Chapter 183: All Cards On The Table, Final Showdown!
Steel Seventh Company, under Chen Jun’s outstanding command, perfectly took down its first direct confrontation with Old A.
In the time from then until nightfall, Chen Jun worried that Old A would come out to cause trouble again, so he deliberately slowed the marching speed and strengthened vigilance once more.
He also took advantage of the killed Seventh Company warriors returning to arrange a living warrior to mix in among them.
Chen Jun knew that even if Old A hadn’t launched an attack, there were definitely people monitoring nearby at all times, collecting all information on Steel Seventh Company’s every move.
Steel Seventh Company still had more than forty people, making it impossible to move completely silently and avoid all Blue Army’s long-range surveillance.
However, the previous battle had been so intense, with the Blue Army being very passive from start to finish, and their escape so hasty, so the surveillance intensity was definitely at its weakest.
So Chen Jun seized this opportunity for a clever fish-eye mixing with pearls ploy.
He mixed a warrior in among the “corpses” to return together, then had this warrior bring intelligence and suggestions back, to be handed over to Regiment Commander Wang at Regiment Headquarters.
This avoided sending someone alone back, which might arouse Old A’s suspicion.
The Blue Army Old A responsible for surveilling Steel Seventh Company were not members of the two squads led by Qi Huan, but had tracked them all the way from the battle line.
They were the ones who first discovered Steel Seventh Company, then reported to Yuan Lang.
When Chen Jun arranged for the corpses to return along the original route, it coincided exactly with Qi Huan and his group fleeing in panic, with no time for a post-battle summary.
This timing was chosen very well.
The two surveilling Old A really didn’t notice anything unusual, thinking that seven Red Army soldiers had truly been eliminated in the previous battle, so they didn’t specially report it.
After all, the corpses not being “captured” by the enemy and returning on their own was a very normal procedure.
Qi Huan’s side didn’t receive any report from the surveilling Old A, and having lost the direct confrontation to the Red Army, he couldn’t accept it in terms of face or mentality.
Right now, his mind was full of thoughts on how to get revenge at night, completely ignoring such details.
So Chen Jun’s fish-eye mixing with pearls ploy was executed very perfectly.
In the next more than an hour, Chen Jun led the team forward less than two kilometers, which could be called advancing step by step with steady and solid progress.
Old A had suffered a loss in the previous battle and feared the sniper expert in the Red Army.
They didn’t appear again!
Time reached six in the afternoon.
The sunset was about to drop below the mountaintop, with only the last rays of light remaining on the horizon.
The Steel Seventh Company warrior who had mixed in with the corpses returned to the Seventh Battalion Camp and immediately found Company Commander Gao Cheng, reporting that Chen Jun had a message for the Regiment Commander.
And stating it was very urgent.
Must be done as soon as possible.
Gao Cheng had been back from the Regiment for a long time by then, personally driving to all three battalions to explain the new plan arranged by the Regiment.
He assisted in directing the severely depleted command officers—now only the lone remaining First Battalion and Third Battalion Headquarters, plus the only fully manned Second Battalion Headquarters—in breaking up and dispersing for battalion headquarters operations, submerging into company headquarters deployment work.
Upon hearing the warrior report that Chen Jun had important matters to relay, he immediately personally took him to Regiment Headquarters.
The atmosphere at Regiment Headquarters at this time was extremely high-pressure; the Old A personally led by Yuan Lang infiltrating were simply omnipresent, bringing enormous pressure.
They not only continuously transmitted intelligence back to guide helicopters for precision strikes.
Yuan Lang even had Old A personally take action, arranging elusive Old A teams to attack the already very weak supply lines.
This caused Seventh Zero Two Regiment’s supply line to now be almost completely stalled.
Now, aside from the scattered fuel trucks and supply transport vehicles that had already been delivered to company camps, protected by armored vehicles and tanks.
The only ones still operational were on Old Ma’s side.
Only the three oil tankers and fuel trucks driven by Old Ma and his group, now still hiding everywhere, could serve as the Red Army’s last “energy” for counterattack.
If this last energy was gone, the Red Army would completely lose hope of counterattacking.
And now the Blue Army troops infiltrating were frantically searching everywhere for Old Ma’s convoy; every extra minute increased the danger of being found by one minute.
So the entire Regiment Command Post under Regiment Commander Wang’s command had been waiting for news of the Blue Army Command Post from Steel Seventh Company.
