Twenty Seven Years

  Chapter 518 Combat

  Bressi, Fetier Mountains, International League of Equality Fetier Lines

  In late September, due to the unfavorable front-line operations, Boyne, Morais, Keating and others judged the situation and decided to build a defense line in the Fetier Mountains in advance to prepare for the future withdrawal to Leliste City.

Later, in mid-November, the situation took a turn for the worse. Facing the powerful government forces, the main station of the International League for Equality had to move to the city of Leicester further north, relying on the basically completed fortifications in the Fertier Mountains, It prevented the government troops from going further north and barely maintained the balance.

  As of now, on December 10, the Equality Army has been standing here for nearly a month.

   "Joseph, Comrade Veraker was arrested in Lezein."

  In the command post of the defense line, Adel, who served as the division commander of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Equality Army, said to Joseph, the commander-in-chief of the defense line.

  Joseph was busy with combat matters all day long, and rarely paid attention to Laizein. When he heard this, he was surprised: "What's going on?"

"According to the results of the current investigation, it was a dignitary who cooperated with us who leaked their location to the government forces, which eventually led to the arrest of the leaders of the action team and Verak." Adel played with the cigar, his face gloomy.

"I remember that this kind of problem was committed in the Dunman substation, blindly believing that only people with common interests..." When the Dunman substation was wiped out, Joseph had not yet joined the International Equality League, but because of this incident It was the most painful failure in the history of the International Equality League, so as long as you become a comrade, you will have a corresponding understanding of this past that is worthy of vigilant thinking.

   "I believe Veraker did some evasion, but..." Adel sighed.

  He has a deep relationship with Verac.

  From serving as the warden of Daymans Prison, to returning to Laizein to help Veraker and the others instigate Joseph, who was the head of the independent mixed division at the time, he has already recognized Veraker's ability and character.

   "If something happens to Comrade Verak, it will be very troublesome, right? Is there any countermeasure at the terminal?" Joseph put down the documents in his hand, pinched the bridge of his nose and asked.

   "Just after the meeting at the terminus, Chairman Keating originally wanted to use the government hostages in our hands to exchange Comrade Veraker back. Unexpectedly, Comrade Veraker sent a telegram rejecting this method before he was arrested."

   "Why refused?"

"He felt that it was unfair to other comrades. We never mentioned the exchange of other arrested comrades. When it was his turn, he made a specialization. He was afraid that other comrades would be chilled, and he also felt that this was an insult to him." Adel understood Verac's character is very helpless about this.

  Joseph and Verac didn't have much contact: "This is not a mature decision."

   "He is the kind of person who implements the concept of equality, even if the price is his own sacrifice." Adel shook his head slightly.

   "Is Comrade Veraker at the terminus also like this? Boyne and Morais died one after another. If something happens to him again, this winter will be too difficult for the International Equality League." Joseph said.

"They had a meeting to study this matter, and the final conclusion was to respect Comrade Veraker's decision, and at the same time plan a rescue operation. Compared with exchanging hostages, rescue is something we will try every time. Comrade Veraker will never I also think that it is a specialization, which will chill the hearts of other comrades.”

"That's it, Laize is so far away, we are powerless, just wait for the news later. The most important thing for us now is to study how to deal with the government's intensified attacks these days. They got the Dunmans If this goes on like this, even the mountains will be flattened sooner or later.” Now that the main station has already made arrangements, Joseph did not express his views or put forward his own suggestions.

The content of the conversation returned to the defense line. Adel, who has been deeply touched by the intensive bombardment of the government army these days, let out a heavy snort: "Our troops and firepower are inferior to the government army, and there is no other better way to deal with it than relying on terrain defense. .”

Joseph cheered up and approached the sofa in the command post: "Actually, I have some preliminary ideas. Such a passive defense is not an option after all. If we want to change the status quo and really hope to fight back Laizein, we still have to You have to be proactive."

