xymnovel Chapter 231 Deadly Bait
Chapter 231 Deadly Bait
It was still dark in the early hours of the second day.
The cannon fire from the main battlefield of Thessaly, like a festive salute, rang out precisely on time. This was a deliberate arrangement by Constantine, using the tremendous noise to cover the start of another great show.
Just as artillery fire raged on the east side of the main battlefield, a meticulously orchestrated "defeat" began on the west side, in the quiet foothills of the Pindus Mountains.
A Greek force of over a hundred men suddenly burst out from the mountain pass they were defending.
They discarded their helmets and backpacks, some even abandoning their rifles. Their faces were smeared with mud and fake blood, their expressions terrified, their movements frantic, as they ran while uttering incomprehensible shouts.
They fled aimlessly into the depths of the mountains behind them along a rugged mountain path.
This play was performed flawlessly.
It was so realistic that even the Greek observation post at the rear believed it to be real and almost sounded the highest alarm signifying that the flank had been breached.
This scene did not escape the eyes of the Ottoman Empire's forward reconnaissance cavalry.
Several experienced Kurdish cavalrymen, lying prone on the other side of the ridge, saw everything clearly through their binoculars.
"The Greeks! The Greeks have fled from the flank!"
The news spread like wildfire to the Ottoman army's rear command.
The news, like a pebble thrown into water, immediately stirred up huge waves among a group of special officers.
The Ottoman Legion's logistics department, a rest area privately set up by "younger" officers.
A young major named El slammed the scout's report heavily on the table, his face filled with undisguised excitement.
"Gentlemen! Your chance has arrived!"
He glanced around at the dozen or so companions present. Most of them had studied at the Military Academy of the Second German Empire, believed in Clausewitz's war theory, and were filled with contempt and dissatisfaction towards Edheim Pasha's conservative tactics of relying on human lives to achieve victory, and von Riedel's condescending "teacher" attitude.
"That German was right! The Greeks' flanks were indeed vulnerable! Our valiant frontal assault has breached their lines!"
El deliberately ignored the heavy casualties of the frontal attack and instead took credit for his own people.
"Didn't that translator say in private yesterday that von Riedl thinks we Turks are all about brute force? Now, it's our time to prove ourselves!"
"We should immediately organize a rapid reaction force to pursue these routed soldiers! Like a red-hot dagger, plunge it deep into their hearts!"
Ahmed's proposal was like a spark falling into a powder keg.
"That's right! We can no longer let that old fogey use the Empire's soldiers as cannon fodder!"
"Let's use a textbook example of intricate maneuvering to show those instructors in Berlin who the best student really is!"
The young officers were filled with excitement.
They quickly joined forces and wrote a passionate letter of request to fight, which Major El led to Edheim Pasha's command tent.
When Ayr led a group of men and strode confidently into the tent, Major von Riedel happened to be present.
Upon hearing El's request to join the fight, the German major's expression instantly turned extremely grave.
"No! This is a trap!"
His voice was sharp and urgent.
"This is too deliberate! The timing of this fleeing army's appearance and their escape route perfectly match my advice from yesterday—it's like a performance!"
"This is a play tailor-made for us! They're luring us into their trap!"
But his objection seemed so pale and powerless at this moment.
"Major! Are you questioning the courage and judgment of our Imperial soldiers?" El retorted bluntly. "Or are you unwilling to see us Turks achieve a victory you failed to achieve, using the tactics you advocate?"
These words were full of provocation and accurately struck at Edhem Pasha's sore spot.
The old general sat in the main seat, listening to the argument between the two sides with a blank expression.
His weary gaze swept from the anxious face of the German advisor to the group of eager young officers.
He knew perfectly well that this might be a trap.
However, he was more pleased to see von Riedl suffer a setback, and he was also happy to let this group of disobedient "new-style" officers suffer a crushing defeat.
If they win, the credit will go to the Reich, which could weaken the influence of German advisors within the military.
If they lose, it will be a good opportunity to suppress this internal force that he dislikes.
No matter how you look at it, he's not at a loss.
Finally, Edhem Pasha waved his hand, stopping the argument.
He spoke to Al in a tone of "tolerance" that that of an elder to a younger person:
"Alright, El, since you have such confidence and courage."
"I approve of your actions. But remember, young man, don't be reckless."
He spoke words of advice, but in reality, he was pushing them into that unknown abyss.
A pursuit force of 800 "young officers" and their elite soldiers was quickly assembled.
They were well-equipped and in high spirits.
Major Al, mounted on his horse, delivered a brief but impassioned speech.
"Brothers! The glory of the empire will be written by us! Let those Europeans see who the true masters of the Balkans are!"
"Set off!"
At 10 a.m., this unit, carrying countless ambitions and hopes, broke away from the main position.
Like a confident viper, they plunged headlong into that seemingly safe mountain area.
Their silhouettes stretched into a long line along the rugged mountain path.
As the last soldier's figure disappeared into the darkness around the bend in the mountain pass.
Hundreds of meters away, in a sniper position covered by camouflage netting.
A Greek mountain hunter looked up from behind a Krupp telescope.
His face was expressionless.
He reached out and tapped three times lightly with his finger on a telephone line that connected to the back of him.
The signal, traveling silently along the wires, reached deep into the mountains.
The pocket is already open.
The fish is now in the net.