First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Ambush

The group frowned as they pondered her words.

She had outlined the general strategy but hadn't specified the operational details yet.

Disrupting vision, controlling tempo...

"You mean setting up ambushes using terrain like before?" Ye Buqing said gravely. "But that's too slow, and there aren't many suitable positions - too limiting. The match might end before we score many points."

"We don't need such strict conditions now. Before we hid for safety, but now we're taking the initiative." Lian Sheng extended a finger. "Now we just need two criteria for our positions."

Lian Sheng continued: "First, avoid the main combat zones. We need relatively fewer people. Can be near main paths to ensure targets pass by for luring them in. But hiding spots must remain as inconspicuous as possible."

Lu Mingyuan nodded. This was essential. With their small numbers now, they couldn't afford direct confrontations.

"Second, positions unfavorable for long-range shooting." Lian Sheng said. "Space shouldn't be too open, must provide cover. Preferably areas with tall grass or large obstructions."

Lian Sheng turned to ask: "Senior Lu, any locations meet these conditions?"

Lu Mingyuan nodded: "Quite a few actually."

"Then no problem. For tools, the mountain provides everything - rocks, vines, whatever we need can become our implements." Lian Sheng stood up. "Let's move out now."

The mountain had abundant vines. They gathered several nearby, though these particular vines weren't very sturdy, their climbing stems somewhat tender. They stripped off leaves and twisted multiple strands together. While not as good as proper rope, it would serve.

Lu Mingyuan then led them to suitable ambush spots. After scouting the area, they confirmed the locations would work.

Preparations complete, awaiting execution.

They needed to select someone to act as bait at the intersection to lure enemies. Zheng Lei volunteered enthusiastically for this cannon fodder role, which thus fell honorably upon his shoulders.

Zheng Lei checked his gun before heading out. Finally his moment to shine had come, and he asked nervously: "How should I draw aggro? Any special techniques?"

Lian Sheng: "Shoot once?"

Zheng Lei: "What if I actually hit someone?"

The group: "..."

"Oh..." Zheng Lei felt stupid and slapped his forehead.

He estimated about a hundred meters from the intersection to the ambush point. This wouldn't be easy.

Everyone took positions and signaled him to proceed.

Zheng Lei went to the designated spot, hiding behind a tree at the intersection to wait.

Over ten minutes passed without suitable targets. Though many students passed by, the instructors were more cautious, deliberately avoiding areas that might conceal snipers.

He mentally reviewed Lian Sheng's instructions: "Groups of three or more - don't engage. Too risky. Beyond twenty meters range - don't engage. Running too far would make them suspicious."

Zheng Lei's finger rested on the trigger as time crawled by. Every passerby felt like a missed opportunity.

Nervous sweat dampened his palms. He clenched his fists, letting the protective gloves absorb the moisture.

Ambushes tested not just patience but endurance too.

Stay calm. Don't act impulsively. No compromises.

After another ten minutes of intense focus, Zheng Lei finally spotted two figures ascending the mountain wearing instructors' gear.

The pair glanced roadside but didn't detour, instead breaking into a run to quickly traverse the area.

Zheng Lei angled his gun toward them.

Between the moving targets and his own tension about missing this chance, his unsteady aim sent the bullet landing ahead of them.

The instructors simultaneously turned toward him.

Zheng Lei stomped in frustration before grabbing his gun and running. The two instructors immediately gave chase.

In such terrain, the simplest evasion tactic was avoiding straight paths. Zigzag through densest vegetation, minimize exposing your back.

Against ordinary opponents, random shots might hit someone running like this, but instructors rarely fired without clear shots to conserve ammo and maintain standards.

Zheng Lei gripped his gun, legs pumping furiously. But his footing was unsteady amid the uneven, overgrown path. Maintaining balance forced awkward movements that slowed him down.

The instructors closed in rapidly. Just as one raised his weapon, Zheng Lei finally reached the ambush point.

His heart pounding wildly, Zheng Lei lunged left behind shrubbery to break line of sight.

