Hong Kong Island: From a small stall to a global supplier

Given Wang Yaotang's current status, he could meet with the Governor of Hong Kong immediately if he wanted to, even if it wasn't during working hours.

In fact, Wei Dewei had received the news before Wang Yaotang and his group arrived, which angered him greatly.

"What does he want to do!"

"Does he want to take over Hong Kong?!"

"Sending the fleet to Victoria Harbour is a provocation, a threat, a threat to the British Empire!"

"What can he do if I disagree with him?"

"Let him fire! Let him bombard the Governor's House! I want to see if he dares to!"

Wei Dewei was yelling and banging on the desk in his office, while his secretary across from him kept her head down and remained silent.

"Knock, knock, knock," there was a knock on the office door. Wei Dewei immediately shut up and sat down in his chair, panting heavily. His secretary quickly opened the door and peeked out, "What's wrong?"

"Wang Yaotang and the others have arrived and are downstairs," the person outside the door said in a low voice.

"Okay." The secretary waved and immediately closed the door.

Wei Dewei glanced sideways, knowing exactly what was going on without even asking. He remained seated, not moving an inch. "What are you looking at? Do you expect me to go out and greet this bastard?!"

The secretary quickly shook his head. "Of course not, sir. You are the Governor of Hong Kong, the highest administrator of Hong Kong bestowed upon you by the British Empire. Everyone is your subject. You don't need to worry about anyone's thoughts."

Wei Dewei snorted coldly.

Seven or eight minutes later, there was another knock on the door. The secretary glanced at Wei Dewei and, seeing that he didn't react, immediately opened the door.

"Mr. Wang, General Cameron Highlands, Director Yan." The secretary smiled brightly and stepped aside, gesturing for the three to enter.

"Governor, I hope my visit is not intrusive and that I haven't disturbed your work," Wang Yaotang said with a smile as he entered.

"Haha, of course not. It's my job to receive Hong Kong's most important citizens and help you solve the difficulties you encounter." Wei Dewei laughed, got up, walked over, and gave him a hug. "Long time no see, dear Wang. Sit down, what would you like to drink?"

"Don't be shy, have some black tea."

"OK." Wei Dewei nodded. "What would you like to drink, General Yan and General Cameron?"

"Let's have black tea." Although the two preferred coffee.

The secretary immediately turned and went out. Soon, four cups of black tea were brought in, and the four of them chatted and laughed.

After taking a sip of tea, Wang Yaotang said with a smile, "I wonder if the Governor is aware of the situation in the South Asian seas in recent years?"

"Oh, what situation are you talking about?" Wei Dewei asked curiously.

"Because of the impact of the oil crisis in recent years, the global economy is in recession. Large economies like Hong Kong have also been greatly affected by this storm. The businesses of the four shipping magnates have been severely damaged, and the impact on other neighboring countries is even greater," Wang Yaotang sighed.

In Southeast Asia, Hong Kong is the largest economy, with a GDP far exceeding that of countries like Siam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

"Affected by the economic crisis, the living standards of people in Annam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia have declined significantly, with many struggling to make ends meet, including their military. This has led to residents in the coastal areas of these countries frequently posing as pirates to attack passing merchant ships. According to the intelligence I have received, some local armies and armed groups are also posing as pirates to do similar things."

"What? Is it that serious?" Wei Dewei's face showed a look of astonishment. He had indeed heard that the seas were not very peaceful and that the number of pirates was rising, but he really didn't know that local troops and local armed forces were disguised as pirates.

“It’s absolutely certain, especially in the eastern part of the Strait of Malacca, with the Aceh armed groups in Indonesia, some resistance groups in Malaysia, and ethnic armed groups in Myanmar.” After Wang Yaotang finished speaking, he noticed that the three governors of Hong Kong were all looking at him without saying a word.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Wang Yaotang frowned.

"How did you receive the message?" General Cameron asked, pursing his lips.

“Uh…” Wang Yaotang blinked. “You know, I have some influence in Phuket. Well, it’s the biggest smuggling port for some organizations in the eastern region.”

The three governors: So you sold them the weapons!

