Actually, the general who was in charge of logistics had bypassed the chain of command by issuing the order directly. However, no one said anything about it since whoever was in charge of logistics would usually be close to the higher-ups.
The Razor Sharp Company had not actually disappeared and were instead hiding in the bronze smelter they had arrived at first. On one hand, they had to watch over the refugees in the factory to prevent them from running off and revealing their whereabouts. On the other hand, they shared a portion of the provisions they had robbed from the Zong Consortium with the refugees to win them over.
At first, everyone was still on edge as they were afraid something could happen. After all, Ren Xiaosu’s idea of hiding in the factory was a bold one. They were surprised that none of the refugees had any intentions of tattling on them. But of course, they did not have the chance to do so either.
The refugees said that being a snitch was more trouble than it was worth. Even if they tried every means possible to escape from here and went to inform the Zong Consortium, they would not be given any rewards.
The Zong Consortium’s harsh treatment of the refugees was evident.
Some of the refugees even requested that Ren Xiaosu and company equip them with firearms as they hoped to join the battle to fight the Zong Consortium together.
Zhang Xiaoman naturally did not agree. But he sighed emotionally and said, “If a civilization wants its people to fall to its knees, then the people will show that civilization the pride of their savagery.”
Ren Xiaosu looked at Zhang Xiaoman in surprise. “You’re quite cultured.”
“I didn’t think of it.” Zhang Xiaoman chuckled and said, “Commander Zhang said it.”
After they successfully seized the food, the Razor Sharp Company hid in the factory again and lay in wait for another opportunity. Meanwhile, the infantry regiment was not expecting the Razor Sharp Company to be so bold as to hide right under their noses.
“Currently, the garrison of Stronghold 144 must be conducting a thorough search for us. If an enemy appeared to our rear as well, we’d definitely have a headache like them too,” Zhang Xiaoman said with a smile.
Amid their chattering, the factory carried on with its usual operations. Only in this way would it not seem suspicious.
Ren Xiaosu said, “The Zong troops will definitely come around to ask if there are any suspicious figures around. At that time, we can determine whether they’ve split up into groups or concentrated their forces to search for us. If they have split up, we can seize the opportunity to attack them.”
Although the general in charge of logistics at the Zong Consortium’s headquarters was furious, he also felt that the matter was not actually that serious. They had already guessed that this company might have been the one that accidentally made the river crossing at Mt. Qiangwan, but it would be fine as long as they were not the main forces of Fortress 178.
After all, a regiment’s strength was ten times that of a company’s. It was obvious who would win.
The infantry regiment left behind a battalion to defend Stronghold 144, while several companies were deployed to search in all directions. According to their plans, if a company encountered the enemy, they should stall and call for reinforcements. It would then take at most two hours for two of their companies to surround the enemy.
But less than two days later, headquarters received yet another report that a company from the garrison infantry regiment of Stronghold 144 had been wiped out and that the enemy remained on the loose. On that same afternoon, another company was wiped out by the enemy. This company that was killed had actually gone to support the first company that was taken out.
Headquarters was alarmed. What was this turn of events? Didn’t the enemy only consist of a single company? How did they manage to wipe out two companies of theirs?
The Zong Consortium’s infantry regimental commander was not an idiot. He immediately combined his fighting forces and no longer split them up.
This regimental commander even went to the battlefield to have a look. He was surprised to discover that the enemy did not suffer any casualties in the previous battles. What the hell was with this combat effectiveness? A supernatural being had to be part of this Fortress 178 company!
The regimental commander frowned as he stood on the battlefield and wondered how he should resolve this thorn in the side. His responsibility for staying behind at Stronghold 144 was to ensure that the logistics and provisions to the front line were kept safe. If this problem remained unresolved, he probably wouldn’t keep his position as the regimental commander.
But then a pink mist erupted from the regiment commander’s chest, and his entire body was knocked backwards.
The soldiers around him grew anxious. “Sniper! Sniper! Save the CO!”
But how could the regimental commander who was shot in the chest by a sniper rifle possibly survive that.
To be honest, the Zong Consortium had never fought tough battles before. Most of the officers at the grassroots level did not even have the awareness to keep a lookout for snipers.
No one could have expected that a sniper would actually appear here. How could an elite soldier like a sniper be attached to an infantry company? Just how many troops from Fortress 178 had crossed the river?!
Meanwhile, the Zong Consortium’s headquarters was still waiting for news of the annihilation of the Razor Sharp Company. However, they were told about the regimental commander’s death instead.
When the general who was in charge of logistics heard this news, he wanted to curse out loud. He immediately handed the case over to the Department of War for them to handle. This was a big deal. There was a need to appoint a new regimental commander, and someone had to be held accountable as well!
In fact, Ren Xiaosu was also unaware that he had killed the regimental commander of Stronghold 144’s garrison. He was purely trying his luck when he found a commanding point to observe the battlefield from. But when he spotted the regimental commander in his scope, he decisively took a shot at him.
After Ren Xiaosu scurried off from his sniping position, he even asked the palace, “What’s my firearms proficiency now?”
The voice from the palace answered, “Master.”
Not bad, not bad at all. Ren Xiaosu was happy. Ever since he killed the two snipers in the mountain range, he felt that his skill should have improved.
This was the first time Ren Xiaosu had raised one of his skills to master, so he still felt a sense of accomplishment. After all, he did not achieve this by copying but through his actual skill and training.
Ren Xiaosu did not fire a second shot because he saw the Zong Consortium troops armed with heavy machine guns. If they somehow managed to react and attack his position with the heavy machine guns, he might not survive.
After joining back up with Zhang Xiaoman and the others, Zhang Xiaoman asked him, “Any success?”
“Yeah, I killed an officer,” Ren Xiaosu answered.
“An officer? What was his rank?” Zhang Xiaoman asked.
“You think I could tell?” Ren Xiaosu said. After all, the scope was not some kind of divine artifact. At that great a distance, a person would appear as small as an ant.
Zhang Xiaoman nodded. “Alright, I don’t think it’s anyone important anyway. Let’s head back to the factory and lie low for now.”
This time, they stayed hidden for seven days straight. The Razor Sharp Company did not even see any signs of the Zong Consortium’s companies pursuing or searching for them during this period. Zhang Xiaoman joked, “Why have the Zong Consortium’s troops ceased their search? Ren Xiaosu, could you have killed their regimental commander?”
Ren Xiaosu laughed. “As if we could get that lucky! Don’t even think about it. I doubt that officer would be anyone as important as the regimental commander since he doesn’t even have the awareness to keep a lookout for snipers.”
But unbeknownst to them, a chain reaction had already started due to Ren Xiaosu’s sniping of the infantry regimental commander.
It would even go on to affect the situation at the front line too.
All because the Zong Consortium now suspected that there had to be more than one company from Fortress 178 that had infiltrated their rear lines.
