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

The saying goes, "Those who plan things are not as good as those who plan people, and those who plan people are not as good as those who plan the overall situation."

Wang Yaotang is ultimately an outsider and has no chance of truly controlling the situation in Myanmar; there is no doubt about that.

Even if you have great prestige in this country, and everyone wants to put you in that position, as if no one else can do it, it's all fake.

Once you actually sit in that position, everything changes.

Whether they are locals or foreigners.

Therefore, Wang Yaotang could not personally plan things. In the past, his approach was to recruit people, supporting Luo Xinghan and Peng Jiasheng to open up opportunities in eastern and northern Myanmar. He has not been just coasting through his high position all these years. Now that he has the opportunity, he plans to intervene and create a completely new situation according to his own ideas.

Today, we'll first persuade the Chinese in high positions within the Burmese labor union. Once we have a solid foundation, we'll then persuade Ding Ying of the Kachin ethnic group and Bao Youxiang of the Wa ethnic group. Once all four regions agree, we'll turn around and win over the minority groups among the original Burmese labor union members. Finally, we'll hold an expanded meeting, and we can easily kick those Burmese traitors out of the game.

Under the new Myanmar government, the four major regions are actually too weak. If they want to develop, they cannot do without themselves. Once this network is established, they can forget about breaking away from it.

As long as he doesn't personally take to the field, he will always be the one everyone expects and the referee.

Now that things have come to this point, Wang Yaotang no longer needs to worry about them, and it's not appropriate for him to delve any deeper.

Just as he was preparing to settle things with Su Mao and his gang so he could return to Hong Kong, a satellite phone call came through from thousands of miles away.

It is Omar the camel.

The first cargo ship loaded with old grain has arrived in the Persian Gulf, but it has been stopped by US warships and is currently under inspection.

The reasons given are nothing more than those high-sounding words like "maintaining regional peace" and "preventing weapons of mass destruction." But no matter what reason they give, the camel can feel their deep malice. In the end, isn't it all about strangling them?

It didn't matter, Wang Yaotang had already anticipated this. He smiled and comforted Omar, saying, "Cooperate with their inspection, but record the whole process. They can't just do a cursory inspection. 10 tons of old grain will take three days to load, and even longer to unload. They must keep an eye on it the whole time until unloading is complete, and then they'll turn the cargo ship over for you to see."

"Huh? Why?" Omar was very confused. Normally, they should protest and stop it.

This has nothing to do with whether there are contraband items; it's a matter of national dignity.

Even though they're just dogs in front of Americans...

What dignity do dogs have!
"Hold a press conference afterwards, and release the whole story. Let the world see the rudeness and robbery of the Americans towards underdeveloped countries. They will not only cause trouble in the Arab world, but also at the United Nations, and in front of every organization they can cause trouble in!"

Wang Yaotang said with a smile, "In this world, as long as you don't cross the line, things are still distributed according to who makes the most noise."

“It’s useless. They don’t care about so-called external pressure at all, unless the Russians take action,” Omar said in a deep voice.

"The United States is not monolithic, and the CIA is not without enemies. The upper and lower houses of Congress, Fauci, and others are their political adversaries. Internal problems are far greater than external problems. Do you think the United States is united internally? For the sake of national interests, all departments should cooperate sincerely and work together to deal with external problems. The troubles caused by the CIA should not be left for the country to clean up."

“That’s impossible, absolutely not!” Omar immediately understood.

"So, make use of your camel's traditional skills, use your strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses," Wang Yaotang advised again.

Omar immediately understood; it was just a money offensive.

"It is perfectly reasonable for your country to pay off its political enemies in the CIA to launch a counterattack after being humiliated, and no one will doubt it."

Wang Yaotang felt that Camel and his group were a bit politically naive, perhaps because they had focused all their skills on palace intrigue, after all, it was a feudal monarchy...

Therefore, he could only explain things clearly and plainly, so as not to make them do it wrong.

"After doing this twice, the CIA will be in a lot of trouble, and no matter how much they hate you, they won't take action in the short term."

“He won’t be afraid,” Omar said in a deep voice.

"It's not that the CIA Middle East Division is afraid as a department; you have to consider the mentality of the people working below."

Wang Yaotang shook his head and sighed as he explained, "If you can't find any problems, you're just causing trouble for the department and you'll definitely be reprimanded. But if you really find something, the ones who get credit and rewards are the higher-ups. When you fight back, you present the facts, and the information of the frontline staff is semi-public. Can those high-ranking officials who accept your bribes be loyal ministers and good generals? Are they some kind of saints?"

