Chapter 1489 - 1225: Only Those With Ability Get a Share!

Song Heping's tough stance left Simon feeling desperate.

He could only turn his head and say into the phone, "SIR... he... he insists on cash. And... he pointed out our... cash reserve point in Baghdad. He demands... the cash must be delivered to Daguge by nine o'clock tonight."

On the other end of the line, there was silence again.

Then, there was even more frenzied and desperate roaring, mixed with the sound of something being violently smashed!

"F**k! F**k! F**k! This damned, hell-bound yellow-skinned bastard! How does he know?! How does he know where we keep our cash?! Where is the leak?! I want to skin him!!"

Brenan's voice had already become distorted with extreme anger.

The roaring continued for almost a minute.

Finally, all the fury transformed into a long sigh.

"...FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!"

After cursing a few times, Brenan finally gritted his teeth and said:

"...Notify the Baghdad station immediately to prepare 300 million dollars in cash, use all transportation forces to armed transport it to Daguge, it must be delivered by nine o'clock tonight, and hand it over to that son of a b***h..."

"Tell him, the money will mobilize the troops, if he dares to play tricks again... I... I swear in the name of the United States of America... I will make him... pay an unbearable price!"

The last few words were almost squeezed out through gritted teeth, full of deep-seated resentment.

"Okay... SIR..."

Simon nodded in response.

He walked back to the table, watching Song Heping, who had somehow found a cup and was leisurely sipping tea, and squeezed out a sentence through his teeth, "Cash... by nine o'clock tonight... delivered."

Song Heping beamed and said, "Very good. I always keep my word. As long as I see the money, the troops will mobilize tonight. By the way, it's almost dinner time, you came all the way over, brought equipment, and are busy gathering cash, it's really hard work."

"Guests who come are all guests, I can't not show some gesture. Why not stay for a simple meal? The roasted lamb here, chosen from the fattest local goats, slow-roasted to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the taste is absolutely authentic."

Simon and Kote were filled with rage and frustration, they had no appetite at all.

But Simon dared not leave; he had to personally confirm that deadly 300 million dollars was in place, and see Song Heping issue the order to deploy troops.

Kote was full of fire and murderous intent with no outlet to vent.

To leave was unwillingness, to stay was to feel like sitting on pins and needles.

Finally, under Song Heping's "enthusiastic" invitation, the two were brought to a slightly tidied room next to the command post, half-invited, half-escorted.

Forty minutes later, a guard delivered a whole lamb roasted golden and crispy, sizzling with oil, alongside stacks of flatbread piled like little mountains.

Song Heping appeared in high spirits, personally wielding a sharp dagger, skillfully slicing the best, tender lamb leg meat, placing it on the clean plates in front of Simon and Kote without a word.

"Come on, come on, don't be shy, eat while it's hot. In our place, you need to eat well to have strength to work, strength to fight, and of course..."

He gave a meaningful glance at Kote, "Also strength to be angry, right, my dear Colonel Kote?"

Kote stared at the aromatic lamb on the plate, yet felt like he was looking at a plate of disgusting worms, his stomach churned violently.

He didn't want to eat, didn't even want to look at it for another second.

Simon had a slightly better demeanor, at least able to eat some meat, but his eyes kept darting towards his watch.

For the Americans, every minute, every second, felt like being tortured in boiling oil.

His satellite phone periodically vibrated, a series of worsening reports from the front—warning messages from the Harris direction almost every few minutes.

And here they were, forced to participate in this absurd dinner with the mercenary leader who was slowly slicing away the fat off the United States Empire!

Song Heping ate heartily, tearing into the meat while enthusiastically commenting on the performance, design features, and improvement spaces of these American-made equipment, like a knowledgeable military adviser patiently tutoring two restless, uneasy students.

He even detailed the M1A1 tank's engine cooling issues in desert conditions and the "Bradley" infantry fighting vehicle's defensive weaknesses in urban street battles, making Kote's temple veins throb violently, yet he couldn't refute, as Song Heping's words were accurate, clearly showcasing profound understanding of this equipment lot.

Time crept by painfully in this extremely bizarre atmosphere.

Outside, the sky had turned completely dark, only the campfires and flickering gas lamps inside and outside the command post cast wavering shadows in the blackness.

8:50 pm.

Finally, heavy and urgent engine roars and tire screeches on the ground, mixed with personnel's chaotic shouts and footsteps, were heard from outside the command post.

A guard walked in briskly, whispering a few words into Song Heping's ear.

"Hmm, bring it in."

Song Heping nodded slightly, putting down his utensils, methodically wiping off the oil from the corner of his mouth with a napkin.

Simon and Kote simultaneously jerked their heads up, nervously watching the door.

A few minutes later, several US Army soldiers, two per group, struggling to carry two unusually heavy, military green sturdy metal boxes with indistinct English markings, clunked them heavily onto the room's floor.

The sound of the boxes hitting the ground was dull yet solid.

Subsequently, three more boxes of the same size were carried in.

The five boxes lined up neatly, exuding a cold metallic sheen.

