The First Order

As the ferry slowly approached the shore, a group of people lay on the deck and looked around cautiously. Zhang Xiaoman said, “There’s no lights out there, but it’s clear that there aren’t really any buildings on the shoreline. There probably aren’t any enemies around here.”

“This should be a very isolated place. We might’ve already drifted past the area where the Zong Consortium’s military is garrisoned.” Jiao Xiaochen analyzed, “We’re traveling at about 11 kilometers per hour on the river. Since it’s already been an entire day, we’re already very far away from the front, having drifted for more than 200 kilometers.”

“But we still have to be careful. It won’t be good if we encounter some refugees and they reveal our whereabouts,” Zhang Xiaoman said in a serious tone.

“If we encounter any refugees, do we kill them?” Jiao Xiaochen asked.

“This war has nothing to do with refugees, so don’t kill those innocent civilians.” Zhang Xiaoman said with a frown, “Have you forgotten about the rules of Fortress 178?”

“But…” What Jiao Xiaochen wanted to say was that since they had now ventured into enemy territory, it might be a disaster for them if their whereabouts got exposed by any refugees they met.

However, Zhang Xiaoman refuted, “No buts! How are we any different from the Zong Consortium if we kill civilians indiscriminately?”

“Alright then,” Jiao Xiaochen acknowledged.

Actually, this would increase the risk factor for the Razor Sharp Company. However, Fortress 178 had principles, so no one could really say whether this was the right decision or not.

Of course, Fortress 178 would not be so popular with the Northwestern people if they were not so principled.

In fact, some of the commoners living in the Zong Consortium’s territory were even saying that they were secretly leaning more towards Fortress 178 after war was declared between the Zong Consortium and them.

Ultimately, everyone felt they could live a better life and possibly get taxed lower if Fortress 178 managed to drive the Zong Consortium away.

“But where should we go after we get ashore?”. Fu Rao suddenly wondered. His gunshot wound had been healing for three days after the black medicine was applied to it. “In the area, the only route we can take to get back is by crossing the Beiwan Bridge, but that’s already been destroyed by the Qing Consortium. Besides, there might also be a lot of the Zong troops stationed there, so how are we gonna get back?”

“We’ll simply not go back then!” Zhang Xiaoman waved it off and said, “Our Forward Strike Battalion is mainly responsible for fighting during the early phase of the war. The Forward Strike Battalion’s mission ended after Mt. Qiangwan and the Beiwan Bridge were conquered, so it’ll become the armored brigade’s performance for the rest of the time. Why should we go back at this time?”

“We’re not going back? Why must we compare ourselves with the armored brigade? Our firepower isn’t as strong as theirs anyway. Despite us winning so many battles, they’ll definitely still be the ones credited with winning the war,” Jiao Xiaochen said doubtfully.

Zhang Xiaoman said, “That’s why we have to fight for the honor. Only those who are commended will be remembered by others, understand?”

“It’s pointless,” Jiao Xiaochen muttered.

“Why is it pointless?” Zhang Xiaoman asked with a sneer, “Do you know the highest mountain in the world?”

Jiao Xiaochen shook his head. “No.”

Zhang Xiaoman was stumped by his response. He had wanted to say that people only remembered the highest mountain in the world, not the second or third highest ones. However, the illiterate Jiao Xiaochen did not even know the highest mountain in the world, so how was he supposed to make the point that he wanted to make?

Ren Xiaosu piped up, “Didn’t Battalion Commander Zhou say that the fortress’s main forces will be fighting the war at the front line of Mt. Wuchuan, which is north of Blackstone River? How long do y’all think the battle will

go on for?”

“At least three months.” Zhang Xiaoman said, “Although I despise the Zong Consortium, there’s way too many soldiers gathered at the Mt. Wuchuan front line, so it’s gonna take us several months to defeat them. Besides, our difference in strength is still quite relative since the Zong Consortium is also a modern army. If our Commander wants to break through the front line at Mt. Wuchuan, it won’t be that easy. They might even end up fighting for up to half a year too.”

