Chapter 351

"Captain, Political Commissar Zhao is on the line!"

The voice of Fu Zi carried through the tent flap. Andrew Smith's fingers paused over the map he was examining. Setting down the red-blue pencil, he strode toward the communications post. Though he carried a walkie-talkie on his belt, he still preferred landline calls.

"Andrew, the situation has changed." Commissar Zhao's voice was uncharacteristically grave. "The redeployment must be completed tonight. All squads will be stationed separately. Remember—move by platoon units and maintain radio contact."

The moment the call ended, Andrew blew the assembly whistle. Within three minutes, every officer at platoon level or above stood at attention in formation.

"Comrades, the situation is more complex than anticipated." Andrew unfolded the map, tracing five red circles with his finger. "We're responsible for these five positions. Point Three is the farthest, and Point Five requires scaling a cliff. I'll lead one team, the deputy captain another, and the three squad leaders will take the rest. We move after nightfall."

The deputy captain added, "Time is critical, so we'll skip the mobilization speech. Remember—as the vanguard unit, we must complete the handover before dawn."

An eerie quiet settled over the camp before nightfall. Soldiers checked their gear. Andrew noticed several recruits' fingers trembling slightly. He understood their tension—training grounds and real battlefields were worlds apart.

"Captain, your leg wraps are loose," radio operator Xiao Li reminded him.

Andrew knelt to retie them. The distant mountain silhouettes dissolved into the encroaching darkness, as unpredictable as the future awaiting them.

"Move out!"

At the command, five squads shot toward different directions like arrows. Andrew's team headed straight for the distant Point Three. They had four hours to reach it—any delay would prevent allied forces from withdrawing on schedule.

The mountain path proved more treacherous than expected. Each man carried forty kilograms of gear, with ration biscuits and canned food clattering in their packs. Andrew recalled his predecessor's warning: though no large-scale conflicts had erupted this year, sporadic skirmishes had already claimed three captains.

"Watch your step!" he cautioned the soldiers behind him in a low voice. In this darkness, the slightest misstep could be fatal.

Clouds obscured the moonlight, forcing them to navigate by compass and map. Andrew touched the pistol at his waist—the cold metal offered a sliver of reassurance.

"Two kilometers left." He checked his luminous watch, lowering his voice further. "Stay alert. Be ready to engage at any moment."

The soldiers nodded silently. The metallic clicks of rifles being chambered cut sharply through the silent woods. None knew what awaited them ahead, but every man understood one truth—from this moment onward, they had become their nation's most unyielding line of defense.