Chapter 1573: 1536: Meeting Zhao Ruonan

Capítulo 1573: Chapter 1536: Meeting Zhao Ruonan

Taking advantage of the opportunity as the opponent retreated, Song Xiaodong slipped silently through their ranks and made his way towards the mountaintop.

This small hill, with its sparse trees, offered a clear view both from above and below. It was not easy for Song Xiaodong to sneak up without being noticed.

Luckily, it was nighttime, and Song Xiaodong utilized the darkness to finally reach the top.

“I’m here to save General Zhao!” He sensed someone behind a rock, about two meters away, and spoke directly.

“Just you alone?” A shadow emerged from behind the rock.

Song Xiaodong said, “There are eight of us in total, but I came ahead to assess the situation.”

“Alright, follow me.” The person led Song Xiaodong into a narrow cave. It was dark inside, but Song Xiaodong could still see Zhao Ruonan. However, only Zhao Ruonan and that expert were present.

Song Xiaodong said, “General Zhao, I’m Song Xiaodong.”

Zhao Ruonan, who had been sitting on the ground, immediately stood up, looking surprised. “It’s really you who came?”

Song Xiaodong said, “Besides me, there’s also Miss Xianling, and we brought six other experts. What’s the current situation here?”

Zhao Ruonan frowned and said, “Why did Xianling come too? This is too dangerous.”

Song Xiaodong said, “General Zhao, this isn’t the time to discuss that. Please tell me the current situation so I can go back and discuss a plan of action with Miss Xianling.”

Zhao Ruonan’s face then showed a bitter smile. “This is a trap. It’s easy to get up here, but trying to leave is quite difficult.”

Song Xiaodong said, “Why do you say that?”

Zhao Ruonan said, “There are only four of us here now. If the opponent really wanted to attack, it would be too easy. They have plenty of weapons, even rocket launchers. With just a few hits, would we have any chance to escape? But they only attack two or three times a day, not intending to actually get rid of us. It’s an obvious tactic of encircling while waiting for reinforcements.”

Song Xiaodong nodded. “I knew it. I had already guessed it before coming.”

Zhao Ruonan widened her eyes. “Since you guessed it, why did you come here? Are you looking for death?”

Song Xiaodong said, “General Zhao, you’re a pillar of the nation. No matter how dangerous, we must rescue you.”

Zhao Ruonan shouted, “Get lost! I order you to find a way to escape immediately. Don’t stay here to die with me.”

Song Xiaodong smiled bitterly and said, “General Zhao, it’s not that I won’t obey your orders, but they might truly be fishing for me. If I don’t show up, they won’t easily give up. Only I can save you.”

Zhao Ruonan’s eyes widened, scanning Song Xiaodong up and down. “You mean I’m trapped here as bait to lure you out?”

Song Xiaodong nodded. “I think that’s likely.”

Zhao Ruonan rolled her eyes. “Give me a reason to believe you. Don’t tell me, you as the Patriarch of the Su Family, are worth such effort, even using me as bait.”

Zhao Ruonan’s suspicion was entirely understandable. She was the youngest Junior General in the country, with a promising future. Her position could determine the future stature of the Zhao Family, rivaling even significant families in Beijing in importance.

Song Xiaodong was just a Family Head of a local family. Even if he was powerful now, he certainly wouldn’t surpass her in importance.

Facing Zhao Ruonan, Song Xiaodong said slowly, “Please forgive me, General Zhao. This is a confidential matter, and I can’t disclose it to you.”

“Confidential?” Zhao Ruonan looked at Song Xiaodong in astonishment.

Song Xiaodong nodded. “Exactly!”

Zhao Ruonan squinted her eyes, slowly nodding. “If that’s the case, I won’t ask further.” As a soldier, she understood that if something involved confidentiality, no matter how high her rank was, she couldn’t inquire further.

Song Xiaodong said, “Therefore, the key to resolving this issue rests with me, and my presence might lead to two extreme outcomes.”

Zhao Ruonan said, “One is that the opponent targets you, giving me the chance to escape.”

Song Xiaodong said, “Correct. But there’s another possibility: if the opponent thinks you are no longer valuable and wants to eliminate you, they will exert full force, making you even more endangered.”

Zhao Ruonan frowned, especially at the phrase “no longer valuable,” which she found particularly unpleasant.

But she had to admit that Song Xiaodong was right. The opponent might indeed make such a choice.

“Considering these two scenarios, you shouldn’t reveal yourself for now.” Zhao Ruonan, capable enough to become a Junior General, quickly analyzed the situation’s priorities.

Song Xiaodong nodded. “I came up alone; they probably haven’t noticed yet, so I might still leave. What I need most now is information about the opponent’s main firepower points and the locations of their experts.”

Zhao Ruonan said, “I can only tell you what I’ve seen. Their main forces are stationed at the foot of the mountain. They appear scattered, but are organized into units of ten, coordinating seamlessly. We’ve tried several breakouts, but each time, before getting close, they’ve discovered us, suppressing us with firepower, forcing us to retreat.”