Chapter 1730 - 1352: Carrot and Stick_2

"Then let someone else do it."

Song Heping said, "You've operated in Elbil for so many years, the Third Infantry Brigade from top to bottom is all your people. Don't you have someone you absolutely trust, who can handle this kind of covert task?"

He did not give the other party a chance to breathe or continue to complain, and immediately threw out the price of cooperation:

"We just need to get inside. Once inside, find Rashid, control him, and leave the rest to us. Of course, in exchange, and as the key to a successful plan, once we've controlled Rashid, I need you to immediately mobilize your Third Infantry Brigade, in the name of quelling the rebellion and restoring order, to assist Little Masoud in stabilizing the situation in Elbil and disarm Rashid Security Forces."

There was another bout of silence on the other end of the line.

This time, clearer footsteps could be heard, very light, seemingly pacing in a narrow space.

Then, a dull knocking sound came through the speakers, not very loud, but enough to make the people in the carriage tense.

A vague male voice asked something in Kurdish, with a respectful tone, but the content was clearly an inquiry.

Song Heping's grasp of Kurdish was limited to daily greetings and simple vocabulary, but he caught several keywords: "General," "need," "help."

Tor Khan's voice immediately moved away from the microphone, quickly responding in Kurdish, sounding somewhat irritated and impatient, meaning "it's nothing, don't worry about it."

The person outside seemed to say something else, and then the footsteps gradually faded away.

After a long and unbearable silence, Tor Khan's voice finally became clear again.

"The situation… is not as simple as you think, Mr. Song."

His tone was full of concern.

"Even if you really have the ability to get inside, even if you really controlled Rashid himself… then what? Are those hundreds of security forces outside the TV station just decorations? Once the news of Rashid being controlled leaks out, even if only a hint of wind, they'll charge in like mad dogs! Can your few people hold them back?"

Song Heping's mouth showed a barely perceptible smile.

"That's why your assistance is even more necessary, General."

There was a hint of sarcastic laughter in his voice.

"Aren't you controlling the Third Infantry Brigade responsible for the entire city's defense in Elbil? If I remember correctly, General Duke's briefing said it's one of the most elite mechanized heavy brigades among Kurd armed forces."

He slightly raised his tone, each word striking like a hammer on an anvil:

"T-72 main battle tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 mm self-propelled mortars, 23 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns… full set Soviet equipment, well-maintained. And what do Rashid's security forces have? AK rifles, RPG launchers, some technically-enhanced pick-up trucks, at most a few old armored personnel carriers. They are light infantry, you are a steel torrent."

Song Heping paused for a moment, then continued, "General, this is not an evenly matched battle. This is a crushing."

Tor Khan was silent.

Only the sound of his slightly heavy breathing was heard in the communication channel.

Song Heping was not in a hurry.

He leaned back in his seat, his gaze cast out the car window into the blue-gray darkness before dawn.

Regarding this man Tor Khan, the background briefing and psychological profile provided by Duke were vividly unfolding in his mind.

Tor Khan Abdul, born as a professional soldier, experienced the Kurd independence movement and later the anti-terrorism war.

Personality keywords: cautious, conservative, values tradition and order, holds family and tribal honor in high regard.

Ability assessment: an excellent tactical commander, a steady defense expert, but lacks strategic prowess and courage for swift decisions in complex political situations.

The briefing ended with a note in red: "Major personality flaw: indecisiveness, particularly when faced with significant political choices, tends to watch and delay, waiting for situations to become clear or for a stronger side to emerge."

This old general's old problem was obviously showing again.

He clearly knows what Barzani and Rashid are doing, and even due to internal resistance and fear, he leaked critical information to Duke, leaving a way out for himself.

But he is still observing, hesitating, weighing options.

Recklessly aligning with Little Masoud, the "fugitive," poses too great a risk, yet continuing to follow Barzani, who is obviously walking a dangerous tightrope, guarantees a future of impending doom.

He's like standing at the edge of a cliff, with abysses on both sides, unsure which way to jump, or hoping he can stay still.

But Song Heping is here to help him "make up his mind," using the whip of fear and the honey of ambition.

"Listen, General."

Song Heping spoke again, "We know you're hesitating. We know you don't agree with Barzani's actions. Assassinating President Masoud, usurping power, even..."

He deliberately slowed his speech.

"...Little Masoud has evidence of secret transactions with the Turkish people to sell border territories and sovereignty. Do you think, once these things are exposed, Barzani could still smoothly become the highest leader of the autonomous region?"

He chuckled coldly.

"Do you think once he's truly in power, after solidifying his control, he'd express gratitude to you for your 'obedience,' guaranteeing you lifelong prosperity? Or rather, would he reconsider how President Masoud's itinerary near Kirkuk was kept secret, how that well-prepared, should-have-been perfect 'accident incident' special squad was preemptively discovered and silently wiped out, without even a hair on Masoud being harmed?"