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"Thank you for your trouble." Kaineng nodded in gratitude.
"let's start."
"Yes, sir! All men, board!" With Lei Ming's command, 12 armored soldiers swiftly climbed into three completely different armored vehicles. A deep engine roared, and gray-black smoke billowed from the exhaust pipes at the rear of the vehicles, propelling them forward. This so-called armored test unit was actually a temporary formation drawn from the 1st Platoon of the 1st Company. Although the soldiers of the 1st Platoon hadn't touched such old vehicles in a long time, fortunately, Lu Wu had given them an hour to prepare, allowing them to rediscover the feeling of fighting the Germans.
The 7th Brigade's firing range began renovations the day they received the invitation from the Erdogan. It has now been transformed into an obstacle course, modeled after the Russian "Tank Biathlon" competition, encompassing serpentine turns, shallow waters, minefields, steep slopes, and firing areas for machine guns and main guns. Completing a lap of this course will provide a basic demonstration of the tanks' performance.
Of course, he wasn't organizing a competition; his goal was to promote his products. So, the four cars didn't run laps together; instead, one car finished before the next. The entire process wasn't scored, so there were no classic jokes like "Russia first, competition second, friendship third" where hitting the target with an anti-aircraft machine gun resulted in a three-lap penalty, or missing the target three times meant winning first place.
In this non-scoring Tank Biathlon competition, the first to appear was the BT-7 fast tank, which was strongly supported by Shiragi.
"Lieutenant General Lu, this BT-7 seems a bit different from the picture on the list." Setting down his binoculars, Shiragi couldn't help but ask. The BT-7A/F-32 tank, having quickly navigated the serpentine bend without hitting any wooden poles, had entered its main gun firing position. Shiragi noticed that compared to the BT-7 in the picture, this tank not only had a different turret with an additional machine gun mounted on the top cover, but its main gun was also significantly thicker.
At this moment, the crew members inside the BT-7A/F-32 opened the hatch and ran off the vehicle. They relayed the three types of shells placed on the firing position into the vehicle, then got back on, turned the turret, and with a roar of the cannon, a target 800 meters away shattered, white debris flying everywhere.
"This is an experimental model of our BT-7, equipped with a 76mm main gun. It is also the only BT series tank we have," Lu Wu explained. "Although the turret and weapons have been changed, the mobility is almost the same."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the BT-7, having already destroyed all the main gun targets with its main gun, moved to a new firing position. This time, Commander Lei Ming opened the turret hatch and operated the commander's machine gun, firing several short bursts at the infantry target 300 meters away. Kaineng raised his binoculars—all hits, not a single miss.
Volume 1: Chapter 30, Section 29: Tank Biathlon (Part 2)
After completing the anti-aircraft machine gun firing, this old relic, which lacked even two-way stabilization, was completely incapable of firing on the move. Therefore, Lu Wu decisively eliminated the firing on the move phase, and the BT-7 continued forward, arriving at an obstacle zone consisting of fire barriers, steep slopes, minefields, and shallow waters.
Under Lei Ming's command, the BT-7 roared out of the fire barrier without slowing down, charging up the steep slope. The BT-7's small body even hovered slightly in the air for a moment before landing back on the ground. The Christie suspension absorbed most of the impact without any problems. The maneuvering to avoid the minefield inevitably caused the tank to lose some speed, but after leaving the minefield, the BT-7 regained some speed by using the momentum of its descent. It plunged headlong into the shallows of the rectangular pool of water, the splashing water almost obscuring the small tank. But the BT-7 then broke through the water with its own power, charged back up the beach, and roared all the way to the finish line.
Before Kaineng could even begin, the group of Elgia officers automatically applauded the impressive performance of the 6th Thunderclap tank crew, with Shiraji clapping the loudest. At that moment, all doubts about the new tanks of Amelia, a country they had never heard of, vanished.
“I bet the Belken’s tanks wouldn’t even be able to get past the initial serpentine bends if they participated in this test. Their main guns are also far less accurate and have a much shorter range than yours,” Kaineng praised sincerely.
