Splitting up the troops would double the chances of escape, but it ans nothing in front of an enemy that is tens of tis larger. The reason Luo Zheng suggested this plan was simply to bring a few people to hide and wait for an opportunity to ambush the base camp, desperately delaying the enemy, buying ti for others to retreat, and improving the hope of a safe withdrawal. However, Lan Xue knew Luo Zheng too well; as soon as she heard it, she knew Luo Zheng wanted to do this and that she would inevitably be dismissed, so she subtly rejected the idea: "This plan isn't good. Splitting the troops ans weakening combat strength, which also ans getting picked off one by one. With satellites overhead, we can't absolutely escape the enemy's surveillance. Being discovered is just a matter of ti."
"Forget it, let's play it by ear." Luo Zheng thought for a mont and said helplessly.
After waiting a while, the group brought over felled trees and nervously started making stretchers and crutches. Luo Zheng watched this scene, feeling secretly relieved. Luckily, Shadow had injured Nuoqi, giving everyone the ti to prepare. Otherwise, the enemy force would already be upon them. He said to Lan Xue beside him, "If the enemy doesn't co, take apart all the button bombs and take them with us; they'll definitely be useful along the way."
"Sure, we could set up a diversion here and burn more campfires. Let the smoke rise from the cave, making the enemy think we're still inside. Outside is a few hundred ters of deep crevices, the enemy won't dare attack easily. Coming down turns them into live targets, and they'll surely have to mobilize aircraft, missiles for heavy bombardnt, consuming enemy ammunition and buying ti." Lan Xue suggested.
"Alright, let them prepare. We've chopped down quite a few trees, so we can also make so simple sleds to carry material and equipnt, saving energy so people aren't too exhausted and can maintain speed." Luo Zheng opened up his thoughts and proposed.
"Okay, I'll arrange it." Lan Xue agreed casually, turned, and left.
Luo Zheng went to the hot spring pool to check on the injured soaking there. They slept soundly; the hot springs indeed had a hypnotic effect. However, they appeared much more rosy, whether that's a blessing or a curse remains unknown, but hopefully, they can pull through. As long as they return to the holand, with modern dical standards, there shouldn't be any major issues with recovery.
An hour later, a considerable number of stretchers and crutches were made, each individual was equipped with one, useful for walking in the snow. Sleds were also made, with special ropes binding the components, using thicker vines as harnesses that could be put around the body to pull the sleds, saving much energy for towing materials, useful in flat or downhill terrains.
Another half an hour passed, the sky gradually darkened, yet the enemy did not appear. The brothers returned one after another. Luo Zheng instructed everyone to eat dry rations to prepare for departure. As night fell completely and the enemy still hadn't returned, Luo Zheng had the Mountain Eagle Team, responsible for monitoring outside, also retreat. They disassembled the button bombs, lit campfires to illuminate the cave, and let black smoke billow out to confuse the enemy into thinking they were still in the cave. The team quickly withdrew.
Everyone walked along the cave for about half an hour, arriving at an exit to find themselves on a cliff. The cliff wasn't too steep; they could rush straight down. Below was a canyon; the opposite mountainside was dense forest. The surroundings were quiet with a faint moonlight, the earth a grey hazy mass, with visibility very low.
Luo Zheng observed the terrain for a while, determined the direction, and whispered, "Mountain Eagle, have your n retreat first, take the lead, the canyon runs east-west. Heading east or west leads back ho; going east is closer to the enemy's territory, making pursuit easier. Since exposure is likely, we'll head west, creating distance from the enemy's territory. The enemy's pursuit ti will be longer. Be cautious on the way, handle wild animals silently as backups. Go."
"Yes." Mountain Eagle replied calmly in a low voice, leading his n swiftly out of the cave, dashing down the canyon, quickly moving west along the canyon, each donning a white cloak, wearing night vision devices, with agile steps, disappearing into the forest like a pack of silent, stealthy wolves seeking prey.
About ten minutes later, Luo Zheng queried through the earpiece, "Report status?"
"No suspicious findings, all clear." Mountain Eagle's voice echoed back through the earpiece.
There were two main thods for the signal device's communication: satellite connection and Bluetooth connection. Satellite connection was easily intercepted by the enemy, so it remained off, and everyone used Bluetooth communication. This signal device developed by the Equipnt Team had a Bluetooth connection range of about two kiloters. Beyond this distance, connections couldn't be made. Enemies needed to be within this range to detect it, and deciphering it was even more challenging.
"Brothers, let's move out. We're going ho." Luo Zheng glanced at everyone behind him with a flashlight, whispered authoritatively, and quickly turned off the light, storing it away, put on his night vision device, grabbed his weapon, and charged out of the cave. The others quickly followed suit, transporting materials, carrying stretchers, all moving swiftly.
"Ghost Hand, take a few people to cover the rear, erase traces along the way." Luo Zheng continued.
"Understood!" Ghost Hand agreed, choosing a few n to cover the rear.
The group dashed into the canyon, jogging through, selecting dense forest spots for cover, reducing the chances of satellite detection. They trekked over mountains and ridges for about three hours, pushing their endurance to the limit, then had to find a forested area to pause and rest before resuming their march.
Almost simultaneously, outside the large sickroom at the Snow Bear Base Camp's dical facility, people crowded anxiously, pacing back and forth, occasionally glancing at the closed door but daring not to rush in. Cas was among them, and a Colonel ran over, pulling Cas aside to whisper, "Leader, things can't continue like this. General Nuoqi is still unconscious, and if the enemy withdraws overnight, tracking them later will be troubleso."
"Do you think I don't know?" Cas cursed softly, "Also, I'm just a staff officer now, stop addressing as leader. How's the satellite monitoring situation?"
"The satellite monitoring shows smoke from the enemy's hiding place, no people are visible, they might still be below. But none of us have been down there, we don't know the situation. Should we send in an ard helicopter to bomb it for a response? General Nuoqi is severely injured and might not wake up anyti soon." The Colonel whispered lowly.
"Even if he can't wake up, you know our rules well enough, we can't risk mistakes. The enemy's retreat will take over ten days; there's ample ti to take revenge. Even if they've withdrawn, it's not a concern. Keep satellite surveillance tightly focusing on the hiding place; don't let them escape. Also, you have the authority to dispatch a scout team above, right?" Cas prompted.
"Okay, I'll arrange it right away." The Colonel agreed, quickly walking away.
"The General is awake, Cas, you may go in alone." A military doctor opened the door, calling out.
Cas was overjoyed, hurrying over to the ward, saw the pale, listless face of Nuoqi, and promptly asked, "General, feeling any better?"
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