97: The arrival of the Red Alert army

Jiang Xin held 180,000 in funds. He first invested 12,000 gold to build three chinook armed transport helicopters, significantly enhancing the base's aerial transport capabilities. Next, he spent 65,000 gold to form a full-strength battalion and an additional 15,600 gold to equip it with vehicles for enhanced mobility: six kamikaze trucks, ten armored personnel carriers, and a force consisting of two rhino tanks and three grizzly tanks.

This military expansion cost a total of 92,600 gold, leaving a remaining balance of 87,400 gold for the time being. After leaving behind the necessary city defense troops, Jiang Xin decisively ordered: all four main battalions of the Lujiang City base were to move out in full force, advancing with all their might toward Hongshan University in the Old City District! They were to seize most of the Old City District with thunderous momentum and rescue the trapped survivors.

Using helicopters to ferry people back and forth from Hongshan University was inefficient; six chinooks could only transport 300 people at a time. A better solution was to air-drop elite troops to garrison Hongshan University! This would turn the institution into a solid stronghold wedged behind the zombie hordes, allowing for a pincer attack from both inside and out to wipe out the zombie threat occupying the Old City District and completely reclaim the lost territory!

... "Principal! Good news! Incredible news!" A young student practically burst through the door of the principal's office, his face flushed with ecstasy and his voice trembling with excitement. "The Lujiang Base! The Red Alert Legion! They... they've replied!"

"Good! That's wonderful!" Behind the desk, Hongshan University's Principal Li stood up abruptly. This man, who should have been in the prime of his forties, already had frost-white hair at his temples, and deep wrinkles spoke of the torment he had endured over the past month. As one of the first batch of awakened Power Evolvers, he had not looked out only for himself. Instead, he had used his own body as a shield, leading the teachers and students to survive in a desperate situation, like a captain pouring out his heart and soul to keep the thousands of survivors at Hongshan University together on this final island of safety.

"What did they say? Tell me quickly!" Principal Li's voice carried an imperceptible tremor, and a spark of hope instantly ignited in his eyes.

"The army said they will immediately send a helicopter unit to assist in the defense! They'll also bring much-needed supplies!" The student spoke rapidly, every word leaping with excitement. "More importantly, their main ground force has already broken through numerous obstacles and advanced to a position less than six kilometers from Hongshan University! They've asked us to hold out for another day or two! At that time, they will coordinate with us for an internal and external pincer attack to launch a general offensive. The goal is—to completely reclaim the entire Old City District!" This news was like a shot of adrenaline, instantly surging into Principal Li's suppressed heart.

"Good! Good! The country... the country is finally here! The country hasn't forgotten us!" Principal Li wiped his eyes forcefully with his withered hands, yet tears welled up uncontrollably. He looked at the young face before him and said in a raspy but firm voice, "You are the future of the country! Now that the army is here, you'll be safe! Remember, in the future, you must fully cooperate with the army to rebuild our home!" For the sake of these thousands of fresh lives at Hongshan University, he had been exhausted with worry and unable to sleep at night. At this moment, those nerves that had been stretched to the limit finally felt a long-awaited sense of relaxation... At the Hongshan University gate.

The wind wailed, kicking up dust. Principal Li stood at the very front like a monolith, surrounded by over twenty Evolvers of varying auras—young teachers and students alike. Anxiety was palpable, permeating every face looking into the distance; their gazes pierced through the ruins, staring fixedly at the smoke-filled horizon.

Principal Li had never thought of monopolizing the crystal cores that had been bought with the blood of the school's teachers and students. He had unhesitatingly distributed them fairly among those who fought alongside him. It was this selflessness that had produced these twenty-plus Evolvers with emerging abilities at Hongshan University.

Just as everyone was waiting in anxious anticipation, a low and powerful roar, like muffled thunder, rolled in from the gray horizon, growing closer! The sound amplified rapidly, evolving into a violent boom that tore through the air!

"They're here! Look over there!" Everyone looked up sharply, their hearts pounding! They saw four murderous hind attack helicopters painted in military camouflage, like falcons diving at low altitude, escorting six massive chinook armed transport helicopters that resembled aerial carriages. The helicopter formation tore through the smoke, roaring toward Hongshan University with overwhelming momentum! The steel fuselages reflected the cold light, and the roar of the engines was the most heart-stirring war drum at that moment!

"They're here! They're really here!" a young teacher cried out, his waving arm trembling with excitement.

"Finally... we've waited for this day!" A middle-aged teacher instantly burst into tears; it was an outpouring of ecstasy and relief that had been suppressed for far too long.