At this moment, Lei Ming also got out of the BT-7 and ran up to Lu Wu, saluted and reported: "Commander, the BT-7 crew of the 1st Platoon of the 1st Company has reported and is ready for instructions!"
“You’ve worked hard, take a break.” Lu Wu replied in Russian, then switched back to English and said to Kaineng, “Commander Austin, shall we go take a look?”
Hiraghi's eyes lit up, but Kaineng said, "Let's wait until all the tanks are on display before we see them!"
"Continue, Comrade Lei Ming," Lu Wu instructed.
Following the BT-7 was the BA-11 wheeled armored vehicle, a vehicle nicknamed the "wheeled tank," which also performed exceptionally well in this test. Even though wheeled vehicles don't match the off-road capabilities of tracked vehicles, they offer higher speeds on roads and are less prone to damaging roads than tank tracks. While the 45mm 20-K tank gun isn't as powerful as a 76mm gun, its high rate of fire somewhat compensates for this shortcoming. Therefore, the Erghians were quite satisfied with the BA-11's overall performance.
The SU-57 self-propelled anti-tank gun, while not performing as well as the previous two in mobility tests—after all, it was designed as a makeshift tank destroyer for ambushes, so you can't expect too much—still easily reached a speed of 30 kilometers per hour during off-road driving, which was more than enough for the Ergjans' needs. Furthermore, the direct-fire gun's accurate hit on a target 1,500 meters away once again broadened their understanding, solidifying the Ergjans' determination to thoroughly master the technology of this remarkable anti-tank gun.
After all three vehicles had completed their runs, the Algerians finally got a real feel for these tanks. Generals like Kaineng and Shiragi donned distinctive tank helmets, climbed into the cramped tank compartments, and, under the guidance of Lei Ming and others, truly experienced what it was like to operate a tank. Shiragi even had Lei Ming command the BT-7 for another lap of the "Tank Biathlon," while he stayed in the gunner's position and happily fired a few shots—though with guidance, only the most recent shot hit the target.
As soon as the Albanians disembarked from the tanks, they eagerly began negotiating the specific procurement details with Lu Wu and his team. This time, the Albanians readily agreed to the price offered by the Albanian Volunteer Army, without any haggling. They placed an order on the spot: 35 SU-57 self-propelled anti-tank guns, 20 BT-7 1937 fast tanks, 20 BA-11 armored vehicles, and the corresponding fuel and ammunition. Except for five of each type, which were intended to be sent to Fabandi for surveying and research, the rest would all be incorporated into the 6th Infantry Battalion of the 444th Infantry Regiment, transforming them into the 6th Armored Battalion!
In addition to heavy equipment, the Algerians also ordered a small batch of rapid-fire weapons and small-caliber rifle ammunition: 500 second-hand AK-74s, 20 RPK-74 light machine guns, and 17000 rounds of ammunition. Only about 100 of these assault rifles would be allocated to the 6th Tank Battalion for self-defense, roughly one AK-74 per tank. The rest would primarily be equipped with domestically produced Algerian 10mm pistols. Most of the assault rifles would be assigned to the divisional guard, with the remainder sent to Fabandi for surveying and research. The 100 light machine guns would be distributed in a similar manner. The Algerians were hesitant to distribute these advanced rapid-fire weapons to their rank-and-file units, fearing they would fall into the hands of the Belken.
In addition to arms orders, KENEN also hopes to hire instructors from Amelia and borrow the facilities of the 7th Brigade base to train the 6th Tank Battalion.
Si Luwu and Davis exchanged a glance. They wouldn't believe this move wasn't a precaution against the Emilia Volunteer Army. After all, the Ergians were also afraid this mysterious army had partnered with the Belken. While they understood the situation, their displeasure was undeniable. Therefore, the 7th Brigade made its own demands: Training your troops was no problem, but I needed command of the 6th Tank Battalion. When necessary, the 6th Battalion would participate in combat under the command of Emilia Volunteer Army instructors. The Kingdom of Ergia would be responsible for the ammunition, equipment, spare parts, and food consumed during training.
