First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 101
Chapter 101: Attack
The Xia team originally had five hundred people coming for the surprise attack, with about two hundred casualties during the gunfight. Of the remaining three hundred, two hundred retreated to their own territory and temporarily joined another company to prepare for a strong assault. The remaining hundred, with the help of third-party intelligence, bypassed the company's search squads and took a detour to the installation point of the Sixth Company's signal converter.
They generally knew the approximate range where the converter could be installed, but the device itself wasn't large, and with the complex and ever-changing urban map, it would be hard to find without knowing the exact target location. A thorough search would also risk exposing their movements.
Ironically, the first batch of Sixth Company installation personnel Lian Sheng selected were actually from the Xia team.
Seeing how meticulously Lian Sheng had arranged personnel assignments, gone to great lengths to keep intelligence secret, and painstakingly chosen a concealed location for the device, they couldn't contain their excitement.
This was their chance to remove the enemy's converter, cutting off the Sixth Company's command and throwing them into chaos. Once one company was defeated, a gap would appear on the map, allowing them to easily penetrate deep into enemy territory and determine the course of the latter half...
They would win this in one decisive move, quickly ending the match and celebrating with triumphant songs.
Meanwhile, Lian Sheng and Fang Jianchen successfully rendezvoused near the converter. They hid behind a GG-brand billboard, peeking out cautiously.
Fang Jianchen nudged her and said, "Tighten up! You're going to get us exposed!"
"..." Lian Sheng replied, "Please demonstrate how to 'tighten up' horizontally."
Fang Jianchen took a deep breath, straightened into a rigid line, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "What exactly are we waiting for here?"
Lian Sheng explained, "The opposing team came straight for the Sixth Company right from the start. That means there must be a mole in the Sixth Company. Even after knowing the Sixth Company changed locations, they still didn't alter their target. After being pursued by our forces, they deliberately split their team, leaving some soldiers in our territory. What does that tell you?"
Fang Jianchen: "Okay, stop, I get it now."
"When you have too many advantages, you tend to let your guard down and stop verifying the authenticity of intelligence," Lian Sheng said. "They know how to use spies, but do they know what counter-espionage is?"
Fang Jianchen glanced around and asked, "It's just the two of us? The other two companies aren't coming to guard this place? If they're not coming, shouldn't they at least get closer? Why did you position them so far apart?"
Their map was shared by the regular soldiers. Moving the two companies guarding the signal tower down to the Sixth Company's position now would only alert the enemy.
Currently, the First Company was at the upper right of their formation, and the Seventh Company was at the lower left. Their position was slightly to the right and lower, quite distant from both companies.
"We're enough. I called you here to give you a great opportunity to rack up kills." Lian Sheng pointed at him, then at herself, nodding. "Fang Jianyue, Fang Jianchen—other names clearly don't fit our team."
Fang Jianchen asked in confusion, "What Fang Jianyue?"
Lian Sheng: "A genius who once existed in this world."
Fang Jianchen immediately became wary: "...You didn't use my name to swindle people, did you?"
Ignoring him, Lian Sheng pointed ahead: "Shh! Look, they're here."
A few dozen scattered soldiers swiftly passed through the intersection ahead and charged straight into the nearby greenbelt. The leader then pushed aside the bushes and raised his gun in a shooting stance.
Seeing this, Lian Sheng quietly reported: "The Sixth Company's converter has been removed."
Zhou Shirui quickly cut off the Sixth Company's communication signals.
Lian Sheng then contacted a previously appointed supervisor and ordered: "Prepare to begin removal now."
Two seconds later, a report came through the channel: "Commander, the enemy converter has been removed!"
Lian Sheng nodded: "Received."
The enemy team, to ensure normal communication during their raid, must have also installed converters along their route. With their path and scout feedback, it wasn't hard to locate them.
She adjusted her position, ready to pull the trigger.
Having successfully completed their mission, the Xia team members reported to their allies and prepared to leave triumphantly. Suddenly, their communicators fell silent, not even the hum of static remaining.
The abrupt disconnection from the world sent a chill down the soldiers' spines. One pressed his communicator and asked, "What's going on?"
The company commander remained unfazed: "Don't panic. Our converter must have been removed too. It's fine—the Third Company will bring a new one soon. Find cover and wait for communications to restore."
