Chapter 53: The State of the Standing Army
Gunfire, explosions, roars… they blended into a cacophony. The stench of decay mixed with gunpowder, but my numbed senses no longer cared.
Metal casings piled at my feet, clinking crisply in collision. The constantly firing gun barrels were scalding hot. At this barricade of sandbags, barbed wire, and concrete blocks, one of the Standing Army’s frontlines clashed with the horde.
Since entering the central city, the Standing Army’s advance had slowed, stalling completely at the edge of Sector 02. They fortified positions, adopting a defensive stance, locked in a stalemate with the massive horde ahead.
Without precise coordinates on the Witch and monster gathering, they could only prepare and wait.
In this waiting, every second bore immense pressure. Holding their ground was already a struggle.
Unlike my dream, where the Standing Army had three days to prepare and plan before entering JD Ruined City for a large-scale operation, they were now rushed, with no preparation.
Supplies nearly depleted Chu Sheng City’s strategic reserves, supplemented by civilian requisitions. Even so, these stocks couldn’t sustain such intense consumption for long.
Countless issues hindered Chu Sheng City’s actions.
The deepening advance stretched supply lines, complicating rear logistics. Lack of prior terrain surveys wasted time. Poor road conditions in the ruined city prevented tanks and vehicles from reaching the front, forcing heavy weapons for high-intensity monsters to be disassembled and transported in batches.
Had Chu Sheng City not deployed its entire air force—eighteen armed helicopters—for frontline support and reconnaissance, the situation would be worse. However, this left ground anti-air defenses lacking, putting the vital air units at risk.
The prior loss of a helicopter and an entire Security Team was a painful lesson etched into Chu Sheng City.
Fortunately, not all news was grim. Han Nianling and the Tenth Security Team’s return brought the information the army’s commanders desperately needed, giving the passive Standing Army a chance to strike.
“This expedition to JD Ruined City mobilized the First, Second, and Fourth Combat Armies. Defenses are established in the east and north of Sector 02A. The east of Sector 03A is still advancing, led by the First Army…”
On a helicopter dispatched to retrieve her, Han Nianling immediately asked the crew about the Standing Army’s current state.
Since entering the central city, signal interference had limited her communication with command to one-way reports.
She urgently needed to know the army’s deployment to combine with her findings from Sector 01 for the next steps.
Despite wearing communication headsets, the crewman’s response was far louder than normal, likely a habit from years of shouting over helicopter rotor noise.
Rubbing her ears, rattled by his volume, Han Nianling felt no annoyance. His detailed report reassured her. The Standing Army’s situation was relatively stable, and for her, knowing what she needed was enough.
She also had additional information—my dream.
On the surface, the Standing Army’s reality diverged sharply from the dream I’d described. The timing, armies, and plans differed, but that didn’t render my account useless. It held significant reference value.
This was immensely helpful. Starting from scratch, Han Nianling couldn’t have drafted a plan’s framework so quickly.
Zhong Jing…
The name stirred complex emotions deep within her. If she could ensure the plan’s success, perhaps my soul would find peace on this land…
“Researcher Han, we’ve arrived.”
Luo Shi’s quiet reminder snapped her from her thoughts. She looked down—the helicopter had stopped moving, hovering and slowly descending.
Ground crew busily guided the helicopter to a landing zone marked with white paint, its descent kicking up a gust.
During the descent, Han Nianling observed her surroundings: it seemed to be a school’s sports field. A red flag with “Chu Sheng City” hung on a pole at the field’s edge.
Beyond the landing zone, green military tents dotted the field. Simple but reliable defenses lined the surrounding walls, with at least a hundred Standing Army soldiers securing the area. This was clearly the command headquarters.
The field had been minimally retrofitted for immediate use.
The rotting plastic track was filled with gravel, the central artificial turf largely unchanged save for cleared weeds. Rusted equipment was dismantled and piled in a corner, freeing space, yet the field still felt crowded.
“Is this Researcher Han and Captain Luo? The commander has been waiting in the meeting room.”
As Han Nianling’s feet touched the ground, a Standing Army soldier approached, his urgent tone conveying unusual tension. Everyone following the battle was anxious.
“I understand. Lead the way.” Knowing time was short, Han Nianling nodded promptly.
“Go rest…” Luo Shi quickly instructed his team before hurrying after her.
Despite the field’s crowded layout, it was surprisingly orderly. People moved busily, and supply trucks came and went without collisions, thanks to wide pathways. Han Nianling was soon led to the command tent.
Slightly larger than others, the tent was otherwise unremarkable, even a bit crude. Yet, it was the nerve center of Chu Sheng City’s military operations, the Standing Army’s most critical brain.
Even ten meters away, the clamor inside was audible. As the guiding soldier lifted the curtain, the noise intensified.
The scene was one Han Nianling rarely witnessed: frenetic activity. Over a dozen terminals and radios never stopped, their operators’ eyes bloodshot from fatigue. The stress of prolonged work and combat kept everyone on edge. Tangled wires littered the tent’s edges, ignored in the chaos.
This showed the immense strain the JD Ruined City campaign placed on the Standing Army.
“This way…”
Guided through the noise, Han Nianling and Luo Shi reached the tent’s inner section. Despite only a curtain separating them, the contrast was stark—external clamor enveloped a strangely quiet interior.
Special soundproofing ensured internal discussions weren’t disturbed.
The scene surprised Han Nianling.
A rectangular table occupied a third of the space, covered with reports and JD Ruined City maps.
A large display hung on a rack, showing the Standing Army’s advance, updated in real-time by external operators based on frontline reports.
Plastic stools lined the table’s sides.
Without the critical documents and screen, Han Nianling might have mistaken this for a low-end bar in Chu Sheng City’s outer districts.
Inside, only one person awaited her and Luo Shi, seated at the table’s center.
His plain, dark green Chu Sheng City military uniform bore no extra adornments, sparse white hair visible at his temples.
He was engrossed in a document, seemingly oblivious to their arrival.
“General?”
The guiding soldier called softly at the entrance. The middle-aged man in uniform waved a hand, dismissing the soldier, leaving Han Nianling and Luo Shi.
“Excluding prior losses, the Standing Army has suffered 110 deaths and over 200 wounded…”
Without looking up, he continued reading, though it was clear his focus had shifted to Han Nianling and Luo Shi the moment they entered.
“I hope your information is worth it…”