50: Not one can be missing!

Xie Jinyuan crouched in front of the map.

His fingers pressed hard against the map, his knuckles turning white. He stared at the thick line representing the New Lujiadu Bridge, fixed on the firepower markers at both ends. His lips were pursed tightly.

The rain outside fell harder and harder, drumming loudly against the wooden planks.

He took a deep breath.

He was about to speak.

Preparing to give that order. The order that would send five men to their deaths, nine men to gamble with their lives, and leave the rest to wait for the end.

He opened his mouth.

But before a sound could come out.

Chen Xi walked over from behind the crowd.

His steps were steady, crunching on the broken bricks. The Soldiers made way, watching him. He walked to the map and crouched down.

Opposite Xie Jinyuan.

"Regimental Commander," he said.

Xie Jinyuan looked up.

Chen Xi didn't look at him. His eyes were on the map, his finger pointing at it. He pointed at Suzhou Creek, at the blank space between the warehouse and the opposite bank.

"We aren't taking the bridge," he said.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear amidst the sound of the rain.

Xie Jinyuan frowned. "Not taking the bridge? Then where? Swim across? I just said—"

"No swimming," Chen Xi interrupted him.

His finger traced a line across the map. From the roof of the warehouse to the roof of a three-story building on the opposite bank. A straight line crossing the river.

"We fly across," he said.

Xie Jinyuan was stunned.

The officers nearby were also stunned.

Shangguan Zhibiao's mouth hung open slightly, but no sound came out.

The Scar-faced Platoon Leader blinked, thinking he had misheard.

Chen Xi didn't explain.

He pulled a spool of wire from his coat and placed it on the map. The spool was heavy, made of wood, and wound with silver-gray wire. The wire glinted with a metallic sheen under the oil lamp.

"What's this?" the Scar-faced Platoon Leader leaned in to look.

"A cableway," Chen Xi said. "We'll set it up across the river, and people will slide across."

"A cableway?" the Scar-faced Platoon Leader's voice rose. "With such a thin wire? Can it hold a person?"

"It can."

"How do we set it up?"

Chen Xi didn't answer. He picked up the spool and stood up. He walked to the gap in the wall and looked toward the opposite bank. Through the curtain of rain, the three-story building was blurry, its outline barely visible.

"I need cover," he said. "Feint an attack on the bridgehead to draw the Japanese Army's fire. The more noise, the better."

Xie Jinyuan also stood up.

He looked at Chen Xi, then at the spool.

"Mr. Chen," he said. "Can this thing... really work?"

"It can."

"How can you prove it?"

Chen Xi turned and looked at him.

"Regimental Commander," he said. "When Little Chen died, you asked me if that sickle could be mass-produced. I said no. You believed me."

Xie Jinyuan remained silent.

"That spray—you asked if it was immortal magic. I said no. You believed me then, too."

Chen Xi paused.

"Now, this thing can save lives. Do you believe me?"

Xie Jinyuan stared at him.

He watched him for five seconds.

Then he nodded.

"I believe you."

He turned to the Scar-faced Platoon Leader and said, "As per the original plan, feint an attack on the bridgehead. But the mission has changed. It's not a suicide mission; it's to create chaos. Hold the Japanese Army back for as long as possible."

The Scar-faced Platoon Leader stood at attention. "Yes, sir!"

"Take everything that makes noise. Grenades, explosives, iron buckets—make as much of a racket as you can."

"Understood!"

The Scar-faced Platoon Leader led his men away.

Xie Jinyuan looked at Shangguan Zhibiao. "Take a few men and help Mr. Chen set it up. Whatever he needs, just say the word."

Shangguan Zhibiao nodded.

Chen Xi had already begun to move.

Holding the spool, he went upstairs. He reached the third floor and continued up to the rooftop platform.

The rain was heavy, drenching his clothes in an instant. The wind was also strong, making it hard to stand steady.

He walked to the edge of the platform.

He looked down.

