Chapter 1314 The Battle to Fully Recapture Chongqing
Two days later
The Beibei area of Chongqing, the joint command center of the Chongqing Military Region.
At this moment, at six in the morning, the joint command center was brightly lit, as if it were daytime.
A huge, curved electronic sand table occupied an entire wall, clearly displaying the terrain of Chongqing and the surrounding area, the enemy and friendly forces' situation, preset routes, and attack arrows in a highlighted manner. Data flowed like blood, silently and rapidly scrolling along the edge of the screen.
The air was filled with distinctive smells: the faint smell of ozone from electronic devices, the acrid bitterness of strong coffee, and a metallic scent that was almost tangible, belonging to a state of intense focus and stress.
The ventilation system hummed softly, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness that weighed on everyone's shoulders.
The command center was bustling with people, yet unusually quiet.
Commanders of major combat units accessed the network via encrypted video links. The huge display screen was divided into dozens of images, showing the tense faces of commanders in forward command posts, artillery positions, airfield towers, and even inside armored vehicles.
Lu Chong stood in front of the command platform, with his back to the huge sand table.
Instead of wearing his regular uniform, he changed into a crisply pressed jungle digital camouflage training uniform, the major general's epaulets on his shoulders reflecting a cold, hard light under the overhead lamp.
He braced his hands on the edge of the table, leaning slightly forward, like an alpha wolf surveying its hunting grounds and pack one last time before striking.
At this moment, Lu Chong's face showed no signs of fatigue, only a coldness and clarity as if he had been quenched by ice water.
His gaze slowly swept across the entire field, and every commander whose eyes fell upon him unconsciously straightened their spines.
"All units, report on your final combat readiness status."
Lu Chong spoke, his voice not loud, but clear enough to penetrate all communication noise, echoing in the spacious command center.
"3rd Army Group, reporting!" The first to respond was Major General Fu Xichen, Chief of Staff of the Army Group, whose voice was calm and powerful.
"The 31st to 36th combined arms brigades of our army group have all entered the pre-set attack launch positions on the northern and western fronts."
"Personnel, equipment, ammunition, and fuel replenishment rates are 100%, communication is smooth, and the UAV reconnaissance system has completed its final calibration."
"The brigade commanders confirmed that the troops are in high spirits, have completed the final combat mobilization, and are ready to carry out the first phase of the 'city breach' mission at any time."
On the sand table, several blue heavy armor arrows representing the 3rd Army Group flashed poised to strike in the north and west of Chongqing's main urban area.
"77th Army Corps, reporting!" Army Corps Commander Zhao Gang's voice followed immediately, also transmitted via audio, carrying the weighty feel characteristic of a veteran heavy armored unit.
"Our army's armored brigade, mechanized infantry brigade, and attached units have completed their operational deployment in the northern corridor of Hechuan-Tongnan."
"The secondary patrol and clearing teams in the Wuling Mountains have been in place, and the main assault routes have undergone a final engineering reconnaissance, ensuring the passage is secure."
"The troops have a strong desire for combat and are determined to complete the mission of attacking and blocking on the northern flank."
On the sand table, the dark blue arrow representing the 77th Legion hangs like another heavy hammer in the northwest direction of the main city.
"Night State Infantry Brigade Group, reporting!" This time it was the voice of Deputy Commander Yang Wei, who was standing in the command center, facing the camera.
“第2、3....旅已于长寿东线完成攻击部署，建立稳固出发阵地及炮兵观察所；第4、12、13....旅在永川-大足西线完成对山区残余变异体巢穴的最后封锁与火力准备。”
"Our officers and soldiers guarantee that we will not let a single zombie interfere with the flank of our main force!"
On the sand table, several light blue blocks representing the Night State Travelers are firmly anchored to the outer perimeter of the east and west wings of the main city.
"Special operations, air assault, artillery, and air defense units temporarily placed under the command of the military region, report!" Lieutenant Colonel Xu Zhigang stood to the side and behind Lu Chong, holding a terminal and quickly summarizing the information.
