Despite the vehement insistence from many of the men, Feng ultimately chose fifteen that he was satisfied with, the rest he stubbornly refused.

With no more than twenty days left before the cold season struck, the scavenging hunt needed to sortie—quickly and urgently.

They packed their things, prepared the carts, loaded them with gear and weapons plus some dry rations, then the procession of the fifteen packed and readied men marched towards the exit of the ...