() After successfully passing several important security force checkpoints under the guidance of the guide, Canglong arrived at Baquba, an important town in Iraq. It is only 50 kilometers away from Baghdad and can be reached in about an hour by car.
As the largest city in northeastern Iraq, Baquba used to be the largest stronghold of the rebels, but now it has long been controlled by the security forces. Compared with the tranquility of a few areas in Baghdad, it is always in chaos, and caravans enter Baghdad. While praying, I was almost robbed by hungry Iraqi people.
Fortunately, the security forces appeared in time, but then the guide gave the commander of the security forces a wad of US dollars. Just looking at the number, he knew that it was at least about 5,000. The guide seemed to know the commander of the security forces, and after chatting for a while After the meeting, the commander agreed to arrange accommodation for them and escort them to transport thirty camels of goods to Baghdad.
In a relatively clean house, the guide gathered all the fifty-odd people in the caravan and arranged the next itinerary. After informing the leaders, the guide let them rest for a few hours and quickly rushed to Baghdad to avoid safety. The troops became suspicious. Smuggling caravans like theirs had long been in contact with the security forces.
In the past, when the US military was there, the security forces had established contact with the major smuggling caravans. However, at that time, the US military's inspections were very strict, and there were checkpoints everywhere, so the security forces did not dare to let them go openly. But now the Americans have ostensibly left. , the security forces can naturally make money. As long as they are given money, they will even escort these caravans all the way to Baghdad, no matter which country they are from.
For Iraq, which was devastated after the war, the existence of caravans could ensure the supply of major cities. Therefore, in order to prevent chaos caused by large-scale starvation, the US military turned a blind eye to the security forces' release of some caravans. One eye is now more obvious.
The Iraqi government has a total of 175 combat battalions, but only 17 battalions can fight without the cooperation of the US military. The one stationed in Baquba is the so-called ace of the Iraqi security forces, the 25th Combat Battalion. In addition, there are Two police battalions are auxiliary, with a total number of about 6,000 people. The police battalion belongs to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is not in the 175th combat battalion sequence.
The 25th Battalion also surrendered to the US military's Iraqi combat forces when the Iraq War just broke out. Therefore, some people say that it was not the Americans who defeated Saddam, but Iraq who abandoned Saddam.
As the largest oil reserve country in the Middle East, Iraq's armaments were second to none during the Iran-Iraq War. It can be said that Saddam Hussein was single-handedly supported by the Americans. However, after Saddam truly took power, he did not listen to the Americans at all. He also made troubles everywhere and used bloody means to maintain his rule at home. Therefore, at the beginning of the war, several Iraqi troops disappeared from Saddam's war chessboard against the United States.
A small number of them surrendered to the US military, but some of them were still hiding in the abandoned mountains. After the war, they fought for this country and became the rebels. They called themselves the militia.
The U.S. military's suppression campaign reduced them to pieces, from the organized ones being eliminated into guerrillas, to the end where there were not even a few guerrillas left.
After the founding of the new government, there were attempts to recruit a few guerrilla groups, but to no avail. The difference between these guerrilla groups and jihadist organizations is that they never use civilians as suicide bombers to attack the U.S. military. So most people in Iraq don't dislike them, but they don't like them either.
Nowadays, the largest resistance army is the Mahdi Army and the Badr Brigade. Both of the two powerful resistance armies belong to the Shia sect. After the guide arranged the caravan, he took Canglong to the mountainous area and arrived in the mountainous area. In a secret base, the leader of the Shiite resistance and the supreme leader of the Badr Brigade, Badr, was found.
This is a thin middle-aged Iraqi man with deep-set eyes, giving people a scary feeling of being a predator. However, his clothes do not conform to the traditional Iraqi style, but are very Western-style, with a neat shirt and trousers. He doesn't look like a warlord.
"General Badr." The guide put his hand on his chest, bowed and performed a unique Islamic etiquette, and then said, "This is a good friend of His Excellency Ali Daei. He came to Iraq hoping to get your help."
After hearing this, Bader looked Cang Long up and down, and said in a gloomy tone: "Chinese."
"Does it matter which country you are from?" Canglong asked.
Badr was stunned, with a bit of dissatisfied murderous intention on his face, but when he saw that Canglong was not afraid, Bader suddenly smiled again. Although his smile was not very pretty, the murderous intention finally disappeared, but Canglong It was judged that the leader of the Badr Brigade was a murderous guy.
However, the Badr Brigade has not done much harm in the minds of the Iraqi people like the Mahdi Army, another Shiite armed force. Shiites and Sunnis are in constant conflict, but the Shiites are relatively moderate and are equivalent to doves. Sunnis are relatively extreme and can be said to be hawks.
However, the two factions have completely different purposes. The Shia's guiding ideology is to fight for the people of this country, drive away all invaders, and mainly control the southern region.
Sunnis, on the other hand, fight for their beliefs. During Saddam's rule, Sunnis occupied a dominant position. Now, the main resistance force of Sunnis in Iraq is Saddam's death squads, which are also the remnants of the Iraqi Ba'ath Party and mainly control Iraq. Northern region.
