He wore an ordinary black robe, a headscarf, and his neatly trimd beard complented the calm gaze of his deep-set eyes as they fixed on the map marking Titrick's position.
In the room with him were only his most trusted two aides—military advisor Abu Abdul, and intelligence and foreign liaison officer Abu Hayyan.
"Are the reinforcents still entering Titrick continuously?"
Buckdadi's voice was not loud, yet it seed to make the air in the room thick with tension.
"Yes, Caliph," Abu Abdul replied, "In the past three days, about four thousand to five thousand warriors along with a batch of anti-tank weapons and anti-aircraft ammunition have infiltrated through the area controlled by Samir."
Buckdadi's fingers tapped lightly on the table, creating a ticking sound.
"Samir... why do I feel like our infiltration and support into Titrick have been too smooth these days..."
This was the doubt in his heart.
With his understanding of Song Heping, his subordinates shouldn't be so incompetent, allowing such a large-scale reinforcent to flow into Northwest Illinois, into Titrick...
Even if it was inferred that they successfully bribed so officers within the "Liberation Forces" to gain passage, it still wouldn't make sense.
Why hadn't successful bribery been attempted before?
Just when he couldn't figure it out, Abu Hayyan stepped forward and whispered:
"Caliph, our intelligence officers also find it sowhat... unusual. They feedback that it seems Samir is deliberately opening the gate for us."
"Deliberately opening the gate..."
Buckdadi muttered to himself, a look of contemplation in his eyes.
After a long while, he looked up at the two aides, "What do you two think?"
Abu Hayyan lowered his voice and said, "Caliph, we've analyzed the Arican operation, Commander Kote, and their hired Thunder Defense. They undoubtedly want to win and want to take down Titrick quickly. But that Song Heping's intentions might not be so simple..."
He walked to the map and pointed:
"Titrick is a tough nut. If the Aricans chew it up too easily, what happens next? They will regain control of the Northwest Region, perhaps even driving Song Heping out, which is probably not the outco Song Heping would like to see..."
"You an," Buckdadi said slowly, "soone hopes for a more intense battle at Titrick, for it to last longer, to consu more? Including... consuming the Aricans' resources and prestige?"
"This is just a hypothesis, Caliph. But unusually smooth infiltration on the battlefield often hints at complex maneuvers outside the battlefield."
Abu Hayyan said, "If there are differing interests within their allies, and even so wish to use our hands to weaken certain opponents or to gain leverage for future negotiations... then, 'turning a blind eye' to the Mosul direction, or even secretly letting us in, is not entirely impossible. After all, watching our warriors and the elite Arican forces spill blood at Titrick could be the most ideal outco for so bystanders."
Buckdadi remained silent for a long ti.
This analysis resonated with a vague intuition deep within him.
He recalled countless instances in the history of warfare where external powers exploited local conflicts to achieve their strategic goals.
"So," he finally spoke, making a judgnt, "if this is a play, a play where so want us and the Aricans to be both the losers, what should we do?"
Abu Abdul's eyes flashed with a hint of fervor:
"Caliph, we can counterplot! Since they might intentionally let us, hoping we invest more and escalate the war, then we'll satisfy them! But not according to their script, rather ours! We'll invest enough power not just to hold Titrick but to try to give the Aricans a heavy defeat at Titrick! This will be a fatal blow to the morale of those new Crusader Alliance forces and an excellent opportunity to show our strength and determination to the world! The risks are high, but if successful, the rewards will be unprecedented!"
Buckdadi's gaze again fell on Titrick on the map.
At this mont, that city was not only a strategic point but a gambling table loaded with symbolic aning.
"How much reserve forces can we mobilize in Anbar and Nineveh?" he asked.
"If we fully mobilize, without worrying about temporarily weakening other fronts, we can gather another eight thousand to ten thousand fighters within three days and squeeze out a considerable amount of weapons and ammunition," Abu Abdul estimated.
"Three days is too long. The brothers in Titrick can't wait three days."
Buckdadi shook his head, "The first wave, I want at least three thousand experienced warriors, carrying as many anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons as possible, to enter Titrick by all possible ans by tomorrow! Tell Ahd to hold the line at all costs; reinforcents are on their way!"
"Then," he turned around, his gaze intense,
"Call upon all believers who can hear our voices to march to Titrick! Tell them a key battle deciding the future of faith is happening there! We have to deliver not just fighters but also the will and determination of 'martyrdom'!"
"As for the Mosul route..."
He paused, "Continue using it. Increase the delivery. If it truly is a gap intentionally left by so, then we'll turn this gap into a passage striking at their heart!"
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