102: Chapter 101 The Importance of Good Equipment 102: Chapter 101 The Importance of Good Equipment After watching Gao Yang hang up the phone, Cui Bo shamelessly sidled up to him and asked, “Brother Yang, I overheard you speaking to Uriyangko about some reloading equipment arriving?
Where did it arrive?”
Gao Yang replied with a look of disgust, “Keep your distance when you speak to me, will you?”
Under the contemptuous gaze of both Li Jinfang and Glolov, Cui Bo reluctantly stepped back and said with a mixture of sadness and anger, “It’s not like talking is contagious.
You’re being too petty.”
Gao Yang spoke righteously, “Please note, we’re not afraid of catching anything from you, we simply despise you.
Now go stand in the corner and listen, I’m going to discuss important matters.
First, Uriyangko called and asked us to hurry to Libya.
Apparently, Gaddafi has an unprecedented desire for elite mercenaries, and he mentioned that there might even be opportunities for jobs paying ten thousand US dollars a day.
However, this requires competition, and he also wants us to provide a list of the equipment we need as soon as possible so he can get it ready.
“The second thing, and currently the most important, is that Catherine will arrive in South Africa earlier than planned, exactly a week from now.
She can only stay for three days, which coincides with Rabbit’s one-week treatment for his gonorrhea, so we can plan to depart ten days later.”
Glolov nodded and asked, “Both pieces of news are good, but I’d like to know, what exactly is this ten thousand dollar a day job?
And is it highly dangerous?”
Gao Yang shook his head and answered, “Don’t know.
Uriyangko said it isn’t particularly dangerous, but I find Uriyangko’s words aren’t very reliable.
However, we still need to get more information about it.
We’ll make a decision when the time comes.
If it’s an acceptable job that we can compete for, then it couldn’t be better.”
Cui Bo quickly interjected, “Brother Yang, the bullet reloading equipment, don’t forget about that.”
Gao Yang nodded, “Yes, that has arrived just in time too.
We’ll pick up the shipment in a while.
There are two sets, and Rabbit and I will pay for them ourselves.”
Cui Bo said excitedly, “That’s great, after waiting so long, they’ve finally arrived.”
Gao Yang had asked Bob for information regarding the reloadable ammunition for his M1A and then immediately called Uriyangko, hoping that Uriyangko could help purchase them.
Although the reloading equipment wasn’t very expensive, gathering all the parts was a hassle.
Uriyangko needed to purchase the specific brands of propellant, bullets, primers, new casings, and a designated electronic scale that Gao Yang asked for, which was quite troublesome to assemble.
Bob was an American, and naturally, most of his gear was American.
Moreover, the United States, having the most civilian firearms, also had the most comprehensive range of firearms-related products.
For Uriyangko to gather all the items Gao Yang needed, it was natural to purchase them in the United States, which is why it took about twenty days to get everything to South Africa.
Frankly speaking, the fact that Uriyangko managed to get many items, which were banned from air transport, into Gao Yang’s hands in just over twenty days, was nothing short of miraculous.
If Gao Yang had tried to purchase them himself, it’s very likely he would have bought the items but never received them.
Gao Yang ignored Cui Bo and simply stood up, saying, “After Rabbit gets his injection, let’s quickly go back and sort out our gear.
Meanwhile, make a list of what each of us needs so I can report it to Uriyangko.”
For the time being, Glolov stayed with Cui Bo at the hospital to wait for his shot, while Gao Yang and Li Jinfang went to pick up the shipment at a landmark building in Johannesburg.
Gao Yang and Li Jinfang went home first and then went to receive the shipment because the two bullet reloading kits and their raw materials totaled over seven thousand US dollars.
They didn’t have enough money on them and had to go home to get more.
The contents of the two reloading kits were somewhat different, each packed into a sizable box.
The delivery person Uriyangko had sent was quite professional, providing Gao Yang with an itemized bill before collecting the money, indicating that the goods were indeed supplied at cost.
The total cost of the two kits was less than four thousand dollars, with the shipping fees making up almost half of the expense.
The shipment was said to have been brought in through Uriyangko’s special channels; otherwise, Gao Yang would have had a long wait, which is why the shipping was particularly expensive.
The two bullet reloading kits served as a trial run, and Gao Yang was quite satisfied with Uriyangko’s level of professionalism.
Pleased with the newly arrived equipment, he returned home, just in time to enter the house together with Cui Bo and Uriyangko.
Worried that Cui Bo might get too caught up with the new reloading equipment, Gao Yang specifically instructed him to organize his belongings and make a list first.
Without even opening the boxes, he started organizing his own items.
Gao Yang had a considerable amount of gear to take to Libya.
He was sure to bring three guns and didn’t need to buy any more weapons, but he had to ask Uriyangko to prepare some high-precision sniping ammunition.
Additionally, he needed a bulletproof vest as well as clothes and boots, which he also wanted Uriyangko to purchase for him.
It wasn’t that Gao Yang was trying to save himself the trouble of shopping, but many specialized items of clothing and boots were hard to find in Johannesburg, so he simply let Uriyangko handle it.
Do not underestimate the importance of clothing and boots, which might seem unrelated to combat but can greatly influence the outcome of a battle.
After a long and grueling march, one side might have blisters on their feet making every step painful, while the other side, wearing comfortable boots and socks, might have feet feeling rather good.
When these two sides start to fight, who would be at a disadvantage?
In cold winds and heavy rain, one side may be soaked to the bone, shivering so much that even aiming would be difficult, while the other side stays dry and warm in good clothing.
In this scenario, who would have an advantage in combat?
On the battlefield, any inconspicuous detail could decide the outcome of a fight, which is why various countries’ armed forces, within their capabilities, make their best efforts to improve their equipment.
As mercenaries, though they have to spend their own money, for the sake of their own lives, of course, they try to pick the best of everything.
Most mercenaries don’t have equipment comparable to that of ordinary soldiers from military superpowers, let alone compare with the elites of special forces units.
It’s not that these mercenaries don’t wish to use better equipment; they simply can’t afford it.
Of course, there are also those who would rather have money than their lives, and there are quite a few like that among mercenaries.
Those who prefer money over their lives tend to have one thing in common.
As soon as they have money, they squander it on eating, drinking, prostitution, and gambling, and don’t care if what they wear is suitable for combat.
They don’t care about their own lives and only want to enjoy everything to the fullest while they are alive.