Middle Eastern tyrants

Chapter 8 Red and Black

On the radio, Zion Prime Minister Albert Maimonides is delivering a wartime speech:

"The Lord said, 'I will make Zion a burning torch; I will burn away the thorns and thistles all around in an instant.'" (Zechariah 12:6)

An aged yet powerful voice rang out from the radio: "Fellow countrymen! Tonight our warplanes are soaring over the Sinai sky, and our tanks are raising the dust familiar to our ancestors in the Hashim Valley."

When the enemy tightens their grip on our throats on three fronts, I will tell the world—the people of Zion never wait for the noose!

Seventy years ago, when our grandfathers first raised the flag of national reconciliation in Basel, the world responded with ridicule: 'A bunch of blanket merchants dare to establish a nation?'

Thirty years ago, while our fathers were praying before the crematoriums in concentration camps, the civilized world closed the doors of all its ports.

Nineteen years ago, on the day we founded our nation, the moment seven Arab legions crossed the border, where was the United Nations? Where was international law?
Today, Masr's army has blockaded the Strait of Tiran, Surya's artillery fire is falling on the wheat fields of Galilee Farms, and Rahim's tanks are rolling over the UN-designated ceasefire line—and they call us 'aggressors'?!

While the whole world is urging us to 'exercise restraint,' I ask: Do we have to wait until MiG fighters bomb the Wailing Wall? Until poison gas from Damascus floods the cellars of Tel Aviv?

The people of Zion will never again place their hopes for survival on the mercy of their enemies!
Some accuse us of disrupting the peace, but I say this: while we were building irrigation systems in the desert, they were building military bases; while our scientists were developing drip irrigation technology, their radio stations were broadcasting day and night the message of "driving the Zionians into the sea!"
This is the peace they want—a grave without Zionians!
At this moment, I want to say to the soldiers on the front lines: You are writing a new Book of Judges!
Artillery observer in the Golan Heights, what you see through your binoculars is the valley where Gideon defeated the Midianites!
Armored soldiers of the Sinai Peninsula, beneath your tracks lies the ancient road through which Moses parted the Red Sea!
And every citizen of Jerusalem, with your shovel and rifle, is rebuilding the city walls from the time of King Hezekiah!
Yes, the superiority of our system is illuminating this darkness. While commanders in Cairo need to seek approval from higher authorities, our lieutenants can directly change operational plans for the sake of war; while generals in Damascus are busy suppressing coups, our parliament is unanimously passing wartime legislation.

This is why a nation without oil or strategic depth can create the miracle of milk and honey in the desert!

Finally, I want to say to all the mothers of Zion, the Psalm pamphlets you tucked into the soldiers' packs with tears in your eyes are stronger than any armor.

Tell the children to remember tonight's air raid siren; it will inspire them to build even taller watchtowers in the future.
We will tell the world that we do not want an inch of other people's land, but we will never hand over half an inch of our ancestors' heritage!

If this is destiny, then let Zion become the refined gold in the furnace! Even if the whole world is against us, our eternal vow will never change!

Amen. "

Lu Lin rubbed his aching temples, wondering if Zion's air force had forgotten about them. The Nukoshir outpost hadn't been bombed a second time last night, which had kept him on edge all night.

He had just picked up his coffee cup when the guard burst through the door.

"Major, there's been some trouble at the refugee camp."

Lu Lin's coffee cup trembled slightly.

It's really like adding insult to injury.

He grabbed his hat and headed toward the registration office. From afar, he saw many refugees shouting slogans. They piled up hoes and shovels into small mountains to show their stance on striking.

Lu Lin instructed the soldiers at the scene to maintain order. At this moment, Khalid crouched down and whispered in his ear, "The supply convoy got stuck on the road after last night's bombing. If this continues, they'll run out of rations themselves."

Lu Lin immediately understood the cause and effect of the matter. He decided to solve the food problem first, so he asked, "What if we use camels instead of transport vehicles?"

Khalid hesitated for a moment before replying, "It will take at least two or three days."

Lu Lin had a plan in mind: "Then let's use the reserve food from the outpost to tide us over for now."

Upon hearing this, Lieutenant Bakshi, who was in charge of logistics, exclaimed in alarm, "This won't do! What about our soldiers? Even if we distribute the rations from the outpost to these refugees, we won't last more than a few days!"

Lu Lin had no choice but to patiently persuade Lieutenant Bakshi:
"It's just a temporary loan! I assure you, as soon as the logistical supplies arrive, this 'loan' will be made up immediately. But we have to get through these two days, otherwise how do you expect me to deal with these more than a thousand refugees?"

Lieutenant Baksh wanted to say something more, but seeing the commander's unyielding gaze, he swallowed his words and gritted his teeth, saying:
"Yes, Major."

