Those words struck like thunder, and many people's faces changed.
"Commander! This..."
Someone immediately tried to object.
But Li Zhenguo waved a hand, giving them no chance.
"From this moment on, the main task of every unit will shift from retaking key locations to covering the evacuation! Using the heavy firepower and organizational capacity we still have, we will stop trying to crack those hard nuts overrun with high-level Abyssal Beasts. Instead, we will conduct successive delaying actions, protect surviving civilians, and gradually withdraw them from the core radiation zones of the Higher Civilization nests!"
"At the same time."
He spoke more emphatically. "We will coordinate with local armed forces to rescue trapped civilians with all our strength, and establish stable survivor settlements in areas where the threat is relatively low."
A Lieutenant General in charge of equipment and logistics couldn't help speaking up.
"Commander! I understand what you mean, but... if we completely abandon those strategic locations—especially our military-industrial, energy, and communications facilities—they'll soon be destroyed. Even if we save the people, without the support of a modern warfare system, once our ammunition runs out, our soldiers will have to return to the age of Cold Weapons and fight the Abyssal Beasts hand to hand."
"Hand to hand?"
Li Zhenguo turned sharply toward him and pointed at the auxiliary screen, which had already gone dark.
"Do you think that's just ordinary hand-to-hand combat? That's an entirely new kind of combat power! If we keep using our old combat system, we'll only be slowly worn down to death."
His voice carried the grim resolve of someone with no way back.
"Back then, we were late to change our way of thinking, and it took us centuries to catch up with other countries. Now, Source Energy is a new way to wage war..."
"They don't need huge logistics chains or uninterrupted electricity. They kill monsters, gain power, grow stronger, and then challenge even stronger monsters! This is the only path ahead of us: to sustain war through war!"
Li Zhenguo's gaze swept over every face in the room, some shocked, some pensive, some anxious.
"So, everyone, remember! In the current situation, the most important thing isn't saving factories and equipment. It's saving people... saving every person who might become a soldier, who might become a Source Energy Practitioner!"
"You... don't forget this saying..."
Li Zhenguo paused. He waited until every eye had turned toward him, then spoke in a low voice:
"Preserve the people and lose the land, and you preserve both. Preserve the land and lose the people, and you lose both!"
Those sixteen words landed with immeasurable weight, crashing into the soul of everyone in the Command Center.
No one spoke. Only heavy breathing and the tireless hum of machinery filled the room.
A solemn yet resolute consensus quickly took shape in the silence.
Li Zhenguo swept his gaze across the room, sighed, and softened his tone.
"I understand your concerns. This sudden disaster may well have been caused by Higher Dimensional Life or a Higher Civilization, so you're wary of the Source Energy cultivation methods obtained from the crystals, the Source Energy Crystals themselves, and even Source Energy technology items."
"But... do we really have any other choice now? If those unknown beings dare to give us weapons, then we dare to use them! Better to fight with everything we have than sit around waiting to die."
"No matter the outcome, they can take our lives and crush our bones, but they cannot break our backs."
"Everyone, remember what kind of conditions our ancestors endured. Those nests are not only our enemies; they are also resources! If we have no weapons or resources, then we'll take them from the enemy!"
After saying all that in one breath,
Li Zhenguo picked up his teacup and took a sip of water to moisten his throat.
Then he immediately showed his decisive, no-nonsense style.
"Staff Department."
"There's no need to discuss the strategic direction any further. What specific recommendations does the Staff Department have for establishing dispersed survivor settlements? Have you finished the nest distribution map I asked you to prepare?"
A staff officer wearing the insignia of a Major General immediately stepped forward. The young officer behind him swiftly operated the console, and the huge map of the country on the main screen changed to a complex diagram, dotted with countless red patches and winding blank areas between them.
"Commander."
The Major General's voice was steady and clear. He took a light pen and pointed at the blank areas.
"Based on simulations run by our supercomputer using the latest intelligence, these are the Nest Gap Zones we can currently confirm to be relatively safe."
The light pen circled the irregularly shaped blank areas.
"As you can see, the Gap Zones are mostly small and scattered. Their safety levels and areas vary greatly depending on the levels and density of surrounding nests. We recommend handling them according to category and priority."
"For small and medium-sized cities, as well as towns and rural areas..."
He enlarged a typical region, where many red dots representing Miniature Nests were scattered among relatively fragmented Gap Zones.
"We recommend relying on existing local police and militia forces to establish initial gathering points in these relatively safe Gap Zones, making survival the top priority in the early stages."
"Once a gathering point is secure, it can gradually expand outward according to its strength, selectively clearing out nearby Miniature Nests to enlarge the safe zone."
Next, the display switched to a large urban area. It was dotted with dense red points representing Miniature Nests, along with several red blocks representing the more dangerous "Small Nests."
"As for large cities and areas with a high density of nests..."
The Major General's tone grew more grave.
"The remaining monsters are stronger, and the Gap Zones are smaller and more dangerous. We must rely on the remaining main forces in each War Zone, concentrating our armor and heavy firepower to launch forced assaults and clear the area."
"We recommend that, regardless of the cost, we seize at least two or three adjacent Small Nest territories in the heart of these areas and establish large, stable, militarily administered survivor bases! These will serve as regional support points, extending our reach into surrounding areas, gathering survivors, and becoming bridgeheads for future counterattacks!"
He brought up a summary table.
"Based on a comprehensive assessment of existing intelligence, resources, troop strength, and nest distribution, computer simulations indicate that we have a chance to establish and maintain a total of 316 survivor gathering points nationwide!"
"That few..."
"That's nowhere near enough..."
A low murmur of surprise rippled through the hall.
The Major General continued, "Of those, an estimated 298 will be small and medium-sized gathering points established in Gap Zones and developed gradually..."
"And 18 will be large bases established by the military after seizing Small Nest territories."
He paused, then added, "All these locations have passed an initial screening. They must meet conditions such as proximity to a stable water source, having existing defensive works or terrain that's easy to defend, and an estimated initial survivor population above a certain threshold."
Li Zhenguo stared at the 316 markers on the screen, like sparks scattered across the land, and let out a heavy breath.
"Good! Refine the details within this framework!"
He issued his order decisively.
"Immediately mark the locations of all 316 planned gathering points, the recommended evacuation routes, and assessments of the surrounding nest threats as top priority. Publish them at once, while the internet and mobile communications are still functioning!"
"Tell all our people that the country has not abandoned them! Tell them where they can find relative safety. At the same time, notify every unit in the army to cover the civilians' retreat to these planned sites and clear out the monsters nearby with all their strength, preparing the way for the settlements!"
After a brief, dead silence, Li Zhenguo abruptly swept a hand through the air.
"Everyone, carry it out! Draw up detailed orders at once and send them to every War Zone! This strategic operation will be called... Spark!"
With military orders brooking no delay, the entire underground Dragon Abyss Command Center began to operate like the most sophisticated war machine as soon as the highest-level decision was issued.
One order after another, carrying this new strategic vision, pierced through the earth and flew toward the troops still fighting desperately across the country.