On Zuoyun Mount, Ren Xiaosu was walking in the wilderness with Ji Zi 'ang. They were the only two of them.
"Bury a stack of TNT here." Ren Xiaosu looked at the map as he pointed at his feet and said, "P5092 said the barbarians' elite troops will pass through here to provide cover for the expeditionary army's flanks."
With that, Ji Zi 'ang followed Ren Xiaosu's instructions and placed the TNT on the ground. Then he manipulated the soil on the ground to "swallow" the TNT.
Planting explosives had become a technical job. The barbarians had already been bombed several times, so if they buried the explosives too conspicuously, they would definitely be discovered.
There were many very good hunters in the expeditionary army, so it would be a piece of cake for them to identify if the soil on the ground had been tampered with.
So Ren Xiaosu thought for a moment and asked Ji Zi 'ang if he could bury the soil as though it had never been touched. In the end, Ji Zi' ang said it could be done.
This answer made Ren Xiaosu overjoyed. It was as though he had found a new companion on the path of the Yin barbarians.
At this moment, Ji Zi 'ang suddenly asked, "Young Marshal, do you think we can win?"
"Definitely." Ren Xiaosu said firmly, "They're just a bunch of barbarians. How can we let them run rampant in the Central Plains?"
"Then what if we really get trapped here?" Ji Zi 'ang wondered, "But Wang Run said there are still about 140,000 of the expeditionary army on the battlefield. That's more than P5092 estimated at the beginning."
According to P5092's plan, they were planning to win this defensive battle by exchanging one versus ten barbarians. This was still a very ideal situation. In other words, the 6th Combat Brigade could at most take out 60,000 of the expeditionary army.
However, the Pyro Company's early defeat had caused Mount Zuoyun and Mt. Daniu to shoulder all the pressure. Just Mount Zuoyun alone might have to face 70,000 barbarians. At that time, even if everyone managed to achieve the best results and the expeditionary army suffered heavy losses, the 6th Combat Brigade would definitely be wiped out.
Ren Xiaosu thought for a moment and comforted him, "Actually, if we are really trapped here for more than ten days, the 6th Combat Brigade will not fight alone."
"What do you mean?" Ji Zi'ang did not understand.
"The troops of Fortress 178 won't sit back and do nothing. They don't have the habit of abandoning their own people," Ren Xiaosu said.
"But P5092 said at a previous meeting that the best strategy for Fortress 178 is to defend the Northwest instead of sending troops to the Central Plains so easily," Ji Zi'ang said.
"Of course that's the best strategy." Ren Xiaosu smiled. "But when has the Northwest ever cared about such rules and regulations? There are more than 6,000 of our brothers from the Northwest on Mount Zuoyun. Mr. Zhang won't just watch us all die in battle. The troops in the Northwest are much stronger than before."
In the early hours of the fifth day, an emergency call to assemble sounded at the defensive positions.
Ren Xiaosu put on his clothes and got out of his tent. He rushed to the command tent and asked, "What's the matter?"
P5092 was already neatly dressed and standing in front of the sand table. "Wang Yun's scouts have discovered the enemy's movements. The expeditionary army has driven more than 3,000 refugees 40 kilometers away and is expected to arrive at Mount Zuoyun at dawn. But I don't know if they'll stop to rest and reorganize. Based on the progress of their march, the main forces of the expeditionary army should be in good shape and ready to go into battle at any time. Moreover, the expeditionary army trapped at the perimeter of Mount Zuoyun has already rested for so many days. If they still don't fight, their morale will start to drop. "
"Do you think they might launch an attack after they arrive at Mount Zuoyun?" Ren Xiaosu asked.
"Yes." P5092 said, "I'm guessing a fierce battle will break out at dawn. This battle is very likely to last for as long as a day. The various main forces of the expeditionary army are already ready to go and will take turns to whittle down the 6th Combat Brigade's forces. We have to be prepared."
"Then we'll fight them," Ren Xiaosu said.
"Tomorrow, the expeditionary army will definitely try to break through the defensive perimeter." P5092 said, "You should also know that there are still experts hidden in the expeditionary army. They're too destructive to the defensive perimeter, so they'll definitely appear in the positional battle tomorrow. So, Young Marshal, don't make a move rashly. You have to wait for those experts to appear. "
"Understood." Ren Xiaosu nodded.
"Also," P5092 suddenly said, "if the expeditionary army drives the refugees over to attack the defensive perimeter, Young Marshal, you mustn't show any mercy …."
P5092 was most worried that Ren Xiaosu would not have the heart to make a move when he saw the tragic state of the refugees. He would try to find a surefire way to save them, but that would definitely delay the timing of the detonation.
How could there be such a thing as the best of both worlds in a war?
Ren Xiaosu agreed.
But at daybreak, when the refugees were driven into the mountains by the expeditionary army, Ren Xiaosu was still a little shocked.
He saw the refugees walking over from afar, their feet still bleeding as they stepped on the mountain path. In order to make the refugees look pitiful, the expeditionary army ordered them to throw away their shoes and walk barefoot.
The refugees had numb expressions on their faces. But when they saw the Central Plains humans appear in front of them, they all cheered and ran away as though they had seen their savior.
The expeditionary army followed closely behind, waiting for an opportunity to make a move.
Everyone at the defensive perimeter fell silent. Over the past few days, the officers had told the soldiers more than once what they would be facing. Meanwhile, Young Marshal had already taken on the most difficult task. All they needed to do was wait quietly and avenge these Central Plains people.
The one who killed these people was not the Young Marshal. The expeditionary army was the real culprit.
Ren Xiaosu could see from afar that the eyes of the refugees suddenly lit up. That was because these people finally saw hope. It was as though they were about to reach the end of their suffering and see the light again.
However, these refugees still did not know what was waiting for them.
Ren Xiaosu suddenly realized why P5092 specifically reminded them not to go easy on them. It was because he must have thought of this.
Those 3,000 people were clearly looking at you with anticipation and excitement in their eyes, yet you had to personally kill these people who had high hopes for you. This was a very cruel thing to do.
It was so cruel that even Ren Xiaosu started breathing heavily. For the first time, he felt how heavy it was to let down the expectations and trust of more than 3,000 people.
He asked Wang Run, who was next to him, "Has your spy left yet?"
"No." Wang Run shook his head. "He's in this crowd, so he won't have a chance to escape."
P5092 looked at Ren Xiaosu. He was very worried that Ren Xiaosu would hesitate. But before he could say anything, Ren Xiaosu pressed the button on the detonator when the refugees rushed past the detonation point.
The sound of an explosion rang out on Zuoyun Mount as a huge cloud of smoke rose up from the detonation of a series of explosives. Ren Xiaosu watched this scene quietly with a livid expression. It was as though he was trying to remember everything that was happening.
The real battle on Zuoyun Mount had begun.
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