Chapter 1362
The Feast in Bakda
Chapter 1362 The Feast in Bakda
Two days later, in Bakda, at the Mansour Hotel.
This five-star hotel, located on the edge of the Green Zone, is one of the symbols of Iligo's post-war reconstruction.
Or rather, it is a symbol of an attempt to rebuild.
In the marble lobby, crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow, and uniformed waiters moved about silently.
However, upon closer inspection, one can find several repaired bullet holes on the walls, all the windows are made of bulletproof glass, and the security check at the entrance is comparable to that of an airport.
Song Heping booked the entire penthouse suite at the hotel. This wasn't to show off, but out of necessity—for security reasons. At this moment, he stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the night view of Bakta.
In the distance, searchlight beams from the Green Zone swept across the night sky as armored convoys patrolled the streets. Closer in, along the banks of the Tigris River, the wealthy areas were brightly lit, while the impoverished areas remained largely in darkness.
This sense of division is a microcosm of this country.
There was a knock on the door.
After the bodyguard opened the door, Jiang Feng walked in.
"Sergeant, General Samir has arrived and is waiting for you in the conference room downstairs. Also, this is the newly added list of invitees for today."
Jiang Feng handed over a tablet computer.
Song Heping glanced at the screen. The list was long and clearly categorized:
Government:
Office dinner
lunch party
Parliamentary reception (jointly invited by the Ten Aye, Sunni, and Kold's factions)
Invitation from the Mission:
U.S. Embassy Independence Day Celebration (Note: Ambassador Stevenson wishes to speak with you privately)
British Embassy Tea Party
French Embassy Cultural Exchange Dinner
Turkey Embassy National Day Reception
The Persian Embassy's "Friendship Night"
Camel Embassy Business Forum
Russian Trade Representative Office Energy Cooperation Seminar
Commercial entities:*
ExxonMobil Iligo CEO Dinner
BP Middle East CEO Meeting
Cooperation talks with Iligo National Oil Company
Three large local construction companies invited
Five security companies have expressed their intention to cooperate...
"Seven other media outlets have requested interviews, including CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and Iligo National Television."
Jiang Feng added, "I have followed your instructions and declined for the time being, but I have kept the channels of contact open."
Song Heping handed the tablet back to Jiang Feng: "I'd better see Samir first. We can talk about other things later."
Song Heping had already decided not to give any interviews.
Contact with businessmen and politicians is acceptable.
Will you give an interview to the media?
They really don't want to die fast enough!
He is the owner of a PMC company. If he were just a PMC owner, that would be one thing.
Unfortunately, much of his business falls into a gray area.
People are afraid of famous pigs.
Once they're in the spotlight, it'll probably be a while before some busybodies dig these things up.
At that point, it'll be like mud falling into your pants—even if it's not shit, it'll still look like shit.
When they arrived downstairs, Samir was already waiting in the conference room.
Upon seeing Song Heping, he immediately stood up respectfully.
Although he is now only one step away from the rank of major general.
But over the years, he has come to regard Song Heping as his "boss".
The boss is always right.
If the boss is wrong, then refer to the previous point.
"Have a seat," Song Heping said with a smile, gesturing for him to sit down, then went straight to the point: "When will the bill be voted on?"
"The plenary session of parliament will be held at 10:00 AM the day after tomorrow."
Samir sat down, placing his hands on his knees, his posture as upright as a primary school student.
"The National Defense Committee has approved it, and the Budget Committee has approved it as well. Now, only the plenary vote in Parliament remains. Based on the current number of votes, it should pass without any problem."
"Should?" Song Heping looked at him.
Samir hesitated for a moment: "Hashimi has given his explicit support, the Koldeid Party has given its full support, and the mainstream Ten'a faction also supports it. Theoretically, that's enough. But... I've heard some different voices from the US Embassy."
"what sound?"
“Ambassador Stevenson privately spoke with several members of Congress to inquire about the command, equipment, and training cooperation of the new force if the bill passes.” Samuelton paused. “He specifically asked whether the force would receive advisors and training from the U.S. military.”
Song Heping nodded.
This is expected.
The Americans have been operating in Iligo for twenty years, and what they cannot tolerate most is the emergence of armed forces that are not under their control.
Once established, the 10th Border Guard Division will be the first division-level unit in Iligo, apart from the Kold'd forces, that is not entirely influenced by the US military.
"What did you say in response?" Song Heping asked.
“I said, that’s a decision for the Ministry of Defense,” Samir said cautiously. “But personally, I think we welcome any cooperation that helps improve the combat effectiveness of our troops.”
A clever answer.
He managed to avoid offending the Americans while delegating the decision-making power to his superiors. "Very good," Song Heping said. "Remember, you will be a regular army general from now on, not a local armed group leader. Your superiors are the Ministry of National Defense and the Presidential Office. Any cooperation with external forces must go through formal channels and follow formal procedures. Understand?"
“Understood.” Samir nodded, but a hint of worry flashed in his eyes. “Boss, what if the Americans insist on sending advisors, and what if the Department of Defense agrees under pressure?”
