The reason why we have to march day and night is because our team has more than 200 people, plus dozens of mules... Marching in a straight line on the mountain road is quite conspicuous, and as we go deeper and deeper
The hinterland of Afghanistan was becoming more and more dangerous, and it was necessary to march at night in order to prevent the Soviet army from discovering it.
On the other hand, it's because of the weather... It's hot and dry during the day. Marching under such conditions will undoubtedly increase the consumption of water. On the contrary, it's cold at night... Although marching against the biting mountain wind is not a pleasant thing.
, but at least you won’t feel thirsty and thirsty for water while walking.
But this transformation process is a bit painful... The reason is that our biological clock does not adjust so quickly, and because we have not adapted to such weather, so on the first day of march, even though we hid in a cave to rest all afternoon,
But no one can sleep... Of course, we are talking about the soldiers of our army here. As for the Afghan guerrillas, they all sleep like pigs... They seem to have been accustomed to this kind of climate for a long time, and they are not able to sleep at all.
will not be affected.
Because I didn't have a good rest, I was tired when we marched at night... Even I was no exception. I was dizzy during the whole march. I don't know whether it was caused by the hot weather during the day or the cold weather at night.
Why, my head can't think at all, I can only move forward mechanically.
At this time, I couldn't help but feel lucky... Fortunately, we had formulated a combat plan early in the morning, and now we just need to implement it according to the plan. Otherwise, in my current state... there would be no way to analyze the situation between ourselves and the enemy.
But fortunately, we have encountered this situation in Vietnam... The summer in Vietnam is also hot during the day and cold at night, but the temperature difference is much worse than in Afghanistan. In addition, our training in China a few months ago has also been
They are all aimed at physical fitness and cross-country, so the soldiers, including Zhao Jingping and other staff members, can keep up.
"Captain Yang!" Hassan expressed surprise to me: "There is something I want to tell you. My soldiers...actually want to compete with you on the mountain road. I'm sorry for that.
,The main reason is that during this period of training, we were a little unconvinced. How about marksmanship, discipline, tactics...we were worse than you in all aspects? In the past, I
We have always thought that our fighting ability is good! But when compared with you, we can't do anything... So my soldiers thought... there must be someone better than you. We have grown up in this mountain since we were young. And you
But I have never walked through such a mountain...so I wanted to compare you to each other, but who knew that you would be almost the same as us..."
Hearing this, I had to smile bitterly: "To tell you the truth...many of us are holding on, just like me!"
I speak very little... This is a habit I have developed in the past few days. I try to speak as little as possible during the march to reduce the loss of water! Part of the reason is that I am exhausted and I don’t even have the energy to say a few more words.
.
The other soldiers are similar to me... Only the Afghan guerrillas are still chatting and laughing... From this aspect, the Afghan guerrillas have actually outcompeted us.
Then I quickly thought... The Soviet army was known as the "Polar Bear". They spent most of their time fighting on the cold plains. Then suddenly they came to the hot Afghan mountains... It's no wonder they didn't dare to go deep into the mountains to encircle and suppress guerrillas.
Team, this is to use one's own shortcomings to attack the other's strengths!
I marched like this for two nights...actually not just two nights, because the best time to march is when the sun is about to set in the evening and when the sun is about to rise in the morning. At this time, the heat turns to cold, and the cold turns to hot.
At that time...it was neither too cold nor too hot, and there was still plenty of light, so we always walked a little longer at this time. As a result, we spent more than ten hours marching every day.
In the early morning of the third day... we finally came to the water source Hassan mentioned... Lake Dahal.
Before seeing this lake... it was hard for me to imagine that there would be water in such a hot place with rocks everywhere. I even had a faint fear in my heart... What if there is no water? After being on the battlefield for so long, I thought
There are many ways to die... but I have never thought about dying of thirst. There is no doubt that this way of death is the most torture... because it will torture you bit by bit, make you crazy, and make you lustful.
Crying without tears will make you collapse bit by bit... and finally death.
One thing I'm sure of...if I really have to face this kind of death, I would rather point a pistol at my head and shoot myself.
but……
There is a lake in such a place, and it is a very big lake... Just like humans will live together next to a water source, a large area of plants also gather here... so that there are deserts and stones everywhere, but here is green.
