First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 220

Chapter 220: Ambush

Lian Sheng chatted with the overall commander for a moment, checked the time, said goodbye, and prepared to head back.

The overall commander said: "If you have any questions you don't understand, just ask the people next to you. The current battle situation has eased; not all teams will face combat situations. Idle squads will be on standby; you can ask available commanders to help you strategize."

Lian Sheng: "Yes, understood, thank you."

When she returned to the command room, Lu Mingyuan and Zhou Shirui were also there.

They originally wanted to find Lian Sheng, but found she wasn't in the dormitory, so they guessed she should be here. However, upon arriving at the command room, they didn't see Lian Sheng either. Their first reaction was that they must have overthought last night, leading to a collective hallucination.

The sound of heartbroken shattering.

So when they saw Lian Sheng, their expressions carried a hint of grievance.

Lian Sheng: "..."

Lian Sheng asked: "Looking for me?"

"Wanted to familiarize you with the main ship," Zhou Shirui said. "The facilities here, locations, including opening times and such. Although the frontline squads on the main ship are relatively free, the time divisions are also very strict. If you miss it, you miss it."

Lu Mingyuan: "So if you can't make it for mealtime, remember to give us a heads-up in advance to buy food."

Lian Sheng nodded: "Okay, okay, okay."

Thus, Lu Mingyuan and Zhou Shirui took her for a couple of rounds here first.

Walking all the way up, they started exploring from the public area on the third floor. When they reached the main hall on the first floor, they saw several people from their own team.

Zhao Zhuoluo and the others were fine, clearly waiting nearby. Judging from their restless limbs, they were currently hovering on the edge of ending their friendship.

Fang Jianchen and Cheng Ze, wearing loose casual pants, were engrossed in critiquing the wall panel opposite them, faces showing smug expressions.

Lian Sheng walked over: "What are you doing?"

"I say," Fang Jianchen shook his head disdainfully, clicking his tongue. "These aren't impressive enough."

Lian Sheng: "What is this?"

Above was a data board, just like the grade rankings back then. Lian Sheng felt her teeth ache looking at it.

Lined up neatly, the front showed the team number, followed by team member names, and then a string of strange numbers.

Lu Mingyuan explained: "This is the ranking of the Expeditionary Force squads. Judged based on the enemy mechs, weapons, equipment, etc., they destroyed."

Lian Sheng asked: "The number of people in each team is different?"

"Depends on their own pairing habits, not mandatory," Ye Buqing said. "It's also related to the team's function and main attack direction. For example, there's a team with three snipers and three scouts that uses a hit-and-run style involving high-speed circling and ambushing as their main combat method. Fast attack, fast fight—they're also very famous."

Lian Sheng: "...Sounds quite impressive."

Ye Buqing smiled: "It is quite impressive. Mechs have many possibilities. Shooting, close combat, speed—as long as you master one aspect, you can use your advantage to compensate for your weaknesses. And reasonably matched teammates will also cover your shortcomings. In a team, you just need to do what you're good at."

So team collaboration ability, frankly speaking, is more important than individual ability.

"Finally don't have to go into the city to mediate soldier-civilian situations anymore." Fang Jianchen looked at the board with a sigh, turned his head: "Commander, Commander, I have a request."

Lian Sheng said dominantly: "Speak."

Fang Jianchen fawned like a lackey: "Our team's name, can it appear on this board?"

Lian Sheng humbly rubbed her chin and smiled: "Easy, easy."

Fang Jianchen: "Wondering how long it will take?"

Lian Sheng: "That depends on after I've observed the situation here."

"I'm not doubting the commander's level, but Commander, the time left for us might not be much," Ji Ban said seriously beside her. "Maxwell might decide to transfer anytime. Because the current battle situation is tense, the frequency of firing between both sides isn't high, and firing doesn't mean much. Barite can just wear them down casually; Maxwell is finding it hard to hold on."

Maxwell lacked sufficient troops. The mech teams "leased" from the Alliance naturally required payment.

Was there anything more expensive in this world than a mech team?

The Alliance wouldn't give up this great opportunity. After all, Gelen had previously snatched considerable resources from them. Grab while grabbing, earn back a little is a little. Besides, this was equivalent to trading lives.

Unfortunately, the development of this transaction wasn't entirely satisfactory.

