Chapter 1429 - 1191: Game of Strategy (Part 2)

Song Heping did not respond immediately.

He reached into his pocket and took out an encrypted satellite phone, gently rubbing his fingers over the cold metal casing as if tracing the threads of the entire plan.

"The reason fairy tales are fairy tales is that the storyteller lacked the power to change reality."

As Song Heping spoke, he began to dial skillfully, the satellite phone emitting a slight ticking sound.

He shook the phone slightly.

"And now, we have it."

He pressed the last button and placed the phone close to his ear.

After a brief waiting tone, the call connected.

"Jiang Feng."

Song Heping's voice was steady and clear, without a trace of hesitation, "It's me. The time has come to execute the 'Broken Blade' plan."

No excessive pleasantries, no detailed explanations, only brief orders.

On the other end of the line, far away on the Persian Plateau, Jiang Feng seemed to have been waiting for a long time, responding crisply, "Understood, Old Squad Leader! I promise to complete the mission!"

The call ended.

Hunter's gaze had been closely following Song Heping's movements, and only now did he feel compelled to speak, "'Broken Blade'? Is this the backup plan you mentioned before but never detailed? Can you now tell me what kind of 'blade' this is and whose 'head' it aims to sever?"

Song Heping reached into his pocket and took out a paper map, brushed the snow off the balcony table, and spread it out on top.

Then he picked up a light pen and skillfully pinpointed a spot on the map.

"Look here, Sulaimaniyah."

The light point stopped on the icon representing the town.

Hunter leaned in for a closer look, "This is a major town in the northeastern Kurd control zone of Northern Illiguo, near the Persian border. It's one of the transportation hubs connecting Kirkuk and Erbil."

"Not just that."

Song Heping's light pen slowly moved along the road network to the east.

"It is also a crucial road junction for transporting materials from Baghdad to the Kurdish Autonomous Government in Erbil. Most critically, after the 1515 Armed cut off the main route from Mosul to Erbil, this is the only remaining relatively smooth land route for the Kurd Armed in Illiguo to receive weapons, ammunition, fuel, and other critical supplies from the Americans in the direction of Baghdad. The Americans are maintaining the combat power of the Erbil Kurds through this line, like a blood transfusion, to fight against the ever-expanding 1515 Armed in the Northwest Region."

Hunter immediately realized the strategic value of Sulaimaniyah: "You're saying that capturing this place is equivalent to cutting off the artery of the Erbil Kurds?"

"Exactly."

A glint of cold light flickered in Song Heping's eyes, "The core of the so-called 'Broken Blade' plan is for Samir's 'Liberation Forces' and the Abu You Brigade to launch a blitzkrieg on Sulaimaniyah at the most opportune moment, using overwhelming military force to quickly seize and control this strategic point."

"The right moment?"

Hunter caught the key word.

This plan was bold.

But what puzzled him was—wasn't there supposed to be cooperation with the Americans?

If you attack Sulaimaniyah, cutting off the supply line of the US Army and the Kurds, wouldn't that further offend the Americans?

How then could they talk about cooperation?

"When exactly is the right time?"

Song Heping's light pen moved to another focal point on the sand table—Mosul.

"The timing rests on our 'Old Friend,' the 1515's 'Caliph' Baghdadi."

A cold smile curled up at Song Heping's lips, "In order to help me and the SSO Squad escape from Eastern Syria, Jiang Feng commanded the Abu You Brigade to launch an attack on a 1515 stronghold on the eastern outskirts of Mosul, even taking out one of their logistics centers, causing heavy losses to the 1515 Armed. You haven't forgotten that incident, have you?"

Hunter nodded, "I haven't forgotten. At the time, I thought it was just a decoy tactic, but I didn't realize you'd planted such a deep line."

"Regardless of whether the Abu You Brigade is still following orders from Erbil, nominally, it is still part of the Kurd Armed, and its members are mainly Kurds."

Song Heping analyzed, "Given Baghdadi's vindictive nature, he would never tolerate a 'heretic' armed group, especially one he has always regarded as a thorn in his side—the Kurd Armed—making such a big move right under the nose of his so-called 'capital' Mosul. It's a severe blow to his personal authority and the morale of the 1515."

