The Ultimate War Of The Apocalypse
Chapter 293 - 286 No Other Choice

Chapter 293: Chapter 286 No Other Choice

The machine gun emplacement was set up. Cao Zhenjiang didn’t operate the heavy machine gun but grabbed a light machine gun and went over to Gao Yuan’s side. Then, Li Jingang took down a 12.7mm caliber anti-material sniper rifle from the vehicle.

You can’t easily abandon the vehicle because the supplies it’s carrying are too precious. Everyone has a limited carrying capacity, and without the vehicle, most of the weapons would have to be left behind, which would be a huge loss.

Moving the heavy machine gun to the top of the mountain would take too much time, but it was necessary to establish an observation post at the commanding height that could cover the surroundings and also had offensive capabilities. A large-caliber sniper rifle was the most practical and convenient choice.

Li Jingang placed a 12.7mm sniper rifle in Gao Yuan’s hands and said, "Using hand grenades alone won’t work. If the distance is too far, this is more effective. The scope’s zeroing distance is 600 meters; for every additional two hundred meters, adjust the scope down one click. Do you know how to use it?"

"I’ll definitely be able to use it, but if it’s too far, I won’t hit the target..."

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t hit them. As long as it keeps the enemy from firing recklessly, that’s good enough. You’re quick, so take the gun and head up the mountain first. We will follow shortly. Once the vehicle is repaired, we’ll withdraw."

Gao Yuan, holding the sniper rifle in one hand, felt its weight as next to nothing. He swiftly ran towards the hilltop on the left. Following behind him were Li Jingang and Cao Zhenjiang.

The rest of the team had to repair the vehicle under the direction of Liu Deguang, as his injuries definitely prevented him from doing it himself.

There were few people with repair experience, and while nobody dared to claim they knew everything, at least Panxin and Li Yang had to have a basic understanding of what had to be done.

With Li Yang providing sniper cover, Panxin was the only one left who could do the repairs under the guidance of Liu Deguang.

"Judging by the antifreeze dripping speed, there should be two bullet holes. Looking at the current seepage rate, it should have stopped already, which means the bullet holes would be above the middle part of the radiator. Check if that’s the case."

Panxin crouched at the front of the vehicle, looked around, and then said, "Found them, two bullet holes, one at the top and one near the middle."

Liu Deguang bit his lip and let out a breath, saying, "Good, the bullet hole is at the top, so hands can reach it without having to remove the radiator for patching. Now, look at the engine, the bottom. The bullet went in from the side, puncturing the bottom, causing a lot of oil to leak. Check for holes and how big they are."

Panxin searched around the right side of the engine and immediately said, "I see it! A small hole."

"Below, mainly below."

Panxin jumped down from the hood, disregarding the oil-stained ground, and crawled underneath the engine. He quickly said, "There’s a gash here. The bullet went through at an angle, leaving an opening two centimeters wide and four centimeters long."

Liu Deguang grimaced and said, "These bastards really know where to shoot, aiming right at the engine! The gash is too big; it can’t be patched up..."

Panxin, sounding disappointed, murmured, "Ah, it can’t be patched up?"

"It’s done for, definitely. But it should keep us going for a while. There’s a repair kit in the vehicle—not a spare parts box. It has a fast sealing patching compound. Use the compound directly to plug the leak."

Panxin quickly took the heavy repair kit and opened it, while Liu Deguang lay on the ground and said, "Open the repair kit, second layer, third compartment on the left, inside is all expanding repair glue. Just open it and aim straight at the bullet hole; just watch the glue block the hole. It’ll solidify in three minutes. Two bullet holes mean four spots, both front and back have to be patched; don’t miss any."

Panxin couldn’t help but say, "I know, save a few words."

Liu Deguang took a few heavy breaths, and after a while, Panxin, who had been busy on the vehicle, said, "Blocked it, what now?"

"Patch the engine oil pan. This is more complicated. In the second layer of the repair kit, on the right, first compartment, there is a sealant. Underneath I have some... I have some self-made steel patches. Small holes are easy to block. Clean the oil around the bullet hole completely—it must be clean. Smear the sealant over the patch, stick it on, and then use the small welding torch to spot-weld six points around it. Do you know how to do it...?"

"Yes, I got it."

Liu Deguang lay on the ground throughout. He couldn’t watch, but it seemed he didn’t need to.

Panxin used a clean corner of his clothing to wipe around the punctured hole, then wiped again with the white cotton from the repair kit. He carefully placed the steel patch over the bullet hole, then took out a small welding torch that looked like a hand drill from the bottom of the repair kit. After checking it, he whispered, "What about the welding rods?"

"No welding rods needed, it’s electron beam welding. Make sure to hold down the steel patch; just weld it. The battery isn’t big, try to use fewer spots—six should be enough."

Panxin pressed the switch, like a trigger, and as a series of small but dazzling sparks appeared, the steel patch was firmly fixed to the engine.

"Welded well; it’s quite solid."

