Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 927 Tactical Arrangements
Samir on the other end of the phone paused noticeably, his voice losing much of its confidence and becoming lower and hoarse.

"I've only managed to gather a little over five thousand people here... Boss, you've really done your best. Given the current situation, just being able to put together this many people is already a miracle..."

He didn't finish his sentence, leaving only a deep sense of helplessness and frustration, which was clearly transmitted through the radio waves.

"More than five thousand people?"

Song Heping interrupted him, his tone neither approving nor sarcastic, but rather carrying a strange sense of affirmation.

"That's enough. This troop strength is much better than I expected."

He was well aware of the disorganization and inefficiency of the local militia in Iligor, and the number of five thousand, in the current chaos, did indeed exceed his conservative estimate.

Samir's ability to achieve this at least proves that he still has some ambition and the ability to execute.

"Boss, you have way too much faith in our people..."

Samir's voice was as bitter as if he had chewed up some bitter herbs, and every syllable was filled with an indescribable heaviness.

"To be honest, the people of Ilgo these days tremble at the mere mention of '1515'! Two months ago, Mosul was lost. Do you know how it was lost? You might not know the specific details..."

Samir's voice rose in agitation, tinged with a near-collapse of humiliation.

"At the time, there were a full 15,000 well-equipped government troops in the city! They had tanks! They had armored vehicles! They had mortars left behind by the Americans! And the attacking 1515 militia only had a few hundred men! Just a few hundred lunatics carrying broken guns! And what was the result? The result was that these 10,000-plus government troops were like sheep scared out of their wits by a pack of wolves! They couldn't even organize a decent resistance! The commander led the way and ran away! The entire defensive line was like a pile of sand, collapsing at the slightest touch! Mosul, our largest city in the Northwest! Just like that... we handed it over to them! Shame! An immense shame!"

Samir's voice trembled with excitement and shame, and at the end it was almost a roar.

The fall of Mosul marked the complete loss of the Iligor government forces' will to resist and was a turning point in the rapidly deteriorating situation in the entire Northwest region.

The scene of defeat was like a huge, unhealable wound, deeply etched in the hearts of all the Iligo resistance fighters.

"Fuck..."

Song Heping was also shocked upon hearing this.

He knew that northwestern Iligo was in complete chaos, and he also knew that Mosul had been lost.

But I never knew it would be lost like this...

Samir's description of the fall of Mosul instantly overlapped with the chaotic and desperate fall of Islam, a scene deep in his memory.

The same fear, the same defeat without a fight!

"Are the people in 1515 some kind of superhuman bunch with three heads and six arms or invulnerable to swords and spears?! Over ten thousand people are afraid of a few hundred?! Where are your balls?! Did they all get eaten by dogs?!"

An uncontrollable rage surged within him, and he roared into the microphone, his voice echoing around the silent observation point and startling a few sand lizards.

"It's a long story, boss..."

Samir was somewhat bewildered by the scolding, his voice filled with grievance and helplessness as he tried to defend himself.

"That's the general situation... Starting last year, the Americans suddenly announced a large-scale withdrawal of troops! It's like... like they suddenly pulled the main poles supporting the tent! Now, apart from the core areas of the Green Zone in Bakhta where there are still troops stationed there to make a show of it, we can't see any American troops anywhere else, especially in our northwest!"

"The 1515 militia seized this golden opportunity! Like hyenas smelling blood, they launched a fierce attack on western cities one after another! Those government troops... humph, they used to fight alongside the US military, acting like foxes borrowing the tiger's might, at least they had some semblance of humanity, like watchdogs with a master backing them up, at least they dared to bark a couple of times. Now that the master has left, they're not even as good as dogs! Just a bunch of spineless slugs!"

Samir's tone was full of contempt and anger, clearly showing his deep resentment towards the government forces' incompetence.

"They're dogs, but you're not!"

Song Heping mercilessly refuted Samir's excuses, his voice as cold as the Siberian wind.

“Samir! Listen to me, and remember this to the core—God helps those who help themselves, and people help those who are strong! If you Iligos can’t stand up for yourselves, if your bones are as soft as noodles, and you keep fantasizing about Americans, Russians, or some other god or emperor coming to save you, then you’re just daydreaming! Look at your cowardly state now! You’ve even lost all the backbone you had during the Saddam era! Back then, you dared to challenge the Americans! And now? A bunch of giant babies!”