The earlier the news, the earlier the counterattack, the lower the risk.
It formed a closed loop!
Hearing it was a message brought by a warrior sent by Chen Jun, Regiment Commander Wang, already expressionless from the pressure, immediately had the guard bring the person in.
“Report to Regiment Commander Comrade, our Deputy Company Commander asked me to bring you a message…”
The warrior entered, saluted, and said loudly: “Our Deputy Company Commander asked me to relay to you that he suspects the Blue Army Command Post is located beyond the range of our artillery.
With the Artillery Company’s current deployment position, it may not be able to strike it.
He suggests you immediately integrate an Artillery Company, follow the route probed by Steel Seventh Company deep into the Blue Army hinterland, and move our heavy artillery as far forward as possible.
To cooperate with this heavy artillery forward movement action without being discovered by Blue Army infantry deployed on the frontline.
Our Deputy Company Commander also suggests that before the action, you must have the Red Army infantry launch a comprehensive major offensive to attract and pin down all frontline Blue Army.
That is, have the four companies of Second Battalion guarding the position all come down from the highland to charge the Blue Army.”
As soon as the Steel Seventh Company warrior finished relaying Chen Jun’s plan, it immediately elicited exclamations throughout Regiment Headquarters; everyone was shocked by Chen Jun’s approach.
Heavy artillery units have fierce firepower but poor defense, requiring sufficient protection.
So in any form of combat, heavy artillery units are set up in concealed positions in the rear to prevent enemy attacks.
This is the most basic military deployment common sense.
But now?
Chen Jun actually wanted to reverse it.
Have the heavy artillery units, which basically lack self-defense capability and need protection to exert combat effectiveness, go against the norm and charge at the very front.
And even deep into the Blue Army hinterland, doing work that only scouts would do.
If there was even the slightest mishap, once discovered by Blue Army troops, the losses would be absolutely huge; the entire Artillery Company would be wiped out for nothing.
Not to mention the subsequent comprehensive major infantry offensive, entering the jungle for combat where the Blue Army excelled.
In everyone’s view.
This simply didn’t conform to normal logic; only a madman could come up with such an idea.
Too crazy, too aggressive.
The previous battle had already provided a painful lesson: Ninth Company and Tenth Company together, with a force of one and a half companies, were reduced by nearly half in less than ten minutes in the jungle.
Now the four Red Army companies guarding the position were called four companies, but actual troop strength was less than two companies.
Under Blue Army ground forces and helicopter strikes, the four armored infantry companies originally nearly four hundred strong were now left with just over one hundred sixty.
If these people all charged into the forest and encountered a Blue Army ambush.
How many could come back?
If the Red Army lost armored infantry, they couldn’t even control the position, couldn’t hold the frontline, then the confrontation would just be waiting to lose?
All the previous work wasted in the end?
This they couldn’t accept!
Precisely because the risks were too high, and a slight mistake would waste all previous efforts, even though Chen Jun had great influence, it still aroused strong opposition from everyone.
“Artillery Company forward movement, and deep into Blue Army hinterland, risk too high, I think it’s inappropriate.”
“Yeah, we don’t have confirmed intel yet, Blue Army Command Post location uncertain? Wait until confirmed, if really beyond artillery range, then decide, not too late.”
“Infantry companies have suffered heavy losses, four full companies can’t even make up two now, having them leave the position is like sending sheep into the tiger’s mouth? Absolutely not.”
“Fighting does require boldness, but not to the point of no bounds, this is really too aggressive.”
…
The regiment staff officers chimed in one after another, discussing very intensely, with the overall tendency being opposition, not wanting to fight so aggressively.
The shadow cast by the Blue Army had already made them fearful.
Once fearful, people become timid and hesitant.
Even the Chief of Staff, who had always supported Chen Jun and valued him highly, didn’t speak up at this time.
Not that the Chief of Staff didn’t support Chen Jun; purely because the two suggestions Chen Jun proposed really somewhat violated conventional tactics, clashing too much with his cognition.
Even if he believed Chen Jun had his reasons, he just couldn’t get past that mental hurdle.
So he chose to remain neutral!
Only Gao Cheng, as Chen Jun’s direct superior, continued his unwavering strong support for Chen Jun.
In this one-sided situation, Gao Cheng still stood up firmly and said: “Afraid of this, afraid of that, then why the hell fight? Go back to growing sweet potatoes.
