Song Heping immediately drove to the Yellow Stone shooting range after leaving the US Army Command in Baghdad.
The Yellow Stone shooting range is located outside the Green Zone and got its name due to the abundance of yellow rocks in the area, near the airport, and serves as a training ground for the 82nd Division.
There are not many regular shooting ranges in the Baghdad area since it's a battlefield, and battlefields don't need formal ranges; usually, any deserted area can be used as a makeshift range.
However, this practice has its dangers, as it's prone to ambushes. There have been instances where the US forces were practicing shooting in the open and a mortar shell suddenly landed and exploded at the scene.
After the occupation of Baghdad, however, the US Army Command still had the 82nd Airborne Division build a range near the airport, as it proved very useful for zeroing weapons or tactical drills.
As the number of coalition forces stationed in Baghdad gradually increased, the range started to become insufficient.
Most PMC companies borrow the coalition forces' ranges, and in Baghdad, many mercenaries go to the 82nd Airborne Division's range to zero and practice shooting, after all, new recruits still require training and adjustment.
The local mercenary battalions in the two northern oil fields secured by the "Musician" Defense Company usually train on-site, but the few hundred newly recruited Illigo mercenaries responsible for transportation and escort tasks have military experience, yet as they come from different units, they need some integration time for training and coordination.
After returning from Africa, Song Heping had Jiang Feng take care of bringing those Illigo mercenaries who were on leave at home to the range for shooting practice, and incidentally work on tactical coordination.
Jiang Feng had spent some time with the instruction brigade when he was a soldier, a place that serves as a foundation for developing core members, so training is one of his specialties.
By the time Song Heping arrived at the range, he saw from a distance two rows of Illigo mercenaries kneeling on the edge of the range with their hands over their heads, while Jiang Feng was pinned down by three burly British soldiers, unable to move, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth, and a swelling hematoma under his right eye, indicating he had suffered a significant loss.
More than ten American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division stood nearby, twisting their hands and watching the commotion with gleeful smiles.
Seeing his own people treated with such humiliation, rage boiled up inside Song Heping.
"What's going on here? Who's in charge?"
Song Heping walked straight towards the group of soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division.
This was their territory, and whether asking or searching, it was appropriate to first approach their leader.
When several American soldiers saw Song Heping, they didn't take him seriously at all.
After all, in their eyes, a Chinese person was insignificant.
"Who are you?"
Two soldiers stepped forward to stop Song Heping.
"This is a shooting range, who let you in here?"
Song Heping produced his pass.
His pass was a level-one access badge, allowing him to go anywhere in the Green Zone. Peter had helped him obtain it for work purposes.
Song Heping had previously thought such a high-level pass didn't make much of a difference.
After all, he didn't visit those high-security areas.
But now, the pass proved useful.
Most people in PMC companies have second or even third-level badges.
As the composition of mercenaries is complex, even if the company is located in the Green Zone, it is only along the periphery.
In core areas like the Republic Palace, if you want to go there, you must have an invitation, an appointment, or temporary procedures.
PMC company members like Song Heping with a level-one security pass are rare, even in companies like Black Water and AAFES, where not everyone has one; it's usually the executives who possess such passes, while others receive different temporary badges depending on their role.
The American soldiers are not all fools.
Although they do not recognize the man in front of them, a permanent level-one security pass says a lot.
At the very least, this person's relationship with the US Army Command in Iraq is no ordinary matter.
One of the sergeants immediately became much more polite and asked, "Sir, do you need something from our officer?"
Song Heping replied, "I'm their boss."
As he spoke, Song Heping's gaze fell on the Illigo mercenaries and finally rested on Jiang Feng.
Seeing Jiang Feng struggling to get up with a face as red as Guan Yu's, yet restrained by several British soldiers, he didn't call for help or call out to Song Heping because he felt he had lost face for the Chinese.
Song Heping pointed at Jiang Feng and told the soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division, "Release him immediately!"
The soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division looked at each other, unsure what to do.
They and the British were allies, and these were British soldiers, part of the regular coalition forces.
Song Heping was just the boss of a PMC company.
And a Chinese at that.
Naturally, they were inclined to side with the British.
Seeing them hesitate, Song Heping stepped forward and delivered a mighty kick to the British soldier who was pressing his knee against Jiang Feng's back.
The man was sent flying by Song Heping's kick and rolled on the ground.
Before the other two soldiers restraining Jiang Feng could react, the one who had been knocked to the ground drew his pistol and pointed it at Song Heping.
"NO!"
Several soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division yelled in alarm.
At that moment, Song Heping didn't retreat but advanced. Like a wraith, he took a step forward at lightning speed to reach the British soldier who had drawn his gun. In a cross-handed pistol-snatching move that took only a fraction of a second, the soldier's handgun was already in Song Heping's hands.
Then, before the other man could figure out what was happening, Song Heping swiftly disassembled the pistol.