Chapter 1344
A Hasty Gamble
Chapter 1344 A Hasty Gamble
Gunpowder smoke, like a thick gray shroud, enveloped the entire dried-up riverbed canyon.
Just as Abuyu and his assault team were recklessly approaching the armored Mercedes carrying Massoud, behind a relatively safe rock bunker on the eastern side of the battlefield, Barzani was facing the most insane decision of his life.
"General! We can't hesitate any longer!"
The adjutant was practically crying as he begged.
His face was deathly pale from blood loss and fear, but his eyes were fixed on his commander.
“Abuyu’s commando team is less than 100 meters away from us! Their snipers are still taking rolls! Both machine gun teams we set up on the high ground have gone silent! General, let’s move now, we can still break through the gap on the east side! If we wait any longer, we’ll all die here!”
Barzani lay sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving violently, sweat streaming down his temples, mingling with the dust, gunpowder, and blood splattered from his men on his face, forming filthy furrows—he looked utterly wretched.
The identities of the mysterious group that suddenly appeared are now very clear.
Abuyu.
Of course, Abuyu alone does not have the capability to organize such a rescue.
There must also be his boss behind him.
Song Heping!
That damn Dongda guy!
His eyes were fixed on the Mercedes-Benz G500 armored car that was burning fiercely dozens of meters away.
Flames had engulfed most of the car body, and the bulletproof glass shattered under the high temperature, making crackling sounds. Occasionally, sparks and burning fragments would shoot out from inside the car.
Masoud is inside.
That seventy-year-old fox, the one who had controlled the Kolde Autonomous District for twenty years, who was both his political mentor and his blood relative, yet also his greatest obstacle, was now inside that moving steel coffin.
He may have been killed by the initial rocket, or by the subsequent firefight, or by the shockwave of the explosion that shattered his internal organs, or he may be being burned alive by the flames at this moment.
Both possibilities are very high.
In an attack of this magnitude, the chance of survival is no more than ten percent.
but……
What if?
What if that old guy is as tough as a camel thorn in the Gobi Desert?
What if he happened to be curled up in a relatively safe corner inside the car?
What if his armored car had some unknown additional protection added during the modification?
What if he survives until Abuyu's rescue?
So many "what ifs" were like poisoned ice spikes, piercing through all of Barzani's adrenaline armor and reaching the deepest part of his heart.
If Massoud gets out alive, even if he's barely clinging to life or severely injured, then everything Barzani has done today will instantly vanish into nothingness.
No, it's more terrifying than vanishing into thin air.
He will go from being a "possible next chairman" to a "despicable traitor and assassin," his name will be erased from the annals of heroes of Kolde, his family will suffer eternal infamy, and his descendants will never be able to hold their heads high again.
Do not!
Absolutely not!
He can't gamble on that "what if"!
Once a coup is launched, there can only be one outcome—a fight to the death!
In an instant, countless thoughts collided violently in his mind like lightning in a storm.
Troop deployments on military maps, the stances of key figures in the capital Erbil, the ambiguous attitude of the Americans, and the silence of the Bakhta regime…
Ultimately, all these intricate lines converged into a desperate, daring decision.
The fear, hesitation, and resentment on Barzani's face quickly faded.
Instead, there was an almost inhuman, cold and resolute attitude.
"Let's get in the car!"
He suddenly sprang to his feet and roared at his adjutant beside him.
"To Kirkuk! Now! Immediately!"
Kirkuk.
This word acted like a shot of adrenaline, igniting a fire in the adjutant's eyes.
He certainly understood the general's choice.
Kirkuk is not only an important oil town, but also a military hub for the Kordi armed forces in the north.
There are currently three fully equipped mechanized brigades stationed there, totaling more than 18,000 people.
Moreover, these brigades are the most elite, best-equipped, and most combat-experienced units in the entire "Freedom Fighters" armed forces.
More importantly, this unit was deployed in Kirkuk specifically to counter the Abuyu Brigade.
Whether Massoud lives or dies, and regardless of whether Rashid and Torkhan, his accomplices in the coup in Erbil, can successfully control the situation, as long as Barzani can reach Kirkuk alive and personally take command of those three brigades, he will have the biggest bargaining chip to turn the tide.
In the political games of the Kolds, the gun is always the hardest weapon.
"go!"
"The captain of the guard growled."
After saying that, he and another guard jumped out of the cover at the same time, and the two modified AK-74M automatic rifles spewed hot tongues of fire at the rock crevices and earthen slopes on both sides where enemies might be hiding.
"Cover fire! Suppress the eastern flank!"
The bullets struck the rocks, sending up a shower of sparks and stone chips.
Their firing was not intended to kill the enemy, but to create a brief fire gap, buying the general those precious few seconds for his charge.
Almost at the same time the captain of the guard leaped out, a third guard rushed to Barzani's side.
