CHAPTER 469: CHAPTER 231: AS LONG AS YOU REMEMBER_2

In his understanding, with the apocalypse upon us, everyone should unite.

No matter if you are a Mechanical God Sect believer, a Holy Blood, or an ordinary person, all disputes should be abandoned to the greatest extent to face the crisis.

Only in such circumstances can we form the greatest force to promote the swift restoration of civilization.

But clearly, those "Mountain City People" didn’t think so.

They enclosed themselves within the Mountain City, completely severing contact with the outside world.

This approach is foolish at any time—unless they don’t plan to restore civilization at all.

But what’s the reason?

Surely they don’t think the restoration of civilization will lead to more severe consequences?

Chen Jian frowned deeply.

The answers to all questions can only truly be understood upon reaching the Mountain City, but getting there is not easy.

After the great battle, the base needed sufficient time to recuperate.

And because the losses were too severe, this period of "recuperation" is destined not to be short.

Thinking of this, Chen Jian sighed again:

"It was truly a Pyrrhic victory."

Shen Yue put down the casualty report in his hand, finally revealing a slight smile.

"It can’t be considered a Pyrrhic victory—rather, it should be called a comprehensive victory paid with a heavy price."

"In the battle against the Beast Tide, excluding small monsters, we eliminated at least over 900 monsters of various levels. On average, even each casualty took down a monster."

"It’s a remarkable and incredible loss ratio."

"I have already released this battle report to the entire army and base, and the feedback has been very positive."

"This move was made very timely."

Chen Jian gave Shen Yue a thumbs up.

"What is crucial now is to tell everyone what we gained in this war."

"Although the casualty data may seem a bit ’cold’, it is indeed the most direct and impactful expression."

"Seeing these numbers, everyone will realize that although our casualties were heavy, the enemy also suffered devastating blows."

"In this way, our sacrifices become meaningful."

"However, doing just this is still not enough."

"We need to show them something more tangible."

"For example, after eliminating these monsters, how much land truly belonging to us can we obtain, how much food and survival supplies can we gain, and how much development can we achieve..."

"These things, you can make a report."

"The report doesn’t need to be too rigorous, but it must be... visual."

"Understood."

Shen Yue nodded again.

"Actually, objectively speaking, our gains are still substantial."

"The number of enemies destroyed is only 900, which doesn’t seem like much, but compared to the total number of monsters, it is not small."

"According to the intelligence we obtained earlier, the number of monsters at level two and below in the northern and southern areas is about 2,500."

"In this round of the Beast Tide, we have already taken down almost half."

"The remaining monsters either cannot be reorganized into a Beast Tide or are relatively mild in nature, lacking aggression towards humans, or do not occupy the same ecological niche as humans."

"Their threat to us is minimal."

"So overall, although the monsters have not been completely exterminated, the threat they pose to humans has indeed been reduced to a safe range."

"Very good."

Chen Jian slightly raised his head and rubbed his eyes, which were slightly strained.

"That means we can basically conclude that we have passed this Beast Tide crisis."

"The notification can be issued—but for the time being, do not lift the wartime status."

"Understood."

Shen Yue stood up and immediately asked:

"What about those refugees in Jinling City? How should we handle them?"

"Should we take them in?"

"No."

Chen Jian decisively answered:

"Do not proactively issue invitations to take them in."

"Those who want to come here will come on their own."

"If they don’t want to come... rest assured, they can still survive."

"Okay, let’s end our conversation here."

"The ceremony is about to begin."

....

Two hours later.

At the main gate of Base 001’s main passage.

Yu Qian sat in a simple wheelchair, accompanied by his son and his daughter, who was just learning to speak.

The conferment and commendation ceremony had ended, and several shining medals hung on his chest.

According to the schedule, he should have returned to Base 011 to change his bandages and clothes, preparing to attend the soon-to-be-held celebration banquet.

But like many others, he did not leave immediately.

His gaze was fixed on the massive steel structure standing beside the main passage gate, staring at one name after another engraved on it.

Initially, he did not understand why the commanders of the Huaxia Army remembered every fallen soldier’s name.

But soon he recalled, when his group first came here and just got "jobs", their names had been recorded.

It was precisely because of this extra step that this memorial, which could not even be called a sculpture, appeared here.

Could it be that the Huaxia Army’s commanders had long foreseen this day?

Perhaps.

Yu Qian moved the wheelchair slowly toward the memorial.

His son, holding his daughter, followed beside him, asking somewhat confusedly:

"Dad, do you know all the people on this list?"

Yu Qian shook his head slowly.

"No, not all of them."

"Dad only knows a small portion of the people on there—a very small portion."

"Oh!"

The son nodded thoughtfully, then approached the memorial, pointed to a name, and curiously asked:

"What about this one? Do you know this one?"

Yu Qian squinted his eyes, took a closer look, and said:

"I know."

"This person was my squad leader."

"Squad leader? Did he also die?"

"Yes, he died bravely."

Yu Qian patted his son’s head and continued:

"Everyone listed here has died."

"That’s such a pity... so many people died!"

The son’s gaze dimmed slightly for a moment.

He was too young to truly comprehend the meaning of "sacrifice", but in any case, he understood "death".

Just like his mother’s death.

If someone "died", it meant they would never return and never appear before anyone again.

It must be a sorrowful thing.

After all, he still remembered that on the day his mom died, his dad cried all night.

----But why, why is no one here crying?

The people these names represent should be someone’s father, mother, or son, right?

His eyes filled with confusion again, he looked at the letters on the memorial and then turned to Yu Qian, asking:

"Dad, did they go to Heaven?"

"I heard that those who died fighting monsters all go to Heaven."

"Is it because of this that their relatives didn’t cry?"

"No."

A barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of Yu Qian’s mouth, but he then spoke seriously:

"You must remember what the commanders said."

"There is no Heaven in this world, and if there is, it can only be built by ourselves."

"They didn’t cry because their loved ones went to Heaven."

"It’s because they know they can continue on the path their loved ones paved."

"Of course, there is another reason."

"What reason?"

The son looked up attentively at Yu Qian, waiting for his response.

Yu Qian’s smile gradually widened.

"Didn’t you hear the speech from the commander just now?"

"Do you remember what he said at the end?"

The son bowed his head in thought for a moment, then replied:

"He said..."

"Death is never the ultimate end; forgetting is."

"He said we will remember the owners of these names, and in the future, our names will also be engraved on this memorial."

"That’s right."

Yu Qian extended his hand to his son, speaking with a gentle yet determined voice:

"So, if one day, Dad’s name is also engraved here, you shouldn’t cry."

"As long as you remember, that’s enough."