Chapter 256: 256, Ambush the Divine Machine Battalion

After agreeing on the time to meet the next day, the two parted ways. On the private army camp side, following the deadly incident with the thorny vines, some were too afraid to even step out of their tent doors. Even if they starved, they refused to venture out for food. Thick snow blanketed the ground, and they had no idea where the thorny vines might be buried beneath the snow—any misstep could mean death without a grave. Yet this was precisely what Ren Xiaosu had hoped for, making it easier for him to act alone.

That evening, Ren Xiaosu went to meet Tang Zhou. Upon seeing each other, Tang Zhou exclaimed with wild joy: “The old boss Luo and Officer Qing Zhen have successfully seized control of the army! Now the military answers to them!”

Ren Xiaosu frowned: “Didn’t you say they were under house arrest at the 111 stronghold?”

“That’s right,” Tang Zhou explained, “They were sent to the front lines as military advisors, and they directly killed Qing Yun, becoming the current military commander of the Qing family’s front lines.”

Ren Xiaosu was stunned: “Is that even possible? Doesn’t anyone keep them in check?”

“If we change commanders now, the Qing family’s war effort might collapse entirely,” Tang Zhou analyzed. “If the Yang and Li families exploit this weakness, the Qing family will be in grave danger.”

“Fine,” Ren Xiaosu thought Qing Zhen had probably seized this opportunity to act recklessly, but this Qing Zhen… was truly ruthless.

Tang Zhou added, “Officer Qing Zhen has agreed to cooperate with you. Their operation sequence has already reached the ambush site, waiting for the Shenji Camp. Moreover, Qing Zhen stated he won’t annihilate the Shenji Camp and wishes our collaboration success…”

Ren Xiaosu nodded. This Qing Zhen was still reliable, at least more so than the Qing Yun Tang Zhou had described. But he said, “Don’t waste time on empty promises. Surely the Qing family can offer some real benefits?”

Tang Zhou paused: “That wasn’t mentioned, but I can speak to Officer Qing Zhen. He’s never been stingy.”

“That’s more like it,” Ren Xiaosu smiled, his eyes crinkling with satisfaction.

However, Tang Zhou suddenly frowned: “Why not let us wipe out the Shenji Camp entirely? After all, you have no ties with them, and you were forcibly conscripted too.”

Ren Xiaosu patiently explained, “I need to help the Yang family collect some specimens of the Li family’s nano robots.”

Tang Zhou seemed to grasp something, then smirked ambiguously: “I see. When I left the 109 stronghold, I sensed your relationship with Yang Xiaojin wasn’t ordinary. At the time, she was even hiding from you. By the way, why didn’t you go to the Yang family’s side? Though you were conscripted, there were chances to leave. Our intelligence suggests the Li family’s control wasn’t so strict initially.”

Ren Xiaosu offered no further explanation, letting Tang Zhou speculate as he pleased…

Little did Tang Zhou know that Ren Xiaosu had never gone because he didn’t even know where the 88 stronghold was located…

The next day, the Shenji Camp’s planned surprise lightning strike against the Qing family arrived. Despite the snow-blocked roads, the Shenji Camp pressed on relentlessly. In their view, they were the ones launching the ambush. Outsiders didn’t know how formidable the Shenji Camp’s mobility was, nor how their physical prowess, enhanced by nano robots, made them nearly invincible. Thus, no one could fathom that they could still advance through the snow—this was their golden opportunity.

The Shenji Camp’s major glanced at his GPS and shouted, “We’ll reach the Qing family’s supply camp in half a day! Everyone, stay alert. After destroying their supply depot, we’ll retreat immediately and launch another surprise attack after recharging!”

But as soon as he finished speaking, a distant rumble echoed. The major froze for a moment, then bellowed, “Retreat! Evade the artillery!”

To be honest, the Shenji Camp major’s combat experience was unparalleled. In an instant, he realized they had encountered the Qing family’s ambush—the rumble was their artillery! Moreover, he immediately ordered a retreat rather than taking cover, for the Shenji Camp’s agility meant they could still escape the artillery’s range. Lying low would only mean certain death. The Qing family had come prepared; how could mere cover save them?

Yet he was too late. The distant artillery roared like firecrackers, echoing through the mountains and wilderness! The snow around the Shenji soldiers cracked open, shells raining down like plows. Qing Zhen had no intention of letting these Shenji soldiers approach.

Shenji soldiers darted through the wilderness like lightning, some so swift they could dodge artillery trajectories in advance, evading the maximum lethal radius of the howitzers! But the sheer number of howitzers overwhelmed them. In just one barrage, over half the Shenji soldiers were killed or wounded!

Though they had nano robots, they couldn’t withstand artillery shells. The 3.5-kilogram TNT explosives, 120mm in diameter, could obliterate all life within an 8-meter radius in an instant! Moreover, every Shenji soldier within a 25-meter radius of the impact point would be struck by the blast and shrapnel, ensuring effective casualties.

Heaven never granted humanity such weapons, yet humanity had forged blades capable of slaying gods.

By sheer luck, the Shenji major survived, but despair filled his heart. No amount of training could withstand the Qing family’s preparations. Yet he couldn’t fathom why the Qing family had ambushed them here so early. They had been cautious enough—initially feigning movement toward the Yang family’s position, then secretly rerouting, even swapping clothes and vehicles with private troops. After changing identities, they had no contact with any allied forces, yet still met with disaster.

Where had the leak been?

As the surviving soldiers dwindled, the Shenji major realized his fate was sealed. This loss would not even spare him, despite his Li family heritage.

At that moment, Qing Zhen stood calmly before the Qing family’s position, waving his hand: “Enough. Stop.”

The nearby soldiers didn’t question further, even though this was the time to press their advantage.

Earlier, Qing Zhen had specifically ordered them to replace their 152mm howitzers with 120mm ones, which seemed like mercy. But those who had served under Qing Zhen never doubted his decisions.

Yet no one understood how Qing Zhen had learned of the Shenji Camp’s arrival. Had his spies already infiltrated the Li family? To uncover even the most mysterious Shenji Camp’s whereabouts—this was terrifying!

Suddenly, Qing Zhen smiled: “The Li family probably hasn’t fought a war in years. They’ve got a sharp blade but don’t know how to wield it. What a waste of a good hand.”