-Director Park and you are taking turns to pick on me.

"That's not why I called since I already left that issue to director Park. Would Kazakhstan, an ally of the U.S., have stepped forward if it'll cause a loss to it? I'm only asking this because this will benefit both of us."

-This is a sensitive issue in the political circle, so I can't give you a firm answer. It must be being lobbied in all sorts of ways.

"Anyway, I'd like to make it clear that the U.S. military will save a tremendous amount of money if the Royal Bodyguards take that job instead of leaving it to the American company.

It was a deal of tremendous money, so lobbying must be intense.

However, if an ally like Kazakhstan could work instead of the U.S. military, it would be helpful for its national interest as there would be a less political burden and it would be like doing a favor to Kazakhstan.

-Well, let's cut to the chase.

Michael tried to change the subject since it would only trouble him if they stayed on the subject for longer.

"I must've dragged it too long in front of a busy person like you. Alright. You know we've already invested all of our conventional weapons now."

-Yes, I heard that you even handed over the weapons that belong to the border troops.

"We decided to deploy our weapons to the militias' footholds because the U.S. promised to support us. Then our border strength was loosened so much that I can't even sleep well at night."

Michael would have understood the meaning of Youngho's nagging.

-Well, congratulations on your great achievement in Uyghur and Tibet. If you need any supply, tell me. We'll support you fully.

Youngho was puzzled as Michael gave in so easily. He always had a tug of war before agreeing to Youngho's requests.

"Huh? Are you saying it doesn't matter even if we ask for items that the CIA can't provide?"

-It's for an ally. Just say it.

"I guess we really did a great job on securing the footholds"

-You're right. n.o.body would've thought that Uyghurs and Tibetans would secure foothold regions. The Chinese government is also shaken very much. It's preparing for a full attack, but it'll be hard to put that into action. The CIA thinks that it might even give up the captured areas."

"..."

Youngho was dumbfounded as he never thought the Chinese government would give up the areas.

When Youngho could not continue his words, Michael hurriedly made an excuse.

-It's just what the CIA speculates.

"I hope the CIA is not negotiating with China behind our back. If so, I'll be greatly disappointed."

There was a little possibility, but the U.S. could be working under the table with the Chinese government.

The U.S. might be embarra.s.sed that an unexpected situation had unfolded now.

It was expecting that the independence struggle would be prolonged, but it had not foreseen that the militias would take over foothold regions from China.

If this continued and if mainland China was violated, there would be a large-scale battle leading to a world war. This was an undesirable scenario for the U.S., so it could be trying to mend the mess.

-You imagine too much. The U.S. wants the independence of Uyghurs and Tibetans more than anyone else. Also, we never make compromises with a faulty country.

Youngho did not even laugh. The U.S. had been overlooking even the dictators.h.i.+p for its own interest.

"I trust your words, but I don't believe politicians' words."

-Duke, I'd like you to slow down the tempo just for a bit now. This is too chaotic as it's getting out of our predictions.

Michael came clean.

It seemed the U.S. political circle was in trouble because the independence forces in Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet conquered some Chinese regions.

"Are you saying we shouldn't help the independence struggle? Or do you mean we shouldn't expand the foothold regions?"

-Don't you think the regions captured now are enough to make Uyghurs and Tibetans as independent countries?

"If we stop at this point, are you going to make a compromise with China?"

-No, but the U.S. thinks that we should leave some room for negotiations.

"Hmmm…"

Youngho's guess was right.

The U.S. did not want war escalation.

The foothold areas were barren, but they were not inadequate for each people to live autonomously.

As for the Uyghurs, they took an area about one-tenth of the whole Xinjiang Uyghur, and Tibetans almost took over one-fifth of the country including the northern area which was uninhabitable.

Since China's large-scale attack would be overwhelming, Youngho also wanted to reach a ceasefire agreement soon. The Uyghurs and Tibetans would have a chance to expand their land in the future.

It would be extremely difficult to retrieve the entire territories from China, as it would be unfavorable for the independence forces if the struggle was prolonged.

"Then we should secure some more strategic locations. You need to give me some more time."

