Chapter 27

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"Sir, the Soviets have all left." From a few hills away, Muhamed received the report.

"What about those two infantry fighting vehicles?" Muhamed asked.

"They are still in the same place," Aga told Muhamed. "A squad of men is guarding them, and they are from the government army."

Saha was originally the platoon leader, but unfortunately, his platoon was hit by a mortar shell, losing over a dozen men, leaving fewer than ten.

"Sir, those infantry fighting vehicles have a lot of good stuff," Durani said excitedly. "There are shells inside, enough for us to make many roadside bombs, and there's a machine gun on top, and even anti-tank missiles!"

The guerrillas have always lacked effective means to combat tanks. These infantry fighting vehicles have an anti-tank missile launcher above the gun barrel, capable of firing Sagger anti-tank missiles. If the guerrillas obtained these missiles, it would be much easier to deal with tanks.

Durani's face was full of excitement. As he spoke, he gestured with his arms, but he slightly frowned when he moved them. While carrying the machine gun, even with a wet cloth as padding, the gun was still too hot, resulting in a burn on his shoulder. Despite this, he absolutely refused to retreat, finding it exhilarating to fight alongside the instructor.

Muhamed looked at the people around him. As the Soviets advanced, Muhamed changed his tactics, leaving part of the guerrillas to cover the villagers' retreat to deeper mountain areas. The rest, who were well-trained, fast on their feet, and familiar with the terrain, came out to fight with him.

Muhamed glanced at the people around him. At this moment, almost everyone was eager, except for Khwaja, who was still holding his sniper rifle, gazing at the sky.

"Khwaja, what do you think?" Muhamed asked Khwaja.

Khwaja was previously the leader of this guerrilla group and still is, but the command of the guerrillas is now entirely in Muhamed's hands. Khwaja has honorably stepped back to the position of a sniper.

Now, hearing Muhamed's question, Khwaja said, "Sir, I will follow your orders completely."

"Khwaja, do you have any objections to my command?" Muhamed couldn't help but frown upon hearing Khwaja's words.

Upon hearing Muhamed's words, all the guerrillas calmed down. If Khwaja was dissatisfied with Muhamed, it would mean a split in the guerrillas, which no one wanted to see.

"Sir, during our first attack, we should have destroyed their oil tankers. The Soviet mechanized forces rely on those fuels, especially the tanks. Without fuel, they are just immobile chunks of iron. However, in our recent attacks, we avoided those oil tankers, which was a mistake," Khwaja said.

Khwaja's words immediately earned nods from the surrounding guerrillas. Indeed, if they had attacked the oil tankers from the start, the Soviets would have retreated, and they would have achieved a complete victory.

Muhamed nodded upon hearing Khwaja's words: "I see. Khwaja, if we had destroyed their oil tankers, what would have been the result?"

"We would have driven away the hateful Soviets, protected our villagers, and achieved victory!" Khwaja said.

"Is driving away the Soviets considered a victory?" Muhamed said. "If we drive away the Soviets, that's good, but then we won't need to fight anymore. Herman, your mortar won't be needed, and Durani, Ska, Yaga, your machine guns won't be needed, and your automatic rifles won't be needed, and Khwaja, your sniper rifle won't be needed. These Soviets will just march back."

Muhamed's words were calm, but everyone began to reflect. Indeed, driving away the Soviets is easy, but doing so means they won't be able to fight anymore. Without fighting and eliminating the Soviets, just driving them away isn't a real victory.

"Sir, what is our goal in this battle?" Khwaja asked.

"This time, the Soviets entered the mountains to sweep us out. They think that with their superior forces, they can crush us like lice. We are not that easy to crush! This is our territory. We will keep playing hide and seek in the mountains, making them tired and causing them to make mistakes. We will gradually eliminate their forces. The Soviets can easily enter, but if they want to leave, well, let's see if Allah agrees!"

"Sir, I, Khwaja, admire you. Your tactics are the wisest and most correct," Khwaja said. "You must have already planned our return."

Looking at Khwaja, Muhamed knew that Khwaja's words were intentional, trying to ask about his plans. Since he had no intention of hiding, guerrilla warfare must be fought this way.

