"Commander, they came out of the forest and retreated to the west", at the command of the Neglo Republic, Stefan Schwa was reporting on the latest movements of Elena's army.

"Very well, as I expected", the Tayi family smiled, "order the 1st Division of the 21st Army to pursue as fast as possible!" We will exhaust them like hounds and ducks, and then catch them all! ”

——————————

The fifteen-minute break was very short, and the fighters could only complete basic weapon maintenance, and after running out of water in the carry-on kettle, the warriors could not even find a place to refill the kettle and steam tank. As for the fighters who were injured in the battle, they could only be bandaged simply and waited for follow-up treatment. After completing the most basic trimmings, the team, which had fought a tough battle for the first time, set off again.

The forest has a natural terrain bonus to Gastens' troops, and the skirmish tactics can be used to their full advantage in this terrain, inflicting massive damage on pursuing enemies. The pursuing enemy will not be able to return fire with the same number or several times the number of people if he does not form a formation. If you are arrayed, you can't advance in the forest. So, after resting, Elena's team only killed the sporadic enemy scouts, and after more than two hours of traversing, they emerged from the western side of the forest.

"You've gone so far, can you get rid of the pursuers?" , Ivan stood at the edge of the forest, looking at the scenery in the distance. The midsummer sun shone on his face, showing the marks of sweat and stains very clearly.

"It's difficult, the enemy has scouts following us along the way, and the warriors behind the palace have killed a lot, but there are still them. You see behind us, the columns of tobacco are the signals sent by the scouts to the rear. So, we are still not out of danger. ”

Branchier had more experience in guerrilla warfare than Ivan, and he was more aware of the tactics that the enemy might use, "Head, although I don't know the tactics of the Negrus Republic, from my experience of fighting with Eliot's troops, when the other side knows that our ammunition is running out, it is when the enemy is at his most crazy. We can't rest until we reach the supply point and finish resupplying our ammunition. ”

"How much ammunition do we have?" Gastens put down the telescope in his hand and looked at Ivan.

"Only about thirty percent of the soldiers of the Thundering Type 1 now have more than one magazine in reserve, and half of the remaining fighters have less than thirty bullets in their hands, and half of them have already run out. Because of the heavy and inconvenient transportation, we didn't bring out much, and the bullets were limited, and there were about thirty magazines at present, each with fifty rounds, about 1,500 rounds", Ivan is now very sensitive to the amount of ammunition for the two teams.

"Even if we shoot one enemy, we'll kill a few thousand enemies at most, right?" , Gastens asked, seeing Ivan and Bellanchir nodding and giving their latest orders.

"Let's go, let's move to the ammunition supply point as soon as possible, and be vigilant at all times!"

————————————

An hour after leaving the forest, an enemy light cavalry embellished Elena's troops.

"They even have cavalry?" , Ivan was a little anxious now, "Why didn't you take it out earlier?" ”

"It's not good for us if they take it out early," Bellanchir handed a piece of dried sweet potato to Ivan, "When we were fighting guerrillas in the east, we were also chased by cavalry, and most of the time there were mountains into the mountains, and forests went into the forests, and we could get rid of them." And the enemy does not dare to fight us head-on, they can't beat it. ”

"But if we keep chasing us like this, won't we always be under the nose of the enemy?" , Ivan frowned. He was not in a good mood after being stroked behind his ass for a long time.

"Fighting guerrilla warfare, there are no pursuers behind the butt, can it still be called guerrilla warfare", Gastens was also munching on dried potatoes. The dried potatoes soaked in salt water did not taste bad, and Gastens was very satisfied.

