427 A lone fighting force (1/2)

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.