Mercenary I am the king

Chapter 974 Blood and Fire on the Lebia Chessboard
The Republic of Seine, northern border, the core defense base of "Musician".

This private military fortress, built on an abandoned oasis and rugged mountains, is nestled deep in the embrace of yellow sand and wind-eroded rocks, far from the main roads, with only a hidden dirt road covered by a dense network of surveillance cameras leading to the outside world.

The towering sand-colored walls are topped with barbed wire and concealed surveillance cameras. The heavy machine gun muzzles, clad in desert camouflage, silently scan the scorching, undulating horizon from the watchtowers.

The air distorted and steamed under the midday sun, with only the tumbleweeds rolling in the deathly silence, making a soft rustling sound, which added to the desolate atmosphere.

Deep within the base, in a combat intelligence center (TOC) constructed of reinforced concrete and devoid of any windows, the atmosphere was even more intense and tense than a desert midday.

The heavy, soundproof door was tightly shut, isolating all external noise. The walls were covered with sound-absorbing material, and the low hum of the air circulation system was the only background noise.

A huge electronic sand table occupies the center of the room, meticulously displaying the topography of North Africa, especially Lebia and its North Darfur region bordering Seine.

On the sand table, colored dots representing different armed factions and their spheres of influence are intertwined, with the dark blue dot representing Haftar's "National Army" (LNA) and the eastern part of the desert city controlled by it highlighted.

In the west, the orange dot representing the Western-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) firmly entrenched itself in Tripoli and the crucial Sidra Gulf oil port.

At the edge of the sand table, several tactical folding tables were pushed together, covered with satellite photos, intelligence briefings, weapons performance manuals, and empty coffee cups.

The air was thick with the smell of caffeine, sweat, and a metallic, gunpowder-scented scent that belonged to veterans.

Song Heping stood at the main control position of the sand table, his hands resting on the cold metal edge, his body leaning slightly forward, his eyes scanning every detail on the sand table with the sharpness of a hawk.

The enormous funds brought by the Mbala Diamond Mine Memorandum were, in his eyes, nothing more than cold chips on a chessboard to be manipulated.

He had been here all night, waiting for crucial news.

Inside the MI6 headquarters in London, the lights must be blazing at this moment, with countless intelligence agents analyzing his movements and plotting a fatal blow.

If the British want him dead, then he will make them pay an unbearable price.

Nothing in life matters except death; since there is no fear, there is nothing to worry about.

"boss!"

The heavy soundproof door was pushed open, and Henry's figure appeared in the doorway, bringing with him a breath of dry, scorching air from outside.

The former British military intelligence officer, now the chief intelligence advisor for "Musician" defense, had a hint of fatigue from long-distance communications on his face, but his eyes were unusually bright.

"We've made contact! A preliminary agreement has been reached with Haftar!"

A barely perceptible crease finally appeared on Song Heping's tense face. He straightened up, his gaze shooting towards Henry like lightning: "Specific conditions?"

Henry strode to the sand table, picked up the laser pointer, and pointed the red dot at the area controlled by Haftar in eastern Libya: "Haftar's forces are indeed in a precarious situation right now, squeezed into a narrow strip of land in the east by the GNA and the Western powers behind them. They lack heavy equipment and an effective tactical command system, and their morale is also affected. He urgently needs strong external support to break the deadlock, especially support that can provide sustained firepower and professional training."

Henry paused, his tone carrying the calm analysis characteristic of an intelligence officer.

“He was very interested in our proposal, especially the overall ‘equipment + training’ plan. Of course, he also had concerns, mainly about the depth of our involvement and the subsequent political risks.”

"However, given the current situation, he has no other choice. His initial intention is to accept our military assistance in exchange for priority cooperation and a share of future oil interests in the East. Specific details will need to be discussed in private later, but he has agreed to our proposed 'key personnel training' program, and the first batch of personnel can cross the border secretly at any time."

"very good."

Song Heping's voice was deep and powerful.

“Tell him that we are providing him with more than just equipment and training; we are providing him with leverage to influence the entire situation in Lebanon. We will repay the British with double the pressure they put on him. Let him prepare to receive his first ‘gifts.’”

