Persian Plateau, at the training grounds of the secret camp.
The sky was just getting light, and the cold air was filled with the scent of dust and sweat.
Over a hundred militia from different ethnic groups were undergoing tense tactical training under the reprimands of their instructors: disassembling firearms, group coordination, tactical charges…
Their movements, though still somewhat raw, faintly bore the semblance of elite troops.
Song Heping stood silently on the high ground at the edge of the field, watching everything.
Naxin stood beside him, holding a training log.
"Overall progress is significant."
Naxin reported, with a hint of satisfaction in his tone, "Especially those veteran squads from Samir's old unit, they're learning quickly and have a strong will to fight. It's just... everyone is privately asking, when can we go back to Illiguo to settle accounts with those bastards from Organization 1515?"
Song Heping's gaze remained on the training field, his tone calm: "Tell them to continue training. The time is not right yet."
Naxin nodded, not surprised by the answer. He hesitated for a moment but still spoke up: "Boss, there's something… I don't know if I should ask."
"Speak."
"Do we still have any possibility of cooperating with the Kurd people… especially on Abu You's side, in the future? This time Organization 1515's attack caused them great losses, if we could…"
Song Heping turned his head, glanced at Naxin, and that look made Naxin swallow the rest of his words.
"Naxin," Song Heping said slowly, "I need you to do something for me. It must be kept absolutely confidential, through the most reliable channels."
"As you command." Naxin's expression became serious.
"Leak the news of our last secret meeting with Abu You to Organization 1515."
Song Heping's voice was not loud, but it exploded like a bomb in Naxin's ear.
"What!?"
Naxin could hardly believe his ears, his face changed drastically.
"Song! This... why?! Once Organization 1515 learns of this, they will certainly make a big deal out of it, even fabricate evidence, using the opportunity to sow division within the Kurd Armed factions, and Abu You would be finished! He will be seen as a traitor colluding with 'KB Members,' the Americans will no longer trust him, and he will be discredited within the Kurd Armed! What... what good does this do us? It will severely weaken the forces against Organization 1515!"
Naxin could not comprehend this order at all.
This was simply self-destruction, and helping the enemy to destroy at that!
Song Heping's face showed no expression, as if he had just said, "The weather is nice today."
"Execute the order, Naxin."
His tone was beyond questioning, "Don't ask why, and don't let anyone know it was my idea. Use the channel through the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence department, have their people find a way to 'naturally' leak the news to the intelligence personnel of Organization 1515. Do it well, and don't let Organization 1515 know we released it deliberately, understand?"
Naxin opened his mouth, wanting to argue further, but seeing Song Heping's unfathomable eyes, he ultimately swallowed his words.
A chill rose from his spine.
He realized that Song Heping was playing a very big and dangerous game of chess, and he, himself, couldn't even see one corner of the chessboard.
"...Yes. I'll get on it right away."
Naxin lowered his head, his voice somewhat dry.
Song Heping patted him on the shoulder, said nothing more, and turned to leave the training field.
Naxin stood where he was, looking at Song Heping's departing figure with a complex mood, motionless for a long time.
At this moment, Samir came over and, seeing Naxin's grim face, asked with concern, "What's wrong? What did the boss say to you?"
Naxin took a deep breath and quietly told Samir about Song Heping's baffling order.
"What!? Leak the news of the meeting with Abu You to Organization 1515!?"
Samir's reaction was exactly like Naxin's earlier, even more shocked, "The boss is crazy!? This would leave Abu You with no place to die! And it does us no good!"
"I also don't know what the boss intends to do…"
Naxin shook his head helplessly, "But I must follow the order."
Samir was silent too.
He could only sigh: "He must have his reasons for doing this. Perhaps... perhaps this is a game we can't understand. Let's trust him and do as he says."
Naxin sighed, finally nodded: "Alright... I'll get in touch over there right away."
...
Everything was unfolding as Song Heping planned, like a Poison Snake slowly approaching its prey through the grass.
Three days later, the news of Song Heping meeting with a certain branch leader of the Kurd Armed, Abu You, reached Organization 1515 through secret channels, passing through several twists and turns, eventually landing with a low-level messenger within the organization who "accidentally" acquired the intelligence and reported it to his superiors.
After the intelligence department's "verification," the report finally reached the so-called "Caliph" Buckdadi of Organization 1515.
In a dim room, Buckdadi gazed at the brief report about Song Heping's secret meeting with Abu You, sinking into a long silence.
His Intelligence Chief stood by, cautiously saying: "Great Caliph, this news source is reliable, and after our cross-verification, we can basically confirm its authenticity. Abu You, one of the leaders of those Kurdish heretics, actually met secretly with a key figure on America's wanted list without their knowledge, this is blatant betrayal! We should immediately make this information public, let the world see these so-called 'anti-terror allies' for what they truly are! This will heavily damage their morale, especially among those Americans supporting the Kurds!"
Buckdadi rubbed his chin, his eyes flickering with a sly and cruel gleam.