He didn't speak, but simply used his broad back to completely block the general's side and back, while pressing one hand firmly on Barzani's shoulder, forcing him to keep a low profile.
"General, head down! Run with me!"
Barzani rushed out.
It wasn't a well-trained tactical advance, but a complete and utter desperate escape.
He crouched low, his legs trembling with fear, and he practically lunged forward on all fours toward the relatively lightly damaged Mercedes-Benz G500 armored SUV thirty meters away.
His military boots slipped on the gravel ground, and he almost fell twice, but the guards roughly grabbed his arms and forcibly pulled him back to his balance each time.
Another guard named Dia stood close to Barzani on the other side.
This 22-year-old young man comes from Barzani's hometown and is the son of a distant cousin; his loyalty is beyond question.
At this moment, Dia had already swung his rifle behind his back, his hands were fully outstretched, and his body was slightly turned to the side, using his own body to form a flesh and blood barrier between Barzani and the direction from which the bullet was most likely to come.
Just when they were about twenty meters away from G500—
puff--
A dull thud rang out.
It wasn't the crisp sound of a bullet hitting rock or metal, but the dull, wet thud of flesh hitting a bone.
Dia's body trembled violently.
His right leg felt as if it had been struck by an invisible giant hammer. His combat pants instantly ripped open with a hole the size of a bowl, and fragments of muscle, blood vessels, and bones mixed with blood splattered out like a violently smashed tomato sauce bottle.
A strong smell of blood instantly filled the air.
"Ugh—!"
The young man let out a short cry of pain, lost his balance, and fell straight forward.
But in the last moment before his consciousness was swallowed by the excruciating pain, he instinctively reached out and, with his last bit of strength, pushed Barzani in the back.
"Diar!"
Barzani glanced back at his loyal subordinate.
Dia writhed and convulsed in the dust, blood gushing from the wound on his leg at an alarming rate, spreading a large dark red stain on the scorched gravel.
"Don't stop! If you stop, we'll all die!" The captain of the guard shouted from the flank, accompanied by continuous gunfire.
A guard turned back, his thick arm clamping down on Barzani's arm like a hydraulic clamp from a construction machine.
They practically dragged him along as he continued to sprint forward.
Bullets began to follow their footsteps.
"Whoosh—Pfft!"
A bullet struck Barzani less than ten centimeters from his left foot, and the flying shards hit his calf, causing him sharp pain.
"Whoosh-!"
Two stray bullets grazed his right ear, and he could clearly feel the scorching airflow as the bullets tore through the air.
Death has never been so concrete. It is no longer an abstract concept, but has transformed into these whistling metal particles, each whistling sound potentially a one-way ticket straight to hell.
Barzani's lungs were burning with pain, and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to shatter his sternum.
The world in his eyes turned into blurry, jolting fragments: a swaying horizon, spitting flames, thick smoke, blood, and that black SUV getting closer and closer...
ten meters.
five meters.
The rear door of the Mercedes-Benz G500 had been pushed open from the inside, and the deep, steady roar of the engine sounded like the tolling of bells from heaven.
The final sprint.
The captain of the guard practically carried Barzani and used all his strength to "throw" him into the back seat of the carriage.
The general's body slammed heavily onto the expensive leather seat, leaving him dazed and disoriented.
"Get in! Quickly!"
Barzani roared hoarsely.
The captain of the guard threw a smoke grenade the moment he entered the carriage.
Thick, grayish-white smoke burst open behind their car, creating a brief visual barrier.
Before the car door was fully closed, the driver had already floored the accelerator!
The V8 twin-turbocharged engine roared furiously, the off-road vehicle's tires spun and slipped wildly on the gravel, kicking up clouds of dust and gravel, before suddenly bursting forward like an enraged bull.
The vehicle wobbled along the eastern edge of the dry riverbed, speeding desperately toward a gap in the canyon's relatively weak defensive network.
“Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-!”
A series of crisp metallic clanging sounds came from the car body in an instant.
At least a dozen stray bullets came from behind and hit the G500's thick armor plates and bulletproof glass.
Spiderweb-like white cracks appeared on the side window, but thanks to the Germans' rigorous, almost obsessive, protection standards, not a single bullet actually penetrated it.
The car was filled with a strange smell of sweat, blood, gunpowder, and leather.
Barzani slumped in the back seat, his chest still heaving violently, each breath trembling.
His hands were shaking so badly that it took him three tries to finally pull the encrypted satellite phone out of his inner pocket.
My fingertips were cold and numb from excessive adrenaline, and I could barely feel anything when I pressed the keys.
The call was answered almost instantly after it was dialed.
"Rashid!"
Barzani tried to make his voice sound calm.
