Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely-Chapter 163 - 122 Finally Started to Retreat [Three in One]

More than a hundred people moving together create quite a spectacle.

Even though Xia Hong reminded everyone not to speak,

the sound of over a hundred people walking, even if it was just the collective noise of footsteps in the snow, became quite loud, not to mention any other sounds.

Luckily, the North Slope, where the Rodent group was located, wasn’t far from the valley, less than two kilometers in total, and as the Rodent group migrated south, the distance became even shorter.

With so many people moving out collectively, and all from the Logging Realm, Xia Hong was uncharacteristically bold this time, choosing not to circle around Redwood Ridge. Instead, the group headed north directly along the mountain’s base upon exiting the valley.

"Everyone stop, we’re almost there!"

When they were still more than two hundred meters away from the North Slope, Xia Hong raised his hand to halt the team.

The Cold Arouser, which Xia Hong had already given to Yuan Cheng, was not with him today. Instead, he held a long, narrow weapon in his hand.

The weapon was sheathed, making it hard to tell if it was a sword or a saber, and from the sheath, it was only about an inch wide, with a total length of about 1.7 meters including the hilt.

This unusual weapon had aroused a lot of attention when Xia Hong brought it from the camp, but given more pressing matters tonight, everyone temporarily suppressed their curiosity and refrained from asking.

"As discussed earlier, Xia Chuan, Luo Yuan, and Yuan Cheng, the three of you take half the people to guard the west side. Zhao Long, Zhao Hu, Zhao Bao, and the rest of you follow me to climb the rock wall and attack the main force. Don’t worry about the Rodents escaping to the north, but if they run towards your side, unleash arrows with all your might!"

"Understood, Leader!"

Xia Chuan and the other six nodded solemnly and immediately dispersed to inform the others below.

Even though the team had been divided into two before setting out, Xia Hong’s plan still needed to be communicated clearly to everyone to avoid any issues during the operation.

Xia Hong looked up for one last glance at the rock wall’s terrain, appearing slightly stern.

Having been here so many times before, he was already intimately familiar with the North Slope’s topography, and the plan to deal with this Rodent group had long been prepared.

The valley Great Xia took over from Rogel Camp was located directly east of Redwood Ridge, nestled between two mountains extending north and south, each with altitudes between two and three kilometers.

These mountains stretched south and north; Great Xia’s previous dirt hill base extended from the southern mountain.

The northern mountain extended four to five kilometers, hosting the bases of Chen Ye and Lu Shang camps within its length.

The base of Chen Ye Camp was less than two kilometers from the valley. The Rodent group, now occupying the cave like cuckoos in a nest, perched directly above it on the hillside.

The hillside rises about a hundred meters over the ground, and only by climbing the rock wall on the west can one see the Rodent group on the slope.

Less than two kilometers south of the slope lies the valley; to the east is an even higher, more mysterious, and dangerous high mountain; the nearest to the north is the base of the Lu Shang Camp, beyond which is the Arrow Bamboo Forest; descend the rock wall to the west, and it’s Redwood Ridge.

"If the Rodents are willing to go deep into the east mountains, that would be ideal; if not, driving them further north is also feasible, but allowing them south or into Redwood Ridge is out of the question. Just guard these two chokepoints; whether they die or flee is up to them!"

Indeed, the nearly month-long operation had no intention of annihilating the Rodent group.

Xia Hong’s objective from the start was merely to drive them away.

Nearly four hundred Rodents were not something Great Xia’s current strength could hope to completely eradicate; thinking so would be a pipe dream.

Driving them away was the wise strategy.

To the south was the valley, so the Rodents couldn’t be allowed through; Redwood Ridge was their habitual area, and while small groups of Rodents could be manageable, if too many got through, the valley’s base could be exposed—too risky, thus not viable either.

Reaching the rock wall and seeing ten pre-arranged rattan ropes, Xia Hong quietly whispered to the nearest Zhao Long:

"Everyone, when climbing up, silence is imperative. Not a sound, and assume your positions upon reaching the top, waiting for my command!"

Zhao Long nodded, quietly passing the instruction to Zhao Hu: "Everyone, when climbing up, silence is imperative. Not a sound, even after reaching the top; assume your positions and await the leader’s orders!"

Zhao Hu passed it to Zhao Bao, who then relayed it to the others, the command cascading until all forty-eight heard and focused their gaze towards Xia Hong at the forefront.

Xia Hong, too, refrained from speaking further, instead pointing to the rattan ropes.

The Zhao Long brothers first selected three of the rattan ropes to climb, followed by forty-eight people in his wake, divided into ten groups, all ascending.

Xia Hong quietly watched from below until everyone was up before he climbed up last.

The area on the rock wall was about twenty meters long and only two or three meters wide, located over a hundred meters away from the North Slope Rodent group, with only four trees in between, barely obstructing the view.

Though the area was small, and the fifty-plus people were divided into only two rows and crouched, it was still quite crowded.

Xia Hong squeezed to the forefront, observing the Rodent group not far away, with most still asleep and only a few awake, allowing himself to relax a bit internally.

He did not speak; instead, he took out a transparent Dan Medicine from his bosom, giving Zhao Long nearby a meaningful look.