Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 111 "What I Cannot Abandon" (A Long Chapter of 10,000 Words)

The Suez Canal, north of the Great Bitter Lake.

Several "frogmen" in diving suits surfaced from the water, and when they took off their rubber swimming caps, a few strands of wet blond hair stuck to their foreheads.

These soldiers from Zion Special Forces have just completed an underwater reconnaissance mission. They are tasked with ensuring that there are no booby traps set by Masr's forces in this section of the river, thus clearing the way for the subsequent construction of a pontoon bridge.

On the opposite bank of the river, the steel torrent of the 143rd Armored Division of Zion was gathering, with a uniform line of Chieftain tanks gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

This is Zion's most elite armored force, known as the "Yeshaven Division" because of its supreme commander.

Behind them, the vanguard of the 162nd Armored Division was already prepared to cross the river.

A few days ago, United Kingdom satellites captured images of a 30-kilometer gap between Masr's Second and Third Armies. At this moment, the General Staff's "Serris Farm" plan is being implemented across this gap.

The 162nd and 143rd Armored Divisions will advance rapidly through this breakthrough, bypassing the newly constructed pontoon bridge to reach the rear of Army Group Masr, completing the counter-encirclement and setting their sights on Cairo.

If the mission succeeds, Masr will have no choice but to surrender.

Why did the headquarters name this operation "Operation Seris Farm"?

Sergeant Leor asked, his respirator still dripping water, as the young soldier had just helped complete the final checks on the pontoon bridge.

The 62nd Division's elite troops are crossing the pontoon bridge with minimal engine noise, moving swiftly and quietly.

Lieutenant Tama, watching the troops crossing the pontoon bridge, explained, "It is said that this area was originally a farm opened up by agricultural experts from Seris hired by Masr. Those Easterners were all skilled at growing crops and managed to turn the desert into fertile land where crops could be grown."

"Serethans?" Sergeant Leor asked curiously. "What do they look like? I've seen Germans, Arabs, Slavs, and even black people from Africa, but I've never seen an Easterner!"

“Their skin was yellow, a bit darker than ours, but a bit lighter than the Arabs,” Lieutenant Tama recalled. “They had black hair and black eyes, and while they weren’t very tall, they were quite sturdy. What impressed me most was their diligence and ability to endure hardship.”

"Hey, need a ride?" A soldier crossing the bridge greeted them, indicating that the lieutenant could ride in his armored vehicle later.

"Thanks, but we still have to go back to the other side later," Lieutenant Tama waved to the group, "I wish you a successful mission."

At that moment, the car lights on the opposite bank turned on as a signal, three short and one long. Leor pressed the signal gun on his waist, then put it down, leaving wet fingerprints on his waist from his waterproof suit.

"Damn it, be careful!"

Suddenly, a metallic groan came from the pontoon bridge. The two men turned their heads at the same time and saw a half-track vehicle carefully passing through the seam.

However, the armored vehicle eventually made it to the other side of the river without any major incident.

Sergeant Leor laughed and said, "I often see Western media reports saying that Seres is a backward 'authoritarian' country, a bunch of uncivilized mobs. How can such a country become one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council?"

Lieutenant Tamar shook his head: "Don't read those news reports from the United Kingdom! Their reports are always biased, habitually distorting the facts, and only selecting information that aligns with their stance."

Sergeant Leor was still somewhat unconvinced: "So does that mean their reports calling for international help for Zion are also biased? Aren't they right?"

“I’m just stating the facts,” Lieutenant Tama said, looking at the armored forces advancing inland. “The Arabs fall after being conquered once, but the Seres, even if conquered a hundred times, will rise up for the hundred and first time by the same group of people.”

You only need to remember one thing: throughout three thousand years of history, from Solomon's Temple to Masada Fortress, the warriors of Zion have traversed three continents, but they stopped only at the walls of Seres.

This nation may be relatively backward now, but it possesses a power that Western countries will never understand.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Lu Lin felt homesick and missed the radish and shrimp soup his family used to make.

Eating seafood in the Middle East is difficult, especially during military campaigns where preservation is inconvenient, making fresh seafood even more scarce.

