Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 502 A Sudden Sweep Leaves No Tile Behind
This raid on the Ice and Snow War Song camp was seen as the final move in the [Ploughing Court] campaign. When Gu Liyang suggested that Chen Mo give this operation a name, Chen Mo's subordinates who knew him well all silently covered their heads.

Fortunately, with the excellent name given by his elders as a precedent, Lord Chen performed as expected.

"Let's call it Operation [Sweeping the Acupoints]!"

Plowing the courtyard and sweeping the hole, no problem!

However, although it appears to be a completely advantageous operation for me, there are still many details that need to be addressed.

The General Staff drew up a strict timetable for the plan.

When the "Sweep the Cave" operation was launched, the main force should have already begun a large-scale retreat back to Earth, which was a massive undertaking in itself.

How to arrange the order of troop withdrawal, how to ensure it is orderly, which equipment to leave to Han Hai, and which supplies from the Starry Continent to take away from Han Hai... Although a detailed list of steps had been prepared long ago, at the execution level, time still had to be controlled down to every minute.

Allowing sufficient backup time is essential to ensure a smooth transition to the air force's withdrawal once the "sweep" operation concludes.

Next, there are some specific issues regarding the implementation of the "sweeping the acupoints" operation.

The biggest challenge is that it's easy to drop paratroopers down, but how do you bring them back?
Building a field airfield on the ground in such a short time is not only difficult, but the key issue is that the air force would be too vulnerable once it lands.

If the enemy pulls some strange trick that prevents the planes from taking off again, then this operation would be a major defeat.

Don't think this is impossible. Don't forget, the Starry World also has a place with rules like the [Fallen Feather] Canyon.

Fortunately, although Chen Mo's forces were not numerous, they had a wide variety of troop types.

"The plane won't land; it'll stay in the air. We'll use the air force units of Hanhai to send it up!"

The one who made this suggestion was Jelly, who had just been inspired by the commander-in-chief and the generals.

The elven air force, especially the elite air force unit riding silver-feathered grouse, consists of ancient monsters who have flown for hundreds of years, possessing highly skilled aerial techniques. According to Jelly, they are fully capable of handling any aerial operations up to 6,000 meters in altitude.

"Have the Elven Air Force lift the supplies from the ground and load them onto our transport planes. That way, even if we encounter an attack or an accident, the Elven Air Force will be there to handle it, and our Dongxia planes will be safe!"

The elven elders present rolled their eyes in unison.

That's the situation, but couldn't you have phrased it more tactfully?
You are such a filial son...

Chen Mo turned his head and looked at Elder Isera Brightwing, an elven native who had come to help, and Lilan Light Song, a former elven elder who was now completely in the shape of a vast ocean and the former leader of the Redemption Army.

Ysera nodded in confirmation without hesitation, while Lillian answered even more firmly: "The Frostguard will resolutely complete the mission!"

With the core idea in place, Dongxia has plenty of solutions for the remaining specific technical issues.

For example, transport aircraft could be equipped with tow hooks with winches that dangle directly from the cabin. This way, the Elf Air Force wouldn't need to carry the cargo into the cabin repeatedly; they could simply hook it onto the tow hook, and the bomber could swallow it into its cargo hold with a turn of its engines.

To increase transport capacity, several attachment points can be installed under the wings and fuselage to directly attach secondary parcels or containers packed from the ground, maximizing the aircraft's carrying capacity.

"That's a great idea! When we go, we can bring the soldiers of the Nine Springs Legion directly into the containers and drop them down to establish outer defenses. This way, the airborne troops can focus on unloading the cargo and save time!"

The person who gave this suggestion was Lin Xiangming, who had just returned from the front line of the battle and was still not fully awake.

This guy is the least officer-like general among the entire Han Hai military leadership, yet he always fights the toughest battles, leading to a strange "corruption index" circulating privately within Han Hai.

Based on Lin Xiangming's weight, the ferocity of this battle can be determined.

This guy's weight just plummets the moment he gets on the battlefield. There's no way around it; the Jiuquan Army is meant to be on the front lines, fighting the toughest enemies. And Lin Xiangming is the kind of guy who goes crazy without thinking, often going for days and nights without sleep, losing ten or even dozens of kilograms in the process.

Conversely, as soon as he takes a break, Lin Xiangming's body swells up like a balloon.

After the battle against Green Pine, everyone knew that Green Pine was a very weak opponent, as Lin Xiangming was always swaying around with his round belly.

