202: Battle of Lingnan

Qianzhou Base

Inside the operational meeting room of Qianzhou Base, the atmosphere was solemn and grave.

On both sides of the long conference table, more than twenty high-ranking officers sat upright. Winter sunlight filtered through the windows, casting striking stripes of light across the polished tabletop.

"Tap, tap, tap..." Steady, powerful footsteps approached from afar. The door was pushed open, and Jiang Xin, wearing a long coat, stepped inside. The hem of his coat swayed slightly with his movements. His expression was cold, and his gaze, sharp as electricity, swept over every officer present.

"Stand up!" Someone among the officers barked lowly.

"Swish—!" All the officers stood up instantly, their postures straight as pines, movements uniform, as they gave a solemn military salute to the supreme Commander of the Red Alert Legion, Jiang Xin. The subtle sound of clothing friction and heavy breathing in the room were clearly audible.

Jiang Xin walked to the head of the table, raised his hand to return a standard military salute, and said in a steady voice: "Be seated."

"Yes!"

The officers replied in unison, then sat down neatly, their backs still straight, their eyes all focused on Jiang Xin.

"Tanya," Jiang Xin looked at his side, "Give everyone a detailed introduction to the situation in Shaocheng and Meicheng, as well as our army's preliminary operational deployment."

"Yes, Commander!" Tanya stood up in response.

Tanya walked to the large holographic tactical screen at the front of the meeting room; the control panel lit up with a faint blue glow under her fingertips.

The screen lit up instantly, displaying a clear 3D topographic map of Xijiang Province and Lingnan Province.

"Everyone, please look." Tanya's voice was clear and calm, carrying a hint of her unique coldness. She held a laser pointer, and the red dot landed precisely on the northern region bordering Xijiang Province.

"In the area where our Xijiang Province borders the north of Lingnan, there are seven county-level administrative districts. According to the agreement with the Southern Military Region, in this campaign, our Legion will be independently responsible for the main offensive tasks of these seven counties." The laser dot circled seven points on the map. "They are, respectively: the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th counties in the direction of Shaocheng, as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd counties in the direction of Meicheng."

She zoomed in on the map, highlighting two winding passages between the mountains: "Because the southern part of Qianzhou and the northern part of Lingnan are separated by the main range of the Nanling Mountains, our army's entry into Lingnan mainly relies on two transportation lines: the Dagang Expressway and the historic Meiguan Ancient Road. Through these two routes, our army can quickly deploy troops to the 4th county of Shaocheng and the 2nd county of Meicheng, respectively, and use these as fulcrums to radiate to the surrounding areas."

"For this campaign, our Legion will commit eight main regiments, codenamed Regiment 1 to 8." Tanya's gaze swept over the officers present. "The heads of each regiment are: Li Yi, Liu Jiang, Chen Feng, Zhou Yi, Lin Shen, Xu Lan, Hua Chen, and Zhang Ke."

The officers whose names were called nodded slightly, their eyes becoming sharper.

Tanya continued the deployment, switching the map to the range of the two cities: "The war zone is divided as follows: the person in charge of the Shaocheng direction is Li Yi, and the person in charge of the Meicheng direction is Liu Jiang. I and the Commander will sit in command at the front lines of Shaocheng and Meicheng, respectively. Service Officer Jiang Feifei will be stationed in Qianzhou, overseeing all logistics, supplies, and coordination work in the rear."

After introducing the basic deployment, Tanya's expression became exceptionally serious. She looked around at everyone, her tone deepening: "For this operation, the Commander has two core requirements, which I ask everyone to keep in mind and strictly execute!"

She held up one finger: "First, you must thoroughly clear all zombies in the designated areas and collect all usable zombie crystal cores and precious metals to provide support for the Legion's subsequent development!"

Immediately after, she held up a second finger: "Second, during the combat process, do your utmost to protect and transfer all surviving civilians! Bring them back safely to fill the major bases in our Xijiang Province! Population is our foundation for the future!"

