Chapter 719 - 660: Pie in the Sky

"What are you planning to do next?"

After hanging up the phone, Song Heping found Samir and asked directly, "I'm already prepared to go to war with the CIA."

It was already the early morning.

Most people were asleep.

Coming out from Imu village, everyone moved southward.

The south was close to the Saudi area.

Samir and his troops were currently active in this area, some of their territory adjacent to Siria.

The I5I5 organization particularly despised Samir and wanted to eliminate him quickly because they needed to control the entire western part of Illiguo.

This area bordered Siria, similar to the border between two countries like Aba.

Extremist armed forces, illegal armed groups, whatever the country, prefer to operate in border regions.

Terrorist organizations need the right environment to thrive.

The border is their assurance of survival.

If they are overpowered, they flee.

This principle is never wrong.

"I'm a bit confused right now..."

Samir's emotions had not yet stabilized.

His losses tonight had been significant.

Apart from the troops he led, the other two branch bases were also attacked.

One of them was completely wiped out.

The other lost more than half of its forces.

What he found even harder to accept was that the I5I5 armed group had resorted to massacring villages, wiping clean two villages that supported the People's Power Armed Forces.

Decapitation is what they are best at.

It seems that in their doctrine, cutting off the enemy's head not only deters the enemy but also severs their souls.

"For now, I can't think of what to do..."

Seeing his former employee in such a sorry state, Song Heping couldn't help his anger rising.

"Samir, you've been with me so long, don't you even know how to handle this situation? You think you're facing a dead end, facing just an I5I5 armed force, what about me? My opponent is the CIA, should I go kill myself then?"

"You're different…"

Samir, tugging at his hair, sat on the carpet with his head bowed, lacking even the courage to look up at Song Heping.

"The more desperate the situation, the more indestructible courage is needed. Don't we all have one head, two hands, and two legs? Just do it. Besides, the situation now is not yet lost; I5I5 also lost quite a bit of manpower tonight."

Song Heping sat down in front of him, then reached out to take the teapot, pouring a cup for him and for himself.

"From now on, you should immediately contact the forces you can command and declare war on I5I5. My men will assist you, not only that, I've also contacted Persia, they will provide some help at crucial times."

"Persia side?"

"Yes."

Song Heping said, "You remember Avanti, right?"

"He's willing to help?"

Samir was quite shocked.

"Of course, he is willing," Song Heping said. "The CIA covertly supports the I5I5 armed group, and it's not just to target you, my brother. I'm reluctant to say words that hurt you, but this is the reality, you're not yet qualified enough to make the CIA's Secret Action Department expend a great deal of manpower and resources to support an armed organization against you."

Samir was slightly embarrassed to hear this.

Being considered an enemy is actually a source of pride.

If one is not even worthy of being an opponent, it is also a kind of humiliation.

"But since their rise, they have continuously sought to eliminate us. Before your arrival, there have been many conflicts between I5I5 armed forces and us."

Samir tried to save some face.

Song Heping was actually provoking him on purpose.

Samir, acting stubborn, needed his spirit aroused.

The best way to arouse someone's fighting spirit is to further trample on their self-esteem, igniting their anger.

As expected, everything went as he had foreseen.

Song Heping, sipping his tea, said in a calm tone, "They want to get rid of you because you stand in their way of controlling the western region. Without eliminating you, they can't control the entire northwest. And the CIA isn't thinking of dealing with you; their ultimate goal isn't even me, I just happened to be involved."

Samir hastily asked, "Then what is their goal?"

"To break the Persians' 'Arc of Resistance' strategy," Song Heping said. "If Avanti's strategy succeeds, it means the collapse of the Western order led by the Americans, and for the Persians themselves, it would mean breaking free from the sanctions noose the Americans have had around their necks since '79. That's something the Americans absolutely cannot allow. Do you understand now what I meant by my earlier words? You, me, we are not their final targets; Avanti is, so he will definitely help."

Samir was not prepared for the deep background behind this attack.

Song Heping's words took him a while to digest.

The more he contemplated, the more it made sense.

Originally, British and French colonizers, after World War I, devised the intricate "impossible triangle" which laid the groundwork for a century of bloodshed and turmoil in the Middle East.

The so-called impossible triangle refers to those with military power lacking public will, those with public will lacking modernity, and those with modernity lacking military power.

This impossible triangle shaped the sharp social contradictions of the major countries in the East and compounded with Israel deeply wedged into the core region of the Middle East after World War II, thus, the Western powers always had an excuse to interfere in the Middle East affairs.

