The sky gradually brightened. After carefully maneuvering through the mountain forest all night, Leitao and his men finally reached a relatively secure hiding spot. It was a mountain hollow surrounded by dense vegetation, with jagged rocks scattered about, making it ideal for concealment and defense. Leitao quickly assigned two sharp and vigilant team members to serve as lookouts at the surrounding high points, and dispatched two experienced groups to scout the perimeter. Only after confirming there were no traces of the enemy did he allow the exhausted team members to rest. As soon as they stopped, the men collapsed to the ground; some rubbed their aching legs, while others leaned against trees to close their eyes. Before long, soft snoring began to echo throughout the hollow.
Leitao walked alone to a relatively flat rock, sat down, and pulled a crumpled map from his pocket. It was densely marked with the surrounding terrain, villages, and the distribution of Japanese Army strongholds. His brow was furrowed, his eyes fixed intently on the map as he pondered his next move. He had to consider how to avoid the brunt of the Japanese Army's force, find opportunities to strike the enemy, and ensure the safety of his men—a series of problems that kept him in deep thought.
By noon, the scorching sun pierced through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows. Chen Feiyang, who had been responsible for scouting, hurried back. His clothes were tattered from tree branches, his fa…
Chapter 213