Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 891 Isn't stealing from the cafeteria a tradition?

For those in reconnaissance, especially armed reconnaissance, sneaking out of the canteen in the middle of the night is practically a tradition. Because of the intense training and missions, and because they're mostly young men who get hungry easily, getting up at night to find food has become a routine.

Sometimes the kitchen would even leave some food warm in the steamer specifically for the brothers to eat in the evening.

But today is different. They just shone brightly in the martial arts competition, so many high-ranking officers from the Li Tang side, such as Wei Tong's father, insisted on coming to "inspect" because of their thick skin. These hundred-plus people who came to inspect naturally had to stay for a meal. Considering the food standards of the guard camp, there really wasn't much good food left today.

"There's nothing left here."

As soon as I entered the kitchen, I saw the armed police captain squatting in the corner of the kitchen eating a steamed bun, while several other people were eating potatoes or corn.

Wei Tong then realized that her female soldiers had ultimately arrived too late.

"There's nothing we can do. Those guys ate and took everything today, even the canned food." The captain stretched his neck and swallowed the steamed bun like a groundhog. After swallowing, he said indignantly, "Especially the leader, General Li Tang, that guy surnamed Wei, he even took the buns."

Wei Tong nearly screamed, "That's my dad..."

The people in the room looked at her with strange expressions. After all, it was her own father who had caused the entire company to miss out on midnight snacks, and this was indeed a difficult thing to explain.

When people are confused and in a dilemma, they often have a flash of inspiration. At this moment, Wei Tong raised his hand: "Let's go, let's raid the camp!"

"A raid on a camp?" the captain asked curiously. "Whose camp?"

“My father’s camp!” Wei Tong said firmly, “Even if I get caught, I’ll say that I led the men there.”

The reason this proposal was so easy to pass was not because they didn't understand the rules, but because they were still young. When they had orders, these guys were elite soldiers with explosive combat power, but when they didn't have missions, they were just lawless teenagers.

Moreover, the regulations only stated that you cannot take things from fellow villagers, but did not say that you cannot steal from friendly forces' canteens.

"Okay." The captain, for some reason, agreed without hesitation: "Go and gather the rest of the men."

"Captain, won't this break the rules?" someone whispered. "If the general catches us, we'll be humiliated tomorrow."

"Oh, it's alright." Wei Tong waved her hand and patted her chest to assure him, "What's the big deal about me stealing from my father's camp! Everyone there is my uncle and brother."

"go!"

The 3rd Armed Reconnaissance Company was supposed to have 27 members, but only 26 were present. One member was unable to participate due to an injury sustained during a drill.

At this moment, the lights of the Li Tang Imperial Guard camp stretched out in the distance.

Under the cover of night, the 26 members of the armed reconnaissance company stealthily slipped out of the camp like cats.

Before setting off, the team leader made a brief gesture: pointing his index and middle fingers together at his eyes, then pointing in the direction of the target—keep observing and act according to plan.

Two hundred paces from the camp, the captain signaled for the entire team to take cover.

Everyone immediately dispersed and lay low, concealing themselves under the waist-high weeds. He took out his monocular binoculars and carefully scanned every corner of the camp's perimeter.

“Something’s not right.” He lowered his voice and handed the binoculars to the vice-captain: “The number of visible sentries has doubled, and all the hidden sentry positions have been changed.”

The deputy captain took the binoculars and observed for a moment, then frowned: "The patrol intervals have been shortened to fifteen breaths, and new cross-patrol routes have been added. This level of deployment is too high."

Wei Tong leaned closer and whispered, "My father is strict with his troops, but he shouldn't be on such high alert on the night of a defeat. Unless..."

The captain continued, "Unless there are important figures in the camp."

He carefully observed the patrol's movement pattern: "Look at the third patrol group. Their route deliberately avoids the area near the central command tent. This is to leave a safe distance for a certain core area."

The group exchanged glances. If the Empress was indeed in the camp, the risks of tonight's operation would increase exponentially.

"Withdraw?" the vice-captain asked tentatively.

Wei Tong gritted her teeth: "Since we're already here!"

After a moment's thought, the captain gestured for them to continue. The twenty-six men immediately split into three groups, advancing in an arrow formation. Each group was spaced ten paces apart, allowing them to support each other without being caught in a concentrated mass.

The first group, led by the captain, was responsible for paving the way. They used the terrain's undulations to move quickly in the shadows. At each new hiding spot, two members were assigned to guard the rear, their movements swift and efficient.

About a hundred paces from the camp wall, they encountered their first obstacle—the area with the widest view. The captain raised his right fist, and the entire team immediately stopped. He carefully observed the patrol's pace, silently counting the time in his mind.

"The patrol teams will be spaced fifteen breaths apart, with a five-breath gap between the two cross patrols," the captain whispered. "Ready!"

He gestured, and the first group of eight darted out like arrows. They moved quickly and stealthily, their feet landing softly and almost silently. Five breaths later, they all safely reached the shadows on the opposite side.

Just then, a patrol suddenly changed their route and headed towards the direction where the second group was hiding. The captain immediately sounded a warning with bird calls, and the members of the second group quickly lay down on the ground, using the weeds for cover and remaining motionless.

The patrolmen passed by them less than five steps away without noticing.

