Chapter 188: 【Long March】 Crossing the Grasslands, 【The Beginning of the War of Resistance】 (4.6k)

With the arrival of the Red Army in Fang Ming's livestream,

Streamers in other livestreams also joined the Red Army team that was about to cross the grasslands one after another.

Similarly.

These streamers also had different positions assigned in their respective 【plots】.

Some were assigned to the reconnaissance and pathfinding squad because their identity was a local resident, and some joined the medical team with the help of Blue Star modern first-aid knowledge from the photon supercomputer.

There were also logistics squads, propaganda squads, etc...:

Fang Ming joined the pathfinding group; normally, new soldiers shouldn't join such a dangerous position.

But Fang Ming, relying on his starting identity as a local resident, plus having the assistance of the photon supercomputer, had some protective knowledge about the grasslands.

Successfully joined the pathfinding squad.

At this time.

In the livestream.

Fang Ming held a long stick, and according to the precautions sorted out by the photon supercomputer, was sharing "his" experience about the grasslands.

Fang Ming used the long stick in his hand to push open a patch of grass, explaining to the surrounding soldiers:

"The most dangerous thing about this grassland is those muddy swamps."

Saying that, he probed the long stick in his hand down.

Only to see the long stick in Fang Ming's hand sink in as soon as it touched the ground in the grass.

Following Fang Ming's force.

It went deeper and deeper, until the long stick, which was as tall as a person, only had the position held by one hand exposed outside.

Fang Ming pulled outward with force, and everyone could see the very slow and strenuous movement.

If the stick was like this, one couldn't imagine what would happen if a person fell in.

Until the stick was completely pulled out.

Fang Ming shook his sore arms and said:

"This is the man-eating grassland."

"If the stick is like this, once a person steps in, they will sink over their head in a few seconds."

The surrounding soldiers listened carefully, and Fang Ming wiped his sweat and continued:

"The second is poisonous water."

Saying that, Fang Ming pushed open the grass again, revealing the small water puddles that looked clear inside:

"This kind of small water puddle looks clear, but in reality, it has long been polluted by the silt and toxins in the grass."

"Drinking a mouthful will cause a high fever at best, and death at worst."

"And wounds cannot come into contact with this water; once accidentally contacted, high fever and coma are almost inevitable...."

Fang Ming explained, but the Red Army team was too large for the local area.

Fang Ming's explanation couldn't be fully conveyed.

But fortunately, various Red Army units had found many local people to understand the situation.

By the time Fang Ming finished explaining and left it for the soldiers of the reconnaissance and pathfinding squad to digest, and walked out to stroll, what he saw were Red Army soldiers everywhere seriously making preparations.

Not far away.

Propaganda team members walked along, shouting to those around them:

"Leg wraps must be tied in, pad the straw sandals with two more layers."

Several small soldiers nearby were using straw ropes to tie their trouser legs airtight.

The cooking squad in the distance was distributing the purchased highland barley flour to the soldiers.

But that highland barley flour was still too little.

The old squad leader of the mess squad personally distributed highland barley flour to every soldier, constantly exhorting them, much like an elder who never stopped nagging:

"Five catties of flour per person, must be eaten sparingly."

"Grab two handfuls each time, it has to last for several days."

Fang Ming walked while looking at the situation around him.

Suddenly he had a concept of working together.

Only such working together is the key for this team to reach the end, right.

As night fell.

Fang Ming returned to the reconnaissance squad he belonged to and began to rest, skipping the night's plot.

A moment later.

As the skip button popped up on the page.

Fang Ming clicked it.

When he opened his eyes again, many people had already gotten up.

Fang Ming also quickly packed up and got up.

Because he was in the reconnaissance and pathfinding squad, he had to set off before the main force.

Fang Ming felt a sense of responsibility.

Don't look at how he was popularizing knowledge to others yesterday and looked very knowledgeable, but in reality, he was just reading the answers given by the photon supercomputer, although the photon supercomputer could remind him.

But it was inevitable to have omissions; after all, it was Fang Ming who was in the game.

The photon supercomputer was only mounted in the livestream and couldn't accurately analyze the situation Fang Ming encountered in the game.

Fang Ming packed up and walked out to join the ranks.

A soldier in the same reconnaissance squad, seeing Fang Ming come out, looked at the squad leader and smiled:

"Squad leader, everything is ready."

The reconnaissance squad leader nodded to Fang Ming, then looked at the others with a solemn expression:

"Everything is ready, then let's go."

"The responsibility we carry is heavy; did you remember what the new comrade said yesterday?"

The other soldiers in the reconnaissance squad said in unison:

"Remembered!"

Seeing this, the reconnaissance squad leader said:

"Set off!"

Fang Ming's reconnaissance squad set off before the main force.

The first day of the grasslands looked harmless.

Knee-high wild grass rose and fell in the wind, like a green ocean; this was close to the residential area, so the situation was better, but everyone still didn't dare to be careless.

The reconnaissance squad leader walked in front, the stick in his hand constantly probing below.

The soldiers behind also probed to the sides, and there were also soldiers marking the way for the main force behind.