Her voice echoed in the meeting room, carrying a heavy weight.

"Understood!"

Without the need for more mobilization, the officers present responded in unison, decisively, their voices loud and firm, filled with a sense of mission.

"Good." Jiang Xin raised his hand, signaling Tanya to sit down. He slowly stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and his gaze swept over the face of every subordinate as if it were tangible.

"I will say a few more words." His voice was not loud, but it carried a power that pierced through people's hearts. "Lingnan Province is the most populous province in China. Shaocheng and Meicheng both have populations exceeding eight million! Moreover, the two regions are relatively small, and the population is more concentrated than in Xijiang Province, which is completely different from the sparsely populated situations of Lujiang and Qianzhou that we have reclaimed before."

He paused, letting everyone digest this information: "This means that the zombie density we face will far exceed the past, and the fighting may be more cruel and complex. Therefore, for this operation, we do not seek a simple quick victory, but rather to fight steadily and advance step by step, utilizing our firepower advantage and tactical literacy to clean up gradually, ensuring no future troubles are left behind, while maximizing the reduction of civilian casualties."

He straightened up, his tone becoming steadier, carrying the confidence of someone who has a plan: "In terms of troops, everyone need not worry. The first eight regiments are just the vanguard. Subsequently, I will also observe the war situation and send two to three more regiments to support various locations. Logistics support has also been arranged properly; I have established a forward supply base in Longnan County in the south of Qianzhou as a transfer station, and ammunition, fuel, and medicine will be continuously sent to the front line."

Finally, Jiang Xin's voice rose sharply, carrying a sense of tragedy and determination: "Everyone! The evolution speed of zombies far exceeds our expectations! Third-Tier Master zombies have already appeared in large numbers, and the threats of the future will only be greater! And our compatriots, the survivors... their numbers will only decrease with the passage of time! Time waits for no one!"

He clenched his fist and slammed it heavily on the table, making a dull sound: "For those compatriots still struggling in misery! For the continuation of human civilization! I implore you all to do your utmost, display the prestige of our Red Alert Legion, and complete this arduous and glorious mission!"

"Fight for the human race! Fight for the Commander!" Before Jiang Xin's voice had faded, all the officers, as if they were ignited explosives, stood up in unison again, puffed out their chests, and used all their strength to let out a deafening roar! The sound wave was almost enough to lift the roof, and firm beliefs and boiling fighting spirit collided and surged in the air!

Rongcheng Base

At the same time, at the Rongcheng Base of the Southern Military Region. In the office of Yang Zhen Zhen, the atmosphere was equally heavy. Commander Zhou Keming personally pushed a cup of freshly brewed hot tea in front of Yang Zhen.

"Old Yang, for this recapture operation of Shaocheng and Meicheng, the burden of the front-line Commander-in-Chief will be handed over to you." Commander Zhou Keming's voice was steady, carrying heavy trust. "I have transferred half of the military region's Third-Tier Master to your command; Nangong Yu and Feng Wu will both follow your orders."

Yang Zhen took the teacup with both hands, his fingertips feeling the warmth from the porcelain cup. He nodded heavily, and under his graying eyebrows, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's: "Old Zhou, don't worry. With these ninety thousand troops, I will definitely do my best to bring them back completely, and take back the places that should be taken, not losing an inch!"

"Good! With your words, I can rest assured!" Commander Zhou Keming patted his old comrade's shoulder hard. "I will guard the rear, and there will be no mistakes. You don't need to be distracted by logistics; I will ensure that supplies are unobstructed. You just let go and fight hard!"

Qianzhou

Jiang Xin's order was issued, and Qianzhou Base, this war machine, began to operate efficiently.

A large number of armored personnel carriers, military trucks, oil tankers, and engineering vehicles, like tributaries joining a river, roared and gathered along the main road toward the Shaocheng's east gate.

The news spread like wildfire, and countless civilians spontaneously poured onto the streets, crowding the sidewalks on both sides of the main road and even the windows of the buildings along the street. They craned their necks, determined to witness with their own eyes the heroic posture of this heroic army setting out.

