Chapter 564: We can lose the team fight, but Lu Yang has to die

If we pile all our forces at the front, we would actually play into the enemy's hands; they only need to unleash all their strength, smash our forward positions, and the Blue army's rear will completely lose its ability to counterattack, left at their mercy.

It would be better to pull the whole force back, using hills, farmland, and village roads as a buffer; disperse the defenses so that the Red side has nowhere to exert its strength and can only inch forward.

That way we would have more ample time to dismantle a counterattack; our battalion would also have a chance to harass the enemy from the flanks, constantly disturbing them to create opportunities.

Most importantly, we can create the illusion that we keep retreating because we can't beat them, thereby further paralyzing the enemy.

In that case, the enemy's information-age technology and overall perspective would find it hard to be of any use.

Wang Zhongxi slapped his thigh: "A depth strategy—trading space for time; we hadn't thought of that before. The enemy's attack is so fierce, isn't it just trying to force us to strike back? But we'll do the opposite of what they want."

He told the staff department: "Immediately draw up a detailed battle plan; we will retreat step by step, lure the Red side inland, stretch their supply lines, and drain their energy."

Finally, we will accumulate strength and, when they are exhausted, deliver a fatal blow in the rear!

Lu Yang, after the call ends, you should shut down the radios to prevent the enemy from tracking and exposing our position.

Understood.

Lu Yang nodded.

Both sides briefly communicated the details.

After hanging up the walkie-talkie, Lu Yang looked at the eager Gao Feng, Ma Qing'an, and the others.

What did the chief say?

The chief is preparing to adopt our suggestion, to implement depth strategy, trading space for time.

Excellent!

He Zhen Tao excitedly said: "That way, the enemy's fierce offensive will be useless; they want a quick victory, but we'll drag them out."

Ma Qing'an laughed: "Their supplies are all shipped by sea; the farther we pull back, the more troops they need to dispatch, and the longer their supply line becomes."

Then, as long as we cut off the Red side's supplies in the middle, the initiative on the battlefield will return to us.

Gao Feng: "If we could locate the Red side's headquarters, we ought to find a way to cripple their information-age technology; then the subsequent fighting would be easier."

Lu Yang: "There will be an opportunity."

He looked at the work site, where the squad, drenched in sweat, sat resting, and asked:

Do you still have the strength to march?

Yes.

Although everyone was currently weak and breathless, they still gave an affirmative reply.

The drill is like real combat; they have already experienced Red side air raids; such an event must absolutely not happen again.

Lu Yang knew that consecutive forced marches had left everyone somewhat unable to cope, but to reach the designated point smoothly and complete the deployment, we must seize the time.

Let's strive to reach the destination within one and a half hours; then we'll take shifts to rest and eat; only after recovering our condition can we better respond to the Red side's offensive.

Yes.

Everyone, rise and continue forward!

At Lu Yang's command, everyone used the trees to help themselves stand up.

He had the stronger ones help the weaker share some of the equipment weight.

Under Lu Yang's lead, figures panted as they darted through the woods, soon passing through a patch of lush forest.

This grove was no different from those they had encountered along the way, and it attracted no one's attention.

But as Lu Yang passed by, he unconsciously glanced left, as if sensing something abnormal.

What's wrong?

Zhou Kaidong noticed Lu Yang's movement and, as he passed from behind, whispered a question.

Lu Yang smiled: "Nothing, keep moving."

Mm.

Lu Yang slightly slowed his speed, and his peripheral vision swept over there again.

Yet he made no pause, continuing to urge the squad to speed up.

After the squad ran past this area, a head soon poked out from the left-side overgrown weed zone.

The Red side scout who had infiltrated glanced in the direction Lu Yang and the others were leaving, hand pressed to his chest, feeling his heartbeat a little rapid.

Just now, he almost thought he had been exposed; fortunately it was a false alarm—because in such a situation, once exposed, the follow‑up plan would likely all come to naught.

The Red side scout picked up his walkie‑talkie and pressed: "Calling Old Huang, calling Old Huang, target sighted, target sighted."

How many people, and where are they headed?

About seventy or eighty, heading straight toward your direction.

Did you get a clear look at who's leading?

I saw clearly—the leader is that Lu Yang; almost all of their battalion's main force is here; the other part probably left by vehicle, trying to draw our attention.

You weren't discovered, were you?

Not the slightest hint.

Good.

Two li outside, at the edge of the woods, a flat stretch overgrown with weeds—Huang Honghui had already brought men to set up an ambush there and had been waiting a while.

He had the order passed down by word of mouth.

The prey is about to arrive!

This time, I will net them all in one go and wipe away the previous shame!

A blue‑green grasshopper hopped in the weeds and landed on Huang Honghui's nose tip.

But he seemed unaware, eyes unblinking, fixed on the forest ahead.

The others were the same; even if sweat dripped from their foreheads or bugs crawled into their collars, they remained as motionless as stones.

They had exerted great effort to break through the Blue army's outer perimeter and successfully infiltrate; their aim was to completely eliminate Lu Yang and company, to avenge the former "shame shame shame"—in short, a lot of shame.

Even after the tidal flat position was flattened, the Red side, having no choice, adjusted its battle plan, and all levels of command collectively shouted a deafening sentence.

"Team battle can be lost, but Lu Yang must die!"

Regardless of the cost, Lu Yang must be struck down from his horse.

Without him, the Blue army is as good as losing an arm, and its combat power will be greatly reduced.

But as time passed, the expected prey did not appear in sight, and inevitably some began to feel anxious.

"Deputy Battalion Commander......"

Beside him, a company commander lowered his voice and, in a tone only two could hear, asked: "Why hasn't that side arrived yet? Could they have changed direction?"

Huang Honghui was also somewhat puzzled; he rolled up his sleeve to check the time—more than ten minutes had already passed.

Logically, they should have arrived by now; even if not, we should be able to hear footsteps.

But now there is not a hint of movement, which inevitably makes him suspicious: could Lu Yang and his group have changed their route midway, or perhaps sensed something in advance?

Huang Honghui waited another minute with patience, but still no sign of the target; feeling a bit uneasy, he took out his walkie-talkie to ask the soldier who had previously reported the situation.

"I am Old Huang, I am Old Huang."

"......"

"After receiving a reply, where is the prey now? Speak!"

After shouting twice, there was no response from that end, and Huang Honghui immediately became alert.

The next second, a familiar and teasing voice came from the walkie-talkie: "I am Pee Huang, I am Pee Huang, isn't the prey always lying there? One of those blockheads is still holding the walkie-talkie chatting with me."