"Since it was introduced by Ali Daei, it is naturally credible. What do you need me to do for you?" Badr asked.
For a warlord leader who controls the southern provinces, Badr is in the mountainous area north of Baquba controlled by Sunnis and Kurds. It has to be said that he is very courageous. You have to know that the people who want to kill him are more powerful than There are many wolves in the mountains, American mercenaries, Sunni death squads, and all members of Al Qaeda, but he lives so carefree, from an officer in Saddam's Republican Guard to a famous General of the Badr Brigade.
"I need to use your intelligence network in northern Iraq to help me find a few people, preferably quickly. I believe you should be able to do this." Canglong said calmly.
"You are a killer." Badr said suddenly.
"Yes." Canglong nodded.
"No wonder there is a smell that disgusts me. How could Alidai become friends with you? You know, we often have to deal with killers like you. There was a killer lurking in yesterday, but before you came, I had already Cut your companions into pieces and feed them to the wolves." Balder looked at Canglong coldly, and after finishing speaking, a contemptuous smile appeared on his face.
Facing such a murderous warlord, Canglong did not panic at all: "I want to kill you, but you will never survive the next minute."
"Are you looking for death?" Bader suddenly took out his pistol and pointed it at Canglong, "As long as I pull the trigger, this m500 revolver will blow your head off. Don't doubt its power. This is a 50 caliber Twice the size of a Desert Eagle.”
Facing this pistol, which is said to be the most powerful in the world, Canglong showed no expression: "You have to pay a price for pointing the gun at me."
"Bang" Baldur pulled the trigger without hesitation. A violent sound filled the cave, but there was no bloody scene. By the time Baldur's guards rushed in, Canglong's desert warriors were already pointing at his temple.
Badr's face was full of disbelief, but he didn't dare to move at all. He was also a man who crawled out of the mountain of corpses and sea of blood. He could feel that this killer didn't care about his guards at all. If he dared to move, the next shot might It would hit his head, but the guide stood aside. Although he did not see the expression on the face under the veil, he could clearly see her surprised eyes.
"As long as I pull the trigger, this Desert Warrior will pierce your head. Don't doubt its power. This gun will kill more people than the bullets you fired." Canglong repeated what he said. .
"Alidai is a cunning guy." Badr's face changed, and then he calmed down and said coldly, "You have passed the test and won my friendship."
"Bang." Canglong fired without hesitation, but moved Badr's head away and hit the ground. Badr was so frightened that he trembled all over. The guide also looked at Canglong in surprise, but only heard He said calmly: "I said that I have to pay a price. For the sake of the upcoming cooperation, I will lower the price a little."
When he looked at the guards at the door, he found that they were extremely nervous. They were all outstanding soldiers who survived the Iraq War, but facing the man in front of them, they were filled with fear from the bottom of their hearts. They were afraid of the Americans and them. Maybe they were afraid, but more importantly they were afraid of their weapons, but the aura exuding from the man in front of them made them smell death.
Canglong sat back down again, and Badr ordered the guards to leave before starting the formal discussion: "Who are you looking for?"
"A few Chinese people." Canglong said calmly.
"Chinese, why are the Chinese in Iraq gathering in the south? Most of them are oil workers. What are they doing in the north?" Badr asked.
"We are carrying out a secret mission. As for the specific mission, I don't think I need to tell you. You just need to help me find them." Canglong said calmly.
Badr frowned, but did not have the same momentum as before. He was silent for a while and said: "The Americans have been very active in the past two days. I heard that several Chinese people appeared in Baquba, and they were also attacked in the mountains. To the bombing by the American Air Force."
"Are they still alive?" Canglong suddenly felt nervous.
This subtle emotion was captured by Badr: "It seems they are very important to you."
"Of course my subordinates are important. Are they still alive?" Canglong repeated.
"Judging from the movements of the Americans, they should still be alive, otherwise they wouldn't have sent so many mercenaries to search everywhere. Although even I can't believe that they can escape the indiscriminate bombardment of aerial gunships and drones. , even our most elite warriors may have turned into meat." Badr said with appreciation, "If they are still alive, they should probably be in Baquba. Give me an hour and I will find them for you."
"Yes." Canglong nodded, and then left the cave, led by a soldier, to the rest room arranged by Badr.
After he left, the guide suddenly took off his veil, revealing a head of golden hair and a finely carved face. Badr couldn't help but be stunned when he saw it, but he didn't dare to have any evil intentions, and instead treated her very equally. Said: "Vivian, can he be trusted? When did Alidai start cooperating with the Chinese so deeply?"
"He is not just an ordinary Chinese, maybe he can help you complete your career in the future." Vivian said calmly.
"Does he represent the Chinese government behind his back?" Badr asked in surprise.
"No, he represents himself, but Alidai believes that he has the ability to help you complete your cause, so this time you must fully assist him and bring out your best warriors. This is the reason Alidai asked me to tell you. Words." Vivian said.
"Is it worth it?" Badr frowned, but Vivian didn't answer and turned around to leave.