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The Aktobe region of Kazakhstan is a desert.

In August 1999, the scorching sun beat down on the Gobi Desert, and three Toyota Land Cruisers kicked up clouds of yellow sand.

Su Ning sat in the second car, tapping his knees with his fingers in an eerie rhythm that was in sync with the music playing "Gloomy Sunday" on the car radio.

“Mr. Su, the K7 block is just ahead.” Geologist Wang Yaohua, in the co-pilot’s seat, turned around and said, his glasses reflecting the barren horizon. “When the French withdrew their investment last year, they said this place was ‘drier than the Sahara.’”

The convoy stopped in front of a rusty drilling platform.

As Suning put on sunglasses and stepped out of the car, a wave of heat instantly enveloped her.

He bent down, grabbed a handful of sand, and let it flow through his fingers...

These seemingly worthless grains of sand may hold the key to energy dominance for the next twenty years.

“Sign it.” Su Ning nodded to the lawyer behind him. “Give that Energy Minister’s sister-in-law an additional 5% ‘consulting fee’ on top of the original price.”

"understand!"

Then he kicked the drill bit that was half-buried in the ground. "Also, have the Houston team sneak in next month and re-explore using our own seismograph."

"Yes, Mr. Su."

That evening, in the only "three-star" hotel in Aktobe State, Suning reviewed the contract alone.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out outside the window as local police dispersed a group of protesters holding signs that read "Oppose the sale of resources."

He drew the curtains and took out the satellite phone from a hidden compartment in his suitcase.

"Ivan, has everything been settled in Paris?" Su Ning asked in Russian as soon as the call connected.

“Framton agreed to the technology transfer, but doubled their asking price for the nuclear island design.” The person on the other end of the phone was Ivan, president of Yongren Europe and a former KGB major. “They are demanding that we use uranium mining contracts in Africa as collateral.”

Suning went to the bathroom and turned on the tap to cover up the phone call: "Agree to their terms, but we must get all the cooling system blueprints from EPR."

He paused for a moment, "especially the design of that component called the 'butterfly valve'."

After hanging up the phone, Su Ning looked at the clown outside the window and gave a cold smile.

……

40 Wall Street, New York.

On a rainy day in September 1999, the blue lightning flag of Yongren Financial quietly rose above the entrance of this neoclassical building.

Three weeks ago, this place still had a bronze plaque that read "Dawson Brothers Brokerage Firm"...

This long-established investment bank, founded in 1921, lost 90% of its capital during the Russian bond crisis.

“Mr. Su, the SEC’s last document needs your signature.” The young female lawyer handed over the folder.

Her ID card showed that she was from "Sullivan & Cromwell"—one of the top law firms on Wall Street.

Suning glanced at the document and signed his name in cursive script on the blank space of the seventh page.

This signature seems ordinary, but it actually contains a hidden meaning...

The arc of the letter "G" forms a subtle mathematical symbol that represents the activation password for an account in the Cayman Islands.

"Congratulations, Yongren Securities can now trade all U.S. Treasury bonds," the female lawyer said with a smile, completely unaware of the camera flashes outside the window.

"Great! This is truly wonderful news."

"Mr. Su, if you have any other needs, I can meet them as well."

"for example?"

"For example, it can make you experience both ice and fire."

"Haha, don't you know I'm a live-in son-in-law? My wife Emily will definitely kill me. Don't forget she's the daughter of the Chinatown mob boss."

"..."

That afternoon, a brief news item appeared in a corner of The Wall Street Journal: "Chinese-background capital acquires Dawson Brothers."

At an internal morning meeting at Quantum Fund, Soros pointed to the news and told analysts, "Keep an eye on this company; their foreign exchange hedging strategy is very similar to the 'Hong Kong Island arbitrage gang' of the early 90s."

“Boss, Su Ning, the owner of Yongren Group, is not simple. During the economic crisis around 1997, he was the one who profited behind us.”

"Oh? So it's this guy! Not many can snatch meat from my mouth."

"Should we teach them a lesson?"

"No! Anyone who can get into Wall Street is no ordinary person. Let's just keep a close eye on them for now."

"Yes, Boss!"

In fact, thirty traders from Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore have already started operating in Yongren Financial's trading room.

They adopted the "sandwich strategy" designed by Suning...

Taking advantage of the time difference between Asian and European/American markets, buy Nikkei index futures when the Tokyo market opens, and simultaneously sell an equal number of contracts in the London market, then close out the positions when the New York market opens.

This seemingly simple operation is possible because Yongren has market maker qualifications on all three major exchanges, which allows him to generate a stable monthly income of $8000 million.

