Chapter 213: Restlessness
Translator: WQL Editor: DarkGem
The battle ended faster than Zhang Tie had expected. Besides that more than ten soldiers of the Sun Dynasty had escaped and so had been hit by Zhang Tie and rolled off the hillside, while the rest of the troop had laid down in the mountain pass.
In sharp contrast, only five mbers of the Iron-Blood Camp were slightly wounded. None of theirs were heavily wounded or sacrificed.
Zhang Tie was very satisfied by this. After other similar raids, he found that the soldiers of the Sun Dynasty relied extrely on the orders of their commander in the battle. For these common soldiers of companies or platoons, once their military officers were killed, they would imdiately be lost and hardly organize any effective resistance.
Zhang Tie presud that this might be related to so system of the Sun Dynasty. These days, he heard many things about the Sun Dynasty’s troops, which followed a strict hierarchical system and many rigid regulations. As a result, soldiers’ creativity and personal willingness were under very great control. One very perverted regulation was that unless in the military camp or executing orders, more than three common soldiers were forbidden to join in a group at any ti.
In Sun Dynasty’s army, common soldiers were not allowed to have their own thoughts at any ti as the commander’s will was their will. The benefit of such a troop was that even if there was a fiery pit in front of them, the common soldiers would choose to jump inside without any hesitation. Such an army was actually very terrifying.
However, if taking into account the ambushes these days as an example, when Zhang Tie killed all the military officers first with his javelins, most of the common soldiers lost their commanding people; they then did not know what to do next, like flies with no heads. In this case, their fighting force was greatly weakened.
Although his group had won another battle by eliminating all the enemies, for so reason, Zhang Tie felt even more restless than before.
...
After taking out of that pocket watch that he had collected from the battlefield, Zhang Tie gave an order with an icy expression, "You have three minutes to clean the battlefield. Three minutes later, we have to evacuate!"
They usually had at least ten minutes to clean the battlefield; the soldiers of the Third Platoon didn’t understand why their boss had only given them three minutes today. However, at the sight of Zhang Tie’s icy face, nobody asked why, instead, they all rapidly moved.
This ti, everybody had a great harvest. Zhang Tie gained more than 20 Sun Dynasty’s gold coins from the military officers that he had killed, which was a bit more than usual. Additionally, he got so nice weapons, two senior leather belts, and so useful widgets.
Zhang Tie only kept the gold coins. Besides them, he selected a beautiful silver lighter. After that, he allocated the rest to his subordinates who had fought together with him.
Three minutes later, after cleaning the battlefield, over fifty people quickly left under the leadership of Zhang Tie. Until they left, nothing special happened, so Zhang Tie started to mumble inside, ’Am I thinking too much?’
...
The wolf den of Iron-Blood Camp was in a weird lava zone in the karst region in this mountainous area. A battle between two troops of more than 2000 soldiers in total would hardly break out here. Even if it did, the weird topography would separate the troops into different groups, which would hardly form any formation with powerful fighting force.
If they fought in this terrain, the personal fighting force of the soldiers of the Iron-Blood Camp could be exerted to the utmost. Even the most common mber of the Iron-Blood Camp were ranked as corporals, naly warriors who had not ford Iron-Blood hidden strength; however the most common mbers of Brilliant Feathers’ troops ranked LV 2-5. This indicated that Iron-Blood Camp had an overwhelming advantage over common troops in fighting force.
This also explained why Iron-Blood Camp could be the king troop in each division of the Iron-Horn Army.
According to Major Guderian’s judgnt, after the Solanet event and three small bases of Brilliant Feathers in this region were cleared by Iron-Blood Camp, if the Sun Dynasty knew their existence in this region, they would definitely co to take a revenge. Therefore, Major Guderian chose a hidden place as the wolf den of the Iron-Blood Camp in case of being surrounded by the enemy. Each day, Iron-Blood Camp would move and hunt the local troops of Brilliant Feathers in the surrounding mountainous area of dozens of square ters in platoons by taking turns...
