Five minutes later.
In the tent of the "Liberation Forces" temporary command post at the front line, Song Heping stood in front of a makeshift campaign table covered with maps and reconnaissance photos. His body leaned slightly forward, hands resting on the edge of the table, like a leopard about to pounce on its prey.
Across the table and on both sides stood Jiang Feng and Samir.
Jiang Feng frowned, his fingers unconsciously pinching the corner of a map, his gaze shifting back and forth between the dense defense markers of Tetric City on the map and Song Heping's face.
Samir appeared sowhat agitated, occasionally licking his dry lips.
Just now, Song Heping had just laid out his bold, near-crazy plan—
Samir and Jiang Feng would lead six thousand "Liberation Forces" militian in a feigned attack on Tetric City; anwhile, he would personally lead the most elite two rcenary camps in a long-distance raid, directly targeting the oil hub in Bayji to the northeast.
"That's decided then!"
Song Heping raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the two key aides in front of him.
"Samir, Jiang Feng, I'm leaving the stronghold of Tetric City to you."
With unquestionable decisiveness, he said:
"A six-thousand-strong force may appear as a decoy force, but I need you to wield it like a sledgehamr! I want you to make a huge commotion, to make the noise deafening! Make Az, the 1515 Commander at Tetric, believe to his core that our main force is right under his nose, so much so that he won't have the courage to even stick his head out to spy!"
His eyes lingered on Jiang Feng's worried face before his tone slightly softened:
"After fighting alongside for so long, you should understand that in war, it's not just about fighting with real arms, but also about 'acting'! To feign reality with illusion, and illusion with reality. It's sothing our ancestors have mastered for thousands of years."
He pointed to a drone control terminal in the corner of the tent, with green signals flickering.
"We have this advantage; the battlefield is unilaterally transparent to us. As long as you fortify the periter and conduct anti-reconnaissance effectively, ensuring Az's spies can't discern fact from fiction, making him blind and deaf..."
As he spoke, he slamd his right hand heavily on Tetric's location on the map, making a dull 'thump'.
"Then, his thirty thousand soldiers aren't thirty thousand lethal blades, but thirty thousand sitting ducks in trenches, waiting to be beaten! Your artillery should be fierce and accurate in the dayti. Don't be stingy with ammo; what I need is montum. At night, occasionally conduct mock assaults, let them have nightmares in their sleep! Got it? I want psychological dominance, to intimidate them before the battle even begins!"
Jiang Feng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he spoke hoarsely:
"Old leader... I understand your intention. Taking risks in warfare, winning by surprise. But... isn't this risk a bit too much?"
He stepped forward, pointing at the vast area between Tetric and Bayji on the map.
"Six thousand against thirty thousand, the disparity in troop strength is too great. If... I an if, Az sees through our sche, or any of his commanders have the guts to send out a crack force for reconnaissance or even launch a probing counterattack, just breaking through this facade of ours could... lead to dire consequences! Those six thousand brothers might—"
He paused, struggling to say the rest:
"—might be bitten by the superior enemy force or even... be completely wiped out. By then, if we can't take Tetric, and things don't go well in Bayji either, we'll have lost everything!"
Jiang Feng's worries weren't out of cowardice but based on a cold analysis of reality.
Having followed Song Heping through nurous tough battles, he was well aware of the old leader's innate adventurous instincts.
While he never questioned past small-scale adventures, this ti, it was about the safety of the main force of the "Liberation Forces" and the future strategic direction, making him feel an intense sense of dread.
He stared closely at Song Heping, hoping to see a hint of hesitation or more detailed assurances.
Seeing this, Samir quickly chid in, his voice dry with tension:
"Yeah, Boss, Jiang is right. Az isn't a fool. For him to climb to the position of regional commander in the 1515 Ard, he must have his skills. Thirty thousand defending soldiers... this... the force is simply too many. With our six thousand n..."
Samir's concern had an extra layer.
These militian were his foundation.
If these six thousand faced a disastrous defeat at Tetric City, he would lose everything.
He leaned more towards a more cautious tactic rather than this gamble that risks everything.
He looked at Song Heping, his eyes filled with pleading, hoping he would change his mind.
Song Heping listened quietly to the two's doubts, not rebutting imdiately but instead straightening up, taking a water bottle from the table, unscrewing the cap, and drinking slowly, as if giving ti for his two aides to digest his plan, or perhaps organizing more compelling words.
