"By the way, is Tor Khan still at the TV station?" Song Heping asked.
"Yes, but I suspect he is under close surveillance and unable to move freely. Barzani never trusts anyone; he will have spies watching Tor Khan."
Little Masoud sat down, wearily rubbing his brow: "From afternoon till evening, Rashid's men have already searched the school three times. Principal Fatima helped me avoid the first two, but the third time they clearly became suspicious."
"Where is Principal Fatima now?"
"I had her leave, go to a relative's place to temporarily avoid trouble. I can't drag her into this."
Little Masoud looked up and said to Song Heping: "Listen, I know Barzani and Rashid are selling out the Kurd people. They've made a secret pact with the Turkish people to exchange our oil for support."
Song Heping asked, "Evidence?"
Little Masoud pulled out a micro USB drive from his pocket:
"My informant stole this from Barzani's office. It contains a recording of Barzani meeting with the Turkish envoy three weeks ago, and a draft agreement. Turkey recognizes the Barzani regime, and the exchange conditions are for the Erbil Government to fully sever all relations with the PPK and support Turkish Special Forces entering our territory to 'cleanse' the PKK."
PPK is the abbreviation for the Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan, while Masoud's led Erbil Government belongs to the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP), two fundamentally different organizations in the Kurdish nationalist movement.
PPK was established in 1979, initially aimed at forming an independent government through armed struggle in the border areas of Turkey, Illigo, Persia, and Siria.
The KDP was founded in 1975, with early goals also focused on Kurdish independence but later gradually shifting to cooperate with the Illigo Government for autonomy.
PPK mainly operates in Turkey, using guerrilla tactics to combat, often in a state of armed conflict.
The KDP mainly operates in Northern Illigo's Erbil and surrounding areas, possessing formal armed forces, in a competitive relationship with PPK, but both have interactions as well.
No matter the conflict between KDP and PPK, they are internal contradictions after all. If Barzani colludes with Turkey to strike against the PPK, it is collabing with outsiders to sell out the interests of the entire Kurdish Nation.
"Haha, this is inviting a wolf into the house." Song Heping took the USB drive, weighed it in his hand, and laughed: "Once the Turkish army comes in, they will never leave."
"I think so too." Little Masoud clenched his fists, "But I need to prove this to the people and publicly reveal the truth that my father is still alive. Although Tor Khan has now repented, his Third Infantry Brigade is the city's only force that can counter Rashid's eight thousand Security Forces, yet he is being watched and unaware of my situation, so he cannot mobilize his troops against Barzani, but if I meet him, I can definitely persuade him."
Song Heping slightly pondered: "What if we can get you to the TV station and let you appear together with Tor Khan, making everything public?"
"But doing so is highly risky. Rashid has deployed at least two hundred people around the TV station. Once we show up, he will stop at nothing to prevent us."
Little Masoud paused, "Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless we can first gain support from other families. Kurdistan isn't just about our family; it also includes the Talabani Family and the Harab Family. If we can win their support, Barzani surely won't succeed."
Song Heping nodded: "The key is to contact Tor Khan, have him cooperate with our actions. As long as what's on your USB drive is broadcasted on television, the other families will surely support you."
After speaking, he stood up and said:
"No time to lose. We must head out. Jamie's diplomatic status might help us get close to the TV station area."
Little Masoud quickly packed several key items.
USB drive, backup communicator, a handgun, and several magazines.
The two left the hideout and met with Jiang Feng and three others who were on guard outside, quickly scaling the walls to get out.
A few minutes later, when Jamie saw them appear, he visibly relaxed: "Get in the car quickly, Rashid's men just patrolled this area, they could double back at any moment."
They quickly got in the car.
The SUV drove away from the school.
In the car, Song Heping concisely explained the situation and the information Little Masoud provided to Jamie.
"TV station?" Jamie frowned, "It's a fortress now. Rashid treats it as a temporary command center, with outsiders extremely difficult to approach except necessary staff."
"Don't you have diplomatic credentials?" Jiang Feng said, "Aren't Americans walking around here freely?"
"Diplomatic credentials aren't a master key, especially now when Barzani doesn't care about international reactions during a coup."
Jamie argued but then sighed, "However... perhaps we can try another route. There's a cargo entrance at the back of the TV station; ingredients are delivered there every day at 7:30. I could pose as the office delivering 'comfort gifts' to the staff..."
"Not stable enough." Song Heping shook his head, "We need to ensure we can see Tor Khan himself, and it's under circumstances where he can temporarily escape surveillance."
Just then, the satellite communicator vibrated.
Song Heping answered, Duke's voice came through: "There's a change. Rashid just announced a military press conference at the TV station in an hour, accusing Little Masoud of plotting a coup, colluding with traitor Abu You to usurp power."
"What?!" Little Masoud's face turned deathly pale.
"Haha, he's trying to strike first and convict you."
Song Heping immediately grasped the opponent's strategy.
"With this, even if you publicly announce your father is alive, it will be labeled as a ploy by you to seize power. What a crafty maneuver!"
"We must meet General Tor Khan before the press conference!" Little Masoud urgently said, "Once Rashid controls public opinion, it'll all be over!"