Everyone cheered when they saw this oasis, but they did not rush into the lake desperately like what was shown on TV and in movies... We actually wanted to do this. We have been suppressing it in order to save water these days.
Following our desire for water, we saw such a big lake... We can only imagine how tempting it would be for us.
However... we also know that the more such a place is, the more dangerous it is. Needless to say, the reason... The water source in the desert is a very important strategic location. There may be only such a water source within a radius of dozens of miles, so of course it is also the Soviet Union
A key surveillance point for the military.
As we can see... there are many burnt corpses near the water source. On these corpses, you can still vaguely see the guns on their hands and backs... There is no doubt that they are guerrillas who came here to replenish water, but they are too ignorant.
Be careful.
At this time, I was a little worried that the Soviet army would poison the lake water, just like the Vietnamese Japanese did to us... Later I learned that this worry was unnecessary, because if the Afghan government troops wanted to enter the mountains to search for guerrillas, they would also
These water sources are needed... Therefore, unless they make up their mind not to enter this area, or the logistics are sufficient for them to enter this area with enough water, they will not dare to poison.
On the other hand, they actually don't need to poison at all... The fact that the water source is not polluted means that there will definitely be guerrillas here to replenish water or rest, and the Soviet army can calmly use air power to monitor the movements of the guerrillas in this area.
.
Because of these reasons... we did not rush to Lake Dahal to have a party... this would only bring us into the sight of the Soviet army prematurely.
Our strategy is this... The large forces will avoid sensitive areas to camp when it is still dark. Camping here refers to finding places with huge rocks and caves to hide... in order to avoid Soviet spy satellites or
It is aerial reconnaissance, and there are still skills to avoid it. For example, you can spread a canvas with a similar color to the stone between two boulders, or you can sprinkle a layer of soil on the canvas... Then you can hide people under the cloth, and go towards it from the air.
If you look down, it's just an inconspicuous stone.
After that, a small unit was sent to unload their guns and lead mules, pretending to be businessmen, to fill water bags... Of course, during this period, the main force of our army was still ready for battle, in order to prevent other guerrillas.
The plundering of the caravan... The water source is not good at all. Robbers and the like also know that the caravan must replenish water here, so they often lie in wait nearby!
Facts also proved that our preparations were necessary... because when our water-fetching team led a dozen mules to the lake, a dozen cavalry quickly rushed out from the left and right and surrounded...
Cavalry is the most common form of banditry, because cavalry is the most useful mobile unit in the desert...cavalry does not require gasoline, can maneuver on most terrains, and is faster than mules and camels.
Therefore, it is natural for them to become the favorites of robbers. They can come like the wind on horseback, and they can quickly evacuate after grabbing things... There is nothing others can do against them!
But this time they made the wrong idea... because we had already arranged a dozen groups of snipers to cover the water fetching team.
"Battal Commander, it's confirmed that they are robbers!" Saheide, a member of the water fetching team, reported to me through a mini walkie-talkie: "They want us to hand over our property and mules, please give instructions!"
"Warn them first!" I frowned. I actually hated this situation... The disunity of the Afghans puts us in danger all the time.
"Tell them..." I said, "Tell them that we have surrounded this area, let them leave, and spare their lives..."
"Yes!" Sahid responded.
My target is the Soviet Army. During this process, I don't want to cause trouble, let alone attract the attention of the Soviet Army, so I will keep a low profile as much as possible.
But the gang of robbers didn't believe what Saheide said... They burst into laughter, obviously thinking that Saheide was scaring them.
Sure enough, Sahaide replied after a while: "Batalion Commander... they don't believe it..."
"Sniper platoon!" I had no choice but to give the order to the sniper platoon: "No survivors left!"
The reason for not leaving anyone alive... is that I don't want these bandits to spread the word... I can only blame them for being so ignorant!
"Yes!" Following Captain Luo's response, gunshots rang out soon...
A dozen gunshots were fired, and a dozen bandits fell off their horses one by one like dumplings, and almost at the same time... I don't know if a sniper missed the target.
Or something, there was another robber who fell off his horse but was not injured... When he stood up and saw that his partner was almost dead at that moment, he couldn't help but be frightened. The horse was right next to him and he didn't know it.