Volume 1: The Fierce Tiger Leaves Its Leash Chapter 29: Deep-Rooted Blood Feud (Part 1)

  The images shot by the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft played repeatedly. The entire clip was less than half a minute, but everyone knew what had happened on the front line.

  "General, the analysis results are out."

  Zhou Guohui's face turned iron-green, he took the report and glanced at it before handing it over to Ling Tianxiang behind him. Ling Tianxiang quickly scanned it, his expression immediately frozen in shock, anger, and pain. The US military had actually used bombers to drop heavy-duty penetration bombs to deal with just a few special forces soldiers!

  From the image analysis results, what hit the top of the cave was a giant bunker-busting bomb. Although the infrared camera on the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft did not capture the scene when the bomb hit, judging from the diameter of the crater left on the ground, it should be the latest MOP bomb developed by the US military, weighing 30,000 pounds, or 13,600 kilograms. This bomb contains 5,300 pounds of high-energy explosives and can penetrate 70 meters of concrete, while the penetration thickness for rock layers will not be less than 50 meters. Also from the smoke produced after the explosion, the explosive in the bomb underwent at least two detonations, and some of it was also used as a combustion agent to consume oxygen in the cave. Obviously, this is an improved MOP bomb.

  "Our long-range radar didn't detect any US bombers," a technical officer whispered to Zhou Guohui, "Now we suspect that the bombs were dropped by B-2s, otherwise we should have detected something by now."

  Zhou Guohui's lips were slightly trembling. "Contact the troops ahead as soon as possible to confirm casualties. Send out rescue personnel and let the troops withdraw as soon as possible."

  Orders were quickly passed down, and the officers and men in the command center also became busy. It was clear that the US military had deployed B-2 bombers, and now MOPs could only be carried by B-2 bombers. This also explained a problem, which is that the US military did not want to conduct ground military operations in the Wakhan Corridor area of eastern Afghanistan to avoid direct conflict with the Republic, otherwise they would not have used B-2 bombers to drop MOPs against special forces.

  "General, Luo is here."

  Zhou Guohui suddenly turned his head back, and his expression immediately returned to calm. "Take Luo Zhichang to my office, I'll be there in five minutes."

  The secretary immediately left the command center, now everyone is busy beyond recognition.

  "Tianxiang, you stay here and contact the troops after they arrive, let them hurry back. Also, once the analysis results are out, send them over as soon as possible. Got it?"

  Ling Tianxiang seemed to have not heard Zhou Guohui's order.

  "Tianxiang, did you hear my initial order?" Zhou Guohui slightly furrowed his brow. The "Snow Leopard" squad had suffered a sudden blow, and Ling Tianxiang's feelings were completely understandable.

  "Yes, I understand, I'll send it over right away." Ling Tianxiang suddenly reacted, but his expression was still very sorrowful.

  "As soon as possible, remember to send it over as soon as possible!" After finishing speaking, Zhou Guohui turned around and left the command center.

  The officers and men at the command center have made contact with the troops on the front line, and the casualties have been quickly summarized. All ten members who entered the cave were killed in action, and two others from other small groups outside the cave were injured and are now concentrating on the withdrawal point. The helicopter will arrive at the withdrawal area in half an hour to pick up the special forces who carried out the combat mission. In addition, all the small groups monitoring the US military base in northeastern Afghanistan will also withdraw within two days. The operation has been cancelled, or rather, it has completely failed.

  "Sir, the report is out."

  Ling Tian Xiang suddenly came back to his senses and took the report from the junior officer's hand.

  "The troops will rendezvous with the helicopters in ten minutes; command has now been passed to the forward commander."

  "Who is in command?" Ling Tianxiang glanced at the casualty report, another ten brothers sacrificed, all caused by that damn traitor!

  "Colonel Gu Weimin, two of our team members are seriously injured. We need to contact the hospital and make preparations for emergency rescue."

  "Arrange as soon as possible for the doctor to go directly to the camp in Kathmandu and stabilize the injured first."

  The junior officer didn't waste any words and immediately dialed the military hospital's phone number.

  When Ling Tianxiang walked out of the command center, his mind had already turned several circles. It was clear that the traitor had sent intelligence again, and it wasn't one of the three people who were previously suspected. The traitor was hiding very deeply and had escaped all surveillance. So, who exactly was the traitor? Thinking about this question, Ling Tianxiang arrived at Zhou Guohui's office door, which was tightly closed, with intermittent arguing sounds coming from inside.

  "Shall I help you get in and report?" The secretary stood up.

  "No need, help me send this report in." Ling Tianxiang quickly made a decision. If the regular means can't find the traitor, then unconventional means must be taken. Not for anything else, but for Wei Daming who is still lying in bed and the ten brothers who just sacrificed themselves.

  "Aren't you going in?"

  "No need, there's still one report that hasn't come out, I'll go take a look and send it over later." Ling Tianxiang tried his best to control his emotions, not revealing what he was thinking on his face.

  The secretary glanced at Ling Tianxiang before taking over the report file. "Alright, I'll send it in first."

  The secretary entered the office when Ling Tianxiang had already turned around the corner of the corridor. He was not returning to the command center, but quickly walked out of the headquarters building and headed towards the adjacent arsenal.

  This is a warehouse specifically for storing the equipment of the Commander's Guard Unit, as well as a storage facility set up for the Intelligence Department. Ling Tianxiang had come in a few days ago and knew that it stored many of the weapons and equipment he needed.

  "Captain, show your ID."

  Ling Tian Xiang took out his military officer ID.

  The gatekeeper of the warehouse quickly checked. "Do you have a receipt for picking up goods?"

  "While saying this...” Ling Tianxiang said while putting his hand into his clothes, pretending to take something out.

  The guard also relaxed his vigilance, when Ling Tianxiang's empty hand came out of his clothes, the guard realized that something was wrong, Ling Tianxiang had already hit him in the abdomen with his knee, and then quickly flashed behind the guard, covering the guard's mouth while pressing his arm on the back of the guard.

  "Don't resist, I won't hurt you!" Ling Tianxiang whispered in the guard's ear, while controlling the strength in his hand.

  After confirming that the guard had passed out, Ling Tianxiang finally let go of his hand and dragged the guard to the corner, taking the keys from the guard's body, and walked towards the side door of the warehouse.