Chapter 79

Muhammad-Fahim, Masud's assistant, became the military leader of the Northern Alliance after Masud was assassinated in a suicide bombing. Their relationship was established during the current anti-Soviet war.

Fahim is also a Tajik, and his reputation in the future is much more complex. Some say he is the most influential Afghan military and political figure, while others describe him as a brutal warlord and executioner. In short, this man has a very complex personality.

He is rebellious and has a strong sense of ethnic pride.

Now, upon hearing Muhammad mention unity, Fahim immediately raised the most pointed issue: integration.

Two guerrilla groups fighting together can only have one leader. Who will be in charge? This is a matter of military authority.

Upon hearing Fahim's words, Lamer immediately tried to defuse the situation: "Mr. Fahim, Mr. Muhammad did not mean that."

"Then are you here to join us?" Fahim said, "Mr. Muhammad has extensive command experience and has won many battles. If he joins our Panjshir guerrillas, I will give him my position as deputy leader."

Although he said this, the provocative tone was already very clear. This guy was very hostile towards Muhammad and did not want to act in unity.

When they heard about being integrated, the people following Muhammad, including Khwaja, Osama, and Durrani, all looked dissatisfied. They had come a long way to unite and fight the Soviets, and this guy in front of them was really being unreasonable!

Muhammad watched quietly. Although Masud had scolded him earlier, Fahim did not take it seriously. Clearly, one was playing the red face and the other the white face, trying to give him a warning.

Thinking about this, Muhammad couldn't help but feel contempt. If it weren't for Masud's reputation and the need to prevent internal conflict in Afghanistan, Muhammad would not have come to this mess.

On Fahim's back was a rifle, which was not simple. Although it was an old gun, it had a scope attached. Muhammad knew this guy was also a sniper, and such people are very proud.

So, let's strike at this man's pride!

Fahim made Muhammad feel very uncomfortable. For such a person, you have to strike at what he is best at!

"Mr. Fahim, your shooting is very accurate, right?" Muhammad asked.

"Of course, this gun was left to me by my father. I have used it to eliminate thirteen Soviets. Each time I eliminate one, I carve a line on the stock." Fahim was very proud, taking the gun from his back and showing the lines on the stock to Muhammad. This is what snipers are most proud of.

"Cough, cough." Behind Muhammad, Khwaja coughed twice and took off the rifle he was carrying. The stock of this SVD rifle was already full of knife-carved marks, dozens of them!

"My stock is too rough, so I stopped carving lines later," Khwaja said.

Looking at Khwaja's stock, Fahim's eyes flashed with various emotions: anger, jealousy, and不服气 (unwillingness to admit defeat).

"This man is also a sniper. Why don't we have a competition?" Fahim said.

Khwaja glanced at Muhammad, who shook his head. So, Khwaja replied, "Sorry, every bullet in my gun is for the Soviets."

This was absolute contempt! Fahim's face was filled with anger, and he suddenly raised his gun.

"Caw, caw." A raven flew high in the sky.

"Bang." Raising the gun, aiming, and shooting, all in one smooth motion, Fahim almost didn't even aim before pulling the trigger.

The raven in the sky flapped its wings hard, but after two flaps, it let out a cry and fell from the sky.

Several Panjshir guerrillas immediately ran to the hillside to pick up the fallen raven.

"Luck is on our side. We can have some raven soup later," Fahim said.

"Good, very good, Brother Fahim, your shooting is excellent," Muhammad said. "Since that's the case, let's exchange some skills. Khwaja, shoot down a bird too, to make a pot of soup."

Having worked with Muhammad for so long, Khwaja could coordinate well with him. Hearing Muhammad's words, Khwaja immediately nodded in agreement, not raising his gun but taking out a piece of black cloth from his clothes.

Fahim's face gradually turned ugly. He watched as Khwaja blindfolded himself before raising his gun.

A Soviet SVD sniper rifle! A specialized sniper rifle! Fahim had actually captured one in battle before, but after comparing it, he found that its accuracy did not match his inherited bolt-action rifle, so he continued to use his old gun.

