Two days later, in a more secluded safe house in the suburbs of Hulmatu, the security level was raised to the highest.
Inside and outside the yard, ard personnel wearing mixed uniforms but with sharp eyes patrolled vigilantly, with more than one sniper team deployed in the shadows.
In the simple eting room, the atmosphere was so heavy it seed to squeeze water out.
A mottled long wooden table symbolized the division of this land, with a few people on either side representing different wills and forces.
On one side was Song Heping, still in desert digital camouflage without any insignia, yet exuding a calm and mountain-like aura.
He only brought Jiang Feng as his deputy and recorder.
Jiang Feng sat at his side and rear, with a notebook and several docunts spread out in front of him.
On the other side was Colonel Kote, whose face was tight, and a special envoy from Washington—Richard Winslow.
Winslow was incongruous with the surrounding environnt.
In a perfectly fitting dark suit, his hair slicked back, with an accurately calculated smile on his face, no more, no less.
But those blue eyes revealed an unmistakable sense of superiority.
Kote wore the regular uniform of the US Army, sat rigidly, his eyes flickering when eting Song Heping's gaze, clearly holding a considerable degree of reservation and dissatisfaction about this negotiation.
"Mr. Song,"
Winslow first spoke, his voice was soft yet carried the typical sense of power common among politicians:
"We appreciate the extraordinary efficiency and unique thods you've displayed in combating 1515. Your troops' resilience in local battles has left a deep impression on Washington."
The initial complint was t with only a slight nod from Song Heping, unmoved, sitting upright waiting for more.
"However,"
Winslow shifted the tone, the smile on his face faded slightly, his tone beca serious, even carried a trace of threat.
"Washington's patience… or rather, the patience of the Arican taxpayers and Congress is limited. The current global strategic focus and dostic political climate demand we see decisive and indisputable results in the Mosul-Tetric region soon. The 'steady progress' strategy you advocate takes too long, in our view, it is too conservative and lacks the necessary aggressiveness, unable to et the tiliness requirents."
The ball was kicked to Song Heping.
Song Heping t Winslow's gaze, calmly said:
"Mr. Winslow, thank you for recognizing my troop's efficiency. But I want to emphasize that 1515 is not a traditional conventional army. They are more like a virus, deeply rooted in complex tribal social structures, utilizing extre religious ideology and terror to build underground networks. Dealing with a virus requires ongoing treatnt and the establishnt of an immune system, rather than simple surgical removal."
"A quick victory? Certainly. We could concentrate forces to take one or two towns. But then what? Likely it would be like pressing one gourd and seeing another float—as their core forces disintegrate into rural and border areas, or worse—the power vacuum and declining livelihood caused by military action would breed more extre, harder-to-control forces."
"By then, the 'lasting stability' you hope for would beco far from reach. My thod is focused on eliminating the soil that breeds the virus, repairing the social body, and not just excising the superficial ulcerous boils. This requires sufficient ti and systematic work."
"Ti! Ti! Ti is precisely our most lacking resource!"
Seated next to Winslow, Colonel Kote couldn't help but interject, his tone clearly expressing urgency and discontent, he spread his hands, shouting toward Song Heping:
"Song, you must understand Washington's pressure! Congress Hill hearings, dia headlines, dostic public opinion are all watching here! We need results! Clear, rapid results that can be written in reports and displayed to the public! The 'steady progress' plan you submitted is like lukewarm water, completely unable to et this urgent need!"
Kote's words revealed his anxiety as the current highest commander of the Illinois US Army.
He has to face battlefield realities while coping with rear political pressure.
"Clear, rapid results?"
Song Heping raised his eyebrows slightly, a tone of mockery in his voice:
"Colonel, is what you're referring to the kind of massive troop mobilization to occupy a city already evacuated by the enemy, with nothing left but ruins, then holding a press conference announcing great victory, only to imdiately suffer soldier casualties from ubiquitous roadside bombs, sniper shots and suicidal attacks in return for 'results'? Excuse my straightforwardness, if that's the kind of 'results' you need, I can organize a few military actions right now to 'fabricate' them for you."
"But then what? 1515's organizational core remains intact, rely pulling back strategically, waiting for our forces to disperse, supply lines to stretch, or attention to shift before inflicting more deadly strikes from the shadows. Is this really the outco Washington desires? Trading soldiers' blood and false reports for fleeting news heat?"
He leaned slightly forward, his gaze intense, sweeping across Winslow and Kote, his speech accelerating, carrying an undeniable force:
"My pursuit has never been a flash in the pan military occupation, but to fundantally eliminate the environnt breeding terrorism in the northwest, achieving lasting peace and security. This ans we need ti for deep intelligence infiltration, dismantling their grassroots support networks, precisely targeting their financial sources and command hubs, anwhile steadily establishing our own effective local governance systems and security structures."
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