339: Chapter 339 Zhao Tieshan's Compromise

Qin Ziyan's reconnaissance report was delivered to Lin Yuan at 3:00 AM.

The report was very concise.

Qin Ziyan was a soldier, and soldiers didn't waste words when writing reports.

Northern Border Army, total strength approximately 2,200 personnel.

Among them, 1,500 regular troops and about 700 military family members.

Equipment: 12 main battle tanks, 30 armored personnel carriers, and several military trucks.

Current location: Eight kilometers north of the Shelter, already camped.

Remarks: Three of the armored vehicles were clearly being towed by other vehicles, suspected to be out of fuel.

When Lin Yuan saw the last note, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

It wasn't a smile.

It was an expression of "just as expected."

He had said yesterday: If there isn't enough fuel, tanks are just scrap metal.

Now, three armored vehicles had already turned into scrap metal.

How much longer could the rest hold out?

Lin Yuan placed the report on the table.

"Let them look."

Qin Ziyan was stunned for a moment.

"What?"

"After the Northern Border Army sets up camp, they will definitely send scouts to probe us. Don't stop them. Let them look."

Qin Ziyan didn't quite understand.

"Let the enemy scout our situation?"

Lin Yuan glanced at her.

"The more they see, the less they will dare to make a move."

Qin Ziyan thought for three seconds.

Then she understood.

The Shelter's alien alloy city wall was ten meters high.

The plasma penetration gun array on the city wall.

Any random person picked out from the patrol team was an Ability User above A-rank.

The more than two hundred people in the Outer City were operating in an orderly manner.

The more people who saw these things, the fewer would want to make a move.

This wasn't hiding one's light.

This was flexing one's muscles.

The highest level of deterrence wasn't hiding the blade.

It was placing the blade on the table, and then smiling and saying, "Please, sit."

Sure enough.

That morning, Qin Ziyan's Special Operations Team discovered three groups of Northern Border Army scouts on the outskirts of the Shelter.

Two people per group, wearing white camouflage, lying on the ice field observing with binoculars.

Their camouflage technique was not bad.

If it weren't for Qin Ziyan's C-rank Danger Perception, a regular patrol team truly wouldn't have discovered them.

But Qin Ziyan was not a regular patrol team.

Not only did she discover them, but she also precisely located each person's position, equipment, and even their heart rate.

"Should we capture them?" a member of the Special Operations Team asked.

"Don't capture them," Qin Ziyan said. "Let them look."

Then she did one thing.

She led the patrol team to walk through the scouts' field of vision.

They walked very slowly.

Very neatly.

Everyone's pace looked as if it had been measured with a ruler.

Their weapons were polished to a shine.

Their presence was imposing.

This wasn't a patrol.

This was a military parade.

A military parade specifically performed for the scouts lying on the ice field.

Qin Ziyan was a soldier, after all.

One of the things soldiers were best at was—

Putting on a show when it was time to put on a show.

2:00 PM.

A white flag appeared to the north of the Shelter.

One person.

Female.

Wearing a military uniform, standing tall, walking across the ice field alone.

Holding a stick with a white cloth tied to it in her hand.

The white flag was frozen stiff in the minus 170-degree wind, like a piece of white sheet metal.

But she held it very steadily.

Not a single step wavered.

Chen Hanyue took a look through binoculars from the city wall.

"They're here."

She notified Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan's reply was very simple: "Let Shiyun go receive her."

Tang Shiyun.

The Shelter's liaison officer.

This position was arranged for her by Ye Qingxue.

The reason was: Tang Shiyun spoke nicely, was good-looking, and had a natural affinity—

Making it very hard for people to harbor hostility toward her.

In plain terms: She was suitable for being the face of the organization.

Tang Shiyun had no objections to this evaluation.

Because she knew that "face" was not a derogatory term.

In the Apocalypse, a good face could avoid many unnecessary conflicts.

