Chapter 34 Outwitting the Enemy
The "one day for consideration" granted by "Rock Camp" was like a cold, sharp blade hanging overhead, offering no respite but instead making the air within the fortress stagnant with a heavy sense of high alert. Wen Yu wasted not a single second.
He knew perfectly well that the other side's so-called "considerations" were nothing more than a final reconnaissance and preparation before the attack. Under the laws of the apocalypse, compromise and retreat would only be seen as weakness, inviting an even more ferocious devouring.
He needed a clean and decisive "performance" to intimidate the enemy, not only to repel the attackers but also to completely dispel any remaining covetousness towards the fortress. A head-on confrontation was too risky; he needed to outsmart them, utilizing all the advantages of the fortress and every "accident" he and Su Ran could create.
"They will definitely come back, and they will be prepared." Wen Yu said to Su Ran in the war room, with a detailed topographical map of the fortress and a list of possible enemy attack routes spread out in front of him. "A direct assault on the entrance would be too costly. They might try to infiltrate from multiple points to find weak points in the defenses, or they might use explosives."
Su Ran listened attentively, pointing to several locations on the map: "It's difficult for them to climb up the cliff on the back mountain, but it's not entirely impossible if they have professional climbing equipment and ropes. The rocky slope on the east side is difficult to traverse, but they can use the rocks for cover to approach the wall. Also... the exit of the underground drainage culvert, although hidden and fenced, could become a breakthrough point if it is located."
His analysis was meticulous and coincided perfectly with Wen Yu's judgment. A hint of approval flashed in Wen Yu's eyes, and he continued, "We need to create enough'surprises' for them where they try to break through, disrupt their rhythm, and at the same time demonstrate that we have a counterattack capability that they cannot withstand."
"A surprise?" Su Ran's eyes lit up slightly, as if she had thought of something. "Brother Yu, do you remember those 'treasures' I found when I was mixing deworming medicine kits before?"
Wen Yu raised an eyebrow: "Speak."
Su Ran immediately ran to the warehouse and quickly returned carrying several sealed glass jars and a cloth bag. He opened one of the jars; inside was some kind of dry, grayish-green, fluffy substance. "This is pollen I collected from a special kind of thorny bush on the back mountain. I dried and ground it up. If this stuff gets on your skin, it's incredibly itchy, lasting for hours, and scratching it can easily lead to infection. I tried a little bit and almost scratched my skin raw," he said, still shaken. He then opened the cloth bag, which contained some dried, strangely colored mushroom fragments and a mixture of several kinds of dried grasses he couldn't identify. "The smoke produced when this is burned will cause severe coughing, watery eyes, and temporary blindness if you inhale even a little bit. It's not fatal, but it's definitely uncomfortable."
He then took out several small devices made from plastic bottles and electronic components: "These are noise generators. I modified them from old motorcycle alarms and vibration circuits. They can emit extremely harsh, irregular high-frequency noise. If emitted in a directional manner, they are enough to cause temporary deafness and dizziness at close range."
Looking at these seemingly simple yet ingenious and practical "little gadgets," Wen Yu's coldness softened slightly, even revealing a faint smile. Su Ran always managed to surprise him.
"Pollen and smoke can be dispersed using throwable or trigger-based devices. Noise generators need to be discreetly installed, in conjunction with infrared or vibration sensors." He quickly devised an application plan, "We need to deploy them in advance along several possible infiltration routes."
"I'll do it!" Su Ran was eager to try, her face radiating a different kind of brilliance as she prepared for the "battle," which eased her nervousness.
Over the next dozen or so hours, the two worked together efficiently, dividing tasks among themselves. Wen Yu was responsible for adjusting the fortress's automatic defense system, optimizing fire coverage, and activating several reserved, never-before-used "special" defense modules—including an area generator capable of instantly releasing high-intensity electromagnetic pulses to interfere with simple electronic devices, and a non-lethal impact device capable of creating small-scale sonic oscillations.
Su Ran then transformed into a "trap master," and under Wen Yu's guidance and cover, he used the cover of night and camouflage to lay his "masterpieces" at several key points on the outskirts of the fortress. He mixed itchy pollen with fine sand, filled thin-shelled capsules with miniature pressure sensors or hair clips, and buried them under fallen leaves and loose soil.
The blinding smoke mixture is placed in a specially designed disposable smoke generator and connected to a thermal or sound trigger. The noise generator is cleverly installed in rock crevices or among tree branches, disguised as a natural object, and connected to a passive infrared detector covering a small area.
He also ingeniously mixed a certain strong industrial glue from his inventory with extremely fine glass fiber powder and applied it to several sections of easily climbable rock surfaces and drainage fences near the wall. Once dry, it was transparent and colorless, but once it got on his skin, it was extremely difficult to remove and would embed itself in the skin with friction, causing persistent stinging and difficulty in movement.
The two men barely slept a wink all night, but their eyes grew ever clearer and sharper. This was a silent battle concerning the survival of their homeland, and they had to give it their all.
