With Captain Li and his team's help, the difficulty was obviously greatly reduced.

Jiang Tiecheng and his group watched the people leave, while the people on the four sleds behind looked solemn, for they bore a tremendous mission.

With the help of Captain Li and his team, two experienced herders who were also herding cattle and sheep stayed behind, making a total of eight people and four sleds.

Looking at the vast white snowfield, everyone could only focus their attention on Jiang Tiecheng.

There was nothing they could do; apart from Jiang Tiecheng pointing them in the right direction, they had no idea where to look for herds of cattle and sheep.

This vast snowfield is no joke.

Two days later, Jiang Tiecheng felt like he was almost frozen solid.

There was no other way; the information we could get from those herds of cattle and sheep was simply too limited.

There wasn't much connection between these herds of cattle and sheep and those herds of cattle and sheep; he had touched all 82 cattle and sheep himself.

Only two of the sheep provided some relevant information, which was because these two sheep were related to the lost flock; otherwise, they would have been impossible to find.

They searched for almost two days, following the directions, before finally finding it.

The herds of cattle and sheep had already found three cows that had fallen into the river and drowned along the way, and the herds that were found now also suffered heavy losses.

More than twenty have already frozen to death.

When everyone saw the remaining cattle and sheep, they finally breathed a sigh of relief, counted their numbers, and added the number of those that had died on the road to the count.

Finally, they've all been found.

There are currently a total of 98 cattle and sheep.

The cattle and sheep were starving, but after the feed they brought on their sleds was distributed, they finally recovered their strength after eating it.

The group began their return journey.

The four sleds split into two groups.

One group led the way, while two sleds brought up the rear, driving the herds of cattle and sheep.

Jiang Tiecheng was responsible for bringing up the rear, while Captain Wu was responsible for leading the way.

They made sure to mark their way here, otherwise they wouldn't be able to rely on their eyes alone.

These markers are placed in conspicuous locations, usually hanging on high tree branches, and are red cloth strips.

In strong winds and heavy snow, they could easily get lost if they weren't careful.

After walking for another day and night, Jiang Tiecheng was almost frozen solid.

They were almost out of money for food, mainly because at the time, in order to save collective property, much of what they were pulling on their sleds was feed for cattle and sheep.

Each of them carried three days' worth of dry food and a water bottle with them.

Even after careful budgeting, the food is long gone, and we're truly at our wits' end.

At this moment, not only Jiang Tiecheng was struggling, but everyone else was also feeling listless.

Just then, the herd of cattle and sheep suddenly stopped, which meant that the sleds in front had stopped.

Jiang Tiecheng shuddered. To be precise, he estimated that it would take at least two more days and two more nights to get back to the camp.

The water situation has been manageable for the past two days and two nights.

But the food they had could last for two days and two nights—it's simply unimaginable!

He only had half a steamed bun left in his pocket, while the other comrades probably had about the same amount.

Moreover, frozen hard steamed buns always require a lot of chewing; you have to grind off a tiny bit each time, and then slowly melt it in your mouth.

Everyone was so hungry they had no strength left. If something went wrong now and they were delayed on the way, they would probably starve to death before they could get the sheep back.

Jiang Tiecheng had Li Zhihe drive the sled around to the front.

Sure enough, the sleds ahead had stopped. Only then did they realize that they were not walking slowly; to be precise, they had already reached the first river on their way back.

It was frozen solid, and a hole had actually been smashed open in the river.

Only then did they realize that there were six sleds on the other side of the river, and that there was one sled in the middle of the river, with two people helplessly floating on the water.

Jiang Tiecheng rushed over.

Captain Wu quickly grabbed him.

"No, no, no! The river has suddenly become thinner. Look, the sled on the other side crashed into the thinnest part."

It was Commander Gu who fell in.

Jiang Tiecheng was stunned when he heard this and looked carefully. The main reason was that the place where they fell in was right in the middle of the river, so from their distance, the other side looked like two small black dots.

Jiang Tiecheng carefully stepped on the ice and walked forward for about four or five meters.

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed Gu Tinghui and his bodyguard.

Gu Tinghui's face was as white as paper. Although his two bodyguards were lying on the ice with their upper bodies on the ice, their bodies were immersed in the icy water.

At this point, it looks like it's exhaling but not inhaling.

Gu Tinghui was clearly still in his right mind, and he tried his best to wave when he saw Jiang Tiecheng.

Seeing that his mouth was moving, but not being able to hear any sound, it was clear that he wanted them not to bother trying to rescue him, so as not to drag others into the mess.

Jiang Tiecheng only realized now that the area where the ice had collapsed was quite large.

The people in the six sleds on the opposite bank were clearly part of the first wave of rescue efforts.

Because there were obviously a lot of collapsed ice surfaces on the other side.

Two soldiers, though wearing overcoats, were shivering uncontrollably, their bodies almost frozen solid.

The others were gesturing anxiously, but they were too far away to understand what they were saying.

Those on the other side dared not attempt a rescue easily, as it would make the rescue even more difficult if the ice surface collapsed further.

At this moment, it was clear that Gu Tinghui and the person next to him could not hold on any longer. If this continued, the two of them would freeze solid and sink directly into the water.

Company Commander Wu was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet.

"Xiao Jiang, Xiao Jiang, do you have any ideas? How about I take some people and give it a try?"

"Come on, the more you rush, the more trouble you'll cause. What you need to do now is calm down."

You didn't see how badly the ice collapsed. If it collapses on our side too, we won't be able to get across, and they won't be able to get across either.

"Then Commander Gu and his men are doomed, while we are their only chance of survival."

Jiang Tiecheng was also anxious!

Gu Tinghui is a decent person; it would be a real shame if he died here at such a young age.

Despite his cunning, Commander Gu is a man who truly cares for his soldiers.

Moreover, they have a very strong sense of collective consciousness and collectivism. Soldiers who defend their country love their subordinates and are pragmatic in their work.

Such a soldier should not have met such an end.

It's obvious that the rescuers on the other side must have driven the people and livestock back, so they sent a second wave of people to rescue them along the same route.

As a result, an accident occurred while crossing the river.

As the regimental commander, Gu Tinghui should never have encountered such danger; he should have led from the front.

Captain Wu's eyes reddened with anxiety.

"Xiao Jiang, you have to think of something quickly. No, Commander, the Commander is a very good person."

Even if it means our deaths, we will bring the commander back to life.

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Tiecheng clearly saw that the people on the other side were also anxious, and some of them had already taken off their coats, obviously preparing to swim across the river to rescue the person.