Bucky overheard Chen Mo's words and, recalling the legends circulating among the frontline troops, suddenly realized Chen Mo's identity and exclaimed in surprise.
The surrounding soldiers heard Bucky's shout and gradually gathered around.
"Is he from that legendary secret unit?"
"Is he the commander of the special forces?"
"No wonder we escaped so easily. He must have been holding off the enemy for us!"
"Was that explosion his doing too?"
"Definitely. Didn't you see the Hydra base explode right after he arrived?"
"They say he once single-handedly wiped out an entire Hydra base!"
"The Hydra army is no match for him. He can cut through those super tank barrels with a single sword strike!"
…
The soldiers discussed excitedly, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Chen Mo, clad in black armor, carrying a sword and shield, with only his sharp eyes visible.
Steve couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. He hadn't received such a warm welcome earlier.
Captain America was a household name in the United States, well-known even among the soldiers on the European front. However, compared to Steve, Chen Mo was even more famous among the frontline soldiers.
Although Chen Mo's operations against Hydra were classified, the soldiers on the frontlines had heard rumors.
Whenever they encountered the powerful Hydra army and couldn't hold them off, a special unit would quickly arrive.
This mysterious unit, all dressed in black combat suits, was led by a tall, imposing commander and stationed in a separate area of the camp.
Although their actions were secretive, it was hard for some soldiers not to notice their movements.
After a few missions, when they returned covered in smoke, the previously overwhelming Hydra army would disappear without a trace, as if they had never been there.
Gradually, the legend of the special forces began to spread among the frontline troops.
The soldiers on the battlefield admired powerful warriors the most and aspired to join the elite units with the strongest combat capabilities.
The mystery surrounding the special forces only fueled their curiosity. Since they were on the same side, the secrecy level wasn't too high, and the soldiers gradually learned more about the unit, including their achievements and Chen Mo's formidable strength.
By now, almost all the soldiers knew about the existence of this mysterious unit among them.
It was said that the special forces were composed of the most elite soldiers from the Allied nations, specifically tasked with dealing with Hydra. Under the leadership of their even more mysterious and powerful commander, they had successfully destroyed two Hydra bases and the Hydra army stationed there, forcing Hydra into hiding.
This was why there had been no Hydra army sightings for a while.
The special forces became the dream unit for every Allied soldier, and their commander became an idol for the entire army.
Chen Mo's powerful combat skills, fearless fighting style, and impressive achievements had unknowingly earned him a group of devoted followers.
Among them was Bucky, who looked at Chen Mo with fervent admiration. From Steve, he had learned that the person who came to rescue them was Steve's master, the martial arts school owner who had left a deep impression on him.
He never imagined that his idol, and that of most Allied soldiers, was his good friend's master. He had even sat with him, drank coffee, and rode in the same car to visit the expo.
Thinking about this, Bucky felt a surge of excitement and pride. Looking at the other soldiers who were equally excited and admiring Chen Mo, he felt a sense of superiority. His relationship with the idol was much closer than theirs!
Ignoring the chaotic scene of soldiers meeting their idol, the legendary special forces commander, Chen Mo remained unaffected by their praise and admiration.
As the mastermind behind Hydra, the loyalty and fervor of his Hydra soldiers were even more intense, but they wouldn't crowd around him like this. In Hydra, Chen Mo was revered like a deity, and in the presence of a deity, devout followers could only show reverence and respect.
As for the soldiers attributing their smooth escape to Chen Mo holding off the enemy, they weren't wrong.
If Chen Mo hadn't entered the base control room and fought Baron Strucker, preventing him from commanding the Hydra soldiers and organizing an effective attack, and from using some hidden means in the base, Steve and the others wouldn't have been able to retreat so easily.
After reuniting with Steve, Chen Mo took over command and led the group towards the Allied camp. He had memorized the map he had seen on the plane, which clearly marked the frontlines and military deployments of both sides.
They were now about thirty kilometers behind the German frontlines, deep in the mountains, making it unlikely for the enemy to find them. However, breaking through the German blockade and crossing the heavily defended enemy lines to return to the Allied camp was extremely difficult.
The section of the frontline ahead was heavily defended by the Germans, with large-scale armored units and nearly ten thousand infantry. With only about a hundred men, even with the captured Hydra tanks and armored vehicles, it was nearly impossible to break through the German defenses.
Even Chen Mo and Steve, with their superhuman abilities, could only sneak through at night. A frontal assault would likely be met with concentrated fire and heavy artillery bombardment, making it difficult to break through the dense firepower, let alone lead over a hundred soldiers safely through.
So, Chen Mo decided to take a detour!
Based on the map in his mind, which marked the terrain and German military deployments, Chen Mo found a weak point in the German defenses about thirty kilometers to the west.
It wasn't exactly weak, but the terrain was treacherous, and the roads were narrow, making it difficult for large-scale units to pass through. The Germans had only deployed a 150 artillery company there, with over 170 soldiers and four Krupp 150mm K39 cannons.
They occupied a favorable position, and without the ability to launch large-scale operations, these forces were enough to repel any small-scale attacks.
Of course, that was without considering Chen Mo.
With the plan set, Chen Mo led the troops towards the target area after a brief rest.
The mountain roads were difficult to traverse, and even the advanced Hydra tanks and armored vehicles moved slowly. Fortunately, the captured trucks were loaded with plenty of rations, and there was no shortage of water in the mountains. After a day of trekking, they finally reached the German position.