The visitor sat down in the conference room in the Outer City.

Tang Shiyun poured her a cup of hot water.

Not c-grade energy mineral water.

It was ordinary hot water.

c-grade energy mineral water was for their own people to drink.

Outsiders could just drink hot water.

This distinction was very subtle.

But the visitor didn't notice.

Her attention was entirely on Tang Shiyun.

"I am the Chief of Staff of the Northern Border Army, Shen Qing."

Around thirty years old, short hair, cold features, sharp eyes.

Her appearance could be considered beautiful.

But compared to a top-tier beauty like Tang Shiyun, she was still a far cry away!

But even so, when she spoke, her chin was slightly raised, carrying the pride unique to a soldier.

"By the order of Commander Zhao, I have come to discuss matters of cooperation."

Tang Shiyun smiled.

"Please, go ahead."

Shen Qing took a document out of her pocket.

The document was handwritten—there were no printers in the Apocalypse.

The handwriting was very neat.

One look and you could tell she came from a staff background.

"Commander Zhao proposes: The Northern Border Army and your side will merge to establish a Joint Command Headquarters. Commander Zhao will serve as the Military Commander-in-Chief, responsible for all military operations. Mr. Lin Yuan will serve as the Logistics Commander-in-Chief, responsible for material supply and base construction."

Tang Shiyun took the document and read it once.

Her expression didn't change at all.

"I understand."

She said, "Simply put, Commander Zhao is responsible for fighting, and Lin Yuan is responsible for supplying goods."

Shen Qing's brows furrowed slightly.

Although Tang Shiyun's summary was blunt, it was indeed accurate.

"This is a cooperation proposal, not—"

"I will relay this," Tang Shiyun interrupted her.

Her tone was very gentle.

Her smile was very sincere.

But the meaning of these four words "I will relay this" was very clear—

I am not making the decision.

I have heard what you said.

But I will not give you any promises.

Please head back.

Shen Qing looked at Tang Shiyun for two seconds.

Then she stood up.

"Looking forward to your side's reply."

Tang Shiyun saw her out.

After Shen Qing walked out of the conference room, she passed through the Outer City.

She slowed her pace.

Her eyes were scanning.

The alloy walls of the Outer City.

The orderly residential area.

The clear point system on the announcement wall.

The neatly stacked supply crates in the storage area.

And those people wearing uniform warm clothing, with rosy complexions, and a mental state clearly unlike that of refugees.

Shen Qing's eyes changed.

She was a Chief of Staff.

A Chief of Staff's instinct was to evaluate.

She was evaluating the material reserve level of this Shelter.

The result made her heart sink.

The Outer City was just an "accessory" to the Shelter.

The material level of an accessory already exceeded the entire assets of the Northern Border Army.

Then what about the Core Zone?

Shen Qing didn't dare to think about it.

She quickened her pace and walked out of the Outer City.

The white flag in her hand had frozen even harder.

In the command room.

Tang Shiyun relayed Shen Qing's proposal.

Lin Yuan didn't speak after listening.

Ye Qingxue didn't speak either.

Ji Wushuang did want to speak, but was held back by a look from Ye Qingxue.

Luo Qinghan spoke up.

"Standard military thinking. They have guns in their hands, so they think they should be the boss."

Lin Yuan: "What is your take on this man, Zhao Tieshan?"

Luo Qinghan thought for a moment.

"His military capability is good. In the previous life, he integrated the remnants of the Northern Military Region into a combat-capable team; that's not something an ordinary person could do."

"But?"

"But his perspective is limited. He is used to using military thinking to solve all problems. If they can't talk it out, they fight; if they can't win, they run; if they can't run, they surrender. There is no fourth option."

Lin Yuan nodded.

"What is his weakness right now?"

"Supplies."

Luo Qinghan said.

"2,200 people, an environment of minus 170 degrees; the daily consumption is an astronomical figure. His fuel is already insufficient—the three armored vehicles being towed is proof. The food reserves probably won't last too long either."