But the Americans completely failed to foresee the consequences they brought about after the Gulf War, in the seemingly endless wars and turmoils where people couldn't make a living, the fragile social structure carefully designed by the British and French colonizers completely collapsed, and the process of self-reconstruction in a de-structured society is precisely the process of deeply resolving social conflicts.

If Persia, Illiguo, and Siria could fight side by side and unite against the colonizers, a "Resistance Arc" would be formed.

Once formed, it would mark a historical turning point, and the "impossible triangle" structure built by Western countries here would collapse swiftly.

"You speak as if it makes some sense..."

Samir's eyes gradually began to brighten.

In the two years since leaving Song Heping's company, he had exhausted his energy to organize this armed force, but he slowly felt like a ship that had entered the vast ocean yet lost its direction.

He didn't know which way to go.

The new rulers of Illiguo didn't like them.

The local armed forces in Illiguo didn't fully support them either.

Even the newly formed military of Illiguo had their opinion, thinking their "self-reliance" program was very naive with no feasibility.

And as for the allied forces led by the US Army stationed here, they didn't even deign to give them a proper look.

Over the past two years, Samir could only rely on local tribes and some public support; at his most destitute times, even the most basic equipment and weapons were gifts given to them by sympathetic tribal militias or individuals within the government army.

Song Heping's analysis gave him a glimpse of light in the dark night.

Perhaps cooperating with the Persians was a path to victory.

"Boss, what do you need me to do?"

He finally understood.

Song Heping was his lifeline.

Through Song Heping, his armed forces could obtain support from Persia.

This in turn would clear the way to the northern regions bordering Persia, forming a real "Resistance Arc" and becoming a part of it.

"First gather your troops, then assemble and wait for my message. I estimate in about three days, I'll organize a counterattack against I5I5. At that time, my local Mercenary Corps and your forces will cooperate, even with our insiders within the government army, and Avanti will also be involved. Then, we will strike a heavy blow to I5I5. Isn't this the best chance for your revenge?"

Song Heping's words were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly dispelling Samir's previous disheartenment.

But soon after, he thought of another matter, and his uplifted mood dissipated like the retreating tide.

"I can still gather more than a thousand men, but the problem is..."

He said, furrowing his eyebrows.

"I'm running low on weapons and ammunition. Tonight, an I5I5 armed attack destroyed our two bases, where the already scant weapons and ammunition were stored, and they took everything..."

"Hahaha!"

Song Heping couldn't help but laugh.

"You're asking the right person, don't forget what business I'm in."

Samir blurted out: "Defense, and... arms dealing!"

Song Heping said, "I have three weapons depots in Illiguo full of light and medium weapons, all leftover Soviet arms and ammunition from the previous government forces. Originally, they were meant to be sold to South America. Equipping your thousand men will be a breeze. I have already considered this issue. Since I support you against I5I5, I will give you enough support. Later on, I'll help you get some funds from Avanti's side. Think about it, in the coming years, won't the western territories of Illiguo all be yours?"

This huge pie was so tempting, Samir was almost drooling.

He almost kneeled before Song Heping.

To know, after two years of confusion, listening to this conversation tonight was better than fighting for several years.

Without Song Heping's arrival, the People's Power Armed Force might just languish, eventually being swallowed by other similar armed organizations like I5I5, then becoming history.

Now Song Heping had clearly pointed out a development path, and upon closer examination, it was highly feasible.

He was truly a guiding light!

"Boss! You will always be my boss!"

Samir expressed his deepest gratitude awkwardly.

"Don't be so excited, we are at least host and guest here. Plus, this time I5I5's armed attack on my company caused huge losses, not to mention giving the military an excuse to cancel my contract. I am someone who takes revenge immediately, and this is also for myself."

Song Heping patted Samir's shoulder, stood up, and said: "Don't sit here fretting, it won't solve anything. Go, find your people, bring your guns, and prepare to do something big with me."

"Okay!"

Samir exclaimed excitedly: "When do we start the operation?"

"Don't rush, if we're going to take revenge, we need to find where their lair is. Do you know where the headquarters of the I5I5 armed group is?"

"I don't know."

Samir said: "They, like us, are mobile and do not stay in one place for long, usually, it's very difficult for us to find each other. This time, it's probably because the Americans used their reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities that they provided Baghdadi with precise information to strike our locations."

"So hold off on your urgency. The CIA secretly supports the I5I5 organization, they must know the location of their camps. Give me some time, maybe 48 hours, maybe 72 hours, but I will definitely find an answer."