Before the final battle, both marshals of the two armies seed to have the intention of dispatching their own troops here to fight by turns so as to test the opponents and train their own troops. The casualties and achievents of their soldiers at the cost of nurous lives and rivers of fresh blood would only turn into emotionless data on the tables of the decision-makers, but whether that data would influence the decision-makers’ decisions, only god knew.
When Zhang Tie led his troop back into this weird lava zone, most of the other wolf packs hunting outside had already returned. Most of them had gained so booty, more or less. However, compared to Zhang Tie’s Third Platoon, other troops had less booty yet had sacrificed more.
Since they entered this war zone, the were casualties in the Iron-Blood Camp everyday, more or less.
The mont Zhang Tie ca back to the wolf den, he entered the command tent. Many military officers who had led their troops out today were gathering there. They reported their troops’ achievents and the situations on how they had encountered their enemies today to Major Guderian one by one. Hearing their reports, Major Guderian lowered his body and continually marked sothing on the map spread on the table while asking one or two questions every now and then.
When it was Zhang Tie’s turn, he reported the achievents of the Third Platoon while pulling out the certificates of his achievents—the ID plates of the military officers of the Sun Dynasty that he had taken off them.
When he submitted the ID plates, the surrounding military officers all admired him. In the entire Iron-Blood Camp, only Zhang Tie’s troop could easily gain a great harvest each ti.
"After going back, you will definitely gain a warrior’s dal!" Second Lieutenant Moosa told Zhang Tie.
These days, Zhang Tie had already killed dozens of military officers of the Sun Dynasty. For a person who ca to the battlefield for the first ti, this was really a very great achievent.
Hearing Moosa’s praise, the surrounding military officers all nodded.
"Zhang Tie is simply a nut too hard to crack for the low-ranked military officers of the Sun Dynasty. Those LV 6-LV 7 guys are almost like target practice for Zhang Tie."
Hearing the surrounding military officers’ words, Zhang Tie just revealed a smile. However, that restlessness inside him didn’t fully disappear even now. He hesitated whether he should express his doubt so that Major Guderian could make a judgnt on whether there was truly a problem sowhere.
Lowering his body to the map, Major Guderian instantly noticed Zhang Tie’s shadow of hesitation. Raising his head, he lifted his golden-rimd glasses with his hand.
"Second Lieutenant Zhang Tie, do you have anything to add?"
"Major, I just feel sothing is not right today!" After taking a deep breath, Zhang Tie decided to pour out what he wanted to say. "Although we’ve been very successful in today’s ambush, for so reason, from the start of the ambush to the present, I still feel that sothing was not right!"
"Sothing not right?" Major Guderian looked a bit solemn while the surrounding military officers beca quiet too. They all stared at Zhang Tie. "Can you describe it more clearly? What is not right?"
"I cannot say it clearly, but I keep feeling that there’s a problem sowhere. But I don’t know where. After the ambush to coming back here, I felt soone was following us. Therefore, I especially led my troop to take two circuitous routes and set a pocket trick. However after more than an hour, I still couldn’t find that hidden person!" Seeing the amazed expressions of the surrounding military officers, Zhang Tie could only continue, "Previously, when I encountered dangers, I would also have this kind of sense of restlessness!"
If it was not Zhang Tie’s excellent military exploits and braveness in battles, soone at present would have definitely bursted out laughing. However, because it was Second Lieutenant Mummy who said this, nobody laughed.
Major Guderian even revealed a thoughtful expression. He carefully gazed at the map on the table. Boss Reinhardt also walked over to take a better look at the map together with Major Guderian.
"Is there any problem?"
"Everything looks normal, there are also no problems with the encounters and ambushes!" Major Guderian frowned. "However, as is ntioned in the school motto of the Imperial Ground Force College, when you cannot find problems on the battlefield, that is the true problem! After Zhang Tie’s warning, I also feel sowhat uneasy, as if sothing is not right..."
