After arranging for Ferrari to buy the mortars, Song Heping calculated the current staff composition of his defense company.
When he first recruited local rcenaries, he had already laid the groundwork and prepared to recruit fifteen forr governnt soldiers proficient in mortars.
A mortar team requires at least five people, which is the minimum configuration.
One of the mortar n is responsible for calculating and adjusting the firing angle, the second for the tripod and loading, the third for the baseplate and digging, and the remaining two, four and five, take charge of the fuzes and carrying ammunition, to provide small-scale fire coverage.
Three 120mm mortars could achieve a platoon-level firepower strength, which, for the ti being, was sufficient.
Once Ferrari had secured the mortars, Song Heping had him transport them to Hassan Oil Field as quickly as possible; they should arrive by tomorrow at the latest.
120mm mortars typically have a range of around 7-8 kiloters, which should at least be able to counter the enemy's Katyusha rockets.
Without artillery support, he and his n could only take hits without returning fire.
Firepower is justice, range is truth.
The old sayings couldn't be wrong.
After dealing with the artillery issue, Song Heping looked over the vast empty plain and still couldn't co up with any way to cope with the potential ard attacks that might co in the future.
Defending in such a place was truly vexing.
The more he thought about it, the more agitated he beca, spacing out for a while with the satellite phone in hand before deciding to dial an overseas number.
It was a dostic number.
It belonged to an old squad leader from Song Heping's earlier years.
The squad leader had been quite unlucky in life.
Originally an excellent special operations soldier, especially brilliant in tactics, he led his small team through various simulation exercises with remarkable skill and was Song Heping's ntor in tactical matters.
He was about to be promoted, but unfortunately, during one exercise, a parachute malfunction led to an entanglent. Although he managed to release the main parachute and deploy the reserve, he still suffered a spinal injury from the fall and now relied on a wheelchair.
"Hello? Who is this?"
A familiar voice ca from the other end of the phone.
"Squad leader, it's Song Heping."
Song Heping was a bit excited to hear the squad leader's voice.
As robust as ever.
"Heping?! How is it you, kid! You haven't called for nearly half a year, and when I tried calling you, it was your brother who answered. He said you went to Illiguo to do business?"
"Yeah, I'm in Illiguo."
"You must have made a fortune! Otherwise, soone as thrifty as you wouldn't call overseas!"
The squad leader teased Song Heping, aware of his family background.
Back when Song Heping was in the military, he used to send his entire stipend and salary to his younger brother and sister, keeping only two hundred yuan for himself each month.
"It's alright." Song Heping said, "Squad leader, how's your health now?"
"Not bad. I'm in rehabilitation training. I can stand up now," the squad leader replied. "But walking is very difficult. Rember how I could run ten kiloters cross-country with a cigarette in my mouth? Now...
haha... I need soone to support even for a few steps..."
There was a tinge of sadness in his self-deprecating laughter.
"You'll get better, squad leader," Song Heping said. "I believe in your perseverance."
"I believe in myself, too. I'm not old. I'm thinking once I can walk, I'll open a military-thed training camp, focusing on sumr camp training programs and tactical training for military enthusiasts. You know my tactical command is my strongest skill..."
"Of course, I know. Back then, our team leader would pull you in as a consultant when making combat plans." Seeing that the conversation was progressing well, Song Heping quickly brought up his issue: "Squad leader, have you still been studying military theory and tactics all these years?"
"Of course, it's my hobby," the squad leader said. "A lifelong hobby... unlike you. When you were selected for special training, you were the best in your class, rumored to be a naturally gifted soldier. So why did you suddenly choose to leave, and even processed your discharge so quickly? If I had still been in the force, I would have given you a good thrashing!"
Song Heping said helplessly, "That year, I had no other choice. You know the situation with my family, my mom passed away early, and it was just my dad left. The year I was selected for the special training, my dad also passed away... I had no other choice..."
"Oh..." Lao Zhangban suddenly realized, "You never told about this before..."
"It's nothing worth ntioning, everyone has their own fate." Song Heping didn't want to continue talking about himself, so he changed the subject, "Lao Zhangban, let test you. If you were given the task to defend an oil field on a vast plain, which has no natural defenses, and the enemy had the advantage in troop strength, how would you defend it?"
"Well..."
On the other side, Lao Zhangban seed to be thinking.
But he quickly ca up with an answer.
"Attack is the best form of defense, since there is nothing to defend naturally, then simply don't defend. Your enemy has stronger forces, so it's not a good idea to hold your position. Rather, you should take the initiative to launch surprise attacks, conduct small-scale special operations to keep the enemy too busy to focus on attacking your defensive position."
"Take the initiative to strike?" Song Heping seed to have an epiphany.
"What if there are more than one enemy forces near my position, all wanting to attack ?"
"Well..."
Lao Zhangban entered thinking mode again.
But it didn't take him long to respond.
"Then it depends on whether the various ard groups near you are united. Are they all on the sa side?"
Song Heping said, "No."
"Isn't that simple then?" said Lao Zhangban, "Do you still rember the 'Death Elimination' drill we conducted back in the jungles of the northwest that year?"
Lao Zhangban's words struck Song Heping like a bolt of lightning, splitting open his mind.
Right...
The 'Death Elimination' training that year...
"Thank you, Lao Zhangban!"
A light bulb went off in Song Heping's head.
But Lao Zhangban was puzzled, "Heping, why are you suddenly asking this?"
Song Heping hurriedly joked, "Haha, nothing, I was just bored during the lunch break and wanted to test you with a question. I didn't expect Lao Zhangban to still be sharp as ever."
Lao Zhangban said, "Heping, you're not being straightforward."
Song Heping's face felt a bit warm, and he quickly said, "Right, Lao Zhangban, didn't you just ntion that you want to start a military training camp? I think it's a good business opportunity. Can I invest in it?"
"Sure!" Lao Zhangban beca excited as well, "I've been worried about the lack of capital, even thinking of asking in the veterans' group chat if anyone would like to be a shareholder! How much are you investing?"
"How much do you need?"
"Around 500,000, for the training ground, the equipnt, and the personnel. However, I've got 100,000 in disability compensation. How about you also invest 100,000 to give it a try?"
"I'll cover the remaining 400,000."
Song Heping was now quite well-off.
400,000, which is about 50,000 US Dollars.
If it were half a month earlier, Song Heping would not have dared to be so bold.
But now to him, it was just a trifle!
"Really?!"
Lao Zhangban's voice carried an almost incredulous surprise.
"Of course it's true!" Song Heping said, "Send a ssage with your account details. I'll have soone transfer the money back to you. Consider it my share in the investnt!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers