sbdcsierra Chapter 405 Haste makes waste!
Chapter 405 Haste makes waste!
The group of fifty or sixty people, all heading towards the same destination, made their way across the vast Gobi Desert on the morning of the first day before departure. Their figures, though scattered, still formed a considerable formation, stretching out in long lines across the desert.
By the afternoon, the teams had thinned out and become clearly divided; after all, it was a competition with time constraints.
Some teams, relying on their superior physical strength, surged ahead and disappeared behind the undulating sand dunes, while others, perhaps due to misjudging their direction or believing their chosen route was a shortcut, separated from the main group.
Some may have been forced to slow down due to dehydration or heatstroke, and some have even lit the signal flare to give up.
Zhong Yuemin's team's strategy was completely different from those teams that rushed through from the start. He knew that in this land of death, reckless action and exhaustion were tantamount to suicide.
They were not in a hurry to catch up, but rather marched in a planned manner.
At noon, when the sun was at its most scorching, the entire Gobi Desert was like a furnace, and even the breath we exhaled was burning hot. Luckily, we found a huge wind-eroded rock, and the team members took shelter in its shade. Although it was naturally hot, it was much more comfortable than being exposed to the scorching sun outside. They took turns keeping watch, rested for nearly two hours, took a nap, escaped the heat, and recharged their energy, while also conserving their most precious physical strength and water.
We waited until the sun wasn't so strong, then continued on our way. Around 4 PM, although the sun was setting, it was still early and the light was still intense.
Zhong Yuemin then decided to stop advancing, observed the terrain, and selected another, larger Gobi rock with a depression at the bottom as his campsite for the night.
"This is it, I'm not leaving."
Zhong Yuemin put down his pack, wiped the sweat from his brow, and took the entrenching tool from his waist.
"So early?" Zhang Haiyang looked at the sky, somewhat puzzled.
"Traveling at night is more dangerous. You can't see the direction clearly, so it's easy to get lost and you're also more likely to encounter poisonous insects and wild animals."
Zhong Yuemin explained,
“We’ve come a long way through the Gobi Desert, and there aren’t many rocky spots here. We can stay here for the night. If we continue on our way and don’t find a suitable place to stay, we’ll be in for a tough time at night. This is the place for us. Let’s get our nest ready while it’s still light. It’s better than anything else.”
After saying that, he looked at the group of people who were traveling with them.
"Da Long, Xiao Pang... you guys don't have any objections, right?"
"No, no objection."
The one who called Da Long replied:
"Yuemin, we'll listen to you. Just tell us how to arrange things, and we'll do it accordingly."
Although the two sides had only met yesterday, they had all heard of Zhong Yuemin’s name. His outstanding achievements in the counterattack against Vietnam, especially the Mountain Eagle reconnaissance squad he led, went deep into enemy territory and captured the commander of an enemy division in the enemy’s headquarters. How many people could accomplish such a feat?
Therefore, they have unwavering faith in human combat deployments and will not have any doubts or objections.
Under his command, the group immediately sprang into action, with a clear division of labor.
Ning Wei was in charge of guarding the surroundings, while Zhong Yuemin, Zhang Haiyang, and the others began moving the scattered stones of various sizes nearby.
Using the depressions in the giant rock itself as a support, the moved stones were cleverly stacked up, like swallows building a nest, gradually constructing a semi-enclosed, simple stone cave that could accommodate several people curled up inside.
They currently have neither tents nor blankets to keep out the cold at night, so this makeshift cave is crucial.
Firstly, it helps to withstand the sudden drop in temperature in the Gobi Desert at night. The heat absorbed by the rocks during the day is slowly released at night, and the caves effectively retain this meager heat, creating a relatively warm space.
Secondly, it serves as a simple defensive fortification, capable of protecting against potential predators such as wolves and sand foxes, at least providing them with a defensive barrier.
After working for more than an hour, the distant horizon was once again dyed blood red by the afterglow of the setting sun, and the temperature began to drop noticeably. Their cave was finally completed.
The group squeezed inside. Although it was cramped, the sight of them huddled together gave them a sense of security in the vast Gobi Desert.
Leaning against the cold rock, I watched the sky outside quickly darken until it was completely black. Darkness enveloped the cave, and the howling wind resumed its fierce whistling. Inside, a fire had been lit; the firewood was gathered during the day from some dead bushes I'd passed by, to be used for warmth that night.
Outside, the wind was biting cold, but inside their cave, flames were burning. The space was small, and there were many people, so the insulation was surprisingly good. The prepared rations were just dry flatbreads, but they were softened by roasting them over the fire, making them more comfortable to eat.
Zhang Haiyang said:
"Yuemin, at this pace, we're going to be so slow. Aren't you afraid that other teams will beat us to it and reach the destination first?"
Zhong Yuemin took a bite of the soft pancake and chewed it.
"What's the point of striving for first place? The notice clearly states that you only need to arrive at the designated location by the specified time to pass. The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Even if you get first place, all that hard work and empty fame brings no real benefit."
"Isn't it better to complete the task slowly and leisurely?"
"Moreover, I suspect there might be another purpose behind this!"
"What do you mean?" Haiyang asked. "Some other intention? Are you planning some other dirty trick to mess with us?"
Zhong Yuemin waved his hand, first glancing through the crack in the rock at the dark Gobi Desert outside, then turning his gaze back to the cave.
"If it's just about who can run the fastest, why not just do a five-kilometer or ten-kilometer armed cross-country run? Why throw us into this godforsaken place with this little bit of equipment to keep us alive, and play this three-day survival game?"
"I think what the higher-ups want to see is not just physical strength and speed, but more likely, their judgment, endurance, survival skills, and teamwork in such extreme environments."
To put it simply, it's about who can reach the finish line alive with the least amount of energy and in the safest way.
"Do those teams that start running like mad from the very beginning have enough water? Can they sustain their stamina for three days? If they run in the wrong direction and waste time and energy, can they correct their course?"
On the Gobi Desert, one mistake could lead to utter ruin.
As he spoke, he swallowed the food in his mouth, picked up a water bottle, took a sip, and continued:
"Our current approach may seem slow, but we're proceeding cautiously, avoiding the most water- and energy-consuming midday hours, and traveling during the morning and evening hours."
Finding a suitable campsite ensures quality rest, reduces non-combat casualties, and conserves every drop of water and every bit of energy—all so that we have the strength to reach the finish line. A planned and strategic approach is far more reliable than recklessly rushing forward to achieve the objective, especially in such harsh conditions.