Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1115 To Do Great Things, You Need a Broad Vision
Abuyu armed camp, west of Erbil.

The darkness before dawn is the deepest, but it also foreshadows the approach of light.

Abuyu stood at the edge of the camp, looking at the silent yet determined team before him.

Four thousand soldiers...

Most of these people were veterans who had followed him through thick and thin for many years. At this moment, there was confusion in everyone's eyes, but even more so, there was determination for the future and trust in him.

They took everything they could carry, and although the vehicles were roaring, the traffic was orderly.

This was a tragic migration, a betrayal for survival.

"Commander, everything is ready."

Qasim stepped forward and reported in a low voice.

Abuyu nodded, took one last look at the land where they had once fought and bled, steeled his resolve, gritted his teeth, and waved his hand to give the order: "Let's go!"

The convoy, like a long steel dragon, wound its way through the desolate Gobi Desert and mountains, passing through secret passages scouted and controlled in advance by Nassin's "Sand Fox" squad, and quietly crossed the Persian border.

The atmosphere was heavy throughout the journey. Everyone understood that once this step was taken, there was no turning back.

……

The following morning, on the Persian Plateau.

Song Heping's secret camp was much larger and more organized than Abuyu had imagined.

It was not a simple guerrilla hideout, but more like a fully functional military base.

The concealed fortifications, the deep-dug bunkers, the camouflaged vehicles and helicopter landing pad, and the armed personnel coming and going with solemn expressions but efficient movements all indicate that the owner of this place is no ordinary person.

The air was thick with diesel fuel, dust, and a tense atmosphere.

Song Heping personally greeted them in the open space outside the command center.

He was still wearing a practical combat uniform, with a calm smile on his face, and sharp eyes that did not make people feel intimidated.

"Commander Abuyu, welcome to the Persian Plateau."

Song Heping reached out his hand, and Abuyu quickly grasped it with both hands.

"Mr. Song, thank you for giving us and my brothers a way out."

Abuyu's tone was very sincere, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment.

Even a powerful and ambitious person would feel uneasy living under someone else's roof.

The officers behind him also looked solemn, secretly sizing up this powerful ally, or rather, his future new boss, who was renowned for his ambiguous and righteous nature.

"It's not a way out, it's a new journey."

Song Heping corrected him, glancing at the soldiers behind Abuyu who had experienced the baptism of war, and nodded, "They are all good soldiers. They must be tired from the journey. I have already had hot food and a camp prepared for them. Let them settle down first and get some rest. Tonight, we will have a meeting to discuss the details."

The arrangements for welcoming the new troops were thoughtful and considerate.

Song Heping knew exactly what he had to do.

Back in the military, we'd get noodles when we got off the bus and dumplings when we got back on.

Political and ideological work is not only reflected in heart-to-heart talks and classes.

When Song Heping's camp was first established, the cooking squad was one of the most important projects.

There's a saying that goes something like that!

A good cook can be just as good as an excellent political commissar.

This statement holds true for the armies and armed organizations of any country in the world.

Although the nature of the armed forces is different, and Song Heping did not set up the position of political commissar, there was no visible political commissar, but there was an invisible one.

Food is also an important tool for maintaining morale among soldiers.

That evening, the first general officers' meeting was held on time in a large tent in the camp, large enough to accommodate all officers of company rank and above.

A map hung in the center of the tent, and bright gas lamps were lit around it.

On Song Heping's side, he was the leader, with Jiang Feng, Naxin, and other core members sitting on either side.

Abuyu sat opposite them with key officers including Qasim.

The atmosphere was somewhat delicate, with both sides cautiously observing each other.

Song Heping spoke first, without any unnecessary pleasantries: "Gentlemen, from today onwards, we are brothers sharing the same pot. I don't need to elaborate on the situation outside. The KPG won't tolerate you, 1515 wants to kill us, and the Americans… humph, they probably don't have good intentions either. If you want to survive, to live with dignity, you must stick together and clench your fists!" He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally settling on Abyu: "The four thousand brothers brought by Commander Abyu are elite forces that have been tested in actual combat. I have decided to reorganize this unit into our 'Kold Brigade'! Commander Abyu will continue to serve as brigade commander, and the command structure at all levels will remain unchanged in principle."

Upon hearing this, a very slight commotion immediately arose inside the tent.

Abuyu suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The officers around him exchanged bewildered glances, almost doubting whether they had misheard.

They thought that handing over command would allow them to get a sinecure or advisory position, and retain some dignity would be the best outcome.

After all, it's an unwritten rule—if you pledge allegiance to a new master, how can you regain control of the army?

Qasim couldn't help but blurt out, "Mr. Song, are you saying...our commander, or brigade commander? We...we're still an independent unit?"

