Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1275 The Mad Beast

The deafening explosion, accompanied by scorching air, slammed into the armored personnel carrier Az was riding in, producing a sickening metallic groan.

Outside the car window, all that could be seen was billowing black smoke, leaping flames, and scattered dirt and gravel.

The piercing screams, the chaotic gunfire, the crackling of burning vehicles, and the panicked, incoherent reports coming from the radio relentlessly assaulted his eardrums.

Az's body jolted violently as a nearby IED exploded. He gripped the handrail tightly, his face quickly shifting from initial shock to a deathly pale ashes.

For the first few dozen seconds, my mind went almost blank, with only my heart pounding wildly in my chest, almost bursting out of my chest.

"What's going on?! Where did this attack come from?! Is it Song Heping's main force?!" He roared into the radio, his voice becoming shrill due to extreme tension.

"Boss! We've been ambushed! The road ahead has been blown up, and there's enemy fire on both sides!"

"We've been separated! We can't contact the front line!"

"Our retreat is blocked! We're surrounded!"

The chaotic fragments of information were like icicles, piercing Az's nerves again and again.

Through the observation hole, he saw a pickup truck ahead blown to pieces, its burning tires rolling to the side of the road, next to which lay a pile of mangled corpses.

Further away, soldiers attempting to organize a counterattack fell in droves like felled wheat under precise and intense fire.

A chilling sensation shot from the tailbone along the spine to the top of the head in an instant.

He understood, he understood everything!
What siege of Titrick!
What, the main force is still here!
It's all bullshit!
From beginning to end, this was a scheme meticulously set up by Song Heping for him and for the entire 1515 Northern Army Corps!

Using the militia as a pretext to distract his main force, he secretly launched a surprise attack on Baiji. He then calculated that Baiji would inevitably send troops to its aid, and had already laid a trap on the only road leading to Baiji, waiting for Baiji to walk right into it!

How vicious!
So insidious!
"Song Heping...you cunning devil! You damned heretic!!"

Az's teeth were clenched so tightly that they were grinding together, and a burning rage, a mixture of fear, humiliation, and overwhelming hatred, was raging in his chest.

He felt like a puppet on a string, his every move meticulously planned by his opponent, leading him step by step into this deadly trap.

Baiji was on the verge of death. His mobile force, which had been the hope of turning the tide of the battle, was about to perish on this desolate highway without even seeing Baiji's shadow!
No!

We absolutely cannot let it end like this!
A strong will to survive and an obsession with turning the tide overcame the initial panic.

He took several deep breaths of the scorching air, thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood, forcing himself to calm down.

As the supreme commander of 1515 in the north, I cannot fall here, nor can I let Song Heping's scheme succeed so easily!
"Attention all units! This is Az!"

He grabbed the radio microphone, his voice unusually hoarse and menacing as he desperately suppressed his emotions.

"Don't panic! Listen to my orders! We've only encountered Samir's rabble of militia! Not Song Heping's main force! Song Heping's main force is in Baiji! They only have a few thousand men, while we have ten thousand warriors of Allah!"

He practically shouted these words at the top of his lungs.

A loud voice can not only boost the morale of his subordinates, but also embolden himself!

"They rely on ambushes and sneak attacks, but that doesn't change the fact that they are a militia! They have no heavy weapons, and there are no strong fortifications here! God is with us! For the Caliph, for our holy cause, let us not fear sacrifice, let us fight back! Join me, let us organize a counterattack! Kill these infidels, and God will bless us!"

His words were transmitted via radio waves to some units that were still able to connect.

Some fanatical junior officers and sergeants began to echo this sentiment, shouting themselves hoarse as they tried to drive away the panicked soldiers around them.

"Allahu Akbar is great! For the Caliph! Charge!"

A small group of militants, roused by their faith and their commander, led by a bearded leader, with red eyes and shouting slogans, jumped out of the wreckage of vehicles that were serving as cover, attempting to launch a counterattack on the hillside to the left, where the firepower seemed to be slightly weaker, in an attempt to open a gap.

However, the reality is cruel.

They had barely rushed out ten meters, and before their shouts had even completely faded, machine gun emplacements from three different directions, each with its firing parameters already set, simultaneously unleashed deadly fire.

"Tap tap tap tap—!"

“Dong dong dong dong——!”

The continuous fire of the PKM general-purpose machine gun and the dull yet powerful bursts of the DShK heavy machine gun intertwined to create an impenetrable metallic storm.

The 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets easily tore through the human body, severing the bearded leader who was charging at the front in half, and throwing his upper body out of the air at an odd angle.

The militants following behind seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall; their bodies were instantly pierced by multiple bullets, exploding into clouds of blood mist, and they collapsed to the ground without uttering a sound.

The bullets struck the dry ground, kicking up trails of dust, like the fingertips of death brushing across the surface.

This brief but devastating counterattack was completely shattered in less than twenty seconds, leaving behind only a dozen or so corpses lying in pools of blood in various bizarre positions.

This scene was clearly observed by Az at the observation point behind them through the telescope.

His heart sank, and the little courage he had just mustered dissipated.

This is not the kind of firepower a rabble could unleash!

That teamwork, that accuracy—absolutely elite!
But there is no turning back when the bow is drawn.

He knew that retreating at this moment, under the enemy's prepared firepower and landmine blockade, would only turn into an even more brutal massacre.

Their only chance of survival might be to use their numerical advantage to hold their opponent firmly and wait for a turning point.

He immediately grabbed another encrypted radio and connected to the deputy commander left behind in Titrick, his tone urgent and stern:
"Listen! We've been ambushed by Samir's main force! The situation is critical! I order you to immediately dispatch another 10,000 men—no, as many as possible—to reinforce us at top speed! The route is this very road from which we started. You must break through the encirclement!"

"Sir... most of the troops in the city have already been withdrawn. If we send another 10,000, Titrick will be left vulnerable..."

The adjutant's voice was hesitant.

"Excuting an order!"

Az roared, "We can't worry about anything else now! The most important thing is to wipe out this enemy force! As long as we annihilate Samir and Jiang Feng's troops, Song Heping will lose an arm! Hurry!"

After ending the communication, Az took a deep breath. He knew he still had to persuade Bakdadi, who was far away in Syria.

He quickly adjusted the frequency and connected to the emergency communication line with headquarters.

"Emir! This is Az! We have been ambushed by Samir's main force on our way to Baiji!"

He tried to keep his voice calm, but his speaking speed betrayed his inner anxiety.

"Useless trash! Another ambush! Where are your eyes?!"

Bakdadi's roar immediately came through, and even through the radio waves, one could feel the fury that was almost tangible.

"Emil! Please let me explain!"

Az hurriedly said, "This is entirely Song Heping's plan! He used the militia to draw our attention, launched a surprise attack on Baiji with his main force, and then, anticipating our arrival to come to our aid, set up an ambush here! If we rush towards Baiji now, we will only be constantly harassed and ambushed along the way. By the time we arrive, Baiji will have already fallen, and our forces will be exhausted en route!" He paused, allowing Bakdadi to process his words, before continuing to present his plan:
“Emir, we can’t keep letting him lead us by the nose! The force ambushing us now is the main force of the ‘Liberation Forces,’ a significant armed force under Song Heping! They’re right here, right in front of us! I request a change of plans. Let’s concentrate all our forces and turn the tables on them right here, annihilating them completely! Even if we lose Baiji, we’ll have severely damaged Song Heping’s power and crippled him in the north! This is far more worthwhile than blindly rushing towards a city that may have already fallen!”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the radio, with only some indistinct discussions audible.

Az's heart was in his throat. He knew that his fate, and even the course of the entire northern war, depended on Bakdadi's next decision.

In a dark but heavily guarded command center somewhere in Syria, Bakdadi looked at his key staff members beside him.

"Did you all hear that? That idiot Az has fallen into another trap!"

He growled in frustration.

"That Dongda student is as cunning as a fox!"

After a moment, an older aide slowly spoke: "Leader, although Az is foolish, his analysis this time may have some merit. Song Heping is cunning in his military tactics, and is used to feinting attacks. Baiji... I'm afraid he is in grave danger."

Another aide in charge of intelligence added:
"We have just received some scattered intelligence that a massive explosion has occurred in the Baiji oil refinery area, and communications have been almost completely cut off. Az's judgment may be correct; there is no longer any need to rescue Baiji."

“Are we just going to stand by and watch Baiji go? That’s a vital source of revenue for us!” another radical aide retorted.

"But is it too late to rescue them now?"

The senior aide said coldly, "Even if we break through the ambush and reach Baiji, what are our chances of winning against Song Heping's main force, which is well-rested, and the several thousand elite troops of the Abuyu Brigade? I'm afraid we'll lose even Az's ten thousand men. At that point, not only will Baiji be beyond saving, but Titrick will also be lost, and we'll end up with nothing!"

Bakdadi was breathing heavily, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over the crowd.

He was irritable, but he didn't become a leader solely because of fanaticism.

He knows how to weigh the pros and cons.

"So, you think we should agree to Az, abandon Baiji, and concentrate our efforts on eliminating Samir's militia?" he asked.

"Yes, at least that's what I think."

The senior advisor nodded and said, "This is both a stopgap measure and a counterattack. Now we have the opportunity to eliminate these few thousand people of the 'Liberation Forces.' If we succeed, it will greatly deter the wavering tribes around us and consolidate our rear. Song Heping has lost the support of the local strongmen, and his actions in the northwest will be greatly restricted. This is more strategic than the gains or losses of fighting for a single city or territory."

Bakdadi remained silent for nearly a minute, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. Finally, he grabbed the microphone abruptly:
"Az! Your request is granted! Titrick's reinforcements will depart as soon as possible! I don't care what methods you use, keep a close watch on Samir's forces and bring them back with their heads! If you fail again... Titrick will be your grave!"

"Yes, Master! Allah is the Greatest!"

A huge weight lifted from Az's heart, and a fierce determination replaced his previous panic. He now possessed the imperial sword and a clear objective.

He switched back to the internal communications channel, his voice becoming colder and more resolute than ever before:

"Attention all commanders! The leader has ordered a change in our objective! It is no longer Baiji, but the complete annihilation of this enemy force! They are merely militia, with limited ammunition, and they cannot hold out for long! Organize suicide squads, regardless of the cost, and launch a desperate charge on both sides of the hillside! Tear through their lines! Warriors of Allah, the time has come to show your loyalty and courage! The gates of Paradise are open to the martyrs!"

Under the frenzied incitement of Az and his fanatical officers, the 1515 group, which was originally in chaos and panic, began to show a morbid sense of organization.

The most fanatical believers, driven by their beliefs in "holy war" and "martyrdom," began to be organized.

Soon, the first batch of about six hundred suicide squad members were forcibly assembled.

Most of them carried only rifles, a few carried RPG rocket launchers, their bodies were covered with ammunition, and their faces showed a mixture of fear, fanaticism, and a kind of numb resolve.

Amid the officers' hysterical prayers and shouts, they took stimulant drugs, their eyes turning bloodshot and glazed over.

“Allahu Akbar!”

Accompanied by a frenzied shout, the more than 600 people, like a flood bursting its banks, split into several streams. Some drove through the crowd, while others walked, and they launched a desperate charge towards the hillsides on both sides of the road!

They paid almost no attention to tactics, relying solely on the euphoria brought on by drugs and the fanaticism of their religious beliefs, firing wildly while charging upwards!

Suddenly, gunfire erupted on the hillside!

The militia of the "Liberation Forces" clearly did not expect that after suffering such heavy losses, the enemy would not only not retreat, but would launch such a fierce counterattack without regard for casualties.

"Attention! A large number of enemies are charging down the hillside on the right!"

"They've got them on the left too! They've gone mad!"

On the militia's positions, the commanders were shouting loudly.

The light and heavy machine guns spat out even more intense tongues of fire, and bullets poured down like a torrential rain. The charging 1515 suicide squad fell in droves, their bodies rolling down the hillside, and their blood staining the rocks and withered grass.

But the people behind seemed oblivious to their companion's death, continuing to roar and charge upwards, stepping over corpses and pools of blood!
Occasionally, an RPG would fly out with a trail of flame and explode on the hillside. Although most of them missed their target, they still caused some chaos and pressure on the militia positions.

The intensity of the battle escalated instantly!
At the observation point atop the distant hillside, Jiang Feng's brows were furrowed.

He put down his binoculars and looked at Samir beside him.

Samir's smug smile had vanished, replaced by solemnity and a hint of disbelief.

"Damn it! That mad dog Az! Instead of running away, he wants to fight us to the death?!" Samir cursed.

Jiang Feng's gaze remained calm, but his speech quickened slightly:

"He's figured it out. He's seen through the second half of our plan. Now he's going to sacrifice a pawn to gain the upper hand, willing to pay any price to wipe us out. Order all units to tighten their defensive lines, concentrate firepower, and launch a staggered attack! We absolutely cannot let them get close to our positions! Especially our machine gun positions, make sure they are concealed and repositioned! Fighting them head-on here is not feasible due to our insufficient forces. If I'm not mistaken, reinforcements from the Titrick direction are probably already on their way. We must disengage from the battle as soon as possible!"

"it is good!"

Samir knew the situation was serious, so he immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie and roared out new instructions in the local language.

On the battlefield, the situation suddenly became deadlocked.

With their numbers and frenzied enthusiasm, the 1515 militants once approached some of the "Liberation Forces'" forward positions, and the two sides even engaged in brutal grenade exchanges and hand-to-hand combat.

Shouts, screams, explosions, and dense gunfire mingled together, turning the entire road bend into a bloody grinder.

In his command vehicle, Az saw that although the suicide squad had suffered heavy casualties, they had indeed suppressed the enemy's firepower to some extent and were entangled with the enemy. A sinister smile finally appeared on his pale face.

"Alright! That's it! Hold them off! Second wave of suicide squad, prepare!"

He yelled into the radio, "Tell Titrick's reinforcements to speed up! We're going to create a miracle here!"

He could almost see Samir and Jiang Feng's troops collapsing under his frenzied counterattack.

He can turn the tide if he can devour these few thousand people.

even…

The merits are equal to the faults!

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(End of this chapter)