Chapter 266: 266, Target on the battlefield

Li Qingzheng was now in high spirits, not only because their equipment had been upgraded and their supplies replenished, but crucially because Ren Xiaosu had been ennobled and immediately promoted to the captain of the reinforced company. Thus, Li Qingzheng now commanded even more soldiers.

The reinforced company had previously numbered 180, yet after this battle, the entire unit had nearly been annihilated by Qing Shi.

It was primarily because Ren Xiaosu had deliberately positioned the reinforced company to follow him closely, intending to make them the main force in combat. War, after all, claims lives—bullets know no mercy.

At this moment, everyone noticed that Ren Xiaosu had indeed charged ahead, yet while those around him perished, he remained unscathed.

After the war, Ren Xiaosu led the others in mourning their fallen comrades, his expression one of profound grief: "Brothers, your lives were noble, your deaths glorious. Some charged with unparalleled valor, while others died saving me..."

Could the soldiers of the reinforced company sacrifice their lives for Ren Xiaosu? Others might believe it, but Li Qingzheng and Jiang Wu's students did not.

Yet no one cared much; in this age, the living had no time to mourn the dead.

Moreover, there was no emotional bond to speak of.

This time, their northern expedition was under direct orders from the command, tasked with reinforcing the 313 Position, where a substantial force of Li Shi regular troops was stationed.

The 313 Position, a critical military strategic location, typically did not allow private units to assist in its defense. However, the Hero Camp's circumstances were peculiar—whether it qualified as a private unit was unclear.

After all, no private unit captain was officially ennobled, and no private unit could match Qing Shi's regular forces.

Not to mention private units, even Li Shi's regular army struggled against Qing Shi's forces.

Along the way, they passed two forward bases, and this time their treatment there was markedly different. The base commanders greeted them with lavish hospitality, and upon arrival, they were served rich, sumptuous meals—even meat and fine dishes.

Not only did they have food upon arrival, but as they departed, the base personnel loaded baskets of provisions onto their vehicles, including beef jerky!

This made Ren Xiaosu somewhat uneasy, leaving him no room to display his cunning wit.

When the base commanders bid them farewell, they smiled and said, "I hope you will once again demonstrate the prowess of Li Shi's army upon reaching the 313 Position..."

Their farewell lasted twenty minutes, their flattery unmistakable.

Such was the Li Shi system: when a new star rose, those who prided themselves on their cleverness saw it as an opportunity to climb the social ladder. If they did not act now, they would miss their chance once that person ascended to greater heights.

Yet as they set out again, even Li Qingzheng sensed something amiss: "Xiaosu, it seems everyone knows we're heading to the 313 Position. Isn't that strange?"

A unit's movements were typically classified, even for private forces; allies were not permitted to inquire about each other's operational plans.

Yet this time was peculiar, as if someone were deliberately broadcasting: "The Hero Camp is heading to the 313 Position!"

Ren Xiaosu smiled faintly: "What do you think the reason is?"

"Is it using us as bait to lure Qing Shi?" Li Qingzheng muttered, though he was uncertain. His intuition, sharp for a commoner, had led him this far.

Ren Xiaosu sighed: "This is how Li Shi treats its heroes—they've outsmarted themselves."

"How so?" Li Qingzheng asked curiously.

Chen Wudi interjected: "My master means that if even you can guess it, how could others fail to?"

Li Qingzheng: "???"

Still, Ren Xiaosu considered this a calculated move. Li Shi openly declared to Qing Shi: "Your private unit is stationed at the 313 Position—dare you attack?"

If they did not come, it would demoralize Qing Shi. If they did, it would lead to a fierce battle.

After all, their Hero Company was but a small pawn, a grain of sand in the vast ocean.

The 313 Position lay on the sunny slope of Shuanglong Mountain, where Li Shi's forces stretched for tens of thousands along the line from Tantou Mountain to Fengyi Mountain.

To the west, Yang Shi's Qing Sheng Mountain line was heavily fortified, with thousands of soldiers passing through daily.

What were their five hundred men in the face of such numbers?

Yet war was never so simple as arithmetic. Commanders had to navigate every step with precision, weighing every fraction.

But the commander who made this decision seemed oblivious, unaware that some matters had already been arranged between Ren Xiaosu and Qing Shi...

Li Qingzheng grew increasingly troubled, yet Ren Xiaosu remained utterly at ease, as if embarking on a leisurely trip north.

Li Qingzheng glanced at Ren Xiaosu: "Xiaosu, aren't you worried?"

Chen Wudi corrected him: "Call him Captain!"

Li Qingzheng grumbled: "You're truly your master's loyal hound!"

Everyone knew Chen Wudi's mind was a bit muddled, convinced he was the reincarnation of the Monkey King, and that Ren Xiaosu was the incarnation of Tang Sanzang.

Yet no one held it against him; within the entire unit, anyone facing difficulties would find Chen Wudi ready to help if they sincerely sought aid.

Such people were rare in this world.

Sometimes, they mused, only those with muddled minds were willing to be kind—the irony was bitter.

Beside him, Ren Xiaosu, who had been resting with closed eyes, opened them and looked at Li Qingzheng: "Fret not. With me here, nothing will go wrong."

Of course, he could not reveal the truth: that he was now Qing Shi's chief spy within Li Shi, and wherever he went, they would not strike.

Thus, he could only offer a vague reassurance...

Though Li Qingzheng deeply respected Ren Xiaosu, he could not help but ask: "What if they concentrate their forces to avenge us?"

Ren Xiaosu grew impatient: "Let me drive, and I'll answer you!"

Li Qingzheng immediately gripped the steering wheel: "Then I won't ask."

Ren Xiaosu: "…"

Suddenly, a giant eagle swooped past at low altitude. Ren Xiaosu gazed out the window—the creature's wingspan must have exceeded four meters. It was terrifying!

Under the current ferocity of aerial beasts, flight units struggled to dominate the skies, as takeoff was perilous and prone to bird attacks.

Ancient human wars had been more diverse, truly embodying "those who fly are not birds, those who dive are not fish."

Now, only ground battles remained, with armored brigades and artillery units becoming decisive, while nanobots were the greatest variable in this war.

At this moment, Yang Shi's armored brigade had quietly arrived at the Ping Mountain line.

According to Yang Shi's battle plan, once hostilities erupted, this armored brigade would coordinate with two infantry brigades to tear open a 40-kilometer gap in Li Shi's defenses within three days, rendering the support points along the Qing Sheng Mountain line useless.

Of course, Li Shi would not sit idly by.

Both sides kept their trump cards hidden; no one knew what would unfold when the curtain was lifted.