"Rumble—!"

The thunderous roar of engines approached from afar, shaking the ground slightly, and the air was filled with the smell of diesel and steel.

The tank cluster, like steel behemoths, drove at the very front of the team! apocalypse tanks, tesla tanks, rhino heavy tanks, and grizzly medium tanks surged like a torrent of steel, their heavy treads crushing the asphalt road, making a "crack, crack" tearing sound.

Some tanks had their engine hoods opened, and soldiers stood straight on the vehicles, holding steel guns, looking ahead with firm eyes.

There were also soldiers holding bright red flags; that splash of red was particularly striking in the torrent of steel, igniting the hot blood in everyone's hearts.

Immediately after, it was the even more shocking mecha formation! Various combat mechas were marching with uniform, heavy, and rhythmic steps, "Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Every time the giant metal feet landed, it made the gravel on the road bounce slightly; that visually impactful sense of power made all the onlookers' hearts surge, unable to control themselves.

This army, powerful beyond imagination, was their guardian deity, the sharpest spear piercing the darkness of the apocalypse, and the strongest shield protecting the human race! With such an army here, what is there to fear in the apocalypse?

"So many cars, such big robots! Mom! Look! It's the soldier uncles, so cool! When I grow up, I also want to join the army, drive a mecha, kill all those monsters, and avenge my dad!" A boy of about ten years old tugged hard on his mother's clothes, looking up with a small face, his eyes filled with tears, yet flashing with an incomparably firm light, shouting in a childish but clear voice.

The young mother heard this, and her eyes instantly turned red. She squatted down, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, gently stroked the child's hair, her voice choked but full of encouragement: "Okay! Good boy! Such ambition! Then you must eat well, study hard, and in the future, get into our 'Red Alert University Military Academy', so you can be like these uncles, drive cars, drive mechas, protect our home, and avenge your dad and everyone killed by the monsters!"

"Where is our army going? Such a big battle formation?" A middle-aged man stood on tiptoe, curiously asking the person next to him.

A young man wearing glasses, looking like an intellectual, pushed up his glasses and said in a low voice: "I heard they are going south to recapture part of Lingnan! Our Legion received a mission from the Southern Military Region to cooperate in combat."

"Fart of a mission!" A young man next to him, wearing work clothes and with a slightly hot temper, immediately retorted, "That's called cooperation! Equal strategic cooperation! Although our Commander-in-Chief Jiang's military rank is not high yet, what kind of strength does our Red Alert Legion have? It's the high-end military technology research base that even the National Government has to rely on! It has produced the most powerful weapons and equipment now; we are not a subordinate unit of his Southern Military Region!"

"My God... This mecha is really too cool! If I could just go up and touch it, drive it once, this life would be worth it!" A young man looking like a college student had eyes full of infinite longing and envy.

"Who says it isn't! It's too majestic!" His companion next to him echoed excitedly, "You guys haven't seen them fight with your own eyes! Last time the mecha squad came to our town to clear zombies, I hid in the distance and saw it! That scene, unforgettable for a lifetime! That laser sword, 'buzz', swept over, and more than a dozen zombies were instantly cut in two! And that blaze's flamethrower, thunderbolt's current gun... My god, it feels like watching a sci-fi blockbuster, no, even more exciting than a sci-fi film!"

The crowd was chattering and discussing.

The huge army of eight regiments, along with its attached armored vehicles and logistics units, took several hours to leave the Shaocheng.

However, the enthusiasm of the Qianzhou people did not diminish at all. Shouts, cheers, applause, and children's cheers rose one after another, forming an impassioned and magnificent symphony.

Especially those whose relatives had died at the mouths of zombies, they shouted with tears in their eyes, their voices hoarse. They used all their strength to wave flags and red scarves, cheering for this heroic army that carried their endless hope and flames of revenge, sending their most sincere blessings.

This heroic army would sow hope further south, and in the near future, not just Xijiang and Lingnan, but the entire China.