It's like eunuchs and sycophants; they don't care whether the soldiers under you are serving the country or not. As long as they harm you, they will definitely retaliate. The idea that a prime minister can be magnanimous and doesn't hold grudges against his subordinates simply doesn't exist.

Not only will he die, but he will also implicate his family.

Does that mean the Americans are all upright and righteous, with everyone from top to bottom being a gentleman?

There may be a few idiots who firmly believe this, but idiots are ultimately a minority.

Most people are just idiots...

Those CIA agents are all very sensitive to this kind of thing, and rumors will definitely circulate among the lower-level staff that colleagues have been betrayed by their superiors.

When faced with such a tricky problem, they will definitely turn a blind eye; they are skilled at slacking off.

Even if the truth comes out later, the CIA can still say that their investigation was flawed due to interference from other domestic departments, and that the problems are all someone else's fault.

After the explanation was cleared up, Omar suddenly realized what was going on and immediately launched into another round of flattery.

After hanging up the phone, Wang Yaotang chuckled. All of Camel's top executives came from noble backgrounds and started from the top; they had absolutely no experience in grassroots work!
How could such a country possibly develop?

Internal power struggles continue within Myanmar.

In order to avoid losing his prestige, Su Mao had to take a tough stance. In the end, due to the pressure of the domestic economic situation, internal turmoil, and other factors, he finally reached a humiliating treaty with Wang Yaotang after much persuasion from others.

So all they could do was wait, wait for bulk commodities like rice, teak, beans, and rubber to come to them because of the sea blockade and the resulting cargo backlog.

Waiting for the Eastern Theater Command to come after them because they can't stand the pressure.

The sea was indeed blocked. As a local bigwig in Hong Kong, the world's largest duty-free port, Wang Yaotang had information on shipping companies active throughout South Asia.

They called each company to explain that there had been recent pirate activity in Motama Bay in southern Myanmar, making it quite unsafe. The Umbrella Corporation had received orders to clear out the pirates, and each company would immediately abandon its orders to Myanmar.

While this will indeed cause some shipping companies to suffer losses, these losses are completely within a controllable range, and there is no need to go against Wang Yaotang because of it.

Everyone knows that Wang Yaotang is the one who calls the shots in the South Asian waters now...

Maybe I can't protect you, but I can definitely wreak havoc on you!
At the same time, Wang Yaotang also openly told Peng Jiasheng, Ding Ying, and Bao Youxiang that he had just accepted the plan of "backdoor listing". Even if it was just to repay a favor, they had to do something, so they all sent troops to make a fuss.

For a time, the entire northeastern part of Myanmar was in complete chaos.

Meanwhile, Wang Yaotang had already arrived in Phuket. Hong Kong experiences the humid and cold season of March and April every year, and he hadn't stayed at the manor here many times since it was built. He had just invited his wife and children to come and have a vacation.

As for the fighting and killing in Myanmar, that's none of his business; whose people are they, that's their concern.

Phuket's rise to become a popular tourist destination is largely due to its excellent natural environment. Located near the equator, it enjoys a tropical monsoon climate with a high of 33°C and a low of 24°C, resulting in minimal temperature differences and year-round warmth. Even when there is rainfall, it is short-lived, and the air is exceptionally fresh.

It's not damp, not hot, and not dry, making it very comfortable to live in.

In Hong Kong, where the weather is humid, my underwear is never dry; it's constantly damp and incredibly uncomfortable.

Since Wang Yaotang came to Phuket, Qingtian has been doing very well... in the last two years.

Development can solve all problems!
With the underworld suppressed by Sheng Yi and the above-ground authorities protecting them, the social order was forced to improve through harsh and bloody methods, and various economic activities suddenly erupted.

Local armed groups in the surrounding area have chosen Phuket as their primary exit point. Countless small and medium-sized cargo ships come and go from the port every day. Although taxes are levied here, the proportion is much smaller. In addition, the improved security environment has attracted some small and medium-sized companies engaged in international trade to set up a branch here, creating a cycle.

These small and medium-sized companies don't care where your goods come from; as long as they can make money, that's enough for them.

At the same time, these small and medium-sized trading companies also transported a large number of daily necessities and industrial products to Phuket, trading them with these local armed groups, and both sides made money at once.

“If things are developing well, then we shouldn’t make unnecessary changes. While maintaining the status quo, we should do our best to address any shortcomings. I don’t think you’ll be mayor for long. You’ll be promoted in less than two years,” Wang Yaotang said with a smile.

