108: Unusual zombie activity in the new urban area of ​​Lujiang City

Lujiang Base.

Inside the war room of the Commander's mansion, the atmosphere was heavy.

On the massive holographic sand table, the terrain of Lujiang City was displayed in minute detail. At this moment, the scarlet patches representing zombie congregations in the direction of Lujiang City's New City District were like a spreading malignant tumor, exuding a heart-palpitating sense of oppression. Especially at the bridgeheads on the New City District side of the four cross-river bridges connecting the Old City District and the New City District, the scarlet light points had almost solidified, dense and packed, like a boiling pool of blood!

Jiang Xin, this young Commander, was pacing back and forth in front of the head of the long conference table, his back to the sand table. His pace was not fast, yet it carried the restlessness and power of a trapped beast. His military boots struck the smooth metal floor, producing a rhythmic "tap, tap, tap" that echoed in the hearts of every officer present.

Zhang Long and Zhang Lei, his two most trusted generals, were currently stationed on the front lines at Hongshan University, clearing out the surrounding zombies.

Looking around, sitting there were other core high-ranking members of the Red Alert Legion, including Chen Hao, Li Yi, Air Wing Vice-Captain Liu Jiang, Li Wei, and a dozen others.

"Take a look!" Jiang Xin stopped abruptly and turned around, his finger like a drawn sword, stabbing fiercely at the blinding scarlet at the bridgehead of the New City District on the sand table. "Over in the New City District, they have truly raised an incredible 'Corpse King'!" His voice was low, carrying a hint of icy mockery, as his gaze swept over every officer present. "A million-strong Zombie Tide! The scale is no less than Luocheng's! And..."

His finger traced across the sand table, simulating the movement of the Zombie Tide: "They are blocked at the bridgehead, restless, yet they dare not cross the line! They are waiting! Waiting for more 'cannon fodder' to gather! Images sent back by the reconnaissance aircraft show that the number of zombies gathered at the bridgehead has already broken the 1.5 million mark!" He paused, his expression becoming extremely grave. "What's more troublesome is that this 'neighbor' of ours seems craftier and more powerful than that 'bat' in Luocheng! It doesn't even need to show itself to precisely control this million-strong army! Look at this formation: Acid Throat, Fat Zombie, Agile, Iron Back, Butcher, Scorpion Tail, Licker... and King Kong! The number of First-Tier Zombie, just for starters, is in the tens of thousands!"

Jiang Xin's voice suddenly rose, carrying a strong sense of warning: "A torrent of acid sprayed simultaneously by one hundred Acid Throats is something even our strongest Evolver, Zhang Lei, would have to avoid! Let alone the tens of thousands of First-Tier Zombie, and the countless Second-Tier Zombie hidden among them! This is no longer a normal Zombie Tide; this is an organized, sequenced legion led by high-tier zombies!"

Chen Hao stood up with a sudden movement, his burly frame like a small hill. He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with battle intent: "Commander! Let me take the Evolver squad and infiltrate the New City District! Even if it's like finding a needle in a haystack, I'll drag this damn Corpse King out! To capture the bandits, first capture the ringleader!" His voice was resonant, carrying the fierce courage unique to a soldier.

Jiang Xin did not answer immediately. He turned around and began pacing again, hands behind his back. He gazed at the area on the sand table representing the New City District, covered in scarlet light points, his eyes deep as if trying to pierce through the heavy fog to find that figure hidden in the darkness.

A few seconds later, he shook his head slowly, his voice carrying an unquestionable decisiveness: "That won't do, Old Chen." He stopped and looked straight at Chen Hao. "Tens of thousands of First-Tier Zombie, with an unknown number of Second-Tier Zombie hidden deep among them, are like deadly vipers. You taking a few people in is no different from throwing sheep into a tiger's den. What's more..." He took a deep breath, his eyes sharp as knives, "The Corpse King must be a Third-Tier! We know nothing about the power of a Third-Tier! To rashly infiltrate is not taking a risk; it is suicide!"

"But Commander!" Li Wei furrowed his brows, his voice filled with anxiety and a hint of helplessness. "The reconnaissance aircraft have searched repeatedly, practically plowing through the New City District, yet we still cannot find a trace of the Corpse King... Otherwise, with the performance and firepower of our black hawk fighter jet, we might be able to replicate the 'Wing Severing' plan from the capital and carry out a decapitation strike on it!"

The conference room fell into silence once again, with only the scarlet light points on the sand table blinking silently, like the mocking of a devil.

Jiang Xin was silent for a long time. His gaze moved back and forth between the four bridges on the sand table, his brows tightly locked. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curled into an icy, slightly insane smile, like lightning cutting through the darkness!

"Since it wants to hide..." Jiang Xin's voice was not loud, yet it clearly traveled throughout the silent conference room, carrying a confidence that controlled the entire situation, "Then let it... keep hiding!"