It's already autumn now. In the desert, the temperature starts to drop sharply as soon as the sun goes down. It's 30 or 40 degrees Celsius during the day, but at night it drops to just over 10 degrees Celsius, making your nose feel cold.

At this time, a bowl of shrimp soup would be such a wonderful thing.

"But can radishes really grow in the Middle East?"

Lu Lin started to have wild thoughts. Radishes are a plant with a lot of water content and are not very heat-resistant. They probably can't be grown in the desert, right?

What if we grow grapes? Isn't it said that fruits grown with a large temperature difference between day and night are sweeter?

"Major General," Ibrahim's words brought Lu Lin back to his senses. He handed Lu Lin the photos: "These are photos taken by the Air Force in Sergiad. It is said that they were almost hit by anti-aircraft missiles."

Fahd leaned closer, looking at the troops camouflaging in the photo, and asked, "What are the Zionians planning to do?"

“I guess they’re waiting for reinforcements to follow,” Ibrahim replied. “A long-distance raid, even with roads, would cause serious wear and tear on the tank tracks.”

Tanks are weapons designed for the flat terrain of Europe, and they can best utilize their strengths on dry concrete or asphalt roads.

In a place like the Middle East, with its sand and high temperatures, a tank that can travel 200 kilometers without breaking down is considered to be of excellent quality.

At this moment, Tamim, the battalion commander of the reconnaissance battalion, also came to report: "Major General, we have also discovered traces of Kurds in the north. They are gathering forces in Hitt."

Lu Lin: "Can you tell me the approximate scale?"

Tamim pursed his lips; this question was clearly beyond the scope of their reconnaissance capabilities.

"No need to guess, it's estimated to be at least the size of an armored division. In the worst-case scenario, it might also need an artillery division or a mechanized infantry division."

Ibrahim said, "The Kurds are equipped with a number of AMX light tanks, which are more mobile than regular armored forces."

"They're preparing to attack us from both sides."

Lu Lin was pondering the extent of the losses that would result if a fight were to break out.

There are many examples of winning with fewer troops in the history of modern warfare, but the key lies in whether you can accurately seize the enemy's weaknesses and strike them.

“Zion’s offensive has stretched their supply lines very thin,” Lu Lin analyzed. “If we can destroy their fuel supply trucks and other logistical units, it might cause the frontline troops to collapse without a fight.”

"But I'm afraid Zion will use a blitzkrieg tactic that disregards losses, and before we even get into a protracted battle, our defenses outside the city will be breached."

Ibrahim poured cold water on his enthusiasm: "Don't forget our supplies haven't arrived yet. Half of our tanks are still stuck in the city, and your favorite artillery is running out of ammunition."

Lu Lin looked at the nodes on the military map: "That depends on how well the United States' air force can provide support."

At that moment, a communications soldier relayed a message: "Major General, the Al-Ilag side wishes to contact you, saying they are willing to provide assistance."

Lu Lin and Ibrahim exchanged a glance.

Oh right, how could I forget about them!

“Let’s put the previous friction aside for now,” Ibrahim advised in a low voice. “The important thing right now is to get through this difficult time.”

“I have never had any conflict with Al-Irag, so don’t make things up.”

Lu Lin immediately distanced himself from the situation and then ordered the communications officer: "Reply to them that as long as we work together to fight Zion, everything is negotiable."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the banks of the Euphrates River, Major Baksh is checking the supply situation of the armored troops.

"Tape! We need tape!"

Corporal Dillar exclaimed, "Major, duct tape is a really good thing! Wrapping it around a gun reduces sand and dust from getting in, wrapping it around the edge of a tank sight eliminates glare, and as for yesterday's suggestion of using nylon stockings as a filter, you need to use duct tape to secure it!"

The machine gunner, Habib, laughed and said, "Baksh, just agree to it. This guy is practically a duct tape maniac. I suspect he'd use duct tape to fix even a crack in the tank armor!"

A burst of laughter erupted on the position, but Major Baksh did not immediately join in. Instead, he stroked his chin, seriously considering the corporal's suggestion: "It does make sense. When gauze is unavailable, duct tape can be used as an emergency substitute, of course, only in emergencies."

