Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1221 Thunderclap in DC Special Zone

Hours after the fall of Kirkuk.

In a suite at a five-star hotel in the Green Zone of Bakta, known for its tight security.

Simon had only been asleep for less than an hour.

A sudden, urgent phone call woke him from his dream.

He sat bolt upright in bed, his heart pounding wildly at the sudden ringing of the alarm clock, almost leaping out of his chest.

An ominous premonition, stemming from the instincts of a seasoned intelligence officer, instantly wrapped around his entire body like cold vines.

His intuition told him that the phone call was related to Song Heping.

He turned on the bedside lamp, fumbled for the phone, and the number displayed on the screen—the CIA's internal emergency line to the Iligo intelligence station—made his fingers tremble slightly.

"Hey?"

His voice was heavy with sleepiness, and there was a slight tremor that he himself was unaware of.

"Chief! This is Stephenson!"

On the other end of the phone, the intelligence station chief's voice sounded somewhat hurried:

"A major incident has occurred! A truly massive incident! Just a few hours ago, the 'Liberation Forces' militia organization under Song Heping's command, along with the Abuyu Brigade, launched a large-scale, multi-pronged blitzkrieg against the Kird-controlled Kirkuk region, located in the Dagula and Sulaymania areas! The Kird forces left behind were severely insufficient and completely unprepared, and their defenses were breached and torn apart in multiple places in the first instance! Now... now, according to the latest intelligence confirmed by multiple sources, more than 80 percent of the Kirkuk city area and the surrounding oil fields... have... have fallen! They have all fallen into Song Heping's hands! The whole process was incredibly fast; the Kird forces were almost unable to mount any decent resistance!"

hum-

Simon felt as if his mind had suddenly exploded, and countless golden stars were darting around in his vision.

Kirkuk!

That is the lifeline of oil resources in northern Iligo, the economic cornerstone of the Koldeid Autonomous Government, and one of the important levers for the United States to maintain its influence in the region!

Damn Song Heping!

He recalled what Song Heping had said before he left earlier that day.

That guy said he wanted Washington politicians to understand how stupid it was to refuse him!
That's right!

He must have planned this all along.

I will take action as soon as I fail to negotiate with him in Dagug!
Everything was premeditated!

Damn!

I had warned Brennan, the national security advisor, long ago.

Song Heping is definitely not an ordinary opponent.

A guy who can survive for years of being hunted by the CIA and on a bounty list and still live a good life is someone who dares to do anything and is capable of anything!
Clearly, the attack on Kirkuk was a warning to the Americans.

What would it mean if someone turned against you?
He was certain that the Americans would not be able to send more troops to Iligo.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so brazen.

This game is like a card game at a poker table.

Song Heping knew the Americans' bottom line.

He's gambling.

He knew that if the U.S. military wanted to redeploy troops to Iligo, it would have to go through Congress.

Congress will not agree.

Furthermore, he was well aware of the military expenditure that returning to Iligo would incur.

He was betting that the United States wouldn't go to great lengths for him.

That was a bad deal.

SHIT!

Damn Chinese people!

The image of Song Heping's seemingly calm yet subtly sharp gaze flashed through his mind again, along with his words, "I hope you won't regret it."

This is not a threat, but a warning!

His disruptive move directly, precisely, and ruthlessly strangled the Kold's people, or rather, it strangled the economic lifeline of the United States' strategic layout in northern Iligo—oil!
This is not just a military occupation, but also an extremely strong political and strategic signal!
It has completely disrupted the United States’ carefully laid plans in northern Iligo and is very likely to trigger a new round of fierce conflict and power reshuffling between the Kurds and the central government of Iligo, as well as pro-Persian militias!

The already fragile balance in Iligo may be completely out of control due to Song Heping's fatal blow, and then slide into the abyss of a full-scale civil war!
The United States will be forced into an even deeper quagmire...

"I...I know..."

Simon felt as if a fire was burning in his throat, searing his vocal cords: "Continue... closely monitor... utilize all resources to assess the subsequent impact and reactions from all sides... especially the central governments of Erbil and Bakhta, and... also monitor the movements in Tehran. I'm worried the Persians might advance south across the border to attack Erbil... report any new developments to me immediately!"

He finished giving his instructions with difficulty before hanging up the phone.

After ending the call, Simon sat on the edge of the bed, sitting like a wooden figure in the dim light.

An unprecedented sense of frustration overwhelmed him like icy seawater.

