Working as a police officer in Mexico-Chapter 1700 - 767: Pick the Soft Persimmon to Squeeze!

"Then comes the fourth stage."

Kitchener's command stick pointed heavily to an area of hills about five kilometers east of the crossroads, "Here, code name 'Slaughterhouse'. The terrain is a typical inverted triangle, with two highways converging here, flanked by hills ranging from 50 to 80 meters high, the width of the middle passage not exceeding 400 meters."

"The six heavy artillery battalions of the 3rd Artillery Brigade have all pre-aimed this area. The remaining forces of the Quick Reaction Brigade are ambushed on the reverse slopes of the hills on both sides. When the Italians' main forces drill into this pocket—" Kitchener made a closing gesture with his hands, "Artillery cover, infantry pressing down from both sides, armored forces blocking the exit from the front."

A logistics consultant raised his hand: "General, if we withdraw the entire 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, there will be a gap in the defense line in other directions. If the British launch an attack at this point..."

"That's why we need external tricks."

Kitchener sat back in his chair, lighting a cigar, "Not only do we need to defeat them on the battlefield, but also create enough chaos and pressure in their domestic front."

He looked at Fernando: "Your intelligence department, you have communication channels with domestic security agencies, don't you?"

"Yes."

Kitchener blew out a puff of smoke, "In Italy's domestic front, focus on spreading news in Rome, Milan, Naples, saying that Bertolini's forces were severely defeated in Indiana, nearly wiped out, and the commander himself was captured or killed."

Fernando frowned: "Such rumors will quickly be refuted by the military."

"I want them to refute."

"Think about it, when a unit fighting on the front suddenly hears 'wiped out' news spreading domestically, what will the families do? What will the media do? What will political opponents do?"

Actually, when a war is really about to start, there are actually signs, such as controlling the network, you can see that many influencers have been silenced, and then control the spread of public opinion, which is also to prevent outside tricks.

He stood up and walked to the window: "Bertolini's father is a veteran in the military circle, with many political opponents. These people will seize this opportunity to question in parliament, challenge in the media, demanding 'clarifying the facts'. The Department of Defense must respond, which requires contacting the front line, and after we cut off communication, they won't get through in a short time."

"Can't get through, the rumors will only become more fierce." Fernando understood, "Family panic, media inquiry, political pressure..."

"This will push the front line from the back."

Kitchener turned around, "When Bertolini finds out that 'wiped out' news has spread all over domestically, he will become more anxious, more unable to calmly judge. He will desperately need a victory, even if tactical, to prove he's still living, his forces still exist."

"And what we have to do is give him the deadliest trap when he's least calm."

Old Fox!!!

At the same time, in Trastevere District, Rome, Italy.

The "Three Ravens" bar is a place often visited by workers and veterans in this area.

The walls are decorated with football club flags, yellowing black and white photos, and an old rusty steel helmet left from some war.

At eight in the evening, smoke wafted around the bar.

The TV was broadcasting a football game, but few were actually watching.

Most were drinking, chatting, complaining about prices and work.

Bartender Marco was wiping glasses, his ears perked up listening to the conversation at the corner table.

There were three middle-aged men, dressed in work pants, their hands showed calluses.

Marco knew they all worked at the local factory, one of them named Antonio, whose son was in the army, reportedly just sent to North America.

"Have you heard?" A bald man lowered his voice, but in this noisy bar, it still traveled to the bar, "My nephew called from Turin, saying the North American war situation is bad."

Antonio immediately looked up, "What's bad? My son sent a postcard back last week."

"That was last week." The bald man took a sip of his drink, "My nephew said, his friend at the newspaper heard news, our forces in North America had a major incident. Seems like that... what's his name, Bertolini's unit, was surrounded by Mexicans, completely wiped out."

Antonio's wine glass made a "clang" sound as it hit the table: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm not talking nonsense!" The bald man got anxious, "My nephew said, the news came from inside the Department of Defense, hasn't been made public, but already circulating within circles. They say the entire brigade was crushed, thousands killed, even the commander caught."

Beside, a man wearing a hat also leaned over: "I heard too. My wife's cousin is a policeman in Milan, he said this afternoon, several military families went to the military district gate to protest, saying they couldn't contact family on the front line, demanding an explanation."

Antonio's face turned pale.

He pulled out his wallet; his fingers trembling flipped out a photo of a young man in military uniform, smiling at the camera.

"My son... my son is in Bertolini's unit..." his voice starting to tremble.

Marco put down the cloth for glass cleaning, walked over: "Antonio, don't listen to their nonsense. It's all rumors; if something that big happened, it would've been reported on TV."

"TV?"

The bald man sneered, "TV only reports good news, not bad. Do you remember the last Komodo River Valley incident? How did TV report at first? 'Brave battle, heavy damage to the enemy', and what happened? It was later exposed, a whole battalion almost wiped out!"

The man with the hat nodded: "And I heard this time is worse than Komodo River Valley. Mexicans used a new tactic, something called... armored pincer offensive, sandwiching the Italian forces in between. Couldn't even escape."