Fahim had appeared casual, but he was actually fully focused. Now, this person actually wanted to shoot blindfolded. How could that be possible?

Khwaja knew he absolutely could not embarrass his instructor. His sniping ability was innate, but his instructor had trained him step by step, significantly improving his sniping skills.

Sniping is precise calculation! Calculating wind speed, the speed of the target, and the speed of the bullet, making them meet at the same time and place!

"Caw, caw." Another bird flew by. Khwaja raised his gun, the barrel following the bird, and then pulled the trigger.

"Bang." With the sound of the gun, the bird fell from the sky.

How could this be? Even Masud was shocked. Could he hit it with his eyes closed?

"The target was too big," Muhammad said. "Let's try another one."

Saying this, Muhammad took a coin from his chest and threw it far into the sky.

"Bang." Another clear sound, and the coin in the sky made a light "ding."

The coin landed at Fahim's feet. He picked it up and saw a large hole in the middle, left by the bullet. Even with his eyes open and fully focused, Fahim did not have this level of skill.

Khwaja took off the blindfold, put the gun back on his back, and said, "Unfortunately, I wasted two bullets."

Khwaja was very pained. These were specialized sniper rounds, originally meant for the Soviets, and now they were wasted.

Fahim's face was full of surprise. He wanted to rush forward and grab Khwaja's sniper rifle to see if there was anything strange about it, but he finally held back.

"By the grace of Allah, your guerrillas have achieved so many victories, truly hiding tigers and dragons. This sniper is too strong; we are impressed," Masud finally spoke. "I wonder what important matters you have come to the Panjshir Valley for?"

At this moment, Masud still had not accepted the proposal for unity. Muhammad knew that it was impossible to make Masud fight alongside him just after arriving. Comrades are people you can trust with your back in battle, and the relationship between the Tajiks and the Pashtuns was not yet that close.

"We have received information," Muhammad said. "The Soviets have gathered two regiments of troops to sweep through the Panjshir region."

The Soviets are coming to sweep again! After a winter of rest, the Soviets are finally moving.

Muhammad was well-prepared. The northern mountains of Jalalabad were already his territory, and he had ample strategic space to wage guerrilla warfare against the Soviets.

Muhammad knew he had become a thorn in the Soviets' side, but when he received the information from his informants in Jalalabad, he realized that the Soviets did not intend to eliminate him. Their main target was the Panjshir region.

This is the main transportation route for the Soviets. If the Soviets do not secure this area, their logistics will remain in danger. Any offensive, no matter where, requires substantial military supplies, such as the fuel needed for a tank to move.

Two regiments! This means about 4,000 Soviet troops, and they will likely be accompanied by government forces, totaling more than 5,000. The Soviets are determined to sweep through the Panjshir region and secure the transportation route.

Receiving this information was also the reason Muhammad came to meet Masud.

Sure enough, Masud's calm expression changed to a more solemn and serious one.

"Thank our friends," Masud said. "This is timely information. If the Soviets want to sweep us, we will fight them in the mountains. They cannot outlast us."

Masud is an experienced guerrilla commander. His ability to grow and develop in the Panjshir region is inseparable from his personal leadership. The essence of guerrilla warfare is to protect oneself and eliminate the enemy.

When the Soviet forces come, they retreat, using the advantageous terrain of the mountains to kill as many as possible. When the Soviets leave, Masud can lead his people out of the caves and continue to attack the Soviet supply convoys on both sides of the road.

These convoys coming from the distant north are the Soviets' lifeline in Afghanistan.

After saying this, Masud looked at Muhammad, composed himself, and said, "Mr. Muhammad, can I invite you to fight alongside us?"

At this moment, more strength is the best.

"We are here to fight the Soviets," Muhammad said. "I hope we can fight together."

In the face of real threats, Masud's initial resistance gave way. The addition of Muhammad's forces would make their guerrilla warfare even more effective.

Just then, Masud heard a sentence from Muhammad that made him suddenly tense.

"Before the Soviets start their sweep, I have an idea. Let's give them a hard hit first!"