The chinook helicopters landed steadily on the ground with precise operation, kicking up clouds of dust; the others hovered steadily in the low sky like giant steel birds, their massive rotors churning the air and creating strong wind pressure that made people's clothes flutter wildly.

The cabin doors swung open with a bang!

Two companies of fully armed soldiers, like a breached flood of steel, leapt out of the cabins with dazzling speed and impeccable tactical discipline! Their movements were perfectly synchronized; their helmets, firearms, and tactical gear glinted with a cold metallic luster in the light. A chilling aura of iron blood, prowess, and absolute discipline instantly swept across the scene!

Looking at these Red Alert soldiers who were as upright as pines, possessing magnificent momentum and heroic bearings, all the teachers and students at the school gate were deeply shaken by this powerful aura! It was as if an incredibly intense light had suddenly pierced through the long-shrouded haze of despair! The dawn of hope had never descended so tangibly! The days of fighting a lone battle were over! Behind them, they finally had a power they could rely on, like a Great Wall of steel!

Amidst this moment of collective bated breath, a vigorous figure leapt out from the cabin of a hind attack helicopter! In mid-air, a pair of starkly different, massive wings suddenly unfurled—the left wing was an Ice Crystal Wing condensed with ghostly blue frost, while the right was a Flame Feather Wing rising with scorching red flames! Ice and fire, two majestic powers intertwined behind him, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure! Like a messenger commanding the storm, he used this strange and powerful pair of wings to land steadily on the ground, kicking up a small circle of dust.

"Heavens!" This sight caused all the teachers and students present to gasp, staring dumbfounded! Most of them were merely ordinary First-Tier Evolvers, with only two Summoners among them who could only summon wolves or leopards. When had they ever seen such shocking, transcendent power?

"Is... is this the commander of the army? So strong! He's definitely a Second-Tier Powerhouse!" a student muttered to himself, his eyes filled with awe and yearning.

Principal Li suppressed the surging waves in his heart and hurried forward, extending his slightly trembling hands to firmly grasp Zhang Lei's steady and powerful hand. "Comrade Major! Finally... we've finally been hoping for you! I am the principal of Hongshan University, surnamed Li." Before he could finish his sentence, tears once again flowed uncontrollably.

"There is no need for such formalities, Principal Li. Protecting the people is the duty of a soldier." A gentle yet firm smile appeared on Zhang Lei's face, his voice steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable sense of reliability. He gave Principal Li's hand a firm squeeze in return.

"My name is Zhang. Let the troops go in and set up defenses first!" Zhang Lei immediately turned around and issued clear instructions to the soldiers standing like spears behind him, his voice suddenly turning sharp: "All personnel! Move out immediately! Establish defenses at the fastest speed! Ensure the absolute safety of the campus! Move!"

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the surrounding fields! They then launched like a precision war machine, dispersing with incredible efficiency and rapport to head toward their respective combat positions. Their movements were swift, precise, and neat, and an aura of efficiency and lethal intent spread out.

Principal Li silently watched these fast and determined camouflaged figures, and the heavy stone that had been hanging in his heart for so long finally dropped most of the way. A long-awaited sense of peace appeared in his exhausted eyes. With such an elite army guarding it, the crumbling fortress of Hongshan University was finally as solid as a city of gold.

"Principal Li," Zhang Lei's voice pulled him back to reality, "arrange for some students to come and move the supplies. I imagine everyone is very hungry." He pointed to the mountain of boxes and parcels piled in the belly of the chinooks. "Today, let everyone have a full meal!"

Principal Li looked in that direction, and a massive light of surprise instantly erupted in his eyes! He nodded repeatedly in excitement, his voice choked with emotion: "Thank you! Thank you so much, Comrade Zhang! The army... truly is our savior!" He pointed toward the depths of the campus, his voice full of heartache: "These days, the stored food has been decreasing day by day... we could only give limited rations... the children... haven't had a full meal in a long time..." At this point, the principal, who had held on for over a month, could no longer restrain himself, and tears rolled down. It was the accumulated bitterness and the current surge of solace.

Zhang Lei looked at Principal Li's weather-beaten face and striking white hair, feeling a deep sense of respect. This premature aging was the mark of a life burned to protect thousands.

"Principal Li," Zhang Lei's voice was low and solemn, "you've worked hard this past month; it hasn't been easy. The matters from here on," his gaze swept across the rapidly forming defensive line and toward the students, his tone resolute, "leave them to us!"

"It wasn't hard, it wasn't hard..." Principal Li waved his hands hurriedly, forcefully wiping away his tears and struggling to squeeze out a smile. That smile was a mixture of exhaustion, relief, and deep expectation for the future. "For these children... it was all worth it! All worth it!"