He intentionally placed an imperceptible emphasis on the words "necessary" and "fine-tuning."
He paused and continued instructing:
"At the sa ti, have the infantry battalion you 'prepared' earlier imdiately enter the highest state of combat readiness. Everyone should board the vehicles and be ready to 'rally' at any mont. Rember, it's 'at any mont.'"
Samir heard this and showed a genuine hint of surprise on his face:
"Sir, do you really intend...to lend a hand to those Thunder Defense guys?"
He originally thought Song Heping's strategy was to sit back and watch the tigers fight until one side bled dry.
Song Heping turned around to look out the window, his gaze falling on the direction shrouded by flas and death, calmly analyzing:
"Samir, you must rember that on the surface, we and the Aricans, and Thunder Defense, are still 'allies' at the mont. Although a facade, with hidden agendas, it's not yet the ti to completely tear apart and face each other in an all-out war. If Sanders and his group all die tonight, it would be hard to explain to the Aricans, creating a lot of unnecessary trouble and investigations."
He gently tapped the table and continued:
"The artillery attack will begin in ten minutes, which is a very strategic ti point. It will maximize the attrition on 1515 Ard's living forces, clearing obstacles for us in the future. It will also allow our 'carefully prepared' ground forces to 'just' arrive at the battlefield when the artillery bombardnt ends and the enemy is left disoriented and their formations disrupted. This avoids getting embroiled in brutal close-quarter combat with 1515's main forces, reducing our own casualties. Simultaneously, it offers a 'tily' rescue for Sanders' group, who are already halfway into Hell, shutting everyone's mouth in one fell swoop. That's called a multi-pronged strategy."
Samir's eyes flashed with realization and admiration:
"Understood! Boss, you are farsighted! I'll get right on it to make sure nothing goes wrong!"
He turned to leave quickly.
"Wait."
Song Heping stopped him.
"Boss, anything else?"
Samir imdiately halted his steps, turned around, and had an inquisitive expression on his face.
Song Heping walked to the window, looking out into the night, as if admiring Hulmatu's not-so-beautiful night view, his voice placid yet profound:
"Also, when notifying the artillery company, you can add an extra 'reminder' to them. When providing support fire, there is no need to be too precise or to pursue the ultimate lethal effect. After all, those operating the artillery are local 'native' militias with 'unrefined skills.' So 'reasonable' errors can be made, such as a few shells 'accidentally' deviating from the intended targets, landing in the yard of a checkpoint, exploding so inconsequential flora, or...coincidentally destroying so vehicles, fuel, or equipnt storage points belonging to Thunder Defense parked in the yard... This is commonplace on the battlefield, understandable, right?"
Samir was montarily dumbfounded, seemingly not completely processing it, but he quickly displayed a thoroughly enlightened expression, nodding emphatically:
"Completely understood! Boss, rest assured! 'Unrefined skills,' 'errors' are inevitable! I will surely convey your 'instructions' clearly and completely to the brothers of the artillery company!"
Checkpoint No. 4.
Just as Samir was about to execute the orders, about to transform Song Heping's "instructions" into precise "errors," inside Checkpoint No. 4, Sanders and his n were already truly on the brink of collapse.
1515 Ard mbers attacked like a pack of hyenas scenting blood, each wave more aggressive than the last.
Bullets impaled the outer walls of the main building like swarming locusts, while the intermittent explosions of rockets shook the ceiling, causing dust to fall continuously.
The groans of the wounded and the gasps of the dying echoed in the narrow space, intermingled with the sll of gunpowder and blood, forming a scene akin to a hellish painting.
"...Checkpoint No. 4, this is Thunder Command Center. Hold on! We've urgently coordinated with the 'Liberation Forces' in the direction of Hulmatu, and they... agree to provide artillery support! Repeat, artillery support is on its way!"
The radio suddenly transmitted the voice of the communication officer from the Baghdad Command Post, with a hint of uncertainty, but to Sanders, it was like heavenly music!
Artillery support!
Hulmatu!
Song Heping?!
Sanders could hardly believe his ears!
That guy who had been coldly watching, even possibly sabotaging covertly, was actually willing to act?
Following the imnse shock was an overwhelming joy of salvation!
"Artillery support! It's artillery support! From Hulmatu's artillery!"
Sanders shouted with all the strength left in him, his voice slightly distorted from excitent, as he nearly lunged at the communications soldier.
"Quick! Connect to the 'Liberation Forces' command channel imdiately! Send over all the coordinates of the most concentrated gathering areas of the enemy we marked earlier! Fast! Fast! Fast!"
After a brief wait, amid the radio's noisy communication and confirmation, sets of coordinates symbolizing death from above were sent to the artillery positions in Hulmatu, dozens of kiloters away.
"They reply... coordinates confird! Artillery... begins in ten minutes!"
The communications soldier lifted his head, his face couldn't hide the relief of being saved from destruction.
Ten minutes!
Sanders looked at the incoming tide of enemies outside the window, the ten minutes felt as long as a century.
He suppressed the anxiety in his heart and issued the order in a hoarse voice:
"Everyone! Listen to my command! Abandon all outer defenses in ten minutes! Contract the lines! Retreat into the main building! Fortify the doors and window barriers! Find solid corners! Prepare for artillery defense! Repeat, prepare for artillery defense! Move!"
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