591: Chapter 586: Code Name, Lightning Speed!
591: Chapter 586: Code Name, Lightning Speed!
Before the army moves, provisions go first, but even before the logistics of provisions, intelligence work must be prioritized.
In order to wage war, it is necessary to create an advantageous situation for one’s own side as much as possible.
Gao Yang believed that compared to the enemy, his strongest area was intelligence.
Of course, that depended on his willingness to pay.
After experiencing the extent to which Justin could conduct his intelligence operations, just as Justin had anticipated, Gao Yang became much more generous when buying intelligence from him.
Gao Yang decided to purchase intelligence from Justin, but before buying information on the enemy, the first thing Gao Yang did was to seal off his own intelligence because if Justin could sell the British intelligence to him, he could certainly sell Gao’s intelligence to the British as well.
To avoid letting Justin profit from both sides, relying on his business ethics was unrealistic; the only solution was to strictly guard the secrets on his side.
Only Maide and Abu within the Skull Gang could know about any decisions made, and within the Satan Mercenary Corps, it wasn’t necessary to hide much from the senior officers, but for the mid-level officers and ordinary soldiers, all plans for pre-war deployments could not be revealed at all.
After formulating a preliminary plan in his mind, Gao Yang took the initiative to call Justin.
This was the first time he actively reached out to Justin, which says a lot about the excellent marketing that Justin had done.
After shamelessly establishing contact with the Satan Mercenary Corps a few times in the early stages, now was the time for him to gain a long-term customer.
Once Justin received Gao Yang’s call, his laugh was very reserved, and he spoke with a slow and calm tone, “Ram, you’ve acted a few days faster than I anticipated, but the good news is, the intelligence is almost completely gathered.”
Before Gao Yang could say anything, Justin had already revealed the key points, but this wasn’t surprising to Gao.
He responded indifferently, “Oh?
Have you already started collecting the intelligence?”
“Of course, preparing in advance for clients is the basic quality of an intelligence officer.”
Gao Yang chuckled, sighed, and said, “It seems I’m at a complete disadvantage this time.
Alright, you can name your price.
I want everything; whatever you have, I want to know.”
Gao Yang thought Justin was going to ask for a huge sum this time, but unexpectedly, the price Justin quoted made Gao feel it was very reasonable.
“Five hundred thousand dollars, everything, no bargaining.”
Five hundred thousand dollars was completely acceptable to Gao.
He whistled and said, “Five hundred thousand, no additional charges, right?
I mean an all-inclusive price.”
“Exactly, an all-inclusive price, five hundred thousand dollars, payment after the fact, you know I always have complete confidence in my intelligence.”
Gao Yang did not hesitate to say, “Five hundred thousand dollars, tell me now.”
“The British have taken Banda but they have retreated back to Gesale, preparing to attack Bosaso.
The good news is, their numbers haven’t increased; the bad news is, they’re going to enhance their heavy equipment again.
If I were you, buddy, the first thing I’d do is buy anti-aircraft missiles.”
Justin’s laugh seemed to be filled with schadenfreude.
Gao Yang frowned and said, “What do you mean?”
“Nothing special; just as I said.
The British have invested heavily.
They are reluctant for their people to die, but they are willing to spend money.
You and I both know those pirates are useless, and of course, so do the British.
So, while you are fully preparing for the battle ahead, the British will naturally want to bolster their own strength.”
Gao Yang had never taken those pirates seriously.
His main targets had always been the British, and they still were.
When he heard that after acquiring tanks and armored vehicles, the British were once again planning to add heavy equipment, Gao Yang found it troublesome.
“Tell me, what kind of heavy equipment are the British planning to add?”
“I can’t say for sure right now because the British haven’t completed their purchase.
Do you understand what I’m saying?
What I’ve found is that the British sent a senior official to negotiate with a guy named Djo Malthael.
Ever heard of him?
He is a major arms dealer, primarily selling American and European goods, one of the two arms giants in Africa.
I know you have business dealings with Grand Ivan, and the British supplier is Djo Malthael.”
Gao Yang hadn’t heard of Djo Malthael before, but given he was on par with Grand Ivan as an arms giant, it was clear that Djo Malthael could do whatever Grand Ivan was capable of.
In a battle between two forces, there can only be one winner and one loser, but arms dealers only end up winners.
The fiercer the fight, the more money they make.
Modern warfare truly is a game of burning money, especially when one party starts desperately upgrading their weapon systems.
The other party, as the enemy, can only follow suit, and this leads to an arms race.
While pondering over the name Djo Malthael, Gao Yang voiced with gravity, “When did the British start their move?
Also, can you provide me with their deployment map in Gesale?”
“The deployment map is available, and there’s no problem giving it to you.
Just give me an email address, and I’ll send the electronic mail to you.