“That’s not important, is it? What we’re talking about now is how to solve the problem. The appearance of pirates has affected shipping routes. As the world’s largest duty-free port, Hong Kong is also affected. We have an obligation to solve these problems. As a Hong Kong citizen, I cannot stand idly by and watch such despicable things happen.” Wang Yaotang said righteously, “Therefore, I have decided to let Umbrella Corporation expand its maritime security business to escort passing cargo ships!”

"Insurance companies can only compensate after the fact, but that is not enough to make up for the ship owner's losses. What we should do is take preventative measures, shouldn't we?"

The topic had been brought up, and the reasons had been given quite thoroughly. Wang Yaotang stared intently at Wei Dewei.

“There is no precedent for this in the world. Warships are super-large weapons, and there has never been a precedent for private legal registration, let alone a fleet,” Wei Dewei said with a frown.

"Many innovative rules in modern history were first created by Britain and subsequently adopted by the whole world. This precisely demonstrates Britain's progressiveness and leadership, and I think this time will be no exception," Wang Yaotang said in a deep voice.

“I need to consider the attitudes of Southeast Asian countries. A modern fleet that far exceeds the size of the navies of the surrounding countries has broken the tacit understanding between them, disrupted the balance of power, and caused regional military tensions leading to an arms race. This…” Wei Dewei was still looking for reasons.

"Governor!" Wang Yaotang waved his hand to interrupt the spell, "Their people haven't even solved their basic needs for food and clothing yet, are Hong Kong citizens also going to be unable to afford to eat?!"

“We all know they can’t solve problems, they only create them. As the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong should stand up and take responsibility.”

"As for the issue of the balance of power and arms race you mentioned," Wang Yaotang scoffed, "the US has troops stationed in the Philippines, and the Russians have troops stationed in Annam. Tell me, where does this arms race come from?"

"Ah, this..." Wei Dewei was at a loss for words for a moment. In the past, they used this kind of language in diplomatic matters in Europe, but everyone tacitly avoided mentioning the issue of American troops stationed in Europe and the issue of military pressure from Russia, because it was too embarrassing.

He didn't expect Wang Yaotang to expose him so directly, which made things a bit awkward.

Wang Yaotang shifted his position and put his arm around Wei Dewei's shoulder. "Stop making excuses. This isn't the United Nations or NATO. This is Hong Kong. The largest military entity in Asia is in the north. The 'balancing act' won't work here. I think you understand that."

Wei Dewei suddenly looked grim.

“Look on the bright side. The Umbrella Corporation is registered in Hong Kong. The strength of the Umbrella Corporation is the strength of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is already the largest economy in Southeast Asia. What’s wrong with adding the most powerful fleet? During your term, you can speak more loudly throughout Southeast Asia, right?” Wang Yaotang said, his face close to Wei Dewei’s, word by word: “Don’t always have an adversarial mentality. We are not enemies. I am a Hong Konger with British citizenship, and you are the Governor of Hong Kong. We are on the same side.”

“If Hong Kong doesn’t agree, I’ll go to Singapore. Singapore, sandwiched between Malaysia and Indonesia, certainly won’t mind. Even if Singapore doesn’t agree, I can choose Brunei. Believe me, the total number of soldiers in their entire country is less than the number of my navy. What makes them think they can disagree with me?”

"All I need is a name. I'm determined to legitimize this fleet, and nothing can stop me!"

"However, that would not be a good thing for Hong Kong. No matter what I say or what you say, everyone will know that there is a conflict between us, which is definitely not good news for Hong Kong's economic development. I don't want this to happen, after all, most of my businesses are in Hong Kong. Now the world is advocating cooperation, and only through cooperation can we achieve a win-win situation."

“Wei Dewei, you don’t want people to know that you’ve lost control of Hong Kong, do you?” Wang Yaotang said with a bright smile.

"You, you're threatening me!" Wei Dewei's face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.

"No, I'm just stating a fact. You're a successful politician who has done a lot of diplomatic work. You should understand that, shouldn't you?"

Kim Ma-lun and Yen Li-kuo were looking up at the ceiling and down at the sofa material, respectively, their expressions extremely focused, but their ears were twitching as they listened intently to the conversation between the two.