Setting down the water bottle, his gaze grew sharp once again.
"You only see the thirty thousand on paper."
Song Heping's voice was as calm as ice, "But have you ever considered what state these thirty thousand are in now?"
He stopped looking at the map and instead stared into Jiang Feng and Samir's eyes, beginning to unravel layer by layer:
"First, psychological shadow. What's the record of 1515 against us? It's repeated defeats! Now, their fear of our combat strength has beco deeply ingrained! This fear cannot be offset by a simple nurical advantage. They are now like startled birds, overreacting to any slightest movent."
"Second, command structure. 1515's command system is rigid. I've investigated Az's background; Buckdadi placed him in Tetric City for a reason. His command style is 'cautious' or rather, 'conservative'! In a situation where he can't accurately assess our strengths and weaknesses, do you think he's more likely to take the risk to attack or to retreat into his self-assud sturdy shell, waiting to engage us in street fighting?"
"Third, defense focus. Prisoner confessions and our drone reconnaissance both confirm that their defensive focus is entirely on dealing with our 'predicted' frontal assault! Anti-tank ditches, minefields, snipers... all these are set for a 'familiar' siege defense. Their thinking is linear, expecting us to charge right in. And I least like performing according to the enemy's script."
"Fourth, and most important,"
Song Heping coldly stated, "The value of Bayji far exceeds a head-on clash with thirty thousand below Tetric City! Taking Bayji, we cut off 1515's critical financial and fuel supplies, seizing the strategic initiative! Using six thousand to distract thirty thousand, to gain a strategic opportunity to take Bayji, it's a bargain!"
He took a deep breath, his tone carrying decisive finality:
"Risk? Of course, there is! When is war without risk? But all risks are calculated! The key lies in execution! And whether you can give a good performance outside Tetric City!"
Song Heping's layer-by-layer analysis dispelled the doubts in Jiang Feng and Samir's hearts.
They had to admit that Song Heping's grasp of the psychological warfare, battlefield dynamics, and strategic courage far surpassed theirs.
Jiang Feng raised his hand, scratched his cheek, and gritted his teeth, "Alright! Risk it!"
Samir saw Jiang Feng's stance, looked at Song Heping's unquestionable gaze, knowing the plan was irrevocable.
Not wanting to be underestimated by Song Heping, he took a deep breath and straightened his back with effort:
"Yes! Boss! We will definitely... make Tetric's garrison think you're here personally commanding..."
Despite trying to show determination, his slightly trembling voice betrayed the unease that had not been completely dispelled within him.
"Don't be cowardly, Samir!"
Song Heping rcilessly pointed out to his old subordinate:
"It's not about relying on , you have to learn to rely on yourself! After being with for so long, show so progress! In the future, you're going to be in politics! That is the ultimate goal of taking such big risks and doing so many things! Understand? Damn! If you keep hesitating and fearing everything, how can you take charge if I leave Illiguo soday?! I'm not your boss! Just a friend! You could also consider a partner in your career! But don't see as your father, I have no obligation to hand-hold you every step of the way!"
"Yes! Yes..."
Samir quickly corrected himself, fine sweat beading on his brow, his face flushed bright red.
Song Heping had indeed touched a nerve.
Back when he joined "Musician" Defense, Song Heping ntored him with great care, always analyzing tactical ideas post-action, sharing experiences and insights, almost writing him a military textbook.
Yet all these years...
When Song Heping wasn't around, the force he raised in Northwest Illiguo was beaten like a dog without a ho.
When Song Heping returned to Illiguo for over a year, he directly reversed the entire northwest situation, elevating the once unknown "Liberation Forces" into the largest militia in the northwest, ranking among the top across all militias in Illiguo.
This kind of capability...
He hadn't even learned half of it until now...
Sha...
Damn sha...
Song Heping spoke no more, glancing at his wristwatch, decisively waving:
"Ti is tight, move imdiately! I'll take the first and second battalions, and head to Bayji right away. You stay here, handle the battlefield situation flexibly as per my plan!"
He offered no further explanation or encouragent, decisively turning to leave the command center.
The window of opportunity was extrely narrow, and he had to reach Bayji and take down that crucial oil city before the feint direction towards Tetric was uncovered.
The tent only had Jiang Feng, Samir, and the glaring white ergency lamp left, the light casting heavy, pressured expressions on their faces.
The weighty burden was now upon their shoulders.
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