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

Is it beneficial for camels if Americans bring them to the camels?
The old king thought no!
After all, 60 logs had already stopped Saddam Hussein in his tracks. According to Wang Yaotang, what followed was a border standoff and various conflicts, but it would soon attract the attention of the United Nations, and Saddam would no longer have the energy to fight a tug-of-war with the camels.

Such short-term conflicts can be resolved by spending money, such as through Umbrella Corporation.

After familiarizing themselves with the equipment and environment at the front lines, Umbrella Corporation began conducting reconnaissance operations. Camel Corporation mobilized more than 20 helicopters and more than 40 armored vehicles for Umbrella Corporation's use.

The main task was to monitor the movements of Saddam Hussein's army, but such reconnaissance was occasionally discovered, resulting in small-scale and brief firefights with Saddam's men. Due to their superior training and superior equipment, only a few people were injured and no one died. As for the casualties inflicted on Saddam, they were negligible for a 200 million-strong army, so they didn't bother to calculate them.

Because the mission was not very clear and the time was uncertain, the cost of hiring Umbrella was calculated on a weekly basis: $200 million per week for a team of 300.

Don't think it's expensive; that's how war is—money flows like water.

No one is born a warrior. To reach the same level of personnel quality as Umbrella Corporation, it takes many years of training, many real combat experiences, and a large number of people to be selected. It also requires a significant investment of money.

Now there's no need to worry about compensation or insurance; the camels can simply be paid for, which is very cost-effective.

Prince Banda privately asked Wang Yaotang how many soldiers of this quality he could provide, to which Wang Yaotang replied, "How much budget can you provide?"

Prince Banda: "How many men do you have? That's how much budget I have!"

Wang Yaotang: "You have as much budget as I have people!"

The two of them started arguing.

"I'll take one hundred million dollars!"

“I’ll immediately mobilize 2000 people. Umbrella has 4000 people. I don’t even need to use my resources for this little thing,” Wang Yaotang sneered.

Upon hearing the word 'capital', Prince Banda's eyes lit up. "10 billion?"

"Transporting equipment for two full-strength infantry divisions will be a problem, and we need you to provide it. If you change the employer to the Kuwaiti royal family, I can push half of the front line out for you."

“100 billion!” Prince Banda shouted.

Wang Yaotang raised an eyebrow. "Brother, this is no longer about money. I can gather so many people, but if this causes a global uproar, it's like we're launching a transnational war."

"Okay, I was asking for too much. How many people would be needed just for defense?"

"As long as Saddam Hussein doesn't go so far as to send out 200 million men, two full-strength infantry divisions will be enough to establish a defensive line."

Upon hearing this, Prince Banda's expression turned even uglier. A problem that can be solved with money, why do you Americans need to show your kindness!

Of course, Americans certainly wouldn't think that way; they see themselves as saviors.

However, this had nothing to do with Wang Yaotang. He wouldn't provoke the Americans now. Instead, he made a call to Hong Kong, suggesting that in order to eliminate the American harassment of the Camel region, Sheng Yi could organize a large number of Southeast Asian and South American women to go west and solve the physiological needs of these animals.

Shengyi isn't saying you can't do pornography; after all, it's the primary productive force.

It is forbidden to 'hire' Chinese women to engage in pornography!

Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian, Latin American, Eastern European white girls—all of these are acceptable.

These countries themselves support doing this, so what right does Shengyi, as an outsider, have to interfere with them?
Let go of your desire to help others and respect the fate of others!
For them, this is a life skill, a way of survival. Are we going to let them starve to death?
That's so inhumane!
Wang Yaotang specifically spoke to Prince Banda about this matter, and Prince Banda expressed his gratitude, saying that the authorities would help provide a venue and solve the problems of food and lodging.

Middle Eastern countries are very conservative in the 'secular' sphere due to religious reasons. If US troops stationed abroad were to act aggressively, it would inevitably trigger religious conflict, and the scene would be...

This will deal a major blow to the reputation of the royal family!

So, he should thank us.

