The Hook Tribe's Ard war machine was running at full speed. The four regints were building defensive works in their own sectors. They might not have steel or concrete, but the prival forest had no shortage of timber. They blasted out the mountain with explosives, shored it up with logs to make air-raid shelters, and dug tunnels or communication trenches linking bunker to bunker. This kind of earth-and-wood work was no problem at all for people like Scholar, Gardener, Farr, Monk and the others.
The valley was also digging large air-raid shelters, with hundreds of prisoners taking turns on the job. No work, no food; work, and you got to eat; the more you worked, the more you ate. Facing life and death, the prisoners knew perfectly well what the shelters were for, but they still had to go all out, or they'd just starve to death. Starving to death was even harder to bear than being shot to pieces.
Training was also in full swing, everything unfolding in an orderly fashion. Progress was reported to headquarters every day. Luo Zheng, Lan Xue, Captain Li and Hook sat in the command post day in, day out, not going anywhere. On the evening of the third day, a batch of staff officers and a unit parachuted in, along with all kinds of weapons and equipnt. Luo Zheng handed the staff officers over to Captain Li. The unit that had dropped in belonged to Scholar, and Luo Zheng had Hook send people to guide them straight to Scholar.
On the fourth night, other units also parachuted in, belonging to Gardener, Farr and Monk. Luo Zheng had Hook arrange guides so they could each rejoin their own n. Originally the three—Scholar and the others—had a total strength of one hundred. Now they suddenly had three hundred more Special Forces, their strength greatly increased. With so many more people taking the field, Luo Zheng worried less about the various sectors and put his whole mind into studying the Counterattack Plan.
Another two days later in the morning, an intelligence report was laid in front of Luo Zheng. An enemy force had actually infiltrated to within thirty li of the valley and almost slipped through the line. If three Jaguars hadn't happened to be passing by right then, discovered the infiltrating enemy and attacked, alerting the defensive troops, the enemy might very well have gotten through.
The report showed that there were only about ten n in the infiltrating enemy team, but their firepower was fierce and their combat power extrely strong. They first slaughtered and took out the three Jaguars, then tried to push a hard assault forward. Fortunately, there were two heavy machine guns at the point they tried to break through. The heavy machine guns pinned the enemy down and bought ti for their comrades. Even so, the enemy still killed thirteen of the Hook Tribe's Ard and then pulled back completely unscathed.
Luo Zheng read the report three tis with a grim face, slling that sothing was off, and barked, "Mountain Eagle."
"Here." Mountain Eagle had been on security duty outside. Hearing his na, he answered at once and entered the command post.
Inside the command post, the busy staff officers looked at Luo Zheng in startled doubt. Luo Zheng walked over to the sand table they'd already finished, found the ambush site, and said to Captain Li, "Brother Li, you're in charge of holding down the command post. I'll take Mountain Eagle's n up for a look. This team is probably not simple. I suspect the pot-lids have co up."
"I can go alone." Mountain Eagle shouted excitedly as soon as he heard it. Their brother units were either fighting or training. Mountain Eagle had been stuck guarding the command post every day and his hands had been itching for a long ti. The mont he heard there was a chance to get into action, he was overjoyed.
"I'm going with you," Lan Xue said quickly when she heard, her expression cold and firm as frost as she picked up a sniper rifle from the side.
Luo Zheng nodded to Lan Xue without objection. The two already had a deep tacit understanding—when it ca to battle, neither would leave the other behind to go alone. If they were going to die, they'd die together on the battlefield. Luo Zheng looked at Captain Li and went on, "The enemy isn't simple. I have to go. I'm leaving this place in your hands."
"The chief commander going to the front, that's not appropriate. What if anything happens to you? This place is still in its infancy; we can't afford to lose you." A deputy chief of staff reminded him kindly. He had just joined the team and wasn't very familiar with Luo Zheng yet, but he still tried to talk him out of it—that was his duty.
Luo Zheng gave him a look, didn't explain, and turned to Hook. Hook chuckled and said, "How can there be a fight without ? I'll take a team and follow behind you to support. How many do you want?"
"Just bring your guard unit. And make sure they carry grenades," Luo Zheng said with a smile.
"Got it." Hook answered excitedly and went out at once to get ready. Luo Zheng shot Lan Xue a look, then hurried out of the command post as well, leaving the staff officers staring after them, dumbfounded.
The deputy chief of staff looked at Captain Li in perplexed surprise and said with a wry smile, "Brother Li, what do you call this? One chief commander, one Clan Leader who's also the Commander—both of them are the core figures here. Lose either one and this place may stop running. Their place should be in the command post, not on the battlefield. You understand that better than I do. What the hell is this?"
"If you really understood, you wouldn't be staff, you'd be the operational commander," Captain Li said, face turning solemn as he explained seriously. "You fight wars with plans, sure, but as an operational commander you sotis have to lead by example. People who just sit in a command post all day are only commanding a war; actual combat and electronic warfare exercises or drills are two different things. And another thing—almost everything here was beaten out with their own blood and fists. The two of them are the spiritual pillars of this place. That tradition can't be dropped yet."
"But what if—?" The deputy chief of staff said awkwardly.
"There is no 'what if'. If those two stopped fighting now, this unit would lose a sharp edge. Got it? Everything you're saying, they both understand, but what they're doing is sothing you still need ti to grasp. Relax. If both of them get killed, then everyone here is just as likely to be infiltrated and assassinated by an enemy raiding force. Without everyone present, this war can't be fought anyway. On the battlefield, there aren't that many fine-sounding reasons, and there isn't that much 'but what if'. Just do your own job well," Captain Li said earnestly.
"Yes." Everyone's faces tightened. They answered in unison and went back to work. Though in their hearts they still didn't completely agree with Captain Li's explanation, no one said anything more. Each focused on his own duties.
Luo Zheng, of course, understood that tis were different now and he knew clearly where his responsibilities lay. But the pot-lids weren't like ordinary units; he didn't feel easy letting Mountain Eagle lead the team alone. As he burst out of the command post, he happened to see Shadow, Snow Fox and Drunk coming over. Delighted, he said, "You three are just in ti. The pot-lids have co knocking. Co with to et them."
"Perfect. I've been idle so long my bones are rusting. Those bastards actually dare show up here? You're a real brother for looping in when there's sothing fun. Friendship is friendship, but once the fighting starts, none of you are allowed to steal my targets. I'm taking the whole lot myself. Let's move," Shadow said excitedly, rubbing his hands.
"Three minutes to kit up. Assemble at my room in three minutes. Bring Dragon Tooth," Luo Zheng ordered sternly.
"Yes." Everyone answered in unison and hurried back to their rooms to prep weapons and gear.
Three minutes later, everyone showed up at the door of Luo Zheng's wooden hut with rucksacks on and weapons slung. Luo Zheng also ca out fully ard, the ancient-looking Dragon Tooth Long Sword strapped across his back. This opponent was too strong for him to dare the slightest carelessness. He looked everyone over and, still uneasy, said, "Mountain Eagle, have one brother carry a Red Banner Six with three missiles."
"Roger." Mountain Eagle agreed readily and went off to arrange it.
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