Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 70 Sergeid's Blockade

Move forward a little bit in time.

After a two-week trek, Lu Lin's expeditionary force took a detour through Hashim and traveled along the northern highway to reach Sergiad in Al-Ilag.

Along the way, they set up field fuel supply stations and light radars in advance. Due to their proximity to enemy-occupied territory in Zion, the armored forces marched at night throughout the entire journey and maintained radio silence.

The vanguard of the 3rd Armored Division of Shuangzhi was the first to arrive at the abandoned phosphate mine in Sergiad, and the engineers quickly constructed camouflage positions overnight using combat engineering vehicles.

The air defense brigade's MIM-23 missile launchers were positioned inside the mine pit, with their elevation angles pre-adjusted to align with the anticipated reconnaissance routes of the Zion Air Force.

To avoid the exposure of radio communications, Masr and other armies switched to manual communication or encrypted channels to contact their allies months before the war.

They were contacted by the number two figure in the Al-Iraq Ba'ath Party, Kozonie, whom they had met at the United Nations.

"Hopefully we're not late."

"No, Rafiks (comrades), you have come at just the right time!"

Kozone appeared very pleased and shook hands with the general who had come from afar. Looking at the vast army, he couldn't help but exclaim, "This has been a great help."

Lu Lin said solemnly, "No Arab country can withstand Zion's attack alone. Helping Al-Iraq is actually helping Shuangzhi itself."

Kozonie didn't mince words: "The 9th Armored Division of Al-Ilag will force a crossing of the river at 2 p.m. on the 6th and launch an attack on the Euphrates front. At that time, you will cut off their supply lines from the rear, and we will attack them from both sides and catch them off guard."

Lu Lin said, "No problem."

Cozon nodded: "Then we'll wait for your good news."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Before we knew it, it was Yom Kippur.

Lu Lin said to Ibrahim, "I will take command of all the artillery positions and they will all follow my orders."

Ibrahim looked at Bandar, who shrugged and said, "Just listen to the Major General; he's an amazing artilleryman."

Lu Lin: "???"

Why does it feel a little off when you say this?
"I require the artillery and air defense positions to change positions promptly after each round of fire to avoid being locked onto by Zion's air force," Lu Lin issued his second order.

"Understood," Abbas, the brigade commander of the 4th Air Defense Brigade, nodded.

In fact, the American equipment that Lu Lin received in this timeline is almost exactly the same as the support that Zion received from the United States in his previous life.

From the M60A1 main battle tank to the TPS-25 ground surveillance radar and the MIM-23 anti-aircraft missile, it is almost a replica of Zion of that era, except for the lack of drones.

"That's right, I also have a 'drone chicken'!"

Lu Lin beckoned En Qidu, who landed steadily on his forearm and began asking for beef jerky.

When Lu Lin went to the United Nations before, he bought back thirty falcons and a lot of other wild animals. Since there was no place to keep them, he simply built a zoo.

Then Enqi stayed at the zoo and refused to leave. Later, Lu Lin found out that most of the thirty falcons he had bought were female.

With Major General Amir's special instructions, the zoo dared not neglect the bird, feeding it fish oil and refined meat at every meal, making the silly bird almost fatter, and even its feathers were shiny and smooth.

"If you keep eating like this, you won't be able to fly anymore!"

Lu Lin tried to persuade him with all his heart, but all he got in return was a bird's backside facing him.

I don't know why, maybe it had a skin disease, but its tail feathers almost all fell out before, but now they've grown back.

Lu Lin stroked the fur on its tail, and Enqi seemed to sense it, quickly turning around and pecking at his hand.

"Fuck!"

Lu Lin was startled. This silly bird was a bird of prey; if it pecked him, he would lose a piece of flesh.

"Does it really hate it when other people touch its butt?"

Lu Lin felt a little strange, but he didn't think much of it. He quickly let go of his hand, and Enqi, who had finished eating, quickly took off.

From an eagle's perspective, nothing in the vast desert can hide. Western Al-Ilag is mostly desert and hilly terrain, sparsely vegetated but crisscrossed by ravines, suitable for troops to disperse and conceal themselves.

However, if they are acting as a garrison, especially guarding the supply line, their general location is not difficult to deduce.

Soon, with the help of the cheat, Lu Lin found the Zion garrison near Sergei. The dense red markings were scattered in different areas, and judging from the size, it should be an armored brigade.

"I don't know which unit it is."

Lu Lin silently memorized the directions in his mind.

At the appointed time, irregular artillery fire came from the distance to the east. It was clear that this was Al-Ilag's artillery position, covering the infantry as they laid pontoon bridges to cross the river.

Lu Lin took a deep breath, feeling a surge of emotion.

There was no sense of ceremony involved; the war officially began at that moment.
Lu Lin thought to himself, "Let all the Zionians go to hell!"
"All positions, heed my command!"

He gave the order over the walkie-talkie: "Bazimuth 273°, distance 18 kilometers, elevation correction +32, three rounds of rapid fire!"

Zion 58th Armored Brigade.

"What? Al-Iraq's troops are attempting to cross the Euphrates River?"

Brigadier General Eugene was speaking with division headquarters. As the rearguard, their duty was to protect Highway 53, the supply line.

"Al-Iraq is shelling the coastal positions..."

Before Brigadier General Eugene could receive more detailed intelligence, a piercing alarm suddenly sounded.

The first volley of howitzers landed precisely on the supply assembly point three kilometers from the brigade headquarters. Three M548 ammunition transport vehicles disintegrated in a burst of flames, and the shockwave overturned the adjacent field kitchen tent.

A heatwave carrying metal fragments swept across the camp, and the soldiers who were loading ammunition into the Chieftain's tank were instantly knocked down before they could even lie down.

"All personnel to battle positions! Sound detection team, report location!"

The chief of staff kicked open the command post door and, through the smoke, saw a communications soldier dragging his bloodied left leg toward the radio.

Three concealed microphone arrays are being used for triangulation, but the dune terrain is causing severe distortion of the sound waves.

"These are 155mm shells!" Major General Eugene, a former artilleryman, grabbed the microphone and said, "Forget the calculations! Counterattack based on experience! 155mm howitzers generally can't go very far, about fifteen kilometers to the northeast!"

At this point, accuracy is irrelevant; it's all about firepower coverage. If the enemy's shelling density decreases, it means the direction of the shot is correct.

The chief of staff hesitated for a moment: "But General, this doesn't conform to wartime regulations."

"Screw the manuals!" Eugene slammed down the artillery command device. "Give it your all!"

Lu Lin was watching the impact points of the first salvo from the sky.

He could see several small red figures running around on the ground, but the markings on their heads were all the same, which meant there must be even higher-ranking officials.

"I guess he's hiding in some command post or air-raid shelter," Lu Lin thought to himself.

Then he saw that Zion's artillery positions had also opened fire, the irregular sounds of artillery fire blending together, and the shells drawing deadly arcs in the air.

To his surprise, the direction of the attack was correct, only the distance estimate was off by a few kilometers.

If this were to be done with "bouncing barrage" fire, it's estimated that the shells would actually hit the artillery position in just a few rounds.

"I'm afraid the opposing commander is someone with extensive combat experience."

Lu Lin switched back to his perspective, thought for a moment, and continued to issue orders through the walkie-talkie: "Eleventh Company, adjust bearing to 275, distance unchanged, elevation +5."

"Fire another round, then immediately move to a new position."

　Thank you, Brother Meng Peng, for the eighteen monthly tickets!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)