Adhesive tape does indeed have a nickname on the battlefield: a "universal repair tool." It can be used to fix bullet holes, reinforce boots, and even be wrapped around gun grips to prevent slippage.

Of course, we shouldn't be overly superstitious about it, since tape is usually only a temporary solution.

Just as they were having a heated discussion, they heard the sound of an engine coming from the other side of the river.

Everyone turned to look at the same time, and saw that Shuangzhi's soldiers were directing the construction of a pontoon bridge, and several armored personnel carriers with flags were lined up and slowly driving towards them.

"Al-Iraq's convoy?"

Tank gunner Manav frowned, put down his repair tools, and looked at him with a rather unfriendly expression: "What are they doing here at this time?"

“Picking the fruits of others’ labor,” Corporal Dilar sneered, spitting on the ground. “The battle’s over, and now you know to come and reap the rewards? Shameless!”

At that moment, inside the lead troop carrier, Adi Ben-Attiyah, the deputy secretary-general of the Al-Ilag Party Committee, was adjusting his tie in front of the rearview mirror.

He carefully pushed the knot of his dark blue tie to the center of his shirt collar and smoothed out the fine wrinkles on his suit.

The secretary smiled and said, "Should we turn on the loudspeaker so that the people of Ghanam know we're back and that Al-Irag hasn't abandoned them?"

“Of course,” Deputy Secretary-General Adi gave himself a final check, nodded in satisfaction, and said in a calm and firm voice, “that is one of the purposes of our trip.”

So the driver turned on the radio, and the sound came from the speaker on the roof of the car:

"Fellow citizens of Ghanam, the Al-Ilag government stands with you. Together, we will witness the arrival of peace and reconstruction on this land scarred by hardship."

The convoy slowly drove through the city, the sound of broadcasts echoing through the devastated streets.

Deputy Secretary-General Adi turned his gaze to the window and noticed that many people stopped and looked at the flags fluttering on the vehicle, which made him smile with satisfaction—until he saw a little boy playing football by the roadside who, upon seeing the approaching vehicle, spat on the ground without hesitation.

Deputy Secretary-General Adi looked somewhat embarrassed. "Shut it down."

The driver then turned off the radio, and the broadcast stopped abruptly. The entire convoy remained eerily silent as it headed towards the headquarters.

Upon arrival at the destination, Deputy Secretary-General Adi had just gotten out of the car when he saw a young general wearing a Shuangzhi Army uniform.

The major general's epaulets on the other person's shoulders gleamed in the sunlight. His young face was exactly the same as the photos in the newspaper, and he exuded an aura completely different from those pampered royal nobles.

Deputy Secretary-General Adi smiled and extended his hand to the young major general: "Adi Ben Atiyah, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ba'ath Party."

Lu Lin extended his hand and shook it lightly with him. "Amir, Commander of the Shuangzhi Northern Expeditionary Force, this way please, Deputy Secretary-General."

The group entered the temporary command center for the temple renovation, and the originally spacious command hall suddenly became crowded.

Lu Lin noticed that Deputy Secretary-General Adi was looking around, so he asked, "What are you looking for?"

Deputy Secretary-General Adi withdrew his gaze and then smiled, "I had expected to see crossed double swords and Persian carpets. It seems you are quite different from those ostentatious Arab officers, and more like our secular style."

After the Ba'ath Party came to power, it overthrew the monarchy and established a secular government modeled after Ant, although in reality it was closer to authoritarian rule.

Lu Lin: "I don't care about whether it's the royal faction or the secular faction. For me, pragmatism is the key. Any method that can win battles is a good method."

Adi nodded slightly. "I will convey your words to our generals; they should all learn from this pragmatic spirit."

"Let's leave the small talk here, Mr. Adi." Lu Lin changed the subject: "Zion's forces are approaching Garnam, and now is the time for unity. How much support have you brought?"

“An armored brigade and an artillery brigade,” Adi replied immediately. “Both are elite troops drawn from the 9th Armored Division. I heard the major general is an expert in commanding artillery, so we specifically added artillery units.”

