Chapter 1488 - 1224: Cash! I Want 300 Million in Cash!_3

"SIR... Song... He refused to deploy troops."

Simon's voice was hoarse and weary, tinged with a hint of despair.

"What?! Son of a bitch! Didn't he already sign the contract?! What more does he want?! Does he expect me to send the President over as a hostage on Air Force One?!"

Even without the speakerphone, Brenan's roar could be vaguely heard a few steps away, and a look of distress appeared on Kote's face.

"He said... he must see the 300 million dollars in advance payment arrive, and it must be delivered in cash to Daguge, otherwise not one of his troops will move an inch. He said... it's his rule, an iron law." Simon repeated with difficulty.

"To hell with his rules! Bullshit iron law! That damn 300 million dollars! That's 300 million greenbacks! Not toy money for kids! Do you think it's coming out of my personal credit card?! The Pentagon's budget approvals follow strict procedures! The old guys on Congress Hill, who only know how to nitpick, are watching every expenditure like vultures! And payments for other military contractors are also lined up waiting for disbursement! Who does he think he is?! The Chairman of the Federal Reserve?! Can he just fire up the printing press at his whim?!"

Brenan erupted on the other end of the phone, spewing profanity like a torrential storm.

Simon had no choice but to brace himself and report the bad news that could stop any Washington official's heart on the spot: "SIR! Please, you must stay calm and listen to me! Just on the way here, we received the latest briefing!"

"The besieged Kurd Armed suffered over sixty percent casualties! Moreover, the 1515 Armed's vanguard has completely broken through the outer defenses of Ozham, advancing quickly along the crucial Highway 7 like a red-hot dagger toward Harris! Our air force conducted multiple rounds of bombing, but the results were limited and couldn't stop their ground advance!"

"Intelligence shows that Harris's local defense troops have low morale and weak defenses, with the possibility of falling within the next 24 to 48 hours! Once Harris is lost, the next will be Kazimierz! And Kazimierz is less than a hundred kilometers from Baghdad... SIR, we no longer have time for those damned procedures! Not a single second left!"

On the other end of the phone, Brenan's crazy bellow, like a rooster being strangled, was abruptly cut off.

Instead, there was a deathly silence.

Simon could clearly imagine that at this moment, Brenan was pacing back and forth in his spacious, luxurious office like a wounded beast trapped in a cage.

The silence seemed to last a century.

Finally, Brenan's voice came through the receiver:

"...Tell him... the money... we'll give it... but 300 million dollars cash! Is he freaking kidding me?! Where am I supposed to get 300 million dollars in cash on short notice?! Tell him to accept a bank transfer! Immediately! Right now! This is the final bottom line!"

Simon covered the phone and turned to look at Song Heping: "Song, 300 million dollars cash, it's too demanding! It's impossible to assemble in a short time! A bank transfer is the same; we can provide proof of funds, guaranteeing absolute security and promptness..."

"No."

Song Heping's response was straightforward, with no room for negotiation.

"I only want cash. 100 denomination US dollar bills. No checks, no money orders, and certainly not those intangible numbers in a bank. You guys are financial experts, but I'm not letting you know my real account. As for cash..."

He smiled at this point.

"Simon, doesn't the CIA in Baghdad or in some secret treasury of your units in Illiguo have 300 million dollars in cash?"

He slowly walked to the window and watched the US Army trucks unloading outside:

"I've heard that you Americans love to pave the way with cash. Buying tribal elders, funding local militias, purchasing key intelligence, even 'compensating' for collateral damage... which of these can do without boxes of dollars? In Illiguo, in Afghan, you bring in almost as much cash as you do bullets. Three hundred million? For others, it's astronomical; for you, it's just a matter of a few safes. Am I right, Mr. Simon?"

Simon opened his mouth, his throat feeling like it was blocked by something, unable to utter a single word. Because what Song Heping said was true.

The CIA and the US Army indeed stockpiled large amounts of cash for various "special activities" in war zones, and internally, it's not even considered top secret.

But he never expected Song Heping to know this so well!

Song Heping turned around and stared at Simon:

"Nine o'clock in the evening. I'll give you the final deadline—bring 300 million dollars in cash, not a penny less, to Daguge by nine tonight. When I see the money, my troops will move immediately. If I don't see the money..."

He shrugged, "Then let the 1515 Armed have tea with your ambassador in Baghdad."