"It won’t last long. The main thing is the bottom part; the pan bullet hole is too big, and the continuous oil seepage makes it hard to clean the area around the hole. And there’s..."

In desperation, Panxin interrupted, "Just skip the theory; just tell me what to do, talk less."

Liu Deguang exhaled and said, "First plug the leak using the expanding glue, then clean the area around the bullet hole. Then use a steel patch again. Ask me if you don’t understand."

Panxin got busy again, and Lizhizi, who had been watching over Nie Erlong, finally couldn’t help but say, "Er Long, I’m not criticizing, but look at him."

Nie Erlong had long stopped whimpering in shame; he said softly, "Well... people have different levels of endurance."

As Panxin crawled under the vehicle to get busy, Lizhizi sighed and remarked, "Wow, impressive, really is impressive!"

Nie Erlong whispered, "Nonsense, he’s one of the best to come out of the entire army, how can I compare with him? I’m just a new recruit, and he’s been a veteran for twenty years."

"He’s a technical soldier."

"So that means he’s not a soldier anymore?"

Lizhizi glanced at Nie Erlong lying next to him and said, "You don’t talk much normally, but you sure come alive when you’re arguing."

Nie Erlong’s face turned red, and he whispered, "Who let you make fun of me? Besides, I’m surely better than you, am I not? At least I can fight. You can only carry a broken sword and pose. You still have the nerve to talk about me."

"I’m a Taoist, and if we really want to be technical about this, you’re still a soldier at least, while I’m a civilian. Do you really think it’s fair to compare yourself to me?"

Nie Erlong was completely out of comebacks and then turned his face away, saying, "I... won’t stoop to your level."

Just then, Panxin shouted, "It’s blocked, what now?"

Liu Deguang said ominously, "Fill the radiator with water, add the oil, and then you can start it, got it? For the oil, you need to..."

"I know, I know, spare me the lecture."

Liu Deguang exhaled deeply, and Wang Ning said gently, "Can I give the anaesthetic now?"

"You can."

"Don’t."

Panxin said it was fine, but Liu Deguang said no, and then added ominously, "I’ll listen to the engine once it’s started. Not now."

Listening to their conversation, Lizhizi once again addressed Nie Erlong, "You see them? Now look at yourself, sigh..."

Struggling, Nie Erlong turned over, then irritably said to Lizhizi, "Aren’t you going to help me up? You say you’re useless, so at least help me stand guard."

Panxin added water to the radiator, then poured oil into the engine. After checking the oil dipstick, he shouted, "I’ve added the oil."

"Start it."

Panxin returned to the vehicle, started the car, and the engine roared to life again. After closing his eyes and pausing for a moment, Liu Deguang said, "Alright, Wang Ning, check if there’s an oil leak below. A little seeping is fine, but no spraying."

Wang Ning, still holding up his hands, looked around and said, "I can’t get my hands dirty, Taoist Priest, check for the oil leak."

As Lizhizi, who had just helped Nie Erlong stand up, let go and walked away, Nie Erlong, balancing on one leg, had to put down his curled-up injured leg, and immediately fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

Lizhizi bent down for a closer look, then shouted loudly, "No oil leak!"

Liu Deguang took a deep breath and said, "One hundred kilometers, very stable. Let’s go."

Wang Ning gestured to Panxin and shouted, "Mr. Jian! One hundred kilometers, no problem!"

Panxin nodded and then got out of the car, asking, "Mr. Liu, you still good?"

No answer. Wang Ning looked down and said, "He’s passed out."

Panxin sighed and then immediately said into the walkie-talkie, "Nemesis, our car is fixed."

Gao Yuan had already laid down on the mountaintop. He looked around but couldn’t see any movement or people, and the opposite hilltop was likewise devoid of anyone.

As Panxin called out, Li Jingang and Cao Zhenjiang had just reached the summit. They had rushed and climbed, and it was quite fast to make it up in twenty minutes.

Li Jingang set down the sniper rifle, and after a glance through the binoculars, immediately said, "You drive through first. Once you’re clear of the danger zone, we’ll follow. Hurry up now."

Panxin shouted loudly, "Get in the vehicle! Leave behind all non-essential items. Only take what’s most important. Strip the tarp off the second vehicle. If there are enemies, let them see what we’re transporting."

The utterly broken vehicle was loaded with the most food and water supplies.

Yu Shunzhou said resentfully, "Even if we can’t take it, we can’t leave it for the enemy. Let Chun Er burn it all."

Liu Chunxiao said calmly, "We can’t burn it."

Panxin also shouted, "We can’t burn it. By leaving this stuff behind, the enemy might be too busy with it to attack us. If we burn it, it’s the same as forcing the enemy to fight us again. Alright, get the wounded on board, mount the machine gun at the rear. We need to evacuate fast!"

What had to be discarded was discarded, and what had to be taken was taken. One vehicle was packed to the brim. After Li Yang helped Xinghe into the vehicle, he asked Panxin, "Where to now?"

Without hesitation, Panxin replied, "The vehicle won’t hold for long. We have no choice but to head for Kandahar Air Base."