Major Guderian pointed at the places with special marks on the map with his finger. "These battles broke out four days ago, these three days ago, these yesterday, these today. These days, our troops would fight Sun Dynasty’s troops four or five tis a day, six at most. This frequency remains unchanged. That’s the problem! If you’re the commander of Sun Dynasty’s troops, through previous days’ fights, you must have already confird that there is a troop of the Iron-Blood Camp in this zone, what will you do then?"
"Temporarily shrink their manpower in this zone. Then, they will find another chance to annihilate us!" Reinhardt answered calmly.
"That’s it; however, the zone where we operate hasn’t changed since the beginning. That’s the problem!"
"But..."
The mont a military officer standing nearby opened his mouth, he was interrupted by Major Guderian.
"The survival of Iron-Blood Camp should not be established on the presumption that our enemies are idiots!" he explained solemnly.
Hearing his words, everyone went quiet.
Reinhardt then frowned. "Has any troop found that they were being tailed on the way back today?"
"No, we’re all very careful. Since we’re veterans, we’ve set so tricks on the way back, but did not find any trickery!" Guderian shook his head. "I’m really confused by this. If our opponents have so traps or plans, they have to firstl confirm our location. However, they don’t seem anxious. Since no spy airships have flown above us these days, the location of the wolf den should not have been exposed!"
"Have all the troops returned today?"
"Still missing two!"
After a consideration, Reinhardt gave a decisive order, "When the two troops co back, we’ll transfer tomorrow early morning!"
Saying this, Reinhardt pointed at a place on the map closer on the north side of this mountainous area. Major Guderian examined the place and nodded.
After the decision was made, everyone left the command tent. On their way out, many military officers glanced at Zhang Tie aimlessly. Before leaving the tent, First Lieutenant Freo even patted his shoulders.
When Zhang Tie left, he still felt a bit worried. If he was excessively ticulous this ti, he would have made a fuss. Then, he would be a real laughing stock.
After Zhang Tie left the tent, First Lieutenant Liu Xing walked towards him and comforted him.
"No need to be that tense. Each major decision of the Iron-Blood Camp has its own reasons. Without genuine consideration, Major Guderian and Boss Reinhardt would not decide to have us transfer just because of a military officer’s baseless concern. As we are isolated here, we should always be ticulous!"
Zhang Tie smiled at him.
...
When Zhang Tie ca back to his own tent, many soldiers of the Iron-Blood Camp were attempting to pull that "Man’s Certificate" from the empty land outside Zhang Tie’s tent. Although that huge sword was nominally his weapon, most of the ti these days it was more like a public one.
When Zhang Tie didn’t use it, he would insert it into the soil. Anyone then could have a go at it. Actually, that "Man’s Certificate" had gradually beco a standard for the common soldiers of the Iron-Blood Camp to test their own ability. It was also like a big toy. Many guys who were free after supper would have a try here. Because of this huge sword, many people practiced harder than usual. Even those dandyish ruffians didn’t want to be called won. Out of basic self-respect, they still cared it very much.
Before Zhang Tie ca back, many guys were shouting loudly beside the huge sword. However, seeing him returning and entering his own tent for rest, all the guys lowered their voices in case of bothering him.
After entering his tent, Zhang Tie ate a piece of dried at and had so water. After that, he started today’s cultivation. Even in war-ti, once he had free ti, Zhang Tie would never lessen his requirents for personal cultivation. Cultivation ti was like won’s cleavage, as long as you squeezed it, you would have it...
He polished his burning point first before practicing the visualization of two abacuses and carrying out four different arithtic operations on the two abacuses at the sa ti. After that, Zhang Tie activated a Trouble-Reappearance Fruit and entered the situation within where the terrain was almost like that of the present mountainous area.
Waving his huge sword, he started to fight wild wolves, huge wolves, and various other wild beasts of different quantities all over the mountain. Through the fights, the wild beasts seem to also be becoming increasingly more tricky. As Zhang Tie grew, those wild beasts seed to also be growing and becoming smarter.
After realizing that it would consu a lot of Zhang Tie’s strength to wave the huge sword, those wild beasts constantly changed their tactics against him these days. They didn’t rush forward at the sa ti, instead, they started to attempt various attacks with differing quantities and combinations.