Lu Lin nodded, and at the same time silently called out Enqidu's name in his heart, activating the eagle's perspective.

He needed to check if spies had infiltrated the strike again, but after looking around, he didn't find any red markers.

Does wearing a military uniform mean you're considered a unit?

Or was it really just a spontaneous strike?

"Bring some water and food first, otherwise they won't listen to me," he said to Lieutenant Baksh, glancing at the blazing sun and the agitated refugees.

"There are some leftover flatbreads from this morning, I'll go get them." Lieutenant Baksh immediately prepared to go.

When the food and water were brought up, the hungry refugees were immediately drawn to them, and with a call from the soldiers, they quickly began to wolf down their food.

Lieutenant Baksh specially cut the flatbread into small pieces and mixed in some flour, so that it would be easy to choke on and then you would feel full after drinking water.

Taking this opportunity, Lu Lin walked to the front of the refugee group, stretched out his hands to draw everyone's attention back, and shouted:

“I am Major Amir, the commander of this outpost. I know why you are here. The Zion scum blew up our road, but we will take care of the food problem!”

As expected, the mention of Zion immediately stirred up the group of refugees, and Lu Lin took in their reactions.

Fear, confusion, tension, and deep-seated hatred.

“Everyone, keep eating, don’t choke. Baksh, go get some more flatbread and water.” Lieutenant Baksh hesitated, but Lu Lin read “last time” in his eyes.

It seems that our food reserves are really running low.

Seeing that even more refugees were approaching, Lu Lin seized the opportunity to continue shouting loudly:
"I have some good news to share! Shuangzhi is raising aid supplies to send to countries like Hashim."

At the same time, we are prepared to send troops to support our Arab brothers! The United States will provide us with the most advanced weaponry, even more advanced than Zion's!

"I believe that you will be able to return to your homeland soon!"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "But before that, we need to be patient. Believe me, Zion's crimes will be judged!"

His words were like a spark, igniting the light and flames of hatred in the refugees' eyes.

However, at this moment, someone raised a question: "General, how can you guarantee that your words will stand the test of time? In the beginning, you wouldn't let us continue south, and now you're making us work without giving us food. We just want to survive."

Just as Lu Lin was about to speak, a middle-aged man in the crowd suddenly said:

"I've met this general! Last night he sent men to shoot down the Zion plane and capture the pilot! I heard it from the soldiers; he also captured a Zion spy before that!!"

The refugee crowd immediately erupted in uproar.

Then their gazes toward Lu Lin suddenly turned fiery, and the crowd stirred, uttering a jumble of incoherent words.

Lu Lin could only make out words like "Ahsant!" and "Muhalib!"

Seeing that the refugees were about to pounce on him, he quickly said:

"Everyone calm down!"

Then Lu Lin discovered that someone had stuffed something into his chest. When he took it out, he found it was half a pancake.

This group of people had previously gone on strike demanding food.

Suddenly someone shouted, "General! Will you lead us to victory against the Zion devils?!"

The crowd quieted down a bit, but their eyes were full of expectation as they looked at him.

Lu Lin didn't know how to answer. Just then, an old man among the refugees stepped forward and said, "Alright, don't talk to the general like that. The general did what he was supposed to do, and we should do ours too."

Lu Lin felt a little relieved, and then the old man continued:

“I lost my family in the war, just like you. I have eleven sons. The eldest is a carpenter in the city, the second is serving in the army, and the youngest is still in school. But the day the Zion army came in, my family was gone.”

“My grandson was stabbed into a cesspool and drowned. They raped my daughter-in-law, then locked her in a room with other captured women and opened fire. My old woman was also beaten to death for trying to stop them.”

“I have long since run out of tears. I hate Zionists more than you do, but what I hate even more is my old age.”

"So when the general said that I could help build fortifications to defend against the Zionians, I knew that this was what I was meant to do."

The old man walked past Lu Lin to the small hill built with various tools and picked up his own shovel.

"This is my revenge. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, General."

After the old man finished speaking, he walked into the crowd.

Lu Lin watched the old man's retreating figure, standing still, as if the world had fallen silent at that moment.

But then someone else took a step.

The man stepped over Lu Lin and picked up a pickaxe from the small hill behind him.

Then came a woman with tear stains on her face;
Next were the two brothers;
Gradually, more and more people walked towards Lu Lin's back.

Behind him, there was a constant clanging of metal; no one spoke, but the determination was deafening.

When the last child left with tools taller than himself, the hill disappeared.

Lu Lin watched the crowd leave. He picked up the pancake in his hand, intending to take a bite, but put it down instead.

"damn it."

He muttered a curse in Seres.

(End of this chapter)