Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 1282 Mystery and Game

The command center fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone understands what this means.

A Persian mechanized force of 10,000 men is rushing at full speed toward the area besieged by the 1515 armed forces.

Once they intervene, the tide of battle will turn in an instant.

"Why?" Lieutenant Colonel Miller was the first to break the silence. "Why are the Persians here? How dare they?"

Kurt did not answer.

His brain was working at lightning speed, piecing the fragments together.

Song Heping's plea for help, the sudden mobilization of the 1515 armed forces, and the "coincidental" appearance of the Persian troops.
No, this is not a coincidence.

This was never a coincidence.

It wasn't from the beginning!
"Check all communication records of Song Heping's troops over the past 72 hours, especially any signal transmissions outside the encrypted frequency band."

"Kurt commanded."

The intelligence team acted swiftly.

Five minutes later, a preliminary report was presented to Kurt.

"Colonel, six hours before the Gray Wolf unit was surrounded, we intercepted a brief satellite phone communication. The signal source was in the Sinjar Mountains, the receiver was undetermined, but the signal direction," the intelligence officer paused, "pointed to Persia."

Science can open audio files.

In the noise-reduced recording, a familiar voice says in English: "The situation is progressing as planned. The green signal will be issued in six hours. Remember, not too early and not too late."

That was Song Heping's voice.

Kurt closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, his pupils were filled with rage.

“He never expected us to come to his rescue.”

Kurt spoke slowly and deliberately, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, “Those calls for help were all an act. He was waiting for us to refuse, waiting for us to stand idly by. That way he would have a legitimate reason to request ‘outside help’.”

Lieutenant Colonel Miller suddenly realized:

"The Persians have been waiting for a pretext to enter northwestern Iriego. According to our prior peace agreement with Song, his controlled territory cannot be used as a conduit for Persian supplies and personnel to Syria. But if his security is threatened, and if the US military 'cannot' provide protection..."

"He could then legitimately invite the Persian troops in to protect his 'safety'."

Kurt picked up the conversation, his voice filled with self-mockery and anger, "And we, we self-proclaimed smart bastards, just gave him that excuse."

The command center fell into a deeper silence.

Everyone realized that they had not only been tricked, but tricked so thoroughly. Kurt's imagined scene of Song Heping dying in despair shattered, replaced by a calm chess player who was unhurriedly leading them into a trap.

"Colonel, the vanguard of the Persian forces has entered within 20 kilometers of the combat zone."

The drone operator reported, "The 1515 armed group appears to have spotted them, and some units have begun to adjust their deployments."

On the screen, the 1515 armed forces, which were originally focused on attacking the Gray Wolf troops, began to split up, with some turning around to deal with the threat from the north.

However, their movements were chaotic and disorderly, clearly indicating that they were completely unprepared for this sudden situation.

"Colonel, what should we do?" Lieutenant Colonel Miller asked. "Should we notify the Iligor government? Or...take action?"

Kurt stared at the screen, watching the Persian armored forces advance as if they were in an empty field.

His fingers tapped rapidly on the console, revealing the intense struggle within him.

Notify the Iligo government?
What is the use?

The Iligo government forces were filled with pro-Persian Shia officers who were eager for Persian influence to enter the country.

To take military action?

To fire on such a large Persian force without explicit authorization would be tantamount to starting a war.

Moreover, the Iligor government forces have been tied down in the Ozam direction for several months now. If these natives had any fighting ability, they wouldn't have been stuck in Ozam for so long without making any progress.

Should we have them send troops to the Northwest region now?

This is not giving the 1515 armed forces an opportunity to break through Ozam and advance into Bakhta.

Dead end!

This is a complete dead end!

Kurt now realized that Song Heping had calculated everything, and that he was confident that even if the Persian army entered Iligo, the government forces would be powerless against them, which is why he dared to act so recklessly.

Damn!

I've been infected again!

"Continue surveillance."

With a sense of helplessness, Kurt issued the order: "Document everything, gather evidence. Also, notify the Pentagon and Central Command that we need guidance."

The so-called "guidance" is actually just a way of shirking responsibility.

Kurt knew that this mess was beyond his authority to handle.

All he can do now is make sure he doesn't become a scapegoat.

But the anger inside surged like lava.

He walked to his office area, closed the door, and then—

"boom!"

The exquisite ceramic coffee cup was smashed against the wall, shards flying everywhere.

Kurt braced his hands on the table, his chest heaving violently, veins bulging on his forehead.

He had been tricked, completely outmaneuvered by a mercenary leader he had never taken seriously. Worse still, this blunder would lead to the formal entry of Persian forces into northwestern Iriego, creating the so-called "Shia Crescent," connecting Persia, Iriego, Silia, and Lebanon into one contiguous region.

That's a scene that the military and even the White House would absolutely hate to see.

All of this stemmed from his contempt for Song Heping and his foolish plan to use someone else to do his dirty work.

A cautious knock came from outside the door.

"Colonel, update. Persian troops have engaged in combat with the 1515 armed outposts."

Kurt forced himself to calm down, straightened his uniform, and reopened the door.

In the command center, everyone deliberately avoided his gaze and focused on their own work.

On the big screen, the battle has begun.

The Persian T-72 tanks opened fire at a distance of 1500 meters, and high-explosive shells exploded on the positions of the 1515 armed men.

Modified pickup trucks are like paper toys in front of tanks, easily torn to shreds by a single shell.

The Persian troops advanced in an orderly manner, with armored vehicles covering the infantry and artillery providing fire support, a typical operational model of a regular army.

The speed of this force's advance and the ferocity of its fighting were far beyond what ordinary Persian government troops could achieve.

no doubt.

