King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer
Chapter 926 - 836: The Grand Strategy

Joe Ga watched the 'Spartans' running towards the direction of the warehouse, slightly shook his head and pressed the communicator, saying, "Listen up, everyone, I have the best quality bulletproof vests and helmets at my place. If you have time, come and change your gear there.

I'm sorry for overlooking this before, but luckily there is still time!

You are fighting hard for me, you deserve the best!"

Joe's sincerity was heartfelt, and the soldiers were very grateful, including the excellently-equipped KSK without exception.

A series of cheers erupted on the public channel, and some even loudly inquired about getting a full set of equipment...

After receiving a positive response from Joe, huge cheers came through the channel, and then the Italian 12-person squad took the initiative to divide and take turns providing cover for their peers to go and change their gear.

Western European countries have been at peace for too long, outsourcing their defense to NATO, and apart from sending a handful of personnel to cause trouble around the world with the United States Army, their land forces rarely engage in serious warfare.

Even when they went to Aqionghan, most of their work involved logistics, patrols, and guard duty.

They don't have the budget for top-tier military equipment, not even their special forces.

In fact, besides Italy, Austria, Sweden, and Greece are all barely managing to maintain their own armed forces.

It's not that they truly don't have the money, but the rising political costs and slow economic growth force them to cut military budgets.

Political costs include maintaining government operations, law and order, education, healthcare, transportation, national welfare, and a whole series of other things.

The economic growth rate cannot keep up with inflation, and every new government promises some new benefits to the people. What to do when there's not enough money?

Then they have to take the money from somewhere else!

Being part of the NATO framework, with NATO's protection, they had an obvious choice for where to cut from.

The harbor project proposed by the Greeks is aimed at attracting Joe's investment there.

Crete and Tubruq work in tandem, north to south, and all ships entering the Mediterranean cannot bypass this passage...

As long as Joe is willing to cooperate and provide fuel, Crete can implement some special trade policies and easily attract some trade ships to dock there.

All that is money, which is indeed very important for Greece!

And it's only by cooperating with Joe and getting Tubruq involved that they can avoid competition.

They are all in destitution; the governments really don't have money left!

Among these, only Italy is genuinely doing okay, with the fashion industry, shipbuilding, and tourism all being lucrative sectors, so their military pride remains intact.

Germany is an exception; following World War II, they castrated themselves militarily, and politically, they probably went a bit too far in trying to compensate.

However, this won them forgiveness from the entire world. Then, taking advantage of the collapse of the Soviet Union and their geographical position, they claimed a large slice of the pie.

What truly launched Germany was the establishment of the European Union...

Because of the strength of their industrial capital, the German mark was once one of the world's major reserve currencies.

The euro replaced the mark, and Germany, using the advantages of currency inversion and free trade, took over a large market share with excellent industrial products, even ruining many European countries' heavy industries.

Furthermore, with a group of extremely skilled politicians maneuvering internationally, speaking purely economically, Germany, with hands in pockets, finds no rivals in the Europe Division.

However, militarily, Germany faced significant constraints...

It was only after the Munich massacre that Germany established the famous Ninth Border Guard Battalion, but even this force was limited as they were not allowed to carry out missions outside Germany.

Then came the 1994 Rwanda genocide when 11 Germans were trapped in Kigali, and Germany didn't have its own soldiers to rescue them, having to rely on Belgian paratroopers instead.

At that point, they finally resolved to establish the precursor to KSK...

After two years of effort and the lobbying of German politicians, KSK was officially established in 1996.

KSK is the only military asset Germany can be proud of; therefore, their equipment is top-notch, and their supportive politicians are ceaselessly seeking real combat opportunities for them.

The joint anti-terrorism in Tubruq is their latest trial.

Joining Joe's war in Syria serves double purposes: to solidify relationships, facilitating future cooperation in the Congo mining industry, and to offer KSK real combat practice on a relatively low-intensity battlefield.

They completed their mission very well, and compared to the discomfort other national troops faced in front-line warfare, KSK performed superbly...

In cooperation with the 'Night Tiger,' they established a significant position on the main passage east of the village.

By doing this, they avoided being confined to the crowded village while proactively creating an about 300-meter depth.

Then, using prearranged covers and trenches, under the cover of Humvee heavy machine guns, they caused significant damage to the enemy.

Apart from the KSK, the other soldiers also did great!

Even the Greeks, who were the least skilled, displayed proper tactics and bravery, not to mention the others.

Within NATO, the most elite special forces of various countries can openly take advantage of Britain, America, and France's training camps.

These are all elites picked from the best...

Even limiting them to village defense and assault is a waste of their abilities.

But Joe had no other choice; with T1 of the permanent members sent out, to deploy them for redundant tasks would seem rather foolish.

The only thing that surprised Joe was ISIS's first wave of assault today came too fiercely...

Although the village had been fortified several times, a large-scale, high-density mortar bombardment still caused a certain extent of damage.

Joe Ga ceded the commander position to Solon and became a roving morale booster, wandering around to cheer up those he encountered, and would also use the radio to shout encouragement where he couldn't physically be.

He didn't know if what he was doing was right.

But it seemed to be working well so far...