Sure enough, the troops that went to war later didn't even need to swing their swords; the green pine tree killed itself.

Because of Lin Xiangming's physique, the senior officers of Hanhai often joked about him, to which Lin Xiangming always responded seriously: "Everyone knows I'm greedy, that's because I was starved for more than ten years since I was a child!"

"Everyone here in Hanhai can eat their fill, even to the point of being stuffed. So what if I eat more and gain a little weight?"

As he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly, and his voice began to choke.

"This is thanks to Chairman Chen Mo!"

"Besides, if we store up more meat now, we can save time on meals when we're fighting. In the words of our Chairman, I'm making strategic reserves!"

A clean sweep.

Now, this guy has just finished fighting an ambush against the orcs who were taking slaves with them. He hasn't even caught his breath yet, but he's already volunteered to go back to the battlefield.

Chen Mo was somewhat tempted.

After all, using undead troops to form a defensive line on the perimeter can not only significantly improve transport efficiency, but also minimize casualties among airborne troops.

However, he still considerately asked first, "You just came back from a battle, don't you want to rest?"

Lin Xiangming's cheeks bulged slightly, his eyes narrowed into slits, and he smiled broadly, radiating an air of elation.

"Chairman, this is nothing. The Eastern Xia Air Force sent us there quickly and safely! The paratroopers provided protection, and we Summoners didn't even get a scratch. The army trucks brought us back, and we were well-fed, well-clothed, and slept soundly all the way."

"This isn't a war; it's more like a vacation in the wilderness."

"When I weighed myself after I got back, I not only hadn't lost weight, but I'd actually gained a few pounds!"

Lin Xiangming patted his round belly, "If wars were fought like this, I'd love to go to the front lines every day!"

The human officers present were already used to it, but several orc commanders who had not been integrated for very long widened their eyes in unison.

Goodness, just because they can't do it doesn't mean they can't understand it.

So, even in the vast ocean, there are such sycophantic and treacherous villains?

But it's not over yet.

Lin Xiangming bowed repeatedly to Chen Mo and the officers present, adopting an extremely humble posture: "Gentlemen, colleagues, there are allowances for this cross-regional airborne operation; our Jiuquan troops have been fighting continuously, so it counts as overtime; in addition, our Chairman's policies are good, and since it's cold in Bingxue Zhange, we can also apply for a low-temperature allowance."

"I'm greedy, I really can't stand this. Just thinking about so much money makes my heart burn like fire!"

As he spoke, he exaggeratedly clutched his chest, making a heartbroken expression: "Colleagues, please give me a chance. I'll treat you all to dinner when I get back!"

Everyone was convinced.

With his level of interpersonal skills, even knowing that this fat man is greedy and gluttonous, no one can bring themselves to dislike him.

This money is rightfully yours to earn, and this promotion is rightfully yours to receive!
"I have another question!" Han Mu, the political commissar of Dongxia, reminded them: "Deploying the grassroots troops in Jiuquan is easy, but reassembling them takes a long time. Won't that delay the operation?"

This refers to the unique combat methods of the Han Hai Jiu Quan troops.

As everyone knows, when the Nine Springs troops are deployed, the skeletons are incredibly slow and prone to tripping and falling in complex terrain, so these skeletons are usually airdropped into the battlefield.

Since the undead army was already lacking in quality, they made up for it with quantity. In order to maximize the number of troops that could be deployed, Dongxia carefully researched a container loading structure, which stacked the skeletons together in a special way, like stacking building blocks, so as to maximize the loading capacity of the same volume.

Once on the battlefield, simply open the side panels of the containers on both sides, and with a whoosh, the blocks are knocked over.

However, there is no doubt that it was quite difficult to install them, as they had to be stuffed in one by one.

Dongxia has no tradition of abandoning comrades, even skeletons. Therefore, spending a lot of time restoring skeletons may be a hidden danger.

Lin Xiangming paused for only half a second before immediately giving his answer. Clearly, he was prepared for this kind of situation.

"This is easy to handle!"

"After dropping it, the boxes can be used to carry supplies back, so our Jiuquan 'infantry' won't have to take the plane; they can walk back!"

"This...is a bit unrealistic!"

"To return to the Wilderness Stone Gate from the Ice and Snow War Song Camp, one must cross the entire Great Wilderness. How many of them can possibly make it back?"

The officers on the scene were full of questions, but Lin Xiangming remained calm and drew a line on the map with his chubby finger.