For a period of time afterward, Wang Yaotang stayed quietly in Leeds. As expected, the US military began to frantically increase its troops. By around the 15th, a total of about 5 US troops had arrived and completed the initial defensive deployment, establishing air superiority.

On August 22, a total of 80,000 people arrived.

To address the physiological needs of these American soldiers and prevent them from causing any scandals, Sheng Yi worked tirelessly, chartering over 100 passenger planes to transport more than 2000 compassionate women to their destination.

2000 vs. 80000 is somewhat overwhelming... Based on this scale of reinforcement, it is estimated that at least another 5000 people will need to be provided!
In a short time, poultry prices in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Macau skyrocketed, but the quality declined significantly.

Unfortunately, most of the high-quality ones are used for cleaning and maintaining foreign guns.

Wang Yaotang recalled that the US military ultimately deployed more than 300,000 troops. Considering the different arrival times, he estimated it to be 200,000. If each person consumed three times a month at a price of $50 per visit, and this continued until the end of the Gulf War, the estimated revenue would exceed $500 million...

Indeed, pornography is the primary productive force!
By mid-September, 150,000 US troops had arrived, looking menacing, and repeatedly expressed strong demands for military intervention at UN meetings.

According to information obtained by Camel, Old Sa has been communicating with the Russians and Laos, hoping that both sides will stand up and support him.

Russia has indeed taken action, but the only support it can provide is to hinder the United States at UN meetings.

As for China, they explicitly advised Saddam Hussein to stop his aggression and return Kuwait's territory. Of course, at the UN meeting, they only made official statements and verbally supported Kuwait, but they said they would carefully consider the US's proposal to send troops.

As time dragged on, Saddam Hussein felt that with Russia's help, the UN would not agree to send troops and that the US was just bluffing. Meanwhile, the US continued to increase its troop presence, making Saddam feel uneasy and restless.

On the battlefield, Saddam Hussein deployed a large force in Kuwait, displaying an unwavering stance. He continuously sent small units to infiltrate and reconnoiter the Iraqi-Saudi border, which led to frequent encounters with the Umbrella Corporation on the border. Due to the superior numbers and weaponry, the 300 men quickly became overwhelmed and began to suffer casualties.

Camel wasn't short of money either. With a wave of his hand, Wang Yaotang transferred another 700 men, bringing the total to 1000. The effect was immediate; the counterattack was successful. However, Old Sa's small force could no longer get close to the four major border towns.

Camel is quite satisfied. Considering that the US military may remain in the country for a long time and China is unlikely to send troops, could they sign a long-term employment agreement with the Umbrella Corporation, and then put some pressure on the US by coordinating some true and false rumors?

This matter fell to Prince Banda. During a meal, he casually mentioned it, and Wang Yaotang immediately understood Camel's plan.

Smiling, Wang Yaotang nodded at Banda and thought for a moment before saying, "It's not impossible. How much money are you prepared to offer, and how many people do you need?"

"How about 1000 people? Name your price."

Wang Yaotang thought for a moment and realized that the possibility of going to war with others in Southeast Asia was very small. It would indeed be difficult to support more than 2000 people, "5000 million US dollars a year."

"Thank you!" Prince Banda smiled as he picked up the fermented grape juice. The price was lower than he had expected, which came to only $5000 a month.

There's no need to manage logistics, equipment, training, or injuries with camels. Plus, there are daily expenses for camels. In the end, it's not more expensive than the cost of the national army. Plus, you can borrow a layer of tiger skin, so it's quite a good deal.

Wang Yaotang thought it was a good deal, and he planned to set up a branch in Camel. The Middle East was the most chaotic region after the 90s. After making a name for himself this time, he would have no shortage of orders in the future. In addition, Camel would need security forces in its future cooperation with China, and he would feel at ease using his own people's products.

The two hit it off immediately. Camel provided a base of operations free of charge, and also set up offices in the capital Riad, the key military town of Hafirbatin on the northern border, Turaif, a border city between Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Yodonia, and Jubail, an important port city on the Persian Gulf. After staying in Riad until the end of September, when the situation there was completely stable, Wang Yaotang returned to Hong Kong. Although Camel was very reluctant to part with this unofficial military advisor, knowing that he had so many businesses to take care of, he could only let him go with tears in his eyes.

