Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1265 The pattern is about to open up
After Samir left, seething with resentment, Jiang Feng frowned and walked into the command post.

He watched as Song Heping carefully rolled up the map of the northern Iligo war zone on the table and couldn't help but step forward and ask:
"Old squad leader, I still don't understand! We went through so much trouble, lost so many men, and finally managed to take Hurmatu. The place is still fresh in our minds, how can we just give it up like that? Now all those bastards from Thunder Defense have benefited! They're probably celebrating with champagne in some corner right now, laughing at us for being cowards!"

Song Heping continued rolling up the map without stopping or looking up, as if Jiang Feng's excitement was something he had anticipated.

He unfolded the map again, tapping his finger precisely on the spot marked repeatedly with red and blue pencils on Hurmatu, producing a dull thud.

"What great things can be accomplished by focusing only on this small piece of land in front of you?"

He calmly said, "Come here and take a closer look."

Jiang Feng came over.

On the map, towns, roads, rivers, and mountains are clearly marked, with red and blue arrows intersecting to depict the chaotic battle situation in northern Iligor.

Song Heping picked up the red and blue pencil that was almost worn out and first drew several thick circles in the Titrick area north of Hurmatu and the Ozam area a little further away.

“Look here,” he said. “The main force of 1515 is now like a mad dog trapped in these two dens, living in constant fear.”

Then, instead of pointing directly at Titrick as Jiang Feng had expected, his pen moved steadily south, passing through some minor towns, and finally landing on Baiji, another transportation hub west of Titrick.

"Baiji?"

Jiang Feng frowned even more, his face filled with doubt as he asked, "What... is there any significance to this place?"

"Yes, Baiji."

Song Heping heavily marked that point with a red pen, leaving a striking mark as if to pin it to the map.

Then, he moved his wrist and drew a clear and firm red line, connecting Baiji with Mosul, a city that was also highlighted to the northwest.

Next to Mosul is a sign that reads "Abuyu Brigade (Control)".

"Look, if we can take this place and connect it with the Abuyu Brigade in Mosul, what do you see?"

Song Heping raised his head and looked sharply at Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng's gaze swept back and forth across the abrupt red line, his mind racing as he tried to understand the intention behind the move, but ultimately he shook his head in confusion:

"Old sergeant, stop beating around the bush and just tell me. Titrick is right under our noses. If we take it, won't we just be able to drive 1515 south into the desert? Then the Americans can organize an air raid, and that'll be the end of it!"

Song Heping sighed, seemingly helpless about Jiang Feng's linear thinking.

He tapped Titrick's spot lightly with the end of his pencil, as if tapping a clueless head:

"You've only seen the first layer. Yes, Hurmatu is north of Titrick. If we march south and take Titrick now, we can indeed cut off 1515's main retreat route north of Iriego. From a purely military perspective, this would force the enemy gathered around Ozam to break out to the south, running right into the heavily armed American forces to the south, giving those American airmen a satisfying 'turkey hunt' feast."

"Isn't this exactly what the Americans want? A quick and decisive victory."

Jiang Feng chimed in, feeling that this logic was self-evident.

"So how can this be considered a good thing?" Song Heping scoffed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"It's good for them, but it will be a disaster for us! If we really do that, it's like we're helping the Americans clean up the most stubborn battlefield in eastern Iligo. Think about it: once the biggest threat around Bakda is eliminated, what use will we, these 'mercenaries' who are paid to fight, and Samir's mixed-race 'Liberation Forces' militia, have in the eyes of the Americans? We'll immediately go from 'useful partners' to an eyesore and a 'potential threat' that we need to be wary of! At that point, they'll definitely discard us after we've served our purpose."

He paused, and seeing that the excitement in Jiang Feng's eyes was gradually replaced by contemplation, he continued to draw a larger circle around Baiji with his pen, as if he were outlining a future kingdom.

“But if we hold back for now, let Titrick go, and instead launch a long-distance raid to take this place—Bayji.”

His pen tip remained firmly there.

"By taking it, we can also control the main transportation routes for the 1515 militia to retreat westward into Celia. This is equivalent to closing the door to their westward escape, but not completely sealing it off. We have left the 1515 militia trapped in Titrick and Ozam with a little 'breathing space,' so they won't be desperate and rush south, nor will they immediately turn around and fight us to the death."

Song Heping's pen moved slowly across the map, as if a strategist were conducting a sand table exercise, sketching out a broader and more complex strategic situation:

"Furthermore, as long as we control Mosul and Baiji, we can control how many 1515 reinforcements come from the direction of Syria, just like controlling a tap. We can decide how much water to turn on. In this way, the war in the entire Northwest region will not end quickly, but will fall into a long-term stalemate. The longer the war drags on, the more indispensable the Americans will be to our intelligence, troops, and influence in the area. The more secure Samir's 'Liberation Forces' position will be, and the more benefits we can gain from it—weapons, funds, and political leverage—will be!"

"Moreover, there is another benefit to doing this that they would never have thought of."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Song Heping's lips:

"We willingly handed over the 'hard bone' of Hurmatu, which we had just gotten our hands on, to Thunder Defense, who were eager to claim the credit. Colonel Kurt and the bigwigs behind him must think they got a huge bargain right now, that they snatched a piece of fat meat from our mouths."

"But they never imagined that what they took over wasn't the spoils of victory at all, but rather the most direct attack pressure from the 1515 armed forces in the Titrick and Ozam directions! They thought they had gained an advantage, but in reality, they were being pushed into a quagmire of protracted attrition warfare! The deeper they get bogged down, the more advantageous it is for us!"

He became more and more excited as he talked, and couldn't help but smile:

"Now that Mosul is in the hands of the Abuyu Brigade, as long as we take Samir's 'Liberation Forces' and seize Baiji with lightning speed, we can establish a solid base in the vast western region between Titrick and the border of Silia, where we can both attack and defend."

"At that time, the 'Liberation Forces' will no longer be a local armed group that can only fight guerrilla warfare in the northern mountains and depend on others, but will become an armed force that no one in Iligo can ignore! With this strength, we can take advantage of the situation to push Samir onto the political stage in Iligo and secure him a place in the future government cabinet and National Assembly! This is our ultimate goal in penetrating the chaos in Iligo!"

Song Heping's gaze seemed to pierce through the rough map paper, glimpsing a more distant future.

"Once this goal is achieved, Iligo will become another solid and reliable base for our 'Musician' defense company overseas. To the north, it can connect with our Persian partners, forming a mutually supportive network. At that time, even if we really break ties with the Americans, we will have enough strategic depth and strength to deal with and counter them!"

As Jiang Feng listened to the detailed and meticulous analysis, the confusion and dissatisfaction in his eyes were replaced by shock and admiration.

Finally, he slapped his thigh and exclaimed in surprise:

"Damn! Sergeant, your strategy... is too deep and too big! I get it! I get it all! Hurmatu is just a troublesome target deliberately thrown out; Baiji is the territory we really want to seize! Let those idiots from Thunder Defense take the hits and fight to the death with 1515, while we go and explore more valuable territory!"

"Well, at least you're not completely stupid."

Song Heping smiled and skillfully began to roll up the map, securing it with a rubber band. He then instructed, "Go and relay the order. Tell the troops to hurry up and prepare. Tomorrow morning, the entire army will set off to evacuate Hurmatu."

　Asking for a monthly ticket!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)