Working as a police officer in Mexico-Chapter 1697 - 766: Codename: "Cunning Wizard"!_3

Durand raised an eyebrow in the command center.

This was within his expectations and confirmed his judgment: the Mexicans' focus likely really had been drawn to the Italians, or at least they wanted the Italians to think so.

"Good job. Consolidate the position, establish observation posts, send patrols to reconnoiter in depth, but don't exceed three kilometers. Stay alert, this might be a trap," ordered Durand. He decided to observe the Italian side's battle situation a bit more.

9:15 AM, Italian front line.

The battle had been ongoing for nearly an hour.

The advance battalion of the Italian Army attempted several small-scale charges to capture strategic points on the mountainside at Alpha Point, but were repelled by precise firepower and preset minefields, suffering over a dozen casualties.

The Mexican mortars sporadically fell; though not dense, their impacts were cunningly aimed at the Italian assembly areas or vehicles.

In the command post, Bertolini looked grimly at the battle reports. Casualties were rising, but the achievements were almost zero.

The enemy's main force still hadn't appeared, only these annoying "flies." He sensed that familiar feeling, experienced in the Komodo River Valley, as if the opponent controlled the rhythm!!!

Damn!

This was creating shadows.

"Order the 2nd Reserve Battalion to move two kilometers to the left of the main attack direction, establish a covering position, and prevent the enemy from outflanking the advance," he commanded, while connecting to the secure line with the French Army.

"Colonel Durand, my unit encountered stubborn enemy resistance at Alpha Point, confirming significant deployment in the area. How is your progress? Can you exert greater pressure on the eastern side or close in to attempt a pincer attack on the enemy at Alpha Point?"

Durand's voice came quickly, with radio static: "Colonel Bertolini, my forces have secured the Beta Area, encountering only light resistance. The enemy might have shifted their main forces toward your direction, closing in on me for a pincer. The battle line gaps are large, and the terrain is complex; a hasty maneuver could be risky. However, I can order my artillery to harass suspicious areas within three kilometers east of Alpha Point, and enhance aerial reconnaissance to provide flank warnings for your unit. What do you think?"

Bertolini almost laughed angrily.

But something was better than nothing.

"Thank you for the support, Colonel Durand. Please provide reliable flank warnings," he concluded the call.

Putting down the phone, Bertolini stared at the map. The Mexicans wanted to bog him down here and drain him.

But he wouldn't let them.

Since the cost of taking Alpha Point was high, he'll change direction.

"Order the vanguard battalion to maintain contact with the enemy but stop unnecessary assaults. Focus on firepower exchange. The artillery should continue suppressing known enemy fire points. Order the 2nd Reserve Battalion to send a reinforced company, with some anti-tank teams, to conduct reconnaissance attacks on the woodland area northwest of Alpha Point, codenamed 'Oak Valley.' The terrain there is more complex, but if they can infiltrate, they might threaten the rear side of Alpha Point's defenders. The main force should be ready to respond."

He wanted to test if Alpha Point's defenses were really a complete "hedgehog," or if the enemy had overly concentrated their forces on the front.

Around 10 AM, in the direction of "Oak Valley."

The reinforced Italian company cautiously entered the densely wooded valley. Visibility was very poor, and drones had difficulty effectively reconnoitering.

The soldiers were extremely tense, stepping very carefully with each step.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered. The attack didn't come from the front but from their flanks and overhead! 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Whiz, whiz, whiz—boom, boom, boom!"

The dense mortar shells fell like hail, covering the entire company's formation. Meanwhile, gunfire erupted from both sides of the woods, and the crossfire from automatic weapons and sniper rifles ensued.

"Ambush!"

"Boom!" A rocket hit a VCC combat vehicle accompanying them, crippling it in the middle of the road.

"Retreat! Retreat along the original route!" the company commander shouted.

But the retreat route was already blocked by machine gun fire.

At the valley entrance, at some point, light vehicles of the Mexican Army appeared, wildly strafing with vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns.

This reinforced Italian company was instantly trapped in a desperate situation.

Casualties rapidly increased.

At the brigade command post, Bertolini received the report, his heart sank heavily.

It really was an ambush!

And the enemy was well-prepared for his probing with divided forces!

"Order the 2nd Reserve Battalion main forces to immediately close in on Oak Valley to support the trapped troops! Artillery, concentrate firepower to cover the enemy ambush area in Oak Valley, open a gap! Order the vanguard battalion to intensify frontal firepower output to tie down the enemy at Alpha Point and prevent them from reallocating their forces!"

He had no choice but to use the reserve to fill the hole.

The battle situation was slipping into the quagmire of attrition he least wanted to see.

Meanwhile, on the front at Alpha Point.

Just as the attention of the Italian Army was drawn by the ambush at Oak Valley, the Mexican Army on the hill of Alpha Point, which had been "stingy" with their use of firepower, suddenly intensified their counterattacks.

Several well-concealed recoilless rifles and automatic grenade launchers began roaring, covering the armored vehicles and infantry positions of the Italian vanguard. At the same time, engine roars came from the previously silent reverse slope of Alpha Point!

The Mexican armored reserves were deploying!

Two Fire Lizard tanks charged out from cover on the hillside flank, swiftly approaching using the terrain's undulations, unleashing fierce fire from their main cannons and coaxial machine guns.

Following them were several M113 modified infantry fighting vehicles with added armor and weapons, carrying anti-tank teams and infantry.