268: Chapter 266: So That’s How It Is 268: Chapter 266: So That’s How It Is The atmosphere was growing increasingly eerie, and Gao Yang desperately wanted to scout out the front himself to see what was going on.
After covering more than a hundred kilometers, they had stormed forward with great momentum, only to have the enemy vanish right after a brief encounter, leaving him to wonder what was happening.
Just as Gao Yang was growing impatient because of the odd atmosphere, Li Jinfang suddenly exclaimed with surprise, “We’ve got movement, it’s the enemy!”
Gao Yang had never been happy to see the enemy before, but this time, when he saw them, he felt sincerely relieved.
No matter the outcome, good or bad, seeing the enemy at least meant they could understand what the enemy was planning to do.
The second squad’s first team was about a hundred meters away from the abruptly appearing enemy.
When they spotted a large group of armed individuals suddenly emerge, the highly alert team immediately opened fire.
The firepower net comprised of a light machine gun and nine AK74s was not to be underestimated.
The dozen or so men who ran out front fell one after the other, but even more poured out.
While shooting, they charged straight towards the second squad’s first team.
What was supposed to be a forceful attack had turned into an encounter battle, a situation Gao Yang had not anticipated, but he instinctively fired his weapon.
Against a large clump of targets bunched together, Gao Yang barely needed to aim since shooting would surely bring one down, and there was even the chance for a “candied haw on a stick” effect, where a single bullet might hit two enemies.
The two heavy machine guns controlled by the first platoon also opened fire.
Although the two heavy machine gunners from the first platoon were not particularly skilled, shooting at a crowd bunched together was still too easy.
The result of the encounter battle was that the suddenly charging enemies fell like wheat before a scythe.
They hadn’t even managed to inflict any casualties on the second squad’s first team.
However, soon two vehicles charged out from around the corner and immediately opened fire on the first team.
“Armed pickups, heavy machine guns!
Two of them!”
Right as Li Jinfang shouted out, and while Gao Yang was turning his gun to target the machine gunners on the pickups, the first team had already fired at the pickups.
The Instruction Platoon had bolstered firepower for everyone.
Aside from the RPG gunners, each man was equipped with an RPG-26.
Almost the moment the armed pickups appeared, an RPG-7 rocket whooshed out, turning the lead pickup into a ball of fire.
Then, at least two RPG-26 rockets were launched one after the other, launching the remaining pickup into the air in a fiery explosion before crashing down heavily.
All the enemies who exposed themselves were unable to stand any longer.
After a brief period of combat, the encounter came to a temporary end, and the first team leader of the second squad reported to Li Jinfang in a voice filled with disbelief.
“Reporting, sir, the second squad’s first team has zero casualties, none at all.
I’m going to capture a prisoner to find out what happened, over!”
Two men from the second squad’s first team quickly ran amongst a pile of bodies and finally, after some difficulty, found a soldier who was still alive.
After quickly asking a couple of questions, the first team leader reported back in astonishment, “Reporting, sir, the prisoner says that all the soldiers stationed here fled.
They had come as reinforcements after hearing the gunfire and only realized what had happened when they encountered fleeing soldiers on the road.
Following the execution of two officers who were leading the retreat, their commander tried to retake the machine gun positions here.”
Gao Yang and Li Jinfang looked at each other, and then Gao Yang cursed angrily, “F**k, such bullshit about planning street combat.
The enemy just f**king ran away when they saw us coming.
I should have known earlier.”
After cursing out loud, Gao Yang immediately pressed the transmit button on his radio, shouting with all his might, “Everyone, advance immediately toward your assigned targets, full assault!
Big Dog, fire a few rounds at all possible enemy positions.
Once you start shelling, the enemy might just f**king run away!”
Gao Yang was extremely frustrated because if he had realized sooner that this strange battle situation was not an enemy scheme, but purely because the enemy was too weak, he would have ordered a full assault earlier.
Now that the enemy had responded and sent the first wave of reinforcements, it was very likely that other peripheral positions had already been reinforced.
Gao Yang felt he had made a big mistake, but as the regular army companies each entered their positions and began their attacks on the designated targets, Gao Yang quickly discovered that although some time had been lost, it seemed not to be a big problem, or in fact, no problem at all.
“Third Company reporting, we have successfully taken our designated target area without encountering resistance.
Should we continue to expand our occupied area, please instruct, over.”
“Fourth Company reporting, we have taken our designated target.
Encountered slight resistance, killed seven enemies, two of our men are wounded.
Please instruct our next course of action, over.”
“Fifth Company reporting, we have captured our designated target without encountering resistance, capturing forty-six prisoners.
The prisoners surrendered willingly.
Please instruct on what to do with the prisoners and our next course of action, over.”
