Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

The map lay spread out on the camp headquarters table, its edges weighed down by several stones. He Yuzhu's finger traced south from the thick red line representing their own defensive line, across the blank space representing enemy-controlled territory, and finally stopped at the mountain hollow circled in blue pencil. A small note beside it read: "Crow Valley, suspected to be a large forward ammunition storage point, currently under construction."

Old Geng, Zhang Dashan, and several newly promoted company commanders sat around a table. The oil lamp cast their shadows on the earthen wall, flickering like ghosts.

"Crow Valley..." Zhang Dashan pondered the name. "It's nearly a hundred kilometers away from us as the crow flies, but in reality, we have to take a detour, crossing mountains and valleys, which more than doubles the distance."

"A battalion of over five hundred men is not a small force; the commotion would be too great." Old Geng frowned.

He Yuzhu tapped his knuckles on the blue circle, the sound soft but instantly silencing the room. "It's precisely because it's a battalion that we have to go." His gaze swept over everyone. "The enemy is pushing the ammunition depot forward to shorten the supply line and continuously pressure the front lines. Once they've stockpiled enough shells, they'll be bombarding our positions, our brothers."

He paused, his voice deep and cold: "What is a reconnaissance battalion for? It's to stab people in the heart and cut off their supply lines. Before, a company-sized unit would have blown up the radar station at the bridgehead and that was it. Now it's a battalion, so the appetite has to be big—only by taking the whole pot of food before it's even cooked can you show real skill."

Wu Dayong, now the company commander of the Second Company, had toned down his arrogance compared to before, but remained straightforward: "Battalion Commander, I understand the reasoning. But the journey is too long, and the enemy isn't blind. If we get caught up in their pursuit, or if their defenses are too strong to break through, our battalion might be in trouble..."

"So we can't force our way in, nor can we take a direct approach." He Yuzhu interrupted him, drawing a winding dotted line on the map with his finger, avoiding all main roads and known outposts. "Go this way, through the primeval forests on the flank of Eagle Ridge. The road is difficult, but the enemy is basically undefended. The entire battalion will be lightly equipped, carrying only weapons, a minimal amount of dry rations, and the 'little gadgets' I've acquired."

The so-called "gadgets" are mountain climbing static ropes, pitons, pulley sets, and hundreds of pairs of specially made soft-soled shoe covers that he redeemed from the system with 10,000 points—which can greatly reduce the noise of walking.

[Exchange: Mountain Assault Climbing Kit (50 sets), Advanced Silent Shoe Covers (300 pairs). Points consumed: 10000. Current points: 1,678,398 - 10,000 = 1,678,398.]

"This battle is about establishing our authority and testing our mettle." He Yuzhu rolled up the map. "If we succeed, no one will dare underestimate the reconnaissance battalion. If we fail, or suffer too many casualties, all the previous training will have been for nothing. Are we in or out?"

Old Geng was the first to grin: "Battalion Commander, wherever you point, we'll go. The old guard from the reconnaissance company, we're not afraid."

Zhang Dashan nodded: "It's time for the newly formed brothers to show their true colors."

Wu Dayong puffed out his chest: "The Second Company will never be cowards!"

"Okay." He Yuzhu put away the map. "Everyone prepare yourselves, and we'll depart secretly at midnight."

The group flowed out of the camp like an undercurrent, disappearing into the northern mountains. There were no torches, no noise, only the rustling of footsteps over withered leaves and frozen earth, and suppressed breathing. He Yuzhu walked at the front, his intermediate-level eagle eye expanding his field of vision in the dim light, identifying dangerous passes in advance.

The road was more difficult than imagined. The so-called "road" often disappeared, requiring climbing steep cliffs or squeezing through crevices filled with snowmelt. Static ropes and pulleys were key, and silent shoe covers were a lifesaver—walking on the gravel, the sound was even quieter than the mountain wind.

The differences between officers and soldiers from different backgrounds became apparent: the veterans of the reconnaissance company adapted the fastest, moving nimbly and in perfect harmony; the former guard company soldiers were disciplined but expended more physical energy; the engineer company quickly set up protective points in dangerous sections. New recruits stumbled and were pulled forward by veterans in hushed tones. He Yuzhu deliberately controlled the pace, ensuring no one fell behind.

For three days and two nights, they only took short breaks. Their rations were almost gone, so they forced themselves to drink icy mountain stream water. They wrapped the blisters on their feet with rags and continued on. No one complained; a spirit unique to the "reconnaissance battalion" quietly coalesced in the face of adversity.

On the fourth day at dusk, the team reached the concealed observation post at Eagle Ridge. Below the mountain, Crow Valley came into view in the twilight: large canvas sheds had been erected on the flat areas of the valley, and wooden crates and oil drums were piled up like mountains. Vehicles came and went, watchtowers stood, searchlights were not set up, but the figures of patrol teams could be seen everywhere.

He Yuzhu observed that night had completely fallen. The garrison consisted of about a reinforced company, heavily guarding the entrance and the storage area. There were gaps in the long outer barbed wire fence, and night patrols were intermittent.