Back in Hong Kong, after spending a few days with my family, I plunged into the company. Every day I had endless signatures, stamps, and meetings with subordinates. It took me more than a week to finish dealing with the backlog of work.

To prevent being sidelined, Wang Yaotang did not merge all the companies into one group, but instead made each company responsible for its own industry, so that he could clearly understand the situation of each company.

Of course, Wang Yaotang's management style is rather rough, and doing this is more to let his subordinates know that he is watching them. He doesn't really believe in rules and regulations, after all, he got his position by breaking them.

If rules and regulations were truly effective, there wouldn't be so much corruption.

They need to understand that Hong Kong law can't save them, and that they're not Zhu Yuanzhang (the Hong Kong emperor) who can cut off their food and drink.

After settling things in Hong Kong, we met up with a few crew-cut guys who had returned from vacation at Leyard and headed north together. The higher-ups wanted to get firsthand information about the situation there from Wang Yaotang, a frontline worker.

The US's desire to start a war is obvious. They have already deployed over 100,000 troops. Once the war begins, it will be a fierce and protracted conflict. We need to assess whether it will turn into a quagmire like the Annan War.

Whether it was the Annan War waged by the US or the war waged by the Russians against Afghanistan, both were veritable blood-draining machines, dragging both countries to the brink of collapse, and the desert is also known for its harsh environment.

“I judge that this war will end in a very short time,” Wang Yaotang said confidently as soon as he started.

Upon hearing this, many people in the meeting room frowned, and several opened their mouths as if to say something, but the general remained silent, so they held back.

"Oh? You're on the front lines, in close contact with the US military. There must be a reason for saying that, Comrade Yaotang. Could you analyze it for us?" the old man said with a smile.

"This is just my personal feeling. I'm just a businessman, how would I know anything about war? Don't take it seriously," Wang Yaotang said modestly.

"That's not how it works. You, as a merchant, have participated in just as many battles, more than many of us here," the old man said with a smile, pointing with his hand.

Wang Yaotang smiled shyly, "Then I'll just say it for now, and everyone can just listen for now."

"There are two main aspects. First, the equipment. The Iraqi army is at the level of the late World War II. There are some differences, but not many, so there is no generational gap. The US military is different. It has weapons from a completely different era."

Do you know what weapons the US military has?

“I know.” Wang Yaotang nodded. He had brought back the firsthand information and photos provided by the camel.

As he spoke, he took them out and distributed them to everyone. Then Wang Yaotang said, "We can make a comparison. For the army, Iraq's main combat equipment, the T-72VSM1A1 tank, is completely inferior in all aspects. It is impossible to penetrate its defenses. It will be blown up before it even enters the T-72's firing range. The BMP-1VSM2 infantry fighting vehicle is inferior in firepower, range, bulletproofing, and anti-tank capabilities!"

"In the Air Force, Iraq has MiG-29s versus F-15s, with a significant range disadvantage, a radar detection range difference of 2.5 times, and a huge gap in fire control. Under equal conditions, pilots would be shot down before they could even make contact. The remaining Mirage F1s and MiG-23s are not only significantly outnumbered, but also far behind the F-16s in combat capability. Moreover, there are F-117 stealth fighters, which Iraq's radar technology would not even be able to detect."

"Missiles, the Scud vs. Tomahawk cruise missiles from World War II, the range is three times different, and the accuracy is not even comparable, a hundredfold difference, how can you fight them!"

"In terms of air defense missiles, the difference between the SAM-6 and the Patriot is too obvious. Moreover, the Iraqi air force simply does not have the ability to threaten the US military, so there is no need for air defense missiles."

"It was like World War II against World War I, a complete crushing defeat. It would be difficult for Iraq to inflict any casualties on the US military."

"Then came the Iraqi attack on Kuwait, which lasted only 14 hours. The effects of the desert environment were not apparent at all. The so-called harsh environment is just imagination at present. There are no examples and it has no reference value."

