The first night at the camp in northern Illiguo, Song Heping didn't sleep well.
The situation here was beyond his expectations.
Before coming, Song Heping had looked at so recent situations in Illiguo collected by Henry, and knew it was very bad here.
It's been half a year since he last left, and unexpectedly, the 1515 ard group had rapidly expanded like a malignant tumor in these short six months. Now it has swallowed up most of the land in northwest Illiguo, and is continually advancing towards Baghdad.
Wherever they went, the governnt army was defeated instantly, the militias had little resistance, and even the northern Kurd Ard occupied areas have lost so territory. The important oil-producing areas in the northwest have basically fallen into the hands of 1515.
Even more frightening is that this guy Baghdadi actually announced the establishnt of the "Levant" state, calling for similar perverted extremists worldwide to join his camp. His speeches are very alluring. According to information provided by Henry, more than ten thousand people have quietly entered Siria and Illiguo from various channels to join the 1515 ard forces just in the past six months.
Even so Western naive people surprisingly would be bewitched, coming here to "dedicate" themselves to these extremists.
If in the past, Song Heping still looked down on soone like Baghdadi, he now has to reconsider the demon he is about to face.
After studying the map and situation until three in the morning, Song Heping finally fell into a deep sleep on his simple field bed.
For such an environnt, Song Heping didn't mind.
People from the Special Forces have extrely strong adaptability to environnts.
A bed, a al, and clean water, that's heaven.
When the cold dawn pierced through the thin clouds, barely illuminating the deep valley where the "Liberation Army" camp was located, and the sun slowly peeked from the east, Song Heping's biological clock woke him up on ti.
Just opening his eyes on the simple field bed, and even before he could stretch his limbs, the tent's flap was suddenly lifted open.
Samir's face, full of anxiety, peeked in, breathing heavily:
"Boss! Sothing big happened! At dawn, those 1515 bastards suddenly went crazy!"
Song Heping instantly woke up, all traces of sleep gone from his eyes, hurriedly asked, "Explain! What happened?"
"Haddid! They are fiercely attacking Haddid!"
Samir's voice held a faint tremble, "Our hidden sentries outside the city reported a massive wave of black flags coming from the west, from the direction of Baghdadi, and from the south, from Ramadi. Pickup trucks, ard trucks, and seized armored vehicles! The number... the observation post estimates at least ten thousand! Like a black tide, since morning, they've been crazily shelling the city, seems like they're about to launch an attack!"
Haddid?
Isn't that the key town leading to Baghdad?
Song Heping is very familiar with it.
After Haddid is Titrick, and if 1515 breaks through Titrick, they could reach the edge of the Baghdad area.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as troops approaching the city.
Song Heping's eyes narrowed.
Ten thousand!
Damn, this 1515 is really putting everything into it, wanting to swallow this thorn stuck in their throat!
"How many troops are left in Haddid?"
He quickly asked Samir.
Samir said, "Only the remnants of the governnt army plus the 'National Movent' people, at best just over three thousand! The firepower is not on the sa level at all! The sound of cannons and explosions can be heard from tens of kiloters away! Haddid... probably won't hold for long!"
"What do you plan to do?"
Song Heping quickly put on his desert camo, grabbed the Glock pistol on the table and inserted it into the quick-draw holster.
"We must save it!"
Samir said resolutely, "Haddid cannot be lost! If it's lost, 1515 will continue to push east. Once they take Titrick, it ans we beco an isolated island, cut off from the north, south, east, and west, severed from other ard forces and the governnt army. More importantly, once they capture Baghdad, Illiguo's morale will completely collapse! I've already sent people to urgently contact the leaders of all nearby resistance organizations we can still reach, asking them to co to the camp for a eting imdiately! To discuss together how to support Haddid city! Boss, I need you to co forward, give them confidence! Tell them, we have support and equipnt on the way!"
Song Heping pondered for a mont, then nodded: "Alright. Gather them as quickly as possible."
At nine in the morning, the bonfire in the center of the valley hollow was rekindled, driving away the morning chill.
However, the atmosphere around the bonfire was even colder than the morning air.
The leaders of the "nearby all resistance organizations" that Samir ntioned, only seven showed up.
These people were either wrapped in thick headscarves or wearing disheveled military uniforms, faces full of travel fatigue and deep worry, unshaven, eyes wary, constantly examining their surroundings—especially Song Heping sitting next to Samir and the eleven silent Persian "Sand Fox" special team mbers behind him.
Once everyone was present, the guards brought hot tea.
Samir stood by the bonfire, excitent written on his face, waving his arms, spittle flying as he analyzed the severity of the situation:
"...Brothers! Haddid is our lifeline! Once it is breached, 1515's next target is sure to be Haddid! Once Haddid is lost, Baghdad is exposed under 1515's blade! The distance is less than two hundred kiloters! With their current montum and equipnt, they could be at our city's gates in at most half a month! Think about it! Baghdad! The capital of our Illiguo! If even Baghdad is flying a black flag, what does that an?! It ans that this country, both legally and symbolically, will completely beco territory of that so-called 'Levant State' of 1515! It ans all of us will beco holess dogs, with no place to stand! All of our resistance will beco aningless!"
