First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 41
Chapter 41: Ambush
Lian Sheng raised her hand, pointing toward the Red Team's direction and declared, "Enemy forces approaching!"
The group stirred, all turning to look.
Lian Sheng continued, "Their movements have been detected by us, which means their initial plan has failed. We've seized the advantage to make the next strategic decision."
"The essence of ambush or surprise attack is to remain undetected by the enemy. However, if enemy scouts are observing the front lines while you're moving within their line of sight, no matter how light your footsteps or cautious your actions, the risk of exposure remains high."
Lian Sheng nodded sagely as she lectured, "This is where tactical versatility comes into play. Confuse their vision, feign attacks, create false impressions—as long as you can catch them off guard, victory will be in our hands."
Lian Sheng added, "Let this battle's finest sniper show you what effortless combat looks like. Whether ambushing or attacking, you must control the rhythm."
Jiang Jiake, standing nearby, was nearly frantic with impatience. Stamping his foot, he urged, "They're about to attack and you're still talking!"
Lian Sheng shot him a sidelong glance, perfectly composed as she said, "I told you to stay calm, don't panic. I still need to finish speaking."
Jiang Jiake retorted, "Then hurry up and explain the strategy!"
Someone who remains expressionless even with Mount Tai collapsing before them isn't necessarily calm—they might just be an idiot.
Explaining complex tactics—no, any tactic requiring more than three steps of coordinated timing and formation changes—to soldiers would only make them nervous and add to their pressure. Especially for these temporary troops with no prior experience working together.
With just over three hundred people, Lian Sheng didn't even need deputies—she could handle all deployments alone. They only needed to obey.
Lian Sheng raised her hand and commanded, "First, second, and third squad leaders, step forward!" Though there were only a few, she preferred calling them by number.
She walked toward the previously drawn map, the squad leaders quickly following. Using her gun barrel, she pointed at several spots on the ground: "Take your teams to these three positions and await orders. Respond swiftly when the time comes, and squad leaders must maintain formation control."
After speaking, Lian Sheng gestured for them to move out immediately.
"That's it?" The squad leaders exchanged bewildered glances, feeling uncertain. "Shouldn't you explain the plan first so we can prepare?"
"Unnecessary. It's very simple," Lian Sheng said. "When I say attack, you attack. When I say retreat, you retreat. Follow orders and obey commands."
Slinging her gun over her shoulder, Lian Sheng waved her left hand: "Everyone else, follow me."
The instructors watching this scene collectively sighed.
It seemed the White Team's counterattack had truly begun.
"I really..." an instructor shook his head, "rarely see such presence in young people."
Or rather, never.
Passionate yet perfectly composed. Steady yet daring. Confident without arrogance.
...Charismatic yet utterly infuriating.
Jiang Jiake, walking behind Lian Sheng, snorted, "You're being too lax. If something goes wrong, the fall will be even harder."
Zheng Lei hurried to keep up, whispering in her ear, "Yes, oh glorious Commander Lian, sometimes showboating comes with a price."
Jiang Jiake turned to glare at him fiercely. Zheng Lei pointed innocently at Lian Sheng: "I was reminding her."
The positions of the first three squads formed an equilateral triangle on the mountain's eastern side.
The first squad was on the left, the second about four hundred meters to the right, and the third at the apex above the midline between the first two.
The three squad leaders led their teams swiftly to their positions, set up their guns, and waited. Lian Sheng took the remaining troops leisurely toward another area.
The Red Team, being cautious scouts, advanced slowly. As they reached the critical central area without seeing anyone, their pace slowed further.
The Red Team squad leader frowned: "Stay alert, there might be an ambush."
White Team scouts hidden atop the mountain tracked their movements, reporting from a safe distance: "Enemy forces approaching, heading toward F1. Approximate position D6."
They seemed to be moving diagonally toward the center.
D6 was closest to the third squad's position.
Receiving no instructions from Lian Sheng, the third squad leader grew impatient: "Should I attack now?"
"No, hold position," Lian Sheng said. "Wait for them to get closer. First squad, advance."
Minutes later, the scouts updated the enemy's position—now about three to four hundred meters diagonally from the first squad.
Lu Mingyuan nodded in approval. Lian Sheng ordered: "First squad, move forward now. Put on a good act—pretend your ambush was discovered. Protect your heads."
The first squad members: "..."
Lian Sheng added: "Don't worry, just step on some twigs, kick a few rocks, then quickly hide behind trees. I trust your improvisational skills."
The first squad leader felt the pressure as he led his troop of aspiring actors forward.
The Red Team cautiously advanced until their squad leader suddenly stopped, pressing his ear to the ground to listen for distant movements. Seeing no one so far was highly unusual.
After a moment, he indeed heard scattered footsteps.
The squad leader jumped up: "Someone's coming, hide!"
The team scrambled for cover.
Soon, several figures emerged through the trees before stopping at a distance.
The first squad leader reached his designated spot but hesitated to advance further, reporting: "No enemies in sight."
Lian Sheng: "Good job, they've already spotted you."
First squad leader: "..."
