Kote fell silent again, as if weighing the pros and cons.
In the end, he compromised, "Alright, I can coordinate weapons and ammunition to be delivered within a week. But the ti you requested for rest is too long, 1515 might use this ti to strengthen Titrick's defenses or call reinforcents from Siria."
"That's sothing your military intelligence departnt should worry about."
Song Heping replied bluntly, "My duty is to my soldiers. I cannot send them to die without adequate preparation."
"Song, watch your tone." Kote warned, "Don't forget who is supporting you."
"I certainly haven't forgotten." Song Heping said, "But Colonel, remind yourself that Bayji is under my control, Kirkuk is in the hands of my allies, and Mosul is also with my allies. If I can't hold on, these places could fall back under 1515's control at any ti. What will the Pentagon say about your performance then?"
Blatant threat.
But very effective.
Kote took a deep breath, "Alright, one month. But after one month, you must take action against Titrick. This is the bottom line."
"Two months, and it's not guaranteed. I'll make judgnts based on the actual situation."
Song Heping did not fully agree, "We will act of course if conditions are ripe. But if 1515 reinforces too much, or my troops are unprepared, then it must be postponed."
"Song..."
"Colonel, we're both soldiers, we know that blind rashness on the battlefield is the deadliest mistake." Song Heping interrupted him, "Titrick must be fought eventually, the difference is only when it is fought! I am the frontline commander, are you? If you think you can replace , I'm willing to step down, you co here, I'll withdraw."
With the conversation reaching this point, Kote knew further pressure would be useless, Song Heping wouldn't buy it.
He finally said, "Song, don't think the earth stops turning without you! Let's wait and see!"
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Song Heping hung up the phone without another word.
Jiang Feng walked over, "Did the talk collapse?"
"When did it not collapse? It's always teetering between collapse and stability."
Song Heping snorted, "What Kote wants most now is to take advantage of the opportunity when Titrick's 1515 forces are heavily battered by us, to capture there and claim the credit himself."
"Then we..."
"We will hold our position." Song Heping said, "But we must guard against Kote finding soone else."
He thought for a mont, and said to Jiang Feng, "Contact Samir, let him place informants in the Hulmatu region, closely monitor the movents of Thunder Defense. The only thing Kote can use now is the Thunder Defense rcenaries, and so Special Forces they've deployed here."
"Do you think Kote will send Thunder Defense and Special Forces to attack Titrick alone?" Jiang Feng asked.
"He might try."
Song Heping analyzed, "Thunder Defense has about fifteen hundred n in Hulmatu, well-ard, with armored vehicles and helicopter support. If combined with US Army air power, there's indeed a chance to take Titrick."
"Then aren't we sewing wedding clothes for others?"
"Not necessarily." Song Heping smiled, "Though Titrick doesn't have many defenders, its fortifications are strong. 1515 has been operating there for two years, with underground works crisscrossed. If Thunder Defense forcefully attacks, they will certainly pay a heavy price. Besides..."
Jiang Feng's eyes lit up, "Besides what?"
"I heard Buckdadi is constantly trying to deploy reinforcents into Illiguo..." Song Heping said astonishingly, "We need to give 1515 a hand."
"What?" Jiang Feng was stunned, "Help 1515? This..."
"Hear out." Song Heping gestured for him to stay calm, "If Thunder Defense easily takes Titrick, Kote's next target will be Bayji. But if they get bloodied at Titrick, suffer heavy losses, then Kote will have to continue relying on us. Do you understand this logic?"
Jiang Feng suddenly realized, "So we need to secretly provide 1515 with intelligence, letting Thunder Defense take a hit?"
"Not providing intelligence." Song Heping shook his head, "That's too risky, we just need to...have Samir's people spread so news in Hulmatu, saying we have a defensive line gap sowhere around Mosul that leads to Titrick..."
"Using a knife to kill soone." Jiang Feng understood.
"Mutual balancing is the only way to last long." Song Heping looked to the distance, "In the chess ga of Illiguo, various forces must maintain relative balance for us to maneuver within it. If one side becos dominant, we're in danger."
"I understand! I'll get to it imdiately!"
Soon, Jiang Feng sought Samir and conveyed Song Heping's instructions.
Samir fully understood and imdiately arranged for personnel to head to the Hulmatu region.
anwhile, the reconstruction work of the Bayji Refinery began in full swing.
Persian engineers brought professional equipnt and blueprints, and local workers, under the rcenaries' protection, started clearing the rubble, repairing pipelines, and replacing damaged equipnt.
Song Heping walked among the construction site, with the roar of machines and workers' shouts in his ears.
This sound is much more pleasant than gunfire; it represents construction, not destruction.
Colonel Avanti found him, handed over a report, "The situation is more serious than I imagined, preliminary estimates are that the refinery repairs require four months. But if only partial capacity is restored, it can be achieved within two months."
"Then let's restore partial capacity first." Song Heping said, "We need to start producing as soon as possible, even if only a few thousand barrels a day, it's still money, cash flow."
"Agreed." Avanti said, "Additionally, Tehran is asking if you're interested in expanding the scope of cooperation."
"For example?"
"For example, establishing similar security cooperation in Kirkuk and Mosul."
Avanti spoke very directly, "We can offer funds and technology, the output share can be negotiated."
Song Heping paused his steps, looked at Avanti seriously, "Colonel, do you know what this ans? If we fully cooperate in the Northwest, it equates to explicitly choosing sides. Aricans won't be happy."
"Aricans are already unhappy." Avanti shrugged, "From the mont you accepted our aid, Kote has already categorized you as 'pro-Persian forces'. Given this, why not solidify the cooperation to gain more actual benefits?"
These words were quite practical.
Political alignnt leaves no room for return once a choice is made.
Instead of being indecisive and displeasing both sides, it's better to be firm and gain tangible support.
"I need to think about it." Song Heping didn't imdiately agree, "This is not a small matter, it involves my whole team's future."
"Of course, take your ti." Avanti said, "But Tehran's sincerity is enough. If you agree to expand cooperation, we can provide more weapons aid, including tanks and artillery."
This condition is quite enticing.
In the Illiguo battlefield, armored forces and artillery are decisive.
"I will seriously consider it." Song Heping said solemnly.
The two continued to inspect the construction site.
The core area of the refinery has already been cleared, and large cranes are lifting new cracking tower parts.
Persian engineers mixed Persian and Arabic to command, workers busy yet orderly.
"You know, Song." Avanti suddenly said, "I really admire you. A foreigner, in such a short ti, can establish a foothold in Illiguo, make Abu You Brigade, Samir's Liberation Forces willing to follow you to the death. This isn't sothing ordinary people can do."
"I just understand the importance of respect." Song Heping said, "Respect their culture, respect their beliefs, respect their interests. That's all."
"Simple?" Avanti laughed, "The hardest thing in the world is those two words 'respect'. Many have failed here because they don't understand respect."
The setting sun stretched their shadows.
In the distance, soldiers on the watch post changed shifts, passwords clearly heard at dusk.
Bayji is reborn.
And Song Heping knows, the real challenge has just begun.
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