The medical room, a place that should have been shrouded in gloom, saw a shift in spirits when Joe Ga entered and chatted with the wounded soldiers.

Joe Ga still overlooked the boost his own presence as a leader provided...

A leader who leads by example, regardless of whether his actions are right or wrong, frontline soldiers are definitely appreciative.

Upon exiting the medical room, Joe Ga entered a stone house under the cover of Dorian and Ayu...

The sounds of gunshots and explosions outside never ceased, but with the counterattack of the P·B Artillery using mortar fire, the enemy's offensive was held at bay.

Joe Ga didn't like his current situation, but he had to remain patient.

By stalling ISIS, and constantly giving them the illusion that they could capture the village, not only would it buy time for the US and Aaron to resolve the dirty bomb issue, but most importantly, it avoided a direct and violent confrontation...

From the moment Joe Ga trapped himself in the village, he was planning to cripple ISIS in one fell swoop.

He couldn't act until the dirty bomb issue was resolved because moving would mean a major battle!

If he could not devour the enemy's main force through such a decisive battle, then the results of the careful arrangements made by Joe Ga, with so much effort and money, would be heavily discounted.

Even if the enemy's main force could be devoured, should the dirty bomb explode and the US goes mad, P·B's efforts in Iraq and Syria would be undone.

The US planned to withdraw from Syria and Iraq, leaving only the Kurds as an extension of their influence, and they simply do not care if the place gets destroyed.

But Joe Ga can't afford to not care!

He prepared a feast and invited many to dine, and now that the time has come for the Chef to get paid, he absolutely cannot allow the US to upset the table.

As long as the dirty bomb doesn't detonate, and ISIS' issues are dealt with by P·B's help, the US will have no reason to stir up trouble again.

This is the real depiction of tactics serving strategy!

At this moment, Joe Ga somewhat understood why in some wars, seemingly irrational "blunders" occur...

Even when you've won locally, you're not allowed to pursue.

Even when you've found the enemy's weakness, you're not allowed to act; you might even end up making a large and pointless detour to bite into the hard nut.

Situations like these might not be due to incompetent commanders, but sometimes front-line tactics must serve strategic goals.

Such things can sometimes only be appreciated after victory, as hindsight reveals their brilliance. But at the time, those on the front line would certainly curse the commanders' families.

This is why "obeying orders" is the most important rule in all armed forces.

In such intense moments, who has time to explain the whole story?

If you're told to charge, you charge; if you're told to plug the barrel of a gun, don't hesitate!

This is what happens when war scales up!

Some are tasked with giving orders; others with facing death!

The more resolute side is the winner!

Joe Ga has a strong strategic vision and a magnanimous heart that completely relinquished tactical command.

But what he lacks is patience and a tolerance for losses, especially personnel casualties...

In fact, Joe Ga was already adequately prepared...

Ten drones took turns for cover, three Big Beak Birds and a Griffin-1 stationed in Mosul, ready to fly to the rescue upon call.

And yet this was only the conventional part of his defensive system; he had prepared even more for the decisive battle...

The new artillery battalion to the south was almost ready to take position, with China's Marine Squad making use of the United State Army's Humvees and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, ready to be deployed at any time.

The new unmanned airships had already been delivered to Mosul and the safe zone, simply awaiting his command to inflate and ascend.

In Baghdad, six F-16s were on standby, all equipped with cluster bombs.

In the safe zone, eight Black Hawk Helicopters were assembled, rocket pods attached, collectively on standby.

They were just waiting for the decisive battle to start, to then dispatch Sea Hound's 200 people into the battlefield, starting the encirclement of ISIS from the periphery.

"Jazz Squad" and "Ferryman Squad" had been harassing the ISIS artillery camps 80 kilometers to the east, all to stall them and prevent them from joining the battlefield, to prevent Joe Ga from being forced into a decisive battle.

As soon as there is news from either America or Aaron, Joe Ga would let ISIS move their artillery, then make ISIS think their chance for a final blow has come.

As long as ISIS forces could be gathered in one area—even if their formations were still loose—Joe Ga would spare no expense to carpet bomb and shell the territory, devouring ISIS's main force in Syria in one go.

If this battle is won, P·B will have firmly established themselves in northeastern Syria.

Then, with a subsequent strike, demolishing ISIS remnants in Mosul, and as long as the interests of the Energy Groups are safeguarded, P·B's position in Iraq will be unshakeable.

Unfortunately, Joe Ga was not used to counting his chickens before they hatched, and even if the 'pie' was drawn by himself, it couldn't quell his inner restlessness.

His impetuosity and aggressive nature sometimes conflicted with his strategic vision.

The stimulus of danger provoked an extraordinary impatience in Joe Ga...

Only when reporter Wallace emerged from the cellar, covered in dust, did Joe Ga finally show a smile, saying, "Big reporter, are you ready?

I'll take you to capture some more footage..."

Wallace rubbed his temples wearily, now deeply aware of Joe Ga's 'belligerence'...

"sir, the situation outside has stabilized, I need to go and shoot at the location where the KSK are positioned, away from the range of the village..."

Upon hearing this, Joe Ga sighed and said, "No problem, I'll cover you from the village, I can shoot really far."