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As night fell, the huge camp was silent except for a few soldiers patrolling everywhere.
After a busy day, this should be the time when everyone is sound asleep. Martial law has been put in place on the island long ago, forbidding any unusual noises or lighting of fires at night to avoid the possibility of campfires. However, despite such strict rules, some people are still restless and unable to sleep.
A single oil lamp lit the table, and Lin Mo, in the dim light, concentrated intently on the map before him. This was a topographical map of Luoling Island, including camps, docks, shipyards, two villages, and a large area of mudflats.
Where to clear, where to set up defenses, where to strengthen security, all are densely listed.
This was something she had seen countless times and had memorized deeply.
But when it was late at night and everyone was asleep, I couldn't help but look at it again and again, for fear of missing something.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Suddenly a voice came from his ear. Lin Mo looked up suddenly and saw his brother standing at the door.
Without waiting for her answer, Lin Meng walked in and saw the map on the table. There was nothing he didn't understand.
"Are you scared?" Lin Meng asked, even slowing down his voice a little.
Facing his brother's question, Lin Mo shook his head: "It's not that I'm afraid, it's just that my heart is too confused."
It was actually difficult for her to explain how she felt at the moment. She had originally prepared to go to the battlefield, but unexpectedly she was assigned another task.
He pretended to be the gang leader, stationed on Luoling Island, and assisted his brother in guarding the base camp.
In other words, in this battle she didn't need to go into battle, didn't need to wield a sword, and didn't even need to take on the responsibility of command. She just had to wear a red dress and stand on the top of the city wall.
However, the thing weighing on her heart did not get any lighter, but instead became so heavy that she couldn't breathe.
The answer was a bit vague. Lin Meng sighed and sat down next to his sister. "You are the gang leader's stand-in in this battle. You have to stand in front of the thieves on her behalf. It's inevitable that you will worry about doing something wrong and delaying the important matter."
These words hit the nail on the head for Lin Mo, but she was worried about more than just that.
Pursing his lips, Lin Mo said, "Being 'right' isn't enough. I want to do better. Only by containing more enemies can the leader have an easier time. But I don't know if we can hold the island..."
This was also her biggest concern. Having gradually learned some military tactics and attended military meetings, Lin Mo understood the significance of this plan better than anyone else. Compared to the last attack by the government troops, the Changjing Gang's enemies were not only more numerous, but also had Western naval guns. Naturally, the pressure on Luoling Island was greater than before. If she didn't look like the real person, she would definitely not attract the enemy and fail to lure them. But if she looked too similar, would the enemy swarm and the camp be lost? The more she thought about it, the more she couldn't help but feel anxious.
Lin Meng didn't expect this girl to think so much, and he couldn't help but look at her seriously.
Compared to two years ago, she has grown a lot taller and her face has grown more mature. She looks like a grown-up girl.
However, the biggest change is the expression on his face. He no longer has the forced stubbornness, nor is he taciturn and clumsy anymore. He has his own thoughts and ideas.
Wasn't he the same when he took over the Lin family's ship and became the captain?
After a moment's silence, Lin Meng said, "As long as there are troops stationed on the island, we can contain the enemy. Luoling Island is of extraordinary significance. Our most important task is to defend the camp.
Without the boats, this is an isolated island. The only thing we can rely on is the arrangements we made beforehand. It is true that the camp is easy to defend and difficult to attack, but it is not without flaws. This is to show the enemy, and it is also the key for us to garrison and contain the enemy..."
As he spoke, he actually pulled over the map and began to explain it in detail.
Lin Mo was a little surprised. She didn't expect her brother to answer like this.
There was no perfunctory response or dry consolation, but he spoke directly about the war, just like he was talking to his colleagues.
When the women and children were evacuated earlier, her mother held her hand and cried for a long time, repeatedly telling her brother to take good care of herself.
Swords have no eyes, even if it's just a decoration, standing on the city wall is risky. In the past, my brother would probably let her stay in her place and just be a decoration, why would he tell her all this?
But now, my brother said it, and even said it with some discussion in mind.
Somewhere in his heart he felt a poke, and a warm feeling welled up. However, Lin Mo quickly focused his mind and listened attentively.
…
Preparing for war, especially defending a city, requires a lot of preparation, not only food and fodder, but also equipment for defending the city.
The walls of Luoling Island had been reinforced several times, not only with rammed earth but also with a lot of cement, making them impregnable. Therefore, rolling logs, charcoal, kerosene, and gunpowder became crucial, and they were all transported to the top of the city walls like a stream.
Female soldiers also followed the team and carried supplies together with the men and strong women who stayed behind.
Even in winter, the island was not very cold and people were sweating all over after working for a while, but no one rested because everyone knew what they were facing.
