Anticipate the enemy's moves, plan every step in advance! The one who predicts the twists and turns of fate will emerge victorious!

The strategist pointed at a group of blue dots on the information screen: "They're on their way. The first battle squad, 530 strong, is about 1,000 meters from the frontlines. They're ready to engage at any moment."

"Cease the missile barrage. Let them join the battlefield," Jiang Xiaoci's fingers lightly tapped the screen. This was a force she had already mobilized—a group of battle-trained individuals from the Little White Bear Shelter.

The first wave of combatants consisted entirely of those with combat-oriented shelter talents. The weakest among them were C-grade, while two had A-grade combat abilities. Compared to the fighters from the residential areas, these 500 were far more battle-hardened, having spent over a month fighting in the apocalypse. They'd survived multiple encounters with the city center forces.

Most importantly, this group was also the most loyal to her, the perfect candidates to lead the charge after the artillery bombardment.

"Deploy another 2,000 troops, spread them out from both sides, and gradually insert them into the battlefield," Jiang Xiaoci commanded, quickly arranging more forces.

"Remember, the team led by Chen Dafeng should take the lead, with the others as support," she added, her voice steely as she turned to her officers. "I'd rather exhaust all our artillery reserves than see any more soldiers die."

Ammunition can be replenished, but the lives of soldiers must be carefully controlled—this was the greatest safeguard for Mike's gathering place and its system.

"What about the temporary guard units? They'll be assisting on the frontlines too..." One of the strategists began, but he fell silent under Jiang Xiaoci's cold gaze.

"This is war. War inevitably brings sacrifices." She spoke with a calm, almost detached tone, making it clear that no further explanation was necessary.

She was in control of who lived and who died on the battlefield. In her mind, the recently arrived Little White Bear Shelter couldn't be compared to Mike's modern military. One was an unstable force that still needed education and training, while the other was a highly loyal military force.

She knew exactly where her priorities lay.

"Understood," the strategists nodded. But before they could relay the orders, Jiang Xiaoci spoke again, her voice calm but commanding.

"Wait."

Everyone turned to see her gaze fixed on the tactical display. Her slender fingers traced over the map of the city center, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought.

After a few seconds, Jiang Xiaoci's finger landed on several locations on the outskirts of the city center. "Deploy teams of a thousand, bypass the frontlines, and infiltrate these areas to lie in ambush."

"Ambush!" The strategists immediately grasped her intent and exchanged glances, stunned. "Miss Jiang, are they still trying to break through? The enemy must be heavily focused on the frontlines with so many drones engaging them."

Opening up additional ambush positions beyond the frontlines was a calculated move—she was certain the enemy would attempt another breakout from these locations, and it would be on a large scale.

"They will definitely try to break out again. This battle will last at least until dawn," Jiang Xiaoci murmured, a faint smile curving her lips. She might not be a master of warfare, but she understood human nature well. The enemy had already used several countermeasures throughout the day; they wouldn't surrender so easily.

The drones were just a distraction, meant to stall Chen Dafeng.

"I've cast the bait," she murmured softly. "Now, the fish will bite."

Without the direct threat of Chen Dafeng, this was their last chance for an external assault. Would they really let this fleeting opportunity slip?

"They definitely won't pass it up." Mike, watching from his position, drew in a sharp breath. "Even if it's a trap, they'll seize it with everything they've got."

"Jiang Xiaoci is brilliant! Her tactics are like a perfect chain—every link holds."

Mike reflected on what he would do if he were the enemy. With Chen Dafeng, air defense missiles, and a heavy contingent of troops already committed to the frontlines, the enemy would realize that most of their combat strength was already in play. If they intended to break through, they would surely avoid the frontlines.

If they encountered an ambush at that moment... despair would be inevitable.

"Boss! We're here!"

"Let's go! Fight for the country!"

"Down with the reactionaries, save the people!"

In the midst of the battle, Chen Dafeng heard loud roars coming from behind him. He glanced back to see hundreds of familiar faces emerging from the end of the street.