The Elja people quickly agreed to this request, but it was obvious that they would replace some, or even most, of the officers with people extremely loyal to the Kingdom of Elja, to prevent the Emilia volunteers from harming the Kingdom of Elja's interests. Although the Elja people offered to pay these instructors' salaries, Davis refused—money is no match for personal relationships.
The talks on land lasted a full day. After several key points were finalized, the specific clauses were left to be reviewed one by one. The Irish were not too rigid in their application of the clauses, and within this relaxed framework, a concrete cooperation agreement was quickly drafted: Starting immediately, the Irish would transport the resources required by the contract to the Emilia Volunteer Army base. Simultaneously, the Emilia Volunteer Army would begin reorganization and training of the 6th Infantry Battalion, 444th Regiment, 44th Infantry Division of the Royal Irish Army. The Emilia Volunteer Army was required to deliver 75 vehicles of various types, along with corresponding fuel and ammunition, 500 assault rifles, 20 light machine guns, and 17000 rounds of small-caliber rifle ammunition within 10 days.
With Lu Wu, Kaineng, and the governor of Villan Province signing and stamping the two copies of the contract—the official seal of the Amelia Volunteer Army had been designed and made on short notice just a day earlier—the cooperation between Algeria and Amelia officially began.
Zero Volume 1: Chapter 31 (6th Tank Battalion)
On August 15, 1900, in the Seven Gods Calendar, Colin Bell, a recruit who had been in the army for less than two months, received new orders from his battalion commander. His 6th Infantry Battalion was to escort a batch of resources to the "Amelia Volunteer Army Military Base" 8 kilometers away, where they would be re-equipped with new gear and reorganized into the 6th Tank Battalion, and receive training and command from the "Amelia Volunteer Army".
Trucks laden with supplies sped along the muddy roads, flanked by escort trucks loaded with soldiers. In the past two days, news of the great victory at Wakan village had spread throughout the streets and alleys of Svorbera. Although some suspected it was fabricated, a deliberate attempt by the Royal Army to boost morale and lure soldiers into suicide missions, the displayed Royal Flintlock Regiment flag and the numerous prisoners were undeniable evidence. This victory successfully restored the soldiers' morale, which was on the verge of collapse. The unfamiliar name of the Amelia Volunteer Army suddenly became the talk of the town in Svorbera. Everyone was discussing where Amelia was and just how powerful the Volunteer Army's tanks were. This victory undoubtedly earned the people and soldiers of Elgia a considerable amount of goodwill towards the Volunteer Army.
“I know exactly where Amelia is, but the only thing I’m sure of is that this country is definitely not on the Ense continent. It’s probably on some archipelago.” Sullivan, who shared a dormitory with Colin, was bragging to the soldier next to him, promoting his theory. “Human civilization has long since occupied every habitable place on this planet’s only continent. The only place that can hide a country is an overseas archipelago, like Japan.”
Colin didn't care about any of that. He raised his hand and touched the pocket of his shirt, where he kept a photo of his childhood sweetheart. It was for her that Colin had answered the kingdom's call without hesitation. He overheard the veterans chatting and learned that the kingdom was suffering so badly because the Belken had invented these monsters—bullets couldn't penetrate their armor, and only direct artillery fire could stop them. But now, these green recruits actually had the chance to drive tanks and fight against the Belken's tanks. Colin believed that once they had tanks, they would soon be able to drive the Belken back.
After all, as the bigwigs above have said, it was precisely because of their tanks that the Amelia Volunteer Army was able to achieve the great feat of annihilating a regiment with a battalion of inferior strength.
"Look, we seem to be almost there!" A shout from ahead brought Colin back to reality. He stood on tiptoe and strained to see ahead—and through the crowd, he could barely make out a military base with a style completely different from their camp in Swabella.
The convoy stopped, and after being inspected by several armored soldiers in bright green uniforms, the engines were restarted. Guided by the armored soldiers, the convoy split into two groups, and the trucks carrying the soldiers of the 6th Battalion slowly drove into an open space in front of a group of buildings with their gates tightly closed.
"Alright, you bunch of pigs, get off the vehicle! The pleasant journey is over!" Battalion Commander Max's loud voice rang out, and the recruits hurriedly jumped off the vehicle one after another, forming a passable line under the leadership of the officers.