Song Heping nodded firmly: "That's right. The Kold Brigade is under the full command of Brigade Commander Abyu. You only accept orders from Brigade Commander Abyu, who is directly responsible to me. In terms of the order of battle, the Kold Brigade and Samir's 'Iligo Liberation Forces' are parallel and not subordinate to each other. When cooperating in operations, they are coordinated by the command headquarters. There is no question of who is superior or who commands whom."

He looked at the other side at an Iligo man with a calm expression and scrutinizing eyes—that was clearly Samir.

Samir seemed slightly surprised by the decision, but did not object, only nodding slightly to Abuyu.

Abuyu's heart pounded, and an indescribable surge of heat welled up inside him.

Shock, confusion, followed by immense gratitude and admiration.

He had prepared himself to be sidelined or even slowly dismantled and absorbed, but he never expected that Song Heping would so generously hand over command to him intact!

This kind of trust and respect is so precious in the harsh reality of the world.

He stood up, his voice hoarse from emotion, but unusually firm: "Mr. Song! No, Chief... I... I, Abuyu, and my four thousand brothers thank you for your trust! I, Abuyu, will remember this kindness! From now on, I, Abuyu, will follow your lead! The Kolde Brigade will be the sharpest knife in your hand!"

This is not a hypocritical formality, but the most genuine oath of loyalty after surviving a desperate situation.

The Qur'ds have a bad reputation in the Arab world, which is related to history.

They are rarely accepted and tolerated by other countries; instead, they are more wary and suspicious.

Abuyu never expected that Song Heping could be so magnanimous and broad-minded...

The officers behind Abuyu also stood up, their doubts and unease vanishing, replaced by excitement and a sense of loyalty born of being respected.

The retention of command means that the soul of this unit is still there!

"it is good!"

Song Heping also stood up and extended his hand, "I believe in the fighting capabilities of Brigade Commander Abuyu and the Kolde Brigade. From now on, we will fight side by side!"

After saying that, he extended his hand to Abuyu again.

Abuyu quickly grasped it, too excited to speak.

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became lively, and most of the previous awkwardness and caution melted away.

After the meeting, the officers dispersed to arrange rest and recuperation for their troops.

Abuyu led his men to familiarize themselves with the new camp.

Only Song Heping and Jiang Feng remained in the tent.

Watching Abuyu's departing figure, Jiang Feng finally couldn't help but speak up: "Old Sergeant, I don't quite understand... This is an excellent opportunity. We could have easily taken the opportunity to break up Abuyu's troops and incorporate them into Samir's army, or even have our people directly take over command. This would be the fastest way to assimilate and absorb this force, ensuring absolute control. As it is now... it's essentially Abuyu's private army. Won't it become too powerful to control? What if he..."

Song Heping turned around, picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "Jiang Feng, do you remember why Abuyu defected from KPG?"

Jiang Feng paused for a moment, then replied, "Because Bashir and his cronies on the KPG committee want to seize his power, and even take his life."

“That’s right.” Song Heping put down his water glass and tapped the table with his finger. “The core issue is ‘command authority.’ For a battlefield commander like Abuyu, the troops are his lifeblood, his means of survival, and the bond of trust between him and his men. If we take them over and then hastily strip him of his command, effectively sidelining him, what do you think those four thousand veterans who just defected with him because they didn’t want to be absorbed will think? And what will Abuyu himself think?”

He paused, then continued his analysis: "They will feel disheartened, as if they've escaped one danger only to fall into another, only to be stripped of everything by a different master. Suspicion and discontent will quickly fester. Once morale is low, these four thousand experienced veterans will not only fail to form a fighting force, but may become a burden, or even a huge hidden danger that could ultimately lead to the camp's collapse. In that case, all we'll get is a disorganized mess, not a sharp weapon."

Jiang Feng nodded thoughtfully.

Song Heping walked to the map and continued, “Furthermore, look. Samir is an Iligo, and his troops are also predominantly Iligo. Abuyu’s troops, on the other hand, are entirely Kordi. These two ethnic groups have a history of conflict, and even though they now share a common enemy, forcibly mixing them together would make daily management and operational coordination extremely difficult. Ethnic tensions could erupt at a critical moment, leading to disastrous consequences. Allowing them to remain relatively independent, led by commanders they trust, will maximize their cohesion and combat effectiveness. We only need to maintain supreme command and control the strategic direction.”

He turned to look at Jiang Feng: "So, no matter how you calculate it, respecting and preserving Abuyu's command is the best solution. This will stabilize morale and win their loyalty the fastest, while also avoiding unnecessary internal friction. What we need are allies who can fight, not a group of resentful prisoners. Trust is sometimes more effective than coercive control."

After hearing this explanation, Jiang Feng's face showed admiration: "I understand! I was thinking too simply. You've mastered the art of winning hearts and minds."

Song Heping smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "Take your time to learn. War is not just about guns and cannons, but also about people's hearts."

……

　Asking for a monthly ticket! Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)