Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1247 The Battle at the Negotiation Table

Two days later, in a more secluded safe house on the outskirts of Hurmatu, the security level was raised to the highest level.

Inside and outside the courtyard, armed personnel in mixed uniforms but with sharp eyes patrolled vigilantly, and more than one sniper team was also deployed in the shadows.

The atmosphere in the simple meeting room was so heavy it seemed like you could wring water out of it.

A long, weathered wooden table seemed to symbolize the division of this land, with several people representing different wills and forces sitting on either side.

On one side was Song Heping, still dressed in desert digital camouflage without any markings, yet exuding an aura of calm and composure.

He only brought Jiang Feng with him as his deputy and recorder.

Jiang Feng sat to his side and slightly behind him, with a notebook and several documents spread out in front of him.

On the other side were Colonel Kurt, whose face was tense, and a special envoy from Washington—Richard Winslow.

Winslow was out of place in his surroundings.

He was impeccably dressed in a dark suit, his hair was slicked back, and he wore a perfectly calculated smile, neither too much nor too little.

But those blue eyes revealed an undisguised sense of superiority.

Kurt, dressed in U.S. military uniform, sat stiffly, his eyes flickering as he made contact with Song Heping, clearly harboring considerable reservations and dissatisfaction with the negotiations.

Mr. Song,

Winslow spoke first, his voice soft yet carrying the air of power often found in politicians:

"We appreciate the extraordinary efficiency and unique approach you have shown in the fight against 1515. The resilience of your troops in localized battles has impressed Washington."

Despite the opening compliments, Song Heping merely nodded slightly, unmoved, and remained seated in his chair, waiting for what followed.

"but,"

Winslow abruptly changed the subject, his smile fading and his tone becoming serious, even carrying a hint of threat.

“Washington’s patience… or rather, the patience of American taxpayers and Congress, is limited. The current global strategic focus and domestic political climate require us to see decisive and undeniable results in the Mosul-Titrick region as soon as possible. Your proposed ‘steady progress’ strategy takes too long and, in our view, is too conservative, lacks the necessary drive, and cannot meet the time requirements.”

The ball was kicked to Song Heping's feet.

Song Heping met Winslow's gaze and calmly said:
"Mr. Winslow, thank you for your recognition of my department's efficiency. But I want to emphasize that 1515 is not a traditional, conventional army. They are more like a virus, deeply rooted in the complex tribal social structure, using religious extremism and terror to build an underground network. To deal with a virus, what is needed is continuous treatment and the establishment of an immune system, not a simple surgical excision."

"A swift victory? Of course. We can concentrate our forces to capture one or two towns. But what will the result be? It is very likely that we will suppress one problem only to have another arise, with the core forces breaking up and hiding in the countryside and border areas, or worse—the power vacuum and economic hardship caused by military operations will give rise to more extreme and uncontrollable forces."

"At that time, the 'lasting stability' you expect will become a distant dream. My approach is to focus on eradicating the breeding ground for the virus and repairing the social fabric, rather than simply removing the festering sores on the surface. This requires sufficient time and systematic work."

"Time! Time! Time is precisely the resource we lack most!"

Colonel Kurt, sitting next to Winslow, couldn't help but interject, his tone clearly impatient and dissatisfied. He spread his hands and roared at Song Heping:
“Song, you can’t possibly be unaware of the pressure from Washington! The hearings on Capitol Hill, the headlines, and domestic public opinion are all watching this! What we need are results! Clear, rapid results that can be written into reports and shown to the public! Your ‘steady progress’ plan is like lukewarm water; it simply cannot meet this urgent need!”

Kurt's words revealed his anxiety as the current top U.S. military commander in Iligo.

He had to face both the realities of the battlefield and the political pressure from the rear.

"Clear and rapid results?"

Song Heping raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone laced with sarcasm as he said:

"Colonel, are you referring to the kind of 'victory' where you deploy a large force to occupy an empty city that has been evacuated by the enemy and is now just ruins, then hold a press conference to announce a great victory, only to suffer casualties from roadside bombs, sniper fire, and suicide attacks? If you need, I can organize a few military operations right now and 'produce' such 'victory' for you."

"But then what? The core of 1515's organization was not damaged. They merely made a strategic retreat, waiting for our forces to disperse, our supply lines to be stretched, or our attention to be diverted, before launching a more fatal attack from the shadows. Is this really the result Washington wanted? To exchange soldiers' blood and false reports of victory for a fleeting moment of media attention?"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp as he swept over Winslow and Kurt in turn, his speech quickening and carrying an undeniable authority:

"What I am pursuing is never a fleeting military occupation, but a fundamental elimination of the environment that breeds terrorism in the Northwest and the achievement of lasting peace and security. This means that we need time to conduct in-depth intelligence infiltration, to divide and dismantle their grassroots support networks, to precisely target their financial sources and command hubs, and at the same time, to steadily build our own effective local governance system and security architecture."