Barite knew his opponent's fatal weakness, so he employed the "delay" tactic. Everything focused on defense, feint attacks, expressing attitude while refusing damaging frontal conflicts.

Maxwell had no direct command authority over these temporarily hired mech soldiers. And the Alliance, when facing the safety of its own soldiers, also adopted a relatively conservative strategy.

The usually decisive Gelen military department acting coyly had a significant effect. The interests of both sides strangely aligned, making Maxwell's position very awkward.

Calculating the daily expenses, the blood flowing from Maxwell's heart these past few days could probably fill several large bowls.

But no one liked being the sucker. If this continued, the transaction between Maxwell and the Alliance would inevitably crack.

The worst outcome was breaking off relations, which was what Barite most wanted to see.

Maxwell was now riding a tiger, difficult to get off. Thinking of his predicament, Lian Sheng felt a trace of happiness deep down, but also knew things couldn't go on like this.

Lian Sheng said: "Return to the command room, prepare, analyze the current situation."

The others nodded.

Lu Mingyuan and Zhou Shirui followed her back; the rest went to the warehouse to retrieve mechs and prepare for standby.

Lian Sheng returned to Command Console 14, stood behind the position, carefully examining the image in the map model. Lu Mingyuan explained the general buttons and functions beside her, as well as things to note in the command room, including how to file reports and applications, and the detailed rules for the main commander's permissible authority.

The current commander of Console 14 was having the squad conduct patrols. They hadn't found any anomalies, nor initiated any attacks. After half a day of rest and reorganization, the handover occurred punctually at noon.

The three sat down in their positions, beginning to take over the defense line of the target point.

"Always assisting others, finally have my own position," Lu Mingyuan couldn't contain his excitement. "They are already in position."

Seven mechs stood along the outer perimeter of a nearby hill.

The soil on this hill was too hard, more like rock, lacking nutrients. Bombed repeatedly, basically no vegetation grew. However, the ground was covered in thriving weeds.

Ahead of them was slightly higher rocky ground, littered with cratered marks from bombing.

From Lu Mingyuan's map, this area had undulating terrain. About twenty kilometers ahead was a small squad base of Gelen.

No surveillance equipment was found within ten kilometers. Looks like both sides got along very harmoniously.

Lian Sheng shook her head; the headset was a bit uncomfortable.

She pulled up the large map, scanned it from top to bottom.

Cheng Ze asked: "What now?"

Lian Sheng: "Fight!"

The overall commander glanced her way.

Lian Sheng seemed not to feel it, continuing: "Someone has to make the first move. Newborn calves aren't afraid of tigers. Let me test the waters first."

Now the commanders beside her also looked at her.

This psychological quality was really good, still so young. Wouldn't collapse later, right?

"Everyone listen to my command!"

Lian Sheng pressed both hands on the console, ready to act anytime, methodically: "Fang Jianchen, sniper position ready, mission primarily cover. Ye Buqing, take the lead, go probe the opponent's situation, be careful to maintain distance, retreat immediately if counterattacked. Cornell, you and Harry ambush at the rear center position, prepare to help intercept if pursued, still prioritize retreat and defense. Zhao Zhuoluo and Cheng Ze, follow Ye Buqing all the way, maintain about two kilometers distance, provide support depending on the situation. Ji Ban, you wait on the flank first. If the opponent pursues out, you go probe their base."

Everyone: "Yes!"

A commander beside said: "Full of fighting spirit."

Indeed full of fighting spirit. The Alliance usually fought relatively conservatively. Even attacks weren't intense, mostly aimed at harassment. Battle results weren't significant, at most consuming some of the opponent's weapons and expressing their determination not to yield.

Barite was practically a tycoon in terms of weapon output. Even if mech performance and operation skills couldn't compare, they started bombarding wildly from long range. If attacking forcefully, controlling casualties was somewhat difficult.

So if the opponent didn't attack proactively, no one was willing to lead their teammates to death first.

The overall commander had also arranged several group assaults. But because the battlefield was set in the suburbs, the opponent's weapon depots could be moved anytime; there were no strongholds needing forceful defense. Encountering attacks, they directly retreated flexibly. So the effect wasn't great, all avoided painlessly.

