Chapter 1783 - 1369: The Northwest King's Return (Part 2)

"He arrived in Hulmatu yesterday with a few staff officers, saying he was 'getting familiar with the situation in advance.'"

Song Heping's eyebrow moved almost imperceptibly.

Naxin's early arrival was both a gesture from the Persian side to show "active cooperation," and an unspoken pressure and surveillance.

Such is the demeanor of the Persians.

Arrogant, sensitive, and somewhat suspicious.

Jiang Feng hesitated for a moment, but then spoke: "Old squad leader, I have a question, not sure if I should ask. I'm a bit apprehensive."

"Go ahead!" Song Heping's tone was relaxed: "What can't be said between us?"

"Over the past two years, we've used the existence of 1515 to maneuver among Baghdad, Tehran, and even the Americans to establish a foothold. Now, to suddenly make a serious move, to decisively clear them out… isn't it a bit hasty? Once we remove this thorn, won't our value in the eyes of some decrease?"

The armored vehicle drove through a relatively intact street, and there were even a few stores open for business at the roadside, their signs covered with thick dust.

Song Heping's gaze swept over these ordinary scenes struggling for survival, and he was silent for a moment.

Inside the vehicle, there was only the low hum of the air conditioning and the rustling sound of the tires rolling over the road surface.

"Jiang Feng, look at that hardware store."

Song Heping pointed outside and said: "If there's always a sword hanging over the head, one that could fall at any moment, the store owner can't do business without worry, and customers wouldn't dare to enter. Over time, the store either closes down or turns into an armed stronghold."

He turned back, looking at his most trusted deputy and old comrade:

"1515 is that sword. Before, it hung over others' heads, and we could use that fear to balance all sides, gaining our space and influence to survive. But now, the rope holding the sword is about to break, or the person holding the sword has gone mad, swinging it wildly, and that changes its nature."

"He pointed at the tablet, last month's car bomb attack in Baghdad's Karrada commercial district killed 292 people and injured over three hundred, many of them women and children. This is not a battlefield engagement, but a terrorist massacre against civilians. Although we are a PMC, we also have our limits."

He sighed and continued:

"More importantly, the situation has changed. It's a fact that 1515's controlled territories are shrinking. But from Tikrit to Raqqa in Syria, they are transitioning from a 'quasi-state' armed force seizing territories to a more covert and dispersed global terrorist network. The terror attacks they launched in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa are proof. Keeping them in this important stronghold of Tikrit is like leaving an inflamed wound unaddressed, only allowing the toxins to spread throughout the body."

"By then, whether it's the Baghdad government, Tehran, or Washington, none will have the patience to play the balancing game any longer. They will either get involved personally, escalating the situation beyond control or treat any force still entangled with 1515 as an obstacle to be removed."

Jiang Feng listened, his eyes gradually becoming sharp and clear.

He understood the unspoken meaning in Song Heping's words.

The initiative must be in their own hands, to complete this "debridement" before all parties completely lose patience and prepare for a larger-scale "operation."

This is not just about executing orders, but also about survival, to protect the hard-earned foundation established in the past two years.

In fact, he didn't know that Song Heping had a more important motive.

He couldn't tell Jiang Feng that this time, he was on a mission received from back home.

"So, we're not the sword in someone else's hand, right?" Jiang Feng said slowly: "But the hand wielding the scalpel, performing the surgery ourselves."

"Exactly."

Song Heping didn't want to continue this topic, so he asked:

"With Duke's side, is everything arranged?"

"Yes, for tomorrow afternoon."

"Great, I'll go to Baghdad to meet him then."

After saying this, Song Heping closed his eyes to rest.

He felt himself continuously evolving towards being a professional politician.

Now, he couldn't even be entirely truthful with his most trusted Jiang Feng.

He disliked it, but it was unavoidable.

What should and shouldn't be said must be clear in his mind.

The vehicle bumped along the roads, pockmarked with craters and repair patches, passing through checkpoint after checkpoint manned by various armed groups.

At these checkpoints, the driver only needed to briefly show a special pass issued to "Musician" Defense by the Illiguo government, and the barriers would promptly be lifted.