But such careful exploration was not very fast; this speed couldn't possibly get them out of the grasslands before the dry rations were eaten up.

Seeing that the speed was too slow, the reconnaissance squad soldiers were afraid of delaying the main force's advance, so their movements unconsciously became faster, but they hadn't walked long.

A patch of grassland that had just been walked over without anyone sinking in.

When the soldier marking the way for the main force walked over, his feet suddenly softened, his thighs sank into the mud swamp, and his body couldn't help but lean backward.

The terrified sound startled the soldiers in front.

Subconsciously looking back.

Fang Ming was at the back of the team, so he was relatively close, and rushed over in a few steps, extending the wooden stick in his hand to let the soldier grab it.

But because he was leaning backward, even reaching out was retreating.

In just the blink of an eye, before the wooden stick could reach him, the soldier had already sunk in, his whole person submerged in the mud swamp.

Fang Ming braked suddenly, looking at the mud swamp that was still bubbling, and hurriedly extended the wooden stick in.

Fortunately, this time the wooden stick was grabbed by the struggling large hand.

The soldiers who rushed over from behind also helped pull together; one person had sunk into the mud swamp, and wanting to pull him out, it was still very difficult for four or five people.

But they were finally saved.

Looking at the soldier covered in black mud, retching on the ground, spitting out the black mud in his mouth.

Fang Ming, whose face had just shown a trace of joy because he saved his comrade, suddenly looked ugly, and hurriedly took out his water bottle and handed it to the soldier:

"Quick! Rinse your mouth!!!"

Everyone was still confused, but then reacted.

This is the grassland!

The things mentioned yesterday were still vivid in their minds; the water puddles that looked clear were all polluted with deadly poison, not to mention this mud swamp that had accumulated for who knows how many years.

There might be some insects, or the rotting corpses of animals inside.

These were all sources of deadly poison.

Seeing this.

The people around also hurriedly handed over the things they used to hold water.

Until the soldier finished rinsing his mouth.

Everyone's faces recovered a little, only feeling that this was about enough.

But Fang Ming and the Blue Star netizens in the livestream felt their hearts sink.

Just rinsing the mouth only reduced the probability of poisoning; such a situation required a complete physical examination, but where were the conditions here...

Not to mention that the medical care of this era was not that developed.

Fang Ming tried to remain calm, but in reality, he was frantically thinking of ways with the Blue Star netizens in the livestream.

But...

There was no way; the conditions here limited everything.

Just as Fang Ming was thinking of a way, not long after walking.

The soldier who was marking the way behind suddenly fell to the ground with a thud.

Everyone turned to see and hurriedly ran over.

Fang Ming's heart also skipped a beat; the poison of this grassland was stronger than imagined, and it had only been how long.

Everyone surrounded him and touched him.

The reconnaissance squad leader's face looked ugly:

"He has a high fever."

Hearing this.

Everyone fell silent.

What having a high fever in this situation represented was self-evident.

And Fang Ming and the Blue Star netizens in the livestream only felt a deep sense of powerlessness, but could do nothing...

But the steps forward would not stop.

Soon.

Everyone took turns carrying the comrade with a high fever and continued forward.

A new player's confusion suddenly drifted out in the danmu in the livestream:

【Why carry the soldier with a high fever and continue forward, instead of going back? Or just give up?】

Looking at this danmu.

Fang Ming fell silent.

Go back? Where to go back?

This boundless grassland, where is the way back.

And if they went back.

What about the soldiers of the main force.

There was no way back at all.

Stopping or turning back, given the medical conditions of this era, the soldier with a high fever was a dead end.

Moving forward, although it was also death, could bring hope of life to more people.

The footsteps could not stop.

If they stopped, they would stay here forever....

The team's atmosphere was heavy, their steps slow, but they didn't stop for a moment.

As for giving up, it was even more impossible.

If they gave up, then this team wouldn't be the Red Army.

In the livestream next door.

Unlike the tragic advance of the reconnaissance squad where Fang Ming was, the cooking squad where streamer Lü Lang was, was experiencing another form of purgatory.

At this time, they were also on the way to cross the grasslands.

Fang Ming's side set off before the main force, and the cooking squad was about the same.

It was just because they had to ensure that the main force behind could have drinking water, so all nine people in the squad were marching with heavy iron pots on their backs.

At this time, it was Lü Lang's turn to carry the heavy iron pot.

The way he walked, one step deep and one step shallow, looked a bit funny, and the Blue Star netizens in the livestream couldn't help but send danmu to tease.

Lü Lang also echoed and responded, but every step he took, he had to use all his strength to pull his leg out of the mud.

After walking for a while, he was already panting.

The heavy copper pot plus the muddy grassland, added together, was almost impossible to move, but even so, the cooking squad soldiers didn't give up.

One squad, nine people.

Protecting that copper pot.

This scene made Blue Star netizens puzzled.