Clearly, Barite's soldiers receiving feedback were also very surprised. When the Fengyi was still eleven kilometers away, it entered their line of sight. They immediately entered combat readiness state; soldiers were already slowly moving outwards.

"Opponent attacked proactively? Forceful attack? Need to send warning?"

"No, currently looks like just one, coming from the southeast direction."

"One unit?"

"Yes, temporarily one Fengyi. Oh, now three units. One heavy armor, one assault type. Judging from the combination, shouldn't be group attack, but squad assault."

"Just three units? Testing the waters, right? Either more mechs ambushing behind, waiting to lure us out of this point. Or purely foolish."

"Cannot let opponent grasp initiative; start full pursuit now. Since opponent came proactively, we won't be polite taking them down!"

Zhou Shirui was responsible for Ye Buqing's perspective. He quickly started remodeling based on radar display, reminding: "Opponent pursuing very actively."

"Then we also need to be active," Lian Sheng said. "Ye Buqing, run!"

Ye Buqing turned and fled. Zhao Zhuoluo and Cheng Ze behind also started accelerating retreat.

"Start timing now," Lian Sheng said. "Opponent attacked very decisively, and sent six mechs at once. Actions forceful, indicates high confidence in their defense line."

"Red is their defense line. They will deploy forces between any two points on the line. Although the distance between both sides isn't too close, as long as a certain amount of time is gained, reinforcements will come support," Zhou Shirui said. "Each base's forces aren't very strong, but forcefully breaking through has little meaning. As long as the situation turns bad, they will transfer weapon depots, change defense lines, conduct secondary layout."

Lu Mingyuan said: "They are always very aggressive in counterattacks, always counterattacking with the attitude of harvesting a wave of mechs opportunistically. Unless escaping the opponent's attack sight, otherwise they will bite you like mad dogs."

"It's a warning, psychological deterrence," Lian Sheng asked. "Does Barite have that many mechs?"

Lu Mingyuan said: "After all, years of combat preparation without slackening, stored weapons must be numerous. And many here are old model mechs, combined with new weapons."

Because Ye Buqing left very early, almost retreating when the opponent started moving, the opponent calculated the data, found Fengyi speed too fast, feasibility of pursuit low, so directly turned back. Support naturally wouldn't appear.

Lian Sheng said: "Ye Buqing stop, you go alone. Try advancing two kilometers forward first."

Ye Buqing: "Okay."

Ye Buqing tentatively advanced again. Zhao Zhuoluo and Cheng Ze continued retreating, rendezvousing with Cornell and the other two.

Opponent saw Ye Buqing return, didn't care if it was a trap, pursued out again.

After exceeding pursuable distance, again decisively gave up.

Lian Sheng said: "Continue shortening by two kilometers."

Ye Buqing obeyed, tentatively closing in again.

They constantly lured the opponent in and out, and the opponent also tirelessly played along with them.

Until Ye Buqing deliberately lagged slightly in distance, causing rear personnel to quickly catch up, entering their attack range.

In an instant, truly just an instant, Fengyi data screen turned red, number of targets aiming exceeded five.

Ye Buqing accelerated fully, escaping the range. Simultaneously countless cannon fire landed closely behind his heels.

Dust obscured vision, vast expanse began to rise.

Lian Sheng listened to the continuous sound, her entire skull vibrated slightly.

Opponent's attack truly merciless, also unsparing. Just aimed at the pursuable violation, used all available weapons.

Lian Sheng observed the enemy mechs from Fengyi's rear perspective.

Those mechs weren't new, semi-old state, but should have undergone speed enhancement. Slightly slower than Fengyi, slightly faster than ordinary Pojun.

Looked defensively weak, relied on weapons and speed. Typical long-range attack type mech, simultaneously understood using own attacks to grasp own initiative.

"Measure opponent's furthest attack distance," Lian Sheng raised an eyebrow. "Center personnel prepare interception, opponent already attacking. Snipers in position. Cover each other, then retreat towards respective squad directions."

Overall commander said: "Do not engage in frontal conflict; opponent will conduct firepower confrontation."

Lian Sheng: "Be careful. Begin orderly retreat."

Lu Mingyuan: "Enemy support troops arrived."

"Calculate their arrival time now," Lian Sheng said. "But this time inaccurate. Probed several times earlier; opponent might have hesitated midway, then came over."