As he stepped forward, a glint of light caught the corner of his eye. Two bullet trajectories simultaneously struck his forehead.
The company commander fell backward, eliminated.
The remaining soldiers were thrown into disarray.
With comrades falling around them, they panicked. One soldier shouted: "Get down! Take cover first!"
The group immediately scattered.
"Don't run off in all directions—we don't know if there are more ambushes around!" A relatively calm soldier temporarily assumed command. "Find positions to assess the situation and wait for communications to restore!"
Fortunately, their previous position was advantageous, so most took cover in the nearby greenbelt. The enemy's concentrated fire eventually ceased.
One soldier called out: "How many are there?"
Another replied: "No idea!"
"Judging by the firing rate, at least four to six."
"Have you confirmed their direction and position?"
"...How could we?"
The calm soldier shifted his crouching position, running through the situation in his mind. A cold realization struck him: "Shit, they watched us remove the converter and only cut our signal after we reported success—they planned this. They must have already installed a second one nearby!"
He continued speculating, growing increasingly uneasy: "If our forces are attacking the Sixth Company now, they might feign retreat to lure us deeper, then surround and strike. We might have walked into a trap..."
"But how did they know? Do we have a mole too?"
The soldier slapped his thigh: "I knew it! Someone as sneaky as the Piaoqi Great General wouldn't just take this lying down! With so many military academy students on the Xia team, it'd be weird if none of them tipped her off!"
The others panicked: "Report this now!"
"Report how? Our converter just got taken out!"
Meanwhile, the advancing Sixth Company also halted.
"Hello? Hello?" A soldier called out. "Why is it silent? Was our signal converter cut?"
"There are still Xia team members behind us? Isn't our base in danger then?"
"What do we do now? We've lost command."
"Where's the company commander? The commander should step up now! Staying mysterious isn't helping!"
A soldier timidly asked: "How did they find our converter so fast? Wasn't only one person supposed to know its location?"
"So we really have a spy?"
Everyone turned to look at a certain soldier in an officer's uniform, who quickly shook his head: "Not me, really not me."
Ji Fangxiao waited a moment, giving him time to relay information. When he felt it was enough, he stepped forward and shot the soldier responsible for installation.
Blood sprayed out as those nearby screamed and backed away.
Through his personal comms, Ji Fangxiao received a scout's report: "Sixth Company, enemy forces approaching one kilometer ahead—estimated two companies."
Ji Fangxiao shouted: "Stay calm—I'm your acting company commander! Everyone follow my orders: prepare to retreat! Withdraw in an orderly manner—avoid engagement now!"
He stayed at the rear, urging the soldiers forward: "Advance straight ahead—reinforcements await! Maintain formation—don't scatter! Move! Double time!"
Uncertain if more enemy spies remained in the Sixth Company, they chose not to restore communications until the enemy was lured into the trap.
Meanwhile, at the map's midpoint...
Lian Sheng and Fang Jianchen, capitalizing on the scattered soldiers' confusion, began relocating toward the left side of the camp to rendezvous with the lower-left forces.
Checking the map and reviewing the situation in her mind, Lian Sheng issued new orders: "All Seventh Company members, begin moving left from your current positions. Maintain speed and await my attack command. Brother Liang, you know your actual position, right?"
Bright Bulb: "Understood!"
Lian Sheng: "First Company brothers, prepare. Timing and troop arrangement are up to you."
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger: "No problem."
Lian Sheng continued: "Left flank columns—Second, Fourth, and Fifth Companies! Temporarily slow your advance! After receiving First Company's signal, prepare to defend downward!"
The company commanders: "Roger."
Lian Sheng: "Sixth Company, Sixth Company—turn left after the third intersection."
Ji Fangxiao said: "Understood. You can reopen our company's comms now—I need to issue orders."
By now, the Xia team had entered their target zone.
The Sixth Company's comms crackled back to life with heavy breathing before a soldier suddenly covered his mouth with a surprised "Huh?"
Signals seemed normal again.
Lian Sheng's voice came through: "Comms are live—Sixth Company, stand by. Follow your commander's instructions—we're counterattacking now."
"Wait, correction." Lian Sheng said. "We're attacking."
They arranged their forces in a tiered defensive formation, determined to exhaust all thousand enemy soldiers here.
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Go general !!!
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