Chapter 433: Strength and Weakness
Chapter 433: Strength and Weakness
Yuan Qiuyuan stroked his chin and said, "Advisor Rao mentioned that this Iron Demon is making a feint attack, appearing to target Fort 104, but his real goal might still be us here."
Advisor Rao nodded in agreement, "Considering his past habits, after taking action in a certain area, he would pretend to be nearby, luring people over before suddenly transferring to another vacant area to launch an attack. Or, after making others believe he had left, he would return to strike again."
"It's unlikely that the Iron Demon would reveal his intentions right from the start. His move across Fort 104 is probably just a test, wanting to see our reaction and decide on his next move. I estimate that he's either hiding near Fort 104 without moving, or he might not have gone there at all, just making us think so, and is actually heading towards us. So, I don't suggest we leave this place."
Yuan Qiuyuan and Qin Qingque both looked at Chen Chuan, awaiting his decision.
Advisor Rao's tactical advice could be considered, but after all, they were the ones specifically responsible for combat. However, with the new developments, they could also make autonomous choices, and as team members, they would only follow the captain's orders.
Chen Chuan contemplated for a moment and decided to follow Advisor Rao's suggestion. After all, he had far more knowledge about the opponent, and in this regard, he was willing to trust them.
Moreover, when unable to confirm the opponent's whereabouts, chasing them blindly might only lead them by the nose. Perhaps they had just arrived at Fort 104, and the opponent had already moved to another location.
Remaining in their current position seemed the most appropriate course of action at the moment.
So, he said to the team members, "Continue to hold your positions."
Advisor Rao breathed a slight sigh of relief. As an advisor, he only had the right to make suggestions, but this tactical operation wasn't solely his idea; it was formulated together with colleagues from the Intelligence Operations Room, and it had its basis. He sincerely hoped to see it through.
This was Chen Chuan's first time leading a team, and he was worried that his eagerness to make a name for himself might cause this plan to fail. Thankfully, he remained calm and rational.
The next two days passed without any news, but on the third day, they finally received another message. A patrol team of soldiers had been attacked and wiped out during their morning patrol.
They quickly checked the map and found that the location was exactly two days' journey from Fort 104. If they drew an arrow from there, it would lead straight to the rear, an uninterrupted advance.
The team members couldn't help but wonder, could it be that this time, the Iron Demon had changed tactics, abandoning the deceptive maneuvers, and was now preparing for a rapid advance into the heart of their territory?
Advisor Rao furrowed his brows, staring intently at the map.
Just half a day later, another message arrived. A communication station had been destroyed, and from the route, the infiltrating team had advanced further into the heart of their territory.
The following morning, word came that a fortress had narrowly escaped an attack. Patrol soldiers had seen dozens of riders swiftly moving past from below, heading straight for the deep rear.
At this point, a telegram arrived from the higher-ups at the headquarters, asking about the whereabouts and activities of their squad over the past few days. After learning that the squad was still stationed at Fortress 73, the telegram inquired, in a stern tone, why the squad had remained stationary after receiving the news.
By now, even Advisor Rao felt the pressure mounting, visibly showing signs of anxiety. However, he clenched his lips tightly, refusing to yield, as he still believed in his and the Intelligence Room colleagues' analysis.
Yuan Qiuyuan remained silent, merely observing from the side.
Qin Qingque also seemed a bit anxious, but she fulfilled her duty as a team member admirably, following the captain's orders without question.
Chen Chuan maintained his composure and said, "Advisor Rao, I still lean towards your opinion."
Advisor Rao looked up at him.
Chen Chuan explained, "I trust your judgment, but I have my reasons. I feel that the signs he's leaving behind as he continues to wreak havoc are too obvious.
I may not understand tactics and strategy, but I know fighting. An opponent who reveals his intentions so clearly is easily countered. An experienced fighter wouldn't make such a mistake, and it's inconsistent with his usual behavior."
At this, Yuan Qiuyuan spoke up, "But what if he has predicted our prediction and decided to go against the grain, choosing to change his style?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Changing style is possible, but it won't defy basic logic. If he continues to advance, and we block Fort 104 and this Fortress 73, he won't be able to retreat the way he came.
Once he's surrounded by our forces, his only escape route would be through the mountainous region, crossing back through the territories of the ferocious creatures in the convergence zones.
He and his elite Third Limit Fighters might be able to escape, but most of his troops might not. From a rational perspective, he wouldn't make such a risky move."