"I see." The old man nodded, noticing that many people below were already holding back their curiosity, and said with a smile, "Look at your assessment of Comrade Yaotang. He came back from the front lines and knows a lot about the American military. Ask him more questions and discuss it further."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone stood up and said, “Comrade Yaotang, thank you for bringing back detailed information on the US military’s equipment. But I don’t agree with your judgment. War is not a simple comparison of equipment. If equipment could determine the outcome of a war, then the US military would not have lost the ‘Anti-American War’ and the ‘Vietnam War’.”

Wang Yaotang smiled and shrugged.

"The Iraqi army has more than 900,000 troops, 5600 tanks, and more than 3800 artillery pieces. After eight years of war, they have rich combat experience and are more familiar with the battlefield situation."

"In contrast, the United States is at a significant disadvantage in terms of military strength. It has not been at war for many years, and its army is mainly composed of new recruits who lack war experience and a deep understanding of the harsh environment of the battlefield. Once war breaks out, they are likely to have an emotional breakdown."

"Fighting on Iraqi soil, defending our homeland, we have the advantage of terrain and popular support, and sufficient strategic depth. As long as we lure the enemy deep into our territory, concentrate our superior forces, and take advantage of the harsh desert environment and supply difficulties, we will definitely be able to drag the US military into a quagmire of war!"

Then someone else stood up and explained in more detail, making a deduction on the map. Fortunately, Wang Yaotang had fought many battles, both big and small, so he understood it.

Overall, based on the recently concluded "Afghanistan War," with similar size, equipment, and beliefs, the Russians are mired in a quagmire, as are the Americans.

After listening to everyone's explanation, Wang Yaotang smiled and glanced at the old man.

Because of the Western blockade, the top leadership was worried about becoming disconnected from the world and getting caught up in their own opinions and thoughts. So they called Wang Yaotang over to see if they could spark some ideas.

Wang Yaotang definitely wanted to save face for him; in the military, it's not about who has more money, it's about ability!
"I didn't even finish junior high school, I haven't received any professional military education, and I don't know anything about simulations. So, let me explain the tactics, and you comrades can help me with the simulations."

"it is good!"

Wang Yaotang pointed to two points on the border, saying, "These are two radar stations in Iraq."

"how do you know?"

"The firsthand information came from Umbrella and was given to Camel, who then relayed it to the US military, which confirmed it with a US reconnaissance plane." Wang Yaotang blinked.

The meeting room fell silent. So, our Chinese are involved too?

After saying that, Wang Yaotang pointed to Baghdad, "Iraq's air defense system is designed with the capital as the core and regional nodes. The command center is here in Baghdad, a base 30 meters underground. Then there is here, the Rashid Air Base in eastern Baghdad, about 10 kilometers from the city center. It is responsible for coordinating the take-off and landing of fighter jets nationwide, air combat scheduling, and sharing radar and target data with the underground air defense command center in real time."

“The regional air defense cores are located in these places: Mosul, the northern command center; Basra, the southern command center; Karbala, the central command center; and Kirkuk, the eastern command center.”

"This protective umbrella was also investigated?"

"Iraq's air defense system was laid by the Russians. The 'Iraq Integrated Air Defense System' designed and built by France in the 80s included an underground command center. The regional nodes were also early warning radar networks rebuilt with French assistance. During the Iraq War, the United States provided $2 million worth of helicopters and communication equipment and completed the assembly, debugging, and connection."

"Iraq's air defense command system is no secret to the United States."

“This intelligence was shared with me by Camel,” Wang Yaotang said calmly.

The people in the meeting room looked at each other in disbelief. It was hard to imagine such a situation, where they were completely open to the enemy. What was the difference between this and being naked in front of the enemy? It was just too stupid!
“That’s just how it is with small countries. Iraq doesn’t have the capacity to develop itself, so what else can it do?” Wang Yaotang said, shaking his head.

The old man first criticized, "The assessment of the situation was seriously inadequate."

He then added with a sigh, "Be vigilant, we must develop our own military system."

"Alright, let's do the deduction." (End of Chapter)