"Don't walk vertically, let's walk horizontally."

“From here, head east, following the boundary between the wasteland and the ice sheet.”

"The orcs are unlikely to give chase; they can't possibly be more resistant to the cold than our undead warriors, can they?"

"Besides, we rank-and-file soldiers in Jiuquan don't need to eat or drink. So what if we walk slowly? We'll reach the seaside sooner or later."

"When the time comes, my lord, you can have the navy meet them at the shore. You don't even need to let them board the ships. Skeletons can't drown. Just put them in a big net and drag them back!"

Huh? You know what, you really shouldn't say it. Suddenly it all becomes clear.

It's definitely a good method. In the icy and snowy environment, traveling hundreds or thousands of kilometers without supplies is nothing for undead creatures.

Lin Xiangming, clearly an expert at handling skeletons, added: "It doesn't matter if there's no mage to command them. For such simple instructions, just leave a few gargoyles and dark warriors to guide the direction, and the skeletons will just keep heading east."

"What if we encounter orcs going berserk and insisting on chasing and attacking them—"

Lin Xiangming rubbed his hands together, a gentle smile appearing on his face: "Then let the undead army burrow deep into the ice cap, cause an avalanche or something, and bury themselves."

"Let's dig them up again when we've completely defeated the orcs!"

It can be buried for a hundred years and it'll be fine!
Of course, Lin Xiangming wouldn't say this. If he did, it would mean he lacked confidence in the Chairman and in Hanhai.

"it is good!"

"Let's follow this approach!"

With the intervention of a special force like the Jiuquan Corps, the "Sweep the Cave" plan was comprehensively and effectively strengthened based on the original version. Twenty minutes later, everything was ready, and the troops once again embarked on their journey.

With meticulous planning, the entire operation proceeded smoothly.

The aircraft, carrying some bombs, paratroopers, and elven air cavalry, departed from Qingfeng Mountain Airport. They first flew northeast, avoiding the orcs' sacred mountain and royal court area, and completed an aerial refueling deep in the wasteland. Then they made a sharp turn and headed straight for the Ice Song camp to carry out the airdrop.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Ice and Snow Battle Song Camp.

This is a large outpost built at the junction of the permafrost zone and the ice sheet. The building is somewhat crude, with walls simply rammed from huge stones and permafrost. Outside are dilapidated sentry posts and arrow towers, covered with traces of wind and snow erosion.

The buildings within the camp were equally rudimentary: several rows of longhouses built of logs and stones, a slightly more presentable stone hall, dozens of warehouses, and some haphazard shacks. The roofs were covered with a thick layer of thatch and animal hides to protect against the bitter cold.

Only two beast corps were stationed in the camp, huddled in a burning building. The paratroopers from Han Hai started knocking on the door before they slowly got up, yawning.

The sporadic resistance on the ground was completely crushed within five minutes.

Then, the prisoners were dragged to the warehouse with knives to their necks to learn the way and do their work.

Outside the gate, the side panels of the containers that had been drifting and falling to the ground simultaneously popped open, and the mountain of skeleton warriors rolled down like a dumping of cargo, pulling out their limbs and skeletons that were stuck together, getting up, spreading out, and spreading outwards from the camp.

While the aircraft began loading and packing cargo on the ground, they maneuvered slightly south, dropping their ammunition on the head of the orc fortress, effectively thwarting their plans to head north.

At the same time, the paratroopers began their "sweep" operation.

The first priority is anything containing text.

Books, notebooks, diaries, ledgers, and all sorts of documents made of leather, paper, wood, and stone were carefully placed into storage boxes, stacked neatly, pressed down, wrapped with cushioning foam, and then packaged and handed over to the elf silver-feathered horde riders.

The flying mount took off, and these packages, being high-priority items, were to be hooked up to the winch and retrieved into the aircraft's cargo hold.

As for other ordinary goods, they were simply stuffed into the container.

There were rusty and damaged metal utensils, dark wood carvings that had rotted and become moldy, pottery jars with cracks or even completely broken, dirty cloths whose color was no longer discernible, a bronze mirror with a missing corner, a harp with a broken string, and miscellaneous items of unknown age and even unknown purpose...

I want them both.

Once the container was nearly full, the paratroopers pulled out a fire extinguisher-like nozzle, turned on the sprayer, and sprayed the container with foam particles. The foam particles expanded rapidly after entering the container, filling every crevice and space.