“Mr. Su, Carlson Capital is inquiring about our crude oil futures positions.” Late at night, trading director Mike Chen knocked on Su Ning’s suite door. “They seem to have noticed that we are accumulating call options for December 2000.”

Suning was brewing Kung Fu tea, and wisps of steam rose from the spout of the purple clay teapot.

"That damn Carlson! He's like a leech."

"The main problem is that we made too much money during the 1997 financial crisis, much of it of which was taken from Carlson Capital."

"Let's throw out some smokescreens." He poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards them. "Leak our 'failed exploration report' in Kazakhstan to the Petroleum Intelligence Weekly."

"Yes, President Su, I understand what to do."

The following day, crude oil futures fell by 3.2%.

Meanwhile, Yongren's trading system quietly absorbed even more low-priced contracts...

These contracts will surge by 470% three months later when news of the "unexpected" discovery of a large oil field in the K7 block is announced.

……

Korvezi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.

During the rainy season in November 1999, Yongren Mining's helicopter landed on a makeshift helipad.

As soon as Su Ning stepped out of the cabin, he was surrounded by more than ten armed guards...

These men's uniforms had no markings, but traces of former Congolese special forces badges were faintly visible under their armbands.

“Here’s the cobalt ore sample, Mr. Su.” Jacques, the mine manager, handed over a piece of ore that gleamed with a blue light. His French accent was mixed with a Belgian tinge. “The purity is 17% higher than expected, but there’s… armed conflict in the mining area.”

Sporadic gunshots rang out in the distance, but Jacques didn't even blink.

Suning stroked the ore, recalling the "infrastructure construction agreement" signed at the Presidential Palace yesterday...

Yongren promised to build 300 kilometers of roads and 5 hospitals in exchange for a 20-year exclusive right to purchase cobalt from the world's largest cobalt mine.

"Transfer another 200 million to 'General's' Swiss account." Su Ning handed the ore to his assistant. "Tell him I want no gunfire within a 50-kilometer radius of the mining area."

He pointed to the militants faintly visible on the distant mountain ridge, "As for those people, give them jobs and... better weapons."

That evening, in a temporary office converted from a shipping container, Su Ning met with a team of materials scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"President Su, this is a battery sample made with Congolese cobalt." Chief Scientist Li Weiguo opened the safe. "Its energy density is 23% higher than that of Japanese products."

Suning held the battery sample up to the light for observation; the metal casing reflected a cold, sharp light.

This small cylinder will be the killer feature for the future Lightning phone to compete with Motorola. He turned to the map wall and circled several countries in Central Africa in red: "Next year we will acquire mining rights in these areas under the guise of 'agricultural irrigation projects'."

Suddenly, the satellite phone rang.

After answering the call, Su Ning's expression showed a rare change: "The French have gone back on their word?"

He gestured for everyone to leave, then took out a codebook from a hidden compartment in his suitcase. "Start the 'Sunflower Project,' break down the blueprints into 300 technical modules, and ship them via Hong Kong to Singapore before returning to Suzhou."

After hanging up the phone, Suning opened his notebook and drew three exclamation marks under the entry for "nuclear energy".

Outside the window, torrential rain poured down in Africa, the sound of the rain masking yet another vibration from the satellite phone inside the safe...

That was a coded message from the Kazakh exploration team: "Preliminary estimates indicate that the K7 block has reserves exceeding 8 million barrels."

……

In 1999, during the rainy season in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an armored off-road vehicle drove over a puddle on a muddy red dirt road, splashing mud onto armed militiamen standing by the roadside.

Inside the car, Su Ning looked out the bulletproof glass at the dilapidated village. Several emaciated children chased after the convoy, reaching out for food.

“Mr. Su, the mining area is just ahead,” Jacques Leclerc, sitting in the passenger seat, said, turning around.

This former French Foreign Legion officer is now a security advisor for Yongren's African region, "but the situation is more complicated than we imagined."

Su Ning didn't speak, but gently knocked on the car window.

The convoy stopped, and he got out of the car. His leather shoes sank into the mud, and immediately four fully armed mercenaries surrounded him, scanning the surroundings warily.

“There are no laws here, only guns and money,” Jacques whispered a reminder.

Su Ning smiled, took a photo from his suit's inner pocket, and handed it to the militia leader standing at the front...

A burly man wearing sunglasses and a gold chain around his neck.

The photo shows the balance of this "general's" Swiss bank account.

“Five million dollars, deposited into your account,” Suning said calmly in English, “but I don’t want to hear any gunfire within fifty kilometers of the mine.”

The militia leader grinned, revealing a few gold teeth: "Chinese bigwigs, that's straightforward!"

Initially, Suning's business in Africa relied on the CIA's "gray channels".

In Rwanda, Angola, and Congo, American intelligence networks and military contractors can provide protection, but at a high cost, and...