Colin's eyes darted around involuntarily. Where were the tanks? Where were the tanks that were supposed to be there? The empty ground in front of him made him look at the tightly closed doors of the buildings to the side—could the tanks be parked in these buildings? At this thought, his heart began to burn with excitement.
"Everyone, put your rifles in the crates, your ammunition on the table, and then go over there to register and collect your pistols and ammunition! Starting with you!" Max shouted, pointing to a pile of weapon crates on the ground. Even without a megaphone, his voice was loud enough for all 366 men in the battalion to hear.
"What's going on? Pistols can only shoot a few dozen meters..." Colin heard Sullivan mutter beside him. You already have a tank, why do you still need a rifle? Just run them over, right? Feeling the sharp gaze from his company commander, Colin kept his mouth shut, silently responding in his mind.
After they had packed all their rifles and ammunition into boxes and put their pistols into their holsters, several open-top jeeps pulled up in front of them. The red star and South China tiger badges on the side of the vehicles identified them as the 7th Independent Guards Brigade of the Amelia Volunteer Army.
Colin instinctively straightened his chest, and then he noticed that the people around him were doing the same thing.
A man stepped out of the lead jeep and walked towards them, surrounded by guards. He saw Battalion Commander Max and went to greet him, saluting the man and saying, "General Lu, the 6th Tank Battalion, 444th Regiment, 44th Infantry Division of the Kingdom of Elgia salutes you! Our 366 men have been ordered to escort a resource convoy here and are to receive your command and training! Battalion Commander Max, reporting complete!"
"At ease." Lu Wu glanced at the green-faced recruits, raised his wrist, and saw that it was almost noon. He then asked, "Have you had lunch yet?"
“No, long≈≡save【》four》”Lin［澌∞「three俉six□☆SouSuo:official.”
“Then I’ll get straight to the point.” He ignored the megaphone Max offered and walked straight to the line of 366 men, his voice even louder than Max’s: “Soldiers of Elgia, welcome to the base of the 7th Independent Guards Brigade. According to the cooperation agreement signed between our Amelia Volunteer Army and the Kingdom of Elgia, from now on, I am your superior! My men and I will teach you as much as possible in the shortest time possible, the knowledge of how to survive on the battlefield!”
"Your homeland is currently under enemy invasion, and we don't have much time to waste. Training will begin promptly at 2 PM. You have two hours to have lunch, tidy up your dormitories, and rest! Captain Snow White!"
“Here!” A girl with rare blue eyes stepped forward and responded loudly.
"These men are now in the care of your 1st Company. You are fully responsible for their training." Training the tank units was naturally best left to the armored company. Unsurprisingly, Lu Wu's order caused a small stir among the Elgin soldiers, but it quickly subsided after Lu Wu and Max glanced at them.
"Understood, Commander!" Bai Xue glanced at the Ergia soldiers, completely unconcerned about the commotion ahead. She had plenty of ways to handle these guys. If she couldn't even manage these greenhorns, she might as well quit being a company commander.
Volume 1: Chapter 32 Training
"Major, did Division Commander Kaineng tell you that during your training with the Amelia Volunteer Army, I was your supreme commander and that you had to obey my orders in all actions?" Lu Wu asked.
“Yes, sir,” Max replied crisply.
“Very good. As you just heard, I've handed over your training duties to Company Commander Bai Xue. This means that from now on, Company Commander Bai Xue is your second-in-command. Even you will need to obey her orders. Any questions?”
"Sir! Is Company Commander Bai Xue a specialist in commanding tanks?"
"Do you think I deliberately arranged for a young girl to humiliate you? Do you consider yourself a colonel, unwilling to be subordinate to a mere lieutenant?" Lu Wu glanced at Max, who had raised the question. His sharp gaze made Max realize that this general, like him, had crawled out of piles of corpses. Before Max could answer, Lu Wu stepped forward, hands on his hips, and roared, "Let me tell you idiots, in Alaska, Captain Snow White, driving an old T-55AM tank, destroyed 12 of the US Army's newest M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks! In Kursk, she commanded 15 tanks, repelling 13 attacks by a German armored battalion of 45 tanks, forcing the Germans to abandon their plan to break through there!"