Song Heping's slap was too hard!
It’s too loud!
This is not just about seizing a few oil fields and plundering some economic benefits. It is about using the most direct and brutal way to show the whole of Washington its undeniable strength and terrifying determination—if you don't cooperate with me, I have enough power to make the situation in Iligo ten or a hundred times worse than it is now!
Let your arrogance become a huge joke!

Just then, the satellite phone in my hand, which had just fallen silent, rang again like a death knell.

He barely needed to look to guess who was calling—the security advisor, Brennan.

Who else could it be but him?

Simon forced a bitter smile that looked more like a grimace and mechanically pressed the answer button.

Sure enough, before he could utter a sound, Brennan's roar, distorted by extreme rage, flooded his ears like a burst dam:

"Simon! What the hell are you doing?! Have you seen the latest emergency intelligence?! Kirkuk! Kirkuk! That son of a bitch, that Song Heping who deserves to go to hell a thousand times! He actually dared to launch a sneak attack on Kirkuk! He occupied the Kold's oil fields! He's openly declaring war on the United States of America! A provocation!"

At this point, perhaps because he was speaking too quickly, Brennan had to stop to catch his breath before continuing his tirade:
"This lawless, despicable terrorist! Bastard! Beast! I told you long ago not to trust this yellow-skinned monkey! I told you long ago to just blow him back to the Stone Age! What were you and your intelligence system doing? Why was there no warning?! Why did you let him succeed?! You must be held accountable for this!"

Simon silently moved the phone further away from his ear, listening expressionlessly as Brennan launched into a tirade of racist and vulgar language for over two minutes, venting his shock and unbridled rage.

He could picture Brennan in his office, his face ashen, waving his arms and spitting as he spoke.

Only when Brennan's cursing seemed to subside slightly due to lack of oxygen, leaving only heavy, labored breathing like a broken bellows, did he ask in an almost hysterical tone:

"...Tell me! Now! What are we supposed to do?! This damn, damn mess, how are we supposed to clean it up?! The president is calling an emergency meeting in an hour! I need answers! Now!"

Simon then slowly brought the phone back to his ear, his voice unusually calm. He knew that when anger and shouting couldn't change the facts, calm, even cold-blooded realism, was the only way out.

"SIR."

He stated clearly, even omitting the usual pleasantries, "Now, you and the president still only have two paths before you, exactly the same as what I told you in Dagug, nothing has changed. It's just that now, the scales of choice have been completely tipped because of Song Heping's actions."

"First,"

He spoke at a steady pace, as if stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

"Immediately order a massive troop reinforcement, bringing the main US forces back to Iligo. Just like when we overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime, mobilize tens of thousands of troops and use all available resources, including at least two carrier battle groups, to conduct indiscriminate carpet bombing and ground clearing of all areas controlled by Song Heping. At all costs, completely wipe him and his forces out of the country by physical means. After that, retake Kirkuk."

He paused deliberately, allowing the other person to fully consider the cost of this option, before continuing:

"But the problem is—not to mention whether the president and those old men on Capitol Hill would approve a proposal that would be tantamount to admitting a complete strategic failure and that we need to get bogged down in another large-scale ground war. Even if they all went crazy and approved it, could we do it? Could we really afford the consequences?"

He began to analyze in detail, like a calm surgeon dissecting a corpse:
"Song Heping isn't Saddam Hussein. He won't foolishly stay put and wait for our bombs to fall. His core forces are highly mobile, decentralized, and fragmented. They aren't government troops; they don't have cities they absolutely must defend. He's also Chinese, and his forte is guerrilla warfare..."

"If I'm not mistaken, he will break up into smaller groups, disappear into the desert, hide in the mountains, or even flee directly to Persia with his core forces without hesitation. According to our intelligence, his relationship with the Persians is unusual."

"At that time, in addition to continuing to deal with the '1515' gang of mad dogs, we will also have to face a more troublesome, more cunning Song Heping, who has received full support from Persia! A ghost that is omnipresent, possessing enormous funds and external support! I'm afraid that by then, even our most important ally—the Koldeid Autonomous Government in Erbil—will become the price for our incompetence and the fact that we have made too many enemies, and will be uprooted by various forces! Our influence in Ilig and even the entire Middle East will suffer a devastating blow! Do you think we, or rather you, and Mr. President, can afford this price? What will public opinion at home think? What will our allies think?"

He relentlessly bombarded Brennan with a barrage of questions, each one like a hammer blow to his heart.

