Chapter 272: Turtle Strategy

Chapter 272: The Turtle Strategy

To Chen Jian, the merchants of the Ring Chamber seemed like a scattered scouting detachment, beyond his command yet habitually delivering delightful surprises.

They had once supplied the first clues about Fuxi and had furnished the Huaxia forces with equipment and weapons that, though not immediately needed, proved undeniably useful.

And now, during their outward explorations, they uncovered the strategic‑grade supplies our side most urgently requires.

Chen Jian was deeply curious about the nature of their organization, its mode of operation, the identity of their so‑called “leader,” and just how many of the Great Cataclysm’s secrets that leader truly held.

He had tried more than once to read the Ring Chamber’s hand, yet they always kept a perfectly measured distance, maintaining an ambiguous cooperation with the Huaxia army.

Indeed, they were the most enigmatic faction in the wasteland world.

Chen Jian had to concede that, however inept they might be elsewhere, their secrecy was flawless.

Perhaps it was precisely this draconian secrecy that stunted their growth, relegating them to a shadowy cabal that could only rely on hired muscle for protection.

—

Nevertheless, the Ring Chamber now served a tangible purpose for the Huaxia forces.

So long as no red lines were crossed, Chen Jian was willing to grant them a measure of autonomy.

Black cat, white cat—any cat that catches mice is a good cat.

They currently showed no overt societal menace like the Mechanical Cult, so why sever their lifeline?

Thus, after receiving word from Lei Jie about solid rocket propellant, Chen Jian refrained from probing further; once the intel proved credible, he promptly ordered a forward liaison.

What he did not anticipate was that, without pressing him, Wang Lizhi would come knocking to explain.

The very next day after the call with Lei Jie, Wang Lizhi arrived at Base 011, dust‑caked and wind‑blown.

Upon seeing Chen Jian, he did not immediately launch into rocket‑fuel talk, but instead sighed, saying:

“​In such a brief span, the Jinling ruins have become utterly unrecognizable to me.”

“​Mr. Chen Jian, your city‑building prowess is truly singular.”

“​Had we possessed such capability, perhaps the fate of the Ring Chamber would have taken a wholly different course.”

“​Even without that acumen, using the information and supplies at hand to raise a city is no great feat.”

Chen Jian shook his head and replied:

“​Yet I cannot fathom why you have not done so.”

“​It is for reasons of security.”

Wang Lizhi answered without evasion:

“​We do not possess the formidable force you wield; in fact, according to our leader, the Ring Chamber was pitifully feeble at its inception.”

“​Though we stock abundant arms, the number of those capable of wielding them is exceedingly scarce.”

“​Our forebears once pursued a path of conquest by force, only to meet a grievous defeat.”

“​Thus we turned to this route—perhaps the right one for us, would you not agree?”

“​Perhaps.”

Chen Jian nodded thoughtfully.

Armed yet lacking the skill to wield?

So what sort of individuals were those “ancestors” who founded the Ring Chamber?

Scholars, perhaps?

In hindsight it makes sense; the chasm between the organization’s lofty theories and its ground‑level know‑how mirrors the profile of high‑level scholars, and it is understandable that lifelong researchers would lack sufficient martial strength.

Perhaps they are descendants of a research institute’s staff?

Chen Jian did not press further; instead he spoke bluntly:

“​We have received your message.”

“​So, are you certain you have located the solid propellant we require?”

“​I cannot guarantee it 100%.”

Wang Lizhi nodded.

“Yes, but it’s already damaged?”

Chen Jian asked again.

“Yes.”

After receiving Wang Lizi’s answer, Chen Jian couldn’t help but sigh.

Indeed, after the Cold War, ballistic missiles that still used liquid rocket fuel became increasingly rare.

And looking twenty years beyond his own era, the elimination of liquid‑fuel engines in the ballistic‑missile field was practically a foregone conclusion.

After all, at that time China was a pariah to the world; the Rocket Force probably kept its fingers on the launch button even in sleep, and a sluggish, oddly slow‑reacting liquid rocket could never be fielded on a large scale.

It could not be forced.

Chen Jian let go of his obsession and asked instead:

“How did you get into that underground space? Tell me in detail.”

“Pure coincidence.”

Wang Lizi answered earnestly:

“As I said, the scouting team originally set out to find clues about the so‑called ‘brain‑machine’ that controls the monsters.”

“But after entering the Changshan Ruins they ran straight into a Level‑2 monster.”

“In the course of evading the creature, they slipped into the subway network beneath the ruins.”

“Through a collapsed tunnel they emerged into the ‘underground Great Wall’ you mentioned.”

“Most of that underground Great Wall is ruined, but because of the multiple‑layered sealed gates they still found intact sections.”