"This is a complex and interconnected system that cannot be rushed or chaotic. Forcing a quick victory will only lead us into the quagmire of guerrilla warfare and attrition warfare that 1515 excels at and most wants us to be involved in, ultimately exhausting our precious resources."

Upon hearing this, Winslow's professional smile vanished almost entirely, replaced by a displeasure at being challenged.
"Mr. Song, the strategic complexity you've described is not unknown to the strategic analysis team in Washington. However, you must understand the realities of politics and be clear about what kind of country the United States is—we have an electoral system. We need to show the outside world, our allies, and, more importantly, our own people, that this war on terror is steadily moving toward victory, not getting bogged down in an endless stalemate. Your proposal is inherently deficient in terms of 'visibility.' It lacks the kind of landmark event that can boost morale."

"Display quality?"

Song Heping almost burst out laughing, but he restrained himself with great self-control.

"Using the precious lives of my brothers and flashy military displays to gain so-called 'visibility' for news headlines? Mr. Winslow, please forgive my bluntness, but on my value scales, the lives of my soldiers and collaborators are a million times more important than those fleeting news headlines!"

The negotiations appear to have reached a stalemate.

A silent struggle filled the air, with the ideas and demands of both sides clashing fiercely, as if one could hear the sparks flying.

Winslow leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands on the table, and stared sharply at Song Heping, trying to intimidate him with his presence.

Kurt loosened his collar in frustration, his gaze darting around.

Song Heping knew that merely having the upper hand in reason was not enough to make these shrewd opponents back down.

He must offer his carefully prepared and substantial bargaining chips, making it clear to the other party that if he pushes too far, they will have to bear unbearable costs.

He changed the subject and said:

“Mr. Winslow, Colonel Kurt, I believe we are both pragmatic people and should be well aware that in the current complex interlocking situation, which is composed of multiple interests, complex relationships, and certain ‘unspoken’ tacit understandings, any attempt to forcibly change my established mode of action and strategic pace through strong external pressure, or even… some more direct intervention, is very likely to trigger a series of chain reactions that no one can predict or control.”

He paused deliberately, allowing the power of words like "complex interlocking," "unspeakable," and "chain reaction" to fully permeate, reminding the two people opposite him of all his plans from the past few days and the fatal "triple lock."

Song Heping did not specify the details, but these suggestive words struck Winslow and Kurt's most sensitive nerves like arrows.

Kurt's face turned pale instantly; he knew, of course, what Song Heping was referring to.

Once those things are made public, it will not only ruin his personal future, but also trigger a serious diplomatic and political earthquake.

Winslow's eyes turned completely cold.

He stared intently at Song Heping, trying to find a trace of bluff on the other's face.

Unfortunately, he failed.

Song Heping's eyes were deep and calm, as if he were stating a very simple fact.

Winslow realized that the Eastern man in front of him was not only a capable military commander, but also a top strategist who was well-versed in power struggles and adept at using all potential leverage.

He is not only capable of inflicting heavy losses on his opponents on the battlefield, but also of making his arrogant and powerful adversaries look foolish in the covert battles of politics and intelligence.

A long, suffocating silence fell over the meeting room.

Only the occasional sound of wind outside the window and the faint noise of the city from afar remind people that there is a real world outside.

Finally, Winslow slowly exhaled, sat up straight again, and the last trace of feigned gentleness on his face vanished, replaced by a cautious and serious expression based on a realistic assessment:
“Mr. Song, the potential ‘chain reaction’ you described is indeed…worthy of our high vigilance and should be avoided as much as possible.” He chose his words to indirectly acknowledge the deterrent power that Song Heping held.

"Then, we can temporarily set aside the dispute about 'visibility.' If we accept your 'steady progress' concept in principle, how long exactly do you require a 'window of opportunity'? And how can you assure us that during this period, no other security threats that could harm U.S. interests will emerge in the region, or that the 1515 organization will not use this period to grow stronger, or even resurface?"

This is the key to loosening!
We've finally gotten to the core point!

These Americans always like to play tricks, circling around the periphery of the negotiations.

What bullshit!
Did they really think they could sit here and haggle with them without any preparation?
Winslow softened his tone, and now the balance of the negotiations began to tilt in Song Heping's favor, entering a substantive bargaining phase.

Song Heping knew that the time was right.

He presented his meticulously calculated plan, his tone resolute: "I need three years. At least three years. During these three years, I will systematically and in stages compress the strategic space of 1515, weaken its economic base, manpower supply, and command effectiveness. The ultimate goal is to fundamentally eliminate its core forces in the Mosul-Titrick region by the end of the third year, so that it can no longer threaten regional security as a whole."

"I guarantee, with my reputation in this land and the strong relationships I have built with the local tribes, that the areas under my control will never become a haven or breeding ground for any anti-American armed forces. On the contrary, a region that achieves stability, restores order, and develops its economy under my leadership will become the strongest barrier against the spread of extremist ideologies and safeguards the strategic interests of the United States in the region."