He looked around at the leaders present, trying to see the flas of shared enmity in their eyes.
But clearly the effect wasn't as good as he imagined.
The seven leaders sat by the fire, eyes indifferent, like fish caught and thrown onto the shore to dry for days.
Unwilling to give up, Samir adjusted his emotions and continued to urge, "We cannot sit and wait for death! We must unite! While Haddid is still in the hands of the governnt army and the 'National Movent', everyone focus your strength, harass 1515's rear from the outskirts, divert their forces! Give the defenders of Haddid ti! Wait... wait for international intervention!"
There was a bit of uncertainty in Samir's final words.
International intervention?
Who's intervening?
Though the Aricans have withdrawn their troops, so military bases and personnel are still exposed in Baghdad and so cities at the eastern ports.
But the 1515 organization has been developing crazily over the years, and they've turned a blind eye.
Rumor has it that the current leader of 1515, Buckdadi, was released by the Aricans from Guantanamo Base back then.
The relationship within this is even more deeply hidden.
Now there's talk that 1515 is linked to the U.S. intelligence agencies.
If this is true, then who can stop 1515?
All these years, since the Aricans entered Illiguo and overthrew Sadam, they've incidentally emasculated many Illiguo n.
Now everyone fears the Aricans.
On top of that, there's the abnormal 1515 organization.
Who can stop them?
Who dares to stop them?
Indeed, his words were greeted by an awkward silence.
A burly leader with a full beard, the "Chieftain" Abdul from a large nearby tribal militia, broke the silence first: "Brother Samir, we understand what you an. Haddid is important, and Baghdad even more so. But..."
He opened his coarse large hand, "Look at us here, what do we have? A few broken guns, a few hundred brothers. Three divisions of the governnt army couldn't hold 1515 for half a day in Mosul, how could we plug their teeth with what we have? That's ten thousand mad dogs! Well-equipped and fearless! They're lunatics daring to charge with bombs strapped on themselves, how do we fight..."
Another leader, thin and sharp-eyed, heading a smaller Shiite militia "Shield of God," Mustafa, interjected: "The Aricans? They've left this ss behind, and now 1515 has grown big, and they're lying far away! Their planes? Their Special Forces? Their ambiguous attitude is indulgence! Without direct intervention from the Aricans, rushing with our ager force is suicide! We'll exhaust the last of our seed in vain!"
"Yes, Chief Samir."
Another leader spoke, his tone cautious: "Our forces are too scattered, 1515 is towering now, if we rashly assemble, and they target the main force, the consequences are unimaginable. Better... Better to preserve our strength, let's see if Haddid can hold out on his own, and watch how the Aricans and international community react..."
Fear, suspicion, self-preservation, like cold poison snakes, entangled each leader's heart.
They hope Haddid can hold the ground, yet deeply understand their own insignificance, and fear becoming the next target of 1515's focus strike.
Samir's impassioned rhetoric appeared pale and helpless before this fear-induced reality, even sowhat comical.
Song Heping sat aside, coldly observing all this.
His sharp gaze swept across each leader's face, capturing their subtle changes in expressions—Abdul's helplessness and realistic consideration, Mustafa's excuse and dependency on external forces, the final speaker's self-preservation...
A scattered force, with hidden agendas.
Hoping for these people to unite against the mighty army of 1515?
Pure wishful thinking.
Even soone as strong as Song Heping couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
The decline of a nation begins from its individuals.
Waiting for foreign aid?
Clinging to a big power?
Waiting for international intervention...
Never thought about relying on oneself...
This reminded him of the transport captain of his holand before liberation.
Samir evidently sensed this suffocating negative atmosphere, with sweat beading on his forehead, he suddenly pulled up Song Heping: "Everyone! Let introduce! This is my boss, Mr. Song Heping! He brings powerful foreign aid! Musician Defense, have you heard of it? It's a famous defense company in Illiguo, now also strong in North Africa, he's a military genius and promises to help us! The first batch of high-quality equipnt, including night-vision devices, anti-tank missiles, sniper rifles, ample ammunition, will arrive within five days! Plus funding support worth one hundred million dollars! As long as we unite, we have hope!"
One hundred million dollars and military support, this news finally had so shock effect.
The crowd's attention instantly focused on Song Heping.
There was surprise, doubt, yet most of all a naked desire for "equipnt" and "funds".
However, at this mont, Mustafa from "Shield of God" squinted at Song Heping, closely scrutinizing, suddenly exclaid:
"Song Heping?! Wait... This na... and this face... I rember now!"
He pointed at Song Heping, his voice suddenly rising, with a trace of panic.
"You are... you are the 'Ghost' on the U.S.'s global wanted list! The one accused of planning several attacks in Afghan and Siria, a 'KB elent'! There's a reward of twenty-five million dollars!"
These words were like a splash of cold water in a boiling oil pan!
The scene instantly erupted in chaos!
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