Chapter 1628 - 1303: Watching Coldly from the Sidelines

At noon, the sun hangs high.

The towering cracking tower of the refinery casts a huge shadow under the blistering afternoon sunshine.

Inside the command post, the fan futilely stirs the stagnant air, while the crackling sound of radio static and vague communication from different bands pierces the eardrums of everyone present.

Song Heping sits before a table strewn with maps and intelligence briefs, staring intently at the contents thereon, yet his gaze seems to penetrate the walls, landing upon the boiling land—that is Titrick—hundreds of kilometers away.

Samir's voice bursts from the radio, distorted somewhat due to excitement:

"Boss! Boss! Please respond if you hear! Titrick direction confirmed! Thunder Defense and those Kurds' trash have utterly collapsed! Like rabbits chased by hounds, they're scrambling towards Elbil and Zahou! The 1515 people are madly harvesting, the dust kicked up by the convoy can be seen from dozens of kilometers away! Should we... should we make a move now? If we strike now, Titrick is ours! In this situation, I'm sure even if we seize Titrick, the Americans wouldn't dare do a damn thing!"

Song Heping picks up the microphone, his voice calm without the slightest ripple, forming a stark contrast to Samir's excitement: "Samir, maintain silence, await orders in place. Titrick, we won't go in."

"What?"

Samir is evidently dumbfounded, then quickly says urgently: "Boss, it's an opportunity! Once in a lifetime! Let the 1515 and the Americans bite each other, we'll take what's already on the table! Isn't that bastard Kote already..."

"Kote is dead," Song Heping interrupts him, his tone still calm, "but the game in Titrick isn't over. We go in now, are we just cleaning up the mess for the Americans?"

Samir is silent for a few seconds, seemingly calmer now, but still puzzled: "Then... so we'll just watch the 1515 wipe out the Americans' little assets entirely? That's quite satisfying."

"Watch?"

Song Heping's lips curl into a nearly imperceptible cold smile, "That won't do either. The 1515 can win, but not too much. Leaving a not-quite-dead-or-alive 1515 armed force in Titrick is most beneficial to us."

His gaze sweeps over the map showing several key roads and secret passages from Syria to Northern Illiguo, paths he previously deliberately "neglected to guard," even covertly guiding, allowing the 1515's reinforcements and supplies to enter the Titrick battlefield relatively smoothly.

Now, these paths need to be tightened.

"Samir, listen, change your task."

Song Heping orders: "From now on, your troops immediately move east, retake control of the B7 and D3 highway nodes along the Siria border leading to Titrick, and the two valley trails coming from Hasakah Province. Close the doors that were previously opened. If any subsequent 1515 troops, supply convoys try to use these routes to reinforce Titrick or move towards Hulmatu, no warning needed, intercept immediately. Be ruthless, move fast, destroy their supplies, not a single mosquito belonging to the 1515 armed force should come in."

Samir, despite possibly holding some doubts, due to long-term obedience and trust, responds immediately: "Understood! Close the door, catch the dog, cut off their tail! Rest assured, boss, leave it to me!"

As their conversation ends, Song Heping just puts down the microphone when the curtain at the command post is drawn open, Jiang Feng walks into the room with the heat from outside, a heavy look on his face.

"Old Squad Leader, the latest footage from front reconnaissance outpost and drones, after scoring in Titrick, the 1515 armed forces are in high spirits, separating at least eight to ten thousand main forces, paired with a large number of captured vehicles and heavy weapons, quickly advancing toward Hulmatu in a pincer movement. The defeated troops of the Kurd Armed and Thunder Defense are unable to organize effective resistance, abandoning a large amount of equipment along the way. At this pace, no later than tomorrow evening, the vanguard of 1515 can be at Hulmatu City's doorstep."

Hulmatu.

Song Heping's fingers land on that critical node on the map.

This northern significant town connects the Mosul, Kirkuk, and Elbil triangle, its geographical position exceptionally vital.

If it falls into 1515's hands...

That's not the scenario he wishes to witness.

This means the 1515 will drive a hard wedge into the heart of Kurdistan Autonomous Region (KRG), threatening the capital Elbil directly, and connecting their power area west of Mosul, forming a potential pincer attack against Bayji and the entire northern Salahuddin Province.

