Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Escape Plan (Part 1)
Wang Qiang recounted his deductions honestly, and Tang Xiaoquan nodded timely, acknowledging them.
However, Du Jian, the questioner, looked a bit uneasy after hearing Wang Qiang’s explanation.
Seeing this, Wang Qiang asked confusedly, "What’s wrong, Brother Du? Do you think my idea is unreliable?"
Du Jian chuckled awkwardly but didn’t answer directly. Instead, he changed the topic, "Uh~ well, now that Miss Huang is dead, does that mean our food can last one more day?"
Tang Xiaoquan pondered for two seconds before shaking his head, "That’s not very realistic. Huang Yaru, as a woman, didn’t consume much food, so her share doesn’t make much difference. But before we start the escape plan, we can probably manage one full meal."
Everyone nodded in agreement. To be honest, for the past two days, the five of them survived on a small pot of rice, which was really meager support.
And with the escape plan about to begin, relying on their rumbling stomachs would obviously leave them at a disadvantage in terms of stamina.
"So, when do we start the action?" Wang Qiang, who rarely thought much, also realized the urgency of the situation, so he followed up on Tang Xiaoquan’s words with a question.
"Well~" Tang Xiaoquan seemed to be well-prepared, and without hesitation, he said, "Originally, I was trying to think of a way to drive the zombies out of the building, but I didn’t expect Huang Yaru’s death to be..."
The conversation suddenly halted, as Tang Xiaoquan intended to say "Huang Yaru’s death helped him a lot."
After all, if not for the commotion caused by the woman’s corpse, the zombies lurking in the corridor wouldn’t have left easily, at least not so quickly.
But on second thought, saying something like that at this moment appeared inconsiderate, so...
"Since the zombies are showing signs of leaving, let’s wait another day. First, during this time, everyone can prepare the necessary items for the action; secondly, everyone can get some rest and regain energy. We will implement the escape plan early tomorrow!"
No objections, Tang Xiaoquan’s proposal aligned with the thoughts of Wang Du.
After all, although time is tight and food is nearly depleted, the previous night’s turmoil and empty stomachs indeed make a rushed action inadvisable.
The discussion concluded, time set, and everyone took a brief rest before busying themselves.
This escape plan is divided into three steps, each undoubtedly perilous, with any small mistake leading to disaster.
Hence, suitable weapons became a pressing issue for the survivors to solve.
"One Snake Spear, two baseball bats, one wrench, one Iron Axe, and one small knife," Wang Qiang reported the weapons on hand one by one while Tang Xiaoquan meticulously documented them.
Law of Survival, Article 15: Count existing resources, maintain situational awareness, and allocate them wisely, as these are essential for survival.
"The corridor is too narrow; it’s hard to swing the bat, so put it in the bag;"
"The wrench and knife are good for close combat, keep them on you;"
"The Iron Axe is powerful, good for clearing the way;"
"The Snake Spear has a distance advantage, it’s good for finishing or support;"
With practical combat experience, King Tang evaluated each weapon one by one.
However, despite the evaluations, attempting to rely on these few pitiful weapons to break through the densely zombie-guarded corridor seemed quite inadequate.
Even though there are four of them, except for the Iron Axe and Snake Spear which can clear paths, the other weapons are clearly less effective in such rapid engagement scenarios.
In other words, apart from the two armed with Iron Axe and Snake Spear, the rest would merely play insignificant roles in the battle, which would undoubtedly exacerbate the already scarce fighting capabilities of the survivors.
So what should they do? That was the question.
After some contemplation, Wang Qiang suggested, "Why don’t we make a few more Long Spears?"
It’s undeniable that Wang Qiang’s idea was the most feasible option, given the circumstances, as the owner of the house was so destitute that there wasn’t even a single knife to be found in the whole room.
Picking up a dusty wooden broom from the kitchen, Wang Qiang began working on it.
The brawny man also kept busy, using the sharpness of the giant axe to dismantle the chairs and stools.
After about more than an hour’s effort, two Long Spears with sharpened heads were created.
With weapons ready, the next step was to set up the formation order.
No doubt, this time the action prioritizes speed!
Survivors can only move forward, not retreat, which highlights the importance of the person leading the way, so those with good physical fitness and strength must be included.
In Wang Qiang and Tang Xiaoquan’s small four-man team, the brawny man and Wang Qiang naturally became the best candidates.
"In my view, let’s do it like this: Brother Du, you lead the way with the axe; Qiang, you use the Long Spear for support, and A Cheng and I will cover the rear. How does that sound to you all?"
Unexpectedly, Du Jian didn’t insist on staying with his nephew this time but agreed to the dangerous and terrifying "pioneer" position without hesitation.
Then, the group exchanged views on some related details during the action process. Although they had discussed this several times before, with the action about to begin, they still dared not slack off.
After all, spending a little extra time and effort now might allow them to avoid a fatal crisis during the operation. Comparing the two, the choice is obvious.
Time flew by in the systematic busyness of everyone, and soon the chime of noon came. The survivors, who were on a diet, could finally resist the ravages of hunger and fatigue no longer and retreated to rest, leaving A Cheng alone in the living room to safeguard their safety.
This nap was far from restful for Tang Wang and Du Jian. Firstly, the occasional roars of zombies next door were terrifying; secondly, Huang Yaru’s death still lingered in their minds, hard to dismiss; and thirdly, naturally, it was still related to the action about to begin.
In the end, they were just ordinary people with fears, anxieties, and concerns about their future destinies.
However, what must come will come, unchanged by excessive worry.
By the time everyone gathered in the living room again, the sky outside was pitch black. The massive full moon, obscured by clouds, feebly emitted slivers of moonlight, adding a touch of color to the devastated city.
After a simple dinner, Tang Xiaoquan and the others tirelessly reviewed the action plan again, then returned to their rooms, quietly awaiting the next day...
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