Once the danger was over, the second and third groups quickly crossed the open area in turn. The entire process was smooth and efficient, demonstrating a high level of tactical skill.

As they approached the camp wall, the defenses became even tighter. Not only were the sentry posts densely packed, but tripwires and bells had also been temporarily installed outside the wall. The captain carefully observed the structure of the camp wall and finally chose a relatively secluded corner.

“Here,” he pointed to a section of the camp wall, “the wall is damaged, making it easy to climb. And it’s in the blind spot of two sentry posts.”

Two team members immediately stepped forward to form a human ladder, while a third team member silently scaled the wall like a cat. He first lay on the wall to observe for a moment, and only after confirming that it was safe did he lower the rope.

Just then, a patrol suddenly turned and headed in their direction. The soldiers on the wall immediately gave a danger signal. The soldiers below quickly scattered and took cover, even the human ladder disintegrated instantly, each finding cover.

The patrolmen paused for a moment at the foot of the wall, and the captain could even hear their conversation clearly:
"I think there was a noise just now?"

"It's probably a stray cat. There are the most stray cats in this lousy place."

Once the patrolmen had gone, the team members regrouped. The wall-climbing operation continued. After confirming it was safe again, the team members on top of the wall lowered three ropes. The team members climbed the wall in groups of three, their movements swift and silent.

After scaling the camp wall, they entered an area where miscellaneous items were piled up. The tents were densely packed here, making it easy to hide, but it also meant they might encounter more soldiers getting up at night.

The captain signaled for them to advance in a dispersed manner, and the three groups progressed towards the logistics area along different routes. They used the shadows of the tents and advanced in leaps and bounds. Each group had a forward and a rearguard to ensure that someone was always watching the movements in front and behind.

As they passed a tent, Wei Tong suddenly grabbed the team leader and pointed to the ground. In the dim moonlight, several fresh tire tracks could be seen on the ground.

“This is a food cart used exclusively by the Imperial Kitchen,” Wei Tong said in a low voice. “In my father’s military camp, this kind of cart is only used when His Majesty travels there.”

This discovery confirmed their suspicions. The captain's expression grew even more serious, but his rhythm of action remained perfectly steady.

On the last stretch of road leading to the logistics area, they encountered the tightest defenses. There were guards every five steps and sentries every ten steps, with patrols coming and going constantly.

After observing for a long time, the captain discovered that although the guards were densely packed, their positions were fixed, and their gazes moved in a regular pattern. He quickly found a path that could be used, advancing along the drainage ditch and passing through quickly during the gaps when the sentries' gazes shifted.

One by one, the team members crawled along the drainage ditch. The damp smell of the earth filled the air, and occasionally a rat would dart past. Whenever a sentry's gaze swept over them, everyone immediately froze, blending into the shadows.

Just as they were about to reach the logistics area, an accident occurred. A soldier who had gotten up in the middle of the night was groggily walking towards the drainage ditch and was about to find them.

Without hesitation, the lead soldier struck. Like a cheetah, he leaped from the shadows, covering the soldier's mouth with one hand and striking his carotid artery with the other. The entire process was silent. The soldier collapsed, quickly dragged into the shadows, tied up, and gagged.

After nearly half an hour of twists and turns, they finally arrived at the logistics area. From afar, they could see four guards standing outside the separate courtyard where the kitchen was located, all facing outwards, with no blind spots in their view.

"Even the kitchen is heavily guarded?" the deputy captain clicked his tongue in astonishment.

The captain carefully observed the guards' positions and line of sight, then shook his head: "This isn't about keeping outsiders out; it's about protocol. With Her Majesty the Empress in the camp, everything must be done at the highest level."

Just as everyone was pondering a solution, the kitchen door suddenly opened. A cook came out carrying a basin to pour water, and the enticing aroma of food wafted out the moment the door opened and closed.

It was during this brief moment of opening the door that the captain noticed a detail: the guards would unconsciously glance into the kitchen the instant the door opened.

He immediately gave a hand signal. The two team members understood and quietly circled around to the other side of the courtyard, making a slight noise with pebbles.

"What's that sound?" The guards immediately became alert, and the two of them went to investigate.

Just as the attention of the remaining two guards was diverted, the captain made his move. He emerged from the shadows and pounced on the guards like a cheetah. His hand strikes were precise, and the two men collapsed to the ground. Almost simultaneously, a muffled thud came from the other side, and the two guards who went to investigate were also dealt with.

From making the noise to taking down the four guards, the whole process took no more than three breaths. The captain immediately arranged for four team members to disguise themselves as guards outside the door, while the rest followed Wei Tong and quickly sneaked into the kitchen.

The moment the kitchen door was pushed open, everyone froze.

Xia Lin was squatting by the stove, poking at the embers in the firebox with fire tongs. He pulled out a few potatoes buried in the hot ashes, roasting them until their skins were golden brown and their aroma was irresistible.

Xia Lin turned around, his face still covered in coal dust, and the moment he saw them enter, his mind nearly went blank.

"Ah? This..."

Xia Lin was silent for a moment, then looked outside and said, "You're finished. Jiu Zhen is in charge of the defense of the core area. The Special Service Company is facing the Armed Reconnaissance Company. You should be surrounded."

(End of this chapter)