“And in those intact sections they discovered a sealed depot storing weapons and fuel.”

“That’s the whole story—no extra clues or information.”

“Is there none, or are you unwilling to share?”

Chen Jian’s gaze sharpened.

“I can assure you, there is none.”

“The Ring Consortium cares only about restarting the Ring; all other information is merely a bargaining chip for us.”

“We cooperate closely, and have no reason to hide anything from you.”

“And besides you, no other faction has the capability to use the nuclear weapons there—unlike the Mechanical Cult, we are not fools who would risk detonating a nuke ourselves.”

Wang Lizi’s tone carried a hint of helplessness. Seeing his expression, Chen Jian sighed and said:

“.That’s true.”

“But honestly, your ‘fuel discovery’ process is almost too simple, almost unbelievable.”

“.To be frank, I think the same.”

Wang Lizi frowned slightly, then continued:

“It’s as if someone had left those items out, just waiting for us to take them.”

“But Changshan was a location supplied by the Leader, so it shouldn’t be a trap.”

“I shouldn’t be discussing this with you.”

Wang Lizi fell silent; Chen Jian’s ears caught the word “Leader.”

The Leader had given them information about Changshan?

How did he know?

Chen Jian sensed that the Ring Consortium’s Leader was far more enigmatic than the publicly active Leader of the Mechanical Cult.

Perhaps, if the chance arose, he should meet him.

With that thought, Chen Jian asked:

“Your Leader doesn’t intend to meet me?”

“He meets no one.”

Wang Lizi answered without hesitation.

“Before, I may have told you you could meet him, but that was just a line.”

“In reality, no one gets to see him—except the candidate for the next Leader.”

“That is indeed mysterious.”

Chen Jian scratched his head.

“What’s the purpose of all this?”

Only the next Leader can see the current one—how can he be sure his orders will be carried out?

Chen Jian wanted to press on, but he could see Wang Lizi was already at a loss for words.

“So, do you have a chance to become the next Leader?”

“Yes.”

Wang Lizi did not shy away.

“If I make a breakthrough in the exploration of the mountain city, I may defeat the other candidates and become the next Leader.”

“That’s why I’m cooperating with you.”

“Let’s both hope for success.”

Wang Lizi’s face showed a trace of melancholy, a look Chen Jian had never seen on him before.

He instinctively wanted to offer comforting words, but before he could speak, Wang Lizi went on:

“I’m not here just to bring you news about solid rocket fuel.”

“I also have a crucial piece of information for you.”

“Speak.”

Chen Jian sat up a little.

“Once the rocket fuel arrives, the Ring Consortium will enter a brief period of latency.”

“All merchants active in the field will return to headquarters; after the beast‑tide crisis passes, we will resume activity.”

“The latency will last one to two months.”

“When we meet again, it should be close to summer.”

Latency.

The Ring Consortium truly moves like a turtle—hiding when danger looms, emerging only when it passes.

Such a survival strategy is rare in its conservatism.

Yet Chen Jian sensed a deeper meaning in Wang Lizi’s words.

“The orders come from your Leader?”

“Yes.”

Wang Lizi nodded and said:

“Just as you suspect, the Leader believes that for China, and indeed the entire human world, the odds of overcoming this beast tide are slim.”

“A great multitude of monsters has already begun to gather around the Jinling Ruins; you have at most two weeks left.”

“In two weeks’ time, the beast tide will launch its assault on the Jinling Ruins.”

“And once the Jinling Ruins are shattered, those amassed monsters will descend into utter chaos.”

“They will sweep the surrounding lands like locusts, turning their spears toward other human settlements that cannot resist.”

“According to the Leader’s estimate, at least forty percent of the population will be wiped out by this beast tide.”

“We cannot save those people; we can only preserve ourselves.”

“So pessimistic?”

Chen Jian frowned and asked.

“Yes.”

Wang Lizi let out a long sigh.

“This beast tide is far larger than the last one. The Leader does not lack confidence in you; in fact, he is merely… more cautious.”

“Understood.”

Chen Jian smiled, waved his hand and said:

“But that’s alright.”

“We will resolve it.”

“As long as the beast tide comes at us, we will not let it depart easily.”

“Rest assured, this will not be a defensive battle.”

“It is an annihilation campaign whose primary strategy is defensive counter‑strike.”

“No monster will be able to slip into other settlements to harm anyone; once it arrives, it cannot leave.”

“Let us hope so.”

Wang Lizi gazed thoughtfully at the crowd in the distance, busy erecting shelters; after a moment, he said pensively:

“Perhaps the Leader should leave the underground headquarters and come here to see.”

“Before your arrival, I too had no confidence in you.”

“But now it seems you may truly be capable.”

(End of Chapter)