This "smoothness" in transit was not due to overt displays of force but rather a rule known as "the victor is king."

Song Heping and his "Musician" Defense company were now a prestigious name in Illiguo today.

Everyone knew not to mess with this Lord Dong, hailed as the "Northwest King," on Illiguo's soil.

The vehicle continued heading towards Hulmatu, quickly leaving behind the outskirts of Baghdad.

At eight in the evening, Song Heping walked into the Hulmatu Command Headquarters.

Beside the long conference table, three key figures were already seated.

"Gentlemen."

Song Heping stood at the front of the conference room, the red dot of a laser pointer falling on the center of the map of Tikrit on the display screen.

"I believe you are all well aware of the situation with 1515, perhaps even more so than I am. Let's skip the formalities. The stinger nailed in Illiguo must now be completely uprooted."

He glanced around the room, and wherever his eyes fell, Samir and Abu You involuntarily straightened their backs, while Naxin gave a slight nod to show attention.

"Boss," Abu You spoke first: "How is this different from the last time we attacked Titrick? Besides a tighter schedule and more fortified enemy defenses."

Song Heping did not shy away.

"Last time we didn't have the manpower and resources we do now. If we had fought 1515 to the bitter end at that time, it's not that we couldn't have won, but winning would have left us with internal injuries. This time is different; you all are much improved."

He switched the screen to display a clear deployment map of encirclement on all four sides.

"Northern line, Samir."

The red dot moved northward.

"Your Tenth Division, push from Alam, lock down Highway 1, and block their northern escape route to Mosul. I need your troops to demonstrate the discipline and efficiency of a regular army."

Samir stared at the map, nodding firmly: "Understood, Boss. Controlling the road network is no problem; I know every inch of land there. But we need to strengthen our engineer and anti-armor capabilities to deal with their IEDs and car bombs."

"I'll provide support." Song Heping agreed, moving the red dot east: "Main attack on the eastern line. Abu You, your Kurd mechanized division will serve as the spearhead, tearing through their outer defenses from Samara."

"No problem." Abu You agreed without hesitation: "But I need at least 24 hours of uninterrupted firepower preparation to precisely take out all identified hard targets. Also, the coordination frequency, identification signals, and advance boundaries with friendly forces must be absolutely clear to avoid further friendly fire incidents."

"You can rest assured on this; I will personally coordinate from the joint command post."

Song Heping looked at Jiang Feng.

"Southern line."

The red dot moved down along the river.

"Our 'Musician' Defense's two elite assault battalions will infiltrate along the southern bank of the Tigris River, clearing out strongholds, establishing fire points, and watching over important bridges and roads."

"Western line."

The red dot finally landed on the expansive desert area.

"Naxin, this is the most crucial link. The Holy City Brigade must establish a mobile blockade west of Tikrit to prevent them from breaking up and slipping into Syria."

Naxin slowly raised his head to look at Song Heping, his expression complex, and said: "Mr. Song, the western line's blockade requires air superiority that can cover the entire operation. But our Holy City Brigade units in Illiguo are all infantry units; surely you don't expect me to go back to Tehran to request aircraft? If we ask the Americans for help, will they purposely play tricks again this time, deliberately delaying support and letting us waste our forces?"

The question cut to the core.

This was something Song Heping had experience with.

Song Heping guaranteed: "This is the promise I must obtain tomorrow in the Green Zone. Without the commitment of continuous, region-wide aerial monitoring and strikes, the plan lacks foundation. This is also the precondition for all of us sitting here. Of course, our 'Musician' company can also provide aerial surveillance, because I have a drone squadron here in Hulmatu that can provide effective battlefield intelligence and even some air support."

"Then there's no problem," Naxin said: "I only trust you; I don't trust the Americans."

"What about the operation timetable?" Jiang Feng asked.

"One week of preparation, two weeks of assault, and one week of clearance and consolidation. Within a month, Tikrit must be fully liberated."

Song Heping's tone was unequivocal.

"Then the troops will advance eastward without resting, to cooperate with the government army to take Ozham, completely eradicating 1515."