The next day, just after the agreed-upon "deadline," the "Rock Camp" arrived as expected. And their numbers far exceeded the previous reconnaissance team. More than fifty men, divided into several small squads, fanned out towards the fortress from different directions. They carried far more equipment: in addition to automatic rifles, two light machine guns appeared, and even an old-fashioned rocket launcher! Several men also carried heavy backpacks, clearly filled with demolition equipment.
This time, the scarred man didn't shout anything; he simply stood at a safe observation point at the rear, coldly watching the fortress. Clearly, they had given up on "negotiation" and were prepared to settle things with force.
The attack began with a sharp whistle. Machine gun and rifle bullets rained down on the fortress gates and several key firing positions, crackling and sparking as they struck the bulletproof armor in an attempt to suppress the enemy. Simultaneously, several demolition teams, under cover from their comrades, rapidly advanced towards the walls, searching for locations to plant explosives.
However, their actions were full of "unexpected events" from the very beginning.
As a demolition team approached the rocky slope on the east side, the seemingly ordinary layer of fallen leaves under their feet suddenly exploded with a "poof," releasing a cloud of grayish-green dust that instantly enveloped the three of them.
"Cough cough! What the hell is that?!"
"Ouch! It itches! On my face! On my hands!"
The three men screamed in agony, dropped the explosives, and frantically scratched their faces and hands. The pollen mixed with sweat intensified the itching, almost rendering them unable to fight.
Another squad attempting to approach through a crevice in the rocks triggered a hidden tripwire.
"laugh--!"
Thick, pungent yellow smoke suddenly billowed out from a crack in the rock, heading straight for the group's faces.
"My eyes! I can't see!"
"Cough cough cough! Ugh—!"
The men immediately burst into tears and snot, coughed violently and gagged, and retreated in a sorry state. The smoke also interfered with the visibility of the observation post behind them.
The team attempting to climb the cliff behind the mountain fared even worse. After climbing just a few meters with the help of ropes, their palms and arms were covered in a transparent, colorless "glue mixture." Initially, it was only a slight stickiness, but as they continued climbing, the friction intensified, and tiny glass fibers began to pierce their skin, causing intense, unbearable stinging and burning sensations.
"Ouch—! Something's prickly!"
"Damn it! There's something wrong with this stone!"
The two screamed and let go, almost falling. Their palms and arms were covered with tiny red spots, both painful and itchy, making it impossible for them to exert any more force.
What alarmed the "Rock Base" team even more was the fortress's calm and precise counterattack. It wasn't aimless spraying; rather, it came from several well-concealed firing ports. Each short burst accurately struck the front of the charging team, or destroyed the machine gun tripods they were trying to set up, forcing them to constantly seek cover and completely disrupting their offensive rhythm. The firing ports were strategically positioned, with overlapping fire, clearly meticulously designed.
"Boss! This place is weird! There are traps everywhere! And their marksmanship is excellent!" A small leader with a swollen face, constantly scratching himself, rolled up to the scarred man and reported.
The scarred man's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected the fortress's defenses to be so formidable, not only formidable but also rife with insidious and cunning tactics, causing his men to lose nearly a third of their fighting force before even engaging the enemy, severely damaging their morale.
Just as he gritted his teeth and prepared to order a full-scale assault using rocket launchers and explosives at all costs, another unexpected event occurred!
On the top floor of the fortress, a camouflaged platform suddenly opened, and a modified drone equipped with a small loudspeaker quickly took off, hovering at an altitude beyond the effective range of machine gun fire.
Immediately afterwards, a processed, cold, and ruthless voice, transmitted clearly through the drone's loudspeaker, resounded throughout the entire battlefield, even reaching the ears of those at the "Rock Base" in the rear:
"Everyone in 'Rock Camp,' attacking private property will have consequences."
"Your stronghold is well-positioned, nestled against a mountain valley, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Unfortunately, there are too many elderly, weak, women, and children left behind. There's a feverish child in the third blue tent on the east side, a woman washing clothes by the well on the west side, and a few little ones playing with pebbles under that old truck in the middle of the camp..."
As the words were spoken, the small projection device beneath the drone projected several somewhat blurry but recognizable real-time images onto a relatively flat rock wall on the flank of the battlefield! The images showed scenes inside the "Rock Camp." Although the distance was far and the details were unclear, the descriptions of the characters' activities and locations eerily matched the content broadcast by the drone!
"!!!"
Everyone in "Rock Rock Camp," including the scarred man, felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, all color draining from their faces! How could the other side know the situation inside the camp? And with such specific details? Did they have an ambush planned? Or was there a traitor within? Even more terrifying was the fact that the other side clearly had the capability to remotely monitor and even attack their stronghold! That was where their family and comrades lived—the camp's most vulnerable rear!
Their psychological defenses completely collapsed at this moment. Their advance was thwarted, traps lurked everywhere, and their homeland was being spied on and even threatened. Continuing the fight, even if they managed to break through this defensive barrier, would come at a price they could not afford.
"Stop! Stop!" the scarred man roared hoarsely, his voice trembling slightly. He stared intently at the drone circling overhead, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief.