“Then let them send them,” Song Heping said calmly. “When the US military advisors come, you should receive them well, arrange for them to train the soldiers, and let them learn their technology. But the command, personnel, and deployment authority of the troops must be firmly in the hands of our own people. This is a red line.”
He paused, then added, “And do you think the Americans really want complete control of your force? No, they just don’t want you to completely side with the Persians, or... completely side with me. What they want is balance, influence. Give them some superficial cooperation, some insignificant authority, and they’ll be satisfied.”
At this, he laughed.
"Actually, you can also use this as leverage to ask him for funding and equipment. Why not?"
Samir nodded thoughtfully.
At this time, his cell phone rang.
He glanced at it, and his expression became subtle.
"It's Senator Hashimi's assistant. He asked if we were free tomorrow night because he wanted to invite us to dinner and introduce us to some tribal elders from Anbar province."
Song Heping smiled.
See, this is politics.
Hashimi not only needs to support the bill, but also needs to cultivate relationships and lay the groundwork for his influence in the new unit in advance.
"Agree to it. But we'll decide on the location."
Samir went to return the call.
Jiang Feng re-entered the conference room, holding another document in his hand.
"Old squad leader, I just received it."
He handed over the documents.
"The formal invitation from the U.S. Embassy is for a private 'working dinner' tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. at the Ambassador's residence. It is specifically noted that only you are invited, and Ambassador Stevenson hopes to have a 'frank and private conversation' with you."
Song Heping accepted the invitation.
Exquisite coated paper, gold-stamped badges, formal wording yet conveying urgency.
"And this too." Jiang Feng handed over another document: "An invitation from the Persian embassy, also tomorrow night, 8:30. I told them you already had plans, but they said the time can be adjusted, as long as you can spare half an hour."
"What about Turkey?"
"Lunch at the embassy the day after tomorrow. The one at Camel's is the day after that. The Russian representative office didn't say when, only that they're ready to serve you anytime."
Song Heping placed the invitation on the table and looked out the window at the night view of Bakta.
Under the city lights, countless transactions are taking place in the shadows, countless alliances are forming or falling apart, and countless eyes are watching him.
This is where the victor stands.
The center of the vortex.
“Meet with the Americans first,” Song Heping finally said. “Reply to Vincent that I will arrive on time tomorrow. Tell them about the invitation from Persia that they will send a representative, but not me personally. As for the others, arrange them according to their importance and timing.”
"If we don't go to the Persians, will..."
Jiang Feng asked worriedly.
Song Heping understood his thoughts.
After all, he had been cooperating with the Persians and his relationship with Afanti was exceptionally strong.
But that's how politics works.
The actual relationship with someone is not necessarily apparent on the surface.
I can communicate with Afanti privately, and that channel is sufficient.
Sending a representative to the Persian embassy has one advantage: it sends a signal to the Americans, making them feel more at ease.
Although Song Heping did not like Americans in his heart.
However, it must be admitted that in order to establish a foothold in Iligo and expand its influence, dealing with and cultivating good relations with the Americans is an unavoidable hurdle.
Now I'm sitting at the table of interests in Yili, unlike before.
Before, when I wasn't sitting at a table, I could use any means necessary.
Things are different now. Now that you're dressed in formal attire and sitting at the dining table, you have to follow the table manners. You can't just flip the table over based on your own preferences.
That too is wisdom.
"Don't worry, I'm just trying to reassure the Americans. As for the Persians, I'll communicate with Afanti privately and tell him my motives."
"Understood." Jiang Feng then asked, "What about Representative Hashimi?"
“Let Samir go. It’s time for him to build his network.”
Song Heping stood up, walked to the window, looked into the distance, and said, "Jiang Feng, the first thing you should do after you go to Erbil is not to start work, but to host a dinner party. Invite all the members of the Military Commission, the head of the Ministry of Defense's office in Erbil, and all the key staff members of the Presidential Palace. The event should be high-profile, but not extravagant. The key is to make them understand that we are going, but we respect their rules."
"What if... what if they ask about the specific reform plan?" Jiang Feng asked.
“Just say you’re researching it and need time to investigate.” Song Heping turned to look at him. “Remember, you don’t need to actually propose any reform plan. You just need to sit there, smile and listen to them, nod occasionally, and say, ‘Mr. Song attaches great importance to this issue.’ The rest they’ll fill in the blanks themselves.”
Jiang Feng smiled: "I understand. Just like you said, I am a symbol."
“Yes. A very expensive symbol, priced at twenty million.” Song Heping smiled as well: “Alright, go and prepare. Starting tomorrow, we will officially enter the arena of power in Bakda.”
After Jiang Feng left, Song Heping sat alone in the conference room for a long time.
The invitations on the table were piled up in a small stack, each representing a different faction, each wanting something from him, or trying to prevent him from getting something.
Americans want influence, Persians want to contain Americans, Turkish people worry about the growing power of the Kurds, the Camel people want to balance the Persians, and Russians want to get involved in the energy business.
The game of profit is more exhausting than a real battlefield.
This is the first update. I'll see if I can manage 10,000 words today. Since this is a pivotal chapter that connects the past and the future, I'm writing it rather slowly because it's difficult. I need to introduce the next plot point.
(End of this chapter)