After the missile barrage, the soldiers from the Little White Bear Shelter had charged into battle with loud cheers. There was no fear, no hesitation. The more they fought alongside Chen Dafeng, the more they believed in his strength.

"Didn't expect you guys to come!" Chen Dafeng laughed, pleasantly surprised. Jiang Xiaoci had trusted him enough to let her subordinates join the fray. This was almost like giving him more power—she wasn't worried he'd cause trouble. He felt satisfied with this trust.

"We can't let you take all the credit, Boss! Share it with your brothers!"

"Call me Captain Chen! We'll liberate Jinling from the apocalypse, and our Captain Chen will get the first honors!"

As his team laughed and cheered, the warriors' morale surged. Chen Dafeng looked over the group, realizing that all the newcomers were his most loyal followers. These were the people who had followed him from the beginning, many of them old friends and family, the core strength of the Little White Bear Shelter.

"Everyone, get serious! Get to work!" Chen Dafeng barked from above, his actions matching his words as he continued to clear the drone swarms.

His men were a little caught off guard. Their boss usually joked around, but today, he was all business. His tone and demeanor felt more like the disciplined soldiers they'd seen before.

"Looks like the Boss has been 'assimilated'!"

"Assimilated? Have you not felt the glow of justice?"

"I sure have! Let's go! Help the boss build the flesh-and-bone wall to protect Jinling!"

"Hell, I'm in the regular army now! Defending the people, count me in!"

The crowd erupted in noise, but their combat readiness was solid. They quickly split into smaller units, using their combat talents to shoot down the drones above. Defenders took the front, drawing the drones' fire, while other combatants used their unique abilities to unleash bursts of dazzling firepower.

With the temporary Little White Bear Guard joining, thousands of soldiers emerged, moving in tight formation through the alleyways. They used the ruins of buildings destroyed by artillery as cover, shooting down more and more drones.

The frontlines were becoming even more intense, and the drones found it increasingly difficult to maneuver around the soldiers.

Though new waves of drones continued to arrive, they no longer seemed intent on breaking through. Instead, they were stuck in a vicious cycle of fighting the soldiers in the two-block zone, gradually being worn down.

Two hours into the brutal frontline combat, at 3 AM, the next round of battle reports came in.

"Fighting broke out in the eastern district of the city center! Over a thousand gifted combatants infiltrated and were ambushed by our forces! After 20 minutes of battle, they were successfully repelled!"

"Fighting broke out in the western district of the city center! A successful ambush after 26 minutes of battle! We suspect we've wiped them out!"

"Fierce combat in the northern district of the city center! Our forces ambushed them successfully, but the enemy put up a strong resistance, forcing us to call in tank support to suppress their breakout efforts!"

The battle reports continued pouring into the command vehicle, but Jiang Xiaoci showed no surprise, her eyes scanning the information with practiced calm.

"They're really trying to break out," one of the strategists noted, analyzing the new reports. "While the drones are still being deployed on the frontlines, their new breakout attempt is now using combat personnel."

"This means they've likely exhausted all other escape options. They're sending their people in to fight directly."

"They've nearly used up all their cards. This is our chance!"

"Miss Jiang, once we deal with the drones, we can take the initiative!"

One strategist suggested. "After fighting all night, the enemy's morale is probably wavering. If we push forward with Chen Dafeng as our spearhead, we can break into the city center, crush them, and liberate Jinling!"

The battle was unfolding just as Jiang Xiaoci had planned—step by step, the enemy was being cornered. A counterattack on the city center had a high chance of success.

"No," Jiang Xiaoci shook her head, rejecting their suggestion.

"Their final counterattack is to wait for us to strike."

Her eyes narrowed, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Victory goes to those who anticipate, adapt, and strike with precision. They're waiting for us to shift from offense to defense, so they can make their final push."

Jiang Xiaoci spoke softly but firmly, "Wait for my orders. Encircle them! Cut off their escape routes and crush them!"

4o mini