Hearing their ranks, everyone realized these officers were superior to Major Ding in both authority and capability, making them more inclined to listen.

"Awaiting orders, sir!"

"Everyone, split into three groups. Follow me, Colonel Qin, and Lieutenant Colonel Miao into the mountains. It's 9:10 AM. We have until 4:10 PM. In these seven hours, patrol the southern side of the base mountain range. Eliminate any beasts you encounter. If you run into insurmountable problems, send a flare for help. We have aerial support. Beware of getting lost in the snow. Don't stray from your teams and report any issues. Understood?"

"Understood!"

Miao Miao patted Ding Xuesong's shoulder and whispered, "Major Ding, why not join us in the mountains? What's fun about staying on the plane?"

Ding Xuesong shrugged her hand off and snorted, "Are you staging a mutiny? When did the Central Army gain the authority to command our local units? I'll be reporting this once we're back."

"Sure. Let's showcase your poor leadership. If you had been competent today, we wouldn't have needed to step in."

"You..."

Shao Qi boarded the plane with Zhou You, ordering all pilots, "Take off! Your main duties today are scouting, guarding, and rescuing. Aim for zero casualties!"

"Yes, sir!"

The teams orderly ventured into the mountains. From above, Zhou You observed each team checking their equipment. Zhuo Hao and his companions were evidently seasoned veterans.

"How long have they been enlisted?" Zhou You curiously inquired. They all seemed young, making their achievements impressive.

"Zhuo Hao joined the military academy in college and was conscripted during the great disaster. He was an outstanding graduate and was assigned to the Flame Troops. Qin Lifen's father is General Qin Wei of the Central Army. Qin studied music in college with aspirations of stardom. But the apocalypse hit before he graduated. After struggling for a few years, he was eventually enlisted by his father. As for Miao Miao, her story is somewhat similar to Li Yunxi's. I saved her during a mission. She's been impressive, rising through the ranks quickly."

"In the military, it's about tenure and capability. You need at least one of these. And by capability, I mean real combat achievements. Promotions based merely on a certificate, like in the Jiangnan Military District, are nonsense. Battling mutated beasts requires experience."

Zhou You agreed. Initially, he had no idea how to deal with mutated beasts. Now, with understanding and combat experience, he felt more competent.

Of course, weaponry and equipment are crucial too.

With clear skies today, many animals in the forest emerged to hunt. Each team encountered numerous creatures upon entering the forest, and every creature, mutated or not, was neutralized.

At first sight of so many humans, the beasts' initial thought was, "So much food!" However, as the gunfire rained down, they scattered in screams, though some bolder ones dared to attack the humans directly.

With superior numbers and firepower, the beasts, whether mutated or not, quickly fell under the hail of bullets, easing the anxiety of the soldiers who had ventured into the mountains.

"Third Squad, there's a nest of mutated pigs at your three o'clock, and about a hundred meters directly ahead, two injured mutated foxes are hiding in the snow. Proceed with caution."

"Third Squad, acknowledged."

Zhou You felt a surge of eagerness, "I want to go down too."

Shao Qi raised an eyebrow and beckoned him, "If you're bored, come fly the fighter jet. Show me what you've got."

Zhou You shook his head in alarm, "Don't joke about this. We're on a mission, and there are teammates everywhere. What if we crash into them?"

"What are you afraid of with me here? If the plane loses control, use your internal energy to land it safely. I believe in your capability."

Given the weight of a fighter jet, Zhou You found his logic strangely compelling. He moved closer and Shao Qi pulled him into his lap.

This position felt awkward. Zhou You shifted uneasily, "Aren't you going to move over?"

Shao Qi stretched out his arms, which easily encircled Zhou You, and said calmly, "I'm teaching you and need to give timely corrections. This way is more convenient. The fighter jet's seats are designed for someone who's 2.2 meters tall, so we won't be too cramped."

It wasn't that they were squeezed, but being held by Shao Qi was definitely uncomfortable.

"We've shared a bed, and this bothers you?"

Zhou You's ears reddened. He wanted to see the expression on Shao Qi's face when he said that, but decided against it. He didn’t want to be embarrassed, but let others be.

Shao Qi took it step by step. Zhou You had never flown a plane before, but he had seen colleagues operate one. Those older models were much more complicated, filled with buttons, whereas the current ones were more intelligent.

Zhou You was quick-witted and grasped things rapidly. He'd only been out of touch with society for ten years, so he wasn't completely clueless.

Shao Qi thought to himself, "If I could recruit him into my ranks, I bet he could surpass me in a year."

"Hey, what does this flashing red light on the far right mean?" Seconds later, the jet warned, "Large energy bodies detected 300 meters ahead. Evade immediately!"

They were flying close to the treetops with limited visibility. At their current speed, 300 meters would be covered in under a minute.

Shao Qi quickly piloted the jet to ascend. As the view broadened, he saw a massive flock of geese coming. He immediately alerted all jets, "All fighters, ascend 1000 meters immediately! Now! Hurry!"

Pilots heeded the command and soon saw the massive flock. Some were so startled that they momentarily froze, causing a few collisions with the flock in just a matter of seconds.