"Here they come, here they come! I see the supply trucks! It's right there! After the 12th vehicle, they're all ours!""Quick! Move fast!"The crowd instantly erupted, surging toward the vehicles in waves."What's going on?"Lu Nianxin was taken aback, panic setting in.Sending off the troops was one thing, but why were they storming the military convoy?Before he could react, he saw it.People along the street were holding up various survival supplies, eagerly rushing to the military supply trucks, handing them over to the soldiers."Quick, quick! Super Strength Pills! C-grade gear, I can't bear to eat it, but take it with you!""Baby Sleepwear! Best gear for marching and camping! I'll leave it here in this spot!""Canned food! Fruit ice cans! Pre-packaged meals, I've been saving them for a month! Take them! They're amazing for energy!""Hey, don't crowd me in the back, can't you just hand it over one by one?""Hurry up! The military's about to leave the city, stop dragging your feet and just move to the side if you're not delivering supplies!"The crowd was chaotic, completely shattering the quiet of the night, turning the marching street into a lively scene.In the midst of the noise, more and more people rushed to the sides of the military trucks, handing their supplies one by one to the soldiers.The soldiers were stunned!They weren't even a real military force—they were from another world, and they had never seen anything like this before.Loving the people like children, they understood, but this level of devotion was beyond belief!Who goes to war without logistical support? Why was the public following them, delivering supplies like this?Did they think they'd run out of food on the way?Ridiculous!Qin Dashan grabbed a loudspeaker from the truck and yelled, "Calm down! Everyone, please calm down!""Don't block the convoy! No need to send anything!""We have logistics! We're well-fed and warm!""There's a rule from our leaders—we can't take anything from the people! Please don't make it difficult for us, none of us want to be punished!"Qin Dashan screamed, but the crowd wouldn't listen.Someone yelled, "What do you mean 'can't take anything'—I'm giving it for free! Let the leaders come punish me!""The local law doesn't forbid giving away things for free!""Damn it, why are we arguing? Just throw it!""You don't want to take it? Then don't blame me for shoving it in!""Whoever doesn't give enough doesn't love their country! Here, take my top-tier B-grade gear! Who dares to compete with me?""LOL, a B-grade item, really? I've got two A-grade pieces, all in!""Is this a competition? Little Hong, sorry, but get on the truck. Big brother will lift you up.""Hey, hey, hey! Who's that, who's that?"Qin Dashan was about to lose it. He shouted, "What are you doing, throwing a woman on the truck? Put her down!""Boss, is it okay to send a man?""No men either!"Qin Dashan was on the verge of breaking down.Just two days ago, he had been relieved that the commander he met was well-liked by the people—great news.But now, seeing this situation…He was completely overwhelmed!The world had gone mad, and Qin Dashan felt like he couldn't keep up.Only the local Chen Dafu seemed used to it.He'd seen such scenes often in the news during peaceful times.But now that he was in the thick of it, he couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. Lu Nianxin even saw Chen Dafu's clenched fist trembling slightly.It wasn't bloodlust, but a forceful restraint of his passionate emotions."Ahh!"Suddenly, Lu Nianxin screamed in pain, clutching his head. His voice sounded painfully sharp in the dark night. "Who the hell ambushed me?"A soldier from the truck picked up a can and handed it to Lu Nianxin. "Lu, it was thrown from below.""Chen Dafu!"Lu Nianxin yelled with frustration, "You're saying this isn't an ambush?!"Damn it, his head was bruised!Before even leaving the city, he had already become the first casualty in the team."What could I do?"Chen Dafu glanced sideways at Lu Nianxin, his voice trying to remain calm. "They insisted on throwing it, and I couldn't stop them.""Where's your killer instinct?""Sorry, I don't attack civilians."Chen Dafu stood tall and straight, his chest out, "I'm a soldier now, not a bandit."The change in identity had shifted his stance.Lu Nianxin froze, suddenly understanding. A smile crept onto his face.It wasn't easy to earn the recognition of someone like Chen Dafu.The crowd, drawn by Lu Nianxin's outburst, now noticed Chen Dafu on top of the truck."Hey, did someone just mention Little White Bear? Where is he?""Over there, standing on the truck looking cool. I noticed him first.""Be polite, that's Captain Chen. Does someone like him really need to look cool?"The crowd's eyes turned toward Chen Dafu. He felt their gaze and straightened up slightly, his breathing slightly quicker, but his expression remained stern and calm. With his hands behind his back, he stood against the night wind, letting his black hair fly around him."Captain Chen! Captain Chen!"Laughter echoed through the crowd, shouting, "When did you become a national hero?"It was likely a friendly jest, but Chen Dafu took it seriously.He gave a cold glance toward the crowd and smirked, "Wait until the day I return.""Then you'll hear all about my achievements!"Underestimating me, huh? You don't think I can do it, do you?No problem, just wait. I'll be a national hero, no doubt!...The convoy's speed was slow, and it took until midnight for them to barely leave the city.Despite the convoy leaving, some people still stood at the city's gates, staring longingly after them.Though the people were blocking the road, they had cleared a path for the convoy to leave, which Qin Dashan appreciated."Commander, what do we do with all these supplies?"A staff officer climbed into the command vehicle, holding a list of the newly collected supplies. "According to the preliminary count, there's a huge surplus, enough to feed thousands of soldiers for a week.""What should we do with all of it?"The staff officer asked, and Qin Dashan was instantly troubled."What do you mean, 'What should we do'? Am I supposed to turn back and return all of this to the citizens?""Commander, that would delay our mission.""Do you think I don't know that?"Qin Dashan shot the officer a glare. "Pack it all up, keep it together, and no one's allowed to touch it! When we come back, we'll redistribute it to the citizens."The night was chaotic, and no one knew who had thrown what. The supplies would be returned to the people once they came back.Meanwhile, Mike had been closely monitoring the movements of the army led by Chen Dafu. He saw the enthusiastic crowd's welcome, feeling a sense of satisfaction, but his attention was not on the people.He was focused on observing Chen Dafu's performance.From the emotional fluctuations he could sense, it was clear that Chen Dafu had been deeply moved by the night's events and had undergone some significant changes."No wonder they wanted to stir things up a bit, while also reshaping Chen Dafu. Two birds with one stone."Mike thought, his every observation of Jiang Xiaoci's actions now felt like part of a deeper strategy."According to the convoy's pace, they should reach Xinchang before dawn, right?"Mike gazed out into the night, his heart faintly uneasy.This wasn't an instinctual fear, but a subtle nervousness that came with leadership.It was his first time sending people out of the city, and without much experience, he was particularly focused on this rescue mission."Jiang Xiaoci was right—this time, it's not just about winning; it's about a major victory.""The stakes are high, and so much is riding on this first battle."Mike mumbled to himself as he stared at the map. The night was destined to be sleepless.
Finally, by morning, the convoy arrived near Xinchang.Xinchang, also known as Tuchong or Qingliu, located in Anhui, was a historical city with a rich legacy—home to famous figures like Ouyang Xiu, Xin Qiji, and Zhu Yuanzhang.Strategically, it was an important point in the national rescue framework. Taking Xinchang and Yangzhou would create a formidable disaster relief force in East China.Jiang Xiaoci hadn't explained everything fully, but Mike had pieced it together after observing the national map."With the Yangtze River as a line, the East China region's disaster relief will be complete.""Jiang Xiaoci's ambitions seem quite large."Mike pondered, his mind racing. Was this an opportunity set up by higher-ups?