Leaving the headquarters building, after getting into the car, Samir finally couldn't help asking: "Do you think he will speak for us?"
"He's not an idiot like Kote."
Song Heping watched the rapidly retreating street view outside the window, "Duke is a smart person. Smart people know how to act in their own best interest. And the reasons we gave just now are enough to make him think supporting us aligns with the United States' interests."
"But what if the Pentagon doesn't agree?" Samir still seed a bit worried.
"Then we take another path," Song Heping said blandly, "Without Arican support, things will be much more difficult, but not entirely impossible. Yusuf still has so connections in the council, and the Persians are willing to provide help... but then, we will owe more personal favors, making it more troubleso to repay in the future."
The car drove towards the airport.
At ten o'clock in the morning, they would take a helicopter back to Bayji.
Washington, United States, at the Pentagon.
An ergency video eting was convened four hours after Song Heping left Baghdad.
The oval eting room was filled with familiar faces—Admiral Miller, several generals from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, senior civil officials from the Ministry of Defense, a representative from the CIA, and Major General Duke linked on the big screen.
"Gentlen, this is the situation."
Duke had just completed a twenty-minute report, detailing the contents of his two etings with Song Heping, especially the terms and analysis proposed by Song Heping this morning.
"Song Heping's request is very clear: Support the inclusion of the 'Liberation Forces' into the Iligo Defense Army's ranks, granting Major General Samir the rank of Lieutenant General. In exchange, he will take over the defense of Hulmatu and commit to long-term stability in the northwest of Illinois."
The room was filled with low discussions.
"Who does he think he is?" An Air Force general was the first to challenge, "A rcenary leader daring to negotiate with us? And he wants a lieutenant general rank for his dog? Why doesn't he ask for a five-star general!"
"Calm down, Thom." Admiral Miller knocked on the table, "Duke, tell us your opinion. You were there, and spoke face to face with Song Heping."
Duke sorted his thoughts on the screen, slowly saying:
"Gentlen, I know this request sounds excessive. But we must objectively analyze the current situation. First, Song Heping indeed has leverage—he controls the Bayji Refinery, the western Mosul and parts of Kirkuk; more importantly, he has blocked the key passage at the Siria-Iligo border through Samir's 'Liberation Forces.' This is currently the most effective barrier preventing 1515 from getting reinforcents from Siria."
He brought up a map, pointing with a laser pen:
"Please look, the 1515 Ard has now been split into two parts: The main force in the Raqqa, Syria region, and the Ahd Tribe in Iligo's Titrick-Ozham region. There were multiple passages between these two parts, but now, the Mosul direction passage is firmly controlled by Song Heping. If this passage is reopened, 1515's two-part forces will rge, exponentially increasing our pressure in the north of Illinois."
A lieutenant general from the Army frowned: "So we must rely on Song Heping? Are there no other options?"
"There are options, but none are ideal."
Duke said frankly, "Option one: A large-scale troop surge returning to Iligo. But this ans overturning the President's withdrawal decision, the dostic political cost is huge, the military expenses are staggering, and it requires at least three months to half a year of deploynt ti. Within that period, 1515 might have already taken half of Iligo."
"Option two: Rely on the Kurd people. But the Kurd people have their own political demands—independent statehood. If we fully support them, it might accelerate Iligo's division, which the State Departnt absolutely does not want to see."
"Option three: Rely on the Iligo Governnt Army."
Upon saying this, Duke couldn't help but smile wryly.
"Everyone has seen their performance in the Ozham direction. Corrupt, inefficient, and low morale. No matter how many resources are invested, it is difficult to change in the short term."
The CIA representative interjected:
"General Duke's analysis basically aligns with our assessnt. From a purely strategic standpoint, using Song Heping to deter 1515 is indeed the option to maintain northwest Illinois stability at the lowest cost. But the issue is, this person is too dangerous. His ambition clearly goes beyond being a regional warlord. If his forces formally enter Iligo's military and political system, in the long run, it might cultivate an opponent more difficult to deal with than 1515."
"I agree with this concern." Admiral Miller nodded in agreent: "But we need to balance short-term risk and long-term risk. In the short term, 1515 is an imminent threat. Their goal is to establish a 'Caliphate' spanning Siria and Iligo, if they succeed, we will lose control over the entire Middle East. As for Song Heping... at least for now, his interests overlap with ours—they both need to curb 1515."
A civil official from the Ministry of Defense raised a question: "However, supporting a militia's formalization sets a dangerous precedent. Iligo has dozens of militia groups large and small; what if they all demand the sa treatnt?"
"So we need to control the range." Duke responded, "Only support the 'Liberation Forces,' and only within the Northwest Border Region. Clear conditions can be set: This force can only operate in this area, must not enter the Kold Autonomous Region, must not involve in Baghdad's political disputes. And, the restructuring process must be under our supervision."
"Will Song Heping accept these conditions?"
"That depends on the bargaining between the parties, and I think he will." Duke said assuredly, "Because this is also what he needs. Samir's 'Liberation Forces' are nominally a local militia organization, but in reality, they are an ard force controlled and invested by him. Transitioning this force into a regular army sequence, a unit with formal identity and stable supply also aligns with his interests."
Once again, the eting room fell into debate.
The supporters believed this was a pragmatic choice, while the opponents worried about raising a threat.
Both sides had valid points, but the urgency of the situation forced a quick decision.
The debate lasted for more than an hour.
Finally, Admiral Miller looked at the screen: "Duke, what is your suggestion?"
After thinking for a mont, Duke said: "I suggest a step-by-step strategy. First step, agree in principle to support the 'Liberation Forces' formalization, but require Song Heping to first prove his capability and sincerity—hold Hulmatu, and ensure the northwest border passage not being breached by 1515 in the next three months."
"Second step, if the first step is achieved, we then push the Illigo Council to pass relevant legislation. This process might take two to three months, just to observe Song Heping's performance."
"Third step, after the legislation is passed, the restructuring process must be fully supervised by our military advisors to ensure this force doesn't go out of control."
Admiral Miller surveyed the eting room: "What comnts do we have on this plan?"
After another twenty minutes of discussion and revision, everyone finally reached a basic consensus, and Duke's proposed plan was mostly determined.
Although the opposition still had reservations, under the pressure of realistic strategy, they had to compromise.
"Alright." Admiral Miller finally finalized, "Duke, just negotiate with Song Heping according to this plan. Rember, make him understand that this is conditional support, not an unconditional gift. If he fails to fulfill his promises, everything is off the table."
"Understood." Duke nodded, "I will explain this to him."
The video eting ended.
Duke leaned back in his chair, and let out a long breath.
This ga has just begun, and he already deeply felt that Song Heping is more complex and dangerous than most people in the Pentagon imagine.
But he had to admit, Song Heping's analysis of the situation was terrifyingly precise.
However, what he did not know was that Song Heping's analysis and calculations of him had already taken three steps ahead of himself.
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