"but……"

Henry suddenly hesitated when he saw that Song Heping had made up his mind to confront MI6 head-on.

After all, he himself was British, and he was well aware of MI6's capabilities.

That's a long-established military intelligence agency; its predecessor was even founded earlier than the CIA.

When it comes to capabilities, MI6 is truly something to be proud of.

“Once we get involved in the situation in Lebanon, there will be no turning back. You need to think this through.”

Song Heping shifted his gaze from Henry to the sand table, his fingertips tracing the eastern coastline of Libya, the red dot of the laser pointer landing precisely on the large oil terminal sign for "Ras Lanuf".

"Henry, remember this: passive defense is always the dumbest choice. Those bastards in London sitting in their air-conditioned rooms, under M's command, have definitely etched our names on their 'purge' list by now! They can't swallow the hatred for Sena, the blood of the SAS! Waiting for them to come knocking on our door? That's not our company's style!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a cold, penetrating quality that instantly lowered the scorching atmosphere in the room by several degrees.

"Ms. M wants us to disappear, very well. Let her see who makes whose core interests disappear faster and more thoroughly first."

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the other core members of the company in the room.

"Our target is Britain's lifeline in Lebanon – oil."

Song Heping pointed his laser pointer at the port of Ras Lanuf.

"This is the root of their involvement in Lebia, their most sensitive nerve. Only by cutting it off, or letting it change hands, will the gentlemen of London truly feel the pain of the financial city's upheaval."

He Linsi immediately started working on the tablet, and a complex intelligence analysis chart lit up on the large screen.

"confirm."

His voice was completely flat.

"The oil interests of giants like BP and Shell in the Gulf of Sidra are a strategic lifeline for Britain. The three major terminals of Ras Lanuf, Brega and Sidra control nearly 70% of Lebanon's export capacity. Currently, they are controlled by the GNA and are covered by Western naval forces for 'peacekeeping' cover. The GNA is Britain's proxy in Lebanon."

Ferrari added: "Market data clearly shows that Lebanese oil is crucial to the UK's energy security. Any fluctuations in these ports will directly impact Brent crude prices and shake the UK economy. Hitting here is hitting the UK's national purse."

"So, to kill a snake, you must strike its vital spot!" He licked his chapped lips and laughed.

"Haftar is the best knife, perfect for cutting the flesh of the British! They are inherently at odds with the British, and they have the shadows of Egypt, the UAE, and even Russia behind them. This armed group has great ambitions, but its current capabilities do not match its ambitions. Cooperating with us is their only way out."

Song Heping nodded slightly, and the laser pointer moved towards the dark blue area controlled by Haftar's forces.

"Their leader, Haftar, is a pragmatic military man, grounded, ambitious, and opposed to extremism. This stands in stark contrast to the mixed bag within the GNA."

“His goals are highly aligned with our strategy of targeting British interests. Supporting him would not only severely damage Britain, but also provide us with a potential foothold in Lebanon for the future.”

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze becoming as precise as a scalpel.

"But his troops are currently equipped with a hodgepodge of outdated equipment from various countries, and their tactics are at the guerrilla level. They can carry out ambushes, but a frontal assault on heavily guarded ports and oil fields with Western intelligence support and potential air cover? They are simply not up to the task."

"Therefore, our intervention must strike at the heart of the matter."

Song Heping held up two fingers. "First, weaponry. Large quantities of systematic heavy equipment that can be rapidly deployed to form combat capabilities. Second, training. A core assault force capable of skillfully utilizing this equipment and executing complex assault missions."

Collins quickly pulled up a detailed weapons list and projected it onto the big screen.

"Boss, the funds are in place, and arms aren't the bottleneck. Our arms trading channels are well-established, especially in the Middle East, so shipping them here won't be a problem. Right now, Haftar urgently needs—"

Armored assault force: Refurbished T-72 tanks and BMP-1/2 infantry fighting vehicles. Rugged and durable, suitable for desert environments. Quantity: At least one reinforced company (30+ vehicles).

