068 Misfortunes Never Come Singly

"Well, this thing is easier to carry than a fire axe anyway. Last time I fought zombies, I thought an axe would easily crack a skull compared to stabbing with a combat knife. The handle is long, the reach is great, and there’s no need to worry about the edge dulling. But after swinging a four-pound axe in each hand for a few minutes, no matter how satisfying it felt, I was exhausted. My arms were sore for nearly two days afterward. This bayonet is much lighter than an axe and twice as long as the Type 81 combat knife. While it doesn't have the versatility of an axe, I've learned my lesson—fighting zombies isn't like hand-to-hand combat with a person; simple and practical is better."

"I feel the same way." Ma Tian drew his own bayonet and toyed with it. "Look at this triangular tip. If you aim for any point of soft cartilage on the face and thrust with force, piercing it isn't difficult. Plus, you don't have to worry about the tip dulling or snapping. Though, I disagree with you on one point: in hand-to-hand combat with a person, if used correctly, this is no worse than the Type 81 bayonet. This thing is essentially an iron rod, sturdier than a standard combat knife, and easier to use for parrying. Overall, I think it’s more advantageous for close-quarters fighting."

"You have a point, but it's easy to use yet hard to master. We'll need to practice when we have time." Wang Chen swung it a few times, performed a few strikes to get a feel for the balance, and slid the bayonet back into its sheath. "What else did you manage to get?"

"Ha, I knew you'd ask. I didn't take anything too bulky, just some small miscellaneous items. They're in the armored vehicle; you can rummage through them later."

As they spoke, Shu Chang’s voice echoed, signaling that loading was complete and they were ready to depart.

This night excursion was a total success. With this ammunition as a foundation, what could "Boss Tian" possibly do? Could he withstand a downpour of bullets? The name "Shu Chang" lived up to its meaning—everyone was in high spirits, except for Chen Chong, who remained silent. Even if others didn't mention him wetting his pants, his arrogant nature could never accept such a thing. Wang Chen saw it, but had no interest in offering psychological comfort. If Chen Chong couldn't get past this, or if he started trouble with others over such a trivial matter, it would provide the perfect excuse to kick him out of the settlement.

Indeed, like everyone else, Wang Chen despised Chen Chong’s personality. He had only tolerated him due to his status, and because having a foul mouth wasn't a valid reason for expulsion. After all, as the de facto leader of the Peninsula settlement, he had to maintain a degree of fairness, which was crucial for keeping order.

Having mapped the route on the way there, the return trip was significantly more efficient. Since zombies lack intelligence and rely only on hearing to find prey at night, the convoy returned to the Peninsula settlement in under two hours. It was not yet midnight; the women and children in the settlement were already asleep, while the others waited with bated breath for the convoy’s return.

Without a word, crates of ammunition were unloaded. Low cheers erupted throughout the settlement. Ren Wanrong ignored everything else and dove straight for the landmine crates. After prying one open, he saw it filled with the Type 66 directional anti-personnel mines he had specifically requested. He burst into laughter. With these mines, the settlement entrance would be impenetrable. Describing their power is simple: the grenades used previously against vehicles weighed 250 grams with an 11-meter blast radius, but the mines in Ren Wanrong's hands contained 680 grams of explosive filler alone! Including the 700 steel pellets, the total weight was 1.6 kilograms. Imagine the impact of detonating six grenades at once—nothing within a hundred meters would survive. Unless someone like Boss Tian could get his hands on an armored vehicle or a tank, any school bus filled with earth and stone that entered the blast radius would be shredded like a sieve and immobilized.

Not just Ren Wanrong, but even Fang Qiang had bloodshot eyes as he looked at the crates of ammo. A soldier’s obsession with weaponry is unimaginable to ordinary people. After getting a rough idea of the situation at the barracks via the communication channel, Fang Qiang spoke to Wang Chen with unusual certainty for the first time: "Let's go back tonight! Take more vehicles and men! This time, we'll find a way to breach the armory!" Knowing Wang Chen and the others were exhausted from the long night, he volunteered, "I'll lead the team this time. You guys get some sleep. If we leave now, we can be back by morning at the latest!"

Wang Chen felt it was too risky; some things shouldn't be pushed too far. Even if they were to scavenge more supplies, they needed to deal with Boss Tian first. Furthermore, the increasing number of zombies on the road was a persistent problem. However, seeing Fang Qiang’s excitement, he couldn't bring himself to shut him down. He asked tactfully, "While we were out, did Tian Maocai manage to contact Boss Tian?"

Fang Qiang, despite his excitement, was no fool. Seeing Wang Chen deflect, he understood what he was thinking. Slightly disappointed but not pressing the issue, he answered, "No new contact since the recording we intercepted earlier. Tian Maocai just tried to call again, but there was no response."

"I see. Brother Fang, I'm not against going back for more supplies. The armory is currently unguarded, and leaving it that way is a liability if someone with bad intentions gets there first. But having Dai Jian and Yang Xiaohua pull another all-nighter is too much. I suggest Brother Ren sets up the electronically controlled mines at the stone bridge entrance immediately, and everyone else gets some sleep. If you leave at five in the morning, you should be back by noon. That way, the others can get six or seven hours of rest. Also, take some time to have your men learn how to set up the mines from Brother Ren. We were in too much of a rush this time and didn't set any defensive traps at the armory or the barracks. When we go back, we must not forget that."

This compromise was watertight. Fang Qiang calmed down completely, nodding in acknowledgment that Wang Chen’s approach was the most prudent. He felt a bit sheepish that, as a middle-aged man, his foresight hadn't been as sharp as the younger man's. He didn't say anything more and turned to organize the civilians.

It wasn't even five in the morning when Wang Chen, half-asleep, heard voices and the sound of engines starting. He thought to himself that even old man Fang could be impatient at times, before drifting back into a deep, sweet sleep.

"Brother Wang! Wake up! Something's happened!" Violent knocking accompanied by shouting jolted Wang Chen awake. Judging by the voice, it was Hu Qianqian. He rolled out of bed, grabbed his trousers, and started pulling them on, shouting back, "Coming!"

As it happened, to deal with emergencies, Wang Chen had slept fully clothed for months. Even after becoming intimate with Sheng Qingru, due to his temperament, they didn't sleep together, so he remained in the habit of sleeping in his clothes. Only that night, exhausted and relieved by the influx of ammunition, he had broken his routine and stripped off his outer layers.

And of course, that was when trouble struck.