Chapter 1277 - 1101: Sudden Upheaval (Part 2)

His tone shifted slightly, adding a note of caution, "But, Song, dancing with sharks means you must always remember they are, after all, beasts. The whirlpools around them can swallow ships and those who try to tame them. The Narendra Family...are not gentlemen who abide by rules. They will surely retaliate. The connections behind these families are far more complex than you imagine. Internationally, they have countless ties, including people within our own Persia who are closely related to them, so you must be careful."

"I understand."

Song Heping's response was brief and forceful.

He was well aware of the risks; the international smuggling network is often intertwined with complex political, commercial, and underworld forces where one wrong step could lead to irreversible disaster.

Yet under current circumstances, this was the quickest way to acquire independent funds and escape certain constraints.

"High risk, high reward. We have no other choice."

Avanti set down his teacup, the ease in his expression gradually replaced by seriousness, "During the few days you were away, the board on the Illiguo side has been heavily disturbed, leading to new changes in the situation."

"I've only been gone for a week, and it's already turned chaotic here?"

Song Heping immediately lifted his head, his gaze focused.

Avanti's tone was calm, yet carried a kind of cool insight into the situation.

"The United States' air strikes have been increasing in intensity, with the shadows of B-52s and F-16s almost daily covering the skies over Mosul and Tikrit. However, thanks to your previous 'gift'—using the 1515 to remove several key intelligence nests in the Samara region—their air raids are more like venting anger rather than precision surgery."

He gestured with his hand, "Without reliable ground guidance and real-time intelligence updates, even the most advanced bombs are like giants wielding blindfolded heavy hammers. They make a terrifying noise, but it's hard to hit the true critical targets. They've temporarily curbed the 1515's direct push south threatening Baghdad, but on the ground, they cannot achieve any substantial, strategic-level progress. War, in the end, depends on infantry boots to measure and occupy land."

Song Heping silently nodded.

This situation was within his expectations.

Modern warfare is all about information; without ground intelligence support, the effectiveness of air superiority is greatly diminished.

He had deeply understood this through years of combat experience.

"What's more interesting is the reaction from those old men in Baghdad."

Avanti curled his lips with undisguised sarcasm, "Seeing the American bombs fall like rain, they believe it's time to fight back. Eager to restore face, or rather, eager to prove to their American masters that they still have some usefulness. Just the other day, with the most 'elite' 17th Division of the government army leading the charge, they assembled several 'People's Movement' militia teams to launch a large-scale offensive against the 1515 Armed forces entrenched in the northwestern Samara region, without adequate coordination and firepower preparation."

"What was the result?"

Song Heping asked, although he could already guess from Avanti's tone and expression that it must have been a disaster.

"The result?" Avanti sneered, as if talking about a poor joke, "They crashed right into an iron wall! Although pinned down by air raids, those 1515 lunatics can't move on a large scale, but their defenses leveraging urban ruins are extremely tenacious, with snipers, trap mines, suicide car bombs, small unit flanking attacks...their tactical use is sharp and vicious."

"On the other hand, the Illigo Government Army and 'People's Movement' militias? Their command was chaotic, cooperation disjointed, and infantry were separated from armored units. Faced with fierce resistance and sudden counterattacks, they immediately fell into disarray, even resulting in friendly fire! They lost at least a dozen armored vehicles and hundreds of soldiers, retreating embarrassed to their starting point. Now, the entire Samara direction battle line has become more precarious due to this reckless offensive."

Song Heping's brow furrowed tightly.

The incompetence and disorganization of the Iliko Government Army are well-known, but he didn't expect them to collapse so thoroughly and disgracefully.

Strategically, this is an extremely dangerous signal—it not only means the northwestern battle line cannot be eased in the short term, but also that the 1515 Armed forces can confidently continue to invest their elite forces and attention in this direction, possibly boosting their morale and attracting more covert support from external forces due to this victory.

Thus, the inevitable outcome is—

His train of thought was precisely confirmed by Avanti's subsequent words.

"The northwest pressure relief is unlikely in the short term, 1515's main forces now dare not head south to Baghdad. However..."

Avanti set down the tea cup, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice, as if revealing a crucial secret.

"They clearly haven't given up seeking breakthroughs in other directions. Over the past week, they have launched unprecedented fierce offensives on the northern line, toward the Kurdish-controlled area of Cook Oil Field Area."

Song Heping's gaze instantly turned sharp.

"Cook Oil Field..."

He quietly repeated the name.

This name was too familiar.

Previously, it was the place where he got his first security contract order.

Though back then, these oil fields were nominally still owned by American companies.

Now, it seems they've changed form, handed over to the Kurdish people to manage.

Cook Oil Field is not only one of Illiguo's largest oil fields; it is the economic lifeline of the Kurdish Autonomous Government, and even more a giant strategic symbol.

Once it changes hands, not only would it mean 1515 gains massive black gold income, but also severely damages the Kurdish people's will to resist, potentially altering the power balance in the entire northern region, and even Illiquo as a whole.

"Let me guess...the Kurdish situation is quite dire?" Song Heping queried, absentmindedly tapping Kirkuk's location on the map with his finger.

"Extremely dire."

Avanti affirmed in tone. "1515's attack intensity is beyond usual. They've invested more heavy weapons, including seized government army artillery, and there've even been numerous unidentified anti-tank missiles and night combat equipment. Their offensives are relentless, with no regard for casualties. Despite the Kurdish soldiers fighting very bravely, they face 1515 from the south and the eyeing Turkish people from the north, straining their manpower. Especially in the plains surrounding Kirkuk, lacking favorable terrain makes defense battles exceptionally hard. The battle lines are being squeezed slowly but steadily. If the Americans can't provide more effective ground support or change their strategy, loss of the oil field area is likely just a matter of time."

Song Heping furrowed his brow in silence.

He was considering what preparations to make if the Cook Oil Field Area falls.

Though the oil field interests are unrelated to him.

Yet it involves Samir.

It concerns the opportunity for the "Liberation Forces" militia intervention.

Before he could respond, there were urgent, steady footsteps outside, followed by a brief knock, breaking the room's heavy strategic analysis atmosphere.

"Come in," Song Heping said.

The door opened, and Samir peered in.

He first nodded respectfully towards Avanti, then looked at Song Heping, his face bearing a complex expression of seriousness mixed with excitement: "Boss, Mr. Avanti, sorry to interrupt, but I've just received an urgent and important message that I believe must be reported to you immediately."