The name "Shadak" was like a red-hot branding iron, burning Samir's nerves.

A deathly silence fell over the other end of the phone; even breathing was so faint it was almost inaudible. Samir had been a staunch anti-Sadamu faction member; he and his people had shed blood and paid a heavy price to overthrow that tyrant.

However, after Saddam Hussein's noose fell, the "democracy" they had placed their hopes on brought only deeper divisions, corruption, and incompetence.

Song Heping's words struck Samir's deepest, most hidden, and most painful wound with unparalleled precision.

The "freedom" they gained through sacrifice now seems so pale and powerless, even less so than the era they hated in the past, when at least this land still possessed some iron will and toughness in the face of foreign enemies.

Samir was instantly overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of shame and powerlessness.

Seeing Song Heping's ashen face and his knuckles white from gripping the satellite phone so tightly, Utkin quickly moved closer, making exaggerated facial expressions and mouthing "calm down," then pointed at the phone and waved his hand forcefully.

The meaning couldn't be clearer—you've scolded him too harshly! You've silenced him! Don't forget that the operation later will still rely on the cooperation of his five thousand "noodle soldiers"!

If someone really gets yelled at and quits, the show tonight can't go on!
Song Heping took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently, forcibly suppressing the burning anger of disappointment.

He understood that Utkin's concerns were valid. Now was not the time to vent emotions; action had to be taken.

He exhaled a long, heavy breath into the microphone, as if to release all the pent-up frustration in his chest. His tone softened, and he abruptly changed the subject: "Alright... let's not talk about this shitty stuff anymore."

The anger in his voice was forcibly suppressed, but the coldness remained.

“You have five thousand men, then use those five thousand men! Remember what I taught you before! If you are really… really scared out of your wits by 1515 and dare not launch a full-scale attack on Mosul, that hornet's nest.”

Song Heping deliberately slowed his speech, enunciating each word clearly, "Then let's put the 'Viper Tactics' I taught you into practice! Do you remember what it is?"

Samir on the other end of the phone seemed to be a drowning man grasping at a straw; his voice immediately became urgent, with a relieved and obsequious tone: "I remember! I remember! Boss! Lure them out! Lure them out of their hole!"

He actually started answering the questions first.

"Correct!"

Song Heping's voice was resolute, carrying an unquestionable determination.

"The snake was hiding in its hole, and you stupidly reached out to grab it. You deserved to get bitten to death! Listen, take all your valuables—rocket launchers, mortars, old and worn out or newly acquired—and drag them all outside Mosul! Find a safe firing range and aim at those arrogant outposts, command posts, and their huddled barracks in the city! Don't be stingy with ammunition, bombard them hard! Make a huge commotion! The bigger the commotion, the better! Blow out the wrath of that snake in its hole!"

He paused, his tone taking on a cold, calculating edge: "Didn't you say that the 1515 armed force has been incredibly successful and invincible for the past year or so? That's right! These bastards are probably swaggering now, their noses practically in the air! They'd never imagine that there would be any 'cowards' who dare to challenge their 'invincible' authority! They'd never expect you could muster five thousand men! They'll definitely send men out of the city to pursue you, to crush these 'ignorant insects'! This is our opportunity!" Song Heping's speech quickened, his thoughts as clear as if he were strategizing on a sand table.

"Outside the city, find a suitable place—a narrow area that's easy to cover with firepower, like a dried-up riverbed or the outskirts of an abandoned town—and set up a trap for me in advance! As soon as the vanguard of their pursuers gets in, immediately tighten the trap! Close the door and beat them! Full firepower! Beat them to death! I've led you guys through this trick more than once! I don't need to teach you every step of the way again, do I?"

The last sentence was delivered in a stern, instructor-like tone.

"No! Absolutely not, boss!"

Samir's voice instantly rose eight octaves, filled with the exhilaration of being trusted and enlightened.

“I remember! I remember it clearly! Luring the enemy, setting an ambush, covering fire! I understand! I understand!” He assured him repeatedly, afraid that Song Heping would take back this “authorization”.

"Tonight's operation, Samir..."

Song Heping's tone became extremely serious once again.

“Listen, this isn’t just to support my rescue operation! It’s the first step in your self-rescue! Remember this well! If we succeed tonight and wipe out the elite force of 1515 that’s been chasing us, then you local militias will be able to stand tall for the first time in this fear-ridden land of northwestern Iligo!”