He paused for a moment, allowing Hunter to digest the information, then continued: "Therefore, I predict that once Baghdadi confirms that the attack on Mosul, which caused him significant losses, was by the Abu You Brigade, he will be furious. He won't bother distinguishing whether the Abu You Brigade has been expelled from Erbil; in his view, all Kurds are 'heretics' and should be annihilated. Based on this anger, he will inevitably lash out at the entire Erbil Kurdish regime. To save face, he's very likely—no, he's certain—to muster a large force and launch a massive retaliatory attack on the Erbil Region in the short term."

As he spoke, Song Heping's light pen continued to move, marking possible routes for a 1515 Armed attack.

"Once the 1515 Armed begins attacking south of Erbil, the Kurds' main forces will be drawn southward."

Song Heping's light pen returned to Sulaimaniyah.

"The defensive forces here will inevitably be relatively empty. At that time, it will be the best moment for the 'Broken Blade' to strike!"

His voice carried an undeniable assurance, "Have Jiang Feng lead an integrated force of ten thousand elite 'Liberation Forces,' with the Abu You Brigade and 'People's Power' as the vanguard, to unexpectedly seize Sulaimaniyah. This move, first, in military terms, will completely cut off the lifeline for land supplies from Baghdad to Erbil. Afterward, if Americans want to support the Kurd Armed, they will have to rely on the costly air transport."

"Secondly, strategically."

Song Heping's gaze became sharp, "We are essentially sending a signal to the White House and Pentagon that we not only have the ability to counter the 1515 on the Nineveh Plain, but also have the capacity to cooperate with the 1515 at a critical moment to wipe out the Kurdish allies painstakingly groomed by the Americans within Illiguo! This will force the Americans to face a harsh dilemma—either stand by while their most important ground proxy force in Northern Illiguo is overpowered by us and the 1515, losing their foothold in Northern Illiguo and rendering all previous investments futile, or, swallow their pride and come to us, acknowledging our status and value, thereby preserving the Kurds and even utilizing us to more effectively combat the 1515."

Hearing this intertwined and nearly ruthless plan, Hunter couldn't help but suck in a cold breath. He could almost see the shocked and furious expressions of the generals and politicians in the White House situation room when they received news of Sulaimaniyah's fall and the Kurds' urgent situation.

"It's a risky move, but also a high-level strategy..."

Hunter murmured, "Pushing the Americans against the wall, then letting them come to us on their own... But, Boss, are you sure that Baghdadi will definitely react as we've predicted and take his anger out on Erbil? The Abu You Brigade has publicly detached itself from the Kurdish Autonomous Government's command system. Might that madman Baghdadi turn his hatred toward us and attack us directly?"

Song Heping looked again toward the Moscow night sky, his tone calm but carrying a clear understanding of human nature: "Hunter, you don't understand the mindset of such extremists. For Baghdadi, face and the 'purity' of his extreme ideology sometimes outweigh actual interests. The Abu You Brigade is made up of Kurds, and that is, in itself, an original sin."

"The attack on Mosul is a challenge to his authority. He needs a glorious victory over 'heretics' to solidify his internal position, and launching a holy war against Erbil, the 'Kurdish stronghold,' most satisfies his vanity and propaganda needs. As for us... heh, we're too complex and have already demonstrated our combat capabilities. He bears grudges, but also bullies the weak, preferring to attack 'heretic' targets he can control. Therefore, there is more than a ninety percent likelihood that he will redirect his rage toward the Kurds."

The room fell into a moment of silence.

Hunter was digesting this massive and bold plan, along with the enormous risks and opportunities it entailed.

He had to admit, Song Heping's grasp of the psychology of all parties and the situation had reached an astonishing level.

"If... if everything goes smoothly and the Americans do come knocking..."

Hunter raised his head, his eyes shimmering with complex light, "What should our next step be? What role do the Russians play in all of this?"

Song Heping turned his head to look at him and said, "That will mark the beginning of the next game. As for the Russians... they will be very pleased to see the Americans put in a difficult position, and with us as a bargaining chip in their hand, they gain an additional leverage in front of the Americans. And we aim to twist and turn in this narrow space, carve out a bloody path for ourselves, making it so that the world can no longer ignore our presence."