Just as Jiang Feng was redeploying his troops, inside one of the command vehicles of the 1515 convoy rapidly advancing towards the Siria border, Eddie Al Rishdi, the highest military commander of the 1515 Armed in Nineveh Province and surrounding areas, was frowning tightly, staring at the reinforced tablet fixed on a stand.

On the screen, the latest intelligence update transmitted through encrypted satellite links from the Supreme Command Office—directly controlled by Buckdadi's "Caliph" office—was displayed.

These were high-resolution satellite photographs, with timestamps showing they were taken just hours ago.

In the photos, several prominent red arrows and circles clearly marked a small convoy racing across the barren Gobi Desert, its trace extending decisively towards the border region between Illiguo and Siria.

He had just received and verified the highest priority order directly from Buckdadi, requiring him to "whatever it takes," "use all deployable forces," ensure interception and "complete annihilation" before the target crosses the border.

The order specifically emphasized that the leader of the target squad is Song Heping, codenamed "Ghost," and included descriptions of his possible recent physical features.

Deploying over eleven thousand troops, equipped with heavy weapons such as BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, ZPU-series anti-aircraft machine guns, and D-30 howitzers, to besiege a squad believed to number only eleven people?

In his more than ten years of "jihad" career, this was an unprecedentedly absurd command!

Even though he knew the undying personal vendetta between "Ghost" and Buckdadi "Emir," even though he was aware "Ghost" had caused the organization multiple heavy losses, this command still seemed so irrational, so...

Against basic military principles.

What made him feel uneasy, even slightly chilly, deep down was this real-time, highly precise, broad-coverage satellite imagery, which the 1515 Armed group, as a non-state armed organization, was fundamentally incapable of obtaining.

The technical support source lurking behind it pointed too evidently.

Could it be...

The supreme "Emir" truly already reached some sort of agreement with those "American" enemies who always proclaimed to destroy us...

Achieved some kind of...

He shivered involuntarily, afraid to continue speculating.

Within the 1515, any doubts regarding the decisions of the highest leader constitute the gravest offense, punishable by death.

He shook his head vigorously as if trying to expel those dangerous thoughts from his mind, took a deep breath, grabbed the vehicle radio transmitter, and issued orders in as steady a tone as possible: "Attention all units, this is Eddie. As per direct order from the 'Caliph,' the target is nearing the border. All echelons increase march speed, extend the search front, ensure encirclement within five kilometers of the border! All units, maintain highest combat readiness!"

The massive convoy, composed of dozens of armed pickups, military trucks, civilian vehicles equipped with weapons, and several BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, roared down Highway 7 heading west.

Blinding headlights tore through the night, the roar of engines traveled far in the silent wilderness.

However, just as the forward reconnaissance convoy reported they could vaguely observe the hazy contours of border mountains in the distance with the naked eye, inside the command vehicle, the more powerful encrypted radio suddenly transmitted an urgent plea for help from the Mosul City Defense Command communications officer, sounding hoarse, with background sounds of violent explosions and dense gunfire:

"Commander Eddie! Emergency call! Mosul is under massive attack! Repeat, Mosul is under massive attack! The enemy is the main force of Abu You Brigade! Estimated more than four thousand troops! They've mobilized heavy artillery! The East City District defense line has been breached, they're advancing towards the city center! The command center building has been hit by multiple rounds of shelling! We're suffering heavy losses, urgently need reinforcements! Requesting main force to return immediately! Immediately!"

Almost simultaneously, the radio seemed to explode with distress signals from troops in Abij, Sinjar, Tal Afar, and other locations, the content astonishingly consistent—each was subjected to intense assaults by local pro-government militia forces, and due to large numbers of troops being deployed to border action, current defenses are weak, defense lines at risk of collapse at any time!

Eddie's face turned as pale as paper, snatched the transmitter, nearly lost control shouting to confirm: "What did you say?! Mosul is attacked?! How many are the enemy?! Equipment situation?! Confirm it's the main force of Abu You Brigade? Not just small harassment?!"

"Confirm! Confirm it's their main force! Absolutely more than four thousand troops, perhaps even more! At least four 122mm howitzers conducting firing preparation! And a large number of mortars and rocket launchers! Commander, brothers in the city are fighting desperately, but we can at most... at most hold for another hour and a half! Request immediate reinforcement!"

Eddie's mind buzzed as though struck by a heavy hammer, blanking out momentarily.

His hand holding the transmitter involuntarily trembled slightly.

An awful truth washed over him like ice water—it's a trap!