He turned abruptly to face the communications soldier, his voice firm and decisive as he issued an unexpected order:

"Pass the order! The strategic missile unit must immediately calibrate coordinates and enter launch status!"

"Target: The two cross-river bridges closest to the Hongshan University campus—'Bridge A' and 'Bridge B'!"

"Use two large bunker-buster missiles and two high-explosive missiles!"

"Mission: Completely destroy the structures of these two bridges and blow them apart! Block these two roads for me, completely!"

"At the same time!" Jiang Xin's orders were issued like a rapid-fire cannon, "Mobilize all available vehicles at the base—trucks, armored personnel carrier, buses! Head to Hongshan University immediately! Mission: Before this evening, bring all survivors within Hongshan University back to Lujiang Base, without leaving a single one behind!"

"Order the units under Zhang Long and Zhang Lei: Abandon the Hongshan University position! Everyone is to accompany the transport convoy and escort the survivors, ensuring they return to the base before evening! Hongshan University... we don't want it anymore!"

After the orders were given, the conference room fell silent; everyone was stunned by this sudden strategic pivot.

Li Wei was the first to react. He widened his eyes, his face full of confusion, and couldn't help but blurt out: "Commander! If we want to cut off the Zombie Tide, why... why only blow up two bridges? Wouldn't leaving the other two provide them with a passage? Our Red Alert Legion has a very well-stocked ammunition depot! We aren't lacking that little bit of firepower!" He really couldn't understand; since they could blow up all the passages once and for all, why leave half of them?

The smile on Jiang Xin's face deepened, carrying the playfulness of a hunter watching prey step into a trap: "Since it wants to come and die so badly..." He intentionally drew out his tone, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "How could I... not accommodate it?"

Li Wei was stunned, then looked at Jiang Xin's confident smile, and then looked at the two bridges left on the sand table... In a flash of lightning, a bold and clear strategic intent exploded in his mind like thunder! He slapped his thigh suddenly, his face instantly shifting from confusion to ecstasy, even carrying a hint of awe: "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Commander! I understand!" His voice was slightly distorted with excitement.

"Old Li! What kind of riddle are you and the Commander playing?" Chen Hao was still completely confused, scratching his scalp roughly, speaking in a muffled voice, "Commander, since we're going to blow them up, why not just blow up all four bridges? Get it over with! Wouldn't it be better to completely clear the Old City District side first and advance steadily? It wouldn't be too late to deal with those bastards in the New City District then!"

Sitting next to Chen Hao, Li Yi, that meticulous officer, had a glimmer of realization in his eyes. He tapped the table lightly to attract Chen Hao's attention, and guided him with a reminder: "Old Chen, don't be hasty. Let me ask you, what is the biggest obstacle to our progress in clearing out the zombies right now?"

Chen Hao furrowed his brows and answered without thinking: "Need you ask? The zombies are too scattered! They're all hiding in every nook and cranny, in high-rise buildings; clearing them out is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and it's easy to get ambushed!"

"Exactly!" Li Yi nodded, continuing to guide him, "Then think again, what does this million-strong Zombie Tide actively gathering before us... mean for us? What is the biggest 'benefit'?"

Following Li Yi's train of thought, Chen Hao cast his gaze back to the sand table. Looking at the two bridges that were specifically left behind, the Old City District on the other side of the bridges, the ten-plus kilometers of road leading from the Old City District to Lujiang Base, and then looking at the mountain of scarlet light points piled up at the bridgehead... an incredibly clear picture suddenly dawned on him!

"Holy shit!" Chen Hao sucked in a sharp breath, his massive fist slamming heavily onto the table, making the water cups jump. His face was instantly filled with ecstasy and admiration. "So that's it! I understand! Commander! You are... inviting the enemy into the trap, and then wiping them out in one go! Brilliant! Too brilliant!" The look he gave Jiang Xin was full of fanaticism.

A satisfied smile appeared on Jiang Xin's face. He walked up to the sand table, his finger pointing precisely at the two remaining bridges and the road from the Old City District to Lujiang Base, his voice like tempered steel, filled with an aura of iron-blooded slaughter:

"Let that hiding Corpse King... gather its army to its heart's content!"

"Then, let it bring its million 'brave troops' and obediently walk across these two bridges..."

"Let them... come and attack our steel fortress to their heart's content!"

"When that time comes..." Jiang Xin's fist clenched tightly, as if crushing something invisible, cold light exploding in his eyes, "Our tank clusters, armed helicopters, strategic missiles... will tell it what a true torrent of steel is! What is... a graveyard of despair!"

"In this battle! I will annihilate its main force! The entire Lujiang Urban Area will be within our grasp! The risk of rescuing survivors will also be minimized! And we can even preserve the city buildings intact!"

He turned abruptly, his gaze like a torch, sweeping across the room, his voice carrying an unquestionable majesty:

"Alright! Since the strategic intent is now clear!"

"Execute the orders!!"