He turned to Advisor Rao, "Judging from their operational discipline, those cavalry riders and their equipment and horses are probably all his own accumulation."
Rao Consultant affirmed, "Yes, all of it is based on the output from his own estate, as well as the profits from the factories and ranches he established in the rear."
Chen Chuan said, "That's it. His squad looks very elite, and it's his capital. Would he be willing to let it go?"
Yuan Qiuyuan nodded in agreement, "That makes sense."
Chen Chuan continued, "And I've noticed something else. They've broken through from Fort 104 three times, but they've never successfully breached from there."
The Third Limit Combat Solver, many of them are obsessed. If they can't accomplish something, they might not feel comfortable, but they keep obsessing over it, wanting to prove themselves. You must have felt this way too."
Hao Qingque thought for a moment and nodded.
Yuan Qiuyuan pondered for a moment, "You're right, I've experienced that too."
Rao Consultant turned to Chen Chuan and said, "Chen Captain, our intelligence room has some opinions based on this aspect as well. Your judgment aligns with ours, and I'll note this and send it to the intelligence room as supplementary information."
Chen Chuan shook his head, "I'm just guessing. Your analysis is based on credible sources."
This wasn't a show of humility; the intelligence room's decisions might have sources he wasn't aware of.
If one were to exaggerate, there might even be messages sent directly from the Iron Demon, meaning he already knew the answers beforehand, so he couldn't compare in this regard.
Currently, his judgment aligns with the enemy's conclusions, so holding their ground here is undoubtedly the optimal solution.
At this moment, Hao Qingque said, "I support the captain's opinion."
Yuan Qiuyuan added, "Count me in."
Chen Chuan looked at Rao Consultant and said, "Rao Consultant, send my opinion back. This time, I'm the captain, and I'll take responsibility if there's a problem."
Rao Consultant hesitated for a moment, then said solemnly, "I'll co-sign with you. I'm the combat consultant, and holding this position is my recommendation. There's no reason for Captain Chen to bear the responsibility alone."
As he spoke, he bowed to Chen Chuan and left to send a telegram.
Another day passed, and early in the morning, numerous messages arrived, reporting that multiple communication stations in the rear had been destroyed, seemingly confirming beyond doubt that the enemy had started wreaking havoc in the rear.
That night, an upper-level leader from the outpost called, their tone even harsher than the previous time.
Chen Chuan, however, was not fazed. Unless they directly ordered him back, he didn't need to pay attention to what these people said.
He was directly responsible for the command post. If the people at the command post didn't speak up, why should he? Moreover, no decision was ever absolutely correct, and the choice to wait was a form of gambling, a part of the battle.
He gazed at the pitch-black night sky, where nothing could be seen. The deep darkness seemed to conceal everything, except for the occasional flash of light from the fortress.
At that moment, several miles away from Fort Seventy-Three, a figure clad in armor with a crimson mask, resembling a demoghost, sat atop a black horse with red markings. This person was staring at the fortress located high above.
Behind him were dozens of knights, standing silently without making a sound, except for the faint glow of their horses' eyes in the darkness.
They didn't just pass through Fort 104; they had indeed broken through there. However, after passing that point, they split up. One squad created a diversion, moving downstream along the river to stir up trouble in the rear.
The main force, however, took a roundabout route, traveling by night and resting during the day. They passed through the easily manageable fusion zone of the biofield, losing two cavalrymen along the way. They successfully reached the rear of Fort Seventy-Three.
This fortress was well-defended on all sides, but the strongest defenses were always at the front, including dense trenches and barbed wire facing the valley entrance. The rear, in comparison, was relatively weaker.
Their preparations were thorough. Once they seized this position, their rear would be secured, and they could boldly raid and attack the surrounding outposts.
The next move could be decided based on the situation. If the enemy gathered their forces, they could quickly withdraw, or take advantage of the enemy's concentration to harass other outposts. The initiative was in their hands.
The leading knight emitted a dull, almost unreal sound from within the iron mask.
All the cavalrymen dismounted in unison, and aside from the clanking of armor, not a single person made a sound. Yet, each person took down a cage from their horse, containing beetle-like creatures clinging motionlessly inside.
Various governments and corporations possessed bio-weapons, which could effectively assist combat personnel. They, too, mastered similar technology.
Hanging the cage on their backs, they marched towards the fortress in the distance, while the iron-masked figure remained on horseback, his crimson eyes through the mask fixed on the fortress above.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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