I’ll put it here: to win, we must follow Chen Jun’s way; anything else is bullshit.
Whoever thinks I’m wrong and wants to stand up against it, then stand up, come up with a better idea? Don’t just talk empty words all day.”
Gao Cheng really was straightforward and outspoken, truly treating Chen Jun as a brother.
With merely the identity of a small company commander, daring to publicly confront a group of regiment staff officers in the regiment command center—probably only he in the whole regiment.
The funniest part was…
The entire group of staff officers from the Regiment Staff Department, confronted by this small company commander Gao Cheng, aside from being furious with red faces and thick necks, could do nothing else.
First, although they all opposed Chen Jun’s suggestion, one by one, none could come up with a better combat plan.
Second, everyone knew Gao Cheng’s background; no one was foolish enough to really fall out with him face-to-face.
Not to mention the Regiment Commander relationship.
Gao Cheng’s father they couldn’t handle even more.
And the Regiment Headquarters, originally noisy and chaotic, because Gao Cheng stood up and berated everyone into silence, suddenly quieted down again.
Everyone’s gazes had no choice but to focus, all concentrating on Regiment Commander Wang.
The final decision was ultimately his to make.
“The confrontation exercise has gone on to now; how strong the Blue Army is, how despicable their playing style, no need for me to say more, you all know clearly; who we’ve relied on to fight to this point, you know even better.”
Regiment Commander Wang paused here, his calm gaze sweeping over everyone present.
Those whose eyes met his all felt guilty and lowered their heads.
As members of the Regiment Staff Department, they should have been actively planning to relieve the Regiment Commander’s worries, but they were completely unadapted to the Blue Army’s unconventional playing style; in the confrontation so far, they had almost zero contribution.
Having made no merit themselves, yet standing up to oppose the greatest meritorious official.
If they had any self-awareness, how could they not feel guilty.
Regiment Commander Wang easily silenced all opposing voices with just a few words.
Then he continued: “How to fight the Blue Army, Deputy Company Commander Chen has already shown each of you with his strength, and proven himself.
Now at the most critical moment, victory or defeat between both sides is in an instant; do we have reason to oppose? Huh?”
Long silence!
No one dared to refute!
After waiting over ten seconds, Regiment Commander Wang took a moment to light a cigarette and take a puff, staring at the sand table, and calmly but firmly ordered: “Pass my order, contact the surviving oil tankers and fuel trucks, deliver all fuel to Eleventh Company.
Notify Eleventh Company to be fully prepared for departure before seven ten, depart on time at seven fifteen.
Notify the four companies guarding the position to launch a comprehensive offensive against the Blue Army at seven o’clock, abandon the position, all enter the Blue Army war zone.
…”
With Regiment Commander Wang’s orders issued one by one, the final decisive battle finally unveiled its curtain.
The Red Army side had gone all out, using the most adventurous and only most effective method, going all-in to gamble the final round.
The Blue Army side was also forced into a very passive position, having to use all their trump cards.
Not only did Yuan Lang’s Third Company go all out, all engaged in combat with Red Army troops, without even one soldier idle.
The Army Aviation Brigade side was also at full capacity.
Aside from leaving two attack helicopters as the final trump card to end the Red Army Command Post, all other attack helicopters operated at full load.
All using every method to head to the Red Army position, to eliminate as much living force as possible.
Even when time reached seven thirty.
The transport helicopters that had never been used were forced to personally join the fray, sending an entire small team to the combat zone.
And this Old A team deployed at the Army Aviation Brigade Camp, responsible for protecting the Army Aviation Camp, was already the Blue Army’s last ground force.
Originally, this Old A team was also a Blue Army trump card.
Though the Army Aviation Camp appeared defensively lax, this was actually another Blue Army ploy, using a loose on the outside but tight inside deception tactic.
To make attackers think the Army Aviation Camp had no combat power, thus relaxing vigilance.
Back then, if not for Shi Jin holding firm, persisting with “no rabbit no hawk,” listening to Wu Liu Yi and their suggestions to send people inside the camp for reconnaissance.
The current situation between both sides would probably be a completely different picture.
And when Wu Liu Yi and Cheng Cai were surveilling outside and personally saw thirty Old A appear on the heliport, boarding two helicopters flying toward the combat zone.
Even without being discovered by Old A, Wu Liu Yi’s back was completely soaked in cold sweat.
If they had gone in for reconnaissance…
They would definitely run into these thirty Old A, then be easily instantly killed by them.
