At eleven o'clock at night, in the Colombian jungle near Mani Town.
A watch group had already been dispatched, and Anthony was embroiled in a huddle with five core members discussing how to attack the AUC camp.
Less than twenty kilometers from the border, intelligence indicated that there were about ninety armed members inside the camp. The batch of weapons and ammunition brought from the port was temporarily piled up in the northwest corner of the camp, covered with waterproof tarps, estimating that someone would come to transport it away in the next few days.
Anthony and his buddies planned to raid the camp tonight, then destroy the weapons and ammunition, and organize a retreat afterward.
This was the ultimate exam.
It looked very simple.
Not difficult at all.
But in practice, it was not so.
The biggest headache for them now was another camp nearby, just ten kilometers away, belonging to the Colombian Army, with a platoon stationed inside.
This Army platoon was actually a border patrol, usually responsible for patrolling the nearby border area.
Because the relationship between the AUC forces and the government army was ambiguous, they both turned a blind eye to each other, pretending not to see each other.
But should either side be attacked by ELN or FARC forces, they would cooperate and reinforce each other.
This messy situation was not a figment of imagination but a conclusion drawn from years of combat experience.
Externally, the government army never acknowledged any relationship with AUC forces, after all, the AUC also claimed to be an illegal armed group and sometimes even declared themselves as anti-government armed forces.
However, its nature was that of a typical right-wing organization, upholding the interests of the landowning class, with demands that in many ways aligned with those of the current government.
Therefore, locals in Colombia all felt that it was the private army of local tycoons and landowners, supported by these people and cultivated by the government army.
"As soon as we start fighting, the government army's camp will definitely send reinforcements to the AUC camp. The border troops have a lot of patrol vehicles and strong mobility capabilities. I estimate they could arrive within half an hour," Godwin offered his opinion.
"I think we should use the 'encirclement for reinforcements' tactic our instructor taught us, right here—"
He pointed to a bridge between the AUC and government army camps.
The bridge was only ten meters long and the river beneath it just seven or eight meters wide, a small bridge.
"We set an ambush here with a squad, set the explosives, and when their reinforcements come, then we—"
As he spoke, he made an explosive detonation motion with his hands.
The others exchanged glances, had an unspoken agreement through eye contact, and then nodded in unison.
Anthony gave a thumbs up: "Godwin, you've really put what the principal and instructor taught us to good use!"
Godwin, buoyed by the praise from the others, was quite smug, grinning and nodding incessantly, even glancing back at Song Heping and Jiang Feng, who were standing to the side acting as examiners.
"Principal, my plan is not bad, right?"
Song Heping had been listening to their discussion of tactical arrangements all along.
The bridge was indeed a good spot, and it was the necessary route for reinforcements.
By blowing up the bridge, the reinforcements would lose their mobility. If they had to disembark and wade across the river on foot, it would take at least an hour, enough time for the troops attacking the AUC camp to seize an advantage.
Moreover, a squad could still hold them up, gaining an additional half hour at the very least.
As long as they did not become mired in combat and retreated promptly, the plan was undoubtedly viable.
These fellas weren't that smart when they first arrived.
It seemed that the military command studies, combined arms operations, and strategies like the "Thirty-Six Stratagems" taught in class had been somewhat useful.
Going back to the ELN forces, Morins should be satisfied.
"I won't comment on your plan; I'm just an examiner. Have you ever seen an examiner give the answers to the candidates?"
His comment made Godwin somewhat uneasy.
The principal hadn't given a definite answer.
So was their plan viable or not?
The group began to doubt themselves again.
In the end, it was Anthony who was smarter. He reassured Godwin: "If the principal doesn't comment, that means it's fine. If we were really making a big mistake, he'd definitely correct it. Relax, Godwin, your plan is viable!"
Out of everyone, Song Heping actually admired Anthony the most.
This guy was smarter than the others, and he had a foundation in formal military training, achieving the best results of these fifty people.
Jiang Feng said, "Old squad leader, look at this bunch of guys, now they all become sly."
Song Heping said, "Being sly is a good thing. They were originally anti-government armed forces, with the nature of a guerrilla. Being sly could help them live longer. Haven't you seen that I've particularly focused on teaching you guerrilla warfare these past two months?"
Just as everyone was finalizing the plan and preparing to start deployment, a sudden call came in over the radio.
"Recon team calling the attack squad, respond if you hear this."
"This is the attack squad. Recon team, please speak."
Anthony picked up the radio transceiver.
"There's a problem. A platoon has suddenly shown up at the AUC camp."
"What? Clarify!"