“Sorry, Mr. Su, the mining areas in eastern Congo are too dangerous, our people won’t be taking them.” The CIA liaison officer in Nairobi shrugged. “Unless you can convince the Pentagon to send a special forces unit.”

Su Ning didn't say anything, but simply picked up her wine glass and took a sip.

He knew that Americans only cared about their own interests, and that the chaos in Africa was just part of their business, not a problem that needed to be solved.

That evening, he summoned several key executives to his hotel suite in Nairobi.

“The CIA is unreliable.” Su Ning put down his wine glass. “We’ll set up our own security company.”

Three months later, Yongren Security Solutions (YSS) was officially established, headquartered in the Cayman Islands, with its training base located in an abandoned military camp in Zimbabwe.

YSS has extremely strict recruitment standards:
Retired soldiers from the British SAS, US Navy SEALs, and French Foreign Legion will be given priority.

Russian Alpha Group and Israeli Mossad agents—as long as their background is clean, they'll take them all.

Elite veterans of local African warlords are offered high salaries if they are willing to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Among the first batch of mercenaries were former South African special forces snipers, veterans of the Chechen Wars, and even several American contractors who had switched sides from Blackwater.

"Remember! We're not here to fight a war," Su Ning said at the first all-staff meeting. "We're here to do business."

"Yes, sir."

But everyone knows that in Africa, business is war.

In early 2000, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Yongren had just signed a cobalt mining rights agreement when local rebels launched an attack.

“They are backed by European mining groups,” Jacques reported over the satellite phone. “The French and Belgians don’t want the Chinese to take the cobalt mine.”

Suning sat in his Hong Kong office, watching the live feed of the battlefield...

YSS mercenaries used the mining area's perimeter walls to suppress the rebels' charges with precise firepower.

"Have the 'Vulture' squad make their move," Su Ning ordered.

"Vultures" is YSS's elite unit, composed of former Russian special forces soldiers and Chechen snipers, specializing in nighttime infiltration and pinpoint elimination.

The next day, the rebel leader was found dead in his own camp, a bullet passing through his forehead.

Sure enough, with the disappearance of the rebel leader, the negotiator from the European mining group quickly called: "Mr. Su, perhaps we can talk about cooperation?"

By the spring of 2000, Yongren's business layout in Africa had taken shape:

The cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo—containing 70% of the world's cobalt reserves—are under the control of the YSS.

Angolan oil blocks—bypassing the monopoly of Western oil giants through connections with local warlords.

Zimbabwe's diamond mines—trading food and medicine for mining rights is more effective than the US dollar.

YSS's mercenaries have expanded from the initial 200 to 2000, and their equipment is even better than that of the regular armies of some countries.

“In Africa, there are no permanent allies, only permanent interests,” Suning told his executives. “But remember—guns can buy loyalty, but money can maintain loyalty.”

……

In the summer of 2000, the surface of the Gulf of Mexico shimmered with a golden sheen.

A luxury cruise ship named "Golden Horizon" sailed slowly, and on the deck, waiters served champagne to guests in suits.

This was supposedly an "International Energy Forum" hosted by the Yongren Group, but in reality, there were only two actual guests on board...

Texas Governor George W. Bush and his chief political advisor Karl Rove.

Suning stood on the ship's railing, holding a glass of Scotch whisky in his hand, the ice cubes gently clinking in the amber liquid.

He gazed at the oil drilling platforms that were faintly visible on the distant horizon, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“Mr. Su, this ship of yours is more comfortable than the White House.” Bush walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and his cowboy boots made a crisp sound on the teak deck.

“The governor is welcome to come for a vacation anytime he likes.” Suning smiled and handed over a folder. “By the way! This is Yongren’s investment plan in Texas. We are planning to build a new oil refinery in Houston.”

Bush opened the document, his gaze lingering on a particular number for a few seconds…

5% of the shares are held by the Bush family trust fund.

He closed the file, his smile deepening: "Su, you're always so... thoughtful."

The dinner was held in the main banquet hall of the cruise ship, where waiters served Texas steaks and French red wine under crystal chandeliers.

Karl Rove took a sip of his drink and lowered his voice: "Mr. Su, I heard your security company in Africa... is doing quite well?"

“Just doing small business.” Su Ning cut the steak on his plate, the blade making a soft sound as it sliced ​​across the porcelain. “After all, the rules in Africa… are a bit different.”

Bush laughed: "Rules? In Texas, we have our own rules too."

"for example?"

“Oil, guns, votes,” Bush raised his glass. “And smart people know how to make those three things…help each other.”

Suning clinked glasses with him, the sound of the glasses colliding was crisp and pleasant.

...(End of chapter)