Without the Reconnaissance Squad providing Blue Army Command Post coordinates, Chen Jun’s side no matter how much they turned the sky upside down, the final outcome would only be defeat.
One misstep becomes eternal regret.
Who wouldn’t break out in cold sweat seeing it.
Shi Jin also saw the two transport helicopters fully loaded with Blue Army troops heading straight to the frontline, knowing the frontline pressure would definitely be greater, possibly a crisis.
He felt the pressure on his shoulders heavier, time even more urgent.
Fortunately, Shi Jin’s character was steady enough, plus having been in the troops for so many years, his mentality firm enough, he didn’t panic.
He still firmly executed his own thinking, waiting for the most critical figure to appear.
And the reason the Blue Army brought out their last ground forces, the hidden final trump card, sending them to the frontline at fastest speed by helicopter.
Was because at seven thirty, the Red Army suddenly launched a comprehensive major offensive.
Tie Lu was caught completely off guard!
He never imagined the Red Army, beaten so badly, their courage broken early on, all turned into turtles, would dare attack the Blue Army at this time.
Such boldness, Tie Lu truly hadn’t expected.
It was precisely this sudden, unpredictable weird move by the Red Army that forced Tie Lu to order all final trump cards brought out.
The Red Army Command Post didn’t know the frontline situation, but Blue Army Commander-in-Chief Tie Lu knew clearly.
Now the Blue Army frontline had almost no ground troops, merely three reconnaissance teams there, totaling only six Old A.
The remaining Old A had all been taken by Yuan Lang and Qi Huan, and were executing major tasks, unable to be mobilized further.
Though Old A’s personal strength was very strong, using six Old A to hold off one hundred sixty or seventy Red Army warriors was simply unrealistic.
And allowing Red Army warriors to charge wildly like this, upon learning the Blue Army frontline had no defensive troops.
The Red Army commander wasn’t a fool.
Once the Red Army commander realized, no longer worrying about the position being retaken, he would definitely transfer all infantry back to clear out the infiltrating Yuan Lang and group.
Yuan Lang’s group wasn’t large; once facing large-scale annihilation, no matter how strong, it would be tough.
The Red Army rear had no artillery strike blind spots; various big guns blasting down.
Even if Old A could escape back, the mission definitely couldn’t be completed.
The Blue Army unable to find the Red Army Command Post would similarly have no way to win the exercise victory, and every extra day dragged would be more disadvantageous to the Blue Army.
Blue Army’s good equipment and high technology was an advantage, small numbers an unchangeable disadvantage.
Blue Army couldn’t afford to drag!
Precisely realizing this huge crisis, absolutely couldn’t expose Blue Army frontline unmanned defense, Tie Lu was forced to play his last card.
And Tie Lu, caught off guard, also didn’t expect the Red Army comprehensive major offensive to be merely a guise.
The real intention was to attract all Blue Army, providing cover for the subsequent Artillery Company to go against the flow, becoming the vanguard unit deep into Blue Army hinterland.
So the three Old A groups responsible for surveilling on the frontline, upon seeing the Red Army on the position all like madmen, firing flares and howling into the forest.
They were all momentarily stunned, completely led into the Red Army’s rhythm.
Couldn’t attend to anything else.
Could only hurriedly retreat backward while immediately reporting the situation.
By the time the Red Army had charged forward fifteen minutes, all Blue Army Old A observation groups had been driven far away, Blue Army reinforcements still on the way.
The Artillery Company 11, long since fueled and ammunitioned up under Old Ma’s oil tanker support.
Under the Steel Seventh Company warrior arranged back by Chen Jun personally leading the way in front, taking advantage of the infantry comprehensive offensive cover, crossed the battle line in the darkness at night, beginning to converge on Chen Jun’s position.
Artillery Company 11’s 152mm self-propelled howitzers, equipped with armored chassis vehicle-mounted night vision.
At night, no need for headlights, could still drive normally.
And as the Artillery Company ventured deep alone into Blue Army hinterland, all armored infantry poured out in offense, Blue Army reinforcements already en route.
Seventh Zero Two Regiment’s current situation was placing itself in a dead end, only seeking that share of victory.
If in the next two hours.
At most two hours.
Couldn’t end this battle, once Blue Army reinforcement troops arrived at frontline to wipe out Red Army infantry, Red Army’s outcome would only be waiting to lose.