A carefully designed, extremely vicious trap!

Song Heping's squad is just a decoy, a lure to draw the main force of his Nineveh Province army out from their well-fortified towns!

And the enemy's real strategic target is his sparsely defended rear base group!

He almost frantically connected to the emergency secure communication line with Baghdad highest command, his voice distorted by anxiety and anger.

"Emir! It's extremely urgent! Mosul, Abij, Sinjar, and several other key towns are under full-scale attack from the 'Liberation Forces' and the main force of the Abu You Brigade! The enemy's total force is estimated to exceed eight thousand men, equipped with heavy artillery! Our cities are about to fall! I request your immediate approval to have the main forces stop border actions and rush back to Mosul! Otherwise, the province of Nineveh may not hold!"

From the other end of the communication, came the roar and curses of Baghdad, like a wounded beast, mixed with rage, shock, and unwillingness.

He had paid a huge price, using secret relationships and resources, and was on the verge of putting his long-time enemy, "Ghost," to death, avenging old grievances, and obtaining a huge sum of money that could support his military operations for months to come.

At the last moment, the opponent counterattacked, striking directly at his strategic hinterland!

"Damn 'Ghost!'"

He immediately realized this was Song Heping's handiwork.

As the highest leader of 1515, he had too many opponents.

But the one who always made him suffer losses without ever gaining the upper hand was only Song Heping!

This man was indeed his nightmare!

The Devil!

Satan!

A core staff member standing beside Baghdad quickly stepped forward, lowering his voice to urgently advise, "Emir, please calm down! From the current situation analysis, this is definitely a plot orchestrated by 'Ghost'! He has long anticipated we would spare no expense to intercept him at the border! In Illiguo, the only ones with the courage, capability, and motive to directly attack our core area of Nineveh by crossing the Salah Province are the 'Liberation Forces' and the Abu You Brigade he commands and influences!"

"If we do not return to aid now, once we lose Mosul or even most of Nineveh's towns, our foundation of control in Northern Illiguo will be completely destabilized, and the blood and resources we've spent over the years will be in vain! By then, even if we succeed in killing 'Ghost,' it would be a tactical victory with a strategic loss, not worth it at all!"

Baghdad's chest heaved violently, his bloodshot eyes fixed intently on the position of Mosul on the map, as rationality and the fiery madness of revenge fiercely battled and tore within him.

On one side was the long-awaited desire to slay his enemy and easily obtained large sums of money; on the other was the strategic territory and power base crucial to the survival and development of the organization.

Ultimately, the deep-seated fear of losing territory, losing power, and losing the foundational survival base reluctantly overpowered that intense personal hatred.

He spoke into the microphone, almost gritting his back teeth, squeezing out a compromise command full of pain and reluctance through clenched teeth: "Eddie!... Execute... the split forces plan! You, personally lead the first, third, and fifth combat groups, along with all armored units and artillery, totaling about five thousand men, to immediately disengage from the current sequence and return to Mosul at full speed! No matter what, you must hold Mosul; at least drive the enemy out of the city! The remaining forces, commanded by Deputy Commander Zakavi, continue with the original plan, advancing toward the border line, fully searching for and attacking the 'Ghost' squad! The primary target is to kill Song Heping! The minimum target is to prevent him from safely entering Illiguo and escaping to Persia! Move immediately!"

This command was full of helplessness and entanglement, wanting to safeguard the home base while unwilling to give up revenge.

It was like a double-edged sword, weakening both the returning reinforcements and the border pursuit forces, also foretelling that whichever path they took, they would face an even tougher and more uncertain battle.

Eddie, receiving the order, although deeply worried about the potential plight of the divided forces, could not defy the Emir's will.

He immediately issued a series of commands via radio.

A huge convoy immediately fell into chaos and stagnation on the highway, some vehicles began to laboriously turn around on the narrow road, while others continued forward.

The previously unified steel torrent was forced to split into two, with about five thousand men led by Eddie himself, carrying all the heavy equipment, furiously heading back along the route to the already shell-fire-surrounded Mosul.

However, Eddie was unaware that on their anxious return journey, countless cold eyes and pre-calibrated weapons had already locked onto them.

The "ambush and reinforcement battle" death feast carefully prepared by Jiang Feng was only just being served.

Meanwhile, in the darker, more treacherous depths of the Syria Gobi to the west of the border, Song Heping and his SSO Squad, along with the few pickups carrying the hope of life, were still making a desperate dash against time, against injuries, and against unknown dangers in the final stages.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com