The gunfire gradually subsided sporadically. The morale of the attacking side had collapsed, and everyone stared in fear and unease at the image projected onto the rock face—an image that concerned their Achilles' heel.
The voice from the drone sounded again, still cold, but carrying the implication of an ultimatum:
"This is the first and last warning."
"Get out of my territory."
"If you dare to come any closer," the voice paused, chillingly cold, "the next projection won't be an image."
As soon as he finished speaking, the drone nimbly swooped down and flew over the heads of the people at "Rock Camp," startling them into ducking for cover. The drone did not attack; instead, as it flew past, it dropped dozens of small, waterproof slips of paper with blurry photos of several key areas inside "Rock Camp."
Humiliation, coupled with blatant and precise threats.
The scarred man's face was ashen, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, but ultimately, all his anger and resentment turned to powerlessness in the face of extreme fear for the safety of the rear camp. He stared intently at the silent and terrifying fortress, and forced out a single word through clenched teeth:
"withdraw!"
The people of "Rock Camp" felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They no longer cared about formation or equipment. Supporting their injured, poisoned, and unbearably itchy companions, they fled in a disheveled state, much faster than when they arrived, and quickly disappeared into the mountains and forests, as if they were being chased by evil spirits.
Inside the fortress, Wen Yu watched the fleeing enemy on the monitor screen, his eyes still cold. He piloted the drone back to confirm that the enemy had indeed moved far away and was retreating in the direction of their camp.
"Brother Yu, will they... really give up?" Su Ran walked to his side, her face still flushed from the fierce battle and a hint of uncertainty on her face. The psychological warfare and image projection she had just witnessed had truly shocked him.
"They wouldn't dare in the short term." Wen Yu turned off the external projection, his voice cold and deep. "They don't know our strengths and weaknesses, and they are even more wary of the threat we pose to their rear. But the seeds of hatred and greed have already been sown. As long as this fortress stands, as long as we still possess these resources, we will always attract prying eyes."
He turned around, looked at Su Ran, and said with a firm look in his eyes: "Therefore, we must completely cut off this path."
Su Ran was slightly taken aback: "The road is blocked?"
Wen Yu didn't explain, but simply took his hand: "Come with me, I need your help with the final preparations."
Half an hour later, deep within the fortress, in a rarely used equipment room, Wen Yu activated a separate control console. The screen displayed a detailed 3D topographical map of the area surrounding Cuiping Mountain, highlighting several main, winding paths leading up the mountain and several hidden trails that could be utilized.
"This is one of the final safety measures reserved in the design of the fortress." Wen Yu pointed to the coordinates of several preset blasting points on the screen. "Directional blasting, using the mountain structure, will create controlled collapses and rockfalls, completely sealing off all conventional access routes up the mountain. In the future, apart from the few absolutely secret emergency passages that we know of, it will become extremely difficult, or even impossible, for outsiders to approach the fortress on a large scale."
Su Ran gasped. Was this meant to completely "bury" him on the mountain? But then he understood Wen Yu's resolve. Only in this way could they deter potential enemies to the greatest extent and secure lasting peace. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.
"I need you to help me review the geological data and blasting yield calculations for these points to ensure that an uncontrollable landslide won't occur, endangering the fortress itself." Wen Yu handed Su Ran a complex parameter table. Su Ran's meticulousness and solid foundation in mathematics and physics came in handy at this moment.
Su Ran solemnly accepted the instrument and, without any hesitation, immediately began calculating. The two worked in perfect harmony at the control panel, one giving calm instructions and the other rapidly verifying the calculations, their movements as precise as a delicate surgical procedure.
After confirming that all parameters were correct and the demolition plan was foolproof, Wen Yu pressed the final confirmation button.
"Initiating the final lockdown procedure. Countdown: ten, nine, eight..."
Deep, powerful synthesized sounds echoed between the devices.
"...Three, two, one. Detonate."
There was no deafening roar, but through pre-installed vibration sensors and external cameras, the two could clearly see that the lines representing several mountain roads on the screen simultaneously experienced violent, dust-filled collapses and blockages at several preset locations.
Large chunks of rock rolled down, and soil and trees collapsed, quickly burying, twisting, and completely severing the paths that might have led to the fortress.
After the dust settled, the 3D terrain map on the screen had changed. Cuiping Mountain Fortress had truly become an isolated island fortress, a place where one could only enter and not leave. The only way out was through those few extremely secret emergency passages held by Wen Yu and Su Ran.
Wen Yu shut down the control panel, and the equipment room fell silent. He turned around and looked at Su Ran.
Su Ran looked at him, her eyes devoid of fear or regret, only a calm that had settled, and a deeper sense of reliance. He stepped forward, gently took Wen Yu's hand, and whispered, "From now on, this place will truly be just the two of us."
Wen Yu gripped her hand tightly, pulling her into his embrace. He gently rested his chin on the top of Su Ran's head, his voice low and firm: "Yes. Our world."
Outside the fortress, the road leading to this place has become a sheer cliff. Inside the fortress, the two people who depend on each other for survival have become even more deeply connected and unbreakable after fighting off foreign enemies together and cutting off their own escape route.