Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1142 "Death" and Resurrection

Damascus Army Hospital.

In that specially guarded ward area.

Time seemed to stand still, yet it also seemed to be flowing at twice the speed.

Outside the window, the night in the Syrian capital was still filled with the occasional sound of gunfire; inside, there was a suffocating wait.

Song Heping was like an old monk in deep meditation, spending most of his time quietly watching the news online or standing by the window gazing at the dark horizon in the distance.

In stark contrast is President Hafez.

The country's top leader, like a caged lion, paced anxiously in his hospital room.

Bad news kept coming through encrypted channels, each one like a whip lashing at his nerves.

"Idlib...is lost..."

When Hafiz's trusted confidant, who was in charge of security, brought the news, his hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

"They held out for less than 48 hours... The Free Army scum and HTS terrorists are advancing south along the highway, heading straight for Hama! Our troops are in retreat! Without effective command, they are just a disorganized mob!"

He turned sharply to Song Heping, his eyes bloodshot: "Song! We can't wait any longer! Every minute we wait, my country loses an inch of land! My soldiers and people bleed a drop more! I must go out immediately to stabilize morale!"

Song Heping closed and turned off his phone, then turned to President Hafez.

His expression was calm, almost cold: "Mr. President, if you go out now, all the previous efforts may be in vain. Moscow's decision-making needs time, and even more so, a 'sufficient' reason. Your 'critical illness' is the last force pushing them to make a decision. If you appear now, it will be tantamount to telling the world, including the hesitant faction within Moscow, that this is all a charade. Then, the war machine that the Kremlin has just started may very well come to an abrupt halt, or even reverse."

"But that's my country!"

Hafiz growled, veins bulging on his forehead, "You want me to stand here and watch it slide into the abyss? You're gambling with the fate of Celia!"

Song Heping stood up, walked to Hafez, stared into his pupils for a few seconds, and said, "Mr. President, from the moment we decided to use this method to lure the enemy out and force Russia to take the field, this has been a gamble. It's a gamble on Moscow's strategic resolve, a gamble on whether we can gain an opportunity to completely turn the tide of the war. A small loss for a big win, a temporary retreat for a more intense offensive. If you go out now, you'll be the one who loses everything."

He pointed to the door of the ward, his tone resolute.

"If you don't believe my judgment, you can go out now. But I can assure you that the moment you appear in public will be the critical moment when we lose large-scale direct military support from Russia. At that time, you will not only face enemies in the north, but also possible disappointment or even abandonment from the Kremlin."

Hafiz stared intently at Song Heping, his chest heaving violently.

He understood the weight and cold logic in Song Heping's words.

As president, how could he not understand the cruelty of politics and strategy?
However, the profound pain of losing his homeland made it difficult for him to remain absolutely calm.

Finally, as if all his strength had been drained, he slumped back into his chair and covered his face with his hands.

The cook patted him on the shoulder and, unusually, spoke in a comforting tone, "Mr. President, you must trust Song's judgment. We've been on the battlefield for so many years; sometimes, patience takes more courage than charging. Since intelligence indicates that my country has already mobilized, we need to give it some time to unleash its full fury."

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the ward.

Hafiz's bodyguard's stern voice rang out: "Excuse me, gentlemen ministers! The President is receiving emergency treatment, and the doctors have strictly ordered that no one is to disturb him!"

A slightly aged but excited voice rang out: "Treatment? What kind of treatment requires complete isolation from the outside world? We are ministers of the nation, and we have the right to know the president's true condition! The situation on the front lines is critical, and the country cannot be without decision-makers! We must see the president with our own eyes!"

“Yes! Let us in! Otherwise we can’t believe the president is still safe and sound!” another voice chimed in.

It was clearly a group of high-ranking Syrian government officials who rushed to the scene after hearing the news and attempted to forcibly break in for a visit.

The tense atmosphere seeped in through the thick door.

Hafiz instinctively tried to stand up, but Song Heping sternly stopped him with a look.

Outside the door, the captain of the guard stood firm, his voice rising eight octaves: "I repeat! The President needs absolute rest! This is the medical team's final decision! No one is allowed to enter! If you attempt to force your way in again, I will take necessary measures as needed! Guards!"

A crisp sound of a gun bolt being pulled back rang out, and the arguing outside the door immediately subsided, turning into indignant murmurs and the sound of footsteps gradually fading away.

Inside the ward, Hafiz's face looked even more grim.

The cabinet members were kept out by their own subordinates, which was an unpleasant experience, but it also proved the success of the "poisoning" drama.

Song Heping said calmly, "See? Even your core team is showing signs of panic and distrust, which shows that our charade is very effective. Now everyone thinks Celia is doomed. If you show up now, all the previous 'seriousness' will instantly go bankrupt. Be patient a little longer, Mr. President. The calmest hour is always before the storm."

The next two days were the longest and most agonizing of Hafiz's life.

The battle reports from the north are getting worse. The combined forces of the Free Army and HTS are advancing rapidly, capturing several strategic points in succession, and their advance is heading straight for Hama province.