Lu Lin's brows relaxed a little after hearing this. Although it was still not enough, it at least relieved some of the immediate crisis.

Deputy Secretary-General Adi's expression shifted to one of righteous indignation: "Our withdrawal from the Euphrates front last time was a last resort! Those Kurds betrayed us, secretly colluding with Zion to launch a surprise attack on the capital while our main forces were fighting in Euphrates! They deserve to be torn to pieces!"

Isn't this the bitter fruit you sowed by slaughtering people back then?

Lu Lin thought to himself.

For some reason, it seems that the whole of the Arab world is wary of the Kurds, as if they are on guard against the emergence of a second Saladin-like monarch.

After venting his emotions, Deputy Secretary General Adi said seriously, "But please rest assured, all Al-Iraq troops, from soldiers to officers, including myself, will stay in Ghanam and fight to the end!"

“It’s good that you have such determination.” Lu Lin nodded.

Then Deputy Secretary General Adi whispered to him, "We have already provided the support, we just hope you can make an exception."

"What do you mean?" Lu Lin raised an eyebrow, pretending not to understand.

Adi continued in a low voice, "Ghanam is a strategic location connecting the east and west of our country. The Secretary General specifically instructed that we can discuss anything you want: funds, equipment, oil sharing, and even two more armored brigades."

Lu Lin scoffed, "Then why didn't you negotiate with Zion back then?"

Deputy Secretary-General Adi looked somewhat embarrassed.

But he also knew that Major General Amir's decision to open this door and their arrival in Ghanam already hinted at a certain possibility.

When finalizing the details, Lu Lin said, "Zion's troops are stationed in Sergei, so it's really unlikely that we can evacuate all the city's residents now, but we can move the children out first."

At this moment, an officer from Al-Irag—judging from his shoulder insignia, he was a colonel, probably a brigade commander or chief of staff—asked, "I would like to ask, Major General, just how large is the Zion forces we are about to face?"

“Conservatively speaking, two armored divisions, and possibly a mechanized infantry division,” Ibrahim answered for Lu Lin from the side. “We just received intelligence that the Kurds to the north are gathering in Hitt, about 200 kilometers away.”

Upon hearing "two hundred kilometers" and "at least two divisions," Deputy Secretary-General Adi's expression suddenly froze.

Lu Lin keenly noticed that this number made the Al-Ilag officers present tense and uneasy.

Could it be that these people came here without knowing anything?

Adi Ben-Attiyah felt a cold sweat break out all at once. During the Six-Day War, Zion had broken through Surria and western Al-Ilag with just one 38th Panzer Division.

The sight of flamethrower tanks rolling over trenches and turning soldiers into burning figures has become a nightmare for the Afghan army.

And this time you're telling me two came?!

Deputy Secretary-General Adi regretted his boast earlier; he had thought there would be at most two brigades.

The terms "师" (shī) and "旅" (lǚ) have completely different meanings and cannot be simply evaluated using multiples.

To put it simply, it's like the difference between a boxer facing two opponents versus facing twenty opponents. It's not just a difference in quantity, but a qualitative change, a strategic crushing defeat.

“Your Excellency Amir,” Deputy Secretary-General Adi said, his throat feeling dry, but he finally spoke, “How about we discuss this further?”

He couldn't even imagine what a cataclysmic scene would be if war really broke out. With the limited troops they had, it would be better to retreat directly and preserve their strength.
The thought of retreat suddenly gave Deputy Secretary-General Adi a sense of relief. Lu Lin reassured him, "We have already contacted the United States, and they will provide us with military aid and supplies. We just need to get through this period."

Adi: "This period of time refers to..."

Just then, the piercing wailing of the air raid siren suddenly tore through the sky.

Everyone in the command center instinctively bent their knees, lowered their heads, and looked up at the ceiling.

The monitor shouted, "Radar contact! Multiple high-speed targets to the southeast!"

Air raid!

Lu Lin reacted immediately. Along with the air raid siren, the MIM-23 Hawk missile sites deployed near Canam also responded. As white smoke rose, the anti-aircraft rockets streaked into the sky.

Lu Lin switched to Enqidu's perspective and saw six red diamond-shaped marks appearing in the southeast direction.

