The words struck like a thunderclap, making many people's faces change.
"Chief! This—"
Someone immediately tried to object.
But Li Zhenguo waved a hand, giving them no chance.
"From this moment on, the main task of all units will shift from retaking key positions to covering the evacuation! We'll use the heavy firepower and organizational capacity we still have to stop trying to crack those hard nuts crawling with high-level Abyss Beasts. Instead, we'll mount successive delaying actions, protect the surviving civilians, and gradually withdraw from the core radiation zones of high-level Nests!"
"At the same time—"
He raised his voice. "Coordinate with local armed forces to rescue trapped civilians with all our strength. Using areas with relatively low threat levels as a foundation, establish secure settlements for survivors."
A lieutenant general in charge of equipment and logistics couldn't help speaking up.
"Chief! I understand what you mean, but if we completely abandon those strategic locations—especially military industry, 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 Abyss Beasts hand to hand."
"Hand to hand?"
Li Zhenguo abruptly turned toward him and pointed at the secondary screen, which had already gone dark.
"Do you think that's just a simple matter of hand-to-hand combat? That's an entirely new form of combat power! If we keep using our old methods of warfare, we'll only be slowly worn down."
His voice carried the grim resolve of someone burning his boats.
"Back then, we were late to change our thinking, and it took us hundreds of years to catch up with other countries. Now, source energy is a new way of waging war."
"They don't need massive logistics chains or an uninterrupted power supply. They kill monsters, gain power, grow stronger, and then challenge even stronger monsters! This is the only path forward for us: to sustain ourselves through war!"
Li Zhenguo's gaze swept over every face in the room, some shocked, some thoughtful, some anxious.
"So, everyone, remember! In the current situation, the most important thing isn't to preserve factories and equipment. It's to save people—to save everyone who might become a soldier or a source energy cultivator!"
"You... don't forget this saying."
Li Zhenguo paused, waiting for everyone's eyes to turn toward him before speaking in a deep voice:
"Save the people and lose the land, and you can recover both. Save the land and lose the people, and you lose both!"
Those sixteen characters struck the soul of everyone in the Command Center with tremendous force.
No one spoke. Only heavy breathing and the tireless hum of the instruments filled the room.
A solemn yet resolute consensus quickly took shape in the silence.
Li Zhenguo swept his gaze across the room and sighed, his tone softening.
"I know what concerns you. This sudden calamity may well have been caused by higher-dimensional life-forms 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 the source energy technology items."
"But... do we really have any other options? If those unknown beings dare to give us weapons, then we'll dare to take them! Better to fight to the death than sit around waiting to die."
"No matter the outcome, they may be able to take our lives and crush our bones, but they can never break our spirit."
"Everyone, don't forget what kind of conditions our forebears endured. Those Nests aren't just enemies; they're resources, too! If we have no weapons or resources, we'll take them from the enemy!"
After saying all that in one breath,
Li Zhenguo picked up his teacup and took a drink, moistening his throat.
Then he immediately showed his characteristically decisive style.
"Staff Department."
"There's no need to discuss the strategic direction any further. As for establishing scattered survivor settlements, what specific recommendations do you have? Have you finished the Nest distribution map I asked you to make?"
A staff officer with the rank of major general immediately stepped forward. The young officer behind him swiftly worked the control console, and the enormous map of the country on the main screen changed to a complex diagram, covered with countless red patches and winding blank areas between them.
"Chief."
The major general's voice was steady and clear. He picked up a light pen and pointed to 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 highly irregular blank areas.
"As you can see, most Gap Zones are small and scattered. Their safety levels and areas vary greatly depending on the levels and density of the surrounding Nests. We recommend handling them in stages and according to category."
"For small and medium-sized cities, as well as towns and villages..."
He enlarged a typical area, where there were many red dots representing Micro Nests and the Gap Zones were relatively fragmented.
"We recommend relying on existing local police and militia forces to establish initial gathering points in these relatively safe Gap Zones, with survival as the top priority in the beginning."
"Once a gathering point is secure, it can gradually expand outwards according to its strength, selectively clearing the surrounding Micro Nests and enlarging the safe zone."
Next, the display switched to a large metropolitan area. It contained not only dense clusters of tiny red dots but also several red blocks representing the greater threat of Small Nests.
"As for large cities and areas with dense Nest concentrations..."
The major general's tone grew more grave.
"The remaining monsters are strong, and the Gap Zones are smaller and more dangerous. We must rely on the main forces still remaining in each theater, concentrating our armor and heavy firepower to force our way in and clear them out."
"We recommend that, at any cost, we seize the territories of at least two or three adjacent Small Nests in the core areas and establish large, secure, militarily administered survivor bases! These will serve as regional support points, allowing us to extend our reach into the surrounding areas, gather survivors, and establish bridgeheads for a future counterattack!"
He brought up a final summary table.
"Based on a comprehensive assessment of current 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 swept through the hall.
The major general continued, "Of these, an estimated 298 will be small and medium-sized gathering points established in Gap Zones and developed gradually."
"The other 18 will be large bases, established after the military captures Small Nest territories through offensive operations."
He paused, then added, "All these locations have been preliminarily screened. They must meet conditions such as being near a stable water source, having existing defensive fortifications or terrain that's easy to defend and difficult to attack, and being expected to have a certain number of survivors in the early stages."
Li Zhenguo stared at the 316 markers on the screen, each like a tiny spark, and let out a heavy breath.
"Good! Refine the details within this framework!"
He issued his order decisively.
"Immediately mark these 316 proposed gathering points, recommended evacuation routes, and assessments of the threat levels posed by nearby Nests as the highest priority. Publish them at once, while the internet and mobile communications are still functioning!"
"Tell all our people that the country hasn't abandoned them! Tell them where they can find relative safety. Also notify every unit in the armed forces to cover the evacuation of civilians to these proposed sites and clear out the monsters in the surrounding areas with all their strength, creating the conditions needed to establish the gathering points!"
After a brief silence, Li Zhenguo suddenly waved his hand.
"Everyone, carry it out! Draft the detailed orders and issue them to every theater at once! This strategic operation will be called... Kindling!"
Orders were as weighty as mountains. With the highest decision made, the entire underground Dragon Abyss Command Center began to operate like a finely tuned war machine.
One order after another, carrying this new strategic vision, pierced through the earth and flew to the troops still fighting for their lives across the country.
Before you continue