"The attack helicopter group and transport helicopter group of the 3rd Air Assault Brigade have completed their final checks and the pilots are on standby; all units of the 3rd Special Operations Brigade have secretly infiltrated to their designated ambush points on the edge of the main urban area; all fire units of the 3rd Artillery Brigade have completed their data setting and have sufficient ammunition; the radars of all air defense battalions are on full-time and air situation protection is tight."
On the sand table, all the corresponding support icons are lit up in green.
"The engineering corps' advance team for the construction of the 'final isolation zone' is in place, and heavy machinery and materials have been assembled in concealed locations, ready to commence work."
"The logistical support system is in place, with ammunition depots at the three front lines fully stocked, forward transport channels unobstructed, and the field medical system deployed."
"The intelligence and electronic warfare departments have not detected any unusual large-scale movements by the enemy during full-band monitoring."
……
The reports, concise, clear, and powerful, were like precise gears meshing together, announcing that this massive war machine had completed its final warm-up, every screw was tightened to the maximum, and every liter of fuel was injected into the combustion chamber.
Lu Chong listened quietly, his face expressionless, only his jawline tightened further.
His gaze remained fixed on the chilling deep red area on the sand table, symbolizing the ultimate goal—the main urban area of Chongqing.
As the last report faded away, the command center fell silent once more, with only the hum of the equipment and the suppressed breathing of the staff remaining.
Lu Chong slowly straightened up and took out a military green plastic field watch from the pocket of his training uniform.
The numbers on the dial are showing: 6:30
Then, he raised his head, his gaze like a drawn sword, sweeping over every face on the scene and over every pair of eyes on the screen.
His voice, at that moment, was like a torrent of steel bursting forth from a canyon, carrying immense weight and a resolute determination, crashing into every corner of the command center, and also reaching the ears of every frontline commander through encrypted links:
"Commanders of all units."
"The seven-day preparation period has ended."
"The sand table in front of you shows over 20 million zombies, monsters we've never seen before, and ruins where countless compatriots perished and civilization was tarnished!"
"It also marks the land we have recovered through bloodshed and sacrifice over the past six months, the hopes of the millions of surviving people behind us, the meaning of our army's existence, and the future we must win!"
He paused, his chest heaving violently, and his voice suddenly rose, almost a roar:
"Now I command—"
"The campaign to fully recapture Chongqing begins now!"
"All attacking units shall launch a general offensive against their respective targets at the predetermined time!"
"I demand of you: Fight with speed! Fight with ferocity! Fight with the might of the Chongqing Military Region!!"
"Use your guns, tanks, and planes to tell those monstrous things entrenched in Chongqing—"
"This land should be returned to the hands of the living!!"
"Did you all understand?!"
"Understood!!!" A thunderous response erupted from the command center and from every audio and video terminal, converging into a sound wave that almost lifted the roof off, filled with the smell of iron and blood.
"Begin the operation!" Lu Chong slammed his fist heavily on the command platform.
With this command, all the blue arrows on the huge electronic sand table that were ready to go were instantly activated, rushing towards the orange-red and dark red areas like a flood bursting its banks!
Inside the command center, the sounds of commands, keyboard clicks, and communication calls suddenly erupted!
"This is the forward command post! All artillery groups, fire within five minutes of firing efficiency!"
"Air Assault Brigade, Falcon Squadron, take off as planned!"
"31st Combined Armored Brigade, Vanguard Armored Battalion, launch!"
"77th Corps, armored vanguard, crush them!"
……
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh——————
Outside the window, the gloomy sky over Chongqing was suddenly torn apart by a flash of bright orange-red light!
Immediately following, a muffled, thunderous roar of artillery fire came from afar, rolling in like an angry roar from the depths of the earth.
At this moment, the steel storm finally swept unrestrainedly towards the long-silent city of death.
The decisive battle belonging to the Chongqing Military Region has begun!