-Thank you for gladly agreeing with me. Then I guess I should give you a gift. I'll do my best to give the agency business to Kazakhstan when the U.S. military is pulled out of Afghanistan.

Since all the efforts put in so far for independence could be lost when the Chinese government could not take it anymore, someone must come forward to mediate the two sides.

It would be a disgrace for the Chinese government, but it would be plausible if it could drive all the troublesome Uyghurs and Tibetans into certain regions and forget about them.

It would be half-achieved independence, but it was better for both sides to end it early.

***

With Youngho's verbal agreement, the U.S. would probably contact the Chinese government unofficially.

Thus, there was no time to waste.

Now was the only time to expand the footholds.

There was no guarantee that rich soil would wait for the independence forces, but both people would only be able to have a chance in the future when the secured areas were advantageous for defense.

He rushed great deals of military supplies to both footholds.

The independence forces of both sides were struggling to expand their footholds, but the Chinese forces did not back off.

This continued for many days.

However, both sides refrained from using the latest weapons by only using conventional weapons as much as possible. It was only intensified randomly by dropping bombs through unmanned attack aircrafts.

This was an unspoken promise that both did not want it to be expanded as a full-scale war.

"Didn't they say the Korean Army and the Chinese Communist Army fought day and night like now at the time of the Korean War near the truce line?"

Park Jong-il and Cha In-soo were at Kashgar which was recently captured by the Uyghur independence forces.

From a distance, a shoot-out was going on between Uyghurs and Chinese troops to take a more advantageous position at the final stage of the battle.

"It's said to be fiercer. It was right before the truce, so it would've been even more severe. We still have some time. The Chinese side should also let it all out now. Then it will leave this area alone later."

"Are they trying to save the face of the communist party leaders.h.i.+p?"

"Maybe. This much fire attack should be carried out to show that the Chinese government had completely quelled the independence forces."

The Chinese side did not advance anymore but was focusing on firefight only.

It meant that a negotiation under the table with the U.S. was definitely going on.

It was intended to declare a ceasefire first and then find another chance next time.

"The militias say that we must get that mountain under our territory. Is it all necessary?"

"There is a lake over the mountain and we need to secure that. That's the only drinking water resource near this area. I heard the nomadic people asked to secure the lake specifically, or they can't continue their nomadic life."

Kashgar would be useless without water no matter how much land it had.

Although areas near Tian Shan Mountains had streams of water melting from ice caps, they were quickly soaked into the ground in the semi-dry climate without a trace.

Water that disappeared little by little would spring up hundreds of kilometers away, and such places became oasis or lakes.

The lake the militias were fighting for was formed that way.

Since it was like the water of life to livestock that grazed on chippy gra.s.s, the militias were pouring enormous firepower to capture it. So as the Chinese troops.

"Let them give up if they can't handle it. It will be cheaper to make a waterway in Tian Shan Mountains or Kunlun Mountains than to spend all the sh.e.l.ls. That lake is only a little bigger than an oasis."

"You have no idea. It's a small lake, but do you think it's easy to find a lake that doesn't dry up after thousands of years and keeps providing fresh water like that? Even an oasis would disappear in hundreds of years in Kashgar. That lake is a sacred place for the people here. We must take over the place. Only then, we won't have a backlash from the people when we stop fighting in this situation."

"Are you saying the people won't take truce if we can't capture that?"

"That is highly possible. It's a sacred place for the Uyghurs."

"Then we need to send special forces instead of firing artillery."

"The mercenaries will soon get to work. I promised a bonus pay."

"Whoa, then we'll get to make the Uyghurs' wish come true if it works out."

"That area is not only important for the Uyghurs but also for us. Beyond that area is likely to be an oil field."

"Is that so? Then the Chinese government must know that too since the troops are fighting for life."

"No, the Chinese government doesn't know it yet. There was a fire there a long time ago and it's said that the fire wasn't put out for several months. That might be why the people here think it's sacred."

"I doubt that the Chinese government doesn't know such information."

"They say that the people of Kashgar did not inform the Chinese government. They kept it quiet after seeing an oil field development in Taklamakan Desert."

If that was true, it was a region to capture by all means.

The place had a potential to become the lifeline for the Uyghurs if the frontline became permanent.