"How to take the initiative to attack? Just defending the various lines of defense, our troops are already stretched. And we can't rule out whether the government forces have planted eyeliners in us and mobilized troops to attack at will. It is easy to fall into the trap of the opponent. , and secondly, it is easy to cause omissions in the defense line..." Adel rationally denied the feasibility of taking the initiative.

"You don't need too many troops. These two things are just more troublesome if you have more troops." Joseph paced back and forth on the edge of the sand table, "I want to try to send two elites to raid their arsenal and surprise them The grain depot. The number of troops is small, it is easy to mobilize, and it is not easy to be noticed. As long as we can touch it, we will be half successful."

   "They will not fail to set up defenses in such an important military site." Adel sat up from the chair and came to the sand table.

   "I think they feel that we don't even dare to risk our heads now, and there is some slack in the rear." Joseph said.

   "Even if they succeed, they will still be able to bring in weapons and food, which will not have a decisive impact."

"As long as it can give us a little breathing space, I want to use a novel combat method to fight against them." Joseph turned to Adel, "I don't know what you think about the predecessor of the International Equality League, which is the Equality Association. Do you have any impression of the tactics adopted in Laizein?"

  Adel narrowed his eyes: "You mean that at that time they dispersed and took advantage of the terrain to fight street battles with the government forces, which fully made up for the shortcomings of the lack of troops?"

"Yes, I think we can also use it, especially in this area. The terrain near the Feitier Mountains is complex. Our people are scattered and harass and attack the opponent in a small group. There may be unexpected effects." Joseph proposed.

"Scattered, I'm afraid the problem will be even bigger. Our most important thing now is to hold the line of defense and prevent the government forces from approaching the city of Leicester. But if we launch guerrilla tactics, then they can't bear a certain price if they concentrate their forces , survived the line of defense?" Adel raised concerns.

  Guerrilla tactics can certainly avoid head-to-head confrontation and avoid the gap in troop strength and firepower.

  But it also means that their investment in the defense line will be reduced a lot, and the security of the defense line will face a more severe test.

  At that time, once the defense line is breached, the government troops can easily drive straight in and point directly at the city of Leliste.

  The Headquarters of the International Equality League cannot retreat, so the fall of Lelister City will cause immeasurable damage to the International Equality League, which will undoubtedly be a major failure.

"So, I want to reduce the pressure on the current defense line first, and then try again. If possible, we will increase investment. If not, retreat to the defense line and find another direction to open the situation." Joseph emphasized, "In any case, we The status quo cannot be maintained forever. Time is not on our side now, and the longer it drags on, the more allies the government forces will have."

   "Let's have a meeting to study, there are too many things that need to be implemented in all aspects." Adel was moved by Joseph's last words.

"For the International Equality Alliance, every step is a risk, and failure will lead to a deep abyss." Joseph stared at the sand table, "We have sacrificed too many comrades in the past six months, I think, although we can't Make sacrifices impossible, but at least let everyone see the hope of victory."

  —

   Laizein, Northside Prison, Lounge

"Mr. President, Verak is very difficult to deal with. It is almost impossible for us to use him as an intermediary to persuade the International Equality Alliance to capitulate, or to pry useful information from him. I think the focus of intelligence investigation should be on other As for the leader of the action team who was arrested, as for Verak, since he is the number two figure of the International Equality League, the International Equality League will definitely not sit idly by. What we can do now is to use him to get more The enemy fished out."

  After putting Verak in prison, General Celt returned to the lounge and reported the next plan to President Auston, who was defeated in the debate with Verak.

  Oston lay on the chair with his eyes closed, and seemed to be annoyed by Veraker: "A vice-chairman of the International Equality Alliance can only achieve this effect, and that is too talented."

   "So what do you think?"

  "The important figures of the International Equality League have sacrificed one after another, which has dealt a great blow to them. What if Moster Verak rebelled at this time?"