"Moshi pay attention hide figure, retreat from flank, be careful not expose," Lian Sheng said. "Everyone disperse. Pursuit personnel not many. Fengyi if speed allows, try kite them, test their equippable weapon inventory."

This time Gelen military pursued fiercely. Cheng Ze drove heavy armor; due to speed issue, became target of all.

To preserve equipment as much as possible, only Fang Jianchen and Zhao Zhuoluo few assisted from side. Finally ran nearly hundred kilometers before Gelen military behind withdrew.

First probing attack, Lian Sheng's squad successfully retreated with slightly battered appearance.

Subsequently several people returned to defense point, reorganized team statistics data.

Lian Sheng silent moment said: "Remember day I came was raining."

Lu Mingyuan said: "Right, here either heavy rain or scorching sun. Day you came rained, I checked weather forecast two days later still heavy rain."

Lian Sheng nodded thoughtfully.

Commanders quietly looked her.

Lian Sheng pursed lips, buried head map drawing unknown lines. Looked map's local pictures very carefully, compared pre-post battle, but everyone didn't know what she looking at, just looked very invested.

Concealment, this must be concealment. See through not say through.

Everyone thought her confidence suffered setback this time, temporarily wouldn't make move. Secretly shook heads chuckled, young people just young people, command not joke, how can act so recklessly?

Result one hour later, Lian Sheng looked up asked: "Finished resting? If finished resting prepare again. Formation same, retreat route see my map markings. Mainly Fengyi use speed kite them walk. Heavy armor forget it, heavy armor you find place hide play yourself."

Cheng Ze: "..."

Heavy armor ate his family's rice?

Cornell asked: "Need me switch sniper type mech?"

"That's great," Lian Sheng said. "This way, Cornell switch Fengyi, follow Ye Buqing kite people together, Harry switch Qixing, cover Fang Jianchen from side."

Cheng Ze said: "I can also switch Fengyi."

Lian Sheng: "Best not. Heavy armor can stay team raise defense line bit, stabilize morale. Special situation you come out stabilize overall situation."

Only then Cheng Ze reluctantly accepted: "Fine then."

Went mech storage base, finished switching mechs, Lian Sheng squad's another harassment action began.

This time, with two Fengyi present, Ye Buqing clearly experienced their squad leading the Gelen soldiers around, constantly meandering at the foot of the mountain.

Time after time brushed past cannon fire, finally Gelen's several mechs, because insufficient weapon inventory, forced abandon pursuit, turned back.

Both sides again returned respective positions.

Entire process Lian Sheng very calm, her team members also no objection. Basically followed route she drew, completed her requirements.

But colleagues command room always watching their squad, felt every moment experiencing fear like walking tightrope. Because Lian Sheng's too calm emotion, caused them become abnormally excited.

Too dangerous! Kiting fun? Play like this game fine, game reality same? Inside mech sitting living person! Still her classmates!

They strongly felt, this group excellent team members!

During the pursuit battle, how many times did they brush past cannon fire, how many times did they face the opponent's concentrated bombardment? Sand and rocks rolled down around them; suddenly, a huge boulder emerged ahead, blocking their path. But those few never wavered in the slightest. Relying on perfect, precise operation, they repeatedly shook off their opponent's attacks and dealt with the frontal pursuit.

Group people returned original place started resting, already reached dinner time.

Four people responsible supervision lookout, other few received lunch, sat own mech's shoulder, ate facing wind.

Lian Sheng single hand received delivery personnel's boxed lunch, opened lid said: "Opponent now should know, their operation cannot compare us. Pursuit wanting effective result not high."

Zhao Zhuoluo asked: "Still continue?"

"Continue, and see what the opponent's stance is. Will they continue the pursuit at full speed with complete weapons, or will they replace the guard personnel here and dispatch elite troops to counterattack our harassment? Or," Lian Sheng mumbled through a mouthful of rice, "will they simply use this to mobilize large forces and engage our army in a large-scale battle? Of course, the third option isn't likely."

Opponent wished continue consuming. Wasting bit weapon what? Although heart unhappy, knew Alliance deliberately consuming their weapons, but better than mech loss after frontal battle.

Continue while longer, estimated Maxwell will give up first.

Zhao Zhuoluo said: "They also might transfer weapon depot. Gelen military's bases weapon depots can move freely."