Apart from the deployment map, there are details of their force deployment, as well as names of the commanders, and the garrisons of their tanks and armored vehicles.
Now please tell me, are you satisfied with the intelligence that cost you five hundred thousand dollars?”
Gao Yang let out a wry smile and said, “More than satisfied, I’m not only very curious about you now but also greatly respect you.
However, Mr.
Justin, could you answer me a question, which is whether you have sold our intelligence to the British?”
Justin answered without hesitation, “That’s a good question.
The answer is, of course, I have.
I sold all the Skull Gang’s intelligence to the British before you took control of the Skull Gang’s military power.”
Gao Yang heaved a sigh and said, “You are really frank, but I really don’t understand how you knew I had started taking command of the Skull Gang.”
“I wasn’t sure just now, but now I am.
Although there is no explicit intelligence to show that you have taken over the military power of the Skull Gang, I don’t need to be certain to know that.
The soldiers of the Skull Gang regard you as their savior.
Now, there isn’t a soul in Somalia who doesn’t know that the Skull Gang is preparing for war.
It really isn’t a secret anymore.”
Gao Yang felt a sense of powerlessness and said with distress, “Then, can you tell me to what extent the British are informed?”
“I’m a businessman, you must understand that.
The good news is that I haven’t received any valuable intelligence to sell to the British since you took control of the Skull Gang, and you can be proud of that.
However, as to what exactly the British have grasped, I can’t tell you that.
I can sell intelligence to you, but if I show bias toward one side in this business, it would actually be disadvantageous to my future dealings.
So, to some extent, I must strictly keep some aspects confidential for both parties, like the question you just asked, which I will not answer.”
Gao Yang began to hate the existence of intelligence brokers, precisely those who sold intelligence to both sides of the conflict.
With the battlefield transparent to both parties, intelligence brokers can flip the intelligence back and forth.
The principle is too simple.
Both sides can obtain sufficiently detailed intelligence.
If side A deploys, side B buys intelligence to make a targeted deployment, and then the intelligence broker sells the information to side A, who then makes a counter-deployment.
Then, the two sides continue to buy intelligence and keep changing their plans.
Unless one side does an excellent job at keeping secrets, or one runs out of money, only then, after the battlefield becomes transparent to only one side, might the intelligence broker lose the chance to play both ends.
Gao Yang was really speechless, and after hearing silence on Gao Yang’s end, Justin laughed and said, “I know what you’re thinking.
This situation is actually avoidable.
Do you want to know how?”
Resignedly, Gao Yang said, “How much?”
“It’s pleasant dealing with a smart person.
A lump sum, one million US dollars.
You pay one million dollars, and I will immediately impose an intelligence lockdown on the British.
From then on, the battlefield will be unidirectionally transparent to you.
Of course, you can make your purchase if you need anything else.
How about it?
Take some time to consider.”
After a moment of silence, Gao Yang said, “I will seriously consider it.
For now, send me the British deployment map first.
Also, if there is any news about the arrival of the British heavy equipment, please inform me promptly.”
“Alright, give me the email address.
Moreover, intelligence about the heavy equipment is included in this deal.
If there is any news, I will tell you, and it will be free.
I’ll wait for your call, goodbye.”
After hanging up the phone and seeing everyone in the room looking at him with anticipation, Gao Yang sat down at the conference table, pondered for a long time, and then said with a deep voice, “Test Tube, call Little Donnie and have him send an email to Justin.
Once we receive the enemy’s deployment map, print it immediately and deliver it here.
Also, I want detailed maps of the area around Gesale, both satellite and military maps, the more detailed, the better.”
Bruce immediately left the conference room to make the call to Little Donnie.
After Bruce left the conference room, it fell into silence again.
Gao Yang intertwined his fingers, rested his arms on the table, and buried his head in his palms, pondering for a long time before abruptly looking up and saying in a stern voice, “Now, I command!”
After Gao Yang finished speaking, everyone in the conference room, except for Maide, immediately stood up, and even though Abu did not have to obey Gao Yang’s commands, he stood up unconsciously.
“Order, all naval vessels to begin assembly immediately, abandon toll collection at sea, and ensure the security of maritime transport routes and logistical supplies.”
“Order, all infantry units of the standing army that are combat-ready to board ships immediately, and for those units not yet combat-ready, to accelerate their pace.
Within six hours, I want all the standing forces on board and ready to depart at any moment.”
“Order, artillery equipment, and personnel to begin boarding immediately; this must be completed within six hours.”
“Order, the logistics fleet to immediately begin preparing supplies, with a priority on ensuring artillery ammunition.”
After issuing several orders in one breath, Gao Yang stood up and announced, “The combat plan remains unchanged, but the timing is advanced by forty-eight hours.
I declare this operation’s codename to be Lightning Speed!
Fellows, for this operation, every action must be swift.
Let’s strike with a lightning war.”
(To be continued.
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