Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely

125: Chapter 111: A Narrow Escape from Desperation [3-in-1 Mega Chapter]_2 125: Chapter 111: A Narrow Escape from Desperation [3-in-1 Mega Chapter]_2 If there were any chance to confront the rodent swarm directly, whether it was to expel or to hunt them down in large numbers, Xia Hong would not hesitate for a second.

The problem is that the current strength of the camp is entirely incapable of doing so.

But to allow them to occupy that area is a dead end sooner or later, so we can only try using torches to lure them elsewhere.

This brings up another question: why is the rodent swarm gathered over there?

If it’s just an accidental gathering, they shouldn’t come back once lured away by the torches; but if the rodent swarm has a purpose in gathering there, then once the torches go out, they will naturally return.

The former is fine, but if it’s the latter, all the effort and risk of guiding them away would be in vain.

Why call it a weak attempt?

Because this is currently the only feasible method they have, even if it is very likely to be useless.

“Can’t we move and not live on this side of the valley?”

“Where to move to?

East is mountains, can’t go there; rodent swarm is to the north, moving over eight hundred people would create a big disturbance, so north is not possible either; to the south, at most it’s three kilometers away to the Tower Mountain of Da Shi Camp, moving there is no different than not moving, beyond that is unknown territory, which is even more impossible.”

Someone proposed leaving, but as soon as they spoke, they were immediately rejected.

“Then how about…”

Subsequent suggestions surfaced, yet unsurprisingly, they were either infeasible or excessively difficult and risky.

A large group of people, upon hearing suggestions about relocation, visibly showed resistance on their faces.

Xia Hong sat silently on the chair, waiting for everyone’s discussion.

Even though inside he was certain that this was the only method, if the crowd could come up with a better strategy, that would naturally be ideal.

Unfortunately, after more than an hour, everyone in the wooden house finally quieted down and slowly turned their gaze to Xia Hong.

Clearly, they all realized that the only viable solution was Xia Hong’s proposal to lure the rodent swarm into Redwood Ridge.

“Leader, pick people, sitting and waiting to die is definitely not an option!”

“At most, I would die, but if I can lure the rodent swarm away, I’d have done a service for Great Xia and gained face, I am willing to go.”

“I am also willing to go, Leader.”

“I am willing too.”

…

Looking at the enthusiastic volunteers, Xia Hong’s expression was somewhat heavy, but he still stood up, nodded, and then used coal stone to draw the terrain on the ground, beginning a detailed deployment.

“From the northern slope of the mountain wall to Redwood Ridge is over seven hundred meters, penetrating further inside is over a thousand meters, considering the detours along the way, it should be within three thousand meters at most; with torches set every hundred meters, it would require about thirty people.

Use the ignition of the first torch as a signal, once someone in the back lights their torch, they must immediately withdraw, so I need people familiar with the terrain and who can run fast.

Also, tomorrow evening when setting up torches, the Cold Beasts dwelling in the trees along the way should be scouted out and avoided as much as possible.

Torches and personnel deployment within five hundred meters on the perimeter will be arranged by Xia Chuan, within five hundred meters, Luo Yuan and four others will join me in charge…

The detailed deployment couldn’t possibly just come out of thin air; Xia Hong was merely explaining the operation ideas and selecting people.

Everything needs to wait until nightfall, to the northern slope of the mountain wall, to be adjusted based on the actual situation for a more thorough and detailed plan.

Once the crowd understood Xia Hong’s approach, they enthusiastically offered advice, some of which Xia Hong readily adopted; soon the thirty-five personnel and specific execution plan were determined.

Among the thirty-five people, fifteen were prominently from the Hunting Team, while the rest were all members of the Lumberjack Team, who were the most familiar with the Redwood Ridge environment in the camp.

These selected individuals, although understanding the perilous nature of their imminent task, showed no sign of fear on their faces.

“Technically, this plan doesn’t require directly confronting the rodent swarm, in normal circumstances there shouldn’t be any danger, but as I just said, there might be a few unexpected situations.

Therefore, I must state in advance that to ensure the camp isn’t discovered by the rodent swarm, those executing the torch-lighting task, myself included, must not return to the camp immediately after escaping past this point, they must wait until dawn at the earliest to return, understood?”

“Understood, Leader!”

The thirty-five people, with somewhat solemn expressions, nodded unanimously in response.

Xia Hong didn’t say more, waving everyone away, he glanced at Luo Yuan who was already awake, noting that his own waist injury was healing rapidly, he lay down on a chair to rest his eyes, quietly waiting for nightfall.

The physique in the Earth-digging Realm was inherently strong, and with the application of Golden Sore Powder, recovery was swift; by nightfall, he and Luo Yuan should already have regained full mobility without any issue.

……

North Slope of the Mountain Wall, the cold wind is bitter

It was daytime now, and upon first look, only about a dozen Long-tailed Rodents were left on the North Slope.

But if following the northern mountain, one would find on a mound over a hundred meters away, countless flesh-colored long tails exposed on the ground.

Those tails seemed to be swaying rhythmically left and right with the rodents’ bodies underground, making the scene extremely bizarre and disgusting.

In a three-meter-high cave beneath the ground thirty meters from the mountain wall, Chen Ying was standing on the shoulders of two men, with his ear pressed against the stone wall at the top of the cave, eyes closed, clearly listening to the movements above.