Chapter 1573 - 1274: Chain Scheme

Song Heping's concerns were not without reason.

Once the news of Bayji being attacked reaches Buckdadi's ears, the fact that he is orchestrating the offensive here will soon be impossible to conceal.

After all, the combat style and quality of the PMC elite mercenaries and the local Illiguo militia are completely different.

The 1515 armed militants defending Bayji are not fools; they will quickly realize who their opponents are.

Then the problem arises.

Az, the general commander of the 1515 in the Tetrick area, always believed that the forces deployed north of him were the Liberation Forces and Musician Mercenary Camp commanded by Song Heping, which is why he hesitated to adopt an extremely conservative defense strategy due to fear of damaging his image.

Once it's revealed that Song Heping is in Bayji, the militia that has been bombarding Az's defense line and constantly provoking is merely the local Illiguo militia, not commanded by Song Heping.

In the Tetrick area, with a total of thirty thousand 1515 militants, it would be nearly certain that Az would realize he was duped and organize a counteroffensive.

The pressure would quickly transfer onto Jiang Feng and Samir.

They have only six thousand troops, and they are all militiamen.

Though their combat capabilities are not bad, facing the 1515 militants, who outnumber them multiple times, avoiding being swallowed whole would be nothing short of a miracle.

Therefore, Song Heping instructed Jiang Feng and Samir—when the battle direction in Bayji is initiated, immediately organize a retreat, deploy to the designated position in accordance with their next step plan, avoiding the Tetrick city 1515 military group's ferocious counterattack.

As the first light of dawn bathed the smoke-filled skies over Bayji, gunfire in the city had already become sparse.

The main areas of the refinery were under the control of the First and Second Battalion, and forces from the Abu You Brigade had also entered the city from the west and started to clear remaining enemies.

Song Heping walked on the path littered with rubble and shells in the refinery, looking at the soldiers' faces, weary but excited, and at the intact, gigantic refinery facilities, he felt a slight relief.

The plan succeeded, Bayji, this strategic and economic lifeline, had fallen into their hands.

"Report, Commander."

A communications soldier rushed over, "Samir and Commander Jiang Feng have called, everything is normal in the Tetrick direction, Az's group has shown no movement, and they are proceeding with the next steps of your plan."

Song Heping nodded, a barely detectable smile appearing on his face.

"Tell them to strictly follow the plan I laid out and not to panic; reinforcements will arrive soon."

It seemed that this bold gamble was temporarily won.

However, capturing Bayji was just the first step.

There are a full thirty thousand 1515 militants in the Tetrick direction; they cannot just sit and do nothing.

The upcoming challenges are more severe.

When the towering cracking towers of the Bayji refinery were enveloped in billowing black smoke under the mercenaries' fierce attack, Az, the 1515 regional commander far away in Tetrick city, was still deep asleep in the latter half of the night.

Days of standoff with the "Liberation Forces" militia outside the city had drained his energy. He was confident that Song Heping's main force had been contained and Tetrick's defense line was as solid as a rock.

However, as the first light of morning shone through the window, a frantic knock on the door yanked him out of his false tranquility.

"Boss!! Wake up! Emergency military situation! Emir is online, waiting for you to communicate!"

Az bolted upright, his heart pounding like a wild horse in his chest.

Leader Buckdadi communicating directly was an ominous alarm in itself.

Why did he need to talk to him at this time?

He quickly threw on some clothes and rushed into the command room, grabbing the communication handset, his palms already cold with sweat.

"This is Az, Emir, please instruct."

On the other end of the radio came Buckdadi's iconic roar, a hoarse voice almost piercing through the airwaves:

"Az! You devil-blinded fool! You assured me Tetrick was impenetrable! You told me Song Heping was stalled by your iron wall! Then tell me, who is it now attacking our holy warriors in Bayji, capturing our refinery, and bombing our city with our artillery? A ghost?!"

Each word was like a heavy hammer pounding on Az's heart.

He felt dizzy and his throat dry: "Bay... Bayji? It's impossible! Emir, are you sure..."

"Sure?! What do I need to be sure of?! The commander of Bayji's garrison called for aid with his last breath! The refinery is lost! They're massacring the city! Song Heping's main force is right there! Three thousand defenders are nearly dead! And you, you worthless fool, continue to dream in your tortoise shell!"

Buckdadi's tirade came like a raging storm, leaving Az no room to argue.

"I give you one last chance, immediately reclaim Bayji, or wash away the shame with your blood!"

With a "click," the communication was abruptly cut off, leaving only the suffocating tone.

Az stood frozen, the handset slipping from his weak grip, hitting the table with a dull thud.

The color drained from his face, and cold sweat instantly soaked his undershirt.

"Impossible... Song Heping is supposed to be outside the city..."

He muttered to himself, but deep inside, a cold voice told him—

Something went wrong.

"Reconnaissance!"

He suddenly turned and yelled at his equally pale-faced adjutant, "All reconnaissance units, immediately move out, and determine the enemy's movements outside the city! Go!"