Time Travel 04: I Fight the US in the Middle East

Northwest of Sadr City, in the Tehawala district, the temporary headquarters of the 1st Cavalry Division.

"Those damned Mahdi troops, how dare they ambush our supply convoy!" Major General Peter Ziarelli gritted his teeth in anger.

I initially thought this battle would be easy, the perfect opportunity to showcase my abilities, but I was wrong...

"Commander, we only have two choices now: either continue supplying them or withdraw from the city after dark..." Staff Officer John Church said from the side.

"Of course, we must continue transporting supplies! We absolutely cannot withdraw!"

Continue transport? John Church frowned. The best option now was to withdraw, and if necessary, they could move in again tomorrow... The Second Battalion had requested an evacuation!

Then let's think of another way!

"Could you perhaps contact the commander of the 1st Armored Division and ask them for help...?"

Before John Church could finish speaking, Major General Peter Ziarelli interrupted him: "No, no, of course we can't contact them! Our 1st Cavalry Division doesn't need the 1st Armored Division's help!"

Are you kidding me?! I just embarrassed myself and lost face, and now I have to ask for help? I can't bring myself to do that!

"If we don't get their help, we'll have no choice but to retreat."

"Why? Could it be that our second supply convoy won't arrive in time?"

Fortunately, the division commander wasn't stupid!

John Church continued, "Yes, Commander, the nearest supply convoy won't arrive until late at night, and by then, the Second Battalion in the city will probably have been wiped out by the Mahdi army..."

"How could that be! Isn't night combat our forte? We have night vision goggles!"

"Commander, our men are unfamiliar with the terrain. It would be very dangerous for them to stay overnight like this..."

"What danger could there be? That's an entire battalion!" Major General Peter Ziarelli said. "Order them to launch a city-wide manhunt! Don't let them embarrass themselves in front of the 1st Armored Division!"

A city-wide manhunt? The division commander's idea is... that is indeed a solution, but... well, rank matters, so let's just do what he says!

"Yes."

"Also, order the helicopter unit to remain over Sadr City, ready to provide immediate support should any unforeseen circumstances arise!"

We'll launch a pincer attack from both the air and the ground; I refuse to believe we can't wipe out those Mahdi troops!

Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard in Sadr City, a group of high-ranking Mahdi military officials were watching Azam, wondering what his next move would be.

"Let's not talk about what we should do yet. Let's think about what the enemy might do next."

Even in chess, you have to analyze your opponent's next move, or even several moves ahead. Now... it's the same in war!

After saying that, Azam picked up a piece of creamy potato. To be honest, he still missed the taste of Eastern food. He didn't know if there were any Chinese restaurants here, and even if there were, whether they had been adapted to local tastes...

"The enemy...the enemy's supplies have been plundered by us, and what they need most is to replenish their supplies. If supplies can't be brought in from outside, they will...steal our supplies!"

It's Ali Hazem again. He seems to be a smart guy, and we can nurture him well in the future!

"That's right! They'll definitely try to take back the supplies we've gotten our hands on..." Khalil Maliki chimed in.

Azam swallowed his food and nodded in praise: "Everyone guessed correctly. If the American troops don't withdraw, they will inevitably plunder the city's residents' supplies, especially..."

beep, beep...

Just then, a member of the Mahdi Army ran in: "Report, the American troops entering the city have begun sealing off streets one by one and searching house to house..."

Everyone exclaimed in awe, "Azam is simply a god!"

"So... Azam, what do we do now? Poison the food?" Amr-Elwan Ibrahim asked.

Azam shook his head: "American troops always carry some MRE rations when they go into battle; it's enough to last at least a day or two! Besides, poisoning our precious food is a crime!"

Even though Yituo was located in Mesopotamia, with vast oases, the food it could grow was never enough to feed them!

Besides, we don't have any readily available poison that we can put in the poison so the enemy won't be able to detect it!

There are quite a few poppies in Yituo. They add a little bit when baking food. How much of that stuff would be needed to be lethal?

"That's...fuel?" Ali-Hazim asked.

"That's right, the biggest shortage for the US military right now is fuel, so all we need to do is add some..."

Upon hearing Azam's arrangement, everyone's eyes widened. This...

The raw materials are readily available and everywhere; just a word is enough to spread the word throughout the city! But will it really work?

It will definitely work! Azam was sent by the true God to guide us, how could he be wrong!

"Okay, let's get started right away!"

A street in the city.

Boom!

Several American soldiers kicked open the door of a civilian house aggressively, pointing their dark gun barrels at the people inside.

Three women, eight children, and where are the men? We didn't see any men. Perhaps they hid out of fear, or maybe they were members of the Mahdi Army?

Wait a minute, why are these women's eyes constantly drifting towards that dilapidated little warehouse?

"William, Collins, go check out that little barn over there!" Sergeant Maxwell shouted.

"Yes."

The two men, guns in hand, cautiously approached, using the bayonets to clear away the messy garbage in the warehouse, and then... they saw several large plastic buckets filled with a yellow liquid!

"Oil drums! We've found oil drums!"

William excitedly unscrewed the lid of the oil drum, and a familiar diesel smell wafted out!

"Diesel fuel! It's the diesel fuel we desperately need!"

"Great, great, that's wonderful! With this diesel fuel, our vehicles will run until tomorrow!"

"Let's go, retreat!"

"Hey, you can't take it! That's my house..." The woman suddenly became anxious and started babbling.

"If you don't want to die, then stay put! This diesel fuel originally belonged to our U.S. military transport team! You stole it! If you dare to cause any more trouble, I'll arrest you!" Maxwell said.

The two sides speak different languages, but they can still understand each other!

When the woman saw the gun pointed at her, she could only quickly lower her head and back away, no longer daring to go forward.

Watching the American soldiers leave, the woman clenched her fists, a smug look in her eyes. "Hmph, Americans, we can't stop you from looting, but we can... season your loot beforehand!"

"Mommy, they stole our things, they're so mean," the eldest boy said.

"Yes, when you grow up, you'll join the army and drive these people away!"

"good!"