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​ ## 1. Fang Qing’s warning

Lin Shuang stood at the door of the factory, staring at the white smoke rising from the northern mining area, and tightened his grip on the crossbow.

She didn't sleep all night.Things about Shen Yu's husband, the hard drive, and the steam in the mining area were like three thorns stuck in her brain that couldn't be pulled out.

At dawn, the sound of engines could be heard in the distance.Three gray-green pickup trucks, one more than last time.Fang Qing jumped out of the second car, her face looking much uglier than last time.Instead of knocking on the door and waiting for notification like last time, she directly opened the iron door and walked in, followed by two male team members carrying automatic rifles on their backs.

Zhang Xiaomei saw this scene on the roof and put her hand on the machete.Lin Shuang shook his head at her and signaled her not to move.

"Fang Qing, you came at a bad time today." Lin Shuang's tone was calm, but his eyes had already glanced at the equipment of the two people behind Fang Qing - automatic rifle, full magazine, safety closed.

"Something happened." Fang Qing walked up to Lin Shuang and lowered her voice, "Do you know about the mining area in the north?"

"Know something. They're digging."

"It's not just digging. They dug up a pre-war underground military warehouse. At least two companies of weapons and equipment - automatic rifles, mortars, ammunition, and even two armored vehicles - were sealed in it." Fang Qing spoke very quickly, as if he was rushing for time, "If they are allowed to dig out those equipment, let alone your factory, not even the 'oasis' can stop them."

Lin Shuang's facial expression did not change at all, but her fingers gently rubbed the trigger guard of the crossbow twice.

"Is the source reliable?"

"Reliable. We have inside information in the mining area." Fang Qing took out a photo from the pocket of his tactical vest and handed it to Lin Shuang.

The photo was taken from a distance and is blurry, but it can be seen that a huge pit was dug in the open space in the center of the mining area, with earthworks and metal components piled around the pit.There were several figures moving at the bottom of the pit, and a small excavator was parked next to it.

"This was taken three days ago. Today is even worse - they dug into the main entrance to the warehouse and are cutting the steel door with gas cutting."

Lin Shuang returned the photo to Fang Qing.

“What do you want us to do?”

"Help me hold them off. Give me three days, and I will transfer people and equipment from the 'Oasis' to organize a joint attack."

"Three days? They can empty the warehouse in three days."

"No. It will take at least another day to cut the steel door. After it is cut, there will be an explosion-proof door inside, which will take at least another day. It will take time to actually move the supplies. Three days is their bottom line, and it is also my bottom line. "

Lin Shuang was silent for a few seconds.

"I need a detailed plan. The topographic map of the mining area, the distribution of guards, the shift time, and the operating rules of the machinery. Give me these, and I will help you delay it for three days."

Fang Qing took a folder from another team member and handed it to Lin Shuang.

"It's all inside. The latest information on the mining area, including the internal layout map drawn by our insiders."

Lin Shuang took the folder but did not open it.

"There is one more condition."

"Say."

"Help me find someone." Lin Shuang briefly told the story about Shen Yu's husband - the punctured hard drive, the three men wearing military boots, and the possibility of the remnants of the US military.

After hearing this, Fang Qing’s face became even uglier.

"The remnants of the US military. Are you sure?"

"Not sure. But the warhead fragments and rifling characteristics match the M24 sniper rifle. This weapon can be used in the wasteland, not ordinary predators."

Fang Qing bit her lip and thought for a while.

"I know. I will investigate this matter. But the focus right now is the mining area. If the Reapers get that batch of equipment, the balance of power in the entire north will be broken. By then, not to mention the remnants of the US military, even the 'oasis' may be swallowed up."

"I said, if you give me information, I'll help you delay it for three days."

Fang Qing stared at Lin Shuang's eyes for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Three days. In three days, whether you delay or not, I will take the main force of 'Oasis' north. I hope your factory will still be there by then."

Fang Qing moved a box of things from the car and placed it on the ground.

"Explosives. It's a mixture of fertilizer and diesel. It's not very powerful, but it's enough for you. Four packages, two kilograms each. The timer and gun are inside."

Lin Shuang glanced at the box of explosives.

"Have you been ready?"

"It was prepared before coming. I know you will agree." Fang Qing turned around and got in the car, and the three pickup trucks turned around and drove away.

Lin Shuang stood at the door and opened the folder.