This is the elite force of the Persian Revolutionary Guard.

Most likely, it's the Holy City Brigade!
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, the "Liberation Forces" troops, who had been under pressure, suddenly became active.

They began to launch an organized counterattack, shifting from defense to offense, and forming a pincer movement with the Persian forces.

"Colonel, Song Heping requests a communication," the communications officer reported softly, his voice filled with hesitation. "He says he wants to thank you in person." Everyone knew what this call meant.

The communications officer was also aware that the last thing Colonel Kurt wanted to hear was Song Heping's voice.

Kurt's face twitched.

This is blatant mockery.

But refusing to accept the offer only seemed to confirm his miscalculation.

At least putting on a show of politeness is absolutely necessary.

He took a deep breath, walked to the communication station, and pressed the answer button.

"Colonel Kurt, thank you for your 'support'."

Song Heping's voice came through the loudspeaker, irritatingly calm.

"Thanks to you, I suddenly remembered that there is a risk avoidance clause in our agreement. When my troops are under 1515 deadly threat, I can request rescue from any of the allies. If I remember correctly, that's right?"

Kurt certainly remembered.

Every clause of that agreement was reviewed by the party involved in its signing and discussion.

In other words, I am well aware that such a clause does exist.

The meaning of "seeking help from any of the allies" is crystal clear: Russia, Persia, the United States, and Song are all nominal "allies" in the four-party agreement.

SHIT!

That cunning Easterner!

Every word Song Heping uttered was like a slap in the face, landing hard on Kurt's cheek.

He could almost picture Song Heping's expression at that moment—the kind of mockery and victory hidden beneath that calm face typical of Asians.

"You'll regret this, Song."

Kurt lowered his voice, making sure only the person on the other end of the communication channel could hear him, "You think the Persians are philanthropists? They have their own purposes. You're just a pawn on their chessboard."

“We are all pawns, Colonel.”

Song Heping replied, "The difference is that some people know what they are, while others think they are chess players. Goodbye, and have a good time in Bhaktapur."

Communications cut off.

Kurt stood there, like a clay sculpture.

The command center was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.

On the big screen, the combined offensive of the Persian and "Liberation Forces" forces had crushed the resistance of the 1515 militia, who were now retreating in disarray.

"Colonel, a reply from Central Command."

Jenkins broke the silence, saying, "They asked us to exercise restraint and avoid direct conflict with the Persian forces. At the same time, they asked us to assess the impact of the long-standing Persian military presence in northwestern Iriego on regional security."

A typical bureaucratic response.

They neither take responsibility nor offer solutions, but simply demand more reports and assessments.

Kote nodded but did not respond.

He walked to the window and looked out at the street scene of Baghdad outside the Green Zone.

This ancient city has witnessed the rise and fall of countless empires, and the successes and failures of countless military adventures. Today, it adds another failure to its list—

The United States’ attempt to control northwestern Iligo through proxies has been utterly thwarted by one man’s scheming.

He will become the antagonist in this failed case, written into the report, analyzed, and criticized.

"Record everything that happened today."

He finally turned around, his voice regaining the composure befitting a senior military officer: "Compile all intelligence, video, and communications records. I need a complete report for Central Command and the Department of Defense."

“Yes, Colonel,” Lieutenant Colonel Miller replied, “and the further action against the Persian forces…”

"Surveillance, nothing more."

Kotter said, "Notify all units that no contact with Persian forces is permitted without explicit orders. At the same time, strengthen security in the Green Zone and surrounding U.S. military bases."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over every face in the command center:
"What happened today must not be disclosed to the public. Any unauthorized dissemination of information will be subject to court-martial. Understand?"

"Understood, Colonel!"

He and his companion quickly received identical answers.

Kote nodded and took one last look at the big screen.

In the footage, Persian tanks and Song peacekeeping force armored pickup trucks are parked side by side on a hill, with soldiers mingling together, some even embracing each other.

In the distance, the remnants of the 1515 armed force were fleeing in the desert, with thick smoke billowing behind them.

A new era seems to have begun.

A new power structure has also emerged in the Middle East.

Through this "rescue operation," Persia gained a "legitimate reason" for its presence in northwestern Iligo.

And Song Heping...

This clever mercenary leader not only saved his troops but also found a pretext for the Persians to enter Iriego openly.

As for the US military, what did they get?
A failed record and a mess to explain to Washington.

Kurt walked to his office and closed the door.

This time, he didn't smash anything; he simply sat quietly in the darkness, contemplating his next move.

Failure is not the end, but just another beginning.

Song Heping won this round, but the war is far from over.

In Iligo, a region known as the "graveyard of empires," today's victors may become tomorrow's losers.

Persian intervention will alter the regional balance of power, but it will also provoke strong reactions from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Can Song Heping, a mercenary caught in the middle of great power rivalry, really maintain this delicate balance forever?

Kurt turned on his computer and began drafting the report.

His wording was cautious and restrained, attributing part of the blame to intelligence failures and part to "the intervention of unforeseen regional forces."

He knew that the Pentagon bureaucrats would accept this explanation—after all, no one wanted to admit to being tricked by a mercenary.

But deep in his heart, a vow had already been made.

Song Heping won today, but he won't win forever.

In this world full of betrayal and violence, no one can stand on the side of victory forever.

Outside the window, night falls in Baghdad.

Hundreds of kilometers north of Baiji, bonfires have been lit, and cheers of victory echo through the desert.

The stark contrast between the two worlds seems to foreshadow future division and conflict in the region.

Kurt knew he had to prepare for the next game.

Because in this war that has no length, nothing can be certain; the only certainty is that the battle will never truly end.

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

　　
　
(End of this chapter)