Chapter 25: Personal Investigation

  "Long journey, we have been investigating for several days, is there any result?" Zhang Feng asked Muhanmode.

  Time has passed for nearly ten days, and July is approaching. The famous swamp battle in my memory will break out in less than ten days, but so far, there is still no sign of the enemy, which is not a good omen.

  Know yourself and know your enemy, you can win every battle. Now, where is the enemy? Don't know. How many enemies are there? Don't know. This battle is not easy to fight.

  Although the 35th Brigade had already begun to deploy on one side of the nearby swamp, Zhang Feng did not feel much comfort. Could these hastily constructed positions withstand the impact of the enemy's armored group? After all, offense is the best defense. If you want to defend this place well, you must prevent the enemy from reaching here. To eliminate them in the swamp is the wisest choice.

  Swampy terrain is absolutely a nightmare for heavy tanks.

  "I have a premonition that the cunning Persians will be here soon, and we don't have much time left. Commander, please dispatch most of the armored vehicles to search for signs of the Persians in the swamp. We must find them as soon as possible. Also, I'll go ask the military district if they can send a helicopter for reconnaissance." Zhang Feng said.

  "Alright, I'll arrange it right away," Muhammad said. He had almost blind trust in Zhang Feng, who could accurately predict the Jewish plane's bombing of the nuclear reactor and foil the Jewish conspiracy at Kusayr Amra. Could he not discover the Persian conspiracy? Last time they went to the swamp, they encountered the enemy's helicopter, which showed that there was indeed a problem inside the Susangird Swamp, only he hadn't discovered it yet.

  Zhang Feng picked up the phone on the table and called Ibrahim again.

  "Hey, dear uncle, how have you been these past few days?" Zhang Feng became enthusiastic once again.

  Yi Bulahein heard that it was Zhang Feng's voice, and he didn't have a good feeling. Every time this nephew would give him many difficult problems, but fortunately, they were all resolved by himself. This time, what did he want from him again? Even the SVD sniper rifle treasured in the military district had been taken away by him.

  "There's a battle meeting I need to attend right away, so just say what you have to say," Ibrahim said, getting straight to the point, unsure if he would be dragged into another conversation.

  "Uncle, I want to report a secret to you," Zhang Feng said.

  "What secrets? What secrets could you possibly have?" Ibrahim said: "If you're not up to anything, then just stay in the 35th Brigade and train your troops well. When the time comes for the military district's martial arts competition, let them show their faces."

  "Uncle, in the Susangilder Swamp, there is a relic of the ancient Babylonian Empire, where it is said that many treasures are buried..."

  Around 2200 BC, a branch of the Semitic Amorites from the Syrian steppe occupied a small city in Mesopotamia and established a state. The brave and warlike Amorites took this as their center, conquering south and north, and eventually establishing a powerful Babylonian Empire, known in history as the "Old Babylonian Kingdom". The Amorites were also called Babylonians. The Babylonians inherited the achievements of the Sumerians and Akkadians, and developed them to the peak of Mesopotamian civilization.

  And this small city is the legendary Babylon, in a certain position in the Two Rivers Basin. Many scholars say that it may be in the Susangird Swamp.

  Zhang Feng threw this out in the hope of attracting Ibrahim's attention, sending a helicopter to search, and then finding the Iranian armored group by chance.

  No way, as soon as he mentioned that the Iranians would come from the Susangerd swamp, Ebrahim had such an impatient expression, as if everyone knew that Iranian tanks could not pass through the swamp. This was just his own wishful thinking, so Zhang Feng came up with this trick.

  When he heard about the treasure, Ibrahim's eyes did light up, but after all, he was older and no longer had the impulsiveness of his youth. After a moment's thought, he knew that his nephew was just joking with him. It was simple: if there really was a treasure, wouldn't he have already found someone to dig it up for him?

  Why not deceive yourself by sending a helicopter to the swamp? It's purely a waste, now that the war is intense on the Abadan side, even the president is asking about it. After fighting for a year, they still can't take down Abadan, which has made President Saddam furious several times. Recently, he is deploying troops and preparing to launch another attack.

  Don't make trouble for yourself at this time! It's enough to leave him a armored brigade to play with, do you still want helicopters?

  Forget it!

  However, in memory, Kusay was a young man with a very deep city, silent and few words, when would he do such a thing?

  "The treasure of the ancient Babylonian Empire belongs to our great Iraqi people. Kusay, you report this matter to the President and he will immediately dispatch a team for excavation." Ibraheem said: "Or shall I get in touch with the President?"

  What a pity! This Ibrahim is not a thrifty lamp, it seems that I have played my clever trick in the wrong place this time. Zhang Feng chuckled: "Since Uncle doesn't want to get rich with me, then I'll do it alone, alas, what a pity!"