In the end, those wild beasts found the most effective tactic—after surrounding Zhang Tie, they would keep a distance from him. Once that was done, they would attack Zhang Tie from three different directions at the sa ti in groups of three.
They kept attacking Zhang Tie in turns ceaselessly, and here started his miserable days in the trouble-reappearance situation...
Each ti, Zhang Tie would run through the mountainous land with his huge sword as he fought those wild beasts. He attempted to break through the wild wolves’ siege. However, each ti, Zhang Tie would be so exhausted that he could not even raise his hand in the end. As a result, he would be torn into pieces by the rest of the wild wolves and huge wolves.
Each ti in the trouble-reappearance situation, Zhang Tie would exert his fighting capability to the utmost and break through his fighting limit, as well as experiencing various painful ways to be killed. He would constantly analyse and improve himself by finding his own problems and shortcomings, and then would continue to fight and die in the trouble-reappearance situations...
Nobody in the Iron-Blood Camp knew what Zhang Tie was experiencing when he was alone everyday. Actually, by the ti Zhang Tie won the reputation of "One-Hundred People Down", he had died almost 100 tis in the mysterious space.
Each day, Zhang Tie would learn and improve through "death".
...
After Zhang Tie finished his cultivation, almost six hours had passed. He then walked out of his tent. At this ti, nurous stars were hanging in the sky while the two moons were as crystal as water.
Zhang Tie asked a person nearby and learned that the other two troops had already co back several hours ago. He then beca reassured.
At this hour, many people had already fallen asleep.
Due to still being restless, after going to the toilet, Zhang Tie especially went around the wolf den of the Iron-Blood Camp. Finding no problem with the sentry posts, he returned to his tent and slept in armor.
According to the rules of the Iron-Blood Camp, when camping outdoors, everybody should wear armor. In the beginning, he didn’t feel comfortable sleeping in armor, so he could only lie on the side. But, several days later, he started to get used to it.
’The Iron-Blood Camp will move tomorrow morning; maybe I’m a bit too tense today,’ Zhang Tie thought before falling asleep. ’It’s just a warning, I prefer to be mocked than seeing people getting killed!’
Zhang Tie soon fell asleep.
...
At midnight, Zhang Tie suddenly woke up from a sweet dream, his heart pounding heavily. This ti, it was like that ti when he had t Huck and Snade for the first ti.
Zhang Tie felt that his mouth was dry. After drinking a mouthful of water, he put on his battle boots and picked up his "Woman’s Excellence". Carrying his container of javelins, he left his tent. As it was just an instinctive movent to bring his container of javelins, Zhang Tie didn’t find anything wrong with it.
At this mont, the encampnt of the Iron-Blood Camp was in an absolute quiet state. Everybody was in deep sleep besides the lone chirping insects and weirdly shaped rocks under the starlight.
Because his restlessness was growing sharper, Zhang Tie decided to have a peep at the hidden sentry posts on the borders of the encampnt.
The nearest hidden sentry post was only 70 m away from the border of the encampnt, which was the shortest safe distance.
As it was midnight, Zhang Tie’s footsteps were very light. He didn’t want to shock anyone else. After arriving behind a lava zone in this karst terrain, Zhang Tie froze when he caught sight of the hidden sentry post.
The sentry post was covered in a weird lilac fog. It looked really weird under the starlight, but what caught Zhang Tie’s attention were the nurous silhouettes walking in that fog. They ca from all directions like ghosts and quietly moved towards the encampnt of the Iron-Blood Camp.
Since the hidden sentry hadn’t given any warning, obviously he had been killed.
In the end, what woke everybody in the encampnt was the sonic boom caused by Zhang Tie’s javelin that flashed so fast through the air.
In a wink, four growls had already made the whole Iron-Blood Camp boil up.
Soon after that, the military officers who were the first to rush out of their tents with weapons in hands heard Zhang Tie’s furious growls like thunders from afar.
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