The strategist’s words were like a steel knife thrust into the hearts of all the core members.
When they occupied the mountains as kings, they were just like Hamid, hunkering down in deep forests that satellites could not scan. Their ammunition and supplies were hidden in rock crevices. The government forces, due to the disparate terrain, did not dare to rashly come and encircle them.
Now that they had seized the country, everything was reversed. They were no longer bandits hiding in the mountains; instead, they had become the government forces occupying the capital and holding the state. When they thought about their situation with Hamid from a different angle, they also knew it was almost impossible to take him down. Moreover, even just besieging him for three years would consume a massive amount of manpower and resources.
Three years brought too many variables. Whether they would still hold the country after three years was another matter.
Therefore, everyone had the same thought in their minds: while the country was still in their hands, they had to quickly reap benefits. Even if they were counterattacked one day, they could still leave with a large amount of money and women. They should not waste time with that bastard Hamid.
Thus, everyone reached a consensus not to stoop to Hamid’s level.
However, while they did not stoop to Hamid’s level, Hamid insisted on pestering them.
Just as everyone gloomily decided to let Hamid off, someone suddenly rushed into the conference room and reported, “Report! Hamid has sent a message!”
The leader asked coldly, “What did he say?”
The person replied, “Hamid said that if we don’t give him the oil field he wants, his soldiers will launch attacks on oil fields across the country. In his own words, since not a penny from selling oil reaches his pocket anyway, it’s better to blow them all up so everyone starves together.”
“Fuck!!!”
The leader flew into a rage instantly. He pulled out his sidearm and fired three shots at the ceiling: bang, bang, bang.
He cursed angrily, “What does this bastard mean? Does he really want to fight us to the end?!”
The strategist quickly advised, “Boss, calm down first. In my view, Hamid only wants one small oil field. Just give it to him!”
“Give it to him?!” The leader glared with wide eyes and sternly questioned, “He just destroyed several of our oil fields, causing us major losses. Do you know how much money we lose per day? I haven’t made him pay the price yet, which is already giving him face. Now he still wants me to give him the oil field. Damn it, daydreaming!”
The deputy leader stroked his big beard and murmured, “This bastard must be in high spirits now. We can’t send a large number of troops to defend oil fields across the country. From now on, if he destroys one more, our business will be in the red. If he destroys two, the loss will be even greater. In my view, it’s better to just give him the oil field he wants. As long as he keeps his promise, we only need to lose one more oil field. Otherwise, who knows how many more we’ll lose.”
The strategist immediately nodded. “That’s right; that’s the logic.”
The leader said with a livid face, “I know that’s the logic; I can calculate this account too. I just feel uncomfortable in my heart. Why should I be manipulated by him? I’m now the head of a country at least. If this gets out, where do I put my face?”
With that, he continued gnashing his teeth. “Besides! This bastard is already very rich; his base is built impregnable. If we give him the oil field, won’t he have more and more money in the future, making his strength stronger and stronger?!”
The strategist quickly comforted, “Boss, for this matter, as long as everyone reaches an agreement under the table and doesn’t interfere with each other afterward, who outside will know the specific situation? Moreover, Hamid is very smug now. If he really gets carried away and continues attacking the oil fields we control, the losses will only be greater in the future. Reaching an agreement with him and giving him that oil field, we can still hurry to restore production in the other oil fields he destroyed. Slowly, the losses can be recovered. But if we let him continue fighting like this, the scope of losses will be beyond our control.”