"Thank you for your kind words." Mayor Wan Azman smiled, his face full of wrinkles.

"If we're talking about shortcomings, there are two major problems at present. The first is the insufficient power supply. In the past two years, the number of foreign residents has exploded, and their spending power is very strong, especially in terms of nightlife. This has led to a surge in electricity consumption. As you know, Siam focuses on developing the Bangkok shopping district. The Malay Peninsula has been neglected due to ethnic and religious issues, and its infrastructure is very poor. Now, many merchants have their own diesel generators. Noise is one issue, but safety is also a problem. As a result, the number of fires has increased dramatically in the past two years."

"Another issue is urban infrastructure, including housing, roads, drainage, sanitation, and so on. The docks are also operating beyond capacity. In the past two years, the government's revenue has indeed increased, but its expenditure on providing better services has also increased, making it unable to afford a large amount of infrastructure development."

Wang Azman observed Wang Yaotang's expression and spoke cautiously.

"You want me to invest?" Wang Yaotang could easily see through his ulterior motive. Wan Azman quickly nodded with a smile.

"What are the Qiu and Chen families doing? They want me to invest in everything. Do you think my money grows on trees?" Wang Yaotang frowned.

Is the power industry profitable?
make money!

The performance of Hong Kong Electric and CLP Power speaks for itself; while their profit-making speed may not be as fast as other industries, it is extremely stable.

Other industries may make or lose money, but power plants are different. They are a basic industry, and the government will protect them no matter what, even against anti-government forces.

Not to mention the other hidden benefits brought by the power company.

Ultimately, Wang Yaotang simply looked down on Phuket's electricity consumption, even when combined with that of the surrounding provinces.

“I’ve approached them, and they’re willing to invest, but they lack the technology and experience in operating related industries,” Wan Azman said with a wry smile.

The power industry has a low entry barrier; you can get started with just a dozen or so diesel generator sets. But if you want to grow it into a large and powerful enterprise, that's extremely difficult.

Laying out a single power line requires decades of experience in power grid operation. If the planning is not comprehensive, the result will be repeated rework and very high costs.

Not to mention that every 1% increase in energy efficiency at a power plant costs a lot of money, which puts immense pressure on management and research capabilities.

“Brother Yao, actually there is still a lot of room for operation in the power industry in southern Siam.” Wan Azman said, taking out a document.

Wang Yaotang didn't take it, so Wan Azman put it on the table and explained, "We have a population of over 700 million in southern Siam, and the market potential is huge. The problem now is that we don't have enough electricity available."

"What's the use of having a large population? The urbanization rate is too low, and the cost of laying power grids is extremely high. Only large cities with a million people can make money!" Wang Yaotang snorted.

The entire island of Phuket has a population of over 25, but the city proper has a population of only 7.

“I can take the lead in setting up an electricity company. I will arrange for someone to investigate the surrounding environment. After all, we can’t let the citizens use substandard electricity…” Wang Yaotang finally agreed. After all, Phuket Island was his territory, and the lack of electricity would affect the speed of development, and he would be the one who suffered the loss.

However, building a thermal power plant is not cost-effective for such a small town; a small hydroelectric power station would be the best option.

"Inferior electricity?" Wan Azman had never heard of this term. No, there's such a thing as inferior electricity?

"Why isn't there any substandard electricity?!" Wang Yaotang exclaimed anxiously. "Using substandard electricity will significantly increase the damage rate to equipment and increase the risk of fire and other hazards."

Wan Azman's facial expression control failed...

After listening to the mayor's report, Wang Yaotang inquired about the black market, which he was more concerned about.

The black market is extremely profitable and doesn't pay taxes, but it does require protection money...

It was also an important tool he used to control the local armed forces in the surrounding area.

Many local armed groups' leaders are not enthusiastic about developing the local economy. They are still bound by the framework of bandits and do not regard themselves as leaders. They value personal interests more.

“The black market…” Wan Azman glanced at Wang Yaotang furtively.

Gao Lishi knew the black market situation even better; this was clearly making things difficult for him!
But he dared not remain silent.

"The development is going very well, Mr. Yao, your light weapons company's products..."

“That’s from Somalia, not mine,” Wang Yaotang glared at him.

“Ah, yes, yes, yes.” Wan Azman nodded quickly. “Somali Starshine’s weapons business is the best on the black market. Other prominent industries include human trafficking, medicine, medical equipment, smuggled cars, wildlife, and fuel.”