【Such a big copper pot, why carry it? Isn't there a smaller one?】

【Yeah, is the pot more important than life?】

【Why not use an iron one?】

【Still iron? Do you want to crush the streamer to death?】

【The grassland is wet and cold, iron is easy to rust, right?】

【Not only that, you all ignored a problem.... The Red Army has no money to buy it.】

【That's right.】

【And the Red Army's troops, most of them are copper pots, which shows that the smelting technology in the Republic era was not mature, and iron products couldn't be popularized.】

1

The danmu drifted by densely.

Lü Lang had no mood to watch, because the pot on his back was too heavy.

It wasn't just the weight itself.

It was because this pot was the lifeline of the entire company, and even the subsequent main force.

Its being intact was more important than anything else.

As long as it was there, it meant that the main force behind could drink hot water to relieve the cold weather.

As long as it was there, it meant that the main force behind could boil those hard-to-swallow wild vegetables, grass roots, and even leather belts into hot food that could barely fill their stomachs.

This copper pot was the last guarantee for maintaining life.

He didn't know how long he had walked.

Lü Lang only felt a looseness on his back; a soldier lifted the copper pot a bit:

"Time to change shifts."

Lü Lang nodded, without any affectation, nor any stubbornness, and directly gave the pot behind him to that soldier.

Only then did he catch his breath.

Standing in place, he panted twice, carried the bag put down by the soldier on his back, and quickened his pace to follow the cooking squad.

Another half a day passed.

Everyone found a place with relatively less grass, preparing to start a fire and cook for the main force behind; some went to find firewood, some went to get wild vegetables.

And a small soldier from the cooking squad wanted to put the copper pot that had just been unloaded in a relatively flat place.

But there were dangers everywhere in this grassland.

The ground that looked like there was no problem at all.

The moment that small soldier stepped on it, it suddenly sank.

Lü Lang, sitting on the ground, saw this scene, his eyes widened, and he stood up suddenly, but felt a wave of dizziness, and fell to the ground.

And the small soldier over there, because of the heavy copper pot, was instantly submerged to half his body.

The small soldier struggled instinctively, but the speed of descent became faster and faster.

Seeing the mud water about to submerge his neck, the small soldier seemed to think of something, grabbed a corner of the copper pot, and tried his best to push it upward:

"Pot!"

"Pot—!"

After shouting "pot" twice in a high voice, the small soldier's head had already been submerged in the mud swamp, and the last small hand exposed tried its best to push the pot outward.

When Lü Lang crawled over, he only grabbed the copper pot that had half-sunk into the mud swamp.

And that small soldier had no movement or struggle, completely disappearing into the mud swamp.

Lü Lang's brain was blank.

He gripped the edge of the copper pot tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

On the edge of the pot, there were still muddy handprints left by the small soldier when he pushed it last, and those five scratch marks were clearly visible, as if they were still transmitting the last temperature.

The danmu in the livestream was also silent; everyone thought of that danmu just now.

【Is the pot more important than life?】

The pot, more important than life...

The plot of crossing the grasslands was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Because of multiple perspectives, the Blue Star players could roughly organize the experiences of the entire Red Army troops in various places.

Whether it was the reconnaissance troops, the cooking squad, or the propaganda team, the main force.... all brought unprecedented shock to the Blue Star players.

In the livestream where the identity was the reconnaissance squad.

Soldiers were pathfinding for the main force behind, sparing no effort even with their lives; the road ahead for the main force was clear, but the soldiers of the scouts were getting fewer and fewer....

In the livestream where the identity was the cooking squad.

Nine cooking squad soldiers sacrificed one after another to protect that copper pot that could guarantee the drinking water supply for the main force behind, even at the last moment of their lives when they fell into the mud, they were pushing that pot out.

In the livestream where the identity was the tasting squad.

Food was not enough to eat, so they could only try to find some wild vegetables in this vast grassland; to avoid soldiers eating poisonous wild vegetables by mistake, the Red Army established a "Party and Youth League Tasting Group."

Party members and Youth League members tasted the wild vegetables to ensure they were non-toxic before letting the soldiers of the main force eat them.

And because some wild vegetables were highly toxic, in just a few days, several Party and Youth League members sacrificed...,

In the livestream where the identity was the propaganda squad...:

In the livestream where the identity was the porter squad....

Scene after scene of heroism and tragedy unfolded before the eyes of the Blue Star audience.

Every livestream was like a window in time, showing the bits and pieces of that most tragic march in the history of "Earth" to the Blue Star people without reservation.

Every team crawling forward on the grassland in every livestream had no impassioned soundtrack, nor sentimental narration.

Only the howling wind and the uneven footprints in the mud told all this.

The Red Army's 【Long March】 refreshed the Blue Star people's cognition of faith every time.

Faith, it turns out, can be so heavy.

That pot, those footprints, those silent sacrifices.

Just to let those behind continue to walk forward.

And at this time, in the 【Awakening Era】 DLC, in the livestream on the other side of the Huaxia land.

Because of the different time progress.

Some streamers with faster progress had already arrived at July 7, 1937.

And this day.

The quiet outskirts of Beiping.

Bang—a gunshot pierced the night sky of North China.

The 【Lu Gouqiao Incident】 began.

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