60: Our biggest chance! Let's do it!

Oliver's gaze sharpened.

He no longer hesitated.

"Orders!"

He spat out the two words decisively.

"Third Regiment, move out! I don't care how they do it, they must reach Hector within one hour! One hour!"

As the order was given, the entire war machine of the Free Army began operating at high speed once more.

The speed at which the Third Regiment assembled was astonishing.

The moment the piercing alarm sounded, the soldiers rushed out of the barracks and skillfully boarded their combat vehicles.

The roar of the engines shook the sky, and the tracks rolled over the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

Over seventy brand-new type 15 light tanks, like steel beasts, were the first to rush out of the camp.

Close behind them were hundreds of Finnish-made AMV Armored Personnel Carriers; their streamlined bodies embodied the aesthetic of modern warfare.

This torrent of steel did not stop for a moment, speeding along the highway toward Hector.

In less than an hour, Fernando's command vehicle screeched to a halt in front of the temporary command post of the 4th Regiment in Hector.

Before the dust kicked up by the wheels had settled, he had already jumped out of the vehicle.

Raul, the commander of the 4th Regiment, quickly came forward to greet him. His eyes were bloodshot, but seeing Fernando, a trace of relief finally appeared on his tense face.

"My god, Fernando, did you fly here?"

"Cut the chatter!" Fernando brushed the dust off himself and got straight to the point.

"What's the situation? Tell me everything you know, the worst-case scenario."

Raul didn't stand on ceremony, pulling him directly to the hood of a jeep where a simple battle map was spread out.

"Look here." Raul's finger traced a line on the map.

"Across the river in Montero, an enemy brigade of about six thousand men is entrenched. They are holding their positions, seemingly waiting for something."

He paused, then his finger heavily tapped another town called San Carlos.

"This place is our biggest threat right now. Suaso's main force, the 19th Brigade, is about eight thousand strong."

"They are all inside this city. Our scouts report that they are assembling within the city."

"It looks like they want to wait for the troops from Montero to cross the river, then launch a pincer attack and wipe us out in one fell swoop."

Upon hearing this, Fernando didn't look nervous; instead, the corner of his mouth curled into a wild, savage grin.

"Wait? They're actually waiting?"

He laughed, his voice laced with an excitement that made even Raul feel a tremor.

"Raul, my dear friend, this isn't a crisis, this is a windfall from heaven!"

Raul was stunned: "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Fernando threw an arm around his shoulder and shook him hard.

"Why should we sit here and wait for them to finish preparing and come hit us? Aren't they separated?"

"Then let's take one of them out before they can link up!"

"Active offense? Attack San Carlos?" Raul was shocked by this bold idea.

"That's eight thousand men! Even with both of our regiments combined, we don't have a numerical advantage, and they are inside a city!"

"Advantage? Advantage is earned through fighting, not calculated through counting!" Fernando's voice suddenly rose.

"They think we'll just shrink back here like turtles and wait to be attacked! We'll show them otherwise!"

"We will charge forward, hit them hard! Knock them senseless! Cripple them!"

He turned around and roared at the two deputy commanders who had followed him: "Alejandro! Oscar! You two, get over here!"

Alejandro, the Deputy Commander of the Third Regiment, and Oscar, the Deputy Commander of the 4th Regiment, immediately ran over.

"I propose we don't wait! We assemble the troops now and launch an active attack on San Carlos! What do you think?"

Fernando looked at them with blazing eyes.

Alejandro replied immediately, without thinking.

"I agree with the Commander! Passive defense is just waiting to die! Only by attacking can we seize back the initiative!"

Oscar also nodded vigorously: "The enemy definitely won't expect us to dare launch an offensive! This is our biggest chance! Let's do it!"

Seeing his subordinates filled with high morale, the last trace of hesitation in Raul's heart was completely ignited.

"Fine!" Raul slammed his fist onto the hood, producing a muffled thud.

"Let's do this! We've let those Government Army bastards ride roughshod over us for too long! It's time to let them taste our strength!"

"I order..."

Before Raul could finish speaking, a signaler rushed over, scrambling and stumbling, clutching a tactical tablet, his voice completely distorted.

"Commander! Both Commanders! Emergency situation!"

"Drones and technical reconnaissance have just confirmed! A main enemy force has already departed from the city of San Carlos! An entire organized brigade!"

"They are driving toward us at full speed! Estimated... estimated contact in less than an hour!"

The area in front of the command post instantly fell into dead silence.

Everyone's gaze was focused on Raul and Fernando's faces.

A few seconds later, Raul suddenly laughed.

It was a smile mixed with surprise and wild delight.

"Holy shit! These idiots are actually saving us fuel money!"

He turned and looked at Fernando, his eyes filled with excitement.

"They actually came to us willingly!"

A raging fire had ignited in Fernando's eyes—the frenzy of a hunter watching his prey willingly step into a trap.

"Raul! My Third Regiment just arrived, the men haven't even warmed their seats, and they are bursting with unused energy!"

He took a step forward, his chest held straight.

"Leave this battle to us! We will prepare an unforgettable welcoming gift for Suaso's 19th Brigade!"

"You just arrived..." Raul hesitated slightly.

"Rest is for the dead!"

Fernando interrupted him directly, "We wouldn't want to miss out on good fortune like this! Alejandro! Relay my orders!"

"Third Regiment, immediately deploy into battle formation!"

"Target, the hilly area ahead! We are going to prepare the most magnificent graveyard for those fools who don't know their place!"

"Yes, sir!"

With the order given, the Third Regiment, which had arrived at Hector less than half an hour ago, roared into action once more.

Seventy type 15 tanks split into two rows, like two steel blades, charging first toward the hilly area ahead.

Tracks kicked up yellow sand, and cannon barrels pointed upward, radiating cold killing intent.

On the flanks and rear of the tanks, hundreds of AMV Armored Personnel Carriers carried infantry.

Utilizing their superior mobility, they rapidly maneuvered through the uneven hills, like a pack of agile and deadly wolves.

The entire force moved without the slightest confusion, quickly reaching their predetermined combat positions while moving at high speed.

The tanks found excellent firing positions, their dark muzzles aimed at the valley the 19th Brigade was about to pass through.

The infantry on the armored vehicles quickly dismounted, deploying anti-tank missiles and heavy machine gun positions on the ridges and reverse slopes.

A large net woven of steel and fire quietly opened up in the silent hills.

The roar of the engines gradually subsided.

All the soldiers held their breath, lying silently in their combat positions.

Waiting for the arrogant 19th Brigade to swagger into the death trap that had been meticulously prepared for them.

Fernando raised his binoculars, a cruel arc curving at the corner of his mouth. At the edge of his vision.

The long marching formation of Bolivia's Seventh Division, 19th Brigade, like a gluttonous snake unaware of its fate, was plunging headlong into the trap he had meticulously set.