"Mr. Mavi, let's get straight to the point. The Ministry of Defense sent you here, saying you have a good strategy to deal with the insurgents' guerrilla warfare?"
"For the past two weeks, our troops have been exhausted, and our casualties have been severe. The situation is far more serious than we anticipated. The insurgents' guerrilla tactics are incredibly cunning..." General Beville said to Mavi with deep concern.
The Russian Army had been overly optimistic about the subsequent battles due to their initial victory in the full-scale war. From high-ranking officers to regular soldiers, they believed they could completely resolve the conflict within one or two months by eliminating the remaining terrorists.
However… the reality was far more difficult.
"Yes, Mr. Mavi, do you have a plan to turn the tide in our favor?" Commander Nikoyevich asked anxiously. He couldn't bear to watch his men die on the battlefield day after day.
Mavi was well aware that both Chechen Wars had been brutal for Russia. Without hesitation, he directly addressed General Beville and Commander Nikoyevich. "The Chechen insurgents may be small in number and poorly equipped, but they have been fighting for independence for years. Their experience in guerrilla warfare is extensive."
"As far as I know, one of the highest-ranking commanders of the Chechen rebels was once a Soviet Army armored division commander. The mountainous terrain of Chechnya is highly advantageous for these guerrilla fighters. When they encounter small Russian units, they engage in urban warfare and street fighting. When faced with large military formations, they retreat into the mountains and wait for the right moment..."
Although Mavi had never been on the battlefield himself, his concise summary hit the core of Chechen guerrilla warfare. Hearing his analysis, General Beville and Commander Nikoyevich looked as if they had just found a savior! They immediately asked, "Mr. Mavi, how should we counter their guerrilla tactics?"
As a Chinese man in his previous life, Mavi was no stranger to the concept of "guerrilla warfare." After all, the Chinese military had successfully used it against the Japanese invaders. Historically speaking, his people were arguably the pioneers of modern guerrilla warfare.
"There are solutions. First, we need to identify guerrilla-infested areas, control all key routes in and out, and mandate that civilians can only travel through designated checkpoints. Then, we use drones to scout other areas—any sign of movement, we bomb it. Large-scale troops will conduct systematic sweep-and-clear operations. Once an area is secured, it will be sealed off, and we continue until all guerrilla forces are eradicated."
"Beyond this large-scale eradication strategy, for sparsely populated but vast mountainous regions, we can implement population consolidation. Civilians will be relocated and monitored to prevent them from supplying the guerrillas with resources or intelligence. Then, we deplete the resources in uninhabited zones, forcing the guerrillas to starve for weeks until they are too weak to even hold a rifle..."
Mavi elaborated on tactical details for a full ten minutes, and General Beville and Commander Nikoyevich nodded repeatedly, their eyes shining with excitement! To an outsider, it might seem like this young Russian man before them was the actual commander of the entire operation…
There was no denying that Mavi possessed invaluable strategic knowledge accumulated from past conflicts. To the Russian military, which was essentially navigating uncharted waters, his insights were a game-changer. With a well-executed battle plan, Russian losses could be minimized significantly.
"Mr. Mavi! Thank you so much! If our army wins this war, your contribution will be undeniable!" General Beville shook Mavi's hands with gratitude. On the battlefield, the scariest thing wasn't a powerful enemy—it was having no countermeasures and suffering constant losses.
Although Russia had powerful weaponry, its combat capability and experience were lacking in many ways. That's why they desperately needed someone like Mavi to provide strategic guidance.
"You're welcome, General Beville. If possible, may I visit my regiment of 625 soldiers now?" With the tactical discussion settled, Mavi naturally wanted to see his men.
"Of course! Commander Nikoyevich, please take Mr. Mavi to meet his troops," General Beville ordered.
"Understood, General Beville." Commander Nikoyevich nodded slightly. As he led Mavi out of the command center, he awkwardly turned to him and apologized, "Mr. Mavi, I must admit I was too reckless on the phone earlier. I apologize for my arrogance."
Indeed, Commander Nikoyevich was the same officer who had spoken to Mavi over the phone two weeks ago. Back then, he was full of confidence, believing that the Chechen insurgents were nothing more than a ragtag group that could be eliminated within a month.
He never expected the battle to turn into such a bloodbath…
"It's fine, Commander Nikoyevich. At least we still have time to change the outcome," Mavi replied. He was not a petty man. Since Nikoyevich had sincerely apologized, there was no reason to hold a grudge.
"Thank you," Commander Nikoyevich said earnestly. Then, he led Mavi to the 43rd Regiment, stationed near the command center. This regiment consisted of 2,300 soldiers, one-third of whom were Mavi's mercenaries.
As Mavi, escorted by the Alpha Team commander, arrived at the 43rd Regiment's camp, Colonel Samsolov, the regiment's commander, immediately rushed out with his men.
Dressed in his military uniform, Colonel Samsolov ran over, stood at attention, and saluted. "Sir! Colonel Samsolov of the 43rd Regiment, reporting for duty!"
Commander Nikoyevich outranked Colonel Samsolov by two levels. In the military, even a single rank difference meant strict hierarchical control.
"Samsolov, this is Mr. Mavi, who traveled all the way from Moscow! Gather your regiment immediately!" Unlike his respectful tone with Mavi, Commander Nikoyevich gave his subordinate a firm, unquestionable order.
"Yes, sir!" Colonel Samsolov responded and immediately ordered his officers to blow the assembly whistle, summoning all 2,366 soldiers of the regiment.
The moment the whistle sounded, the soldiers of the 43rd Regiment—regardless of what they were doing—immediately donned their full gear and sprinted out of their tents. The dust kicked up by their boots was a testament to their military discipline.
(End of Chapter)