Prevent collisions and avoid damage.

The preparations were so thorough, it was truly astonishing.

Once a container was filled, six silver-feathered griffins pulled on the six cables attached to it, lifting it off the ground and attaching it to the steel cable locks hanging from the slowly cruising aircraft that had just returned from a bombing raid.

The work on the ground proceeded smoothly, the aerial operations were well-organized, and the outer defenses were impenetrable. Occasionally, orcs who had been bombed and run in the wrong direction would approach in a panic, but upon seeing the dense array of skeletons, they would turn tail and run without a word.

The moving operation lasted for a full two and a half hours.

"Take them all. As long as we have enough transport capacity, we won't leave them a single stone."

Lin Xiangming, who was in charge on site, issued a death order. His greed was used perfectly here.

Of course, he spoke with righteous indignation: "These are all valuable historical materials, irrefutable evidence of the orcs' crimes of waging war against humans."

"Take them back, take them all back."

After being loaded to 80% capacity, the bombers, acting as transport aircraft, began their return journey one after another, flying southeast. At the same turning point they had come from, fully loaded refueling tankers were waiting for them.

Finally, the cargo plane's cabin slowly closed. Jelly jumped off the hippogriff and shouted into the walkie-talkie, "Last crate loaded! Everyone evacuate!"

Lin Xiangming stood in the center of the camp, looked at the empty surroundings, nodded in satisfaction, and then, swaying his round body, climbed onto the back of the elven cavalryman amidst the somewhat disdainful gaze of the silver-feathered horned eagle.

The paratroopers withdrew, the summoning mages withdrew, the elven air force withdrew, and the aircraft fleet withdrew.

Then, the undead creatures left on the ground headed north towards the ice cap.

Only after cautiously probing several times and confirming that there were no enemies left did the first batch of orc scouts rush into the camp.

Leading the group was an orc chieftain, who trembled as he reined in his mount, staring at the scene before him, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

The camp seemed to be the same camp, and the city walls seemed to be the same city walls...

But what about my warehouse?
The chieftain of a thousand beasts dismounted from his wolf and stood frozen at the entrance of the hall for a long time before finally asking his subordinates, "I remember... we have a door here, right?"

The subordinates looked at each other, then nodded with slight hesitation.

"Reporting, Captain, it seems...it seems some of them have been...taken away..."

That's right, now the doorway is gone, even the door frame is gone, leaving only a row of dark holes on the bare brick wall.

It's not just the gate.

The Beastmaster couldn't help but rub his eyes again.

The warehouse was completely empty.

The warehouse, which was originally filled with all kinds of supplies, is now completely empty, not even a single cobweb has been left.

The heat-insulating animal hides hanging on the wall were stripped off, the moisture-proof stone slabs that had been laid on the ground were pried off, the oil lamps that were suspended under the beams for lighting were removed, and even the wooden carvings on the beams were sawed off, leaving only bare beams and pillars.

I misread it; most of the roof beams were also removed, leaving only one pillar supporting it, barely preventing it from collapsing.

Looking up, the roof, which was already letting in light, had all its tiles stripped off, leaving not a single one.

The captain stood blankly in the empty warehouse, the cold wind blowing through the room ruffling his disheveled hair and bringing a chill to his bones.

He suddenly remembered a word he had heard from the human merchant—

Scrape the ground three feet deep.

No, this is fucking a three-zhang (approximately 1.5 meters) scrape of the ground!

He turned around and saw his adjutant squatting in the corner, staring at something.

"What is that?" Iron Fang walked over.

The adjutant looked up. "Captain... this, this is a rat hole..."

"What happened to the mouse hole?"

“It…it was dug open.” The adjutant swallowed hard. “The rats inside…were dragged away too…you can still see signs of struggle…”

"..."

Can an airplane carry that much stuff? Of course not.

However, in the spirit of "if you don't pick up something in the aisle, it's considered lost," Lin Xiangming made thoughtful arrangements.

At this moment, the Nine Springs Skeleton Warriors, who were on a long and arduous escape, were silently marching across the icy plains, each skeleton carrying something in its hands.

Some were carrying tiles, some were moving bricks, some were carrying timber, and several skeletons were working together to lift a large door that had been taken down...

Those were the last batch of "non-fixed objects" removed from the Ice and Snow War Song camp.

Thus, the final "sweeping the lair" operation of this "Ploughing the Court" campaign was officially declared a complete success.

(End of this chapter)