Chapter Fifty-Six: Mount Yuelu

After discussing with Meng Longwei for quite some time, the surrounding soldiers all stopped drinking. One by one, they squatted beside the two men, forming a large circle, quietly listening to their deliberations.

“This is settled, then. I’ll take two men up the mountain and try to bring back as many weapons and ammunition as possible. Brother Meng, you focus on getting the armored train ready. When we return, arrange for everyone to evacuate immediately,” Zhao Qiang said.

“Alright, that's decided.” Meng Longwei stood up, brushed the dust from his trousers, and ordered, “Zhang Iron Bull, Wang Er Gou, step forward!”

From the crowd, two burly, honest-looking soldiers sprang up like javelins, shouting, “Present!” Their faces were full of excitement.

“You two, follow Xiao Zhao up the mountain. Remember, obey his commands in everything. Also, ensure Xiao Zhao’s safety. Can you accomplish the mission?” Meng Longwei asked.

“Guaranteed!” The two soldiers snapped to attention and saluted, happily accepting the task. Both had witnessed Zhao Qiang’s skills; to follow such a formidable man on a mission was thrilling in itself.

“Everyone else, grab your tools and follow me to modify our armored train. All units, dismissed!” Meng Longwei’s orders were issued with precision, and the soldiers responded with a roar, dispersing according to their assignments.

The gloom on Meng Longwei’s face had lifted; Zhao Qiang’s arrival had reignited hope in a man who had already begun to despair. If these civilians could be rescued, his mission would be half complete. Watching the departing soldiers, Meng Longwei patted Zhao Qiang’s shoulder, “Brother, it’s all up to you now!”

“No problem. I'll leave my sister in your care for now.” Zhao Qiang replied calmly.

With Zhang Iron Bull and Wang Er Gou, Zhao Qiang jumped into the Hummer H6. The two rural soldiers had never seen such a luxurious vehicle; once aboard, they touched and inspected everything with curiosity.

Zhao Qiang pressed the accelerator, then abruptly hit the brakes. The two soldiers, unsteady, tumbled from the back bar straight into the driver’s compartment.

“Get out,” Zhao Qiang said, smiling at their awkward expressions.

The two soldiers scratched their heads, thinking their behavior had annoyed the burly man. Wang Er Gou pleaded, “Brother Qiang, we’re sorry, really. Please don’t throw us out.”

Zhao Qiang said nothing more and jumped out, opening the rear compartment of the Hummer. Seeing Zhao Qiang taking the lead, the two soldiers hurriedly climbed out, heads lowered, standing behind him.

“What are you standing around for?” Zhao Qiang feigned indifference to their embarrassment. “Hurry up and dismantle all this useless junk!”

Wang Er Gou looked up at the stuff Zhao Qiang pointed to. This brother Qiang was certainly wasteful! The extended Hummer’s rear was filled with luxury leather sofas, a liquor cabinet, and so on. If sold off piece by piece, it could feed a family for years.

“Brother Qiang, isn’t this a bit much? It’s such a waste,” Wang Er Gou ventured timidly.

“Haha, there’s nothing wasted about it. These things take up too much space, can’t be eaten or used. If we dismantle them, how much more weapons and ammunition can we load?” Zhao Qiang laughed. After all, the car wasn’t his; wasting it didn’t bother him, and such luxury was unnecessary anyway.

The two soldiers paused, considering Zhao Qiang’s words. However high-end these things were, they were useless now. With the owner already tearing things out, what was there to hesitate about? They grabbed their tools and got to work.

In no time, they had stripped out the Hummer H6’s luxurious leather sectional sofas, walnut liquor cabinet, bar counter, fridge, and the costly BOSE sound system, tossing them aside like scrap. If Ma Tianxiong knew, he’d probably spit blood and die a second time.

After half a day’s work, beads of sweat dotted Wang Er Gou and Zhang Iron Bull’s foreheads. The bar was gone; looking at the now-empty rear compartment, the three exchanged glances and burst out laughing.

“Get in! Let’s go!” Zhao Qiang waved his hand. The lighter Hummer roared joyfully, speeding toward Mount Yuelu.

Mount Yuelu Scenic Area lies south of Heng Mountain, north of Dongting Lake, west of vast plains, and east of the surging Xiang River. Jade Screen, Pegasus, Phoenix, and Orange Isle stretch out before it; Peach Blossom and Green Moth adorn its rear; Golden Basin, Golden Ox, Mica, and Gui Peak guard its flanks. Still as a winding dragon or snake, dynamic as a galloping steed, towering above like a miniature landscape, seen from the side as a natural screen. Truly a marvel of nature and a wonder of the world—a grand vista of Changsha.

Mount Yuelu gathers the essence of Xiang and Chu culture, boasting numerous historic sites and integrating Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. White Crane Spring, Yu King’s Stele, Relic Pagoda, Flying Stone, Self-sounding Bell, and Piercing Stone Slope are scattered among its forests and hills. There are ancient trees from the Jin, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties—arhat pines, ginkgoes, camphor, maples and chestnuts—each with twisted trunks and vigorous branches reaching skyward. The mountain’s springs never dry, lending a tranquil air. In autumn and winter, red maples blaze across the forest, and oranges hang heavy on the branches, making Mount Yuelu all the more splendid.

Now, though Mount Yuelu remained beautiful, the crowds had vanished. Abandoned cars lay scattered by the roadside, and the occasional wandering zombie ruined Zhao Qiang’s mood for sightseeing. He steadied himself and drove toward the military base atop the mountain.

Halfway up, the vehicle stopped. Aside from Zhao Qiang’s calm expression, the two soldiers were pale with fright.

Ahead, hundreds of zombies had gathered, led by a formidable Crusher. In the surrounding woods, zombie dogs could be glimpsed darting among the trees. Turning around was impossible; the stretched Hummer was unwieldy even on a main road, let alone a mountain path!

Reverse! Without hesitation, Zhao Qiang backed the Hummer. Though the civilian Hummer was sturdier than most vehicles, facing a fierce Crusher, it might as well be made of paper.

The Hummer roared backward, making Wang Er Gou and Zhang Iron Bull turn green with fear. On a winding mountain road, Zhao Qiang relied on the rearview mirror; the H6 was fast, with sheer cliffs beside the path—one slip would mean total destruction.

The Hummer screeched to a halt, leaving two long black skid marks on the ground.

Damn, they were surrounded! Zhao Qiang felt uneasy. He’d been cautious all the way, but still ended up targeted by zombies. The group behind was also led by a Crusher, mixed with countless regular zombies and zombie dogs. Seeing their organized formation, Zhao Qiang realized a Sage must be hidden somewhere in the mountain, directing the whole operation.

“Prepare for battle!” Zhao Qiang checked his equipment, pulled the bolt back with a click. Wang Er Gou and Zhang Iron Bull fixed their bayonets, gripping their rifles so tightly their knuckles whitened, bodies trembling involuntarily, though their faces showed little fear. They followed Zhao Qiang out of the car, and in the cold wind, the three men stood like ancient stones, anchored before the steel beast.