"Tonight's operation." He retreated back to the rock and whispered to his key personnel, "The entire battalion will be divided into three groups. The first company will be responsible for perimeter security and cutting off communications; the second and third companies will form a combined demolition team, divided into twenty squads, to infiltrate from the east and west sides, specifically to blow up piles of ammunition and fuel, with a two-hour timer."

He distributed mechanical timed detonators redeemed from the system, which were more reliable than pull-tube detonators and allowed sufficient time for evacuation.

"The battalion headquarters' directly subordinate units will establish a blocking position with me on the high ground to the south. In case of exposure, we will hold off the enemy and cover our withdrawal. Understand?"

"clear!"

The midnight operation began. Soldiers in soundproof shoe covers slid down the hillside like nocturnal animals, while engineers silently cleared a path with bolt cutters. The sentry team dispersed into the darkness, the occasional flash of a dagger's cold gleam.

He Yuzhu led his artillery company up the southern slope and constructed a makeshift position. From here, they could overlook most of the valley. He lay prone behind a rock, holding up his night-vision binoculars, his heart pounding steadily, his eyes following the figure disappearing into the darkness.

Time passed. The valley remained quiet, save for the hum of the generator and the occasional red glow from the watchtower. The patrol's flashlight swept across the area; the infiltration team seemed to have perfectly avoided them.

An hour and a half later, a suppressed response came through the headphones:

"East Group deployment complete."

"West Group complete."

"Command post tent found, supplies have been added..."

The entire demolition team has safely evacuated, joined the security team, and moved towards the assembly point.

He Yuzhu glanced at his luminous watch: twenty minutes until detonation. "Everyone prepare to evacuate, proceed along the second route."

Just as the battalion's direct support units were packing up their equipment, a sudden, fierce barking erupted from the eastern side of the valley! American shouts and a hail of gunfire followed—they had been exposed. Either the evacuation had startled the military dogs, or it had triggered a concealed alarm.

Chaos erupted in the valley. Searchlights flashed and swept wildly, while alarms wailed. American troops poured out of their barracks, unleashing a hail of machine gun fire into the shadows.

"Battalion Commander! Shall we engage or not?" the artillery company commander asked urgently.

He Yuzhu kept a close eye on the valley where a counterattack was being quickly organized amidst the chaos, then checked his watch: fifteen minutes left. Opening fire might cover the brothers, but the direct support team would be surrounded and unable to evacuate safely.

"Don't fight!" he ordered through gritted teeth. "Trust them, they can break free! The whole team, speed up the retreat!"

He glanced one last time at the American soldiers who were running frantically under the searchlights but had already begun an orderly search, then turned and led his team into the mountains.

They sprinted towards the assembly point. Behind them, the gunfire, sirens, and engine roars of Ravenvale grew louder. Just as they reached the ridge and saw the signal fire at the assembly point—

Time's up.

First, a dull tremor came from the ground beneath my feet. Then, from the direction of Raven Valley, an extremely dazzling orange-red light tore through the night sky, illuminating the valley and mountains as if it were daytime!

The light continued to expand and churn—it triggered a spectacular explosion of thousands of shells, explosives, and hundreds of tons of fuel!

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The deafening roar was like the sky collapsing, and the layers of explosions converged into a destructive tidal wave. The scorching heat wave swept several kilometers away, flames shot into the sky like pillars, and thick smoke billowed like mushroom clouds, obscuring the starlight.

The entire Ravenval Valley was transformed into an erupting volcano, a fiery hell. American soldiers, vehicles, shacks, and watchtowers were instantly engulfed and torn apart by the inferno and shockwaves.

He Yuzhu and his soldiers stood on the ridge, staring in disbelief at the terrifying sight that illuminated half the sky, speechless with shock. Hot winds swept across their grimy faces, bringing with them the smell of gunpowder and burnt grime.

After confirming that all groups had arrived safely and taking a headcount—except for a few people who were grazed by stray bullets, all five hundred-plus men in the battalion were unharmed—He Yuzhu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

Success! A decisive blow.

A deep system notification sounded:

[Successfully planned and executed a long-range, large-scale raid behind enemy lines, completely destroying the enemy's strategic forward ammunition depot (Crow Valley).]

[Based on the immense value of the destroyed supplies, the paralysis of enemy logistics, and the potentially significant impact on the overall battle situation...]

[Gain Battle Points: +1,000,000!]

Current battlefield score: 1,678,398 + 1,000,000 = 2,678,398 points.

Main quest progress: 2,678,398 / 100,000,000 ≈ 2.678%

[The reconnaissance battalion under our command achieved a brilliant first battle, significantly improving cohesion, morale, and combat experience, resulting in a slight increase in the score bonus coefficient.]

One million points! The total has exceeded two million six hundred and fifty thousand! He Yuzhu's heart was burning—this time, he won the gamble.

He looked back at the still-burning expanse, the explosions gradually subsiding but the flames still raging in the distance, then turned to the assembled, exhausted but with shining eyes officers and soldiers of the entire battalion, and uttered only two words:

"go home."