"It will also let everyone see that 1515 is not a three-headed, six-armed demon, not an invincible myth! They can die too! They can get beaten to a pulp!"

Song Heping's voice was like a heavy hammer, striking Samir's nerves.

"I wiped out an entire company of theirs in Isliya today with just a dozen or so men! You have five thousand guns! You can take down the hundreds of men who chased after us, right?! Once you've killed them and inflicted serious damage, the 1515 high command will not let it go. They will definitely transfer troops from the front lines in Siri to reinforce Mosul! As long as we achieve this 'luring the tiger away from the mountain' objective, our operation tonight will be more than half successful! Understand? As for how to retreat safely, that's something you, as the commander, must consider! Don't give me a fucking 'killing eight hundred enemies while losing five thousand of your own' kind of stupid play!"

"Understood! Absolutely understood, boss!"

Samir's answer was loud and decisive, as if he had been given a shot of adrenaline.

“Very good,” Song Heping glanced at the military watch on his wrist.

"Where exactly are you located south of Mosul?"

"It is located southeast of Al-Hamdaniya, about forty kilometers from the city of Mosul."

Samir quickly provided the precise coordinates.

"Hide it well! Let it blend into the ground like sand!"

Song Heping sternly instructed: "Without my orders, do not fire a single shot! If your position is exposed, the entire plan will be ruined, and you can expect to be surrounded and annihilated by 1515!"

"Don't worry, boss! We'll be just like shadows!" Samir declared confidently.

“There’s one more thing, Samir.”

Song Heping's tone suddenly softened, carrying a promise born of deep consideration.

"Once things settle down in Deir ez-Zor and I get the cook ready, I'll personally make a trip to northwestern Iligo. I'll bring you some 'gifts'..."

He paused deliberately, allowing the other person to process the information.

"By the way, send a few real experts over there to give your militia a good workout. We'll have to find 1515 for another 'practice session' then. Damn it, I don't believe you're all useless rotten mud that can't be plastered on a wall. There have to be at least a few usable bricks, right?"

"real?!"

Samir's voice on the other end of the phone instantly rose several notches, filled with unbelievable joy, his previous dejection and grievances completely swept away!

What level is Song Heping? He is a true king who has been tempered in the hellish battlefield. Back then, the Kold'd armed forces, the 1515 armed forces, and even top intelligence agencies and special forces such as the CIA all suffered losses at his hands!
His forced departure from Iligo back then was undoubtedly his biggest loss.

Samir has no doubt that if Song Heping had stayed, the 1515 armed group would never have been able to grow so rampant in the Northwest!

Now that the main force of the US military has withdrawn, the Northwest has become a dangerous area with a power vacuum. However, for top experts like Song Heping, who have no official background and are only employed by private security companies, it has become a "safe zone" where they can move relatively freely.

He promised to personally return to Iligo and help train his army...

Samir seemed to see a blazing light of hope suddenly appear in the darkness, instantly rekindling his ambition that had been almost extinguished by reality!
"Boss! I..."

Samir was so excited that he became somewhat incoherent.

"Enough with the nonsense!" Song Heping interrupted him rudely. "Get your performance tonight right! If you mess it up, forget about it! Now, get ready! I'm waiting for your 'good news'!" He ended the call decisively and pressed the hang-up button hard with his thumb.

The dial tone rang, indicating the call had been disconnected, but Song Heping held the satellite phone for a long time without letting go.

He turned his head slightly, his gaze once again fixed on the direction of Deir ez-Zor.

There, thick smoke continues to rise, silently telling the story of the city's suffering.

The boy's leaping figure in the binoculars, the leader's sinister grin, the cleaver gleaming with a deathly arc...

The immense humiliation of Mosul's defeat without a fight, as revealed in Samir's words, coiled around his heart like a cold, venomous snake.

Deir ez-Zor remained silent amidst blood and fire, while to the east, in Ilig, south of Mosul, a storm was brewing silently.

The fuse he lit with his own hands will eventually detonate the first thunderclap of resistance on this land ruled by fear.

"Our people have arrived."

Utkin came over and reported some exciting news.

"over there!"

He pointed south.

Song Heping raised his binoculars in the direction he was pointing and saw a long convoy speeding toward them.

"Tell them to stop at the foot of the mountain and find a place to hide. We're getting ready to set off. No rest tonight, let's get right to it!"

(End of this chapter)