Chapter 1740 - 1356: Song Heping's Strategy

In the depths beneath the Elbil Presidential Palace, a temporarily established Joint Tactical Command Center (JTCC).

The giant LED tactical display occupying the entire wall emits a cold blue light, showcasing a landscape of electronic warfare with dense symbols, lines, and flickering points of light, while the data stream cascades like a waterfall on the side screen.

Major Tor Khan stood before the main screen like an iron statue, arms tightly crossed in front of his chest.

His furrowed brow finally relaxed upon seeing the latest update on the screen.

On the screen, the green blocks representing the government army-controlled zones were rapidly encroaching upon the last red areas.

These were the final strongholds of the special security forces involved in the rebellion and their remaining supporters.

Several blue arrows representing the clearing forces were converging from different directions, swiftly extinguishing the stubborn red points of light.

"The urban clearing is entering its final stage."

Tor Khan turned around, his gaze falling on Song Heping and Little Masoud, who had just entered the command center doorway.

Old Masud was still in the hospital in the Green Zone, and Little Masoud naturally assumed temporary presidential powers.

"The main force of the Third Mechanized Brigade, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior's rapid response team, suppressed the major rebel nodes within four hours of the President's televised speech."

Tor Khan continued to report:

"Seventeen key planners and leaders were arrested, forty-two stubborn resistors killed, and two hundred and three captured. The TV station, communication hubs, main power plant, core government building complexes, and major barracks have all been brought back under absolute control."

Little Masoud nodded: "What are our casualty figures?"

He asked, his voice steadier than expected.

"We have twenty-eight killed in action, thirty-seven seriously injured, and sixteen lightly injured."

Tor Khan's tone deepened: "Barzani has been cultivating influence within the Security Forces and the Defense Army for years; many mid and lower-level officers and soldiers were swayed by his lies. If the President hadn't personally made the speech, the battle wouldn't have ended within four hours. We might have faced a city-wide guerrilla warfare."

Song Heping remained silent, already by the enormous electronic map.

His gaze, as precise as a scalpel, directly cut through the section of the highway linking Kirkuk to Elbil — Highway 80.

His fingers traced an imaginary line above the screen, as if he could almost touch the steel torrent potentially surging along it.

"Barzani should have seen the speech by now."

Song Heping's voice was exceptionally clear.

"Given his character and his current cornered situation… what do you think he will do?"

Little Masoud took a deep breath, recalling his father's assessment of that man:

"He will counterattack. Using the most intense methods. He will insist this is slander against him, a conspiracy of foreign powers and internal traitors, claiming that father and I are coerced puppets. Then…"

As he spoke, his gaze sharpened.

"He will utilize every force at his disposal, attempting to reverse his political defeat with military victory. This is the only path he can foresee."

As if to validate his judgment—

Little Masoud had not yet finished speaking when a report sounded from the doorway.

"Report! General! There's top priority military intelligence!"

The command center's door swung open, and a major's adjutant nearly stumbled in, too hurried to salute Little Masoud.

His face looked somewhat pale, his voice tinged with nervousness.

"From the direction of Kirkuk! Multiple sources confirmed! Barzani's First Armored Brigade, Second Mechanized Brigade, and Ninth Infantry Brigade have all left their camps! Gathering for field operations on the western outskirts of Kirkuk! The first unit, the First Armored Brigade's 'Mountain Cat' strengthened armor battalion, set out twenty-five minutes ago, advancing at full speed along Highway 80 towards Elbil! Average speed exceeding fifty kilometers per hour!"

The air within the command center instantly solidified.

All keyboard clacks, murmurs, and equipment hums seemed to have been muted at that moment.

Everyone's gaze shifted, landing on Tor Khan.

Tor Khan's complexion turned a visible steel blue.

He jerked his head back, intensely staring at the three glaring red triangular icons signifying the rebel main force on the screen, alongside the troop estimation — approximately sixteen thousand seven hundred men.

"He's truly gone mad!"

Cold sweat beaded on Tor Khan's forehead.

"Now Barzani has three elite regular combat brigades under his command, which constitute nearly one-third of the Kurdistan government's field maneuverable troops! Full American and Soviet heavy equipment, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery, air defense systems… And we…"

His gaze hurriedly shifted to the symbol representing the Third Brigade under his control, with his Adam's apple fiercely rolling.

"We only have one Third Mechanized Brigade, just finished with urban warfare, understaffed with depleted ammunition requiring urgent replenishment! At most, we can immediately dispatch for field combat defense, no more than four thousand five hundred men!"

The troop comparison was nearly one to four.

Moreover, it was the attacking side against the defending side, with the rebels carrying initial momentum, while the government army had just undergone internal disorder, still fatigued and unrestored.

"Can he completely control these three brigades?"

Song Heping looked questioningly at Tor Khan.

"The commander of the First Armored Brigade, Kadir, is his blood cousin; the commander of the Ninth Infantry Brigade, Safar, is his handpicked loyalist."

Tor Khan spoke rapidly:

"These two brigades could be considered his private army. Only the Second Mechanized Brigade… Colonel Ali Hassan, the brigade commander, is known for being a professional soldier, principle-driven, and reputable. Ordinarily, it shouldn't... unless Barzani used some extreme measures unbeknownst to us to remove obstacles or temporarily suppressed all dissent. But given that the Second Brigade is also mobilized, it implies Barzani, at least for now, has completely controlled the command chain of Kirkuk's garrison!"