Max stared in horror at the calm, blue-eyed girl, feeling a dryness in his mouth. What the hell? This girl looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, yet she already had such a brilliant record? Were all the people in the Amelia Volunteer Army monsters? His previous dissatisfaction and doubts vanished.
"Now, do you have any more questions?"
"No, sir!" Max quickly replied loudly. He was then met with a fixed gaze from Lu Wu.
After a long pause, the general finally spoke: "Very good! That way we won't waste time on such trivial matters! Captain, take them to the mess hall. At 2 PM sharp, show them around our base!"
"Understood, Commander!" Bai Xue saluted Lu Wu, watched him get into the car and leave, then turned around and her expression changed. She roared at the men of the 6th Battalion, "What? Do I have to say 'please' again? Everyone, left turn! Run!"
Looking at the group of raw recruits before her, whose movements were extremely unorthodox and whose formations were loose, Bai Xue secretly canceled the professional knowledge class that was scheduled to begin that afternoon. Judging by their appearance, they weren't even qualified soldiers. Want to drive a tank? A long way off! First, train their physical fitness and make them look like soldiers before worrying about anything else!
The Algerian soldiers initially thought that the numerous rules and regulations, the entire afternoon spent running laps, push-ups, and pull-ups that had exhausted them, were tolerable. They figured they could let it go, considering the young girl would later teach them how to drive tanks. After all, giving newcomers a tough time wasn't unusual. However, they didn't expect that before dawn the next day, this blue-eyed girl would throw smoke grenades into their barracks! When they tried to run out, their faces streaked with snot and tears, their clothes disheveled, they were herded back into their rooms by soldiers wearing terrifying masks, told to put on their uniforms before coming out again.
After finally managing to put on their uniforms amidst a cloud of smoke and line up outside, they were given the order to run 10 kilometers in armed formation—the reason being, "Even the 80-year-old lady downstairs can walk to the market faster than you guys." At this point, their anger finally reached its breaking point.
"Sir! We're here to learn how to operate tanks, not to be your toys!"
"Yes, we're going to use tanks!"
Bai Xue watched coldly as the soldiers protested loudly, remaining silent.
“Sir, the soldiers are quite vocal in their opinions. Do you think we should adjust our training program a bit? After all, we'll be fighting in tanks from now on, so there's no need to train like infantry. Besides, neither the Eastern Empire nor the Federation has ever established authority by torturing soldiers like this…” Seeing that the Elgiyan soldiers' emotions were escalating, an officer with the rank of captain left the ranks with a forced smile, approached Bai Xue, and earnestly tried to persuade her, attempting to impart some life experience to the young woman.
“What did I say yesterday?” But Bai Xue completely ignored him. “You need to report before you step out of line!” Ignoring the captain’s stiff expression, she kicked him to the ground. “You’re already losing your temper. Your patience is much less than I expected.”
The Ergan lieutenant's face turned a deep purplish-red. He scrambled to his feet, fists clenched, and lunged at Bai Xue's face. However, Bai Xue merely sidestepped the attack, landing her right fist on the lieutenant's abdomen and her left fist on his jaw. She swiftly closed in, hooking her left foot, and took the lieutenant down once more. The entire process was fluid and seamless; she subdued him in less than two seconds.
"I thought you were something special, and you just fainted? The old lady downstairs could beat you. Someone drag this pig to the infirmary." Bai Xue clapped her hands dismissively, as if they were covered in something disgusting. Now the Algerian soldiers dared not underestimate this seemingly very young girl anymore. The two soldiers closest to the lieutenant initially wanted to run out and take her to the infirmary, but then remembered Bai Xue's words and quickly shouted "Report!" before daring to leave the ranks after receiving approval.
After such a charade, the rest naturally didn't dare to be the first to step forward. Ultimately, they were just a bunch of new recruits; if you have the biggest fist, you'll naturally listen to you.
