MTLNOVEL Chapter 357: Encirclement
Two days later, Captain Tao and his people finally arrived at Xin City.
He Chao was in high spirits today; he found something that Li Yu and his group needed in one place, and this thing could be exchanged for a good amount of food.
Just as he was about to drive away, a convoy suddenly appeared in front.
He had never seen the people in this convoy before.
He had been gathering information in Xin City these days and had some understanding of many of the survivors.
Yet, he had never seen this bunch before.
But he didn't want to cause trouble, so he took the initiative to make way for the vehicles in front to pass.
However, Captain Tao and his people just stopped right in the middle of the road.
Bang!
Captain Tao got out of the vehicle, followed by four or five people, all armed with weapons.
Seeing this, He Chao also hastily signaled his brothers to take up arms. He didn't want to provoke conflict, but having survived up to this point, he was not afraid of it either.
As Captain Tao walked forward, he said with a beaming smile, "Fellow villager, do you know the way to Tianhua Town?"
Upon hearing this, He Chao knew that Big Camphor Tree Base was in Tianhua Town, but these were strangers; why would they suddenly ask about Tianhua Town?
Only those who came from Jiefang City knew that Li Yu's base was in Tianhua Town, but there weren't many of such people.
Moreover, if they were from Jiefang City, he would generally recognize them.
He Chao asked cautiously, "I know, are you going there?"
Captain Tao replied with a smile, "We've heard that there's a place in Tianhua Town where we can exchange food. So, we'd like to exchange for some food too."
He Chao looked at their vehicles, feeling dubious. This information was known by very few, and the exchange had only just begun recently.
Still harboring suspicions, he said with a smile, "Indeed, but have you brought something good for the exchange?"
Captain Tao said cheerfully, "We're all prepared. Are you also on your way to Tianhua Town by any chance? Could you guide us there?"
Initially, He Chao wanted to refuse, but then he thought, if they didn't find out from him now, these people could still learn about it from others who came from Jiefang City.
Not clear on what these people's intentions were, it might be better to take them directly to Director Li and let him know what's going on in advance.
Plus, judging by their size, he felt that these people definitely couldn't pose any threat to Big Camphor Tree Base.
So he nodded and said, "Alright, as it happens, we're heading there today too. Just follow us."
Captain Tao was elated upon hearing this and said, "Really, thank you so much, thanks fellow villager."
He Chao waved his hand, indicating it was nothing.
Captain Tao and his people got into their vehicles and followed He Chao and his crew.
They sped along.
In less than an hour, they arrived outside Big Camphor Tree Base.
Captain Tao and his people waited at the edge of the woods, not entering yet, standing by.
He Chao looked back and said, "This is the place right in front; we're going in now."
Captain Tao smiled and said, "Okay, you go on. We'll wait until after you've entered before we do."
Captain Tao and his people stayed outside, gazing at the tall walls with a look of awe in their eyes.
Watching He Chao and the others enter, Captain Tao got back into the vehicle and kicked a bound person.
If He Chao were here, he would definitely recognize this person as another informant from Jiefang City.
Coincidentally, the first person Captain Tao and his group met upon their arrival in Xin City was this person.
Under questioning, they learned some information about Big Camphor Tree Base from him.
But the bound informant wasn't a good person either; he concealed the strength of Big Camphor Tree Base. Knowing these people harbored ill intentions towards Li Yu and his group, he let them go ahead and bump into them, to let them suffer a setback.
"Say it, is this the place?" Captain Tao lifted the person up, pointing to the distant wall and asked.
"Whimper, whimper, whimper."
Upon seeing this, Captain Tao peeled off the tape gagging the man's mouth.
"Phew, it's this place. No, no, no, just got it off, why are you tying it back up again..."
After hearing the answer he was looking for, Captain Tao tied the man up again.
Hua Chuanxiong looked at the base and said, "Are we going in?"
Captain Tao thought about it, his gaze flickering. It could now be basically confirmed that there was indeed a lot of food at this place, but the true strength of this location was still unknown.
"Go in."
...
Inside the Big Camphor Tree Base.
It was still He Chao, with some people coming over to trade goods.
As soon as he entered, He Chao started clamoring to see Li Yu.
Very urgently.
Second Uncle, in charge of managing this, had somewhat of a headache.
Then He Chao simply said, "There's a group of people outside, strangers that we've never seen before, they've been probing for information about you guys.
I don't know how he found out that you can trade goods, but these people are definitely not from Jiefang City.
They're still outside, they might also come over to trade goods with you later on."
Upon hearing this, Second Uncle's brows slightly furrowed, and he quickly called Li Yu on the walkie-talkie.
After recounting the situation to Li Yu, Li Yu immediately took it seriously, and quickly asked He Chao about the situation of the people outside.
Up to this point, the only people exchanging goods were a few familiar figures from Jiefang City known to the old Lus, and only these few were aware of it.
How could this group of strangers possibly know!
For someone like He Chao who wanted to trade goods, the fewer people knew, the better, because there was a monthly limit on the food traded by Li Yu and his side.
The more people who know, doesn't that mean they might end up getting less food?
It concerned their immediate interests - food! The interest of staying alive.
No one wanted to share their benefits with others.
Li Yu climbed atop the encircling wall, looking into the woods beyond.
He could faintly make out the figures of some people.
He descended from the wall and thought.
Strangers, probing for information, and even boldly approaching the base.
All these factors aroused a sense of crisis in Li Yu.
For him, it was better to wrongly kill a thousand than to let go of one person with ill intentions towards them.
Thus, he said to He Chao, "You've done well. You're sure they're all out there, right?"
He Chao nodded and said, "When I saw them, there were just these people. I don't know about others."
Li Yu nodded and said, "Okay."
Then he turned to Li Yuan and said, "Give them an extra 10 pounds of rice."
Seeing He Chao's face light up with joy, Li Yu added:
"You did well. I hope that if you see any strangers outside or if there's any situation, you'll tell me right away, I won't let you down."
He Chao nodded gravely and said, "Thank you, Director Li."
Li Yu left the area, then found Third Uncle and instructed him to take Dapao, Song Min, Li Tie, Li Gang, Li Haoran, Li Haoxian, the optimistic Xiao Han, Song Qi, and others out the back door to surround them in the woods.
Although they said they wanted to come in, what if not all of them did come in and the rest decided to run?
Li Yu gave a few more instructions to He Chao and after He Chao left, let those people come in.
Li Yu actually wanted to see if they dared to come in.
If they didn't, he was also prepared to go out and find them.