Wei Dewei gritted his teeth. He knew this was true, of course. Government House was just a building with dozens of rooms of varying sizes, and meals still had to be cooked separately. Whether in the past or present, the Governor of Hong Kong had never had the power to make decisions unilaterally. In the past, they had to consider the interests of British capital; now, they had to consider not only British capital but also the interests of their "Chinese-owned" neighbors.

Wang Yaotang now represents not only Chinese capital but also the will of the neighbor to the north.

At least that's what Wei Dewei thinks, otherwise where did those warships come from?

It's impossible that Somalia actually sold it to him!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and the angrier he became, the more he thought about it. Glancing sideways at Wang Yaotang's smiling face, Wei Dewei finally said coldly and fiercely, "Fine, I'll register!"

Kim Ma-long and Yen Li-kuo, standing nearby, shuddered slightly, forcibly controlling themselves from spitting out their words. They never expected that the Governor of Hong Kong could utter such cowardly words in the fiercest tone.

What can Wei Te-wei do?
Could he really have a falling out with Wang Yaotang?

Not to mention that Wang Yaotang's decision to halt the quarry project would cause all the reclamation and tunnel projects he initiated after taking office to stop, all he had to do was announce that he would conduct a large-scale overhaul of the electrical circuits and cause a power outage for a day, and all sorts of capital would be able to flatten the threshold of his Government House.

Not to mention that Wang Yaotang also controls the import and export of 'fuel', which is the lifeblood of Hong Kong as a duty-free port!
So, garlic bird, garlic bird...

Wang Yaotang clapped lightly and said with a smile, "Governor Wei Dewei is taking a holistic view of Southeast Asia and has devoted himself to solving the shipping security problem in the entire region. He has consulted with the Umbrella Corporation many times and finally persuaded the Umbrella Corporation to invest a huge sum of US$1.5 million to build a fleet that is the best in Southeast Asia, to escort ships from all countries and to combat the increasingly rampant piracy."

"Governor Wei was visionary and had exceptional insight. Under his leadership, Hong Kong is destined to become great again!"

Kim Ma-lun and Yen Li-kuo clapped enthusiastically, showering him with compliments. Wei Te-wei's expression gradually softened, and a smile began to appear on his lips.

Mr. Wang Yaotang was also worried about shipping safety. He was young and inevitably a bit too eager for quick success and instant benefits. He didn't understand the importance of tact, but his intentions were good.

As the governor, I should naturally be tolerant and help the young people to identify and correct any shortcomings.

The moment I knelt down and had this thought, I suddenly felt the vastness of the world!

Thinking about it this way, Wei Dewei felt much better, and the pent-up frustration in his chest disappeared instantly.

"Shipping security issues have indeed plagued Southeast Asia for a long time. Now that a solution has been found, this news should naturally be announced to the public so that more people can know and severely crack down on the arrogance of those pirates!" Wei Dewei said loudly with a serious expression.

"The Governor is very thoughtful. I have no problem with anything; I'll follow the Governor's arrangements." Wang Yaotang smiled broadly.

"Then let's do it in three days. The police will complete the preliminary registration procedures in these three days, and we'll hold a press conference three days later," Wei Dewei said.

"Okay." Wang Yaotang nodded.

“Yes, Sir!” Yan Liguo stood up and gave a sharp salute.

“General Cameron Highlands will also be attending. This matter is supported by the Governor’s Office and the garrison.” Wei Dewei looked over.

Cameron hadn't expected to have anything to do with himself, but after thinking about it, he nodded in agreement.

It doesn't matter. I'll be retiring in another year. Before I go, I'll leave a legacy with Wang Yaotang. Maybe I'll need it someday.

The door opened again, and the secretary was stunned when she caught a glimpse of the Governor of Hong Kong smiling as he saw Wang Yaotang out.

Didn't the former Governor of Hong Kong harshly criticize Wang Yaotang?

How come you're laughing like you've eaten bee droppings so quickly?
What kind of spell did Wang Yaotang cast on him?
After personally escorting Wang Yaotang downstairs, Wei Dewei returned and glared fiercely at his secretary.

The secretary quickly shrank back, pretending that she wasn't there.

