Chapter 268: 268, A great battle is imminent

The 313 stronghold was vast, and one might easily get lost if unfamiliar with the place.

Ren Xiaosu turned to the Zhang deputy officer leading the way and asked, "Um... could we choose our defensive positions on the map?"

Zhang the deputy officer glanced back at him and said, "The commander has already selected your combat positions. You just need to hold your assigned section of the stronghold. All soldiers on the battlefield must obey orders; soldiers don't need to think."

Ren Xiaosu smirked but said nothing. He didn't really care—after all, Tang Zhou had already informed Qing Zhen that he was coming to the 313 stronghold, and the Qing family would not attack him now.

He had merely asked casually, hoping to pick a spot convenient for escaping the camp to contact Tang Zhou.

If not, it wouldn't matter. It wasn't a big deal.

At that moment, Ren Xiaosu noticed Chen Wuji was silent. He asked, "What's wrong?"

Chen Wuji replied, "Master, I heard many people in this camp saying they want us to go die."

"Oh, that," Ren Xiaosu realized. "Don't worry. Even if they all die, we won't be in trouble."

Now that Chen Wuji had unlocked his wind-sensitive ear ability, Ren Xiaosu had tested it—even if he whispered from a thousand meters away, Chen Wuji would hear him clearly.

But this ability had side effects for Chen Wuji, as he could now hear the "malice" of this world.

The ancients emphasized caution in solitude, and the saying goes that one must maintain decorum even in private.

Yet most people couldn't manage that. People were accustomed to speaking ill of others in private, amplifying their own dark sides. Those things that couldn't be openly displayed would only grow worse in the shadows.

And now, Chen Wuji was hearing all of it.

If Ren Xiaosu had this ability, he wouldn't mind—it was only natural, since he wasn't exactly clean himself.

But Chen Wuji was different.

Ren Xiaosu looked at Chen Wuji and asked, "Can you stop listening?"

"No," Chen Wuji shook his head. "They said these people have already chosen the most dangerous positions for us. The moment Qing Zhen's forces arrive, we'll be the first to die."

"What else did they say?" Ren Xiaosu asked.

"They said we deserved to die anyway, so we wouldn't burden them here," Chen Wuji said gloomily. "But we didn't choose to come here, nor did we offend them."

"Hmm," Ren Xiaosu said. "They're wrong."

"Master, why did we come to the Journey to the West?" Chen Wuji asked.

Ren Xiaosu pondered for a moment. "To live a good life?"

Chen Wuji was stunned. "Are you serious? Isn't it to save all beings?"

Ren Xiaosu patiently explained, "You must save yourself first before you can save others. Isn't there a saying, 'Measure others by yourself'? In common terms, it means the rich lead the rich. Only when you... first..."

Chen Wuji covered his head and interrupted, "Master, stop for a moment. Let me sort this out..."

...

That very night Ren Xiaosu arrived at the 313 stronghold, Luo Lan had secretly reached Yang's 88 stronghold, and this time Luo Lan was unusually low-key, bringing only two orderlies.

Yang's high-ranking officials held a secret meeting with Luo Lan, but the outside world didn't even know Luo Lan had gone to Yang's, nor what they discussed.

Yet in the early hours of that day, Yang's armored brigade and two infantry brigades suddenly pushed south, expected to reach Li's Qingshou Mountain line within two days—they had actively initiated the war's opening.

Yang's forces from the Pingshan line advanced with an armored brigade in front and an infantry division pressing the northern side of Qingshou Mountain, intending to conduct firepower containment. If this line broke through, Li's western defenses would have no strategic advantage.

Similarly, Qing's side seemed to have coordinated, as mechanical units suddenly advanced southward that night.

The long mechanical units wound through the mountain roads, their headlights like torches in the darkness. The engineers' camps along the road quickly repaired bridges and laid roads at an incredible pace.

Special operations forces had already been deployed to scout enemy positions.

Li's forces, originally stationed at the forward base for brief rest, all headed to the front lines that night.

The 13 defensive positions of Qingshou Mountain blazed with lights, and massive searchlights illuminated the entire camp, filled with the roars of officers.

Military trucks rumbled in, soldiers leaping from the cargo beds without hesitation, rushing toward their designated targets.

Ren Xiaosu sat atop a hill, gazing back at their position, located at the northernmost part of the 313 stronghold. Just as Chen Wuji had heard, Major Ma Kai had placed them here to send them to their deaths.

They had only four machine guns, no rockets, and mortars were out of the question. If they could hold this position, it would be a miracle.

Thus, the soldiers of the 313 stronghold, seeing Ren Xiaosu's group on the road, looked at them as if they were already dead—no one believed they could survive.

Chen Wuji sat beside Ren Xiaosu, who said, "If you sense anything unusual, tell me. We must also be wary of Qing Zhen's sudden betrayal."

"Yes," Chen Wuji nodded vigorously.

Seated at this elevated position, Ren Xiaosu could vaguely see the camp behind them, a kilometer or two away, where soldiers moved back and forth. Some held glowing command batons, directing vehicles to stop, while people constantly entered and exited the rear command center.

But Ren Xiaosu suddenly noticed something odd: three massive tents stood quietly in the camp, while other tents were constantly occupied. These three tents remained still, with no soldiers approaching them.

What was going on? Was this Li's confidential area?

At that moment, Li Qingzheng arrived, carrying an automatic rifle. "Xiaosu, why do I feel uneasy..."

"No need to worry. What's there to fear?" Ren Xiaosu smiled. "If Qing's forces come, we'll just run."

"You make it sound easy, but you can't just run whenever you want," Li Qingzheng lowered his head. He sat beside Ren Xiaosu and whispered, "A reconnaissance squad just left our position. I heard them say Qing's forces seem to be coming this way, seeking revenge against us."

Ren Xiaosu frowned. Had the plan changed?

He looked back at the camp behind them, and suddenly felt that many people there were unconsciously glancing toward their side.

War was imminent. Everyone in the camp harbored resentment toward this so-called heroic camp. Even the newly arrived rear units at the 313 stronghold turned pale when they heard about the heroic camp here, all believing Qing would strike here.

The outcome of the war was uncertain, but no one thought this heroic camp could survive.

...

Thanks to the cycling enthusiast for becoming the new book ally. I'll grab a bite to eat—there's still another update coming.