comeback!

Lin Feng's fingers tapped lightly on the railing of the box, his brain working at high speed. Text messages were sent to Old John's phone, but the situation on the field still did not improve.

The final whistle blew, Hartlepool United lost 1-2 to Reading, suffering their first Championship defeat.

The locker room was silent. The young players hung their heads, sweat and disappointment written on everyone's faces. They experienced the cruelty of the Championship for the first time.

"Heads up!" Old John walked into the locker room, his voice more resolute than usual, "This is just the beginning! We will learn more from defeat!"

But the media would not be so forgiving.

The next morning, The Sun's front-page headline was so glaring it was hard to look at: "Billionaire Boy Scouts Smashed by Championship Hammers!"

"The so-called 'genius lineup' exposed its immaturity in the face of a real test," the article mercilessly criticized, "Lin Feng's gamble looks more like an expensive farce."

The Daily Mirror was not to be outdone: "Experiment Failed! Hartlepool's Bubble Burst!"

Even serious media like The Guardian began to question: "Perhaps football still needs experience and maturity, and not just talent and money."

A sense of confusion also emerged within the club. Some older players privately began to discuss whether these new kids could truly adapt to the intensity of the Championship.

But Lin Feng's response was immediate.

August 12th, League Cup first round, Hartlepool United at home against League Two team Rochdale. Lin Feng made a bold decision—a significant rotation, starting substitutes and youth academy prospects like Tom Ince and Liam Bridcutt.

This decision surprised everyone. The media mocked: "Lin Feng has already given up on the League Cup, he's using a second-string lineup to deal with the match."

But the result of the match silenced everyone.

Relieved of pressure, the young players played fluidly on the field. Tom Ince's dribbling skills made it difficult for opponents to defend, and Liam Bridcutt's interceptions were as clean as a vacuum cleaner.

The biggest surprise was Oliver Baker. The 18-year-old youth academy prodigy scored his first senior team goal in the 67th minute. It was a long-range shot from 25 meters, the ball like a missile straight into the top corner of the goal!

4-0! Hartlepool United thrashed Rochdale!

Oliver was moved to tears after scoring. He knelt on the grass, looking up at the sky and roaring. This goal was the best response to all the doubts.

"See?" Lin Feng said to Sophie Green beside him in the box, "This is depth, this is the future."

Sophie looked at the celebrating young players on the field, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes: "You are always so confident."

"Not confident, certain," Lin Feng turned around, his gaze as deep as the sea, "Sophie, you will see. These kids will change the history of football."

After the match, Lin Feng did not participate in any celebrations. He went directly into the tactical analysis room and began to review the match footage against Reading. Over and over again, every mistake, every misplaced position, was firmly etched in his mind.

The system's prompt sounded in his mind: "Detecting host is deeply analyzing Championship-level opponents, [Future Tactics Library] new module unlocking... [Breaking Championship-Style Pressing: Diamond Midfield and Quick Transitions] module unlocked."

A glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. He knew the real test was still to come. In the next round, they would challenge Sheffield United away from home. That was a team favored for promotion to the Premier League, with Chinese player Sun Jihai.

And at this very moment, at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, head coach Kevin Blackwell was being interviewed by local media.

"Coach, what are your thoughts on your next opponent, Hartlepool United?" the reporter asked.

Blackwell sneered: "Hartlepool United is an interesting experiment. They have money, they have so-called 'geniuses.' But at Bramall Lane, the experiment should end."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire press conference erupted in mocking laughter.

But what Blackwell didn't know was that a hundred miles away in Hartlepool, a man was plotting a perfect revenge.

The war was about to begin.