The night in Hulmatu is dry and cold.
Song Heping leaned against the cold tal chair back, eyes closed, but his mind was racing at full speed.
On the screen, the progress bar for data interfacing with Simon had long disappeared.
The encrypted data package that integrated Colonel Kote's many "small moves" behind the scenes of the Pentagon and sensitive information on the brink of war cris was now, like a virus's spore, being fragnted, re-encrypted, and silently infiltrating the law-fortress-like servers in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands through anonymous nodes around the world.
This was his "dead man's switch."
If a fully ard B-2 or Predator drone bombed the soil of Hulmatu, this switch would be activated.
Pandora's box would explode open in the cyberspace; though it might not shake the foundation of the United States, it would definitely bring disgrace to Kote and his group, leaving the Pentagon in a ss and notorious in international opinion.
"Deterrence requires more than just the resolve for mutual destruction..."
Song Heping opened his eyes, a cold light flashing, "They must be made to understand that to touch , Song Heping, would cost not just a few shadowy docunts, but an earthquake in the entire Northwest Illinois, even a collapse on the Middle East chessboard!"
He needed to build a multidinsional defense system, a "triple lock" that would make the Aricans think twice before acting rashly.
"Go, call Commander Samir!"
He went to the door and instructed the guard.
Soon, Samir appeared in the command post.
"Boss, what's the matter this late?"
The late-night summon made Samir sure that this was no simple matter.
"You're familiar with the Northwest region, right?" Song Heping asked.
"Of course!" Samir quickly said, "I was born and raised here, and have been active here for years. Most of the soldiers are locals, so of course familiar..."
He quickly added, "Boss, you're asking because..."
"Which tribe in the Hulmatu region is the most powerful?"
"The tribe controlled by the Sadir family. They have an alliance that has lasted for thousands of years and is deeply rooted. Even the 1515 Ard has to show them respect, and even when the Aricans and the governnt army occupied here, they had to give them benefits to appease these ancient families."
Samir quickly provided the answer to prove that he was truly familiar with the area.
"Good."
Song Heping stood up, walked to a nearby table, took out paper and pen, and quickly penned a list, speaking as he wrote:
"I need you to do sothing, set off tonight, and go see the elder of the Sadir family, can you do it?"
"Their elder doesn't easily et outsiders... especially in such chaotic tis..."
Samir seed a bit hesitant.
Song Heping finished the list, walked over to Samir, and handed it to him: "These are my gifts, see if they can impress the elder of the Sadir family."
Samir glanced at the list, his eyes widened: "They can..."
The list included not just weapons but also dicine, and of course, US dollars.
These were the most precious things in chaotic tis.
"If so, then do it. Ti is tight." Song Heping said, "I need you to win over the Sadir family and their alliance to fully support us."
"Alright..."
With the list in hand, Samir felt more confident.
In Northwest Illinois, there's no tribe that can't be bought.
If they can't be bought, it's because the price isn't high enough.
"Then do it imdiately, don't waste ti here."
Song Heping waved his hand, urging him, "Rember, I want this done beautifully, and after it's done, appropriately let the word out to create montum, making all the tribes pledge their support for ."
"No problem! I'll definitely persuade him!"
Samir dared not delay.
When Song Heping said it was urgent, it must be truly urgent.
The boss's judgnt and decisions were always right.
This loyalty, Samir absolutely possessed.
Soon, he and his contacts familiar with the Sadir tribe took the heavy "sincerity" and, under the cover of darkness, stealthily infiltrated the most influential tribal settlent around Titrick.
Two hours later, a few SUVs drove near a village of the most powerful Al-Sadir tribe in Northwest Illinois.
The militia lurking in the dark erged and surrounded the vehicles.
Samir got out of the car, raised his hands, and shouted: "I am here to see your elder! The liaison has already inford him, he is waiting to et !"
The leading militia exchanged glances.
They had already been notified that a mysterious guest would be visiting the elder tonight.
What followed was a series of formalities—searching, checking, and then bringing out a black cloth band demanding Samir to blindfold himself...
The tent of Abdul Sadir, the highest leader and elder of the Sadir tribe, was hidden deep in a dried-up river valley, surrounded by dozens of tribal ard personnel carrying old rifles.
Samir was led blindfolded into the tent, and after untying the cloth, he adjusted to the dim light of the mutton oil lamp.
The tent was carpeted thick, with the air filled with rich aromas of spices and mint tea.
Abdul, the elder over sixty with a head full of white hair, sat in the main seat, his eyes cloudy yet shrewd from worldly experiences, surrounded by a few sons and key tribal figures, the atmosphere solemn.
With little exchange of pleasantries, Samir directly presented a gift list—
Enough weapons and ammunition to equip a company, a batch of urgently needed dicines, a set of small water purification equipnt, and fifty brand-new satellite phones, as well as a million in US dollars cash.
"Honorable Elder Abdul,"
Samir began in fluent Arabic, his tone respectful yet confident.
"Commander Song Heping extends his sincerest greetings to you. This is a humble gift, hoping to alleviate the tribe's current difficulties."
Elder Abdul nodded slightly, signaling his people to accept it, then asked in a hoarse voice: "Song? The Lord Dong who's been quite prominent lately? What does he want from ?"
Samir leaned forward, lowered his voice and said, "My boss promises that as long as the 'Musician' is still defending Hulmatu for a day, or after conquering Titrick, if we can get your full support, then all the post-war reconstruction projects in Titrick and its surrounding areas, cent, bricks, labor, will be prioritized to the Sadir tribe mbers."
"anwhile, from Mosul to the Siria border, the 'old road' (referring to the oil smuggling route), the past oil tankers, the 'Musician' will take only a thirty percent 'protection fee', the remaining seventy percent, will be distributed by you and the other elders."
There was an imdiate restrained intake of breath in the tent.
Reconstruction projects ant long-term, stable wealth and employnt opportunities!
And that smuggling route ant astonishing profits!
Previously, even as the most powerful tribe here, they were severely exploited by the 1515 Ard, with little left in their hands.
Song Heping's offer was nearly giving them a mountain of gold!
Elder Abdul's cloudy eyes suddenly glead with a burst of brightness, he stared at Samir: "There's no free lunch in this world, so... what's the condition?"
"The condition is this."
Samir said word-for-word: "As long as the 'Musician' exists, the promise remains. If the 'Musician' falls..."
He paused, his voice colder, "Then, Hulmatu and the entire Titrick region will imdiately beco a battlefield of revenge again. By then, whether it's the 1515 returning, or the Aricans or governnt army taking over, it's hard to say whether you can maintain your current position and interests."
The words were bare and cruel but struck right at the core.
In Illinois, the survival rules of the tribes are this realistic.
The promises of the Baghdad governnt are far less reliable than tangible benefits and military force.
The presence of Song Heping and the 'Musician' defense already proved that they have the ability to control territory and bring actual benefits.
Once this powerful existence disappears, chaos and reshuffling are sure to co, and then it's not about making money, but whether they can keep their existing minimal tribal interests.
User Comments
0 comments from readers