Chapter 1757 - 1361: Parliamentary Winds

The news of Barzani's defeat and suicide was like a giant stone thrown into a tranquil lake, causing ripples in the power circles of Baghdad far beyond an ordinary military victory.

In the hall of the Illiguo Council the next morning, the air was filled with a subtle restlessness.

In the corridors, the council members gathered in twos and threes, their voices subdued, yet their eyes unusually bright—the instinctive reaction of politicians sensing a shift in the balance of power.

In the office of the Sunni caucus on the second floor of the parliament, the heavy oak door was tightly closed, with soundproof materials blocking all sounds inside and out.

Inside, five core Sunni members of parliament sat around the mahogany conference table left over from Sadam's era.

Scattered on the table were documents, teacups, and ashtrays, with smoke slowly rising in the sunlight streaming through the blinds.

"The news is one hundred percent confirmed."

Qadir, the parliament member responsible for security affairs, pushed the intelligence summary in his hand across the table, tapping it with his fingertips.

"I verified it through three independent channels. Barzani's body was found yesterday evening on a hill three kilometers from the Nasur Fortress, shot in the temple, with a CZ75 by his side—his personal firearm."

Hashimi took off his rimless glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with a velvet cloth.

This action gave him time to think.

He was the de facto leader of the Sunni in the council, fifty-three years old, lean, always dressed in a neat English suit, looking more like an Oxford University professor than an Illiguo politician.

But those who knew him understood that beneath the scholar's exterior was a master of political survival who had emerged unscathed from events like the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and the rise of 1515.

"Casualty figures?"

Hashimi put his glasses back on, looking at Qadir through the lenses.

"On the rebel side, about two thousand dead, more than four thousand wounded, with most of the rest captured."

Qadir recited the numbers.

"On the government side... or rather, the Alliance Army under Song Heping, the deaths were less than five hundred."

Sounds of gasping were heard in the office.

"A one to four casualty ratio."

Zayed, the tribal representative from Anbar Province, muttered: "These numbers are too exaggerated..."

"It's not just about the casualty ratio."

Intelligence committee member Jassim interjected: "The key is the speed of the collapse of fighting will. From the time news of Barzani's suicide broke to the organized surrender, it was less than three hours. What does this mean? It means..."

He paused, scanning those present: "Song Heping's psychological warfare and encirclement tactics were completely effective. This man is a formidable character."

Hashimi stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, the Tigris River glistened with muddy yellow in the afternoon sun, and across the river were buildings destroyed in the war of 2003, still not fully repaired.

Those ruins symbolized the nation's metaphor—the surface-level war had ended, but the deep-seated wounds had never healed.

"And, most importantly, this."

Qadir pulled a record from the folder.

"Within two hours of the victory, Old Masud, chairman of the Kurd Autonomous Region committee, communicated with Song Heping via an encrypted line. According to reliable intelligence, Masud promised to mobilize all political resources of the Kurd people in the council to fully support the motion to incorporate Samir's forces as the Defense Army's Border Defense Tenth Division."

The air in the office seemed to freeze.

"The Kurd people have sided with that Lord Dong." Hashimi's voice was light, his gaze sweeping over the others present: "What this means, I don't need to elaborate, do I?"

Zayed slammed a fist heavily on the table, causing the coffee cups to clatter:

"So we just abandon our previous position? Watch the government form another division, one that is under the actual control of that Lord Dong? Do you not know where the Border Defense Tenth Division will be stationed once it's established? It will control Anbar Province, Nineveh Province, and Salah al-Din Province!"

"Calm down, Zayed."

Hashimi turned around, his face expressionless.

"Politics is not about sulking; it's about calculating interests."

He walked back to the table, pausing for a moment before slowly speaking:

"Let's analyze the situation. First, the proposal to incorporate Samir's forces was something the Shiye Sect-led government originally wanted. Why? Because Samir's 'Liberation Forces' are currently, apart from the government army and the Kurd Armed, the most combat-effective non-regular military force in Illiguo. Over eight thousand men, relatively well-equipped, battle-experienced, and controlling important transportation lines from Mosul to Kirkuk to Tikrit."

"Secondly, why did we oppose it before? Because once this force is incorporated by the government, it would likely be used to suppress us Sunni Sect—especially in traditional Sunni areas like Anbar Province and Nineveh Province. This is a reasonable concern."

Hashimi shifted his tone: "But the situation has changed. First, the Kurd people fully support this motion. Although they have 'relatively limited' seats in the council, don't forget that in crucial issues, their votes often decide the outcome. Secondly, and most critically, although the actual controller of this new force is Song Heping operating behind the scenes, I would like to ask, is he a threat to us?"

"As far as I understand, Song Heping is a very independent person, never manipulated by others, and only has a cooperative relationship with the Persians, never a vassal."

He looked around at everyone: "Do you genuinely believe Song Heping would allow a force he nurtured to become a tool for the Shiye Sect to suppress the Sunni Sect? I personally think he has no interest in getting involved in Illiguo's internal political struggles, and even less interest in our conflicts with the Shiye Sect. Remember, Lord Dong are all atheists; they do not have our religious historical concepts, nor do they share our historical grievances."