Inside is a thick stack of handwritten records and hand-drawn maps, with sloppy but neat handwriting and detailed annotations.The topography of the mining area, the guard shift times, the operating patterns of the excavators, the location of the material storage areas, the specific layout of the holding area-even the names and nicknames of the guards.

"Zhang Xiaomei! Zhao Xiaohe! Come here!"

​​ ## 2. Plan

The three people squatted on the floor of the factory building and spread out the map of the mining area.

Lin Shuang’s finger moved on the map and marked three key targets:

First, the excavator.There is only one excavator in the mining area, parked beside the pit at the entrance to the warehouse.If the excavator is blown up, the harvester's excavation progress will be stalled for at least a day.

Second, the fuel depot.Fuel for all vehicles and generators at the mine is stored in a semi-underground tank.If the oil tank was detonated, the explosion and fire would create a huge chaos that would hold them back for at least half a day to a day.

Third, the detention area.The holding area is in the northwest corner of the mining area, about three hundred meters from the entrance to the warehouse.If the first two goals are successful, some of the guards in the holding area in the chaos will be removed, and you can take the opportunity to save people at that time.

"Our goal is not to defeat them. We can't defeat them." Lin Shuang's voice was low, but every word was clear. "Our goal is to create chaos and delay time. Explode what can be exploded, burn what can be burned, and save those who can be saved. If you can't beat them, run away, and if you can't run, hide. Three days, seventy-two hours. Hold on, and Fang Qing's people will arrive."

Zhang Xiaomei looked at the three targets on the map and estimated the distance and time.

"I can do the first two by myself. It doesn't take too many people to blow up excavators and oil tanks. But the third one - rescuing people - requires at least four people. There are at least six guards in the detention area, as well as patrols. "

"I'll go with you." Zhao Xiaohe said.

"Your left shoulder has just been removed and fixed, so you can't use force."

"I can use my right hand. And I'm not there to fight, but to pick locks. I've seen the locks in the detention area - ordinary padlocks that can be opened with an iron bar. "

Lin Shuang glanced at Zhao Xiaohe and then looked at the map.

"Zhang Xiaomei, take Zhao Xiaohe to blow up the excavator and the oil tank. I will lead the team to the detention area to rescue people. Wang Fang, Qian Xiaohong, me, and Su Lin will do field rescue. Li Cuihua stays behind at the factory and is responsible for the defense. Zhou Xiulan, take the children to hide in the basement. No matter what happens outside, don't come out."

Zhou Xiulan was stunned for a moment when she heard her name.She stood up from the corner of the factory building, leaning on the wooden stick used as a crutch.

"What can my old lady command?"

"It's not about commanding, it's about taking care of you. The children listen to you, and Shen Yu also listens to you. If someone breaks in, you know where to hide." Lin Shuang stood up, "You are the oldest here, and you have seen more things than all of us."

Zhou Xiulan pursed her lips and did not refuse.

​​ ## 3. Departure

The departure time is set at midnight.

It was completely dark, and the clouds were so thick that there was no trace of moonlight.Seven people set off from the factory, with Lin Shuang leading the team and Zhang Xiaomei following behind.Each man carries at least ten kilograms of equipment - explosives, water, food, weapons, first-aid kits.

The explosives were provided by Fang Qing.It was not a real military explosive, but a homemade explosive made from fertilizer and diesel. It was not very powerful, but it was enough to blow up excavators and oil tanks.There were four packages in total, each about two kilograms, sealed in plastic bags and wrapped with tape.

Zhao Xiaohe carried two bags and Zhang Xiaomei carried two bags.Lin Shuang carried a crossbow and arrow box, Wang Fang carried a machete and a rope, Qian Xiaohong carried Su Lin's first aid kit and extra water, and Su Lin only carried a dagger and a small bottle of gentamicin.Li Cuihua stayed in the factory, guarding the two fixed crossbows.

The team moved silently among the ruins.No one spoke, no one flashed a flashlight.Lin Shuang relied on memory and astrology to lead the way, stepping on the least gravel with every step.The people behind walked in her footsteps.

Two hours and forty minutes later, they reached the ridge outside the mining area.

Zhang Xiaomei has already selected two observation points during the previous reconnaissance - two huge rocks on the ridge, with a natural stone crevice in the middle, which can accommodate three people to hide.Looking down from there, you have a panoramic view of the entire mining area.

