(Chapter 17 has been deleted due to too many plot holes. However, the plot of Chapter 16 and Chapter 18 can be connected. Let's just watch the fight like this. The plot of Chapter 17 is dispensable, so I won't waste the readers' time on it.)
With preparations complete, the next step is to assemble the regular army.
The first step is to purchase 100,000 regular soldiers from the game store.
The troop types are extremely complex, but all of them possess the strength of active-duty soldiers, so overall, it's not a big problem.
The only drawback is the lack of heavy weapons: no heavy howitzers, tanks, or armored vehicles. But that's okay, heavy weapons aren't very useful in the Dark Forest.
Chén Yǔ originally wanted to buy special forces soldiers, who would be better suited for a complex environment like the Dark Forest. To his surprise, they weren't available in the game store! He had to win through sheer strength.
To assemble the regular army, Chén Yǔ really spared no expense this time! He spent almost all the points he had earned previously.
"It's easy to spend money but hard to earn it... It's only been a few days since I reached my small goal..." Chén Yǔ looked at his remaining points in the game store with a despondent expression and sighed.
...
All soldiers are uniformly equipped with the HK416 assault rifle, produced in Germany. This is the world's finest assault rifle, capable of firing even when submerged in water, splashed with sand, or exposed to extreme cold or heat, with accuracy far beyond that of the AKM.
Equipment-wise, everyone is equipped with bulletproof helmets, body armor, tactical gloves, tactical vests, and wrist guards – all provided in abundance!
Bulletproof helmets can withstand .30-06 Springfield caliber rounds fired within 20 meters.
Body armor can withstand .50 BMG caliber rounds.
As for advanced equipment like quad-eye wide-angle night vision goggles, thermal imagers, and grenade launchers... all high-end gear must be acquired.
Finally, an exoskeleton mechanical armor that doesn't require external power is added. This exoskeleton armor provides mechanical assistance to the soldiers but doesn't grant them additional power. It's similar to the standard equipment of the SEALs, is it not?
Adding all this up, at Earth prices, would cost millions of US dollars. Even for Chén Yǔ, it's a painful expense.
In short, the motto is: quality over quantity. Only the best and most expensive, not the most numerous and weakest.
Additionally, there are auxiliary devices: drones, signal flares, helicopters, beast traps... The main mission this time is to capture mutated beasts alive deep within the Dark Forest, so these items are naturally included.
Twelve Black Hawk armed helicopters, each equipped with two .50 caliber Gatling guns, each with six barrels.
Two thousand Dajiang drones, each equipped with a small-caliber machine gun, an ultra-clear wide-angle camera, and a night mode.
Recruit five thousand medical soldiers, firstly to provide medical support for the southern base, and secondly to safeguard all the soldiers here.
...
Chén Yǔ's current troop strength is as follows:
Farm Soldiers: 30,000, led by Lín Zé.
Engineers: 300,000, led by Wáng Xùkūn.
Medical Soldiers: 10,000, led by Chǔ Yáo.
Regular Army: 150,000. Including artillerymen, communications personnel, transport personnel, and other non-production-oriented troop types, all incorporated into the regular army. Lǐ Yúnfēng is appointed as the sole leader, with all other leaders integrated into the regular combat sequence.
Total troop strength: 490,000!
150,000 regular army soldiers is equivalent to three special operations army corps.
"Thank you for your generosity, Lord!"
Lǐ Yúnfēng, the leader of the regular army, along with 100,000 regular soldiers, thanked Chén Yǔ sincerely. However, he then remembered a problem: "Uh... Lord, what about our supplies and logistics?"
This is not a trivial matter. The terrain in the Dark Forest is rugged and the environment is complex, so conventional logistics forces cannot guarantee the daily life and combat needs of the soldiers. Other forms of logistics must be used.
"These can help you," Chén Yǔ said, pointing to the Pandas behind him. "Also, I will give you general instructions next. As long as you follow these instructions, everything will be fine."
"Are these... bears?!" Lǐ Yúnfēng was shocked.
"Don't worry, in the Dark Forest, these guys are more useful than vehicles. If that's not enough, I'll buy more drones to support you."
As soon as he finished speaking, another eight thousand drones appeared beside Chén Yǔ, equivalent to one drone for every 1.5 people!
"Our mission is as follows:
1. Capture mutated beasts in the Dark Forest alive as much as possible. After capturing them, send a message using a signal flare and cover the helicopter's evacuation.
2. It's best to advance cautiously, not exceeding 12 kilometers. This is a long-term mission, so don't rush. You can take your time.
3. The primary objective of this mission is your own safety. Do not waste your lives in vain.
Finally, regardless of mission completion, everyone must evacuate the Dark Forest before dark!"
Chén Yǔ will not enter the Dark Forest with the regular army this time. It is much more dangerous inside than the City of Mist. However, Chén Yǔ will closely monitor every move in the Dark Forest through drones.
"Understood!" the 150,000 regular soldiers shouted loudly.
Subsequently, approximately 50,000 soldiers entered the Dark Forest with the drones. Some regular soldiers needed to remain outside to handle logistics and could not enter. Most of them were operating the drones.
The Pandas also entered the Dark Forest, carrying supplies on their backs. Each of them is a genius transport soldier and can even fight mutated beasts to the death in critical moments. Therefore, only one Bái Jiā Hēi was left for Chén Yǔ as a mount.
The engineers began working overtime to build the isolation wall, all artillerymen were on standby outside, and all armed helicopters were on standby.
Chén Yǔ had made complete preparations on the outside. All the artillerymen providing rear support were equipped with 155MM heavy howitzers to deal with crises such as beast tides that might appear in the Dark Forest.
The effective range of the 155MM heavy howitzer is exactly 12 kilometers, which is why Chén Yǔ did not let them go beyond 12 kilometers, to effectively ensure their safety.
In the command center, Chén Yǔ watched through the drones as 50,000 regular army soldiers entered the Dark Forest. He then sent a telegram to Wáng Xùkūn.
Manufacture as many 5.56MM caliber bullets, 40MM caliber rifle grenades, and 155MM caliber heavy howitzer shells as possible...
...
As telegrams were sent out, Chén Yǔ leaned back in his chair and fell into thought: