Mercenary's War

Chapter 2455: Chapter 2431: Sandstorm

In learning war through warfare, Gao Yang has been learning, but this learning is two-way, as his opponents are also learning.

What troubles Gao Yang now is that regardless of how the conflict between the Houthis Armed Forces and the Saudi Arabia has progressed, Saudi Arabia currently has no intention of extensively using mercenaries, and thus his ultimate goal has been unreachable - to get Saudi Arabia to provide the Solar System Company with a substantial business opportunity.

Initially, Gao Yang’s strategy was to inflict continuous pain on Saudi Arabia, forcing them to replace their national soldiers with mercenaries. Employing mercenaries merely involves financial costs, whereas using national soldiers results in significant casualties, leading to numerous problems, and the costs are much greater than with mercenaries.

But now, it seems Saudi Arabia has grown wiser, realizing that their absolute advantage in air power has not been effective. They immediately adopted new measures, specifically enhancing the range and effectiveness of their air force capabilities.

In warfare, one must naturally play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. Currently, Saudi Arabia has a strength that Gao Yang cannot counter, whereas his strength lies in special operations. However, to exploit Satan’s strength, he would have to penetrate Saudi territory.

Launching a harassing incursion deep into Saudi territory is a tough decision to make, as the nearest viable target is Najran, which has tens of thousands of troops stationed. Without artillery cover, and even with it, entering Najran might be easy, but returning would be far more difficult.

If avoiding heavily fortified targets like Najran and picking on an easier one were possible, it might be manageable. Yet, the border on Saudi’s side is largely desert, with no other cities apart from Najran. Moving further means penetrating at least hundreds of kilometers into Saudi territory, and retreating under a heavy blockade means certain defeat.

Not advancing leads to stagnation and time wastage, advancing means striking headlong into a wall. This is indeed a difficult decision for Gao Yang to make.

Since the artillery attack two days ago, Gao Yang hasn’t been able to sleep well. These days, he continuously consults with Glolov and Tarta on countermeasures. By the third morning, Gao Yang was already seated at the table early, examining intelligence.

After breakfast was over, his tent would soon be filled with people again.

At 7:30, as Gao Yang continued to pore over the intelligence with bloodshot eyes, he heard Liang Dong outside asking, "Boss, can I come in?"

"Come in."

Liang Dong walked in with Gao Yang’s lunch box, smiling, "Porcupine went to get breakfast. I told him to eat first; I brought his share to you. You can try and see how it tastes this time."

During the war, breakfast is important because it’s uncertain if there’ll be a chance to eat again throughout the day. It couldn’t just be porridge and pickles; high-calorie, high-energy meat dishes were the norm.

This morning, Liang Dong made a large pot meal, but it was more mutton than vegetables. Eating it full would sustain energy for a day even if there was no more food available.

Gao Yang took the lunch box, and after a couple of bites, he gave a thumbs up, saying, "Great! Today’s taste is just right! Delicious."

Liang Dong laughed and said, "Alright then, you guys eat first. I’ll go deliver food to the brothers at the posts."

Since the artillery attack, Gao Yang had pulled Satan’s men back, usually only letting the Dagger Assault Team stay at the frontline positions, while Satan’s main team stayed as a backup at the temporary command post instead of being scattered in small groups on the front line.

Gao Yang thought for a moment, knowing that today Vorvitsky was leading a part of the Dagger Assault Team at the frontline outpost, he said to Liang Dong, "There’s only Cobra at the position; why are you personally delivering? You have helpers, send them to deliver meals to the Dagger team; aren’t you tired from cooking and delivering?"

Liang Dong laughed heartily and replied, "Back in the unit, meal delivery to the frontlines was always the mess group’s job; I did it personally every time. I can’t sit idle. I’ll go now."

Gao Yang didn’t stop Liang Dong, gestured for him to go, and then wolfed down his breakfast.

After hastily finishing breakfast, Glolov soon arrived as well, entering Gao Yang’s tent, he immediately said, "Let’s withdraw to Aden; where the battle is more intense."

Gao Yang sighed, "I still want to exact some revenge on the enemy before leaving; after losing so many men, retreating without doing anything weighs heavily on my mind, even if no one says anything."

Just then, Yake burst in.

Yake’s tent was right next to Gao Yang’s, usually just calling out sufficed, but this time Yake seemed quite urgent.

"Just received intelligence, there’s a change in Saudi Arabia’s frontline strategy!"

Gao Yang instantly snapped to attention, loudly asking, "What’s the change?"

"Deploying elite special forces to replace the current infantry, executing a strong assault on us. They’re no longer accompanying infantry attacks with armored vehicles, opting for special forces to first clean out the Houthis Armed Forces’ front line. The plan is codenamed: Sandstorm."

Gao Yang clapped his hands, loudly proclaiming, "Good!"

Glolov exclaimed with a broad smile, "Do we know which special forces Saudi Arabia will deploy?"

Yake shook his head, "The intelligence doesn’t say, but I think we’ll know soon. Likely, they’re not from the military’s special forces; rather, the personnel might be drawn from Saudi Arabia’s National Guard."

Gao Yang waved confidently, saying, "Doesn’t matter! Whoever comes, dies! Saudi’s special forces, ha, haha."

Just then, Tarta rushed into Gao Yang’s tent, quickly saying, "Urgent intelligence! Ten helicopters took off twenty minutes ago from Fahd Military Base, including six Black Hawks and four Apaches! The intelligence source can’t ascertain the destination or the purpose of their departure!"

Gao Yang exchanged a look with Yake, then said gravely, "Sandstorm Plan!"

Yake frowned, "Would the Saudi people act so quickly? They made the plan last night, and it’s being executed this morning? And during the day?"

Glolov said sternly, "If it’s possible, then it’s certain; bad news always spreads quickly."

Yake shrugged, "This is good news."

Gao Yang thought for a moment and said, "Tell everyone to prepare for battle. Assume those helicopters are enacting the Sandstorm Plan, then what’s their target? Frontline? Or us? Such operations are often aimed at command posts; perhaps they’re coming for us."

With that, Gao Yang suddenly added urgently, "Regardless, our men on the frontline are in danger, and they must be notified immediately."

Then, Gao Yang grabbed the radio and said loudly, "Head Sheep calling Cobra, the enemy has dispatched elite special forces carried by helicopter coming towards our position. Stay alert; preservation is the priority upon sighting, confirm receipt, over."