"The head said the same, this can't be helped", Ivan took the dried sweet potato handed by Bellanchier, chewed twice, and made a muffled voice, "If it goes on like this, are we going to take them to the supply point?" ”

"That will certainly not work," Gastens had already pondered, "and the infantry will surely arrive soon after the enemy's cavalry catches up." If we are caught by their large forces, it will be very difficult for us to get out. Later, we will discuss it, and we will leave overnight today, divide our troops into two routes, lure the enemy all the way, and make a big show and pretend to attract the enemy's attention. On the other hand, they quietly went to the supply point with most of their men and horses, and after replenishing ammunition, they looked for an opportunity to meet with the enemy's troops and kill the enemy with a return gun. ”

"Head, I'll lure the enemy! I have a lot of experience in guerrilla warfare, and the old subordinates of my guerrilla brigade are also veterans, so there is absolutely no problem. ”

Before Gastens could finish speaking, Berranchel raised his hand, "This matter is safest only if it is left to me." ”

"You can't go", Ivan pressed Bellanchier's hand, "you have to act with the head." Your experience and your troops must keep the leader safe. Let me and my production brigade go and fight. Many of us came out of death squads, and comrades are familiar with running for our lives. ”

"Head, let me go, such a dangerous task of luring the enemy, only we, who are masters of guerrilla warfare, can better complete your orders."

Berlancheil turned his head and looked at Gastens. There was no fear or retreat in his eyes, and he was full of confidence and fighting spirit.

"Let me go, sir, Berranchir must follow you. Our production brigade will not be worse than his partisan column! And it's more appropriate to let the people of the death squad do such a thing as running for their lives, what do you think? ”

Ivan also turned his head and looked at Gastens. His eyes were also full of sincerity and warlike intent, and he had no fear.

Seeing the reaction of the two comrades, Gastens was a little dazed. The idea of dividing his forces to lure the enemy had been there since he left the forest. It's just that he hasn't figured out how to convince his two comrades yet. After all, the one who lures the enemy takes a greater risk and may even die. He knew that as long as he gave the order, neither comrade would refuse him. But he didn't expect that before he even had time to give the order, the two comrades began to scramble to ask for lure the enemy.

You know, when you don't have enough ammunition, that's the most dangerous job.

"I've already thought about this", Gastens turned his head sideways and wiped his eyes gently, "Bellanchier Warren, your troops are experienced, and you yourself have fought guerrilla warfare. It can be said that in terms of actual combat experience, you know more than me. I believe in you, I believe that you will not let me down, and you will not let Elena down. However, I can't give you too much troops, one regiment is already the limit, ammunition I can guarantee at least one magazine for each of your regiments, how about it, can you complete the task? ”

"Chief, there's only one regiment—"

Ivan tried to interject anxiously. How can the strength of a regiment, the strength of a regiment with insufficient ammunition, be able to fight against the army behind them? But before he could say his question, he was interrupted by Bellanchier.

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

Bellancheil stood up and gave a solemn military salute. Gastens stood up and hugged him gently.

"Don't die, brother."

——————————————

"Commander, the cavalry has caught up with the enemy, what should I do next?" At the command of the Neglo Republic, the Chief of the General Staff of the Eastern Front Command, Stefan Schwa, planted a small flag in the place where Gastens was resting, "Here are plains all around, and the terrain is very suitable for pursuit. Once the cavalry is attached, they cannot escape. However, according to the combat effectiveness they showed before, if they want to take them steadily, they must send at least three or four divisions. ”

"They have no ammunition, and the Elena troops who have run out of bullets are like us, they are all two eyes and one mouth, and they are all people. Everyone is the same when it comes to fighting," said Taiga Bush with a smile on his face, although the enemy's ambush caused heavy losses to his side, but it was the first to be able to force the enemy to turn around and flee. As the commander-in-chief of this battle, the Tayi family has a mood and reason to be happy.

"That'...... We send two divisions? Stefan Schgvar was a little unsure, "Isn't the two divisions unsafe?" ”

"Who said that two divisions were going to be sent?" , Tai's family glanced sideways at Shigwa, "Let the 17th Army and the 18th Army go, carry only the necessities with the luggage, and rush over as soon as possible." Tell the cavalry units to keep harassing the enemy according to our previous deployment, and don't let them rest. When the 17th and 18th armies arrived, the four divisions would do their two brigades, or the two brigades that were incomplete, so it should be no problem. ”

"Okay commander", Stefan Schwa nodded, "this time we captured a large number of enemy Thunder 1 rifles, as well as four Los Angeles 1 steam machine guns, what to do?" ”

"All of them should be sent to the rear as quickly as possible, so that the people at the Weapons Research Institute can absorb and digest them as quickly as possible. If they were useful, we wouldn't be here to fill the hole in the weapon with human lives. ”

After Tai Bush gave the answer, he thought about it again.