"Generally speaking won't. Because one point moves, they need redesign defense line distance. And opponent even if withdrew, clearly my army can still continue pursuit. Opponent initially acted so forcefully, just wanted grasp initiative, unlikely own not clearly disadvantaged situation, make compromise retreat behavior, shake own team morale," Lian Sheng said. "I guess their combat style team declaration very obvious. Our fishing style offense, from their perspective, not necessarily not opportunity."

Even if initial secondary pursuit, dense cannon fire failed keep them, but third fourth time not necessarily.

Often walk river bank, how not get shoes wet? Always time they cry. Lian Sheng dared continue play, believe Gelen military willing continue pursue.

They weren't afraid of the Alliance's reckless behavior, but they also wouldn't let them succeed easily.

Lian Sheng finished eating own meal few bites, placed box foot side, waiting robot come collect.

Distance shift change, still three hours.

She moment not leave stared map, then said: "How friends, night mode come again?"

The commanders were all puzzled.

Finally person beside couldn't hold back asked: "What exactly you doing? Long time use thruster run, huge energy consumption mech. Besides I must remind you, play fire easy self-immolate, you kite opponent's weapons run like this, very easy really hurt self."

Lian Sheng said: "Borrow their cannon, loosen soil here."

Everyone: "Ah?"

Overall commander spoke: "Lian Sheng, explain own action purpose now, only then I can approve your next instruction."

"The Alliance military always needs to show its strength; continuing like this offers no benefit. If they don't achieve some results against Barite soon, I think our negotiations with Maxwell will also become unpleasant. So, we're starting with small mech squads first," Lian Sheng said seriously, still looking at her own screen. "I'm harassing them to make them lower their guard, waiting for the next move."

Small squad commander pointed screen: "This also called relax their vigilance?"

If provoking them from time to time, stirring up the opponent's anger, and forcing the opponent to transfer support to jointly defend the base—if *that's* also called relaxing their vigilance—then what the heck *is* vigilance anyway?

"How not?" Lian Sheng said, "Person's attention will be diverted. Especially targeting same matter, same environment, make same response later, will habitually ignore certain inherent information. Especially when my side soldier's operation, attracted opponent most firepower time, easier achieve own purpose."

Lian Sheng turned around said: "Rather than give opponent chaotic information let opponent choose, expect he will make wrong choice from it. Better erase redundant information from options, this way relatively blank slate, more suitable us modify confuse. Is relax opponent's guard."

Overall commander pondered moment, said: "I need hear your arrangement first."

Evening 8 o'clock, second shift commander came replace.

Opponent slept nap, spirit much better. But long term high pressure state, made face present kind pale feeling.

When he walked command room, found overall atmosphere not quite right, almost no one spoke, but also not that dangerous tense feeling.

Somewhat baffled, the commander looked around but received no answer. He looked towards Lian Sheng again, wondering if the newcomer who had just arrived was causing trouble.

Subsequently Lian Sheng stood up from seat, gave own seat him.

That commander pulled chair sat down, used night vision lens looked map situation, couldn't help widen eyes, surprised "yi"-ed sound.

"Why so messy? Fought?" He looked ground various fine gravel, surprised: "Situation how? Appeared dangerous situation? Team members injured? Look this broken degree, should fought very intense! How I didn't receive message?"

Lian Sheng said: "Fine. Right, site don't clean, just leave like this thank you. Tomorrow I return need use."

That person turned back looked Lian Sheng: "These broken stones don't clean? Mech movement very limited right?"

Lian Sheng: "Fine, I think opponent tonight opponent will very quiet."

Opponent didn't know Alliance side rotation time, so didn't know these few people already swapped off field. Daytime harassed Lian Sheng enough, also couldn't figure out her details, shouldn't proactively attack.

Second day still sunny.

Lian Sheng had Ji Ban go warehouse receive many discarded batteries, also received some materials, placed separate warehouse use preparation.

Lian Sheng after taking shift, used same method, went harass same point Gelen soldiers, ran still same route.

But because here road surface blasted uneven, Lian Sheng let Ye Buqing try pull distance far, safety first.

This time distance controlled not so precise, opponent also didn't waste excessive cannon fire, so battle situation not previous day intense.

But opponent original pursuit six person team, second day expanded nine person team, although still no use.

