Chapter 3: Three Phone Calls (Part 1)

  Laim went into the bedroom, closed the door and started making a phone call.

  The first phone call was made to the commander of the US military intelligence agency in Iraq: "General Jackson, I have some important information to report to you." Lyme briefed General Jackson on the situation with Briza's betrayal and becoming a mole for Al-Qaeda. General Jackson couldn't believe it and responded with a series of "NO"s, saying: "My dear General Lyme, this information must be incorrect. Mr. Briza is a loyal ally of the United States, a spy we have cultivated and supported for a long time. We spent over $2 million on him when he was in exile in France, and after his return to Iraq, he provided us with a large amount of intelligence. It's impossible for him to betray us, he's trustworthy. The remnants of Saddam's regime hate him extremely, you must not believe the rumors and fall into their trap. By the way, I'd like to discuss with you whether we should establish an intelligence agency in the interim government, led by Mr. Briza?"

  "You this benighted ruler! Corrupt element! Blind foreign devil!" Laimu was so angry that he wanted to curse China's national treasure to Jackson, but the crisis was right in front of him, and he held back his anger and said: "On the night of the 19th of last month at 11 o'clock, Briza was kidnapped by three members of Al-Qaeda while he was with a fat chick at the Sheraton Hotel in Baghdad. The fat chick died under Briza's feet, shot dead by Al-Qaeda using Briza's own gun. Briza thus knelt down and surrendered, becoming a traitor buried within the Iraqi government."

  Lyme's words convinced Jackson that Fatima's body had been found in the center of Baghdad Square, a story that had caused quite a stir. Jackson hesitated for a moment and said: "Oh, dear General Lymes, I believe this intelligence may be true, but can you tell me where it came from?"

  This is a true lie, and I won't elaborate. The intelligence gathered before the crossing was that Buriza had defected to Al-Qaeda, but why he did so was unclear. "I'm in charge of gathering intelligence, and I have my own sources," Laim said slowly. "I can't reveal too much about these sources." He continued, "Now, Buriza is hiding in a mosque in the village of Bayaji, south of Baghdad. He sent a moron with false information to lure our troops into his pre-set ambush."

  "Damn Briza, catch him and cut off his thing to feed the dogs!" Jackson burst into anger, "I immediately report to Commander Bao, dispatch two F-16s, use precision-guided bombs to blow Briza into minced meat!"

  "General Jackson, Briza is a mouse, and the mosquito. Precision-guided bombs are cannons shooting at mosquitoes, useless. The village of Baya'zi is located on the banks of the Euphrates River, with ravines and tunnels everywhere, and after being transformed by Al-Qaeda, it has become an easily defendable underground fortress that can withstand even if Baya'zi village was bombed off the face of the earth, but terrorists could still easily escape through the tunnels and ravines, cross the Euphrates River, and disappear without a trace. More importantly, Al-Qaeda gathered more than 400 armed militants to ambush American troops. We must lure them out and put them in our sights. Respected General Jackson, if you send anti-American armed men under your nose, then at that time, whether with precision-guided bombs or pistols and bayonets, or even fists and feet, you can finish them off."

  "General Lyme, what is it that you need me to do?"

  "Prepare a squadron of Apaches, hiding behind the small woods by the Euphrates River, waiting for orders. As soon as the first explosion is heard from the village of Baya'zi, command the helicopters to swoop down on the village, dropping all bombs, missiles and whatever else they have. Anything that moves, whether it's a chicken, dog, pig or sheep, will be shot with machine guns, machine cannons and bullets..."

  "Oh, wait, lovely Lieutenant Laim, you said that when you see chickens, dogs, pigs and sheep, you use machine guns?"

  "Yes. As long as I see something moving, I'll blow it up. After the explosion, only humans are left moving, chickens, dogs, pigs and sheep are all stunned and won't move."

  "Hahahaha..." Jackson's loud laughter with a thick nasal tone came through the phone, "Cute Lieutenant Rhyme, I get it, people on the ground really do look as small as chickens, dogs, pigs and sheep when viewed from a helicopter."

  Finally finished with the Intelligence Bureau Commander, Laim let out a sigh of relief and made his second call.

  Where should I dial this phone call?

  He hesitated for a while, and had considered seeking help from the Mobil Oil Iraq Company, but thought that if he didn't explain his intentions clearly, those oil tycoons would absolutely not listen to orders. If he explained clearly, those damned tycoons would raise too many questions about humanity and human rights, it was too troublesome.

  He finally made up his mind and dialed a mobile number. Soon, the sound of "The Five-star Red Flag Fluttering in the Wind" ringtone was heard, and it connected. The other party said "Hello". Laim said in English: "Mr. Zhao Hengyang? Hello."

  "Excuse me, who are you?" The other person's English was clear and fluent, with a slight throaty tone. This voice was too familiar, it was her son, the same voice as before she crossed over.

  "I'm Laim, the military attaché at the US Embassy in Iraq. I need your help with something." Laim said, suppressing his excitement.

  "US Embassy in Iraq?" The other party was apparently not very adapted, paused for a moment, and said, "I am Zhao Hengyang, I don't know how I can help you?"

  "I need your cooperation to help combat terrorist activities of the base organization."

  "Mr. Lyme, aren't you mistaken? We are a Chinese oil company, not a military unit. How can we help combat terrorism?"

  "Of course I know you're a Chinese oil company," Rhyme thought. His son's company - how could he not know?

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