Chapter 1857 - 1396: Who's Afraid of Whom in This World!

Kirkuk, Abu You's command headquarters.

The phone rang at three in the morning as the commander of the People's Mobilization Forces' Ninth Brigade was studying the map.

Hearing Samir's voice, he gestured for the others in the room to leave.

"Boss is still alive." Samir said bluntly, "He's with me now."

Abu You tightened his grip on the receiver.

"The Americans are hunting for him everywhere. There're a lot of rumors outside, saying the boss is dead."

"That's what they wish. Listen, I need you in Mosul right now, bring your most trusted people."

"The Americans are monitoring all roads."

"Take the old path, through the Hamlin Mountain Area. Have your deputy make a public appearance in Kirkuk, you leave secretly."

Abu You paused for a moment.

"What's Boss planning? A major operation?"

"To change the game." Samir said, "You'll understand once you come. Oh, bring Jiang Feng along, isn't he in Elbil? Contact him, let him come to you, and then come together, Boss wants to see him."

The call ended.

Abu You stared at the map for half a minute before calling his adjutant.

"Prepare two unmarked Land Cruisers, fill them up, equip extra fuel tanks. Pick six absolutely reliable people. We leave in an hour."

"Where to, sir?"

"Mosul."

"Yes, sir!"

After the adjutant left, he immediately called Jiang Feng.

"Boss is alive, I need to go see him." Abu You cut straight to the point, "He wants to see you."

Jiang Feng's breath quickened, "Where is he?"

"He's in Mosul. We have to move quietly, there're many American spies."

At four in the morning, two off-road vehicles left Kirkuk, headlights off, heading northwest along the old mountain path.

The road winds between barren hills, with only a few scattered villages of Kurd shepherds along the way.

Abu You chose this route because it avoids all checkpoints and regular patrol routes of US Army drones.

The journey takes six hours.

Along the way, Jiang Feng kept checking his gear.

Rifle, pistol, night vision goggles, explosives.

Though Jiang Feng didn't speak, Abu You knew if Song Heping does anything, Jiang Feng would stand up and support him without hesitation.

"What do you think Boss will do under the current circumstances?" Abu You suddenly asked.

Jiang Feng didn't answer immediately.

He looked out at the passing rocks and dry grass, finally said, "My old squad leader won't run. That's not his style."

"Then he will..." Abu You looked at Jiang Feng with curiosity.

"Counterattack." Jiang Feng said calmly, "And it'll be deadly."

Mosul outskirts, Tenth Division camp, six in the evening.

When Abu You and Jiang Feng arrived, Song Heping was standing with Samir at a table, studying the map.

Seeing them come in, Song Heping went up to embrace the two.

"How bad is the situation?"

Abu You asked while accepting the water Samir handed over.

Song Heping summarized the situation in ten minutes.

When he heard about the plan to surround the US Military Base, Abu You reacted similarly to Samir, almost dropping the cup in his hand.

Shock.

Then disbelief.

"You're crazy, Boss. This could trigger the Third Gulf War!" His eyes widened.

"It won't." Song Heping repeated his analysis told to Samir, "Because they don't dare. The 'Seeder' plan scandal, once exposed, is enough to send half of the high officials in the White House to prison. And Hillary Clinton, forget her presidential dreams. As for the generals and intelligence officers involved in the plan back then? They're looking at a military tribunal. These people only have one choice, negotiate with me, then cover it all up."

He pulled up satellite photos of the Joint Operations Team Base.

"Inside the base are 120 US Special Forces members, about 30 'Witness' agents, along with some civilian and logistics personnel. The walls are strong, but not fortress standard. They have no tanks, only a few armored Hummers and two helicopters."

"We do." Samir interjected, "Two mechanized infantry battalions, one tank battalion, also artillery support. Abu You, how many people can you bring?"

Abu You walked to the map, thinking.

"I can mobilize three mechanized infantry battalions, about 1,200 people. Plus anti-tank teams and snipers. But if we are to completely surround the base, we need at least 3,000 people, also need to establish an outer defense line to prevent reinforcement from the US Army in Baghdad."

"The US Army response team in Baghdad would take at least three hours to arrive."

Jiang Feng suddenly spoke, his finger pointing to several key intersections on the map.

"If we set up roadblocks here, here and here, equipped with anti-armor weapons, we can block them, and they don't have many troops in Illiguo now, can only rely on the government army."

Speaking, he looked at Samir.

Samir smiled, "I am the government army, and the largest in the Northwest Region."

Song Heping nodded.

"What we need is to show power, not really to start a war. If the Americans see 3,000 fully armed soldiers surrounding their base, with tank barrels aimed at the gate, they'll understand the game has changed. By then, the door to negotiation will truly be open."

"And Milosh and the others?" Abu You asked.

"Once we control the base, immediately rescue them." Song Heping's gaze turned cold, "If the Americans are smart, they won't resist. If they do..."