The river surface shimmered faintly in the darkness. The roof of the small building on the opposite bank was flat, with no railings. The distance... he estimated it to be about a hundred and fifty meters.

He crouched and placed the spool on the ground.

He opened a cover on the side. Inside were several buttons and a screen. The screen lit up, displaying the system interface.

【Cableway Installation System Starting】

【Please select Anchor Point A】

Chen Xi secured the spool to the edge of the platform. He tied it tightly with rope, knotted it, and pulled it taut. Then he picked up a small device from the front of the spool; it looked like a pistol but was thicker.

【Anchor Point A fixed】

【Please aim at Target Point B】

He raised the device and aimed at the roof of the building across the river. A red dot at the front of the device projected outward, forming a thin beam of light through the rain.

The beam landed on the rooftop of the building.

It wavered.

He steadied his hand.

The beam was aimed at the center of the roof.

【Target Point B locked】

【Distance: 148 meters】

【Estimated installation time: 12 seconds】

【Confirm?】

Chen Xi pressed the confirmation button.

The device vibrated once.

Then it emitted a faint hum. The sound was low but continuous. The spool began to spin, and the silver-gray wire was pulled out, shooting toward the opposite bank along the path of the light beam.

The wire was very thin, almost invisible in the rain.

Only the sound could be heard. Sss—like a steel wire slicing through the air.

Eight seconds.

Ten seconds.

The humming stopped.

System prompt: 【Main Cable installation complete】.

Chen Xi looked toward the opposite bank.

He couldn't see anything. But he knew that a cable, so thin it was almost invisible, now connected the two rooftops.

He pressed another button.

Two small boxes popped out from the side of the spool. He opened them to find pulleys and hooks. There were also several safety ropes.

Shangguan Zhibiao arrived with his men.

"Is it ready?" he asked, panting.

"The Main Cable is ready," Chen Xi said. "Install the pulleys."

Shangguan Zhibiao crouched and picked up a pulley. It was light, made of metal, with a smooth surface. Following Chen Xi's instructions, he snapped the pulley onto the cable.

With a click, it locked into place.

Next was the safety rope. One end was clipped to the pulley, and the other was a waist harness.

"Two people at a time," Chen Xi said. "The total weight cannot exceed three hundred jin. It takes about twenty seconds to slide across. Once you reach the other side, unbuckle the harness, and the pulley will automatically spring back."

"Automatically spring back?" Shangguan Zhibiao's eyes widened.

"Yes."

"How... what's the principle behind this?"

"Don't ask," Chen Xi said. "As long as it works."

The sound of an explosion came from downstairs.

Boom!

Then came the sound of gunfire. It was dense, like popping beans. There were also shouts, in Japanese and Chinese, all mixed together.

The feint had begun.

Chen Xi looked at Xie Jinyuan.

Xie Jinyuan stood at the top of the stairs, soaked to the bone, but his back was straight. He looked at Chen Xi.

"Mr. Chen," he said.

Chen Xi walked over.

"Regimental Commander, you go first."

Xie Jinyuan shook his head. "The wounded go first."

"You're the commander; you need to get across first."

"This is an order," Xie Jinyuan's voice was firm. "The wounded, the female Soldiers, then the others. I'll be last."

Chen Xi looked at him.

He didn't argue further.

"Shangguan," he said. "Bring the men up. In pairs, get ready."

The first wounded Soldier was carried up.

His left leg was broken and fixed with wooden boards. His face was pale, but he was still conscious.

Chen Xi put the harness on him. He buckled it tight and checked the lock.

"Hold on tight," he said. "Don't let go. Look straight ahead, don't look down."

The wounded Soldier nodded, his lips trembling.

The second was a lightly wounded Soldier with an arm injury who could walk on his own.

He also put on a harness.

The two stood at the edge of the platform.

Chen Xi pressed the button.

The pulley slid out along the cable.

It was fast.

The two disappeared into the curtain of rain.

Twenty seconds later.

