Chapter 1218 - 1065: Maintain Composure

"Not 'want,' it's 'already preparing.'"

Song Heping took back the tablet, his tone cold and precise.

"1515 used to be a Mad Dog supported by the Americans to disrupt Siria, but now this Mad Dog not only bites people; it's ready to bite its owner's backyard! Illiguo was the 'democratic model' that Americans spent hundreds of billions of US Dollars and sacrificed thousands of soldiers to 'reform.' If even the capital, Baghdad, is captured by 1515 and the black flag is hoisted, it would be a disastrous blow to the U.S. global strategy and prestige! It's a loud slap to the face of the White House! They cannot afford this cost!"

He walked to the tent entrance, lifted the curtain, and looked towards the direction of Haddid.

"The Americans were ambiguous before because 1515 hadn't truly threatened their core interests. They were still fantasizing about using this Mad Dog to overthrow the government in Siria. But now, this Mad Dog is about to bite their own flesh! It takes biting into flesh for them to feel the pain and decide to pick up the stick to beat the dog! What we need is to wait! Wait for 1515 to punch through Haddid, then take Tikrit, and then threaten Baghdad to make the Americans feel even more pain! Only then will the Americans realize that what they are indulging is not just a Mad Dog but possibly another Laden!"

Song Heping turned around and stared at Samir, saying, "So, what we need to do now is not rush in and be cannon fodder, but preserve our strength and wait for the Americans to take action first. Trust me, this will be the best time for us to strike! And by that time, our equipment and funds will be in place to accurately hunt down their leaders and reclaim lost territory! Rather than using piecemeal tactics to fill a Haddid that's doomed to be indefensible!"

Samir stood dumbfounded, the anger on his face gradually fading, replaced by a complex shock and contemplation.

Song Heping's analysis seemed very realistic and reasonable, even somewhat calculating, but it directly hit the core, filled with a chilling strategic vision.

He was right.

The current 'Liberation Army' rushing in means nothing but death.

And the Americans...

They seem to be really pushed into a corner.

Song Heping is now gambling with the Americans.

Betting on who can afford to lose.

"But... Boss..."

Samir's voice lowered, "What if... what if the Americans still don't take action? What if Haddid really falls quickly, and 1515 truly stands at the gates of Baghdad City? Will we... no, will I just stand by and watch the country fall?"

Song Heping picked up the water jug on the table, took a sip, and sneered:

"If we really allow the 1515 armed forces to break into Baghdad, what do you think the consequences would be?"

Samir opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.

He couldn't describe it.

Because it was unimaginable.

If that's the case...

It could only mean this country was rotten to the core, even to the extent that the Americans consider it hopeless, not worth investing even a single soldier.

If it came to that...

"The Americans can afford to lose hundreds of billions in investment, so I can also bet my life and fortune to stick it out with you against 1515 together with the Persians. As long as the Americans truly abandon Illiguo and withdraw from this land, the future victory will be entirely yours, you can call the shots, reclaim your sovereignty, and no longer heed the words of the Yankee, understand?"

Samir seemed to understand, yet seemed not to understand.

Nodded, then shook his head.

Song Heping continued, "Now listen to me, don't make any moves, send your spies to keep an eye on the battle situation in the direction of Haddid."

"I understand, Boss. I'll arrange it right away!"

Although Samir hadn't completely understood.

He knew now he had no other choice.

Either follow Song Heping's orders or take his men to Haddid to die.

"Good." Song Heping nodded, "Act quickly and discreetly. Send the reconnaissance team most familiar with the terrain, contact your informants in the Baghdad Government, and also contact your cousin Yusuf, have them closely monitor the battle situation in the direction of Haddid, especially the movements of the 1515 main forces and possible air operations by the US Army. Report any anomalies immediately!"

"Yes!"

Samir straightened his back, saluted, and turned around to leave with large strides.

The tent finally returned to quiet.

Song Heping sat back down by the camp bed, picked up the encrypted satellite phone, and dialed the emergency number left by Henry.

The phone rang a few times before being answered.

"It's me." Song Heping's voice was low.

"Boss? What position are you in Illiguo now? Over there at Haddid..." Henry's voice carried a hint of urgency.

"I've learned the situation in the direction of Haddid, you don't have to worry about me, just proceed according to my plan."

Song Heping interrupted him, "Focus: First, closely monitor the air force movements at the US Army bases in Kuwait and Qatar, particularly the takeoff and landing frequency and payload details of AWACS, tankers, and attack aircraft."

"Second, monitor all open and encrypted military communication channels, looking for signals indicative of imminent air strikes by the US Army or NATO, especially specific frequency testing signals, changes in commander codes, etc."

"Third, utilize your network within the Kurd region and the Baghdad Government to investigate whether the US Army advisory team or Special Forces have secretly moved forward. I think if the Americans act, they will definitely contact the Kurd people to assist in their operations."

"Understood! Boss, rest assured, my 'net' is already cast!"

Henry responded confidently, "But... it's very risky to scout for this information, the Americans are no pushovers."

"I know the risks. Double the pay, someone would be willing to take risks."

Song Heping's voice didn't waver a bit, "What I want are results, money is no issue."

"Alright, wait for my update!" Henry decisively hung up the phone.

Song Heping set down the phone, went to the tent entrance, and looked south again.

The sky in the direction of Haddid seemed gloomier than elsewhere.

A storm determining the fate of Illiguo and even the entire region was brewing madly on that land.

At night, the embers of the campfire flickered in the night breeze, and the distant muffled sounds of artillery were like ominous pulses of the earth, pounding against Samir's taut nerves one after another.