Both sides remained still, hiding in the shadows while observing each other.
"Open fire, make some noise. Don't conserve ammo," Lian Sheng ordered. "Third squad leader, stay hidden and cut off their retreat path."
The third squad leader acknowledged and moved his team into position.
The first squad leader fired the initial shot, followed by his team. A one-sided assault erupted in the forest, though seemingly ineffective.
The squad leader reported miserably: "We're not hitting anything, Commander!"
"Have snipers suppress their movements while others slowly advance," Lian Sheng said helplessly. "You need to sell your determination to kill them. Just firing randomly looks suspicious."
The first squad leader complied, but their snipers weren't skilled enough. The Red Team leader remained vigilant, counterattacking as soon as he detected their intent.
Several White Team attempts ended in failure.
"Good, maintain this!"
The Red Team leader ordered: "Prepare to retreat!"
Ji Fangxiao asked over comms: "What's the situation?"
"The upper eastern area is mostly empty. They're probably gathered near the mountainside," the Red Team leader reported. "But we can't be certain—they might have detected us earlier."
Ji Fangxiao: "How many are ambushing you?"
Squad leader: "About one squad's strength."
Cheng Ze sensed something amiss: "If they spotted us, why only send one squad?"
"Report!" A scout above suddenly shouted. "I see movement uphill!"
The squad leader paused: "Looks like a diversion—they've got us semi-surrounded from above."
Ji Fangxiao: "How many?"
Squad leader: "Unknown yet. We'll probe forward."
The Red Team shifted positions while the first and third White squads concentrated firepower.
The experienced Red soldiers quickly adjusted formations, estimating enemy numbers from the gunfire density.
Listening to the gunfire over comms, Lian Sheng reminded: "Don't overcommit. All squads prioritize safety. Second squad leader, prepare to reinforce the first squad—make it loud."
The Red Team leader confirmed: "One squad attacking from above."
Ji Fangxiao sounded surprised: "Still just one squad?"
After exchanging fire with minimal gains, the Red leader reported: "Their defense is tight—we can't get kills. But their aggressive suppression fire limits our movements."
Of course their defense was tight—already outnumbered, they had to minimize casualties.
Ji Fangxiao mused: "They're probably buying time for reinforcements."
The Red leader agreed. Soon, movement sounded from deeper in the forest. A scout listened to the ground and reported: "Sounds like multiple people, somewhat chaotic."
"Fall back!" Ji Fangxiao sensed something odd. "Their forces are strangely dispersed—clearly planned."
Red leader: "Understood!"
Facing several unknown enemy squads with clear numerical advantage, the Red Team began retreating strategically.
Lian Sheng received the report, crouched in grass, and smiled: "All units feign pursuit but maintain distance. Protect your heads."
She turned: "Fourth, fifth, sixth squads—move out. These three positions—form a perfect encirclement."
The three squads advanced.
With only half their forces deployed, Jiang Jiake asked: "What about the others?"
Lian Sheng: "Shh—!"
Jiang Jiake: "..."
When the White Team's full assault came, the Red leader's composure finally shattered: "Dammit!"
All calculations collapsed in this moment.
Illusions! All illusions!
"We're completely surrounded—enemy numbers unknown," the Red leader took a deep breath. "This was intentional—we walked into an ambush! This definitely isn't Jiang Jiake commanding!"
Ji Fangxiao urgently asked: "How many? Over a hundred? Two hundred? Their full force?"
Red leader confirmed: "Under two hundred!"
Lian Sheng stood, announcing over comms: "In this situation, I won't tolerate casualties or allow breakthroughs! Pick your targets carefully—this is your chance for kills! Don't say I never gave you opportunities. Attack!!"
The White Team roared: "Attack—!"
Surrounded from all sides with no cover, the Red Team stood little chance against concentrated fire.
Within ten minutes of engagement, the entire Red scouting party was eliminated.
Watching enemies walk step-by-step into their trap before falling helplessly to gunfire brought incomparable satisfaction.
White soldiers approached the "corpses," cheering triumphantly.
Before Zheng Lei could speak, Lian Sheng cut in: "Say it—'flawless strategy.'"
Silence fell over the Red Team.
Ji Fangxiao exhaled: "Their combat style has completely changed. Definitely not Jiang Jiake commanding."
Others agreed.
One male student declared: "If that was Jiang Jiake, I'd wash his socks for a year."
Another quickly added: "Hell, I'd eat his shit for a year!"
The group: "..."
"Uh..." the first student awkwardly clarified, "Not that there's any chance, don't look at me like that."
"They changed commanders mid-battle?" Ye Buqing exclaimed. "That's never happened before! And the drawbacks are huge."
Ji Fangxiao pondered: "Jiang Jiake wouldn't voluntarily relinquish command. No commander would."
Ye Buqing said: "Something feels off. They only deployed about a hundred—likely less than half their force."
Zhao Zhuoluo remarked: "This feels like Lian Sheng's style. Deceptive and unpredictable."
Cheng Ze suddenly said: "I have a bold theory—what if they have two commanders?"
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