War Gate Series: Chronicle of World Guerrilla Warfare -- The Flowing Fires

Author: Ji Zi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-04-01
Features: In pursuit of social transformation and national independence, successive batches of guerrillas chose to engage with the government through the barrel of a gun. Some veteran guerrilla units had already seized power or seen a glimmer of hope, while others continued to struggle or were gradually declining and fading away. Looking back at the bloody and turbulent journey they had gone through, it evokes endless sighs. The book is accompanied by secret archives: An Overview of World Counter-Terrorist Special Forces.
Guerrillas, irregular armed forces that conduct small-scale localized operations to harass regular armies, were defined in the Encyclop?dia Britannica as follows: "Guerrillas wear mixed uniforms, have inconsistent weapons and equipment, lack normal supply channels, and employ highly unconventional tactics." Guerrilla warfare has a long history. Under the command of Kutuzov, guerrillas cut off Napoleon's military supply lines as he advanced into Russia, forcing the already victorious Napoleon to retreat in hunger and cold. During World War I, Arab guerrillas continuously harassed Turkish forces, contributing to the victory of the Allies in the Middle East. German military theorist Carl von Clausewitz believed that as long as there is room for maneuver on the battlefield, the terrain is complex, and guerrillas can adapt, they can accelerate the process of wearing down the enemy.
In guerrilla warfare tactics, experiences such as the flexible use of forces based on tasks, enemy situation, terrain, and local residents have become common theories. Guerrilla units should not linger in one place but move swiftly like flowing water and fierce winds. They often employ clever methods to deceive and lure the enemy, such as feigning attacks in one direction while striking elsewhere, moving unpredictably north and south, attacking and then withdrawing immediately, and conducting operations at night. The classic guerrilla tactics of "retreat when the enemy advances, harass when the enemy halts, attack when the enemy is weary, and pursue when the enemy retreats" have benefited guerrilla organizations worldwide, including those of small nations striving for independence and impoverished classes fighting for prosperity.