The Zong Consortium’s troops were double timing it deep in the Gobi. They had already charted out this route and knew there was an oasis that could even allow their mechanized infantry to travel through.
If not for this route, they would only be able to launch a surprise attack with their infantry. However, that strategy would be significantly less effective.
Before the Cataclysm, it seemed that this path used to be a forest. No one knew who it was who planted so many trees here that it created oases, but it eventually helped to create some form of life out here.
However, it started turning back into a wasteland after many years of neglect.
Actually, not many people cared whether this place would revert back into a desert. More importantly, this disappearing oasis had presented the Zong Consortium with a final opportunity to achieve their ambitions.
The Zong Consortium’s higher-ups termed this “Heavens’ Route” as it was an opportunity given by the Heavens for them to usurp Fortress 178.
The Zong Consortium had not been preparing for nothing over the past few years. If they did not have a contingency plan like this, they would not have dared to poke at Fortress 178 so much in recent years.
“We’ll arrive at South Lake soon. After we pass there, we’ll stop for a two-hour reorganization before heading straight for Fortress 178!” The Zong Consortium’s general said delightedly to his deputy commander next to him, “In this war, we’ll be the ones to get recognized for our outstanding contributions. Without our painstaking planning all these years, and our crossing of the Gobi to deal a fatal blow to Fortress 178, we’d probably only have a very slim chance of winning!”
“Sir, you really are wise,” the adjutant laughed reservedly.
When he laughed, he ended up eating a mouthful of sand. They had been traveling in the Gobi for several days already. Even with the cover of the oasis that was disappearing, it was still a very tough journey to make. But no matter how much they were suffering in these moments, it would still be worth it. They would definitely go down in the annals of history!
The Zong Consortium’s general said in high spirits, “This battle will be a good opportunity for us to make a name for ourselves!”
As the mechanized infantry in the rear continued to roll over the hard ground, it swept up a large cloud of sand and dust in the desert. When the Zong Consortium’s general listened to the sound of the armored vehicles moving across the gravel road, he found it extremely sonorous and pleasant.
He asked his adjutant, “Notice anything unusual? This is a critical period, so we have to be even more careful.”
“Don’t worry.” The adjutant said, “We’ve become so familiar with this place over the years, and Fortress 178 doesn’t have any military facilities in the Gobi at all, so how would those damn fucks know we are?”
But a moment later, they heard an ear-piercing noise approach them. These combat troops were the Zong Consortium’s most elite fighting force, and the soldiers were the highest quality in the military.
So when the ear-piercing noise screeched, all of them were horrified. It was the sound of missiles flying through the air and heading towards them. “We’re under attack! We’re under attack!”
A few loud explosions boomed as several missiles landed on their column. Suddenly, the Zong Consortium’s troops were enveloped in a large cloud of dust and smoke.
The Zong Consortium’s general was already prone. He did not understand why a group of soldiers from Fortress 178 was lying in ambush here.
As he lay on the ground, he had a quick look around at his surroundings. When the dust and smoke dissipated slightly, he saw black dots appearing on the horizon in three directions. Fortress 178 had come prepared!
The Zong Consortium’s general was surprised when he realized they had actually walked right into Fortress 178’s trap that wrapped them up into a bag!
The incoming mechanized infantry of Fortress 178 swept up a huge cloud of smoke and dust on the road. The Zong Consortium’s general immediately ordered his troops to launch a counterattack. But when an artillery shell flew towards their enemy, a black cauldron suddenly appeared in front of the targeted troops and blocked it.
However, that huge black cauldron did not stay put there. It flew around in the air and blocked another five or six artillery shells in succession. It was very difficult to even catch a glimpse of a flying missile with the naked eye, yet all of the artillery shells were blocked one after another!
When the artillery shells impacted against the black cauldron, they exploded. Once the wind blew, the gray smoke from the explosion dissipated immediately.
Many of the Zong Consortium’s soldiers were stunned. What the fuck was that?!
“Xu Xianchu?!” The Zong Consortium’s general was bewildered. “How can Xu Xianchu possibly be here? Isn’t he at the rear of our Zong territory?! Didn’t someone report that they spotted his shadow back there?!”
Someone in the Zong Consortium headquarters had mentioned this. They said that Xu Xianchu had disappeared from the battlefield, and it seemed like Zhang Jinglin had made some other arrangements for him. It was likely that Zhang Jinglin had seen through their intentions and sent Xu Xianchu to stop their advance through the Gobi.
But when someone suddenly relayed some new intel with claims that Xu Xianchu was seen with that company in their rear displaying his superpower, they were relieved.
But the Zong Consortium general in the Gobi could never have expected that Xu Xianchu would suddenly appear in front of him like magic.
Did this Xu Xianchu know how to fly?!
At the same time, Xu Xianchu, who had just blocked the artillery shells from landing, was clamoring for war at the rear of the troops. “Attack without mercy and surround them from three directions! We may let this Zong general slip away, but their troops must be destroyed here in the Gobi! Charge!”
When the soldiers of Fortress 178 witnessed for themselves that their commanding officer could even block artillery shells, their morale gained a huge boost. However, Xu Xianchu was just putting on a brave front at this moment and doing his best to hold on. It was obvious that he was experiencing pain all over his body from the backlash transmitted by the black cauldron. In fact, it was nearly not tough enough to withstand the force of the artillery bombardment. But he knew well that whether Stronghold 178 could win the war all depended on whether his army could score a beautiful and resounding victory here!
Xu Xianchu had been lying in ambush here for nearly a month now, and all of the men from Fortress 178 were stretched to their limits.
However, was Fortress 178 able to stand intact in the Northwest for so long because of how well-equipped they were? No, so was it because one of their troops was worth a hundred of the enemy’s? It was not that either.
It was because they could endure hardships more than any other troops in the world. It was because they treated hardship as a routine while living in the harsh Northwestern frontier!This was going to be a vicious battle where their final strategies were revealed.
Zhang Jinglin just received news from Xu Xianchu’s troops that they were exchanging fire with the enemy. Because of the surprise, the ambush troops of Fortress 178 had gained the upper hand!
Wang Fengyuan looked at Zhang Jinglin. “Will Ren Xiaosu blame us?”
It was obvious what Wang Fengyuan was getting at. Actually, with this contingency plan, the Zong Consortium’s trump card would be easily staved off as long as they stepped into the trap Fortress 178 had set up. Once that happened, Fortress 178 would no longer be in an as perilous situation as they were expecting.
There hadn’t actually been a need for Ren Xiaosu to head to Stronghold 146 at all.
When Zhang Xiaoman called them the other day, Ren Xiaosu had volunteered to head to Stronghold 146 to take out their Board members. Zhang Jinglin had wanted to stop him, but he could not reveal his plan.
Back then, Zhang Jinglin and Wang Fengyuan were thoroughly investigating the issue of the spy. Even though they knew there was a spy among the commanders, they did not manage to discover who it was. So to ensure their plans would not be leaked to the Zong Consortium, Zhang Jinglin could not talk about their plans to the Razor Sharp Company at that time.
During that call, any details that were brought up could easily get caught by the spy. As such, Zhang Jinglin decided he could not let the soldiers of Fortress 178 bear such a risk.