This is a desperate defense, a way to lure the enemy, and even more so, to preserve the homeland that we have painstakingly built. When fighting to the death, who would begrudge their strength?
Putting down the heavy rolling log, Huang Yue breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his head, and involuntarily looked outside the city.
All the sentries and tents in front of the village gate have been cleared out, leaving only dense trenches, deer camps, thorns, and chevaux de frise. I don’t know how many layers there are of them, and it’s frightening to look at.
Looking up, several cannons came into view. The sun was bright, and the cannons sounded smooth, reflecting a bright cold light, like a blade drawn from its sheath.
When the enemy reached the city, they would rely on these weapons. But they didn't know if they would also bring in artillery, and whether the newly built walls could withstand the fierce attack. If they couldn't, they wouldn't even have anywhere to escape, as the boats had already left.
Somehow, when these thoughts came to her mind, her heart skipped a beat and a chill ran down her spine.
The war was about to begin, and they were about to go into battle. This thought became clearer than ever before, and she couldn't help but tremble with fear.
"Sister Yue, we should go down."
A call interrupted her thoughts. Huang Yue turned her head and saw Shi Dani looking at her.
As if she had noticed something, Shi Dani stepped forward and asked with concern, "Are you tired? How about I do the heavy lifting myself first, and you go downstairs and have a drink of water and a rest..."
Huang Yue shook her head and forced a smile, "It's okay, I still have strength..."
Shi Dani grabbed her and pointed out directly: "Your legs are shaking."
That's right, her legs had actually started to tremble without her noticing. Huang Yue's smile suddenly faded. After a moment's silence, she whispered, "I heard the thieves are coming soon, in just two or three days..."
All the outsiders had evacuated. Without a boat or support, only those in the camp were left to defend the isolated island.
Originally, she still had some strength to hold on, but now, Huang Yue became afraid for some reason.
She trained for several months and even became a squad leader, in charge of a small group of people, but even so, she had never killed anyone and had never been on the battlefield. When those vicious bandits attacked, could she really lead her men into battle?
However, what answered her was a heavy grip on the arm.
"So what if the bandits are here? We've all prepared so much, is it all for nothing?" Shi Dani lowered her voice, but couldn't suppress the anger in her eyes. "Sister Yue, we're all here, including the captain. Those bandits have now surrendered to the imperial court, so we have to fight them to the death!"
Huang Yue knew Shi Dani's life experience, and knew even more how much she hated those brutal and cruel government troops. However, at this moment, the hand pinching her wrist was more obvious than anything else, as if even her heart was being pinched.
Raising her head, Huang Yue asked, "Dani, are you really not afraid at all?"
"What are you afraid of?!" Shi Dani almost couldn't hold back her voice. "What could be scarier than diving into the seabed alone, or rowing a boat on the sea for days and nights?"
But the next moment, she seemed to realize something was wrong and slowed down her voice. "Don't forget what the captain said. As long as you remember what you learned every day and can hold the knife and stand your ground, there's nothing to be afraid of. Giving birth is a life-threatening experience, and others can't help. In battle, you're surrounded by your own people. With people guarding your back, there's nothing to be afraid of!"
These words were truly decisive, without any fear at all, but rather a sense of eagerness to try.
Looking at this girl who was a few years younger than her and joined the army several months later, Huang Yue's eyes were sore and she suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
She wasn't born into the Pearl People family, nor had she experienced those life-threatening hardships, but she had indeed suffered, been beaten, and knew what it felt like to put her life in someone else's hands. And now, like those men, she had been trained and could hold a weapon and face the enemy. Being able to risk her life was better than trembling and waiting for death, wasn't it?
Shaking the other person's hand firmly, Huang Yue said, "I'm fine now. Let's go down. We still have a lot of things."
After taking a serious look at her, Shi Dani let go and prepared to go down together. Turning back, she remembered something and quickly added, "I've changed my name. Don't call me Dani anymore. Call me Ahao."
She changed her name not long ago. She had never seen a character she liked before, but when she learned the character "Hao", she fell in love with it at first sight.
With the sun above his head and his body like the blue sky, he looked majestic, so I changed his name to "Shi Hao". I have been thinking about him all the time these days, afraid that someone would call him the wrong name.
Huang Yue couldn't help laughing at this look, and the last bit of trembling in her legs disappeared. She pulled Shi Dani's hand and walked downstairs.
As long as they were on Luoling Island, whether they were soldiers or civilians, men or women, they were all busy like ants, desperately trying to be as thorough as possible before the enemy arrived.
Now that their leader and fleet are gone, they can only rely on their companions and themselves.
However, regardless of anxiety or fear, two days later, the huge fleet finally arrived as scheduled.
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