"You tell John Clemonz and Alan Carvallo to come over, and I'll talk to them again. This pursuit is a rare opportunity for us, and once the other side has time to replenish ammunition, it will be difficult to have such a good opportunity again. So no matter how big the sacrifice is, you must catch the enemy and destroy the enemy, understand? ”

"Understood," Stefan Schgwald nodded solemnly, turning to leave. Tai Bush stood in front of the sand table, looking at the place where the enemy was temporarily resting, and was silent.

Elena was on the east side, but the men were fleeing west. What purpose do they have in reversing but to get rid of themselves?

————————————

On the evening of the day when the division of troops was decided, Gastens and Ivan led most of the production brigade and partisan brigade, leaving most of the ammunition behind, quietly leaving their station. Berranch, on the other hand, led a regiment of the guerrilla brigade and continued to be stationed in the same place. In order to confuse the enemy's cavalry, he and the 1st Regiment of the Guerrilla Brigade began to deliberately make some noise to retreat shortly after Gastens left. However, their direction was to continue their retreat to the southwest, while Gastens began to approach the supply point on the east side.

In the afternoon of the next day, the 17th and 18th armies, which were marching rapidly, caught up with the cavalry troops. Because of the constant harassment and high mobility of the cavalry troops, although in several contacts, Berranch's troops also caused some casualties to the cavalry troops, but did not get rid of the enemy, but because of the continuous fighting, the soldiers consumed a lot of physical strength. From the beginning of the ambush to being caught up by the enemy's large forces, Bellanchir and his partisan brigade regiment were in a tense state for the whole day, and everyone was very tired. Coupled with the harassment of the enemy's cavalry, although the ammunition problem was solved somewhat, the combat effectiveness of the soldiers did not recover much.

"Brigade Commander, we have successfully attracted a large number of troops, they should be fine, right?"

The commander of the 1st Regiment of the Guerrilla Brigade, a soldier of the former Sharp Knife Company, Oleg Warren, held his gun and asked as he walked. As far as the eye could see behind them, there were cavalry on horseback following them, and a large number of equally fast-moving infantry.

"We can't take it lightly, now we are still close to the head, if they find a flaw, the head may be in danger, we must continue to disguise and take them to a place farther away from the head and safer for the head, you know?"

"Yes!"

Oleg nodded, figging the switch of his steam backpack, "Brigade Commander, you didn't think about going back alive when you took over this mission, did you?" ”

Oleg spoke in a low voice, but Bellancheer heard it. He stopped abruptly and looked left and right. The soldiers around them were marching at a rapid pace, and no one seemed to notice the conversation between the two of them.

"Who said that we have been fighting guerrillas for so long, and we can't even get rid of this little enemy, you also underestimate us, right?"

"The terrain is flat here, and the enemy still has cavalry, so run, can't run. Fight, there is not enough ammunition, we can't get rid of the enemy at all, can we? ”

Oleg's voice was calm. When he was a soldier in the Sharp Knife Company before, he was discovered by Bellanchier because of his good brain and natural intuition for battle, and he became the commander of a regiment step by step. Now, he was also aware of Berranch's thoughts, and he just wanted to confirm it and prepare.

"......," Bellancheer was silent, and after a while he spoke.

"This time is really different, the battle is not easy to fight. But it's not without hope, everyone has lived in Elena for so long, it really can't be broken into pieces, hidden in the homes of the people and farmers, maybe there is hope. Moreover, if the head they take the ammunition, they will also come back and join us. So, no matter how difficult the battle situation is, we can't lose confidence ourselves, you know? ”

"Yes," Oleg nodded, and then added softly.

"Brigadier Commander, even if you take us to death, we will go. Necessary sacrifices are never inevitable for the sake of revolution, aren't they? ”

Berrancier was silent again, and he moved forward quietly, forward, measuring the road under his feet. Gunfire rang out from time to time behind him, which was the rear troops that were continuing to hold back the enemy. The summer wind blew past the two of them, full of restlessness with nowhere to vent.

"It's so hot."

It was a long time before Berranchir said something irrelevant.

"yes, it's hot."

Oleg replied and fell silent.

This summer is not over yet.