These words sound like flattery.

It's like a promise a scumbag makes to a woman.

However, this pie in the sky is indeed very big, and it looks very tempting...

"Three years..."

Winslow pondered, his fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the table. He and Kurt exchanged a quick glance.

Kurt frowned, seemingly assessing the military feasibility and political risks of this timeframe in his mind, and finally nodded almost imperceptibly.

Three years, though longer than they had hoped, was not entirely unacceptable, especially considering the higher risks of forcibly pushing for a quick victory and Song Heping's ability to "flip the table."

"Sure, I think three years is acceptable... but in order to establish and maintain the necessary 'transparency' and 'strategic mutual trust' between us,"

Winslow put forward reciprocal conditions from the US side, which was something that peace had long anticipated.

“We need to send a ‘joint observation group’ to your controlled area. They will have access to facilities and necessary information to operate within a pre-agreed area to ensure that we can accurately assess the development of the situation.”

"At the same time, in order to compensate for the additional 'operating costs' that your department may incur due to adopting the 'steady progress' strategy, and to support the regional security responsibilities that your department may assume in the future, we can allocate a portion of the logistical support missions for the U.S. military in the Afghan region, which is currently handled by other contractors, to your 'Musician' Defense. This should be sufficient to demonstrate our commitment to cooperation."

This $600 million serves three purposes: it is both a sweet treat and economic compensation for Song Heping, a lure to entice his influence to extend into Afghanistan in the future, and a rein to deepen the bond between the two sides and increase the cost of Song Heping's "betrayal".

Song Heping sneered inwardly, "Just as I thought."

The observation team was like eyes that had been planted out in broad daylight, while the $600 million contract was a shackle wrapped in honey.

This is a typical American tactic.

Use both the stick and the candy.

But he remained expressionless.

"The observation team can move in,"

Song Heping first clarified his principles.

"However, for security reasons, and to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts, their specific scope of activities and procedures must be determined in advance through consultation with us, and they must strictly abide by the security rules we have established."

He first firmly defined the scope of the observation group's authority within his own delineation.

"As for the transportation contracts in Afghanistan,"

He really wanted it, but deliberately acted as if he wasn't that interested.

“In principle, we can accept this, but it involves complex cross-border logistics and professional operations. Our professional business and logistics team will conduct a detailed assessment before we can connect with your designated agency.”

He neither readily refused this "generous gift" nor showed excessive enthusiasm.

"There's one more thing,"

Colonel Kurt picked up the conversation, his tone stiff, with a hint of barely perceptible force, "To ensure the 'comprehensiveness' and 'effectiveness' of regional security cooperation, we will bring in another private military company with extensive experience and professional capabilities—Thunder Defense—to establish outposts on the flank of your main control area for 'coordinated defense' and 'tactical coordination.' The personnel at this defense company are all outstanding retired officers and non-commissioned officers from the U.S. Special Forces. They can assist you in developing counterterrorism plans, provide more professional advice, help alleviate your defense pressure, and promote mutual...exchange and sharing of professional experience."

Everyone present knew perfectly well that the so-called "coordinated defense" and "experience exchange" were primarily for surveillance and checks and balances.

Song Heping sneered inwardly.

Thunder Defense...

He had heard of it; it wasn't an old company, but rather one that had been established in the last few years.

It was a small to medium-sized PMC mainly composed of retired personnel from US special forces such as Delta Force and SEAL Team Six. It was known for its well-equipped personnel, tough style, and often arrogant attitude due to its background.

Placing this group of unruly "colleagues" with official backgrounds on your flank is tantamount to keeping a vicious dog that might bar its teeth at any moment at your bedroom door.

However, he cannot directly oppose it at this moment, as this falls under the "reasonable" check and balance demand of the US side.

We can't keep everyone from getting any benefits.

Negotiation is often described as the art of compromise.

As long as we uphold our core interests, it doesn't matter if we compromise a little in other areas.

Negotiations should consider the overall picture, not just fixate on the details of a particular clause.

Moreover, I have plenty of ways to deal with this kind of outsider.

Ha ha.

Forcing them to leave wouldn't be difficult.

Song Heping responded calmly: "As long as the personnel of Thunder Defense Company do not interfere with or intervene in my department's independent combat operations and local governance affairs, I can accept their presence in the designated flank area and conduct limited 'cooperation'."

He specifically emphasized "independence" and "non-interference," clearly drawing a red line.

On this point, both sides finally reached a consensus.

"Regarding your proposed conditions for granting 'political immunity' to yourself and everyone in your company..."

Afterwards, Winslow picked up a draft that Song Heping had faxed to them the day before and turned to the page he needed.

"We've looked into it, and this matter is rather tricky..."

Finally, there are the crucial, unwritten clauses concerning personal safety that cannot be formally written into the official text.

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

　　
　
(End of this chapter)