Chapter 1462 - 1212: From Support to Main Force

Titrick, 1515 underground command center.

In the dimly lit basement, Basmo, the highest local military officer responsible for defense, received the victorious news from the Tuz Valley frontline. His face, covered by a Big Beard, instantly revealed a look of ecstasy and extreme excitement.

"Praise to the gracious and merciful Allah! The great Allah is magnificent! The warriors of Tuz Valley have delivered a heavy blow to those heretics and traitors! They have proved with their blood and lives that the path of jihad is unstoppable!"

He waved his fist, his voice somewhat distorted due to excitement.

Defeated the legendary "Ghost" Song Heping!

This is simply sensational news.

At this moment, the scene of the supreme leader Buckdadi personally awarding him had already appeared in his mind.

Since Song Heping appeared in Northwest Illinois a year ago, he has clashed with the 1515 Armed several times, twice attacking and briefly occupying Mosul, Buckdadi's head was about to explode with fury. He issued a pursuit order several times, demanding that the 1515 Armed in the Northwest do everything possible to eliminate Song Heping and send his head to headquarters.

But saying is easy, doing is much harder.

Not to mention Song Heping's people were hiding in the Persian Plateau, even if he was in Northwest Illinois, nobody dared provoke him.

Anyone who understands Song Heping's glorious past achievements knows that provoking him likely means a road to Hell.

Although this victory in Tuz Valley is merely a small victory, only wiping out a reconnaissance team sent by Song Heping, the Americans aren't the only ones skilled in inflating achievements. The various heads of the 1515 Armed are also adept at this.

Just as Basmo began calculating how to embellish the achievements for claiming credit, a senior, sinister-looking deputy by his side was not blinded by the victory.

After carefully inquiring about the details of the battle, especially the opponent's reaction after the ambush and the timing of that A-10's appearance and attack, he spoke:

"Boss."

The deputy's voice was like a bucket of cold water pouring down.

"Victory is certainly worth celebrating, but we must not let joy blind our eyes. According to the frontline description, although the enemy's reconnaissance team sustained heavy damage, their main force remains intact. Moreover, they showed high discipline after the ambush, quickly halting advancement and transitioning to defense; this doesn't align with their usual aggressive attack style. More importantly, the timing of that A-10 and drone support was... 'too precise'; the reconnaissance team was just wiped out, and it came, just waiting there."

Basmo's fanatical mood slightly cooled down, but he frowned: "What do you mean?"

"I think this is likely not just a simple encounter battle."

The deputy walked to a simple map.

"I think it looks more like internal conflict among their coalition, a game between different factions. That Eastern Commander's unit might have been used by their American ally as a pawn to test our firepower. And now that Easterner seems to have realized he's a pawn being used, and this pawn seems... unwilling to advance further."

Basmo's eyes lit up, urging: "Continue!"

"If my judgment is correct, Song Heping will certainly not launch an attack on Hulmatu for a short time, so now our direct pressure is drastically reduced, presenting us a golden opportunity!"

The deputy's finger abruptly pointed to Ozham in the south on the map.

"Immediately secretely redeploy the most elite 'Black Angel' battalion and assigned artillery unit from Hulmatu's garrison through our controlled secret passage, rush south, and reinforce Ozham! That's where the Heretic Alliance Army's main attack direction is. If we can severely damage, or even defeat, the main government army there, the entire war situation will reverse, and we will firmly grasp the initiative!"

"And Hulmatu here..."

Basmo still had some hesitation.

After all, mobilizing elite troops to reinforce Ozham means his defenses will be empty.

Originally he was uncertain about confronting Song Heping with these troops...

Now moving them out...

Isn't this waiting to die?!

"Leave two-thirds of the force, relying on solid fortifications and underground bunkers, and adopt a flexible defense strategy. Deploy only a few observation posts and snipers in the forward, with the main force retreating to the second line position and core works. As long as we don't actively attack, that Song Heping probably won't launch a large-scale assault. I feel... he's negotiating with the Americans! We must seize this opportunity to concentrate forces to first eliminate government troops deployed in the Ozham direction. Once the government army is defeated..."

He knocked his fingers lightly a few times on the location of Ozham.

"By then their alliance will surely collapse; after all, the Americans teamed up to eliminate us, and secondly to let their government army running dogs and Kurd people recover vast lost territories. If Ozham is lost, the significance of U.S. intervention won't be significant anymore."

Basmo gritted his teeth and thought for a moment before finally making up his mind: "Then let's do it as you said! You personally take charge of this reinforcement action!"

Two hours later.

Just when Song Heping's troops began retreating from Daguge, all parties involved in the 'Furnace' operation were in chaos.

In fact, in the four-party alliance, the Persians and Russians weren't the most troubled ones; the most troubled ones were the Americans and the Illigo Government Army he fostered, along with the Kurd people located in the Erbil Region.