"Six-machine echelon"

Lu Lin's pupils contracted slightly as he realized that this was likely a standard formation of wingmen escorting bombers.

"Get me the anti-aircraft positions!" He snatched the radio: "Order the low-altitude anti-aircraft guns to open fire immediately! Create a crossfire network! We absolutely cannot let Zion's flight echelon get close to the city!"

The first Hawk missile exploded in front of the enemy formation, and the Mirage III aircraft immediately dispersed into an attack formation.

By this time, the Zion aircraft group was close enough that Lu Lin could see the difference between the three fighters behind and the three in front: their noses were shorter and blunter, and their pitot tubes were placed on both sides of the nose.

Phantom V!
"They really came for the bombing," Lu Lin thought to himself, confirming his suspicions.

The Mirage III, acting as the navigator, released a cloud of chaff, which steered the remaining Hawk missiles off course, followed by a flash of fire under the wing of the fighter jet.

Four anti-radiation missiles struck in reverse along the radar beam of the MIM-23. The most recent explosion occurred at the No. 3 air defense site outside the city, with flames shooting into the air like mushrooms and burning hydraulic oil turning into black raindrops that fell to the ground.

"Anti-radiation missile?"

Lu Lin was somewhat surprised. These must be weapons that the United Kingdom or France had recently equipped Zion with. He hadn't seen them before the war began.

Suddenly, a continuous roar erupted from the ground as the six-barreled Vulcan anti-aircraft guns began to spew fire, the barrage shooting into the sky and forming a burning steel wire that severed the right wing of a Mirage III.

But in the brief interval between the Hawk missile reloading, two Mirage V aircraft seized the opportunity to swoop down over the city, and bombs rained down on them.

The roar of explosions echoed throughout the city, and Lu Lin suddenly felt a powerful force knock him down.

The next second, a deafening explosion came from outside the command post. The shockwave ripped off the walls, and concrete fragments shot into the room like cannonballs, knocking everyone to the ground.

"Air defense brigade! Air defense brigade!"

Lu Lin shouted into the radio. He vaguely heard someone speaking, but the explosion had temporarily deafened him.

So he switched back to the eagle's perspective. The two Mirage Vs had also paid the price for their adventure. One of them had its engine and hydraulic system pierced, trailing oil mist as it flew over the city. The other was also billowing black smoke and was retreating under the cover of its wingman.

Lu Lin looked around and found that Deputy Secretary-General Adi was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is he?!" Lu Lin questioned the guard at the door.

The guard, also knocked to the ground by the explosion and covered in dust, had just gotten up when he pointed in the direction the car had left: "Two men in suits came out of the house and drove off."

Upon hearing this, Lu Lin's anger surged. "Contact the troops stationed along the riverbank! Stop any vehicle attempting to cross the river!"

"Fahd!"

A disheveled and dirty-looking Fahd emerged from the smoke: "Major General! Shall we give chase?"

"Nonsense! Find a car, and hurry!"

Soon, the car carrying Lu Lin sped towards the riverbank, where many still-shaken people gathered.

Someone angrily pointed in the direction the car had just left: "That was Al-Irag's car! They've abandoned this city once again!"

"You don't still have any expectations for them, do you?" another person sneered. "Everyone saw through them long ago. They came with a bang, but they ran away faster than anyone else."

"What about the major general?" someone suddenly asked. "The major general also went in that direction."

Silence spread through the crowd. A guerrilla fighter with a white bandage wrapped around his shoulder reassured everyone, "Don't worry, the major general must have gone after those people."

That being said, an uneasy atmosphere enveloped everyone's hearts.

The major general is trustworthy, but what if he is?
He had never made any promises to the city, nor was he a soldier in the country.

Looking at the sky stained red by the flames of war, everyone understood that Zion's revenge had only just begun.

If the major general leaves with Al-Iraq's group of traitors, who will they be able to rely on then?
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Fahd floored the accelerator and sped off, quickly bringing Lu Lin to the riverbank position.

At this moment, the deputy secretary-general was already bound hand and foot and forced to kneel on the ground.

"Insect!"