"If we return, we will fall into the Soviets' trap," Muhamed said. "Those two infantry fighting vehicles are already destroyed. Even if the Soviets drag them back, they will only end up in a steel mill, with no other value. Dragging them back to the Soviet Union would be too costly, so the Soviets definitely won't do that."

"Sir, I understand," Durani said. "They only sent a squad of government troops to guard there, waiting for us to come. Once we go, the Soviet main force will surround us from all sides, and we won't be able to escape."

The government troops have low combat effectiveness. Many of them would instinctively run away upon hearing gunfire. The squad of government troops left there is just a bait, making the guerrillas feel relaxed and leading them into a trap.

Those infantry fighting vehicles have only one fate: to be destroyed on the spot. The fact that they haven't been destroyed yet is because the Soviets are using them as bait, underestimating our judgment.

"We can't go," Khwaja also said. "Sir, you are right. It's a trap."

"Right, we can't go," the other guerrillas agreed, seemingly forgetting that they were just clamoring to retrieve the spoils.

"No, we must go back," Muhamed said. "Since the Soviets have set a trap for us, we can't let them wait. We will return and give the Soviets a big surprise."

With the destroyed infantry fighting vehicles at the center, Muhamed had already visualized the surrounding terrain in his mind. He had already predicted the Soviets' movements, and the modified roadside bombs were eagerly waiting to be used.

The sweeping force continued to advance, the tracks and wheels raising dust as they moved along the mountain roads.

The dozen or so government troops were left alone beside the disabled armored vehicles, almost despairing as they watched the main force depart.

Slovic, inside the bumpy T-62 tank, unfolded a military map. Although it was clearly marked, it only showed the main roads, not the small paths known only to locals or the various caves, which is why they needed a guide.

His eyes focused on the map, and he traced a route with his finger.

"Turn right at the next intersection, and leave the government troops here," Slovic ordered.

The trucks following behind stopped, and the government troops jumped off, using the vehicles as cover to set up individual positions. They didn't know why they were left behind but knew they had a mission. The battle to encircle and annihilate the guerrillas was about to begin.

The convoy continued forward, traveling several kilometers along the mountain roads. At another intersection, the Soviet vehicles stopped again, and another motorized infantry company was left behind. Their combat skills were better, and they quickly occupied the surrounding hills, completely sealing off the area.

In front, only the tanks and armored vehicles continued to advance. Slovic looked at the map, and a包围圈 was gradually forming, centered around the two destroyed infantry fighting vehicles. Two motorized infantry companies were blocking the exits, and a tank company was blocking the third exit. The infantry fighting vehicles, with their rapid mobility, would pick up any stragglers, forming a perfect pocket. At this moment, the impatient guerrillas might already have reached the abandoned infantry fighting vehicles.

Although Slovic wanted to deploy forces at the abandoned infantry fighting vehicles, the guerrillas were too cunning, and the surrounding area was bare, making it difficult to hide. If the guerrillas discovered the trap, they wouldn't fall for it. He had to maneuver around, creating a large circle to encircle and trap the guerrillas, then eliminate them!

At the same time, he had already called for helicopters from the rear base. Two Mi-8s were on their way. With the Mi-8s in the sky, this time, none of the guerrillas would escape!

It was already noon, and the tank's interior was rumbling. Wearing a tank helmet, Slovic felt a bit dizzy. He picked up his canteen, raised his head, and took a big drink.

"Boom!" At that moment, the ground shook, and a massive explosion echoed.

With the explosion, one side of the tracks was blown off, and the drive sprocket rattled as the remaining tracks quickly fell off.

At the same time, the explosion lifted a massive wave of air, which actually lifted one side of the heavy tank. The heavy tank's side was raised high, and then with a "boom," the tank body flipped ninety degrees.

"Boom, boom!" The explosions continued, the sound almost making everyone faint.

"Clang." The hatch on the turret was opened, and Slovic, feeling pain in his internal organs, used all his strength to crawl out of the overturned tank.

"Rat-tat-tat." Bullets rained down from the side of the hill, and Slovic, lying beside the tank, couldn't move.