Is human trafficking widespread? Where do the people come from?

“There are quite a few. Some come from local armed forces or powerful figures, while others are sold by their own family members.”

"Not human trafficking?"

"Very few, there's no need for trafficking at all. You can just set up a collection point in the village, and people will naturally come to sell."

Wang Yaotang's lips twitched. He didn't ask why anyone would sell their children; if people did this in Hong Kong, how much more so in these poor, remote areas?

He has no control over this kind of thing.

"What's the situation with the drugs and medical devices? Counterfeit drugs? Second-hand equipment?" Wang Yaotang asked.

“It’s not exactly fake medicine, it’s not from the official channels, but it can still cure diseases, it’s better than waiting to die.” Wan Azman smiled. “Take these 14 provinces in southern Siam, with a population of 700 million, how many regular hospitals and pharmacies are there? Even if there are medicines, they are too expensive, we simply can’t afford them. There isn’t a single pharmacy for dozens of miles in the villages below, and when people get sick, they just get some herbs from the local witch doctors.”

"The same goes for medical devices. They mainly sell second-hand syringes, catheters, and other consumables. They can't afford the legitimate ones."

This made Wang Yaotang understand. The South is humid and lacks medical care, so who cares if it's legitimate or not? Even if there are serious side effects, it's better than dying.

He didn't ask about other things like smuggled cars or wild animals.

"Fuel smuggling must be curbed!" Wang Yaotang raised his chin. "The government must pay attention to this and crack down on it. Inferior fuel is extremely harmful. In the future, legitimate companies will set up shop in Phuket, striving to ensure that the people can use safe fuel."

Wan Azman immediately understood: Yao Ye had his eye on this business!

"How much was traded on the black market last year?"

"I don't know the exact figure, I've only heard it, but it's around $5 million, which is almost the same as Phuket's GDP."

Wang Yaotang clicked his tongue twice. "Phuket's GDP is really lagging behind. It can't even compare to a gang in Hong Kong. No wonder Hong Kong people look down on these places."

After spending a few days in Phuket and giving those guys a talking-to, I flew directly to Shandong Province, where the third batch of cargo ships was about to depart.

There are 30 disassembled logs buried at the bottom of the hold, covered with old grain and agricultural machinery.

Another oil tanker, fully loaded with pesticide concentrate, also set off.

Whether you succeed or not depends on this.

At the same time, the "camel diplomacy" began to make a scene as instructed by Wang Yaotang, using the dominant power of the Arab world in the Middle East to hold press conferences that attracted the cooperation of neighboring countries, creating a great deal of momentum that temporarily overshadowed the events related to Saddam Hussein's default on his debts and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the poor Arab world.

This caught the CIA completely off guard. Damn it, you were the ones who insisted on a thorough investigation during the inspection, and now you're turning around and blaming us!
The CIA was furious after being tricked by the camel, and the consequences were severe...

What a fart!
I never expected that Camel would take this matter to the United Nations headquarters in New York and even spend a lot of money to bribe the media in New York and the surrounding areas to report on it extensively.

These media outlets will report anything as long as they have money!

They dare to fabricate and distort presidential gossip, let alone the CIA, which already has a terrible reputation.

Of course, you can spread rumors, but you can't report real events...

Camel's actions have truly baffled the CIA.

The people at headquarters were cursing the Middle East branch: "Did you fucking sleep with royal women or steal princesses? How did you manage to bring back so many sluts!"

The Middle East branch was also puzzled, wondering if their staff had spied on some dark secrets of the royal family. They investigated but found nothing.

These guys have gone crazy and started biting people!
At this critical juncture, the second batch of cargo ships arrived in the Persian Gulf, and the CIA retaliated by increasing its inspection efforts, detaining them for a full five days.

Similarly, Camel started spending lavishly on K Street. It was an easy and lucrative business, and lobbying firms were firing on all cylinders. The CIA faced public criticism from many members of Congress, and many people began to clamor that the CIA was tarnishing America's image and that the CIA's budget should be cut.

Even though they knew it was intentionally meant to disgust people, it still made the CIA extremely nervous.

People who work in intelligence have very poor interpersonal relationships.

Under such external pressure, the Middle East branch had to keep a low profile and proceed with caution.

While using the satellite phone system to strengthen communication with the camels, Wang Yaotang kept an eye on the cargo ship, which had already passed the Strait of Malacca and would arrive at the Persian Gulf in about ten days.

Success or failure hinges on this! (End of Chapter)