Atlas of Heaven and Man.

Chapter 433 Virtual and Real
Yuan Qiyuan stroked his chin and said, "Advisor Rao is saying that this Iron Demon is just bluffing, and is attacking Fort 104, but its actual target is us?"

Advisor Rao nodded and said, “Looking at his previous habits, after he took action in a certain place, he would pretend to be nearby, and after attracting people, he would suddenly move to another empty place to launch an attack, or after others thought he had left, he would go back and strike back.

It is unlikely that this Iron Monster would reveal his intentions right away. His crossing from Fortress No. 104 this time should be just a test to see our reaction before deciding on the next move.

I guess he is either hiding near Fort 104. Or maybe he didn't leave there, but just let us think so, and he is actually heading for us. So I don't recommend that we leave here."

Yuan Qiyuan and Qin Qingque both looked at Chen Chuan, waiting for him to make a decision.

They can choose to accept Advisor Rao's tactical suggestions, but after all, they are the ones responsible for the actual battle. However, the situation has changed and they can also make their own choices. As team members, they will only listen to the captain.

Chen Chuan thought about it and decided to follow Advisor Rao's advice. After all, he knew the other party much better than he did, so he would rather trust the other party.

Moreover, when they are unable to determine the other party's whereabouts, they will only be led by the nose if they just chase after them. The other party may have gone to another place just as they arrived there.

Staying where you are is the most appropriate thing to do right now.

So he said to the team members: "Keep holding on."

Advisor Rao breathed a sigh of relief. As an advisor, he only had the right to make suggestions, but this tactical action was not thought up by him alone. It was formulated together with his colleagues in the Intelligence Operations Room and had certain basis, so he sincerely hoped that it could be carried out.

However, this was Chen Chuan's first time leading a team, and he was afraid that he would be too eager to make a contribution and cause the plan to fail. Fortunately, he was calm and rational enough.

There was no movement for the next two days, but on the third day, there was finally news that a team of patrol soldiers was attacked while out on patrol in the morning and all of them were killed.

They immediately checked the map and found that this place was exactly two days' journey away from Fort No. 104. If they drew an arrow in this direction, they would be able to go straight to the rear without stopping.

The team members couldn't help but wonder, has the Iron Demon changed his tactics this time, no longer making those fake or real changes, but preparing to quickly advance into the hinterland?
Advisor Rao frowned and stared at the map.

Just half a day later, another piece of news arrived, saying that a certain communication station had been destroyed, and judging from the route, the team that had sneaked in had made another big step forward.

Another night passed, and in the morning news came that a fortress was nearly attacked, and a patrolling soldier saw dozens of riders quickly passing from below and heading straight for the rear.

At this time, someone from the higher-ups at the base sent a telegram asking where their team was and what they had been doing in the past few days.
After learning that the team was still guarding Fort No. 73, he asked in a stern tone why the team remained where they were after receiving the news?
At this point, Advisor Rao also felt that he could no longer bear it and was visibly getting anxious, but he bit his lips tightly and refused to let go, because he still believed in his own analysis and that of his colleagues in the Intelligence Room.

Yuan Qiyuan said nothing and just watched from the side.

Qin Qingque also looked a little anxious, but she performed her duties as a team member very well, following the captain's orders in everything and not raising any questions.

Chen Chuan remained calm. He thought carefully and said, "Advisor Rao, I still tend to agree with your opinion."

Advisor Rao couldn't help but look up at him.

Chen Chuanshuo said: "I trust your judgment, but I also have my own reasons, because I think that the signs of his destruction along the way are too obvious.

Although I don't understand tactics and strategy, I understand fighting. An opponent who shows very obvious intentions is very easy to be targeted. As a veteran, I won't make this mistake. Besides, this is inconsistent with his usual performance. "

Yuan Qiyuan said at this time: "But what if he predicts our prediction this time and does the opposite and changes his style?"

Chen Chuan said: "It is possible to change the style, but it will not violate basic common sense. If he continues to go deeper, then if we block the entrances to Fort 104 and Fort 73, he will not be able to retreat from the original route.

Once he is surrounded by our forces, if he wants to escape, he can only go back through the mountains and the territories of the ferocious creatures in the fusion zone.

In this way, he and his third-level fighters might be able to escape, but most of his subordinates might not be able to do so. From a normal perspective, he would not do such a loss-making business."

He looked at Advisor Rao and said, "From the system they implemented, it seems that his cavalry soldiers, equipment, and horses were all collected by himself, right?"

