I watched them begin their training, then picked up the phone to call Jing Lei. We had agreed to register the company today, and I asked her to pick me up with Lan Ya.
I told Wen Siqiang, "Go pick up Senior and Qian Fugui. Don't go anywhere else today, just stay with Senior. Call me immediately if anything comes up."
While waiting for them, I called Wu Lao San to update him on Chen Liben's latest movements. His change in strategy was crucial for us.
When the call connected, coincidentally, he was with General Wu.
Last night, Chen Liben, under the guise of protecting the General, had dispatched an reinforced company to guard the General's villa. Everyone could see his intentions. Wu Lao San had rushed back that very night.
Chen Liben claimed that with recent unrest, his trusted men were sent to ensure the General's safety. This was clearly a veiled threat, his "trusted men" essentially there to monitor General Wu.
The sheer audacity was sickening; it was unbelievable how shamelessly shameless one person could be.
I relayed what Principal Sun had told Zhou Yingying. Wu Guodong and Wu Lao San were stunned. Clearly, they hadn't expected Chen Liben to involve A Country's underworld. Once they got entangled with these ruthless gangs, they would be irrevocably tied to A Country, unable to extricate themselves.
For years, Wu Guodong had only engaged in business with A Country, keeping a wide berth from its various organizations, feigning ignorance and turning a blind eye. He'd even accepted business losses rather than provoke them.
Who would have thought Chen Liben would take such a reckless gamble?
Wu Guodong said, "Brother Chen, this completely disrupts our strategy. After this move, we might not even have a chance to equalize."
It seemed Wu Guodong harbored deep reservations about A Country's organizations, still fearful of them at heart.
I replied, "General, we'll deal with floods by building dams and with soldiers by deploying generals. Although Chen Liben has played a dirty trick, we can't just wait to be defeated. You focus on recovering, and Third Young Master and I will handle the rest."
Wu Guodong said, "With your words, I am reassured. Also, quickly contact the military government. If the timing is right, their intervention could alleviate some of our pressure."
Indeed, that was a good idea. While A Country's organizations were formidable fighters and ruthless, this was not their territory. If government troops were deployed, the situation could dramatically change.
I acknowledged this, saying I would handle it after obtaining a license. Once done, I would discuss it with Brother Bao.
If Brother Qing couldn't manage it, there was always Bo Gang. That old man could get things done if the money was right.
I hung up the phone. Jing Lei's car had arrived. Seeing me on the phone, she didn't interrupt.
I got into the car, and Jing Lei turned it towards the administrative building.
Lan Ya was also in the car. Her car had been smashed to bits yesterday, and it was uncertain if it could be repaired.
I told Lan Ya as I got in, "After we finish here, we'll meet with Brother Bao. We need to discuss something with him."
Lan Ya said, "Brother Bao is away on a business trip. I don't know if he's returned yet."
I mused that I hadn't seen him in a while and realized he hadn't been in Ruili.
I knew Brother Bao had business interests on the mainland and traveled frequently, so his absence was normal.
Lan Ya said, "I'll ask. If he's back, we'll meet at the rough stone base."
I nodded. Although Brother Bao didn't involve himself much in our affairs, it was best to consult him about the General's communication with the military government. If this matter were successful, it would be a significant historical achievement.
The border region was a global challenge. Situated at the intersection of several countries, with high mountains and treacherous terrain, and local armed factions, it had slowly become a major malignant tumor, a constant headache for neighboring countries.
Every year, governments of several nations poured significant resources into eradicating this tumor, only to achieve nothing, leaving it as a perpetual pain in the hearts of successive administrations.
If we could facilitate a peaceful resolution, engage with a faction of the armed forces, and clear thousands of acres of poppy fields, wouldn't that be a meritorious deed?
However, no one would let us succeed easily, given the vested interests and commercial empires involved.
Chen Liben's willingness to be entangled with A Country to fight us to the death demonstrated that in the face of immense profits, everything else was mere feathers, so light they could be completely ignored.
Brother Qing and Bo Gang both had influence within the government forces. Compared to Brother Qing, Bo Gang was more direct. He had been incorporated into the system himself, so he certainly understood the procedures and tactics better than Brother Qing.
The Burmese government army was rather corrupt; money spoke louder than anything, and money could buy everything.
Therefore, I leaned more towards Bo Gang. If he was willing, things would become simpler. Bo Gang was greedy, but he was direct. He'd state what he wanted openly. Although his methods were rough, his clear pricing made it easier to get things done.
However, Brother Bao had to be informed about this. It would be even better if he could offer some advice.
Lan Ya put down her phone and told me that Brother Bao hadn't returned but had contacted Brother Qing and asked me to contact him directly.
She then gave me a set of numbers. I glanced at them – they were satellite phone numbers.
The area where Brother Qing was located was not covered by our network, so communication relied on satellite phones. Satellite phones had wide coverage and no blind spots, with no issues of signal strength. The main reasons for their limited use were their exorbitant price and prohibitively high call charges. For our usual long phone calls, we might end up spending the equivalent of a storefront.
The car stopped at the administrative building's parking lot, and we all went to get our permits.
It was my first time handling such matters, and I felt like an idiot. Lan Ya and Jing Lei scurried around, getting forms, filling them out, and having me sign. Then they both signed as well. After a while, once they confirmed everything was filled out, they submitted it through the window.
The staff inside asked for our identification cards and verified them, occasionally asking me questions.
Their questions left me a bit dazed. I only knew how to answer after asking Lan Ya and Jing Lei.
I felt like a complete fool, clueless about everything.
I didn't think I was unintelligent, but perhaps having my head bashed a few times recently had made me a bit dim, which was understandable.
Finally, after all the procedures were completed, I breathed a sigh of relief. I decided not to be involved in such matters again; they were utterly exhausting.
As we walked out, I suddenly saw a familiar back at the entrance.
If I hadn't seen him here, I would have forgotten about him. I realized I was missing something – it had been too long since we'd crossed paths. I wondered if he felt the same.
Indeed, this person was my old adversary, the Crown Prince, who wished me nothing but destruction.
I had been so occupied dealing with Wu Guodong's people that I had genuinely forgotten about him.
He was still as ostentatious as ever. He was probably here for some business, with four bodyguards behind him and an escort clearing the way.
How pretentious! If it weren't in the lobby, there would likely be someone holding an umbrella for him.