Meng Jiangwu and Shen Yu, hidden in the bushes, signaled each other before yanking the vine taut. The sprinting instructor didn't see the vine camouflaged in grass. His foot caught, sending him stumbling.

Ambush!

He didn't panic, using his momentum to roll clear of the spot.

Assuming a sniper lurked nearby, he thought he'd be safe once out of their sightlines.

But when no expected shot came, he looked up to see two dark figures pouncing instead.

One pinned his gun hand while another pressed a knee into his neck from behind, immobilizing him.

The instructor's eyes widened in realization. "Holy— hand-to-hand? Are you kidding me?"

Hand-to-hand combat? In this match?

Before he could struggle, a third person emerged, brandishing a wooden knife to tap his head three times.

Everything happened so fast it defied the instructor's expectations.

The trailing instructor had stopped earlier, planning to pinpoint enemy positions from the gunfire to counter-snipe. He'd identified several likely ambush spots from where his partner tripped. Rifle ready, senses sharpened, he instead heard his partner's shout.

Hand-to-hand? What?

Advancing cautiously to investigate, two bullets suddenly whizzed toward him—not from his anticipated positions, but from his left and upper left.

These angles suggested they weren't covering his partner's position, but specifically waiting for him.

Realization struck—this was a trap.

Ducking behind a tree, he called out: "Hey?"

No response meant his partner was likely eliminated. He immediately retreated.

As he moved, bullets pursued relentlessly, herding him forward.

"Damn it!" the instructor swore through gritted teeth. Must be nice having ammo to burn!

Fortunately, the dense obstacles and his evasive maneuvers meant only one grazing hit turned his signal light from green to yellow before he escaped.

Perhaps beyond their firing range now, the shots ceased. Remaining alert, he continued moving quickly.

The gunfire had driven him blindly through the woods. Disoriented, he scanned for landmarks while running.

Another suspicious thicket ahead. Though he'd put distance between them, and doubted further ambushes, caution born from his partner's fate made him adopt bounding strides. This also meant each footfall landed heavily.

Thus when his foot next came down on sharply uneven rocks, he couldn't adjust in time—his ankle twisted sideways.

Face darkening, the instructor stabilized himself. Solid stance prevented a fall, but as he instinctively glanced down, a bullet struck his back.

His signal light flashed from yellow to red. One more hit would eliminate him.

"GODDAMN—!" the instructor finally exploded.

Since when had these brats become so troublesome? How far did these traps extend?

Hidden nearby, Lian Sheng reloaded calmly. Denying him recovery time, she fired again immediately.

The instructor barely stabilized himself before leaning back sharply to dodge.

Lian Sheng adjusted and fired once more.

But her follow-up came slightly too slow—the instructor pushed off hard with his heels, diving forward into a roll that brought him behind another tree.

The assault finally ceased.

Silence reclaimed the woods, broken only by wind through leaves.

Back against the trunk, the instructor checked his ankle and exhaled deeply.

Those three shots had revealed Lian Sheng's position clearly. Rifle ready, breath held, he prepared to retaliate.

Before he could aim, a barrage of gunfire erupted toward him.

The shooter's accuracy was mediocre but their ammo expenditure extravagant. At this range and density, misses were impossible.

Stunned, the instructor belatedly looked up to spot someone perched in the tree ahead. The sparse foliage offered poor concealment—had he looked properly earlier, he'd have noticed.

But by the time realization dawned, he was already "dead."

With the target neutralized, Lian Sheng emerged from cover, rifle slung over her shoulder. She crouched before the instructor, surveying him sympathetically. "People always watch the ground but forget to look up. Fleeing wolves behind, they stumble into tigers ahead. Because vigilance and patience can be worn down gradually."

One remains alert once, twice, perhaps even thrice. But repetition breeds complacency eventually.

Instructor: "..."

Lu Mingyuan slid down from the tree, rubbing his stiff limbs after sitting still so long.

Lian Sheng searched the instructor for ammo. Only three rounds remained in his magazine, but twenty more were stashed in his chest pocket.

Freshly deployed then.

She shook her head at him. "Pitiful."

Instructor: "..."

He wasn't actually dead yet! There'd be reckoning later!

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