Infinite Ebullience
Chapter 448 - 7 Cannon Fodder

Chapter 448: Chapter 7 Cannon Fodder

The Half-beastman’s heavy assault rifle is a meter and a half long, with a sixty-round ammo clip; the design is primitive and substantial. The body of the rifle is engraved with totem patterns in the style of the Beast Clan. For the survivors, just picking it up consumes a significant amount of strength, not to mention the effort required to execute simple tactical maneuvers with it.

Dantai Zongqi quickly abandoned the idea of using the rifle after feeling its weight. Although he could wield it, he didn’t want to sacrifice his agility for increased firepower.

Boosted by the augmentative power of his Firefly Protective Clothing, Lu Fan was able to lift the rifle. However, the rifle was too long and hindered him in combat. Qin Yan used her Thunderstorm Assault Rifle to fire at the Beastman corpses but found it took three rounds to destroy one. Annoyed and disappointed, she was forced to carry a Beastman rifle as a backup.

About a dozen try-hard newbies who thought they boasted robust strength attempted to hoist the rifles, to no avail. They looked chagrined and angrily tossed their firearms, obtained from the Trojan Room, onto the ground.

"Carrying these things is no good against the Beastmen; it’s just a waste of energy." Zhang Hongtao urged the others to abandon their weapons and focus on escaping.

But the remaining thirty or so newbies didn’t heed his advice. Instead, those same ten or so people picked their rifles back up and turned to Tang Zheng, "What’s your plan?"

The reason they stayed behind had a lot to do with betting on Tang Zheng. Upon hearing this, Zhang Hongtao was taken aback, his face slightly unreadable.

"Let’s go, release the Burmese," Tang Zheng ordered, simultaneously pulling out two desert-colored tactical backpacks. He tossed one to Xu Biyun and began to load the ammo clips and various small objects he had retrieved from the Beastman corpses into it.

Xu Biyun and Liu Yue didn’t even bother trying to pick up the Beastman rifles. Instead, without needing a word from Tang Zheng, they smartly began quickly rummaging through the Beastman corpses, collecting all useful items.

"We need to hurry; more people are coming out," Qin Yan, rifle at the ready, warned, keeping an eye on their rear. More than just their group had been rescued, and amongst them could be other survivors from the Trojan Room.

"Watch their clothing. Be wary of anyone dressed similarly to our era." Tang Zheng reminded, slinging the backpack over his shoulder, picking up a Beastman rifle with one hand. As he went to take Xu Biyun’s backpack, Lu Fan beat him to it.

"I’ll carry it. The two of you are our main combat power right now, so hurry up and escape." Lu Fan was pretty strong. If Tang Zheng and Qin Yan were to carry it instead, it would be a huge waste of combat power.

"Is this real?" Zhang Hongtao asked, incredulously staring at the little Lolita, nearly popping his eyes out. The large tactical backpack was 70 centimeters tall. When Lu Fan wore it on his back, his entire body was obscured, making him look like a small moving hill.

Seeing Tang Zheng and Lu Fan dash off at a brisk pace, the newbies were shocked and doubtful. Bearing at least a 100-pound load, Tang Zheng was already remarkable for his agility. The little Lolita was even more extraordinary, bordering on ant-like strength.

The structure of the Beastman rifle was similar to the AK family of firearms. Tang Zheng took a few glances at it while running, quickly understanding how to fire and change the ammo clip. For other complexities, it seemed they would need to rely on the native humans to explain.

Once the newbies ran out of the cave, they were bathed in warm sunlight, which momentarily blinded them. Tang Zheng, who had early on lowered the goggles from his helmet, squatted on the ground, alertly observing their surroundings.

This was a city ravaged by war, ruins everywhere. Collapsed buildings revealed steel rebars and concrete, the blood stains scored on them silently narrating the brutality of war.

"Hey, run this way," a man with a booming voice, standing next to a command vehicle, bellowed and waved at Tang Zheng and the others. The Burmese and the first escapees from their group had already gathered there, climbing into the carriages of a military truck.

"Let’s move, Gao Wei, you’re the pioneer," Tang Zheng waved his arm, signaling the group to move on, while he took up the rear, being vigilant of the street on the right because most of the soldiers and powerful weapons of this fleet were aimed at this direction.

"It’s full now, you guys climb onto the second vehicle, quickly!" A soldier shouted, coordinating the boarding order. At this time, more rescued captives came fleeing out from the cave, running headlong toward the fleet.

"Stay together!" Pang Meiqin reminded, opting not to board the vehicle but to stay behind and meet up with Tang Zheng. Zhang Hongtao and others hesitated about boarding, but after being urged a few times by the anxious native soldiers and being somewhat forcefully led, they too climbed into a carriage.

"Young fella, not bad. I am Captain Gesang," the booming voice guy was pleased with Tang Zheng’s performance from exiting the cave till now. He guessed Tang Zheng’s load as he walked up to him, gave his shoulder a pat, and made an invitation, "How about joining my squad?"