Even more unsettling is that the 1515 armed group, which had been suppressed previously, has begun to stir again in the eastern desert region, seemingly sensing an opportunity. Hafez developed several blisters on the corners of his mouth, making eating and sleeping extremely difficult.

Several times he almost rushed out of the ward without regard for anything, but Song Heping and the "cook" forcibly stopped him each time.

Song Heping even had the head of the guard strengthen security in the ward, ensuring Hafiz's "safety" almost like house arrest.

The silence in the ward area was broken by a series of urgent but restrained knocks on the door the following evening, close to midnight local time.

Hafez's bodyguard captain burst through the door, his face brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "Mr. President! Mr. Song! The Kremlin is holding an emergency press conference! It's being broadcast live worldwide!"

The three people in the ward jumped up from their seats almost simultaneously.

Hafiz grabbed the remote and turned on the satellite TV on the wall.

The screen lit up quickly, switching to the international news channel.

The scene shows the familiar press conference room of the Kremlin, where the spokesperson, dressed in a dark suit, stands behind the podium with a serious expression.

"...The Russian Federation has been closely monitoring the situation in Syria and its surrounding areas. We have noted the recent resurgence of terrorist forces in Syria, which poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability, as well as our legitimate interests in the region..."

The spokesperson's wording was official and cautious, but the information conveyed between the lines made Hafiz's heart race.

After a lengthy background statement and a statement of principles, the spokesperson abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming incredibly firm:

"Based on the deep traditional friendship and strategic partnership between Russia and Syria, and in response to the request of the legitimate government of Syria, in order to thoroughly combat terrorist forces that threaten regional and international security, safeguard Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensure the safety of Russian military personnel and facilities, the Russian Federation has decided, effective immediately, to take all necessary measures against terrorist organizations and illegal armed groups within Syria, in accordance with international law and relevant bilateral agreements, to deeply intervene in the situation in Syria, and to assist the Syrian government forces in stabilizing the war situation and restoring peace!"

"Success!"

President Hafez suddenly clenched his fist, his emotions, which had been suppressed for several days, erupting instantly, and his eyes even became a little moist.

"The cook," Yevgeny, let out an excited shout and slammed his fist against the wall: "Suka! This day has finally come! My gun has been itching for a long time!"

Song Heping revealed a relieved smile.

He immediately turned around and ordered the captain of the guard: "Activate all external communication channels, and do it quickly!"

The three of them almost simultaneously took out their private, encrypted phones, which had been switched off for three whole days, and quickly turned them on.

Instantly, countless missed call and message notifications flooded in like a tidal wave, almost causing the phone to freeze.

Without the slightest hesitation, President Hafez immediately issued a series of orders to the head of his guard: "Immediately notify the press department that I will be holding an emergency press conference at the Presidential Palace in one hour! Notify all cabinet members and high-ranking military personnel to assemble in the Presidential Palace operations room in one hour! Hurry!"

He must appear immediately, in the best possible light, before the nation and even the world, to announce his "recovery" and stabilize the morale of the military and the people, which is on the verge of collapse.

Song Heping quickly dialed a number, and the call was answered almost instantly. Jiang Feng's calm voice came through: "Old Squad Leader! What's been going on with you these past few days?! We can't get in touch with you! Ferrari is so anxious he's about to fly to Damascus, but Hunter stopped him. He's in Damascus now, trying to find you through various channels. They all say you've been poisoned and are in the hospital!"

"I'm fine. Now is not the time to explain."

Song Heping gave the order quickly but clearly, “Immediately notify Samir, Abuyu, and Nassin to mobilize all relevant forces to enter the highest state of combat readiness! Check all equipment and ammunition, and enter Level 1 combat readiness! Our next target is likely Mosul! You and Henry should contact each other immediately and have the company's intelligence department gather the latest information on the deployment of the 1515 armed group in the Mosul area!”

"Mosul!? Are they going to attack these bastards' northwestern stronghold?"

Jiang Feng's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Wait for specific instructions. Prepare accordingly."

Song Heping hung up the phone and turned his gaze to the chef, who was rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"cook."

Song Heping said in a deep voice, “Damascus is in President Hafez’s hands. Our battlefield is in the north. The main force of the Free Army is rushing towards Homs, which is the choke point to the coastline and must not be lost. The 4th Armored Division is still holding on, but it needs strong command and support. It’s time to set off. We will head to Homs immediately and have your Wagner lads meet us in the south of Homs.”

The "cook" grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth: "I've been waiting for you to say that! This time, I'm going to let those Free Army cowards and HTS lunatics have a good taste of the feast I've prepared for them!"

Fifteen minutes later, several ordinary-looking SUVs quietly drove out of the Damascus Army Hospital and quickly disappeared into the night.

Three of the vehicles headed straight for the presidential palace, where President Hafez was tidying himself up in front of a mirror, preparing to announce his return to the world.

The other three vehicles sped north toward Homs. Song Heping and "the cook" sat inside the vehicle, spread out a military map, and began to urgently discuss the combat plan after arriving in Homs.

The "dead" who had been silent for three days have been resurrected, and an unprecedented storm is gathering over Celia, centered on Holmes.

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)