Lu Lin roared, "How could you desert?! Do you even deserve to lead the people?!"

Adi Ben Attiyah's hair was disheveled, his once-immaculate suit was now wrinkled, and his tie was askew. He looked up at Lu Lin and asked, "Leader? Major General, tell me, what are we going to fight with?"

“We can’t beat Zion at all! Their weapons are far superior, and their troops outnumber ours by several times!” Deputy Secretary General Adi shouted. “You’re the one who told me all this. I can fight for the people, but I can’t go and die!”

Lu Lin angrily rebuked, "You would never do anything for the people! You selfish and foolish idiot, you're scared out of your wits by an air raid, you only live for yourself!"

“I acknowledge your military talent,” Deputy Secretary-General Adi’s tone suddenly became sincere: “You will become the most outstanding general in the Arab world, a great marshal like Rokossov, but not now. The most important thing to become a great person is to stay alive!”

Lu Lin really wanted to shoot this hopeless bastard dead; every word the other person said was constantly pushing the boundaries of his bottom line.

At this time, other people also arrived, including high-ranking officers from Lu Lin's army and officers from Al-Irag.

“You will stay here with your troops,” Lu Lin said, glancing back at the group of people with their fascinating expressions. He then gave the order to the deputy secretary-general: “You will keep your promise until victory or your last breath.”

"You arrogant idiot!"

Adi Ben Attiyah suddenly widened his eyes, his voice sounding like it was being squeezed out from between his throat and teeth, his gaze almost devouring Lu Lin: "You wish! You can't take this unit with you! This unit belongs to Al-Iraq!! I won't give you a single shell, not even a bullet! You can take your stupidity and this city with you to your grave!!"

Lu Lin drew his gun and pointed it directly at the deputy secretary-general's forehead.

"Shoot! Shoot if you dare!!" Adi, acting like a madman, yelled at the people behind Lu Lin, "Listen up, all the troops, don't..."

boom--!
The gun fired, and a burst of blood bloomed on Adi Ben Attiyah's forehead. His eyes were wide open as he fell to the ground.

Bandar reacted the fastest, grabbing his pistol and immediately taking control of all the Al-Iraq officers present.

Lu Lin turned around, looked at the Al-Irag officers lined up with their hands raised, and asked, "Who is the highest-ranking among you now?"

The bald man who had spoken at headquarters earlier stepped forward. "It should be me."

Lu Lin nodded and pointed his gun at Deputy Secretary-General Adi lying on the ground. "You should have seen his fate. Now, send all your troops across the river. Fine, wait on the other side. But unload all your equipment and wait for my men to take over."

The bald man seemed about to say something but hesitated, only to be silenced by Lu Lin's calm gaze: "Remember, this is what you owe this city."

After finishing all this, Lu Lin found a place to sit down, lit a cigarette, and watched the soldiers coming and going on the pontoon bridge.

"What are you thinking about?" Yehena walked up from behind him.

"."

Lu Lin felt his hands being enveloped. Yehena held his hands and said, "I can feel your confusion. Although I don't know how to help you solve it, maybe this will make you feel better."

"Thank you." Lu Lin did feel a bit better.

Because when Adi Ben Attiyah was executed, another thought came to his mind.

When the idea first came to him, it began to sprout uncontrollably, and he even regretted having the thought.

That means first retreating to the other side of the river, and then coming back to fight when the United States and Ant's supplies arrive.

At that time, he had a strong and well-equipped army, capable of both offense and defense. He could have directed artillery bombardment while simultaneously sending air force to bomb Zion's supply lines.

He's already done a siege once; it's just a matter of doing it again.

The only problem is the hundreds of thousands of people in this city. He and his troops can retreat, but the people here can only face the Zionites' Molotov cocktails and poison gas.

Lu Lin recalled when he first entered Ghana, he saw charred corpses hanging on the lampposts by the roadside, and those bloody scenes stimulated his nerves.

As long as this city falls into Zion's hands, it will revert to the Jahannam (hell) it once was.

Then he saw Ahmed gazing across the river. The name reminded him of his former adjutant, though there were many people in the Middle East named Ahmed.