Lin Shuang lay down behind the boulder and observed the mining area with a telescope.

The lights in the mining area are brighter than in the past few days - not all lighting has been restored, but several high-power work lights have been set up beside the pit at the entrance of the warehouse, illuminating the area as bright as day.The excavator was parked at the edge of the pit, with a steel cable hanging from the bucket and the other end of the cable extending into the pit - they were trying to drag the steel door out.

The detention area is in the northwest corner of the mining area. It is a temporary building surrounded by iron sheets and steel wire mesh.From the telescope, you can see lights inside and figures moving.

The guard patrols walked back and forth below the ridge, with four people in each team, about fifteen minutes apart.

"Zhang Xiaomei, look next to the excavator." Lin Shuang handed the binoculars to Zhang Xiaomei.

Zhang Xiaomei took it and looked at it.There are several iron barrels - fuel barrels - piled next to the excavator's tracks.

"The oil tanks are buried underground behind the row of iron barrels." Zhang Xiaomei put down the telescope, "When blowing up the excavator, if we can also detonate those iron barrels, the fire will spread to the oil tanks. Kill two birds with one stone."

"Time?"

"Waiting for the shift change. There will be a shift change in forty minutes, with the minimum number of guards, and there will be a five-minute window for handover of the patrol team. We go down the ridge and approach the warehouse along the drainage ditch." Zhang Xiaomei drew a line on the map with her finger, "Zhao Xiaohe, follow me. You take people to the detention area and wait until we blow up before taking action - if there is chaos, some of the guards in the detention area will be transferred."

Lin Shuang looked at her watch.Three twenty in the morning.Forty minutes later, four o'clock sharp.

"Now is the right time."

Seven people checked their watches - only Lin Shuang, Zhang Xiaomei and Zhao Xiaohe had watches, Wang Fang and Qian Xiaohong relied on estimation - and got the time at the same time.

It’s four o’clock sharp.

"Action."

​​ ## 4. Explosion

At 3:58, Zhang Xiaomei and Zhao Xiaohe had reached a place less than 100 meters away from the excavator.

The drainage ditch extends from the ridge to the interior of the mining area. The ditch is about one meter deep and only wide enough for a person to bend down and pass through.The bottom of the ditch is dry soil and gravel. It makes no sound when you step on it, but it is very dusty.Zhang Xiaomei would stop every few steps, cover her mouth and nose with her hands, and wait for the dust to disperse before leaving.

Zhao Xiaohe followed her, with two packs of explosives tied to his back and wrapped in cloth to prevent them from making any noise.Her right hand was holding the dagger behind her waist, her left hand was holding on to the ditch wall, and she kept staring at the lights around the excavator in front of her.There was still a dull pain in her left shoulder, but she gritted her teeth and made no sound.

It’s four o’clock sharp.

At the sentry post on the north side of the mining area, four guards began to change shifts.Four new people from the dormitoryDistrict came over and handed over to the original four people.The original four men slung their guns over their shoulders and walked towards the dormitory area.

The patrol passed the south side of the mining area at exactly this time and was less than 200 meters away from the outlet of the drainage ditch. However, their attention was on the ridge outside the mining area and they did not look into the ditch.

"Let's go." Zhang Xiaomei said softly.

The two men climbed out of the ditch, bent down and ran behind the excavator's tracks.The excavator's cab is empty and the operator is drinking water in a makeshift shed next to the pit.

Zhang Xiaomei took out a pack of explosives from her backpack and stuffed it into the gap between the excavator's tracks and chassis.She set a small mechanical timer for fifteen minutes—enough time for them to run to the oil tank, plant a second pack of explosives, and evacuate.

Zhao Xiaohe’s eyes lit up when he saw several fuel barrels next to the excavator.She took out a homemade gun made of a plastic bottle from her backpack - Lin Shuang taught her to make it. The bottle was a mixture of gasoline and foam plastic, with a cloth strip stuffed in the mouth of the bottle - she lit the cloth strip on fire and threw it into the pile of fuel barrels.

"Bang!"

​​The flames shot up to two meters high in a few seconds, and thick smoke billowed.The fuel drum was burned to a sharp hiss, and the shell turned red and soft.

The guards at the edge of the pit shouted, some ran to the fire extinguisher, and some rushed towards this side. Page (1/3)