Song Heping saw the look of concern on Ramas's face and knew his strategy had worked.
Ramas was undoubtedly greedy for money.
That's why he deliberately ntioned a reward. After all, Ramas had a share in the school's profits, so he couldn't possibly be indifferent.
"$2 million," Song Heping said, "I think the reward is quite good, so I just wanted to ask if you have a way to let their people enter the country. If the risk is too high, I think we should forget about it."
Now Song He was the one acting nonchalant.
Hearing the ntion of $2 million, a glint of greed flashed in Ramas's eyes.
"Actually... there might be a way..."
He stroked his chin, and with an air of resolution as if he had thought things through, he said, "The school is only just over thirty kiloters from the border. As long as you plan it right, I can ensure the border troops aren't at the patrol positions at the designated ti. You'll have at least two hours to cross."
Song Heping was cutting a large piece of roast in front of him with a knife, thrown a sizzling slice of at into his mouth and chewed, while shaking his head, "They also bring their own weapons and gear. I think it's too much trouble, let's drop it."
The atmosphere beca awkward.
Ramas had been left hanging with anticipation.
"Song, I think it's a godsend that our new school gets such an order before even opening. If these guys are trained well, I reckon the anti-governnt ard forces in Colombia, even their drug cartels, will co to you for training. It's like a live advertisent..."
"It won't work. The training of these people is secret, and they cannot reveal that they've been trained by us upon their return, so it basically won't serve as any sort of advertisent."
This ti, it was Song He who was refusing.
"Even if we train them to be very strong, only Morins and the fifty people participating in the training will know; no one else will find out."
"But... just the money from the ELN alone ans we can make quite a bit in the future, not to ntion they're our first arms clients, we can't just offend them, can we?"
"You can't say it like that," Song Heping continued to refuse, "These people are rebels; their entry is illegal. If their identities are discovered inside the country, it could beco an international incident..."
"The school's location is just over thirty kiloters from the border and more than twenty kiloters from the nearest town. It's all jungle around there. As long as you train without leaving that region and don't show off in the big cities, who will discover it?"
"I still think the risk is too high..."
"..."
In the end, Ramas suddenly realized that he had the feeling of falling into a trap.
He stopped talking abruptly, staring at Song Heping, who was enjoying his al with relish, for quite a while, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"People say you China People are smart, but now I realize it's not just a legend. Song, did you deliberately lead into this trap?"
Song Heping, seeing his goal achieved, didn't beat around the bush. He picked up his glass of wine, raised it, and said, "General, here's to our wealth pouring in, cheers!"
Ramas wasn't annoyed; he lifted his glass to et Song's, "To making money together, cheers!"
...
Three days later, at the Colombia-Venezuela border.
Two patrol boats cruised over the river.
The spray cut through the river channel in the dark night, racing from north to south.
At the bow, a lieutenant from the border troops checked his watch.
It was already 8:50 p.m.
He picked up the walkie-talkie and started calling, "All patrol units, imdiately dock at the small pier near San Jose; I will be waiting for you there."
"Captain, why aren't we patrolling the entire line tonight?"
The deputy captain of the boat behind asked.
"It's an order from the higher-ups; they want us to perform a two-hour coordinated patrol near San Jose Town and then we can change shifts."
"Ah... understood."
After traveling two kiloters, the two patrol boats docked at the river pier near San Jose Town. A dozen border patrol officers disembarked with their equipnt, leaving just one person on duty to guard each speedboat. They quickly disappeared into the night.
9 p.m.
Three kiloters downstream from the docks of San Jose Town, on the Colombia side of the border.
Dozens of shadows appeared on the riverside.
On the opposite bank within Venezuela, a small red light suddenly flickered, blinking three tis.
ELN Captain Anthony quickly took out an infrared signaling device and pressed it three tis towards the Venezuelan side of the river.
Then, the light on the opposite bank stayed on for two long flashes.
According to the prearranged signal, this ant it was safe to cross the river at that ti.
Anthony urged his subordinates, "Move quickly, five people to a dinghy. Make the crossing at top speed. The patrol on the Venezuela side won't show up tonight, and the patrol here just changed shifts. We have half an hour!"
The backbone officers of the ELN carried the rubber dinghies into the waters, and everyone, dressed in broad-leaf camouflage, quickly crossed the river, which was just over thirty ters wide, under the cover of night.
After landing in Venezuela, a shadow appeared in front of Anthony.
"Captain Anthony?"
"That's !"
"I'm the man sent by Boss Song to et you. Follow ."
After speaking, the shadow led the way straight ahead.
They were surrounded by complete silence, with only the chirping of insects.
The dozens of shadows, carrying the rubber dinghies, ran along the trail, each able to hear their own breath.
All of them were command backbones chosen by the ELN, so they were in great physical condition: five n carrying a small rubber dinghy, they ran several hundred ters until suddenly the path opened up, and a dirt road appeared before the group.
Three trucks were parked beside the dirt road, and the guide waved at Anthony, "Get on! Deflate the dinghies and stash them in the third truck!"
Everyone got busy again, and the deflated rubber dinghies were quickly stowed away. Soon, they were all packed into the trucks, and the rest of the n boarded the remaining two trucks under Anthony's command.
The drivers didn't use their lights, presumably equipped with night vision, and the trucks drove off towards the east with a muffled engine sound.
The fifty core ard mbers of the ELN inside the truck held their hearts in their throats, each gripping their own guns and chambering the bullets.
This ti, they said they were going to a private military school in Venezuela for two months of intensive military training, primarily focusing on jungle combat and command.
To these backbone mbers, the decision of their leader, Morins, to do so seed sowhat comical.
Venezuela?
Was their jungle warfare level really higher than ours?
The Colombian anti-governnt ard forces had existed for decades and had been fighting for just as long. When it ca to combat experience, who would dare to compare with their organization?
But since it was an order from the leader, they had no choice but to comply and could only start complaining in low voices at this ti.
"To hell with it, we're actually going to Venezuela to learn jungle warfare!"
"I wonder who our instructor will be? Is he fit to teach us!?"
"Exactly, we've all been rolling in the jungle for so many years, do we still need soone else teaching us how to fight in the jungle?"
"I heard it's China People who will be the instructors, probably Special Forces."
"China People? Jesus! Are China's Special Forces that impressive? How many years has it been since they fought any wars?"
"Guys, let's not argue now. Let's wait and see what happens. Once we get there and see what those Chinese soldiers can do, if it's Boy Scouts playing god, we'll give them a good ti and then go back together!"
"Agreed! That's the plan!"
"Right, we know the jungle. We'll make those Chinese instructors pay!"
The discontent flooded the carriage.
User Comments
0 comments from readers