“Listen. The plan has changed. We were attacked by Abuyu’s special forces. The special forces team that was positioned here in ambush is all dead. However, our ultimate objective remains the same. Because Massoud is dead. You understand, Massoud died in the ambush. That's a fait accompli. Understand?”
On the other end of the phone, Rashid, his coup accomplice and head of the Special Operations Division of the Kolding Autonomous Region's security forces, was clearly taken aback by the unquestionable coldness in Barzani's tone.
After a two-second silence, a voice filled with uncertainty and shock came through: "Dead? General, but our previous intelligence indicated..."
"No time to explain the details!"
Barzani interrupted him rudely, speaking at a speed like machine gun fire.
"I order you to immediately execute the final phase of the plan! You will personally lead the team, using the 'Grey Wolf' and 'Lightning' special forces units, to take control of the Autonomous Council building! No member, no minister—not a single one can escape; protect them all! Especially Finance Minister Omar, Interior Minister Tariq, and Massoud's son, Massoud Jr., who is the deputy director of the Security Bureau! If necessary, use 'extraordinary measures' to ensure their cooperation. If anyone resists… you know what to do. Understand?"
A sound of swallowing came from the other end of the phone, followed by Rashid's reply: "Yes, General! Execute the final phase of the plan: take control of the committee building, take control of all high-ranking officials!"
"Torhan! Torhan! Are you online?" Barzani shouted into the phone.
Another slightly tense but equally resolute voice joined the communication: "I'm here, General!"
"Torhan! Your mission: Immediately deploy your 3rd Infantry Regiment to seize the national television and radio stations, all communications centers, the central power plant, the waterworks, the bank headquarters, and all key government buildings! Simultaneously declare a state of emergency and martial law throughout the entire Koldeid Autonomous Region! Read the announcement according to our prepared plan, but make key modifications—"
"Let's say that the shameless rebel 'Abuyu Brigade,' with the support of hostile foreign forces, despicably ambushed the Chairman's convoy in the hilly area north of Kirkuk, assassinating our beloved Chairman Massoud! I, Barzani, as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Vice Chairman of the Military Council, have no choice but to temporarily assume all administrative and military power in the Autonomous Region in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Emergency Law and the Security Control Law, to lead all the people of Kord and the brave freedom fighters to wipe out the rebels and avenge Chairman Massoud! I repeat!"
Torhan's forehead was covered in cold sweat.
Is Masoud dead?
how so? !
He had leaked the information to Duke in advance.
That guy actually failed to prevent the attack?!
Damn Americans!
But he had no way out.
In any case, if Massoud is really dead, then there will be no good outcome for him to resist Barzani now.
Let's see how things develop first...
"Understood, General."
Thor Khan's voice was as cold as the cold sweat on his forehead.
"Act immediately, take control of the media and key departments, issue a state of emergency declaration, accuse the Abuyu Brigades of being rebels and assassinating the chairman, and declare that you have taken over all power!"
"Notify the commanders of our 1st, 3rd, and 5th Mechanized Brigades in Kirkuk, the heads of the 9th Infantry Brigade in Suleimaniye, the Duhok Border Guard Regiment, and the Zako Special Police Force, as well as all our personnel in the Security Bureau and Intelligence Bureau—"
Barzani took a deep breath and uttered the decisive code name.
"The 'Eagle' has taken flight! Operation 'Motherland' has begun in full swing! Win or lose! There is no middle way! May God bless Koldestan! Let's move out!"
He pressed the hang-up button hard, as if using up the last bit of strength in his body, and collapsed completely into the seat.
The satellite phone slipped from his limp hand and fell onto the floor mat.
His eyes were closed, but his eyeballs beneath his eyelids were trembling violently.
The sound of gunfire still echoed in my ears, and I could almost smell the sweet, metallic scent of blood and the stench of burning flesh in my nostrils.
But I managed to escape.
Still alive!
As long as you're alive, you have a chance!
But he knew better than anyone that the real war was only just beginning.
He has not only ignited the powder keg within Koldestan, but could also detonate the fragile balance of the entire region. The stakes are high—
His life, honor, family, and even the future of the entire Koldeid national autonomy cause.
On the other side of the gambling table sat Massoud, whose fate was unknown; the mysterious attackers; a neighboring country eyeing them covetously; the United States with an ambiguous attitude; and millions of innocent civilians about to be drawn into a bloody vortex.
The Mercedes-Benz G500 jolted and accelerated wildly across the rugged wilderness, leaving behind the blood-soaked canyon, the loyalty and betrayal, the life and death that remained there forever, all behind the gradually brightening dawn.
The vehicle sped northeast towards Kirkuk, heading towards an unknown future destined to be filled with more smoke, intrigue, and betrayal.
First update, 4,600 words. More votes, more updates. I've been updating almost every day this month, around 10,000 words. If the results are good, I'll continue to maintain this pace.
(End of this chapter)