炮兵支援： D-30 122mm榴弹炮，BM-21“冰雹”火箭炮。压制火力关键。数量：炮连（6-8门），火箭炮连（4-6门）。

Anti-armor/anti-aircraft: Massive RPG-7 anti-tank missiles (AT-4/Milan); ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun (powerful for direct fire), portable anti-aircraft missiles.

Small arms and ammunition: AK series, PKM machine gun, SVD sniper rifle and a large quantity of ammunition.

Logistical support: tanker trucks, ammunition trucks, and repair vehicles. Indispensable.

"That's a great list!"

Henry looked at the list, a hint of worry appearing on his face.

"But how do we get it into Haftar's hands? The British are definitely keeping a close watch on Egypt!"

"I'm not going to Egypt."

Song Heping spoke coldly, pointing the laser pointer at North Darfur, where Seine and Lebia meet, on the sand table.

“Using our ‘special relationship’ with ISIS and the secrecy of the Rock Base, arms can be unloaded from Port Sudan or the coast of Somaliland, or even detoured to the west coast of Africa, landed in Angola, and then, through our controlled smuggling network, broken into smaller shipments and transported by heavy desert trucks across no-man's-land to Haftar’s controlled areas in the eastern heart of Lebanon.”

"Although the route was long and arduous, the British were unable to effectively track this smuggling method of moving goods like ants, and satellites could not effectively monitor every small convoy. The risks were tribal militias and bandits along the way."

"Leave the escort to me!" White Bear thumped his chest, exuding a murderous aura. "I'll personally lead the team, using our most elite squads, armed pickup trucks to clear the way, and heavy machine guns to cover the rear! Anyone who dares to lay a finger on us, I'll riddle them with bullets, man and camel!"

"very good."

Song Heping nodded.

“Nura can definitely help with this. Go find her and ask her to work with you to develop an escort plan.”

Then it points to the "Rock" base on the sand table.

“We will secretly select 300-500 key personnel from Haftar’s most elite and loyal troops. They will be disguised as ‘tribal militia’ or ‘caravan guards’ and sent in small groups to cross the North Darfur border into our base for 3-6 months of intensive, grueling training.”

"Jiang Feng is personally in charge of the instructor team."

Song Heping's gaze fell on his capable assistant.

"I want you to build a tactically sound and formidable force as quickly as possible! This team will be the vanguard and pillar in the future battles to seize oil ports! It will be a sharp blade thrust into the hearts of the GNA and the British!"

"Understood, Sergeant!"

Jiang Feng's eyes burned with an almost fanatical fighting spirit, as if he had returned to his military days.

"I will use the training methods we used in the training team back then to squeeze every last drop of oil out of them! I'll let them know that three months of training with us is worth ten years of aimless wandering in the desert! When they go back, they'll be sharp knives that can tear everything apart!"

Song Heping's gaze returned to the sand table, fixed on the coastline in eastern Lebanon that held the secrets of black gold.

Raslanuf, Brega, Siddar…

In his eyes, these names had become the pulsating heartbeat of the City of London, and the expensive bill that needed to be paid for the "purge" order on Ms. M's desk.

Operation code name: 'Severed flow'.

Song Heping's voice echoed in the room like a weld seam in winter.

"Cut off the British oil lifeline and make Ms. M and her colleagues in London pay the most painful economic and political price for their arrogance. White Bear and Nura, develop detailed plans and contingency plans for arms procurement and transportation routes within 72 hours. Ferrari and Jiang Feng, produce plans for training syllabi and personnel selection within 48 hours. The first batch of key personnel must secretly arrive at the base for training within a month."

He clapped his hands vigorously.

"We're pressed for time. Are we going to let the British still be indulging in their Victorian dream of controlling the chessboard? Do they think they can solve everything with encrypted telegrams and spies hidden in the shadows?"

Song Heping's lips curled into an extremely cold smile, devoid of any genuine laughter, only exuding an aura of ruthless killing intent born of iron and blood.

"Then let's use real financial losses to bring them to their senses. On this chessboard, it's us who set the rules and make the fatal move, not them!"

(End of this chapter)