Song Heping stood up, walked to the front of the boxes, casually kicked one of the box's exterior, producing a "thunk" sound.

He bent over, felt for the latch on the box lid, and with a "click," opened it.

In that instant, it seemed like the entire room's light was drawn towards it!

Inside the box, densely packed and orderly arranged stacks of green currency featuring Franklin's image!

They were tightly wrapped in transparent plastic film, resembling blocks of gold bullion awaiting melting, emanating a suffocatingly alluring gleam under the dim light!

All five boxes were opened in succession.

Multicolored US dollars!!!

They were just laid out so blatantly in front of everyone.

The air seemed to be instantly filled with a rich scent of ink and power.

The leading Lieutenant came over to report to Colonel Kote, saying these are five of the boxes, the rest are on the vehicle outside.

Three hundred million US dollars!

Over three tons in weight!

The visual impact is extraordinary!

Simon looked at the five boxes of cash, feeling as tangled as a mess of threads.

This isn't just money; it's the United States of America, at this moment, in this place, lowering its proud head to an enemy it once tried to annihilate!

Colonel Kote's breathing also became heavy.

Not out of greed, but out of humiliation.

He watched as the currency printed by his own country was stacked like spoils of war at Song Heping's feet, a feeling more painful and embarrassing than being defeated on the battlefield.

Song Heping casually picked up a stack of bills from the top, expertly flicked through the edges with his thumb, creating a crisp and pleasant sound from the new banknotes.

He nodded with satisfaction, a genuinely pleased and radiant smile on his face, as if an artist was admiring his most perfect work.

After flicking through the money, he turned to Kote and Simon, saying, "Gentlemen, I've received the money. It's been a pleasure cooperating."

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, carrying a decisive and commanding tone, and shouted at the messenger waiting by the door: "Pass my order! All units follow the pre-planned combat strategy, and launch a full-scale attack towards Hulmatu in one hour!"

After speaking, he turned again to Simon:

"Tell that gentleman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington and those generals staring at the maps in the Pentagon that they can temporarily ease their worries!"

Upon hearing this, Simon secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally…

This damn negotiation is finally over!

Kote stood up abruptly, walked out of the room without looking back, as if fleeing from a plague.

Simon also straightened his suit, quickly said to Song Heping, "Looking forward to your good news," and hurriedly followed Kote out of this torturous hellhole.

After seeing off the two Americans who left as if in escape, Song Heping walked up to the doorway of the command, and firmly ordered Samir and Abu You, who had been waiting outside: "Notify everyone, except those on guard duty in the city, to gather on the open ground. I have an announcement."

"Yes, Boss!"

They both responded in unison.

Then Samir asked, "Is it to motivate everyone?"

Song Heping shook his head, "No, it's to divide the money!"

"Divide the money?!"

Samir and Abu You were stunned.

"Also,"

Song Heping's gaze swept over his two right-hand men: "Tell everyone assembled in Daguge that the Americans' 300 million US dollar down payment has been delivered, and it's all in cash."

Samir and Abu You's eyes instantly widened!

Three hundred million dollars in cash!

This is far beyond the cold numbers in a bank account!

Song Heping continued: "I have decided, from these 300 million dollars, to take out 200 million first!"

He extended two fingers, emphasizing this astonishing number,

"According to military rank, seniority, and past achievements, it will be directly distributed to over ten thousand brothers from your two combat units, as a reward for this opening victory in the Hulmatu campaign! Part of it will be distributed on site later! The rest of the money will be distributed post-battle based on performance."

He paused, focusing his gaze on Samir and Abu You: "As my top commanders and direct leaders of the Liberation Forces and Abu You Brigade, each of you will receive an additional reward—five million US dollars in cash!"

"Five million… US… dollars?!"

Abu You's eyeballs nearly popped out!

Even Samir felt his brain buzz, with his heart pounding uncontrollably, swallowing hard.

Five million dollars in cash!

In a place like Illiguo, it means never worrying for the rest of your life, even with a broken leg.

In today's Illiguo, it's an astronomical figure that could make even a saint go mad!

"However,"

Song Heping's tone shifted, turning cold:

"There's a condition. Five days!"

He extended one palm, spreading five fingers.

"I'm giving you only five days! Within five days, you must take Hulmatu! If in five days, Hulmatu is still in enemy hands, even if it's just one block left…"

He paused and then said word by word: "Then, all rewards, including the extra 10 million for you two, will be canceled! Not a single cent! Understood?!"

"With me, Song Heping, you earn money with ability! If you want this money, take Hulmatu, exchange it for the enemy's blood! Go, tell every soldier in Daguge exactly what I said! I want them all to hear it and remember it!"

"Yes, Boss!! Mission guaranteed!!"

Samir and Abu You almost shouted at the top of their lungs, exchanging a glance, seeing a burning battle spirit and unwavering determination in each other's eyes!

Take Hulmatu in five days?

Never mind Hulmatu, if asked to storm Baghdad's Green Zone, they would charge forward without hesitation!

Following the right leader, there's truly plenty of meat to eat!

And not just any meat—it's a gold mountain that lasts for many lifetimes!