Chapter 1752 - 1359: Reversal_3

Countless shells pierced through the sky with their mournful screams, approaching from afar, then exploding into huge fireballs in the most densely assembled area of the Resistance Army's main forces—

An open area about three kilometers east of Nasur Fortress.

Various calibers of artillery shells poured down like hail.

The fire from the explosions linked together, forming towering columns of smoke that almost obscured the eastern sky.

Even from such a distance, the garrison at Nasur Fortress could clearly feel the tremors and the gusts of wind brought by the shock waves.

It's Samir's "Liberation Forces" artillery battalion!

Finally, they were here!

The Iron Gate to the north and the wolves to the south completed the encirclement at this very moment, biting down simultaneously!

Behind the main forces of the Resistance Army, inside the temporary field command vehicle.

Barzani sat as if his backbone had been removed, slumping in a folding chair.

On the tactical tablet screen before him, the red icons representing his troops were being squeezed and cut by blue Arrows from the north and southeast.

The icons symbolizing logistic nodes and artillery positions were turning gray and disappearing one by one.

All the news from the radio was bad:

"General! The rear was attacked by the main forces of the Abu You Brigade! Our 14th transport company was completely annihilated! The 3rd artillery company's positions are covered by rockets!"

"Discovered massive shelling from the north! The impact area is at the assembly region of our 2nd battalion! Heavy casualties!"

"The 1st armored brigade reports that the garrison at Nasur Fortress is resisting unusually fiercely, and the vanguard has suffered over half casualties without breaking through!"

"Colonel Mustafa of the 2nd mechanized brigade… he, he has taken the brigade's direct unit and some other units, announced departure from combat, and is sending negotiators towards the government army!"

The last message was like the final straw that broke Barzani.

Betrayed by all…

He abruptly grabbed the tablet and smashed it onto the ground.

Fragments of plastic and glass scattered everywhere.

"Traitors! All traitors!"

He roared hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot and bulging, looking crazed, "Ali is a traitor! Mustafa is a traitor! Everyone has betrayed me!"

Inside the command vehicle, several core officers exchanged looks filled with fear and despair.

Kadir spoke up to remind him: "General, maybe we should consider…"

"Consider what? Surrender?!" Barzani quickly drew the CZ75 pistol from his waist, aiming it at his loyal subordinate, "Even you want to betray me?!"

Kadir's face turned pale, retreating repeatedly: "No, General, I meant maybe we should concentrate our forces and choose a direction to break through…"

"Break through? Break through to where?!"

Barzani waved the pistol wildly, spitting as he spoke.

"To the west is Samir's artillery and defenses! To the southeast are the 1515 lunatics and the Persians! To the northwest is Nasur Fortress and Elbil! To the south… and southeast… is that wild dog Abu You! We are completely surrounded! Completely finished!"

He staggered to the command vehicle's door and pushed it open.

The scene outside was even more despairing.

The orderly field camp had turned into chaos.

The columns of smoke in the northern shelling area were still rising, explosions faintly audible.

The gunfire from the southeast was intense, and the infiltrating troops of the Abu You Brigade had clearly already approached.

Soldiers were running blindly between the camps, officers screaming at the top of their lungs, yet the command chain had evidently collapsed.

Several trucks tried to turn and flee but crashed into each other, blocking the path.

Even more fatally, those damned drones appeared once more in the sky.

Flying lower, the leaflets they dropped fluttered in the wind.

Barzani could even make out the content of the top leaflet—it was an enlarged photo showing Colonel Ali lying in a pool of blood, next to which was written in Kurdish:

"Look at the person you pledged loyalty to! He killed the cautious general, and now he wants to send you all into the grave!"

How did they get this photo?!

A mole!

There was a mole in his ranks!

Barzani's face turned pale as snow.

And at that moment, the last bit of morale controlled by his army was collapsing like an avalanche.

He watched as a squad of soldiers threw down their weapons and walked towards the government army with raised hands.

An officer tried to stop them but was pushed aside by other soldiers.

It's over.

Everything is over.

Barzani slowly turned around and walked back into the command vehicle.

His movements were slow, as if his feet were filled with molten lead.

Inside, several officers watched him, waiting for the final command, or rather, waiting for the command that would not come.

But Barzani did not issue any orders.

He sat back down, placed the pistol on his knee, and carefully began wiping the gun with a cloth.

His movements were very focused.

After finishing cleaning the gun, he checked the magazine.

Full.

Then he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over every person inside the vehicle.

That gaze was strange, devoid of madness, devoid of rage, only containing a deep fatigue and emptiness.

"You all…" he began, his voice so hoarse it was barely audible, "escape for your lives. As many as can make it, go."

"General?!" Kadir exclaimed.

Barzani waved his hand, no longer looking at them.

He picked up the pistol, stood up, and once more walked out of the command vehicle.

This time, he did not look at the chaotic camp, did not look at the fleeing soldiers, did not look at the drones in the sky.

He walked blankly towards a relatively intact military jeep at the edge of the camp, opened the door, and sat inside.

The vehicle started, leaving the camp, and drove along a small path northward.

Not heading to the front lines, nor the rear, but driving towards a small hill away from the battlefield.

The car stopped at the top of the hill. Here, one could overlook the entire battlefield—

To the north were walls of smoke rising from Samir's artillery bombardment, to the east were clouds stirred by Abu You Brigade's infiltration, to the west was the imposing silhouette of Nasur Fortress, and to the south was the vast desert.

Barzani turned off the engine and got out of the car.

The morning mountain breeze tousled his graying hair.

He took a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled out one, lit it, and took a deep breath.

The smoke rose before his eyes, blurring his vision.

He remembered many years ago, a younger version of himself.

Back then, he was still young, only a lieutenant.

Masood was already the leader of the Resistance Army at that time.

Masood patted his shoulder and said: "Barzani, Kurd's future needs young people like you."

When did the longing for the future turn into a craving for power?

When did the vow to protect his people turn into a calculation for benefits?

When did the intimacy of blood relations turn into an obstacle that needs clearing?

The cigarette burned to the end, singeing his fingers.

Barzani flicked the cigarette butt out the window, watching coldly as it traced an arc through the air, landing on the ground, sparking scattered flames.

Then, he raised the CZ75, pressing the cold muzzle against his right temple.

This action he had taught to many new recruits—

In desperate situations, retain the final dignity.

But he had never imagined that one day it would be used on himself.

No last words.

For a failure, history won't leave him room to speak.

Bam—

The gunshot echoed on the hilltop, not loud, quickly drowned out by the clamor of the battlefield.

Barzani's body swayed, falling forward, heavily hitting the dust.

Blood streamed from the bullet hole in his temple, swiftly soaking the dry earth.

His eyes remained open, staring into the Kurdish sky, but the light in them had completely extinguished.

This once-powerful high-ranking officer ended his life in the most traditional way, concluding his ambitions.