  Selter understood Auston's meaning: "Do you want to have another public opinion war and use Verac to shake their morale?"

   "Yes." Alston nodded.

"I'm worried that our failure in the last public opinion war has lost a lot of trust. This trick may not have the expected effect." Celt does not agree with this arrangement in his heart. In his opinion, it is better to Verak was directly and publicly executed.

   "Try first, and if it doesn't work, execute. Verak's death will definitely deal another big blow to the International Equality League." Auston also has the idea of ​​​​execution.

But when Auston spoke about the execution, Selt felt that he hadn't reached that point yet: "After all, he is the vice-chairman of the International Equality League, second only to Robin Keating. We really want to In such a hurry to execute him?"

   "The fact that such a person is alive makes me panic." Alston said.

  If it wasn't for the conversation with Veraker today, he probably wouldn't be firm in the idea that he must let the other party die.

   Celt got it.

   It's not that he doesn't accept this result, but Verak died, and his falsification is even more unsubstantiated.

   "Understood, I'm going to contact the people at the newspaper to arrange this." Selt first sent someone to **** Auston back to the government building, and then called Byron, the editor-in-chief of the Lazein Daily.

  Originally, he wanted to dispose of Byron because of the matter of reporter Capa, but he has been very busy these days and did not give him a chance to deal with it.

   It can be regarded as Byron's good luck, he received a new task before waiting for punishment.

  The cauldron of failure in the public opinion war seems to be a heavy responsibility, and it is not his turn to bear it for the time being.

"...The new task is fully entrusted to you. This is the best opportunity for you to make a contribution. If you don't do this well, you don't have to live in this world." Celt left first after finishing the settlement. out of prison.

   The removal of the general liaison office of the action team is just the beginning.

  He also needs to remove the rest of the action team, completely remove the hidden dangers of Laizein's instability, and avoid a second major riot.

  Byron received the order and first went to see Verak in the prison.

   "Are you Most Verak?" Byron didn't know why he couldn't help using "you" when he was facing an enemy, a prisoner.

  Sitting in the prison, the bright-eyed Verak asked, "Who are you?"

   "I am Byron, the editor-in-chief of the Laizein Daily." Byron made a simple self-introduction, "I am the boss of the reporter Capa who was rescued by you."

   "It's you, what are you doing here, asking about Capa's whereabouts, or wanting to take revenge on me?" Verak asked perfunctorily.

   "Neither, you will not tell me the whereabouts of Capa, and I have no ability to retaliate against you." Byron was very self-aware.

   "Let's just say it."

   "I just came to talk to you." Byron wanted to know about Verac's speaking habits, way of thinking, and some unknown things first, so that it would be easier to gain the trust of others when making fakes.

  This failure will cost him his head. He has no choice but to succeed.

"It's not asking Capa, it's not revenge on me. Then you come to see me as the editor-in-chief of a newspaper, who once planned a public opinion war. The purpose is obvious. I won't say anything, you can take pictures at will, edit Produce a set of non-existent interviews, misinterpret and smear me." Verac knew that the other party must have malicious intentions, so his best response was to refuse to answer no matter what the other party wanted to know.

   "Who is still engaged in public opinion wars now? Even if it is really sent out, how many people will believe it?" Byron touched his nose and denied.

   "Do you know the situation of the other arrested action team comrades?" Verac decided to extract some value from Byron first.

   "Are you referring to those who were arrested together with you?"

"yes."

   "As far as I know, they were locked in different cells. The situation should be similar to yours. At least they are safe now." Byron appropriately revealed some information in order to start a conversation with Veraker.

   Knowing the situation, Verak was somewhat relieved: "How does Celt want to deal with them?"

   "This... I don't know. I have no right to ask about General Selt's prison arrangements. But if you want to know, I can ask about it later." Byron was very humble and polite.

   "After you finish asking and answering what I want to know, I will accept your interview." Verak coaxed Byron without blushing.

  (end of this chapter)