Chapter 149 Exchanging for Anti-Air Defense Radar
Finally, after passing through the last dense thicket of bushes, the view suddenly opened up before us.
A well-disguised factory area built against the mountain came into view, with a high wall covered with barbed wire and armed soldiers guarding the entrance.
"Halt! Who goes there?" The sentry spotted the figure in the distance and immediately raised his gun in a warning.
Xie Yunze released Xu Zhili's hand, stepped forward, his posture upright like a pine tree, and clearly and forcefully announced his command and identity: "Xie Yunze, Company Commander of the Special Service Company Directly Under the Seventh War Zone! There is an urgent enemy situation, and I need to meet with the person in charge of the factory area immediately."
His voice carried an undeniable authority and urgency.
After verifying his identity, the sentry immediately saluted and let him pass, while another person ran quickly into the factory area to report the news.
Soon, a middle-aged man in overalls with a sharp look came out with several people. He was the head of the arsenal, surnamed Li.
"Company Commander Xie? What happened to you..."
Director Li clearly knew Xie Yunze, but was quite surprised by his arrival at this time.
"Director Li,"
Without any pleasantries, Xie Yunze cut straight to the point, unfolding the tattered map found at the crash site. "We intercepted intelligence from an enemy reconnaissance team. Their target is very clear: this place. The map shows the precise coordinates and possible air attack routes."
Director Li's expression changed drastically. He took the map and examined it carefully, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead: "This...this batch of newly produced equipment is to be transported to the front lines tomorrow...no wonder there have been unidentified signals nearby lately..."
"We must prepare for an air raid immediately," Xie Yunze said firmly. "Evacuate non-essential personnel, activate all air defense plans, and immediately move important equipment and materials to air-raid shelters or reinforced bunkers."
"Okay, I'll arrange it right away."
Director Li was a decisive man. He immediately turned around and yelled at his subordinates, "Sound the air raid sirens! Execute Emergency Plan Number One! Quickly!"
The piercing air raid siren instantly resounded throughout the valley, and the once orderly production atmosphere of the arsenal was immediately replaced by a tense and efficient state of combat readiness.
Soldiers and workers rushed out of the workshop and, under command, began to move supplies, reinforce fortifications, and set up anti-aircraft weapons in an orderly manner.
Xie Yunze turned to Xu Zhili and said quickly, "It will become very dangerous here soon. I'll have a soldier take you back to the air-raid shelter in the village first."
Xu Zhili shook her head firmly: "I'm not leaving. I'm strong and can help. I can carry things and take care of the wounded."
Her eyes were clear and stubborn, without the slightest fear.
Xie Yunze looked at her, knowing that time was of the essence and there was no room for further persuasion, and that she could indeed offer help.
He looked at her intently for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay! Stay close to me and be careful."
He quickly assigned her a task: to assist a group of female workers in carrying lightweight boxes of important parts to a nearby bunker.
Xu Zhili immediately immersed herself in the task, moving swiftly and without the slightest hint of coquettishness.
Xie Yunze and Director Li walked briskly toward the temporary command post, adjusting the defense deployment based on the terrain and intelligence as they went.
His judgment was accurate, his instructions were clear, and every word hit the nail on the head, demonstrating his calmness and decisiveness as someone who had experienced real combat.
Just as most of the personnel and core supplies had been transferred, a muffled buzzing sound came from the distant horizon—it was enemy aircraft.
"Enemy aircraft! Take cover!"
The lookout shouted at the top of his lungs, and almost at the same moment, several enemy planes tore through the clouds and swooped down toward the factory area.
"Anti-aircraft guns—fire!"
Upon receiving the order, ground firepower was unleashed at full force, and smoke instantly filled the entire valley.
Xu Zhili could clearly see that the old anti-aircraft gun had a limited range, and the muzzle was struggling to follow the shadow of the enemy plane, but it was always a little short.
Her heart clenched suddenly, as if she had been violently struck by something.
She came from another dimension and had seen what real air defense was like—radar lock-on, missile interception, electronic warfare…
On this land, these people can only use their flesh and blood and inferior equipment to withstand the threat from the sky.
Perhaps, perhaps she really can do something for this place?
The deafening roar of artillery fire continued as enemy planes circled, searching for the right angle and dropping bombs intermittently.
A deafening explosion erupted not far away, and the shockwave, carrying debris, hurtled towards us.
Xie Yunze suddenly shoved Director Li, who was directing the transfer of the last batch of equipment, into the bunker.
Gravel pebbles crashed and fell to the ground.
"Cough cough...Company Commander Xie, thank you so much!" Director Li was still in shock.
"fine."
Xie Yunze's voice was calm as he stood up and continued to observe the battle situation, "Sector Three, pay attention to covering positions! Southeast direction—keep a close eye on it!"
His gaze swept across the entire area like lightning, and he quickly spotted that familiar figure. Xu Zhili and several female workers were deftly helping a soldier who had been cut by flying debris into the bunker.
Her face was covered in dust, but her eyes shone brightly, showing no sign of panic.
He felt slightly relieved, but his command became even colder.
Perhaps due to the interference of the stubborn and orderly anti-aircraft fire on the ground, the enemy bombing did not cause core damage.
After another dive, they circled briefly before finally disappearing into the distance, trailing long plumes of smoke.
The all-clear whistle sounded, and the factory area was filled with the strong smell of gunpowder, but even more so with a sense of quiet relief after the disaster.
Director Li gripped Xie Yunze's hand tightly, his voice trembling: "Company Commander Xie, thank you so much for coming to deliver the message today! If it had been just a few minutes later..."
"It's my duty."
Xie Yunze's tone remained calm as he turned to look at Xu Zhili, who was squatting down to help check on the wounded, "It was Comrade Xu Zhili who led the way in time, saving the most crucial moment."
Director Li quickly thanked her. Xu Zhili shook her head and stood up, her face still covered in dust, her eyes clear: "It's good that everyone is safe."
Xie Yunze walked up to her and asked in a low voice, "Are you hurt?"
She looked up to meet his gaze, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I'm fine. How about you?"
"Um."
He responded, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment.
The "thank you" stuck in his throat was never uttered, but something clearly stirred in those eyes that were always cold, like an ice river breaking.
The crisis has temporarily subsided, but everyone knows the struggle is far from over.
But some bonds have silently taken root amidst the smoke of war, and are now difficult to sever.
Xu Zhili's heart skipped a beat, and a familiar warm energy surged through her veins. It was the core energy wave of the "Future Energy System" stirring—the emergency combat subsystem had popped up uncontrollably again, like a spark that couldn't be contained.
She subconsciously clenched her fist. Her mother always understood her best, but at this moment, the few newly sprouted seedlings in the space were drooping and listless. They were not only useless, but they could not even provide any decent energy. It was really a drop in the ocean.
"Emergency combat subsystem temporarily activated," a cold, mechanical voice echoed in my mind. "Current environment: Air raid has been lifted."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
