Song Heping hurriedly asked, "Are you going to Deir Ezzor?"
Deir Ezzor is a city in eastern Syria near the border.
As it happens, it's very close to Ashala Town, just less than 70 kiloters away.
That ans the place Hassan is going is very close to where the cook is trapped!
What a stroke of luck!
Song Heping suddenly had a new idea.
"That's right, we're going to Deir Ezzor. 1515 ard forces have cut off the M4 highway." Hassan nodded and said, "The 104th Brigade stationed there is barely holding on. My superiors ordered to lead a company there to support them."
Utekin suddenly interjected, his Russian voice urgent in his throat, "Ashala Town is just seventy kiloters south of Deir Ezzor!"
Song Heping was, of course, well aware.
He quickly inquired of Hassan, "Colonel, we just happen to be going there as well, could we talk?"
"You are also going to Deir Ezzor?" Hassan was sowhat surprised.
He glanced at Song Heping and his companions, one Russian and one Chinese, a strange look flashed in his eyes, wondering if this guy was crazy.
However, out of curiosity, he agreed to "talk."
"Alright, where do we talk?"
"The conference room, there is also a map there."
Minutes later.
Song Heping stood in front of a cleaned-up map of Syria in the conference room.
The entire map was interwoven with red and blue arrows over Deir Ezzor Province.
Song Heping pinned the location of Ashala Town with a dagger.
"Colonel, this is where we are headed."
"Ashala Town?"
Hassan finally understood.
"Several days ago, there was fighting there, supposedly with Wagner's involvent in an attempt to retake the oil field area — only, I've been inford that it has failed. That's why the 1515 ard forces have advanced to Deir Ezzor and have been battling with the 104th Brigade for more than two days now."
"Our brothers are trapped there," Song Heping said. "In Ashala Town, the 1515 ard forces haven't completely taken over yet; there are still about a hundred people inside, including Wagner and so governnt army."
Hassan paused for a mont, then shook his head, "I heard that 24 hours ago, there was already lost contact with people there. Pardon my bluntness..."
At this point, he stopped speaking, seemingly contemplating how to put it delicately.
"Put it this way, there won't be any survivors. I know the ways of the 1515 ard forces — whenever they take a place, they leave no military personnel alive. Even the local civilians, any slight rebellion leads to a dead end..."
He raised his hand, making a throat-slitting gesture.
"No matter what, I have to go and see."
Song Heping said, "My friend has always been very lucky."
Seeing Song Heping insist, Hassan retorted, "How are a few of you planning to go? Do you know how many battle zones you'd have to pass through from here to Deir Ezzor? Right now, all the central and northern cities are engulfed in war. There are several coalition forces; if you encounter any of them, it's death."
He conclusively told Song Heping and his companions.
"No matter what, I have to go." Song Heping interrupted him, his voice cold and steely. "Even if it's just to retrieve his body."
Hassan was moved by Song Heping's determination after a mont of silence and asked, "Are you thinking of going with us to Deir Ezzor and then to Ashala for the rescue?"
"Yes," Song Heping said. "At the sa ti we set off, a battalion of Wagner soldiers from Damascus will also go to Deir Ezzor, where we'll et and then move on to Ashala."
Hassan's eyes suddenly lit up.
Leading a company to Deir Ezzor, he himself wasn't confident.
A whole brigade couldn't hold it, and adding his company wouldn't make much difference.
So, for the past few days, he too had been worried about the troop strength issue.
Hearing that Song Heping could mobilize a battalion-level unit of Wagner rcenaries, he suddenly saw hope.
"I can take you!"
He no longer opposed it.
"But you have to agree to one condition."
"You want us to help you break the siege of Deir Ezzor after the rescue, is that right?"
Song Heping saw through Hassan's intentions.
"That's right," Hassan didn't avoid it, speaking directly. "It's pleasant talking to smart people, so how about it? Does this deal work?"
"Of course, we can share intelligence, troops, and resources. You deliver to Deir Ezzor, and I'll help you resolve the current troop shortage issue in Deir Ezzor and break the siege."
Song Heping added, "Rest assured, I've dealt with 1515 before, and I've taken out quite a few of them. Besides, I can mobilize so forces from Illiguo to attack the 1515 ard forces from behind, distracting them."
"Illiguo's forces?" Hassan seed to understand, "You an you can mobilize the militia forces in the western region of Illiguo?"
"You could say that."
Song Heping thought, Samir's current force of several thousand is still manageable, and besides, they are already mortal enemies with the 1515 organization and would be very eager to follow my command.
"Deal!"
Hassan didn't hesitate anymore, "Once the bombing is over, we'll set off imdiately!"
"How much ti do you need to reach Deir Ezzor?" Song Heping asked.
Hassan said, "72 hours."
"No way!" Song Heping said, "My friend can't wait 72 hours."
He suddenly grabbed a colored pen from the table and drew a andering red line on the map, "I want to go this route."
The pen tip passed over three battle zone markers.
"This way, we'll reach Deir Ezzor in 36 hours."
The room suddenly went quiet.
That route could be called a "highway of death."
Utekin whistled, even he thought Song Heping's decision was practically a suicide mission.
"Hahaha, Song, you're crazy!"
He couldn't help but laugh.
Song Heping, however, was deadly serious.
He tossed the pen down and looked at Hassan, "Do you dare to take that route?!"
Hassan thought for a mont, gritted his teeth, and said, "Why not! At worst, we'll fight for it!"
Song Heping pulled out a dagger, stabbing it into the location of Ashala Town, leaving a cold flash of light, "Deal."
Then, he looked at Hassan, "Colonel, we need detailed maps, all possible battle zone intelligence, and since our numbers are few, it'd be best to have one of your guides."
Hassan nodded, "Rest assured, I'll arrange everything, but is your manpower really enough?"
Song Heping sneered, "It's enough, sotis quality is more important than quantity."
Hearing this, Hassan didn't say anything more.
He knew that the man standing before him was a formidable presence, a capable person.
He just needed to cooperate well with him, and perhaps they really could break the siege of Deir Ezzor.
In the ensuing ti, both sides began their intense preparations.
Hassan gathered his most elite soldiers and prepared ample ammunition and provisions for them.
anwhile, Song Heping contacted the Wagner soldiers in Damascus to ensure they could et at the designated ti and place.
Everything was in full swing.
In the midst of this, Song Heping asked Utekin to try to contact the cook.
But unfortunately, the cook's satellite phone was turned off.
"Song..."
Even Utekin at this point was sowhat wavering.
"Maybe..."
Song Heping interrupted him, "If you were the cook, and the cook were you, do you think the cook would co to rescue you?"
Utekin was taken aback.
Suddenly, he raised his hand and slapped himself.
"Damn it!"
Clenching his teeth, he said, "Damn it, I'll go to Ashala even if it kills !"
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