"I still have a few companions," Tang Zheng decisively stated, subtly gauging Gesang’s facial expressions. Other than concerns about security, he had to showcase his strength. In a situation like this, he needed to quickly find a powerful benefactor to lean on. This was the best approach to controlling their fate. If he and his companions merely boarded the vehicle like ordinary newbies, they would be at the mercy of fate, not knowing what challenges were coming their way.

"Can they fight? If they are women, they’re safer at the back, assigned to logistics and reproduction." Gesang glanced in the direction of Qin Yan and others, "Not bad, she can handle a Beastman’s rifle, she’s qualified."

"Captain, is there still a ’back’ nowadays? These civilians, given two days of training, will become our comrades," A radio-carrier soldier interrupted Gesang, urgently reporting, "We have three minutes till the retreat is needed, Boni’s assault squad encountered intense resistance blocking their retreat route, they are requesting backup."

"Do I have any troops left to support him? My mission from the headquarters is to ensure the safety of these civilians." Gesang complained, yet barked out orders anyway, "Squad two and three, go support Captain Boney."

With Gesang’s voice echoing through the chaos, twenty fully-armed soldiers bolted out of the makeshift shelter, heading for the cave.

"These civilians are foolish enough to rely on century-old weapons to resist the beastmen." Gesang muttered, glancing at the firearms in the hands of the newbies, before turning his attention back to Tang Zheng, lowering his voice, "Well? Made up your mind yet? If you’re sent to the rear, these civilians will inevitably be conscripted into the army as temporary soldiers. Then they’ll serve as cannon fodder, dying somewhere dangerous on the front lines."

Tang Zheng furrowed his eyebrows. Gesang had said it all with no emotion on his face, indicating that the army often carried out such acts.

"No other choice, the war has been going on for ten years, and our forces are stretched thin. Even the elderly and children are sent to the front lines. Living one more day is a great blessing for civilians like you." Gesang patted Tang Zheng’s shoulder, saying with a smile, "Stick with me, at least you can live a few more days."

"Can you look after them more?" Tang Zheng nodded, figuring to get them out once he was familiar with the surroundings.

"No problem, I’ll give you a vehicle." Gesang, a Caucasian man over one meter and nine inches tall, was not reckless in handling matters. After ordering several communications soldiers, he said with a smile, "Go comfort them. I will have a task for you later."

"Settle down first, and be careful." Tang Zheng advised them before leaving. Gao Wei and Dantai also followed him.

"We’re coming with you." Gao Wei glanced at Gesang and said, "That guy is definitely up to something."

"Indeed, but haven’t we benefited from it?" Tang Zheng figured this out, yet felt helpless, "Let’s take it step by step."

Thanks to Tang Zheng, Qin Yan and Lu Fan, as well as Pang Meiqin, Xu Biyun, and, Liu Yue, got to ride in a military Hummer. This elicited envy from the newbies who could only squeeze into the truck carriage. Of course, some were jealous, like Gao Yu who wanted to volunteer but was deterred by the thought of those terrifying beastmen.

"In my opinion, rescuing these civilians is less preferable than looting supplies." Captain Gesang took out a cigarette butt and placed it in his mouth without lighting it. "The war is too cruel. We’re stretched thin and now depend on rationing. Without military exploits, we can’t even eat. Do you understand now?"

"In short, kill beastmen, earn military merits." The communication soldier yelled when he saw that the trio didn’t understand.

"Remember to cut off the beastmen’s ears. Don’t mind the dirtiness. Those things are your meal tickets." Captain Gesang pointed to his helmet and earpiece, saying, "Your native language is too difficult for me. If it weren’t for this intelligent translator, I wouldn’t be able to understand."

"No wonder a white man could speak fluent Chinese." Tang Zheng nodded in understanding.

"Why didn’t the soldiers just now cut off the beastmen’s ears?" Gao Wei asked, puzzled.

"Haha, I arranged it. You just didn’t see it." Captain Gesang checked his watch, noticing that the three minutes were up and that Boney’s squad hadn’t returned yet. He spat out in dismay, "These bastards, I told them not to fight too hard. Did they trap themselves?"

"Captain, we’ve lost contact with the three squads." The communications soldier’s face didn’t change, clearly accustomed to delivering heart-wrenching news.

"Let’s go." Gesang climbed into his command vehicle and pointed to the large-caliber vehicle-mounted machine gun on top. He turned to Tang Zheng and laughed, "This is your spot. Do you know how to use it?"

Both Gao Wei and Dantai instantly cursed inwardly. This was a notorious high-casualty job. No wonder Gesang had recruited Tang Zheng, intending to use him as cannon fodder.

Without hesitation, Tang Zheng hopped up. "Can you give me a bulletproof vest and a helmet?"

"You two get in first; there are weapons on board." After arranging for Dantai and Gao Wei, Gesang waved his hand. A soldier immediately brought a set of bulletproof vests and tactical vests over, while the driver of the command vehicle threw a helmet with bullet holes in it to Tang Zheng.

Tang Zheng turned it over, and could see that the inside of the helmet was smeared with a combination of white and red liquids. The stench of blood was overwhelming, clearly it had belonged to a dead soldier.

.....

PS, there’s another Chapter coming, probably after midnight, check it out tomorrow morning! (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for a recommendation, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivator.)