Inside Song Heping's tent was silent, with only the residual electronic hum after the encrypted satellite phone hung up.

Henry's intelligence network was already in place, but distant water can't quench a nearby thirst.

The sounds of artillery from Haddid's direction seemed to intensify.

Song Heping walked to the side of the camp bed, picked up another satellite phone, his fingertips hovering over the cold buttons for a moment, before finally pressing a number from deep within his memory.

The signal traveled thousands of miles and rang in a high-rise apartment in Manhattan, New York.

"Baby?"

From the other end came Angel's slightly surprised and worried voice, with the low hum of the city that couldn't be filtered out through the glass as the backdrop.

"Calling me at this hour? What's happening?"

Her voice carried the laziness of someone freshly awakened.

"I'm currently in Illiguo; you know the situation here, right?"

Song Heping said, "The main force 1515 is pressing on the border, those local militia chiefs are scattered and disorganized, Haddid is barely holding on. Now the only thing that can stop the black flag from being hoisted above Baghdad City is the determination from Washington. I need to know, how much determination do they have?"

There was silence for a few seconds on the other end, Angel was obviously digesting this explosive information.

"God... is the situation that bad?"

Her voice lowered, "Specific military decisions... Song, you know, that's the core secret of the White House Situation Room and the Pentagon, someone like me in the media can't reach that, but I can inquire through some Washington lobbyists..."

"I don't need to know the specific operational plans."

Song Heping interrupted her, "I need the direction! The wind on Congress Hill! Whatever meetings Lloyd and Susan are having in secret deciding whatever actions, it's ultimately up to Congress to authorize the funds! Pay attention to any closed-door meetings in the next few days concerning emergency military appropriations, special military action amendment authorizations, any additional budget involving the Middle East! Especially those from the Senate and House Armed Services Committee and Appropriations Committee! The agenda of these meetings, the focus of discussions, the direction of the funding... Especially the titanic flow towards Central Command! The movement of this level of 'money bags' is the clearest signal of war!"

Angel was silent once more, and on the phone was only her faint breathing.

Song Heping could almost imagine her furrowing her brows, rapidly assessing the risks.

"...Understood."

Her voice regained professional clarity and calm, "I'll do my best. Changes in the Middle East Command budget... there are indeed traces to follow. Wait for my news, keep this channel open."

"Be careful."

Song Heping gave one last reminder before hanging up the call.

---

Time crawled by anxiously.

Early on the third day, bad news flooded in like a breached dam.

"Fallen! Haddid... is lost!"

Naxin rushed into the tent with a telegram he had just received, his face ashen.

"The final line of defense of the garrison was broken by a convoy of suicide trucks at dawn! 1515's black flag... has been hoisted over the city hall!"

Song Heping took the telegram expressionlessly, glanced at it, cold words depicting a purgatory: rout, massacre, black flag fluttering...

He tossed the telegram onto the makeshift table, making a soft "pa" sound.

"As expected. What about the Tikrit direction?"

"The advanced troops of 1515 have already swiftly advanced east along the highway! The government army... has almost put up no decent resistance! As they solidify their hold on Haddid by burning, killing, and looting, the main force is surging toward Tikrit like a tide!"

Samir's voice was hoarse, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Song Heping, churning with pain, anger, and an almost desperate plea.

"Boss! We can't wait any longer! If Tikrit falls, Baghdad is finished! Let us attack! Even if it's just to stall them for a bit! We can't stand by and watch..."

"Attack?"

Song Heping abruptly turned, his gaze piercing Samir like an ice pick.

"Samir! Look at yourself! Look at your brothers outside! What do you have in your hands? Are they copper walls and iron shields that can withstand suicide trucks, or heavy artillery that can blast 1515's armored vehicles? Tell me, with what will you attack? Are you going to throw yourself and your few hundred brothers' flesh and blood into filling the gap?!"

He strode to the map, heavily jabbing his finger on the dot representing Tikrit: "Tikrit! That was once Sadam's base, the city defenses are ten times more fortified than Haddid! The equipment and numbers of the garrison far exceed Haddid! Even they ran at the first sign of trouble, and you expect this small group of men to fight upstream? Your courage I admire, Samir."

Song Heping shook his head.

"But war isn't won on courage alone! You are now the commander of the 'Liberation Army', not a charge leader! What is the responsibility of a commander? It's to preserve the greatest strength for the smallest cost, to strike a fatal blow on the enemy at the most critical moment! It's not about sacrificing your brothers on a path destined to be lost!"

Samir's face turned pale, having so much to say but not knowing where to begin.

While Naxin stood silently beside them, not uttering a word from start to finish.

At that moment, the satellite phone in Song Heping's pocket emitted a distinctive buzz.

It's Angel!

Song Heping quickly walked to the corner of the tent, turned his back to them, and swiftly answered, "Baby?"

"Yes, it's me."

Angel's voice was low, her speech rapid.

"The wind has changed! In the past 24 hours! The Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Appropriations Committee each convened highly confidential emergency closed-door meetings! The core agenda is only one: approving a special appropriation of up to 1.5 billion US Dollars for 'emergency operations and emergency response' to be allocated to Central Command (CENTCOM)! The use of the appropriation is noted as extremely vague, only emphasizing 'responding to imminent threats in the Middle East region, protecting the major interests of the United States of America and the safety of allies'! Meeting records showed almost no debate, it was passed swiftly almost unanimously! The money... has already been allocated!"

Song Heping's grip on the phone suddenly tightened.

Indeed!

He was right to place his bet!

A deathly silence fell over the tent, as if even the distant artillery thuds had softened.

"Got it. Well done, baby."

His voice was exceptionally calm, but a hint of irrepressible smile crept onto his lips.