Once the front line at Mt. Wuchuan was broken through, the Zong Consortium’s defeat in the war could basically be announced in advance.

Ren Xiaosu said, “At this moment, all of the Zong forces will surely assemble at the front line of Mt. Wuchuan. So their rear guard will definitely be spread thin. Why don’t we attack their industry in the north then? Since those factories are located outside the strongholds, their garrison forces must be extremely weak. Some of the factories probably don’t even have any private troops stationed there!”

Zhang Xiaoman’s eyes lit up. “That’s a good idea. Ren Xiaosu, how did you come up with something like that?”

“It wasn’t my idea.” Ren Xiaosu sighed and said, “This method is what the Qing Consortium used against the Yang Consortium. Currently, the Zong Consortium’s situation is quite similar to the Yang Consortium’s. They’re both defenseless in the rear.”

Qing Zhen’s means of dealing with the Yang Consortium had shown Ren Xiaosu the way.

Zhang Xiaoman and the others looked at one another. If they were a normal company, they would never be able to disrupt the entire industry of the Zong Consortium in the north. From what the Qing Consortium had gathered, the Zong Consortium had organized enough bandits to form an entire regiment.

But they could still choose to attack some of the factories!

Jiao Xiaochen said with a smile, “That’s a really good idea. We won’t even have to wreak havoc since just giving the Zong Consortium a headache will work. Let’s make a plan and see which of the Zong factories we should attack.”

But when these words were spoken, Ren Xiaosu was taken aback. He said, “What I meant was, we should attack all of them….”

Everyone on the deck fell silent again. Zhang Xiaoman gave a hollow chuckle and said, “Oh, stop joking!”

“I’m not joking.” Ren Xiaosu said in seriousness, “Y’all probably haven’t come across the private troops of the strongholds for many years. The regiment formation has been a mess for a long time. They probably can’t even hit the bullseye at 50 meters at a gun range.”

“What if the Zong Consortium deploys their regular troops to pursue us?” Zhang Xiaoman asked in surprise.

“Then we run.” Ren Xiaosu said, “Don’t worry, I have a way to deal with that.”

Everyone from the Razor Sharp Company thought that Ren Xiaosu was just a supernatural being with two superpowers, which was already very formidable.

But actually, Ren Xiaosu still had a trump card up his sleeve. It was a move that would deal the Zong Consortium and Zong Cheng the fatal blow. It would be the straw that broke the camel’s back!

With a thud, the ferry ran aground on the shore. The Razor Sharp Company jumped off the boat one after another, and in just two minutes, they finished assembling and began to infiltrate the coast in a wedge.

In a place they were unfamiliar with, it was unthinkable to spread out their forces. So they had to move together as a group. They would either survive together or die together.

Looking down from above, the forces of Fortress 178 and the Zong Consortium were distinctly separate from each other in the south and the north. In the east, a route led to the Central Plains, while the Gobi Desert was to the west and stretched all the way to the Alxa League[1] in the north.

But now, there was a strange company mixed among that distinct distribution of fighting forces as the Razor Sharp Company advanced north.

As Zhang Xiaoman walked in formation with the others, Ren Xiaosu had already sent his shadow clone out while nobody was paying attention. Suddenly, Zhang Xiaoman said, “Brothers, we can’t call for reinforcements this time. This is a treacherous path we’re walking, and none of us can turn around. If I die, y’all must remember to bring my molars back home.”

Ren Xiaosu said coldly, “You’d better not die. If you do, I’ll knock all of your teeth out before I choose a good-looking one to bring back.”

Zhang Xiaoman shuddered in fear. “You’re too fucking ruthless.”

[1] Alxa League is one of 12 prefecture level divisions and 3 extant leagues of Inner Mongolia. / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alxa_League