This eting room is not particularly spacious, but every detail exudes the Empire's heritage and authority.
The dark mahogany table gleams, massive oil paintings depicting historical battles hang on the walls, and thick velvet curtains drape down, isolating the room from outside disturbances.
The air is filled with a peculiar scent of disinfectant mixed with cigar smoke, faint but distinct.
The table is long, oval, and white.
At the end of the long table sit three figures capable of influencing the Kremlin's decisions.
Among them, one I've t before, was the Petrovich I encountered at the manor; here, his position on the left indicates he's not leading.
Next to him is a middle-aged man with ticulously combed hair and gold-rimd glasses—Advisor Ivanov, known for his sharpness and pragmatism, according to the materials Song Heping had seen.
On the right, a military man with stars adorning his epaulets, the top figure from the Ministry of Defense, Zhaoyi Valley.
The middle position is vacant, unoccupied.
An electronic screen hangs on the wall, displaying a massive map of the Middle East.
The borders and territories of Siria, Persia, and Illiguo are clearly visible.
No customary pleasantries, not even a perfunctory exchange of glances.
When Song Heping sat down at the designated spot at the other end of the long table, he felt three pairs of eyes as cold and precise as scalpels, seemingly set to dissect him from skin to bone with precision.
"Mr. Song."
Petrovich was the first to speak, his voice unusually clear in the spacious room.
"Ti is precious. Please begin your presentation."
He made a brief gesture, indicating that the electronic map in the corner of the room was ready.
Song Heping glanced at the vacant middle position.
He felt that there should be soone there.
Otherwise, Petrovich wouldn't sit on the left.
Perhaps…
That person is in the shadows?
Given his status, if my subsequent explanations lack persuasion, I probably won't even have the chance for a eting.
But now, there's no ti to think further.
He took a deep breath, suppressing all stray thoughts in his mind.
He stood up, moving steadily to the map, and t the three decision-makers' gaze calmly.
He knew that any hint of timidity or hesitation could render all previous efforts for naught.
"Honorable Mr. Petrovich, Advisor Ivanov, General Zhaoyi Valley,"
his voice was not loud but was exceptionally stable, carrying calmness and determination.
"Thank you all for giving this opportunity in your busy schedules. Please allow to skip all unnecessary embellishnts and dive straight into the core."
He operated the map, displaying a clear map of Northern Illiguo and Syria, densely marked with red dots representing the 1515 Ard's areas of control, a shocking sight.
"The current situation in the Middle East is at a delicate and dangerous turning point. The frantic expansion and brutal rule of 1515 in Northwest Illiguo are not only a massive threat to regional stability but also directly undermine Russia's strategic interests in the region—including but not limited to the security of energy corridors, geopolitical influence, and support for allies like Persia and the Syria Hafez regi."
Advisor Ivanov slightly leaned back, fingers interlocking on the table, his gaze sharp behind the lenses: "Directly, Mr. Song. We are well aware of the dangers of 1515. Your 'Liberation Forces,' to our limited knowledge, aren't very large, and your background is... rather complex. What makes you think you can be the key to solving this issue?"
"Because we are the only ard forces on the ground in Nineveh Province proven repeatedly capable of effectively hitting and defeating the main forces of 1515, unlike the Kurd people, who rely on air support yet continue to retreat, or the demoralized Iliko Governnt Army."
Song Heping's answer ca without hesitation. He switched the map display, showing key battle records of the "Liberation Forces" in recent tis.
"The US Army and its allies' airstrikes have limited effect and cannot eliminate the ground threat. What we need to do is combine this ground combat capability with stronger resources."
He switched the map again, displaying his proposed cooperation model diagram.
"So, my proposal for 'limited cooperation' with the Aricans is by no ans a compromise or surrender but a highly realistic strategy. By using their funds, intelligence, and so weapons and equipnt, together with our ground troops who are familiar with the terrain and fight tenaciously, we can eradicate 1515 forces on the Nineveh Plain and even larger areas as quickly and with the least cost."
The Ministry of Defense's Zhaoyi Valley snorted coldly: "It sounds good. But the result is that the Arican power returning to Northern Illigo gets strengthened. What do we get, apart from the promise to ease pressure on the Syrian front? This, Mr. Song, sounds more like leveraging Moscow's acquiescence for your own, perhaps Tehran's, risky gain. Ultimately, the biggest beneficiary might be the Persians, who've always wanted Northwest Illigo as a stepping stone into Syria."
This was the most severe doubt raised, directly pointing to the core issue of interest distribution in cooperation.
Song Heping t General Kuznetsov's scrutinizing gaze without fear, drawing a clear trajectory on the map—from Western Persia, across Northern Illigo, reaching Syria's diterranean coast.
"No, General Kuznetsov. What you see is only the surface."
His tone was firm, "Please allow to point out that the ultimate byproduct of all these actions, or rather, their strategic value—will be the opening of this crucial land corridor connecting the Persian Plateau and the Eastern diterranean! Once 1515 is eliminated, this corridor will be under the actual control of our 'Liberation Forces.'"
He pointed heavily at the position of Nineveh Province: "My ard forces are not a vassal of Tehran. We are an independent political military force seeking space for survival and developnt. Our cooperation with Tehran is based on common interests, but by no ans subordinate. By our control of this corridor, Russia's influence will be able to penetrate the north coast of the Persian Gulf at the lowest cost and in the most direct way, ensuring that the Hafez governnt you support in Syria won't face threats from ard forces from the east because occupying the eastern territories and attacking the western coastal cities of Syria and Damascus would face threats from us behind them."
He paused to let this prospect sink into the hearts of the three decision-makers, then continued, emphasizing: "The power structure in Northern Illigo will inevitably be reshuffled post-war. With our 'Liberation Forces' firmly rooted in this strategic position, Russia has a much more reliable and flexible pivot than relying on the capricious Baghdad regi or the variously motivated Kurd people! Compared to directly confronting the US and its supported opposition groups in Syria, this costs much less, yet the strategic gains might be greater!"
Advisor Ivanov leaned forward slightly, fingers gently tapping on the table: "A very tempting blueprint, Mr. Song. But the risks are equally significant. First, how can you guarantee that the Aricans will cooperate with you as you wish? After all, you're on their blacklist, and they can completely choose to continue arming the Kurd people or even reach a temporary understanding with 1515 to deal with you. Second, how can you ensure that after obtaining Arican resources and legitimacy, you won't turn towards Washington? After all, their chips seem more substantial, at least enough to clear your na. Third and most importantly, how will you explain to Tehran about your collaboration with their strategic enemy?"
These questions were sharper each ti, each targeting the feasibility and potential risks of the plan.
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