Advisor Rao said with certainty: "Yes, it was all built up with the output of his own estate, as well as the income from the factory and ranch he opened in the rear."

Chen Chuanshuo said: "That's it. His team looks very elite. It's his capital. Would he be willing to throw it away?"

Yuan Qiyuan couldn't help but nodded and said, "That makes sense."

Chen Chuan added: "And I also discovered one thing, the enemy has broken through from Fortress No. 104 three times, but has never succeeded in breaking through from here.

Many third-level fighters are paranoid. If something is not completed, they may not feel comfortable, but they always want to complete it and prove themselves. You must have had this feeling too. "Qin Qingque thought about it and nodded.

Yuan Qiyuan pondered for a moment and said, "Don't mention it, it really is true."

Advisor Rao looked at Chen Chuan and said, "Captain Chen, part of our information intelligence room's opinion is based on the same considerations. Your judgment coincides with ours. I will write this down and send it to the intelligence room as supplementary information."

Chen Chuan shook his head. "I'm just guessing. Your analysis is based on reliable evidence."

This is not modesty. The decision made by the Intelligence Room may have sources that he is not aware of.

If we exaggerate a little, there might be news sent directly from Iron Demon, which means he would know the answer in advance, so he cannot compare with him in this aspect.

Now his judgment is similar to the conclusion reached by the other party, so staying here is undoubtedly the best solution.

Qin Qingque said at this time: "I support the captain's opinion."

Yuan Qiyuan said, "Count me in."

Chen Chuan looked at Advisor Rao and said, "Advisor Rao, send my opinion back. I am the team leader this time. If there is any problem, I will take the responsibility."

Advisor Rao hesitated, then said solemnly: "I will sign with you. I am the combat advisor. It is my suggestion to hold on here. There is no reason for Captain Chen to bear the responsibility alone."

As he said this, he saluted Chen Chuan and went back to send a telegram.

Another day passed, and this time early in the morning we suddenly received a lot of news saying that multiple communication sites in the rear had been destroyed. This seemed to prove beyond a doubt that the enemy had begun to wreak havoc in the rear.

That night, a superior at the base also called to reprimand, and his tone was even harsher than last time.

Chen Chuan remained unmoved. As long as he was not transferred back directly, he would not pay any attention to what these people said.

He is directly responsible for the command department. No one in the command department has spoken. Is it your turn to speak?
Moreover, no decision is ever absolutely correct. Choosing to wait is itself a game and part of the battle between the two sides.

He looked out into the pitch-black night. He could not see anything. The deep darkness seemed to block out everything. Only the lights of the fortress flashed occasionally.

At this moment, just a few miles away from Fort No. 73, a man wearing armor, a helmet, and a red mask, who looked like a demon, was sitting on a tall and strong horse with a black background and red stripes, and was looking at the fortress on the high ground.

Behind him were dozens of knights, all standing there quietly without making any sound. Only the eyes of their horses were glowing a faint red light in the dark night.

It's not that they didn't go through Fort 104, they really broke through from there, but after passing there they divided their forces, with one small team deliberately setting up a false formation and going down the river from there to stir up the rear.

Their main force chose to take a detour, hiding during the day and traveling at night, and passed through the territories of those easy-to-deal-with creatures from the Blending Land. They lost two cavalrymen on the way, but successfully arrived at the rear of Fort No. 73.

Although this fortress has several defenses, the strongest defense is always on the front, including dense trenches and barbed wire facing the valley entrance, while the back is relatively weak.

This time they were well prepared. As long as they could capture this place, their retreat would be secured. Then they could boldly sweep and attack the surrounding garrisons.

The next action can depend on the situation. If the opponent mobilizes troops, you can withdraw quickly, or you can take advantage of the opponent gathering manpower to attack other places again. In short, the initiative is on their side.

The leading knight uttered a dull and unreal voice from within his iron mask.

All the cavalrymen dismounted from their horses in unison. Except for the sound of their armor twisting, no one made any extra sound. However, each of them lifted a cage from his horse, in which there was a beetle-like creature clinging motionlessly.

Major governments and companies possess biological weapons that can greatly assist combatants in combat, and they also have similar technologies here.

Hanging the cage behind them, they walked towards the high fortress in front one by one. The man wearing the iron mask was still sitting on the horse, and the red eyes revealed through the mask stared at the top of the fortress.

……

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(End of this chapter)