The Ultimate War Of The Apocalypse
Chapter 212 - 209: A General in the Field

Chapter 212: Chapter 209: A General in the Field

The new situation and circumstances were very unfavorable for humanity, and for the Expeditionary Army, it was almost a devastating blow.

The Serpent People did not directly destroy the Expeditionary Army, but the command could, with just one order, force the Expeditionary Army to stand by on the spot, and the next step, without any surprises, would be to either return or disband on the spot.

Where would the Expeditionary Army go from here?

Everyone looked at Liu Muyang, because only he had the codebook and knew the content of the headquarters’ transmission.

Liu Muyang’s face was expressionless as Li Guoping said in a low voice, "Then you guys might as well settle down at Guisui Institution No.1 for the time being; there’s enough food here, and a few thousand more people won’t have a significant impact. Moreover, after this battle, it’s likely most of the zombies in Guisui City have been cleared out, so the Expeditionary Army can help us reclaim Guisui City."

Li Guoping didn’t know what mission the Expeditionary Army was tasked with, but Liu Muyang was deeply aware of the importance of his own mission, so he firmly believed that headquarters would not just give up.

The direction remained the same, only the route differed.

Liu Muyang glanced at Gao Yuan, then said gravely, "Let’s wait for orders. I estimate that the headquarters will issue commands soon. As for now, we should plan ahead and think about how to continue our mission."

Gao Yuan also wanted to continue the mission; in fact, everyone present wanted the mission to continue.

"Break it down," suggested someone. "Since the movement of large troops will attract the attention of the aliens, then reduce the scale and disperse the marching."

It was Li Guoping who spoke first, offering his suggestion from his own perspective, "If we come under attack in our shelters it’s still manageable, but if it happens in the wild, with your current equipment, you won’t be able to fight the Armored Beasts, so you must reduce your scale."

Liu Muyang nodded, then said softly, "The problem is, how small should this scale be compressed? According to the situation reported by headquarters, a scale of over a hundred people will attract the attention of the Serpent People, because there are too few groups still capable of moving and migrating in such numbers. But if a group of over a hundred people attracts attention, to how few should we reduce our group size?"

Li Guoping was stunned for a moment, then said, "A hundred people would attract attention? Then, then the troop size can only be reduced to about ten people..."

This was a matter of magnitude. 100 is a three-digit number, and 99 is a two-digit number, but the Serpent People wouldn’t decide to attack just because they found 100 people on the ground, and not attack if there were only 99.

From a military standpoint, if a group of one hundred people would definitely attract attention and be attacked, then a secure troop size would be around ten people. Any smaller would be meaningless, and any larger would require cautious testing.

Liu Muyang nodded and said, "Yes, ten people, that’s the scale I consider safe. Even fifty people feel insecure."

Gao Yuan asked, "Could we maybe increase the distance between teams? Or lengthen the interval between departures?"

Liu Muyang and Li Guoping exchanged glances, then Liu Muyang said to Gao Yuan, "You don’t understand aerial surveillance. With our human technological strength, if we want to find something, we certainly will. If they are watching you, you won’t escape surveillance. Secret massing before battle, secret marches, those were done with disguises—for example, disguised as civilians or civilian convoys arriving at the exercise or combat site to achieve the suddenness of the operation. But now, whether we extend the line of troops or spread out the area, as long as there are signs of large-scale human activity, it will definitely attract the aliens’ attention."

A troop size of five thousand, if divided into squads of ten and spaced hundreds of kilometers apart, would lose all sense of being an army and could only be seen as individual ten-person squads rather than a five-thousand-strong force.

A ten-kilometer interval front to back? Whether it’s front to back or side to side spacing, it would likely still be detected. What humans can easily achieve should not be assumed impossible for the Serpent People.

After a moment of thought, Liu Muyang said softly, "We’ll have to feint to the east while attacking in the west."

Li Guoping nodded and said, "A feint to the east and attack in the west is one method, but... is it suitable?"

Liu Muyang exhaled and said with a stern face, "It all depends on whether headquarters can make up their minds. If headquarters is resolute, I have no issues here."

Gao Yuan stood up and asked, "What do you mean?"

Liu Muyang gestured for Gao Yuan to sit down, then said calmly, "To repair the plank road by day while secretly passing through Chencang, to deceive the heavens and cross the sea, to feint to the east and attack in the west; it’s all the same principle. If our ancestors could solve such problems, there’s no reason we wouldn’t know what to do. The mission that belongs to the Expeditionary Army must be completed by the Expeditionary Army. The only problem is whether you dare go or not..."

Liu Muyang stared intently at Gao Yuan, then turned his gaze to Xinghe, and slowly continued, "Now it’s time for you to make a decision. Without the protection of the Expeditionary Army, are you still willing to complete our mission?"

Gao Yuan looked at Xinghe and said, "I have no issues, it’s up to you now."

Without hesitation, Xinghe said, "I’m an Explorer, and adventuring is in my nature; no matter what, I must go."

Liu Muyang sighed and said, "Good, headquarters will definitely request your return, but the specifics of how you proceed will be up to your decision. When you are abroad, you do not have to obey every command from a sovereign. After all, headquarters can’t really chase you down, and as long as I am willing to let you go..."

Gao Yuan smiled bitterly and said, "Commander, please, an insinuation is enough. Why put it so bluntly? Speaking so plainly could get you in trouble."

Liu Muyang chuckled and said, "I can’t put my responsibilities on your shoulders. I, Liu Muyang, am not that dishonorable. That’s how it is. As long as you are willing to continue the mission, I will give the order. If you aren’t willing to go, I will have to arrange for people to escort you back to headquarters. But whatever the outcome, the order is mine; you are simply carrying out my command."

Having finished speaking, Liu Muyang said with a determined tone, "Actually, I think under the current circumstances, fewer numbers doesn’t necessarily mean more danger. After seeing Gao Yuan’s capabilities today, I don’t think zombies are a significant threat to you."

Gao Yuan nodded and said, "Yes, that’s right."

"As soldiers, we must have the ability to reasonably assess the situation. I believe you can continue the mission. Now, I will report to headquarters. The order is as follows..."

Liu Muyang didn’t finish speaking. He took a sheet of paper and pulled a pen out of his pocket, beginning to write groups of digits in sets of four, while Li Guoping stood up, waited for Liu Muyang to finish writing, and then stretched out his hand, "This is a telegram, right? Give it to me; I’ll have someone send it out for you."

Liu Muyang handed the paper to Li Guoping. Li Guoping summoned his people with a gesture, saying, "All those from Guisui Institution No.1, follow me."

Li Guoping called all his people away, leaving none behind. Now, only members of the Expeditionary Army remained in the conference room.

Liu Muyang said in a calm voice, "My order is for the Prairie Fire Expeditionary Army to dispatch Spark Squad to continue the original mission, and to request the Prairie Fire Expeditionary Army’s feint to the east to draw the enemy’s attention, creating favorable conditions for Spark Squad to carry out their original mission."

Gao Yuan was quite surprised and said, "Isn’t that inappropriate? It’s too dangerous!"

Liu Muyang waved his hand and said, "This is just a request; headquarters might not agree. Besides, if you really want to complete your original plan, you’d be better off leaving before I am dismissed from my position."