A flashlight flickered on the opposite roof. It flashed three times.

Safe arrival.

The pulley automatically sprang back, stopping at the edge of the platform with a click.

Next group.

Two female Soldiers. From the Medical Team, both quite young, with mud on their faces but bright eyes.

Harnesses on, checked, and they set off.

The flashlight flashed.

The next group.

One wounded Soldier plus one escort.

Group after group.

The gunfire downstairs grew denser. Explosions were constant. The Japanese Soldiers were shouting and screaming.

Chen Xi stood by the platform, looking at the opposite bank.

The rain hit his face, icy cold.

His hands were steady as he checked buckle after buckle.

As the seventh group went across, the flashlight on the other side flashed twice, paused, and then flashed once more.

The signal had changed.

Chen Xi frowned.

"Is there a problem?" Shangguan Zhibiao asked.

"I don't know," Chen Xi said. "Continue."

Eighth group.

Ninth group.

Six people remained.

Chen Xi, Shangguan Zhibiao, Xie Jinyuan, and three wounded Soldiers.

The gunfire downstairs suddenly stopped.

Then a whistle blew. Sharp and piercing.

The Japanese Army was regrouping.

"They've found out," Shangguan Zhibiao said.

Chen Xi didn't speak.

He helped a wounded Soldier to the edge of the platform. He put on the harness. The Soldier's legs were shaking; he couldn't stand steady.

"Don't be afraid," Chen Xi said. "It'll be quick."

The Soldier nodded and gritted his teeth.

They set off.

The flashlight flashed.

Safe.

Five left.

On the roof across the river, figures were waving. Signalling to hurry up.

Chen Xi looked at Xie Jinyuan.

"Regimental Commander, it's your turn."

Xie Jinyuan shook his head. "You two go first."

"Regimental Commander—"

"This is an order."

Chen Xi stared at him.

Then he nodded.

"Shangguan, you take this wounded Soldier across."

Shangguan Zhibiao wanted to say something, but Chen Xi's gaze stopped him.

He helped the wounded Soldier up, put on the harness, and set off.

The flashlight flashed.

Three left.

Chen Xi, Xie Jinyuan, and the last wounded Soldier.

The wounded Soldier had been shot in the back and was lying on a stretcher. He was drifting in and out of consciousness, but he was still alive.

Chen Xi secured the harness to the stretcher. He fixed it in place.

"Regimental Commander," he said. "You go with him."

Xie Jinyuan frowned. "How can—"

"It can bear the weight," Chen Xi said. "Quickly."

Xie Jinyuan looked at the wounded Soldier on the stretcher.

Then he looked at Chen Xi.

Then he nodded.

He crouched down and gripped the edge of the stretcher.

Chen Xi pressed the button.

The pulley slid out.

The two, along with the stretcher, disappeared into the rain.

The flashlight flashed.

Safe.

The platform was empty.

Only Chen Xi was left.

The rain continued to fall.

Footsteps echoed from downstairs. Many of them, hurried. The Japanese shouts were getting closer and closer.

The Japanese Army was coming up.

Chen Xi walked to the edge of the platform.

He looked toward the opposite bank.

The flashlight was flashing urgently.

He picked up the last harness.

He put it on himself.

He buckled it tight.

Then he turned and looked toward the stairwell.

Figures had already appeared there. Helmets, bayonets, khaki-colored uniforms.

The Japanese Soldiers were charging up.

Chen Xi looked at them.

Then he took a step back.

Into the empty air.

The pulley slid.

He slid toward the opposite bank through the curtain of rain.

The wind howled in his ears.

The rain stung his face.

He looked down.

The river surface was dark, like an abyss.

He looked ahead.

On the opposite roof, the flashlight was waving.

He listened behind him.

Gunfire rang out from the warehouse roof. The Japanese Soldiers were shouting.

His lips moved slightly.

His voice was very soft, scattered by the wind.

But he said it.

"Not a single one less."