Chapter 135: Li Qiang’s Expedition—Caofeidian (2)

Large-caliber machine guns have been standardized to the metric system to ensure longer-range interception of zombies. Given their current terrifying running speeds, intercepting them from a greater distance provides a distinct tactical advantage.

Barbed wire has also been produced, with the majority shipped to the Haihe and Mentougou defense lines. Only a small amount has been allocated to the field armies for now; mass deployment will follow once the defense lines are fully established.

The expeditionary trains utilize diesel locomotives, as electric locomotives and high-speed rail remain unusable until the power grid is fully restored. The reliance on diesel has made fuel supplies tight. Originally, the Special Committee expected their vast stockpiles to last for years while they gradually reclaimed oil-producing regions, but they are now forced to find ways to recapture the Dagang Oilfield in Cangzhou as soon as possible.

On September 15, 2015, after replenishing one unit of ammunition and military supplies, Li Qiang officially announced the launch of the military campaign to march into the Northeast, clear out zombies, and rescue survivors.

With the robust support of Sun Xiaoshan’s Ministry of Industry and the backing of company bosses eager to become the first generation of tycoons in the post-apocalyptic era, rear-guard ammunition supplies are expected to be replenished at an accelerated pace.

Logistical necessities like grain need not be a concern for the time being. There are grain silos everywhere that China had filled before the apocalypse to ensure years of supply for the population in the event of a total crop failure; capturing just a few of these will solve the issue entirely. Survivor bases in the Northeast have already promised to provide ample supplies—provided the army can reach them.

On September 15, Ma Xiaoshuai led an armored train from Tianjin along the Beijing-Shanghai line for reconnaissance. They arrived in Cangzhou that day. The "Anti-Corruption Law," which triggered massive rebellions among pre-apocalyptic officials, was set to be promulgated alongside the "thawing" of Cangzhou. The members of the Special Committee, lacking any prophetic ability, remained entirely unaware of this looming crisis.

The route of advance relies on the railway lines heading outside the Great Wall, with highways serving as auxiliary routes. This facilitates the movement of large formations, secures munitions supply lines, and allows for the search and rescue of survivors in the most densely populated areas.

Based on reports from survivor bases, armed reconnaissance vehicles, and armored trains, the 3 million troops were divided into two starting points: Beijing and Tianjin. They are to rendezvous at the Shenyang survivor base for rest and reorganization before pushing toward Changchun. Once Changchun is secured, the existing forces and newly integrated units will split into two major directions: Harbin and the Korean Peninsula.

The General Staff intends to continue the advance north and west after retaking Harbin, though they noted that the situation regarding the Russians must be assessed before any further movement.

As for the march into the Korean Peninsula, the priority is to rescue the survivors there. Furthermore, the Americans are certainly unable to cross the Pacific to cause trouble at this time. Once the peninsula is secured, the Yalu River can serve as a western defensive line, creating a secure base for humanity.

The 1.5 million troops departing from Beijing will pass through Chengde, Chaoyang, and Jinzhou on their way to Shenyang.

The 1.5 million troops departing from Tianjin are tasked with the crucial mission of first retaking Caofeidian. This is the site of the new Shougang Steel facility, which houses vast amounts of steel-making equipment. Driven by high iron ore prices before the apocalypse, they had frantically stockpiled massive quantities of ore. Nearby, the Qian'an iron ore belt—one of China's four major ultra-large iron ore belts—holds reserves of up to 5 billion tons, with shallow deposits that are easy to mine via open-pit methods.

After securing Caofeidian, they will march along the coast through Qinhuangdao and Huludao directly to Shenyang, with a small detachment splitting off to capture Dalian along the way.

Because this coastal region is densely populated, it contains more residents—and thus more zombies—than the inland route taken by the troops from Beijing.

In the region between the Beijing and Tianjin rail lines heading to Shenyang, units are expected to conduct intensive searches along the highways, clearing the area as they advance to ensure a synchronized movement. This prevents logistical threats and avoids being surrounded by zombies on multiple fronts.

As for sporadic zombies, various non-military forces organized by the Special Committee will handle the cleanup and material recovery, further pushing forward the logistical support bases.

In September, aside from the manpower essential for restoring agriculture and industry, all efforts will be focused on combat, with most social activities effectively suspended.

Considering the importance of the cities along the route, the Commander-in-Chief of the Post-Apocalyptic Chinese People's Liberation Army, Li Qiang, is leading the march from Tianjin. Leading the forces from Beijing is his former tank driver, Liu Feng, who now holds the rank of Commander of the 3rd Group Army of the PLA.

Having risen from the ranks, these two brothers have yet to develop the bureaucratic habit of remote command from the rear. They are also wary of being criticized for their lack of seniority, so they intend to silence any dissent with resounding military victories.

Many former professional officers on the General Staff had hoped to organize the troops more rationally and provide more thorough training before the advance, but they were politely turned down by the anxious Special Committee. The zombies are evolving, and with no one knowing what the future holds, they believe it is better to strike first.

With such a massive army and vast logistical requirements, the speed of the operation is far slower than that of individual vehicles.

On the first day, they advanced 50 kilometers to Ninghe County. Before the apocalypse, this county had a population of nearly 400,000. Zombies have no concept of night, and nearly 400,000 of them attacked throughout the night.

The new operational plan formulated by the General Staff focuses on deep penetration, a wide front, the placement of heavy obstacles, and concentrated firepower for phased annihilation.

Upon receiving reports of the massive zombie swarm, the supply trains at the vanguard began preparations. Combat engineers operated various equipment to deploy several layers of barbed wire, then began retreating while digging defensive trenches.

Under the coordination of the General Staff, the various heavy artillery units were positioned at the intersection of the Tangjin Expressway and the Jiyun River. This area curves into an open, U-shaped section protruding westward, creating a 9-square-kilometer area surrounded on three sides by the Jiyun River. Since the apocalypse, the river has been about 300 meters wide with a swift current.

Li Qiang’s troops deployed in this U-shaped section, facing the zombie swarm across the river.

They did not intend to blow up the bridges this time. Instead, they mounted heavy machine guns on the S103 and G25 highways and the railway bridges. Since explosive shells have not yet been widely issued—with the few available being reserved for testing reliability and combat effectiveness—concentrated artillery fire will primarily avoid the 500-meter radius around roads and railways. Roads and bridges are being heavily protected, as they must continue their advance along these routes.

A much larger force remains on standby in the rear. Based on the patterns of zombie swarms, they are expected to launch continuous assaults until they are nearly wiped out; human stamina is finite, necessitating a shift system.

Armed reconnaissance vehicles began scattering large quantities of flesh and blood to draw the zombies. They led the swarm into the encirclement before accelerating away.

It was dusk when the dark, dense mass of zombies arrived at the banks of the Jiyun River, marking the start of the Special Committee's first large-scale clearing operation in the Northeast.