"Major General." Ahmed greeted Lu Lin when he saw him.

“Ahmed,” Lu Lin hesitated for a moment before speaking, “If I said we were to retreat to the other side of the river and wait for supplies to arrive before fighting back, would you come with us?”

Ahmed paused for a moment, then shook his head: "This is everything to me. I will fight in this city to the last moment."

But Major General, if you want to go, then go. Please don't feel guilty, because you don't owe us anything.

Lu Lin suddenly stood up and strode towards the pontoon bridge. The soldiers on both sides made way for him.

Without him noticing, Ibrahim and Bandar were standing behind him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In Rose Square, a lean young man was confidently describing what he had witnessed: "I saw with my own eyes a convoy flying the Al-Ilag flag fleeing towards the riverbank! Following behind were Major General Amir's car, and a whole bunch of officers' cars! They're abandoning this city!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" a guerrilla fighter reprimanded. "The major general has led the guerrillas to chase after the traitor. How dare you spread rumors here?"

“That’s hard to say,” the young man grinned, revealing a mocking smile. “Aren’t all those big shots the same? You really think that Amir is all the same?”

"How dare you slander Major General Amir?!"

Suddenly, a soldier named Ulima rushed out from the crowd and shouted, "I suspect he's a spy sent by Zion! Someone who deliberately took advantage of the chaos to cause trouble! Take him away and interrogate him thoroughly!"

The young man's face changed drastically, but it was too late. Several soldiers pounced on him like wolves, pinned him to the ground, and dragged him away.

However, the words of the young people continued to resonate among the crowd, and feelings of panic and confusion quietly spread.

The Grand Imam of Tamil watched from the side, and one of the Ulimas asked, "Your Excellency, what should we do now?"

“We must stabilize public morale.” After a moment of contemplation, Taimiye made a decision: “Immediately announce the news that the Major General will succeed as Governor, and broadcast it throughout the city so that the people know that we stand with them.”

Ulima accepted the order and quickly ran to the broadcasting station.

About ten minutes later, the city's loudspeakers simultaneously broadcast:

"Fellow countrymen of Ghanam! God has granted us a new protector! Major General Amir has officially assumed the post of Governor of Ghanam. He will be fully responsible for the military control, restoration of livelihoods, and allocation of resources in the region until the end of the war."

The silence lasted for a breathtaking three seconds, then erupted into deafening cheers.

An elderly man with white hair knelt down, trembling, his withered fingers sinking deep into the sand.
The young mother held the baby high, tears streaming down her dusty face, leaving two clear streaks.

The guerrillas embraced each other and wept, making prayer gestures with their fingers on their chests.

People spontaneously knelt and prayed towards Mecca, and the devout chanting gradually gathered into a torrent.

As the Grand Imam of Tamil Emanuel watched this scene, he sighed softly. He knew that the hearts of the city had been reunited, albeit only temporarily.

The rest is up to you, Major General.

The news that Major General Amir bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Shuangzhi had succeeded to the position of governor at this critical juncture spread like wildfire throughout the city.

Surprisingly, the people of Ghanam did not resist this at all and quickly accepted the fact.

And so the city once again had a new master.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

At the same time, Lu Lin, standing in front of the pontoon bridge, suddenly felt a strange impulse that drove him to switch to Enzidu's perspective and look down on the city of Ghanam from high above.

He soon discovered something unexpected: the Eagle Vision had an automatic marking function, with green representing directly subordinate units and white representing allied units.

But right under his nose, a white marker suddenly turned green.

Lu Lin thought he was seeing things.

And then he saw them: two, three, twenty, a hundred!

The white markers are constantly turning green, and the speed is getting faster and faster!
The green wave was like a "virus," starting from a few points and spreading to the entire city in just a few minutes!

Lu Lin had never encountered such a situation before, and his mouth dropped open in surprise.

"what happened?"

Ibrahim saw the major general sway, as if he had lost his balance.

"……nothing."

Lu Lin withdrew his gaze, not glancing at the opposite bank again, and said:
"We should go back."

　I recommend a great song, "~100 Times of Regret~", which I've been playing on repeat all afternoon.

(End of this chapter)