In a world of gray, snowflakes danced as icy winds howled, cloaking the vast wasteland in a silver mantle. Atop a high slope, Luo Zheng and his team of five crouched silently, observing the valley ahead, motionless. Their white camouflage suits enveloped them, resembling five raised white stones in the desolate hillside, standing out yet understandably so.
The relentless pursuit had nearly drained everyone's strength. Finally closing in on the target, they discovered it had slipped into a military stronghold. The garrison had a company of soldiers, and nearly a hundred guards for the State Preceptor, totaling over two hundred troops. The surrounding area was barren, lacking natural defenses, but the dense valley structures made an assault surely costly, and possibly unfruitful.
Having already lost two brothers, with several more injured, Luo Zheng was determined to avoid further sacrifices. He decisively dismissed the idea of a frontal assault, surveyed the area, and realized their elevated position directly facing the valley was advantageous for a retreat, an ideal ambush point.
"Let's rest here and see if there's a chance to snipe the target," Luo Zheng said, sowhat frustrated.
Understanding, everyone nodded, staying silent, and took out rations to eat, each bearing a heavy heart. Despite their urgent chase, they arrived a step too late; the target was inside the stronghold, making a hit difficult. Now, it depended on the target's next move, waiting for a chance to strike.
They slowly ate their rations, waiting patiently. After so ti, Luo Zheng asked through his earpiece, "Lan Xing, how's the other teams' battle situation?"
"One wounded unit down, engaging with another unit, the fight is fierce, more casualties on our side," Lan Xing's somber voice ca through the earpiece.
"What? How many have we lost?" Luo Zheng's face changed drastically as he urgently inquired.
"Two brothers sacrificed, three severely injured," Lan Xing reported with grief.
"What's the enemy's situation?" Luo Zheng's expression darkened as he pursued further questions.
"About a hundred enemy troops, half eliminated, but two hundred reinforcents are en route, expected to arrive in half an hour," Lan Xing quickly updated.
"These bastards, inform them they must withdraw from the battlefield in twenty minutes, find a place to hide, no recklessness," Luo Zheng urgently ordered, his heart aching like a blade. Another two brothers lost, and the condition of the injured is uncertain. If enemy reinforcents arrived, no one would escape.
"Little sister, tell them they have only twenty minutes for revenge. After twenty minutes, whether the enemy is neutralized or not, they must retreat—it's an order," Lan Xue sternly commanded with deep concern. The mission had gone poorly; further losses would be disastrous, causing Fourth Squadron's attrition.
"Understood, contacting now," Lan Xing promptly responded.
Luo Zheng and Lan Xue exchanged a glance, and with complex expressions, they gave a wry smile, saying nothing and continuing to wait. Twenty minutes later, Lan Xing reported that over a hundred enemy troops were annihilated, but they lost five more, with seven wounded— a heavy price. They were clearing the battlefield, planning to retreat in three minutes.
Receiving this news, Luo Zheng's face turned ashen, lips tightly sealed, speechless. Five brothers spilled their hot blood in a foreign land, with seven wounded—would they survive? A third of the strike team had been lost. Continuing the battle seed pointless.
"What do you think?" Lan Xue asked Luo Zheng.
Luo Zheng, not imdiately answering Lan Xue, looked towards Ghost Hand, Mountain Eagle, and Snow Leopard. These three team leaders had grim faces as they pondered the situation. After a while, Ghost Hand resignedly said, "Let the troops retreat; we'll stay for revenge."
"Right, they've done their best, continuing further is aningless—our presence is enough," Snow Leopard angrily suggested.
"Lan Xing, assess the enemy's likely death toll," Mountain Eagle did not imdiately respond but inquired.
"Excluding those eliminated in the valley, we've taken out over three hundred since the chase started; it's an estimate, possibly more or less," Lan Xing gravely reported.
"Over three hundred? aning two hundred remain, plus the hundred or so in the stronghold, totaling around three hundred. We've eliminated half, with a bit more to go for complete annihilation, but two hundred is beyond our limit. Two options: hide and recuperate to seek revenge, risking full pursuit and annihilation, or imdiately withdraw to the holand. I lean towards the latter," Mountain Eagle suggested seriously, looking at Luo Zheng.
"I also favor retreat. Once we're gone, the enemy will think we've fully withdrawn, turning us into a surprise force. There might be a chance to strike," Lan Xue firmly proposed.
Luo Zheng considered the consensus for retreat, acknowledging Mountain Eagle's reasoning—it was too dangerous to stay. Sacrificing the whole team for complete enemy annihilation was unwise. They could fight another day; dead brothers couldn't avenge. So he said, "Alright, notify Hong ihua to lead the retreat and assure the brothers we'll bear the burden of vengeance."
"Understood," Lan Xing sternly replied.
"The crucial part is retreat strategy—the enemy will surely hunt us down," Lan Xue reminded.
"Not east. Heading south takes about five days to the coast—arrange for submarine pickup," Luo Zheng quickly suggested after brief contemplation.
"South is feasible—five days should suffice, but how will they endure those five days? The enemy isn't idle; they'll chase and block relentlessly," Lan Xue cautioned.
"That's where we co in, to distract the enemy," Luo Zheng said, glancing at Lan Xue, continuing, "Lan Xing, that's settled. Inform Hong ihua to retreat south quickly, secure transportation to the coast, and coordinate submarine extraction."
"Yes, be careful—anything for to do?" Lan Xing swiftly agreed.
"Arrangents first, further instructions will co," Luo Zheng, deep in thought, said, his gaze on the valley stronghold turning colder.
"What do you plan?" Lan Xue curiously pressed, while Ghost Hand, Mountain Eagle, and Snow Leopard all looked to Luo Zheng. The direction of retreat had no objections, but subsequent plans remained unsure—success in distracting the enemy could cover the retreat but posed risks—it had to be executed without causing self-harm.
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