The Gelen military maintained their "if the enemy doesn't move, I don't move" combat strategy. After withdrawing, they returned to guarding their original positions.

Third day, same scene repeated again. Gelen military pursued more intensely, Ye Buqing nearly left behind.

Finally Gelen military unwillingly withdrew.

Combat policy persisted, but their doubts not answered.

Soldiers guarding base all somewhat bewildered, didn't know Alliance this intermittent localized crazy behavior what want do.

"You say opponent exactly what meaning? Idle balls hurt?"

"Opponent combat style difference too obvious, should have two commanders, two teams. New commander relatively aggressive, that team quality also relatively high."

"So?"

"I'm thinking, maybe the Alliance can't hold back any longer, so they sent a new commander to test the waters. After all, if they don't give Maxwell an explanation soon, I believe Maxwell won't be able to sit still either, right?"

"So explanation is consume our weapon depot? But they like this also too dangerous, clearly gain not worth loss! Single rely their one small squad can do what? Besides my army afraid they consume weapon depot, don't joke okay?"

"I guess, they might want confuse us. Repeatedly attack, let us relax vigilance, then gather troops attack our base."

"Or maybe it's just impulsive? Like they couldn't resist coming out for a run? If various teams start playing around like this, Gelen really won't be able to hold out."

"I more believe might be feint east attack west."

Opponent's commander thought moment, said: "Three days time, we total conducted eight pursuits. I believe you already discovered something."

He pulled out map.

"Except first pursuit, opponent ran very messy, no obvious path. Second eighth time, their movement route underwent correction, basically no redundant turns, inappropriate routes. Ensured optimal operation, let self safely escape our pursuit," that commander said. "Route is fixed."

"Opponent very likely just wanted let us discover this fixed route."

"Discovered then? They will set ambush road? But we have detection radar new weapons. If even radar cannot detect mech, fundamentally no need ambush."

"Opponent very likely just wanted let us fall chaos. If our attack start converge, they will counterattack."

Various parties already started arguing endlessly.

That commander interrupted them said: "Stop arguing. Let me say my view. Regardless opponent what plan, since they dare come, then we must conduct pursuit. Even if opponent wants ambush, we can also strengthen guard. Don't think them how, how fight we just how fight."

"Tonight is rain? If rain, mountain road not easy walk. We here more familiar. Opponent dare come, this time really let them have go no return."

"Tonight not necessarily come right? Recently their actions all become rough."

"We already transferred support, now rearrange. If opponent came, then bring all detectors. A4 A7. Responsible four sides detection guard, not participate any attack, specially responsible ensure environment safety, eliminate all ambush surprise attacks. B6, B7, you two specially responsible snipe enemy. You from one team advance," commander said map used red line, followed Lian Sheng squad's action route drew outline: "We just opponent still will fixed action route conduct escape basis set plan, support team from second road advance, from flank block them. If opponent continue this action, we can conduct front back pincer attack."

"If the opponent's purpose is an ambush, then they will most likely choose a rainy night with poor visibility and restricted movement," the commander said. "Understood? We don't need to think about their purpose; just maintain our own rhythm and don't worry about their plots and tricks. Besides, if the opponent really had effective methods, they wouldn't be wasting time tangling with us here. We can't rule out the possibility of psychological warfare."

Everyone responded: "Yes."

Previous two days command room inside.

Overall commander looked Lian Sheng, seriously said: "I need hear your arrangement first."

Lian Sheng stood up, faced him bowed.

"First need confirm opponent's attitude. My army needs impose them impression, is consume their weapon depot, constantly harassing them," Lian Sheng said. "And now need determine is, Gelen military face my army harassment, whether will always conduct pursuit probe."

Overall commander said: "I not necessarily follow your thinking. I more am bewildered, but I won't believe you just consuming my weapon depot. Because this time, this behavior, inappropriate. I will maintain greater vigilance."

"Purpose what no matter, no which action purpose is simple. If they obsessed thinking purpose, only let self fall chaos. Because human heart most difficult fathom, and they fundamentally don't understand me," Lian Sheng said. "But, face my army harassment time, regardless how bewildered, they definitely won't let go attack comeback opportunity. Then maintain high speed, simultaneously maintain attack, they will miss many reasonable useful information."

Lian Sheng said: "Especially night, rainy day. This time, is ambush best timing."

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