Chapter 479: Encounter Ambush

Old Lu, how's your sister doing now? Wu Zhekun lay prone in front, writing with one hand and asking with the other.

Pretty good. Lu Cheng looked toward the window, constantly paying attention to outside movements.

Although he had never fought in a battle, he also knew that in this environment he couldn't afford to be distracted for even a moment.

Then your sister last time said she was going to get a raise, and she said once she got the pay she'd buy clothes for Ning Ning—did she buy them? How much did she spend? When the time comes I'll send it to her, I can't let your sister pay out of pocket.

Lu Cheng took a breath: "How would I know about that! Besides, can't you ask something useful? I'm risking my life at any moment just to write you this letter."

Wu Zhekun scratched his head: "Never mind, I'll ask in the letter. Rest a bit, there's someone on guard in the front car."

Hurry up and write yours, I can't sleep, and besides, I won't entrust my life to others, so I'd rather keep watch myself—I feel safest that way.

Wu Zhekun nodded: "You're actually quite suited to lead troops in battle; why not have my dad pull some strings and get you into the army? I think you'd definitely make a name for yourself in the military."

Lu Cheng clung to his hunting rifle: "Forget it, everyone has their own aspirations; I still prefer being a junior police officer, handling trivial matters for passengers every day—also pretty good."

Wu Zhekun laughed: "You're not just a junior police officer; your sister told me in her letters that you aspire to join the army, and she's been praising you, saying you finally have ambition…"

Lu Cheng quickly interjected: "Hey, you two can chat however you want in your letters, don't drag me into it—I don't want to be the catalyst for your relationship."

Wu Zhekun glanced at him: "Look at you, saying that lacks spirit."

Lu Cheng smiled and said nothing more, while Wu Zhekun lay there, lowering his flashlight and continuing to write the letter.

The writing was crooked and uneven, because the narrow road was rough and the truck swayed, but Wu Zhekun still cherished this rare time, earnestly writing his reply.

After Wu Zhekun finished the letter, Lu Cheng took it and slipped it straight into his pocket.

Wu Zhekun added: "You won't sneak a peek on the road, will you?"

Lu Cheng reassured him: "I wouldn't dare peek at my sister's letter, or she'd twist my ears off."

Wu Zhekun chuckled: "So you do have someone you're afraid of."

Lu Cheng snorted twice through his nose; he was only doing it for the money's sake, otherwise no one would give him pocket money.

The truck continued driving through the night; due to unfamiliarity with the road conditions, it wasn't going fast.

Less than an hour after departure, Lu Cheng kept clear track of the time, and the surroundings began to feel faintly light.

But at that moment, the lead truck, driven by Ma Dagang, suddenly stopped.

Then the second, third, and finally the fourth truck—the one Lu Cheng was in—came to a halt.

On the lead truck, a soldier poked his head out and shouted.

"Squad leader, the road ahead is blocked by a tree."

Wu Zhekun and Lu Cheng exchanged a glance; even though Lu Cheng had never been a soldier, he knew something was wrong.

Wu Zhekun reacted even faster, shouting loudly: "Stay on guard, guard…"

Suddenly a gunshot rang out from the woods, drowning out Wu Zhekun's shout.

"Squad leader, we're under attack—Ma Dagang has been hit by a bullet."

Wu Zhekun exclaimed in shock: "Get out of the vehicle, take cover, quickly—exit on the right side and hide…"

Wu Zhekun, near the window, immediately flung open the door, swung his legs out, and jumped down.

Lu Cheng reacted just as quickly; at once he lowered his body, and as he swung down from the vehicle he reached out and dragged the already stunned driver out.

Immediately after, a burst of bullets swept across the driver's compartment.

The railway troop driver, hearing bullets whizzing past his ears, even though Lu Cheng had dragged him onto the ground, still hadn't reacted.

At the same time he muttered: "Squad leader Ma… squad leader Ma got shot…"

Lu Cheng was now experiencing ringing in his ears, because just then a bullet had flown past his ear.

He didn't catch what the driver said, but acting on instinct he urgently dragged the driver to the tire area, which could serve as temporary cover to avoid being swept by random gunfire.

Although this isn't the front line, encountering the enemy makes it a battlefield.

The battlefield won't give you time to react or adapt; by the time Lu Cheng could hear sounds, Wu Zhekun had already begun organizing a counterattack.

"Protect the equipment, high ground at nine o'clock, open fire counterattack."

As his words fell, gunfire rang out densely.

We fired for a while, temporarily suppressing the enemy's fire, but it was only one round—their bullets came shooting again.

Judging by the density of firepower, the enemy likely is a squad of a dozen or so; though their numbers aren't large, their effective firepower clearly exceeds ours, and from the sound they're using AK-47 automatic rifles.

For a moment we were basically being beaten down; facing this situation, Wu Zhekun kept shouting, organizing effective counterfire.

Lu Cheng even went blank for a while—this wasn't a movie shoot, nor like those over-the-top anti-war dramas he'd seen in his past life where one man with a machine gun could sweep an entire enemy regiment.

This is a real, genuine battlefield; bullets fly toward us, kicking up dirt and wood chips that scrape across the face, causing a sharp sting.

And Wu Zhekun's group's counterfire wasn't about standing there, holding their guns and trading blows head‑on.

Instead, they hid their whole bodies behind cover, only sticking their guns out to fire at the previously reported points in a rhythmic, controlled manner.

Possibly even after emptying a magazine they might not kill a single person—but that's what a real battlefield is like.

"Squad leader, our firepower isn't enough."

Wu Zhekun quickly replied, boosting morale: "Don't be afraid; they don't dare charge for now—find good cover and conserve ammunition."

"Yes, squad leader."

Wu Zhekun quickly surveyed the scene, his eyes locking onto an advantageous position.

"You two, go to that high ground and stand ready to provide cover."

"Yes, squad leader."

"And you few, spread out, make good use of your hunting rifles—don't fire for now; if they advance, give me a shot at close range."

This time no one answered his order, because those few were railway troops, and their squad leader Ma had just been shot.

In this sudden situation, Squad Leader Ma Dagang didn't even grunt; Wu Zhekun actually had a premonition, but he still shouted at the foremost soldier.

"How is Squad Leader Ma injured?"

The frontline soldier immediately replied: "Hit in the head, killed on the spot!"

In just eight short characters, it announced the end of a life, seeming a bit ruthless, but that is precisely the cruel battlefield.

On the battlefield, a person's life is so fragile.

Seeing the Railway Troops looking heartbroken, Wu Zhekun suddenly felt a pang of compassion, after all Squad Leader Ma could have chosen not to come with them.

"Lao Lu, you lead them in a breakout, we'll cover you…"