  After finishing speaking, Zhang Feng quickly hung up the phone, now he can only rely on himself.

  He put down the phone, but found Muhammad staring blankly at him: "Traveler, what are you staring at me for?"

  "Kusayy, would you like me to send some people with you to dig up the treasure?" Muhammad asked.

  "Dig your own head!" Zhang Feng said: "Those words were my deception of the military commander, how could there be a treasure there? The Persian iron ingots are quite a few!"

  Deceive the military district commander? Muhammad only came to his senses, he absolutely dared not do such a thing. Just now, looking at Kusay's enthusiastic expression, he thought it was true.

  This is a false report of military information. If he spoke to the district commander like this, there would be law enforcement coming for him tomorrow. Kou Sai has quite a big nerve, but this doesn't seem to be any military information anyway?

  Looking around at several staff members, Zhang Feng said: "The phone call I made to the Military Region Commander today must be kept confidential. Whoever leaks it out will not be allowed to stay in the 35th Brigade from now on."

  The staff nodded like chicks pecking at food: "Won't work, won't work."

  "Bring over the map." Zhang Feng said. This group of soldiers was really stiff and unyielding, without any flexibility at all.

  Zhang Feng was actually wronged, President Saddam had been in power for only a few years and already firmly controlled the army, occasionally even carrying out purges. In the army, discipline is paramount, who dares to joke with their superiors?

  Zhang Feng, a 90s generation, although from special forces, does not have so many restrictions. No matter what, achieving the goal is most important.

  Once, they were airdropped into the deep mountains by helicopter and had to return to their base within three days. All they had was one day's worth of field rations and individual equipment, but the rifles had no bullets, the grenades were just training rounds, only the bayonets were real.

  As a result, Zhang Feng unexpectedly met a mountain villager driving a four-wheel drive tractor. Zhang immediately negotiated with him and spent 100 yuan to comfortably leave the mountain.

  I just made up a lie, it was just a small trick, but unfortunately, uncle didn't take the bait.

  Give me a helicopter, is it that hard? I'm thinking for the Southern Military District.

  However, in a few days, when Iran's tribal tanks swarm out of the swamp, you will regret not taking me seriously now.

  No helicopters, so there's only one way: armored vehicles for reconnaissance.

  The armored car had made several reconnaissance trips without results, possibly because the Persians had not yet moved out or because they were scouting in the wrong direction.

  The staff officer unfolded the map in front of Zhang Yang.

  Zhang Yang scrutinized the map for half a day and suddenly discovered something: "Is the terrain of this swampy area higher in the north and lower in the south?"

  "Yes, it is," said the counselor.

  "We've been searching along this median line all along, but the northern part of the swamp is higher, which means the road should be easier to walk on. I wonder if the Persians will come from the north of the swamp instead of taking the middle route?" Zhang Feng said.

  Such an obvious truth, Zhang Feng said, and everyone suddenly realized it, but at the beginning, no one could think of it.

  "Let the armored vehicles search this area with all their might, keep in touch with the brigade at all times. One battalion of the tank regiment is ready to go into battle at any time." Zhang Feng said.

  "Yes, I will give the order at once," Muhammad said, having completely trusted him since Qusay's arrival and being willing to follow his command.

  "Warich, Marwan, with the Rattlesnake Squad, let's set off together." Zhang Feng said as he exited the brigade headquarters and spoke to the two men waiting outside.

  Rattlesnake Squad, that's what he named his small team, hoping they could be as intimidating as a rattlesnake.

  "Yes!" they replied in unison.

  After the training, Zhang Feng eliminated fourteen people and divided them into three small groups, each led by Waleed, Marwan and himself, with thirteen people in each group, which could be accommodated in three armored vehicles.

  Marwan, needless to say, originally had very strong combat skills, and Warikh, although from a high artillery background, also had excellent physical fitness. Moreover, he was a university graduate, which was an advantage in an army with many illiterates. Both were rare talents.

  It's time to put what they've learned into practice and see how effective their training has been.

  "Are you going to investigate in person too, Mr. Kusay?" Muhammad asked.

  "Yes, I am worried." Zhang Feng said.

  "Alright, I'll dispatch a few tanks to protect you." Muhammad was extremely cautious. If something were to happen to Kusay within his own defense zone, not even the President, let alone the Military Commander, would be able to forgive himself.

  "No need, the target is bigger and more sensitive. We'll take a few armored vehicles to the swamp for reconnaissance and training at the same time. Besides, even if we encounter Iranian Chieftain tanks, we have ways to deal with them." He thought of his portable missiles, which were enough to counter Iran's various weapons, and even helicopters in the sky could be shot down with SAM-7.