“That idiot just said, ‘We’re armored troops, why do we need infantry training?’ That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year. You don’t think you’re invincible just because you’re sitting in this metal can, do you? Let me tell you bluntly, armored vehicles aren’t invincible. They can be destroyed by the enemy, and they can also be destroyed by themselves, especially the three types of armored vehicles you’re about to be equipped with. Their armor thickness isn’t even 25 millimeters. If you’re planning to stay inside and wait to die after a vehicle malfunctions, you can get out of here. I don’t want to waste my precious time and energy on a dead man. This way, you can have an easier time.”
"No one's dropping out? In that case, everyone get running! You have other training tasks after you finish the ten kilometers! As for you," Bai Xue changed the subject, pointing directly at Max, who had been watching from the sidelines, "Commander Max, commanders must be responsible for the actions of their soldiers. Failing to control your soldiers is a major taboo on the battlefield! You need to run an extra ten kilometers! Understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Can't you hear me! You think you can drive a tank with that little strength? Try again!" Snow White stood in front of Max, her voice so loud it hurt Max's eardrums.
"Sir! Yes, sir!"
Volume 1: Chapter 33, Section 32, The Current State of the 44th Infantry Division
While Bai Xue was training the group of new Ergia recruits, Lu Wu was not idle either. He, along with Yelena and a squad of guards, arrived in Svorbella once again in two Tiger armored vehicles and a Berezov infantry fighting vehicle. Since he knew that hostile forces were lurking near Svorbella, Lu Wu naturally wouldn't go there in just a few unarmed armored vehicles like last time. That wouldn't be commendable courage, but rather foolishness.
他这次来斯7沃贝拉，目的4在于和144步6兵师商讨接9下来的行动0该如何配合7的问题。8'0【
After exchanging information frankly with Kaineng about their respective situations, defensive arrangements, troop strength, and intelligence, Lu Wu couldn't help but frown.
Before the outbreak of war, the 44th Infantry Division was only a brigade-level secondary combat group, consisting of the 441st Infantry Regiment, the 442nd Infantry Regiment, and the 44th Division Artillery Battalion.
After the Belken launched their invasion without warning, this infantry brigade was urgently expanded into an infantry division, with the newly formed 444th and 445th Infantry Regiments. Most of the soldiers in these two regiments were new recruits who had only been trained for a month, and the junior officers were drawn from the 441st and 442nd Regiments. The number of soldiers was also severely insufficient, with one captain possibly having to manage about three hundred men. Although the equipment was relatively complete, morale was constantly declining due to the impact of the battle situation. Fortunately, the great victory at Wakan Village came in time and stopped this downward trend.
Kaineng deployed his two most capable regiments, the 441st and 442nd, to the east and west of Swobela respectively, forming a defensive line on each side to prevent the Belken from advancing unimpeded from the east and west. The weaker 444th and 445th regiments were deployed inside Swobela city, while the 44th Division's artillery battalion was positioned on the western outskirts of Swobela to support the 441st regiment there. Their 105mm howitzers could not fire very far and there were not many of them, so after receiving the spoils of war from Wakan village, they began to try to repair the Belken's 105mm howitzers, hoping to increase their firepower.
Kaineng's arrangement clearly meant abandoning all towns south of Svobrella and focusing on defending this largest industrial city in the province of Villand.
Meanwhile, the 73rd Infantry Division of Belken, which is currently advancing directly on Svorbella, appears to be much stronger: it is a motorized infantry division that originally consisted of 4 infantry regiments, 2 artillery regiments, and 2 tank regiments. Well, now they only have 3 infantry regiments left.
According to intelligence from Elgia, John Zhongliu, the commander of the 6th Division of the 73rd Infantry Division, was the cousin of Emperor Belken and Sete Ergus, and his command style was quite aggressive.
His 73rd Infantry Division was originally located in the western part of Villand Province. After receiving orders to attack Swobella, this infantry division did not cross the Villand Mountains, but instead circled around the mountains and launched an invasion from the northwest of Villand Province.
"Two tank regiments and two artillery regiments..." Kaineng felt a bit of a pain in his throat. If the 44th Infantry Division and Belken's three infantry regiments could go toe-to-toe with the home advantage of urban warfare, the probability of holding Svorbella dropped to less than 10% after adding two tank regiments and two artillery battalions.
