70: Chapter 70: Just a Dog in a Pen

Major Jafari now understood that getting anything from the USA always led to new problems, so he said, "We need to designate who from Syria will take over the Conoco Gas Field. We do not agree to you handing it over to just anyone from Syria at your discretion."

"Fine," Colonel Wall did not refuse.

By letting the people from Syria get involved, they would compete with the people from the Glass House for the profit share of the Conoco Gas Field. Naturally, there would be no harmony between them, and the goal would be achieved.

Major Jafari was afraid the USA would keep creating new problems, so he said, "You must hand over the Conoco Gas Field first; only then will we hand over the wreckage of your downed fighter jet and the remains of your soldiers to you."

"No problem. But you need to coordinate with the people from Syria as soon as possible to take over the Conoco Gas Field, and at the same time, ensure that the wreckage of our downed fighter jet and the remains of our soldiers are not damaged."

"You can rest assured about that." Major Jafari was not as fond of creating problems as the USA.

"Also, to save face for both sides, we will first hand over the Conoco Gas Field to the Opposition Armed Forces that we support, and then the people from Syria will go to occupy the Conoco Gas Field. During the occupation, there will be no direct engagement, but we will create the illusion of a battle."

Colonel Wall put forward a new requirement and continued, "This way, the outside world will think that Syria has recaptured the Conoco Gas Field, rather than us intentionally withdrawing our control over it."

If the people from Syria were allowed to openly take over the Conoco Gas Field, the USA would lose face. The USA might be shameless to the core, but it still wanted to save face on the surface.

Major Jafari knew that Colonel Wall would not hand over the Conoco Gas Field easily, but after thinking about it, he found it acceptable and said, "No problem. But you must ensure that the Opposition Armed Forces do not actually engage in combat, otherwise we will not hand over the wreckage of your downed fighter jet and the remains of your soldiers."

"I can guarantee that." Colonel Wall agreed without hesitation.

The Opposition Armed Forces supported by the USA were just a kept dog; if they dared to disobey, they could just be taught a lesson. At worst, they would abandon this dog and raise another one.

Moreover, the Opposition Armed Forces were effectively controlled by the USA, requiring the USA to provide funds and weapons and equipment. Without funds and weapons and equipment, the Opposition Armed Forces would have no way to exist at all.

"Fine. That's it. After we communicate well with Syria, we will contact you immediately, and you will need to cooperate to start the handover of the Conoco Gas Field." Major Jafari did not want to say anything more.

Colonel Wall had no intention of staying to continue the conversation either, and left in a hurry.

After Colonel Wall left, Major Jafari immediately contacted Lieutenant Colonel Haidari.

"Lieutenant Colonel Haidari, the USA sent someone to negotiate with us, demanding that we return the wreckage of their downed helicopter and the remains of their soldiers."

"Did they propose any conditions for the return?" Lieutenant Colonel Haidari asked. He was not surprised by the USA's demand for the return of the downed helicopter wreckage and the soldiers' remains.

"At first, they demanded we return them unconditionally. After I rejected that, they agreed to pay a ransom. But they only agreed to pay 2 million USD, which I also rejected. Eventually, I proposed using the Conoco Gas Field as a condition for the return, and the USA agreed."

"Conoco Gas Field? How is the output?" Lieutenant Colonel Haidari did not know much about the Conoco Gas Field.

"It's not far from Deir ez-Zor, with a daily output of about 3,000 barrels. It can produce over a million barrels a year, with a value of about 70 to 80 million USD."

"3,000 barrels? That's a small oil field." Lieutenant Colonel Haidari did not think much of it.

"The USA side proposed that the Conoco Gas Field can only be handed over to people from Syria, and they do not agree to our people taking it over. Who do you think we should contact from Syria to take over the Conoco Gas Field?" Major Jafari asked.

"The USA is even interfering with who takes over the Conoco Gas Field?"

"Yes. They insist it can only be handed over to people from Syria," Major Jafari said helplessly.

"Then let Major General Zaha from Deir ez-Zor send someone to take it over. I will have him send someone to contact you then."

Although Lieutenant Colonel Haidari was dissatisfied with the USA's interference, he could only proceed according to their requirements. Thinking that he had cooperated with Major General Zaha several times before, he decided to just let Major General Zaha take it over.

"After taking over the Conoco Gas Field, can we allocate a little more profit share to our Raqqa Military Base?" Major Jafari asked cautiously.

"Let's see how things go after I communicate with Major General Zaha. At the very least, we will give Raqqa Military Base a 10% profit share."

Lieutenant Colonel Haidari gave Major Jafari a little sweetener. After all, Raqqa Military Base also participated in shooting down the USA fighter jet, although they were not the main contributor.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel." Major Jafari was very satisfied.

Getting this windfall was not bad. If the Glass House hadn't sent reinforcements to Raqqa Military Base, it would be questionable whether Raqqa Military Base would even exist.

Lieutenant Colonel Haidari saw that the USA was trying every possible way to add difficulty to normal matters. Although helpless, he could only do as they required, otherwise, they wouldn't get any benefits.

Although the annual output value of the Conoco Gas Field was not very high, it was still an unexpected gain, regardless of size.

Lieutenant Colonel Haidari immediately contacted Major General Zaha and said, "Major General Zaha, I have good news to tell you. In order to redeem the wreckage of their fighter jet and the remains of their soldiers that crashed at Raqqa Military Base, the USA is willing to return the Conoco Gas Field to us."

"Return it to us?" Major General Zaha was stunned. What did returning it to the Glass House have to do with him?

"Yes. But the USA proposed that it can only be handed over to people from Syria. Are you interested?"

"Of course I'm interested. Is there anything I need to do?" Once Major General Zaha heard that an oil field was up for grabs, how could he not be interested?

"You send someone to Raqqa Military Base to talk to Major Jafari and the person sent by the USA, to see exactly how to hand it over, and then you send troops to take it over."

"No problem." Major General Zaha was naturally willing to put in the effort, "It's just that after taking over the Conoco Gas Field, how will we allocate the profits from the oil production?"

"We, the Glass House, take 80%, and you take 20%. How about that?" Lieutenant Colonel Haidari threw out a distribution plan.

"After we take it over, are we responsible for the subsequent production arrangements and protection of the Conoco Gas Field?" Major General Zaha asked. If he didn't have to do anything after taking it over and could still get 20% of the profits, he would be satisfied.

"Of course you are responsible. After all, the Conoco Gas Field is close to you, and besides, you didn't contribute any effort in getting the Conoco Gas Field this time."

"That's too little. No way." Major General Zaha was unhappy. He would be the one putting in the hard work to extract the oil, and in the end, he would only get the smaller share.