Chapter 1467 - 1214: Win Over_3

He had to guard against all of these.

"I appreciate your goodwill."

Song Heping gently placed the document folder back on the table, speaking in a calm and collected tone: "Direct intelligence exchanges are of great significance, involving the lives of over ten thousand brothers under my command. I need time to evaluate and establish corresponding verification mechanisms. After all..."

He paused, meeting Avanti's gaze.

"In our line of work, overly 'enthusiastic' help sometimes makes it hard to sleep at night."

A faint, scarcely detectable trace of appreciation flickered in Avanti's eyes.

He enjoyed dealing with smart people, especially those who neither believed easily nor blindly rejected.

Song Heping's caution was anticipated.

"I understand, completely understand."

Avanti smoothly responded.

"The intelligence we provide can be used as a reference for cross-verification. However, besides this document, I have a 'small gift' for you."

He pointed his finger at the opened map, at the location of Hulmatu City.

"If Mr. Song's next target is here, then perhaps these two secret passages can be helpful."

"Secret passages?" Song Heping's attention was truly piqued. He leaned forward, focusing on the point Avanti's finger indicated.

"Yes, two secret passages known to few."

Avanti's finger slowly traced two hidden routes on the map.

"Before the rise of 1515's Mad Dogs, to support local militias resisting the US Army and its puppet regime, our Special Forces infiltrated this area multiple times. Hulmatu City's defenses are strong, and a frontal assault costs too much. Back then, we assisted local partners in secretly excavating and clearing these two passages. One is deep inside an abandoned brick kiln on the east side of the city, with the entrance cleverly camouflaged; the other is under a pile of rubble near a dried-up riverbed on the west side of the city."

His finger accurately pointed out two seemingly ordinary locations.

"Very few people know about these passages. After 1515 occupied this place, they were busy with looting and expansion and did not discover them. We still maintain intermittent contact with some informants inside the city. If used properly, a small elite team can sneak into the city unnoticed and strike from the inside. At the very least, it can create a decisive opportunity for a frontal assault."

Song Heping's mind raced. He did not expect Avanti to have such an ace up his sleeve.

It seemed this old fox had kept some valuable secrets from his years of work in Illiguo's northwest!

But this "gift" was undeniably significant.

It effectively reduced the difficulty of capturing Hulmatu from a hellish level to an ordinary one, cutting down more than half of the casualties.

This was true sincerity!

By offering this to Song Heping, Avanti was clearly signaling that he was absolutely trustworthy, unlike the Americans, who would stab Song Heping in the back to weaken him.

"This gift is very precious."

Song Heping sincerely said: "On behalf of my more than ten thousand brothers, thank you."

"No need to be polite among friends."

Avanti waved it off, appearing carefree, but the fine lines at the corners of his eyes revealed his satisfaction. Giving something the other desperately needs is far more powerful than empty promises.

The atmosphere relaxed further.

Both sides displayed some of their cards and saw the foundation for deeper cooperation.

Avanti shifted the conversation, asking the question everyone was concerned about: "So, Mr. Song, how long do you plan to delay before returning to the battlefield? Ozham and Agra are barely holding on."

When it came to this, Song Heping leaned back in his chair, regaining that sense of relaxed control.

He picked up the cold water pitcher on the table, pouring water for both himself and Avanti.

"No rush."

He lightly uttered the words, as if the raging battles outside had nothing to do with him.

"Oh?"

Avanti raised his water glass, signaling him to continue.

"Some people need time to face reality."

Song Heping spoke with an even tone.

"The reality is that playing tricks in front of me, Song Heping, is meaningless. They want to use me as a weapon and then discard it? There's no such bargain in the world."

He looked at Avanti: "They want to deplete my forces? Fine. Then I'll stop and let them watch if, without my 'knife,' their own 'hand' gets chopped off by the enemy. The Ozham government forces and Agra's Kurd people were all supported by them. If these forces are severely crippled or even annihilated, the ones who will really hurt won't be me."

He took a sip of water and continued: "I'm waiting. Waiting for the Americans to bleed enough in Ozham and Agra, waiting for them to realize that without my offensive tying down 1515's main forces in Hulmatu, their whole northwest Illiguo strategy will collapse. When they can't hold on any longer, someone will naturally come to me with new terms."

A near-cold smile curled at his lips: "When that time comes, if I don't take a bit more advantage, I'll be letting myself down, and even more so those brothers who shed blood in the Tuz Valley."

Barefaced strategy!

I'm just not going to fight, I'm going to watch you fail and wait for you to beg me. If you don't come begging, then we'll both watch your base crumble.

As for whether 1515 will become too powerful?

Ha, do I, Song Heping, care?

As a mercenary leader, wherever there's money and profit, there lies the battleground.

If the Americans screw up, he might even pick up more benefits from the ruins.

Avanti looked at Song Heping for several seconds, and then suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the secret room, carrying a hint of schadenfreude.

"Good! Very good!"

He put down his water cup, "Song, you indeed do extraordinary things in extraordinary ways. In that case, let me lend you a helping hand."

Then, Avanti reined in his smile, speaking seriously: "I will immediately order the Revolutionary Guard's 'Jihad' Brigade, originally responsible for making diversionary maneuvers on Hulmatu's flank, to cease all offensive actions and shift to defensive rest."

This move was a killer blow!

Originally, Song Heping had already shifted the pressure entirely to Ozham and Agra by halting the frontal offensive.

Now, even the Persian forces on the flank have stopped. What does this mean?

It means that along the long front line from Dagula to Hulmatu, 1515 forces can effectively not worry about their flanks and rear. They can allocate most of their troops stationed in and around Hulmatu entirely to besieging the Ozham government forces and the trapped Kurd Armed forces in Agra!

The pressure on the US allies in Ozham and Agra will instantly multiply!

Collapse might indeed be just a matter of hours, or even minutes.

"I'll remember this favor,"

Song Heping solemnly nodded.

This tangible support was far more useful than ten thousand empty words.

"Just mutually beneficial,"

Avanti stood up, "I hope our future cooperation will be pleasant. I'm also looking forward to seeing those self-righteous individuals bow their heads."

They shared a knowing smile, everything understood without words.

The purpose of the secret meeting was achieved, so Avanti did not linger. He quietly left Dagula under the escort arranged by Song Heping, just as discreetly as he came.

After seeing Avanti off, Song Heping returned alone to the ground command post.

Gazing at the large map on the wall, Song Heping's mind began simulating everything that would happen next.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind.

He almost overlooked another extremely important matter!