"Don't worry too much, Commander Austin. We still have a way."
Lu Wu's words rekindled hope in Kaineng's heart. "General Lu, since your Volunteer Army can deliver dozens of tanks to Svorbella in a week, perhaps you could send another Volunteer Army unit over?"
“Unfortunately, the Amelia Volunteer Army only has our combat group, and there are no plans to form a second volunteer army combat group in the country.” Lu Wu was still looking at the map hanging on the wall. “Commander Austin, I would like to know about the road conditions in the northwest of Villand Province.”
The Ergia staff officer next to Lu Wu immediately began to explain.
After listening to the staff officer's introduction, Lu Wu nodded to indicate that he understood. He then organized his thoughts and said, "With such a large force as the 73rd Division, it is impossible to remain completely concealed during a march. I need you to mobilize the masses in Villand Province to report immediately upon discovering the Belken army. Of course, it is also necessary for reconnaissance teams or hunters to actively investigate. We will also send out aircraft and troops to conduct reconnaissance. After discovering the enemy's marching column, we will launch continuous air raids to slow down their march and bleed them dry."
"We must use this time to complete the reorganization and training of the new troops, as well as the construction and layout of defensive fortifications. Then, we will concentrate all our forces to set up a trap on the outskirts of Svobrella and try to wipe out this elite Northern Army Group."
"Air raid? How many tons of bombs can your planes drop at once?" Kaineng was stunned by this audacious battle plan. He originally wanted to object, but when he thought about the various amazing equipment that the Amelia Volunteer Army had, he suddenly felt that there might actually be hope.
"Four and a half tons." The figure reported by Lu Wu was only the bomb load of three fixed-wing aircraft. If six Hinds were added, then an air raid involving the entire family could bring ten and a half tons of aerial bombs. Even if the explosive charge of these bombs only accounted for about 40% of the total weight, the equivalent of four and a half tons of TNT was already more than the equivalent of a round of artillery fire from the 44th Division's artillery battalion. This was enough to leave the 73rd Division with an unforgettable memory.
This number was quite terrifying for these Ergia. They were sincerely grateful that the Amelia Volunteers were on their side—otherwise, those planes would have been loaded with bombs and sent to Fabandi to greet the King.
"It's feasible." Kaineng made a quick judgment. A 150mm heavy artillery shell with a charge of only a dozen kilograms could have a kill radius of 300 meters. How large an area could a 4.5-ton bomb cover? Moreover, the risk to the Elgia Kingdom's army from this plan was negligible. The main aspects of the battle were handled by the Amelia people. Their possible losses would likely be only some reconnaissance squads and hunters they had sent out.
Just then, a staff officer rushed into the command post. "Commander! We've caught the guys who attacked the Volunteer Army in the city! There were six guys who escaped, and we've successfully captured three of them today. The other three were shot and killed during the capture."
Immediately, Kaineng and Lu Wu couldn't continue discussing the air raid plan. Lu Wu turned to Kaineng and said, "Commander Austin, according to the agreement, I request that my men conduct the interrogation. My men are experts in this area; even the most stubborn person can't withstand our interrogation."
"Of course, no problem." — Jiu
Volume 1: Chapter 34 (Part 1)
Whether it was Captain Miller's exceptional interrogation skills or the prisoners' weak will, Miller's interrogation lasted only about ten minutes before the Chinese People's Volunteer Army obtained the intelligence they wanted.
These men were all native-born Elgins, many of whom had been low-ranking officials in the Kingdom of Elgin, amassing considerable wealth through bribery and extortion. Two years ago, the King of Elgin launched a rectification campaign, removing many officials from their posts. Many of these dismissed officials harbored resentment towards the country, and it was at this time that Belken's intelligence agency seized the opportunity, offering money and women to the families of these officials, recruiting them as Belken's peripheral intelligence agents. A few days ago, their superiors ordered them to ambush the convoy, without specifying the reason, only telling them that the convoy was unarmed and easy to take down. Given the generous payment, these men agreed. Belken obtained a batch of submachine guns through the black market, smuggled them into Svorbella, and distributed them to these Elgin spies. But to their utter surprise, the seemingly effortless convoy attack turned out to be...
