Counterfeit Hero

In the current Free World, neither side has the SkyNet System or large-scale high-intensity electronic warfare capabilities. Mutual interference with intelligence, communication, and command, decoy moves, false routes, dummy positions and bases, electronic deception, and covert maneuvers are scarce. The War Fog from large-scale battles is absent, and military commanders almost lay their cards out on the table for calculation.

There isn’t much challenge in this. The only fun lies in each side’s hidden strengths.

”Our 3rd Group is equipped with elite Ninth Generation Mecha. This is something the Northern Alliance can’t match. You may not understand where their combat power ranks among the mainstream armies, but I do!” Fatty drew a large circle around the position of Puluo Town on the map and continued, ”Coordinating with our outer defense lines, a regiment’s strength appears insufficient to hold out for twenty-four hours. In the enemy’s eyes, our dispersed defenses are like iron chains linking boats; once their forces converge, we would collapse quickly.”

Weii Jianshan, Kolt, and other Mech Knights quietly gathered around, looking at the electronic map spread out on the ground by Fatty. Initially, they didn’t quite understand the reasoning behind the enemy’s four armored camps splitting forces on the eastern route, but now it became clear. These two forces, responding up and down, could launch independent attacks or quickly merge with nearby offensive units. The southern and western attack units were similar.

If the SM 3rd Group is split into five parts to block the enemy’s five attack directions, the enemy could simply adjust slightly, using one force to drag the bandit armored troops, while other forces quickly unify, like poking a balloon, breaking the situation at a single point.

If one direction is breached, the troops on the other defense lines of Puluo Town would become mere decorations.

For Mech Knights like Weii Jianshan, who haven’t been exposed to formal military theory, these concepts were completely unfamiliar. But when Fatty pointed it out on the map, they immediately understood.

The crowd was taken aback, realizing that if they were in command instead of Fatty, they might have already made the mistake of dispersing their defenses.

”So how should we defend, Colonel?” Impatient Kolt, after thinking for a long time without a solution, couldn’t help but ask Fatty, ”I heard you just told Markovich they need to hold out for thirty-six hours....”

”If the enemy has no more reinforcements...” Fatty chuckled, ”Markovich’s task is not just holding out for thirty-six hours....”

He pointed to a ring-road on the Puluo Town map and said, ”I’ve ordered the outer defense troops to shrink back to the Three-Ring Road defense line. Retreating to here, although it seems like we are abandoning many outer positions, the defensive depth is only tens of kilometers. However, our forces become more concentrated, making our defensive strength much higher than before.

Moreover, due to the obstruction of Luoye Lake and the surrounding mountains, the enemy has limited choices for attack routes, and the tactical maneuvering space is much smaller than fighting us in the outer areas. More importantly....”

Fatty’s cigarette’s red glow swayed between the fourth ring-road outside Puluo’s third-ring road and the crisscrossing section roads on the map, ”....we can leverage the 3rd Group’s combat strength, switching from passive to active, splitting our forces into two, conducting circular mobile combat in a diagonal manner!”

”This means an active offensive defense.” Seeing some Mech Knights were confused, Fatty explained, ”Splitting the 3rd Group into five teams would significantly weaken our combat power. If we split into two halves, each leading two battalions maneuvering in the outer ring areas of Puluo Town, we can take the initiative. The enemy plays with region and time coordination; we play with region and time coordination as well. They do their thing; we do ours.”

”I calculated.” Fatty stood up, ”Based on the defensive strength of our re-arranged lines after withdrawal, if the enemy doesn’t launch a combined assault, it would take about five hours of continuous high-intensity assault to break through. But in my operational plan, I won’t give them that unrestricted attack opportunity. The 3rd Group will form two fists for circular mobile combat, appearing at any time and place, selecting any battle target. As long as we disrupt the enemy’s continuous attacks or inflict heavy casualties with surprise attacks, our defense lines can hold.”

The Mechanical God and Mechanical Commanders’ eyes were fixed. They never imagined the Northern Alliance’s siege had so many variations. If not for Fatty’s in-depth analysis and explanations, they couldn’t have guessed the enemy’s intentions. Faced with the enemy’s tactical changes, they’d be at a loss, let alone devising an effective defensive strategy.

Deserving of being a disciple of Russell, the Hero forged in Leray war three years defending the nation! Fatty’s operational plan marked on the electronic map was precise to the minute and detailed to each potential ambush point. He even marked the enemy’s selectable attack routes, attack methods, the number of troops the battlefield could accommodate, and possible problems.

For a moment, everyone held Fatty in high regard.

”But no matter how we fight at home, it can’t last too long.” Fatty took a deep drag of his cigarette until it was finished, threw the butt away, and looked at everyone present, ”So, the key to this battle still depends on us!” He switched the electronic map folder on the ground to a map of Central City, and raised his head, ”Since they dare to attack, we naturally have to retaliate. In this counterattack, we need to deliver a fatal blow within thirty-six hours. The enemy comes openly; we have fewer people, so we go secretly!”