"Then, secondly,"

Simon paused, then spoke slowly and clearly, word by word, making sure each word was like a nail driven into the other person's mind.

"Compromise. Put aside our pitiful pride and so-called political correctness. Acknowledge reality, acknowledge that Song Heping has become a powerful local actor in northern Iligo that cannot be ignored or even easily eliminated. Agree to his conditions, immediately, right now, unconditionally!"

"Then give him the supplies, funds, and even some degree of political recognition he wants. After that, form a temporary, purely interest-based tactical alliance with him. First, concentrate all our and his forces to eliminate '1515,' our current real threat, as quickly as possible. Restore order to Kirkuk—of course, within the framework of his cooperation with us."

His voice carried a final, realistic admonition and sincerity.

"As for the future... after dealing with the '1515' armed group, whether Song Heping lives or dies, whether he is friend or foe, is a matter for the future. We can slowly find other ways to resolve it. At least, by using this method, we can retain our most basic territory and influence in Iligo, and avoid... a complete loss. This is the only realistic option. Advisor, after your anger, you must face reality."

On the other end of the phone, Brennan fell into a deathly silence once again.

Simon could even clearly "hear" the other person's heavy breathing through the radio waves. He could imagine the distorted expression on Brennan's face at that moment, as if he had been forced to swallow a live fly.

As one of the president's closest confidants and the National Security Advisor, he was better aware than anyone of the political impossibilities and enormous risks of the military options Simon described.

Time, once again, flowed slowly in a suffocating silence.

After what felt like an eternity, Brennan's extremely reluctant voice finally came from the other end of the phone:
"...Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!...This damn reality...Wait for me...I'll report to the president immediately...I'll give you the final news in two hours."

The call was abruptly disconnected, leaving only a busy tone.

Simon put down the satellite phone, walked to the window, looked at the pitch-black night outside the Green Zone of Bakda, and sighed deeply.

He knew which path Brennan and the president would ultimately choose.

Faced with absolute power and established facts, even a superpower must bow its proud head.

He himself will probably soon embark on another journey to Daguge.

In the first round of this contest with Song Heping, they lost completely.

Two hours later, Simon's satellite phone rang right on time.

The caller ID showed Brennan's encrypted line, but this time, there was no roar, only a heavy, exhausted tone.

"Simon."

Brennan's tone was somewhat hollow: "The president...and the national security team...had a 'heated' discussion."

He deliberately emphasized the word "intense," as if trying to preserve the last shred of dignity.

"The conclusion is..."

Brennan paused, as if it would take a great deal of courage to say what he was about to say.

"Military options... are considered... not feasible and risky under the current circumstances."

Simon listened quietly, without any surprise.

This was what he expected.

"therefore,"

Brennan continued, “The President has authorized the implementation of your proposed…second option: ‘pragmatic’ contact with Song Heping…We will provide him with the first batch of supplies and funds he has requested through military channels stationed in Bakda. At the same time, we need his explicit commitment to cease all hostilities and immediately withdraw troops from Kirkuk!”

Brennan's voice was filled with resentment.

"Furthermore, and most importantly, he must immediately turn his guns on Operation Furnace and launch an offensive against Hurmatu! He must work with our army and allies to resolve the siege of Agra as soon as possible and eliminate the main force of '1515' in Tikrit."

He finally managed to squeeze out those words through gritted teeth:
“You…you are currently the only person who has had direct contact with him and knows the situation. The president wants…no, he orders you to immediately go to Dagug to meet with Song Heping again, convey our…decision, and finalize the initial details of the cooperation.”

A cold smile curled at the corner of Simon's mouth.

The bureaucrats in the White House can't even stand themselves...

"I understand. I will make preparations and leave as soon as possible."

Simon,

Brennan's tone suddenly took on a rare pleading quality.

“This time… we can’t afford any more mistakes. We must keep him in check, at least until we take down '1515'. This concerns our fundamental interests in this region… and also our future.”

"I know what to do."

Simon answered calmly and then hung up the phone.

He knew that this return to Dagug was completely different from the last one.

He was no longer the envoy with Washington's arrogant conditions, but a negotiator forced to admit defeat and seek peace.

The balance of power between him and Song Heping has been fundamentally reversed.

Based on my understanding of Song Heping, I'm afraid this guy is going to raise the stakes even higher!
damn it!
It's all Brennan's fault!

If I had listened to myself earlier, I wouldn't be in this mess!

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(End of this chapter)