Of course, the most valuable intelligence these traitors divulged was a liaison point for the Belken intelligence agency. They had been hiding in a safe house to avoid searches by the Wang Guo army, but today, one of them ran into a Wang Guo army patrol while going out to buy food and was arrested on the spot. The traitor hiding in the liaison point saw this and escaped in the chaos. He managed to shake off the patrol and hid in a hotel, intending to wait until things calmed down before running to the Belken liaison point to have them escorted abroad. However, the receptionist recognized them, attracting the attention of the Wang Guo army once again. This time, they weren't so lucky and ended up in the hands of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.
"Miller, take your men and take down this Belken liaison point! Immediately!" Lu Wu ordered immediately. Those in intelligence work are incredibly sensitive to the slightest disturbance. He guessed that the Kingdom's army must have caused quite a stir when they arrested these traitors, and by the time the news reached the West District where the liaison point was located, the people at the liaison station would have already fled.
The 48th Company flew in from the base, and with the interrogation, it had already taken more than half an hour. Now it was a race against time. There wasn't enough time to transport the anti-terrorism equipment from the base. Fortunately, based on the prisoners' confessions, they had pieced together a preliminary map of the liaison point and the arrangement of the Belken men there—there were about three of them, equipped with submachine guns and pistols, and possibly explosives.
"Should we use a doe to break through?" That would undoubtedly be the fastest way to reach the West District liaison station. Miller brought a few men with him, arriving in a doe.
“No, helicopters are too noisy. They’ll run away as soon as they hear the rotors,” Lu Wu rejected the suggestion. “We’ll drive there. We don’t have enough manpower. Can the Kingdom’s army blockade the block where the liaison point is located?”
“No problem,” Kennan replied. Sending a battalion would be enough to completely surround the block. He instantly devised a way to prevent spies within the Kingdom's army from leaking the information: “Tell the commander of the Fifth Battalion that the Belken are attacking from the west. I want them to set up a second line of defense behind the 442nd Regiment. Have the convoys transporting them pass through both sides of the block, and issue the order to seal it off once they are in position.”
"Understood, sir!"
The 5th Infantry Battalion had the most non-commissioned officers (NCOs) of the 444th and 445th Infantry Regiments, making it the most mobile. Led by these NCOs, the 8-plus men of the 5th Infantry Battalion quickly rushed towards the western district, while eight soldiers from the 48th Company, riding in two Tiger armored vehicles, mingled with the 5th Infantry Battalion's convoy. They were tasked with storming the liaison point and capturing Belken's intelligence agents.
As expected, when the convoy stopped in the western district and the true mission objective was announced, the news that the Belkens had a stronghold in the city caused some commotion among the recruits. Fortunately, the sergeants managed to quell the unrest in time. During a month of training, the recruits had developed an instinct to obey the veterans' orders. Therefore, despite having various questions in their minds, the soldiers did not stop their actions and completed the encirclement of the district.
“Young men, you’ve seen it. The Kyrgyz army hasn’t evacuated the civilians from District 3. You all know what that means, right?” Inside the Tiger armored vehicle, Captain Miller glanced at the Kyrgyz soldiers who had formed an encirclement and spoke in Russian.
"clear."
“Mistakenly injuring civilians would negatively impact our subsequent work. Therefore, my requirements are simple: control the battle within this two-story building. Be quick: storm in, apprehend, and kill any who resist on the spot. Don't give the bad guys a chance to escape outside, and even more importantly, don't give them a chance to harm civilians.” The western district consists mostly of self-built houses by civilians, mostly two- to three-story detached buildings, separated from each other. It's unlikely that people inside could escape by crawling into neighboring buildings.
"Understood, Captain!"
"Here you go. Ready." Captain Miller nodded in satisfaction and said to the bewildered liaison officer beside him, "After we go in, you keep a close watch on the gate. If there's any noise, fire the machine gun immediately. We'll contact you through this before we come out. Also, you need to press this button to speak, and remember to release it after you're done."