As Luo Zheng rushed out of the command post, he happened to see Hook and Samba coming over. The feathers on Samba's head looked strikingly beautiful under the sunlight. Luo Zheng was in a heavy mood and had no ti to look more; he quickly went up, pulled Hook aside, briefly laid out the situation in a low voice, then added, "Take half your people with , the rest stay behind on security. Bring plenty of grenades. Also, assign so reliable n to help carry spare missiles. You've got half an hour to get ready."
"No problem, I'm going with you." Hook agreed without hesitation. At this mont, Samba beside him asked sothing in the local tongue, and Hook explained a few sentences to him. After chatting with Samba for a while, he looked at Luo Zheng and said seriously, "They want to go too. What do you think?"
"They went on a night raid last night and haven't rested. Their strength and stamina can't keep up. It's not suitable to take them along. And this ti it's an assault, not a sneak attack. They use cold weapons, it's too dangerous." Luo Zheng declined tactfully.
"I already told him that. He says his people have rested for three hours, that's enough. He insists on going. Worst case, let them stay here, I'll explain it to him." Hook said helplessly.
"Wait." Inspiration suddenly flashed through Luo Zheng's mind, a plan taking shape. He thought it through carefully and felt his idea was workable, then said to the curious Hook, "Let them co, but bring entrenching tools."
"Uh? For what?" Hook asked in surprise.
"You'll know when the ti cos." Luo Zheng said with a smile, motioned for Hook to quickly talk with Samba, then turned on his signal unit and asked through the earpiece, "Mountain Eagle, Xue Er, get over to the command post entrance."
"On our way." The two voices ca through the earpiece.
In a mont, Lan Xue and Mountain Eagle ca hurrying over from the direction of the ss hall, looking at Luo Zheng in surprise. Luo Zheng quickly laid out the situation and added, "Notify your people to get ready for combat, bring Dragon Tooth Blades as backup. Xue Er, contact Wei Jian at once and have him bring ten n over to help. They must be here within half an hour."
"Got it." Lan Xue agreed readily. When Mountain Eagle heard they were to bring Dragon Tooth Blades, he knew the coming fight would be extrely fierce—those blades were never used in ordinary engagents. His expression hardened; he answered quickly, turned, and left to make preparations.
Everyone moved into action. Luo Zheng went back to his room and dressed out fully, carefully wiped down his Dragon Tooth Blade and strapped it to his back. In his pack, aside from ammo there was only dical gear; things like sleeping bags were unnecessary, so he took them out and set them aside. Then he gave his Type 88 sniper rifle a thorough maintenance and oiled it.
Half an hour later, Wei Jian arrived at a run with his n to report in. Luo Zheng quickly explained the situation. Wei Jian accepted with excitent and went to assemble on the small square outside the command post. Luo Zheng took all his gear, left his room, and hurried to the small square, where he found everyone fully ard and already ford up.
Three blocks were standing on the square. One was his own brothers, with Lan Xue at the head and Mountain Eagle and Wei Jian standing in front of the ranks; one was Hook's, and the other was Samba's. Everyone turned to look at Luo Zheng. Luo Zheng ca to the front of the formation, swept his gaze over them, and said in a deep voice, "The enemy has ford a defensive line and is ignoring our provocations. There's definitely a plot in there. We're going to smoke out their sche. This battle will be extrely dangerous. Get yourselves ready—move out."
"Yes, sir." His brothers shouted in unison. Hook translated Luo Zheng's words, and his troops started roaring as well.
"Mountain Eagle, you take the lead elent. Wei Jian, your people in the center. Hook's n third in line, Samba's n fourth. Move out." Luo Zheng said coolly.
Mountain Eagle quickly took his n and rushed forward. Hook translated for Samba. Samba agreed; he didn't really understand why they had to march in this order but was very cooperative. Luo Zheng stayed in the middle, Lan Xue close by his side. Hook brought Samba up and fell in with Luo Zheng. The column trotted forward and soon charged out of the valley.
While the unit was on a forced march, Luo Zheng maintained contact with Mountain Eagle in the lead while observing the terrain, occasionally chatting a few words with the others. Unknowingly, an hour passed, and the unit entered a gorge. On the far side of the gorge lay a stretch of forest, and about two kiloters beyond the forest was the hill they were going to attack.
The gorge was about sixty ters wide, but the cliffs were steep. The ground was covered in scrub, the rock faces thick with small trees, jagged rocks everywhere, hard to climb, about two hundred ters high. It was a treacherous pass, a perfect place for an ambush. Luo Zheng had already noticed this gorge on the sand table, but seeing it in person he found it even more precipitous than he'd imagined.
"Column halt. Disperse and take cover." Luo Zheng barked in a deep voice. He saw a small river running along one side of the gorge and his eyes lit up; his heart settled, and he gained complete confidence in his plan.
"What? You want to ambush the enemy here?" Wei Jian asked quietly in surprise.
"Why not?" Luo Zheng shot back.
"The terrain here is dangerous. If we hide on top of the gorge it would indeed be advantageous for an ambush. But the enemy isn't stupid. They have Single Soldier Radar—once they co through they'll spot our positions. They won't walk into it." Wei Jian reminded him.
Luo Zheng looked at Hook. Wei Jian was using the international common language, so Hook understood as well. Hook glanced suspiciously at the surrounding terrain and said in a low voice, "The terrain here is good, a fine place for an ambush. But just like Wei Jian said, we can't hide. How are we supposed to pull off this ambush?"
"You're wrong—there is a way." Luo Zheng's face turned serious. He pointed toward the river below and said coldly, "Use water and loose soil to make mud. Have all of Samba's people roll in the mud so they're covered in it. That'll give them so protection against infrared thermal imaging. Then dig foxholes on both sides of the cliff and hide in them. With this double layer of protection, even the enemy's radar won't be able to find our ambush. Once the enemy pushes in, Samba's n can cut them down with bows and arrows."
"Mud can give so protection against infrared thermal imaging?" Hook was stunned. Seeing Luo Zheng nod firmly, he imdiately grew ecstatic, rubbing his hands in excitent and laughing, "If this works, we won't have to worry about infrared thermal imaging anymore. That's great. I'll tell him right away. But he's got about three hundred n, all with cold weapons—is that enough? Should I assign so of my n to support them?"
"It won't be a big problem. I'll make other arrangents. Have them start imdiately. You've seen how foxholes are dug and how to camouflage the top—explain it to them clearly." Luo Zheng instructed.
"No problem." Hook agreed readily and went to give Samba detailed instructions.
The more Samba listened, the more excited he beca, nodding repeatedly. Once Hook finished, Samba moved his n into action. So started digging and mixing mud, others went to dig foxholes. Under sharp entrenching tools, the loose soil was like tofu, and the foxholes were quickly finished. Everyone gathered nearby vegetation to weave simple covers, then scattered the excavated soil into the surrounding scrub and hid it, to avoid the enemy noticing anything.
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