"How long?"

"Half a month. At most."

Lin Yuan leaned back in his chair.

"Then there's no rush."

Four words.

The strategy was already out.

Do not initiate.

Do not refuse.

Do not be anxious.

Do not initiate—do not go to talk to Zhao Tieshan, let him come to find us.

Do not refuse—do not seal off the conversation, leave him with the illusion that "there is still hope."

Do not be anxious—time is on Lin Yuan's side.

With every passing day, Zhao Tieshan's supplies decrease by one day. With every day less, his bargaining chip weakens by one point.

When the day comes that Zhao Tieshan can no longer hold on—

He will bring all his sincerity and walk into the Shelter voluntarily.

And at that time, Lin Yuan can set any conditions.

Ji Wushuang finally couldn't hold back.

"So we just wait?"

Lin Yuan: "Correct."

"Not fight?"

"Not fight."

"Not even scare them?"

"No need. The minus 170-degree temperature will scare him for us."

Ji Wushuang leaned against the wall, her expression looking like she had eaten a sour lemon.

She had been at the Shelter for so long, and hadn't had a proper fight yet.

The Ice Frost Evolved Body they encountered when going down to the mine last time was evaporated with a single finger; it wasn't even enough to fill the gaps in her teeth.

Now that an army of over two thousand people had finally arrived, Lin Yuan said "just wait."

She felt like her Nanming Li Fire was about to cause internal injuries from being held back.

Over in the Outer City, the arrival of the Northern Border Army caused quite a commotion.

The two hundred or so refugees were extremely nervous.

Many of them had become refugees only after being robbed by military forces.

In the Apocalypse, the word "army" did not represent protection.

It represented plunder.

Zhou Tiezhu walked around the Outer City and comforted everyone once.

But the effect was minimal.

When people are afraid, words of comfort are like pouring water into a sieve—no matter how you pour, it leaks out.

Zhou Tiezhu thought for a moment and decided to try a different approach.

He went to find Chen Hanyue.

"Miss Chen."

Chen Hanyue watched this 1.85-meter, 200-jin burly man call her "Miss," and the corner of her mouth twitched.

"What is it?"

"The people in the Outer City want to know... if the Northern Border Army attacks, will the Shelter protect the Outer City?"

Chen Hanyue looked at him.

"I'll go ask."

She relayed this question to Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan's answer was only one sentence.

"Tell him, the Outer City is within my jurisdiction. Moving against the Outer City is equivalent to moving against me."

Chen Hanyue relayed this sentence word-for-word to Zhou Tiezhu.

After Zhou Tiezhu heard it, he was stunned for about three seconds.

Then he returned to the Outer City and told everyone this sentence.

It was also word-for-word.

"Moving against the Outer City is equivalent to moving against me."

—Lin Yuan.

After hearing this, the two hundred or so people became quiet.

It wasn't a nervous silence.

It was a peaceful silence.

Someone let out a long sigh of relief.

Someone sat down silently and continued eating the food in their hands.

Someone's eyes reddened, but they quickly returned to normal.

For the first time, they felt they "belonged" to this place.

Not living under someone else's roof.

Not just scraping by.

It was belonging.

"Moving against the Outer City is equivalent to moving against me"—the weight of this sentence was heavier than the alloy walls of the Outer City.

Because the alloy walls could only block the wind.

This sentence could block people.

Block an army of over two thousand people.

Late that night.

Eight kilometers north of the Shelter.

Northern Border Army camp.

Zhao Tieshan sat in the command tent.

Fifty-five years old, graying hair, his face full of wrinkles like knife carvings.

Former Deputy Commander of the Northern Military Region.

Had led an army of one hundred thousand.

Had fought in border conflicts.

Had received a second-class merit.

But at this moment, the map in front of him gave him such a headache he wanted to curse.

Fuel: Only enough for three days of normal consumption.

If used sparingly, it could barely last five days.

After five days, all vehicles would turn into scrap metal.

Food: Reserves were less than ten days.

2,200 mouths; the daily consumption made Zhao Tieshan's heart ache every time he calculated it.

What was worse: 47 people had developed early symptoms of the frost curse.

Skin turning blue, limbs stiffening.

The military doctors were helpless—they hadn't even figured out what the frost curse was, let alone how to treat it.

Zhao Tieshan pushed the map aside.

"Shen Qing."

The tent flap was lifted, and Shen Qing walked in.

"Commander."

"Tell me about what you saw."

Shen Qing was silent for two seconds.

She was organizing her words.

"I didn't go into the Shelter's Core Zone. But judging from the situation in the Outer City—"

She paused.

"Their material reserves are at least ten times ours."

Zhao Tieshan didn't speak.

"The Outer City is just their auxiliary area. A refugee camp of over two hundred people has sufficient material supply, a complete point system, uniform warm clothing, and hot food supply."

Zhao Tieshan still didn't speak.

"Their city wall is made of some kind of alloy material, about ten meters high. I didn't see any heavy weapons, but the patrol team's aura..."

Shen Qing deliberated on her choice of words.

"They don't look like militia. They look like regular troops. Even neater than regular troops."

Zhao Tieshan finally spoke.

"That young man... how many supplies does he actually have in his hands?"

Shen Qing shook her head.

"I don't know the upper limit. But the lower limit has already exceeded my estimation."

It was quiet in the tent for a long time.

Outside the tent, the wind was howling.

Minus 170-degree wind.

Every second was consuming fuel.

Every second was consuming food.

Every second was consuming Zhao Tieshan's patience and bargaining chips.

"Send someone to negotiate again," Zhao Tieshan said.

Shen Qing looked at him.

"This time, lower the conditions."

Zhao Tieshan's voice was very calm.

But Shen Qing heard what was beneath that calmness.

That was the final stubbornness of an old soldier who had led an army of one hundred thousand, before bowing his head to a twenty-five-year-old young man.

"How low?" Shen Qing asked.

Zhao Tieshan thought for a moment.

"Whatever he wants, give it to him."

Shen Qing didn't ask again.

She gave a salute, turned, and walked out of the tent.

The tent flap fell.

Zhao Tieshan sat alone in the dim light.

The map was still spread out on the table.

The map marked the location of the Shelter.

A small circle.

But inside that small circle, there was warmth, food, medicine, and everything needed to survive.

And his 2,200 people were outside the circle.

In the minus 170-degree wind.

Zhao Tieshan closed his eyes.

It wasn't that he didn't want to fight.

It was that he couldn't afford to fight.

If they lost the fight, 2,200 people would die on the ice field.

If they won—

Even if they won, the supplies wouldn't last through this winter.

Because he didn't know how to build frost crystal stone heating equipment.

All he had were tanks and shells.

But tanks couldn't be used as houses.

Shells couldn't be eaten as food.

Zhao Tieshan opened his eyes.

Looking at that small circle on the map.

"Twenty-five years old," he muttered.

"What was I doing when I was twenty-five?"

He thought about it.

When he was twenty-five, he had just become a platoon leader.

In charge of thirty soldiers.

And that young man, twenty-five years old, was in charge of a Shelter of thousands, with enough supplies in his hands to support an army.

Times had changed.

Zhao Tieshan gave a bitter smile.

Then he stood up and walked out of the tent.

Outside was endless darkness and wind and snow.

The lights in the camp were swaying in the wind.

2,200 people were huddled in tents and armored vehicles, making a final resistance against the minus 170-degree cold.

Zhao Tieshan watched for a while.

Then he returned to the tent.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, he would go in person.

Without bringing tanks.

Without bringing cannons.

Only bringing sincerity.

Although sincerity, as a thing, was worthless in the Apocalypse.

But he had nothing else he could bring.