After closing the door and sitting back down on the sofa, Wei Dewei sighed. He was practically the last Governor of Hong Kong; it was truly frustrating.

……

On the other side of the Indian Ocean, in the Middle East, lies the camel desert of Riyadh.

Prince Banda was listening to a report from one of his trusted subordinates.

A year ago, the Persians held the upper hand in the Iran-Iraq conflict but were unable to break through, so they set their sights on a camel that was financially supporting Iraq.

The Persians attacked the capital, Riyadh, with Scud missiles and deployed a large army along the Persian Gulf border, preparing to cross the sea and attack Camel's homeland at any time.

This terrified the camel!
The camel asked its American daddy to buy the 'Lance' missile, which has a range of only 150 kilometers. Although this missile could not meet the defense requirements at all, the United States still refused.

During the two 'oil crises,' the Arabs, led by the Camel, did not side with the United States, causing huge losses to the US. In order to further contain the Camel, the US will certainly not export missiles to it.

Afterwards, Camel turned to the Russians to buy "Speedy Legs" but was also rejected. After hitting a wall, Camel turned its attention to the Chinese.

However, at this time, Camel and Lao Zhong had not yet established diplomatic relations, and buying logs from Lao Zhong had to be done in secret, which required a reliable middleman.

Omar laughed and said, "This man is Wang Yaotang, a Hong Konger. He is extremely powerful in Hong Kong. Does Your Highness still remember the incident a few years ago when several people from the Selangor Estate Administrator's Office died in Hong Kong?"

Prince Banda laughed upon hearing this; any bad news about squid was the funniest joke.

"The Kadoorie family patriarch in Hong Kong and all the heirs around the world died overnight. Kadoorie himself was even bombed to death in the press conference hall of Government House. Two of the people from the Sequoia Estate Office died the day after they arrived in Hong Kong, and the rest were also arrested and imprisoned. Although there is no evidence to prove that Wang Yaotang did it, most of Kadoorie's estate has now become his."

"That certainly shows your power!" Prince Banda smiled and touched the ring on his hand. The touch was familiar!
"What is his relationship with the Chinese?"

“Very good. The most compelling evidence is his security company called Umbrella, which has more than 2000 members who are retired Chinese personnel. Umbrella also has a fleet of warships, all of which are the latest models produced by China. According to reliable information I obtained in Hong Kong, his fleet just annihilated an Annamese fleet in the South China Sea and destroyed all of their military facilities there!”

"What did you say? A fleet?" Prince Banda sat bolt upright. "Are you sure it's a fleet?"

“Yes, the fleet!” Omar flipped his hand and took out a stack of photos, handing them over. “Your Highness, look, these are photos I took myself. These warships are moored not far from the hotel. By the way, the Peninsula Hotel where I am staying used to be owned by the Kadoorie family, but now it belongs to Wang Yaotang.”

Prince Banda stared wide-eyed as he flipped through the photos, his face growing increasingly astonished. How could a private individual openly and legitimately assemble a fleet, especially such a modern one? "This... I'm not mistaken, are those missiles installed on top of this?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

“No…” Prince Banda’s lips twitched. We, the mighty Camel, couldn’t even buy missiles at exorbitant prices, and a private individual had them ahead of time!
It's still a missile ship!
Is this reasonable?

This is unreasonable!
But then I thought about it again. This Wang Yaotang can even build his own fleet, which shows how close his relationship with the Chinese is. Isn't he the best middleman we've been looking for all this time?

As long as he is willing to help make connections, it is foreseeable that the purchase of logs will be successfully completed!

"It's him!" Prince Banda slapped his thigh hard. "What businesses does he own? How much money does he have? What conditions are needed to sway him?"

“This…” Omar thought for a moment and said, “He is a self-made billionaire who has made his fortune in the last 10 years. According to information I have gathered from various sources, his assets exceed $10 billion. He owns a variety of businesses, including entertainment, services, docks, mines, clothing, and security, but all of them are located in Southeast Asia. I think if we are willing to let him into the camel market, he will definitely be willing to help us.”

“Very well, arrange a plane to secretly fly to Hong Kong. I want to see him!” Prince Banda said decisively.

"Yes, Your Highness." (End of Chapter)