Absolutely cannot let it fall into the hands of 1515 armed forces.

This is not only from a self-strategic safety standpoint but also necessary to maintain the superficially united yet fragile and peculiar "quad alliance".

Americans can suffer losses, they can be embarrassed, but he cannot watch Titrick fall to 1515.

Otherwise, with faces torn, the subtle balance will break, and no one knows what irrational action Washington might make in desperation.

"Call Naxin here for a moment."

Song Heping says to Jiang Feng, simultaneously rapidly calculating in his mind.

Soon, the highest commander of the Persian Revolutionary Guard Holy City Brigade stationed in Bayji, Naxin, quickly walks in.

"Song, situation?"

Naxin's English carries a heavy Persian accent.

Song Heping gestures for him to look at the map, concisely explaining the collapse of Titrick and the 1515's forces pressing towards Hulmatu.

"Naxin, Hulmatu cannot be lost. The 1515 must be checked."

Naxin nods heavily: "I understand. Do we need to launch? Reinforce Hulmatu?"

Song Heping shakes his head instead, fingers tapping twice on the map's west and north side of Titrick: "Not directly to Hulmatu. We go here—Tuz, and here—Feihate. As long as we take these two places, Ahmed must retreat."

Naxin bends down for a closer look, frowning initially, then eyes relaxing and a gleam of realization and admiration flashing.

Tuz Town is located about fifty kilometers west of Titrick, controlling another auxiliary route leading to the Syrian border and an important agricultural area; Feihate Town, meanwhile, is slightly northwest of Titrick, guarding the passage into the jazeera desert and the entrance to Mosul's northern mountain areas.

These two towns hold strategic significance but are not currently in 1515's main attack direction, with relatively weak defense forces.

"Taking Tuz and Feihate is like sticking two sharp knives around the fat of Titrick."

Song Heping calmly explains, "We cannot directly attack Titrick, that would force the 1515 into a head-on consumption battle with us, playing right into the Americans' hands. By occupying these two flank strongholds, we can simultaneously monitor and deter Titrick, while vaguely gripping the back route of 1515's arm reaching Hulmatu like pliers. Ahmed isn't stupid, if he still wants to fully assault Hulmatu, he must consider the risk of his flanks and logistics line being cut off by us."

"Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao, attack where they must defend!"

Naxin uses the awkward Chinese expression he learned from Song Heping, smiling.

"Moreover, keeping Titrick in 1515's hands continues to draw the Americans' ire and air strikes, benefiting us and Persia. Song, am I right?"

Song Heping slightly nods in agreement: "Therefore, you need to immediately assemble the Bayji and nearby mobile Holy City Brigade troops. I'll deploy two 'Musician' battalions from my side. We'll split into two routes; you focus on Tuz, Jiang Feng will lead forces to handle Feihate. Quick actions to seize, then swiftly transition to defense, ready for 1515's counterattack."

"Alright! I'll prepare right away!" Naxin turns to leave, full of energy.

"Wait." Song Heping calls out to him.

Naxin looks back, puzzled.

"Assemble the troops, complete pre-battle preparation, but don't set off yet."

Song Heping glances at the quiet satellite phone on the table, "Wait for my order."

Naxin is even more puzzled: "Why? Speed is crucial! If 1515 armed forces capture Hulmatu and establish a foothold, we're in trouble!"

Song Heping coldly laughs: "We're waiting for an 'invitation.' An 'invitation' that legitimizes this operation and brings additional benefits. Be patient, Naxin. The cheetah is always the quietest before striking."

Naxin seems to understand something, asks no more, nods heavily, and strides out to mobilize the troops.

Song Heping sits back in his chair, closing his eyes.

Inside the command post, only the fan's hum remains and the distant noise from the radio. He waits for the inevitable call to come from across the ocean.

Kote is dead, Thunder Defense is destroyed, Hulmatu stands precariously, proud Americans, particularly the clear-minded ones in command, won't watch the entire Northern Iraq situation utterly collapse without action.

Right now, on land, capable of quickly intervening and still 'theoretically' allies, only he remains.

This is a game of patient strategy.

Acting too early would undervalue his strength, acting too late, if Hulmatu truly falls, the situation will be more complex.

Must wait for the Americans to ask for help themselves, hold the initiative, then negotiate terms to maximize the value of this operation.