Chapter 477: It Turns Out They're Our Own Comrades

Hearing the shouts from the woods opposite, Lu Cheng was startled for a moment, because the voice was too familiar.

"Lao Wu?"

Lu Cheng shouted uncertainly, mainly because he hadn't expected to run into Wu Zhekun—it was a complete surprise.

A response quickly came from the woods opposite.

"It's me, Lao Lu, don't fire, we're comrades."

Lu Cheng hurriedly ordered, "Put the guns away, everyone put the guns away, Squad Leader Ma, it was a misunderstanding—not the enemy. I know the people coming from the other side; they're comrades from the troops."

When they heard Lu Cheng confirm the information from the other side, Ma Dagang and the other Railway Troops let out a breath of relief.

A junior comrade couldn't help but complain, "Doing this in the middle of the night almost scared people to death."

Ma Dagang holstered his hunting rifle and said, "What's there to be scared of? Being careful never hurts, and it's even better that they're our own comrades."

That was indeed true—being our own comrades meant no need to fire, and also no need for anyone to die.

But a question followed: why didn't the transport team arrive, and instead five people showed up?

Indeed there were five: three emerged from the woods ahead, and of the two that had just flanked from the sides, only two appeared.

Lu Cheng also stepped out of the shelter, walked onto the clearing, and shook hands with Wu Zhekun.

Both were excited; neither had expected to meet each other at this place, at this moment.

"Lao Lu, why are you here?"

It was a bit far earlier; when Lu Cheng called out, Wu Zhekun thought he misheard until Lu Cheng began to boast loudly.

Wu Zhekun then immediately recognized that it was indeed Lu Cheng.

Counting the time, it had been half a year since they last contacted; they had exchanged letters before, but since Wu Zhekun was transferred to this frontline, he hadn't written any more, devoting all his energy to preparing for war.

"I came to escort military supplies, but the transport team never showed up; instead I waited for you. Let me ask, why didn't the transport team arrive?"

When he raised the question, Wu Zhekun sighed, and at that moment Ma Dagang arrived with the Railway Troops.

Under Lu Cheng's introduction, the few exchanged friendly handshakes.

"The issue of the transport team is a long story..."

Lu Cheng interrupted, "Then take your time; let's go to the forest farm."

As Wu Zhekun nodded, the group walked toward the forest farm, when suddenly a shout of battle rang out.

"Comrades, the enemy is attacking; it's time to defend the homeland—everyone, charge!"

It was Chief Li's voice leading the charge.

Workers at the forest farm, some wielding hoes, others hoisting logs, rushed outward in a single surge.

The battle cries thundered!

The four soldiers Wu Zhekun brought immediately slung their rifles from their shoulders, and Lu Cheng quickly said,

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding—it's all our own comrades... Chief Li, Chief Li, there are no enemies, just comrades!"

Lu Cheng hurried forward to stop him, not knowing where Chief Li had gotten such boldness; just moments ago, when the enemy was heard approaching, he had cowered under a bed, yet now he led the charge.

But it was a bit reckless; if the attackers truly were enemies today, this kind of charge wouldn't even sweep them all away.

"Our own comrades?" Chief Li stopped, glanced at Lu Cheng and the others unharmed, and quickly halted the workers.

"What's going on, Lu Jingzhang? I've been waiting in the house for ages with no sign, thinking I'd come to support you all."

Chief Li thought that just waiting for death wouldn't work; if they were truly enemies, everyone would be in danger.

Rather than hide, it's better to fight the enemy; dying would still make one a hero.

So he overcame his fear and led the workers to charge out.

But the arrivals were not enemies; Chief Li was full of doubt, and like him, Lu Cheng also had many questions to ask.

When they reached the forest farm dormitory, Wu Zhekun drank a bowl of water, while the other four soldiers stood in the courtyard, guns raised, ready for battle.

The scene still kept everyone from relaxing; instead, they grew even more tense.

"Lao Wu, stop drinking, you should speak up now."

Wu Zhekun had grown considerably darker and thinner than before, but now was not the time for concern; many questions remained, awaiting his answers.

For example, why did Wu Zhekun, who was on the frontline, suddenly appear at the rear?

Thinking of deserting? That's impossible.

The Wu family are all from military backgrounds; if Wu Zhekun dared to desert, even back in Capital City his father would not hesitate to kill his own son.

And then the transport team—what exactly happened, why didn't they arrive on time to retrieve the equipment?

These doubts lingered in everyone's mind.

Wu Zhekun was indeed extremely thirsty; he had rushed from the frontline all the way here, until the late night, without a breath.

After swallowing that bowl of water, he felt much more refreshed.

Regarding everyone's questions, Wu Zhekun, as a soldier, answered briefly but clearly.

Lu Cheng only understood after listening that Wu Zhekun's sudden appearance here required an explanation starting with the transport team.

It turned out that during this frontline standoff, the enemy had at some point dispatched a unit to interfere with and raid the transport vehicles carrying military supplies.

According to the plan, the transport team was supposed to arrive after delivering other supplies, but during a daytime convoy, they were suddenly attacked by the enemy, resulting in several drivers severely injured and two killed.

The transport team was heavily damaged and had to suspend its mission to the forest farm, yet the cargo consisted of military equipment, including a radio, which was extremely important and urgently needed.

The enemy had already infiltrated, aiming to prevent the equipment from being sabotaged, so the frontline immediately organized a squad to protect the supplies.

Wu Zhekun volunteered, taking on this urgent task.

After much effort they arrived, but during the earlier standoff, uncertain whether Ma Dagang was an enemy impostor, they had not revealed themselves rashly.

It wasn't until Lu Cheng's voice sounded that they realized they were comrades.

After hearing the details, Chief Li smashed the Marlboro cigarettes Lu Cheng had brought onto the ground.

"Damn that White-eyed Wolf—used to eat from us, used our resources, accepted so much of our aid, and now they turn their backs and deny us..."

You said, where those enemies are now, I'll go up with the workers; we must annihilate them…

Foreman Li said that to Wu Zhekun, and Lu Cheng laughed as he took over the words: "I say, Foreman Li, you've become tough again this time; those enemies are all armed with guns."

Foreman Li naturally knew that Lu Cheng was referring to the incident just now when they hid under the bed.

"Hehe, I've always been pretty tough; earlier it was just a ploy. I was mainly thinking of preserving my strength first, then launching a surprise attack on the enemy. Who would have thought it was our own Comrade, causing me not to be able to unleash it…"

Since it was indeed our own Comrade after all, whatever Foreman Li says at this point can still be compensated for.

Lu Cheng didn't expose his thoughts, and moreover now isn't the time to discuss this.

"Lao Wu, since you also mentioned it, this batch of equipment is extremely urgent; what do you plan to do now?"

Wu Zhekun had actually already decided when he arrived, and he looked toward Foreman Li, who was picking up a cigarette butt, and asked.

"Comrade Foreman, your forest station should have trucks, right?"

Lu Cheng immediately understood Wu Zhekun's meaning: the transport team had suffered heavy losses, and Wu Zhekun wanted to take on this task, transporting the equipment back.

Foreman Li blew on the cigarette butt; this is foreign-made, hard to acquire, and shouldn't be wasted.

"Ah, yes, there are four timber‑hauling trucks, but you only brought so few people; on the road you might encounter another enemy attack. I advise you to wait until the transport team is repaired before hauling…"