Everything was in disarray because of the unexpectedly smooth progress.
For a moment, all the attacking teams were asking what their next tasks were, causing complete chaos.
Gao Yang was at a loss for what to do next.
Should he consolidate positions, or pursue the victory?
Should the artillery move their positions forward, or stay where they were?
What was supposed to be a simple fire reconnaissance had turned into a deep penetration.
In less than half an hour, they had taken all the designated target areas.
Keep in mind, the areas Gao Yang and his team had designated were only possible enemy strongholds, and Gao Yang’s plan was merely to attack these areas to test Mokadi Faction’s combat strength and equipment status.
But he certainly hadn’t expected to face almost no resistance.
Not only had Gao Yang failed to anticipate it, but so had everyone involved in devising the combat plan.
They considered all the worst possible outcomes, but never what to do if things went too smoothly.
Then again, it’s probably fair to say that no commander would dare to envision events unfolding too positively.
Gao Yang knew he could no longer hesitate.
Since everything was going smoothly, they should press on with the attack.
When they encountered strong resistance, they would tackle it then.
In any case, this battle seemed destined to become a chaotic fight.
Whether the enemy wanted it or not, whether he liked it or not, the battle had prematurely entered the street combat phase.
“This is Ram.
Attention attack units, you are now cleared for Free Attack.
Each platoon leader can decide their own scope of engagement, but the smallest unit must maintain squad level or above.
Do not spread too thinly, and when capturing prisoners, do not mistreat them.
Explain our policies to them, maintain communication, and execute orders.”
As there were no battalion-level units in the standing army, just eight platoons, Gao Yang directly issued orders to the platoon leaders.
After issuing the Free Attack order to the troops that had already entered Bosaso, Gao Yang also issued orders to the platoons that were originally in reserve.
“First Platoon, attack Zone Five.
Second Platoon, attack Zone Six.
Sixth Platoon, attack Zone Seven.
Seventh Platoon, stand by.
Eighth Platoon is responsible for covering the artillery platoon and should follow Big Dog’s command.
Execute orders.”
Gao Yang nearly deployed all the forces he had kept in reserve, except for leaving one Seventh Platoon ready for any emergency.
As for the two artillery platoons, Gao Yang planned to let Glolov decide their positions himself.
“Big Dog, handle the artillery as you see fit.”
After issuing an order that left him with nothing specific to do, Gao Yang wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to do next.
There wasn’t a need for him anywhere, as all fronts were proceeding smoothly.
Once Free Attack orders were given, there was no one who asked for instructions or requested support.
The Skull Gang’s standing army had radios distributed down to the squad level, and each platoon had its own frequency, which made communication very convenient.
They could receive updates from the frontlines in a timely manner.
If anything unusual happened, the platoon leaders would report to Gao Yang, but so far, there hadn’t been any situation that could be considered unusual.
“Ram, this is Rabbit.
Shouldn’t we also get involved in the battlefield?”
After receiving Cui Bo’s call, Gao Yang realized that Cui Bo’s sniper team still had nothing to do at the moment.
“Sniper team, enter the battlefield and operate freely.”
After giving Cui Bo an order, Gao Yang was truly out of tasks and was left with nothing to do but to stare blankly with Frey and Bruce.
Carrying a rocket launcher, Frey looked at Gao Yang in a daze and said, “I’ve never seen a battle like this before, boss.
Could it be that my experience is just too limited?
You know, I haven’t fought in many battles.”
Gao Yang shook his head and replied, “I haven’t seen a battle like this either, so our experience is indeed limited.”
Frey rubbed his chin, looking lost, and said, “So we’re just going to sit here and do nothing?”
“What else is there to do?
Look, just sit tight and be the reserve with your men.
It looks like rocket launchers aren’t needed inside.”
Bruce looked completely bewildered and said, “I can understand if there are no fatalities, but aren’t there any casualties needing urgent medical attention?”
Gao Yang shrugged and said, “Fourth Platoon did have two individuals injured, but they’ve already bandaged themselves up and rejoined the fight.
If you’re worried their wounds might get infected, you can go over and give them antibiotics or something, but other than that, it’s not necessary.
Their wounds don’t seem to need stitches or anything.”
Bruce sighed and said, “This is the strangest battle I’ve ever been in, and also the easiest.
Alright, I must say it feels good to be part of this kind of battle.”
Gao Yang shrugged again and said, “Right now, in the middle of combat, I, the supreme commander, have nothing to do.
Although this is my first time as the supreme commander of a force, and probably the only time I will command a force in combat facing this situation, it’s really disheartening to have no sense of presence.
But better yet is the feeling of having no one on our side fall, perhaps we could create a battle with zero casualties.” (To be continued.
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