Reborn Action Star: Starting in Hollywood

Chapter 508: Dealing with the local tyrants and starting to operate in Africa

It was already late at night, so Lin Yuan and his group naturally would not travel at night.

In a place like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is absolutely wise not to run around at night.

So Lin Yuan and the security team stayed for one night in a hotel that had been booked near the airport.

The next morning, after breakfast, they set off for a meeting with President Kabila Jr.

Lin Yuan and GAKKI-chan boarded the Hummer military vehicle driven by Kane and headed towards the presidential residence in Kinshasa.

As the largest city in Central Africa, Kinshasa had a population of 2004 million in 530 and can be said to be the core city of the entire region.

Maybe you can laugh at the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but he is just the mayor of the capital city. Once his decrees are issued in Kinshasa, whether the local authorities obey them or not depends entirely on the attitude of the tribal chiefs.

But the capital Kinshasa accounts for one-eighth of the population of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Even if Kabila Jr. is only the mayor of the capital city, he is a mayor who directly controls one-eighth of the population.

What's more, in addition to controlling the capital Kinshasa, he also has a tribal base in the eastern region. Being elected as the nominal leader in the chaos, he must be one of the most powerful forces.

The streets of Kinshasa are narrow, with potholes and a long history of disrepair. Coupled with the mixed traffic of pedestrians and vehicles, it is impossible to increase the speed of vehicles.

It took Lin Yuan and his party a full hour and a half to finally reach their destination. This was based on the premise that the Hummer military vehicle was too scary and the vehicles and pedestrians on the road were quite courteous.

When Lin Yuan saw the lonely "Presidential Residence" in the middle of the open space from afar, he felt a lot of emotion in his heart.

This is a three-story white building. Apart from being clean on the outside, there is nothing luxurious about it.

But just this first impression was enough for Lin Yuan to get quite a lot of information:

The first is of course the safety issue.

Before coming to Kinshasa, Lin Yuan knew that the Democratic Republic of the Congo was in great chaos. It was so chaotic that not only ordinary people felt insecure, but even the powerful and wealthy felt extremely insecure.

The powerful people in Kinshasa never live in the bustling city center with tall buildings.

There are too many people there, and if there is a targeted assassination, it will be difficult to establish effective security measures.

Therefore, the powerful and wealthy like to live in the suburbs, choose an empty open land, and then build a lonely house in the middle of the land.

It is easy to see who is approaching nearby, which greatly improves security.

The second piece of information Lin Yuan gained was that President Kabila was quite low-key and had a very clear mind.

When his father, Kabila Sr., came to power, he overthrew Mobator, one of the three greatest tyrants in Africa.

When this guy was overthrown, he had $300 billion in overseas assets!
Such a huge sum of money made Lin Yuan, the world's richest man, exclaim "Wow!"

Most of Lin Yuan's net worth of more than 50 billion US dollars is supported by stock prices. If we really talk about physical assets, he doesn't even have billion US dollars.

And this Mobato actually has 300 billion US dollars overseas alone, and his assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are definitely not less.

Lin Yuan didn’t believe that Mobato didn’t have a super luxurious official residence in Kinshasa. Which tyrant didn’t build a luxurious palace for himself?
President Kabila Jr. did not accept Mobatoor's inheritance and live in a luxurious palace. From this point of view alone, this person is not an ordinary person.

Lin Yuan became more excited about meeting this "second generation".

Soon, the Humvee convoy drove into the parking lot inside the presidential residence.

After the car stopped, Lin Yuan got out and immediately saw a short and strong black man in his thirties walking towards him.

He was wearing a black suit, less than 1 meters tall, but weighed at least 7 kilograms, like a small heavy armored vehicle.

Coupled with his shiny bald head and thick black mustache, he looked even more like a gangster.

This is not because Lin Yuan has a stereotype, but because President Kabila's mustache is not something that ordinary people can handle.

A thick mustache looks majestic and dignified on some people, but fierce and domineering on others.

It is obvious that President Kabila Jr. belongs to the latter.

If it weren't for the low-key atmosphere of the presidential residence, Lin Yuan would have already guessed that this young President Kabila should be a low-key "scheming bitch" who is pretending to be a pig and eating the tiger.

It is possible that you might be deceived by his rough appearance and mistake him for a rough man.

"Lin Yuan! Welcome to Congo. I welcome you on behalf of my motherland!" President Kabila greeted him warmly.

Lin Yuan nodded. People who like to say they represent their country often do not have the qualifications.

But the person in front of me is obviously qualified to say this.

Lin Yuan smiled and shook his hand. "Congo has the most fascinating tropical rainforest in the world. If I want to make my film the best it can be, I cannot do without the beautiful scenery of Congo."

"That's great. I've always been troubled by the Congo's low profile in the world. It would be wonderful if your film could help more people around the world understand and appreciate Congo.

Come, let's go inside and sit down and talk."

President Kabila Jr. pulled Lin Yuan and walked towards the white building.

When the group walked into the small building, Lin Yuan first saw two photos hanging in the reception hall:
President Kabila and his close comrade: Che Guevara

President Kabila has a very legendary life experience. When he was young, he fought side by side with Che Guevara, and the two were very close comrades-in-arms.

As a hero in the restoration of the republic, he promoted the peace process and worked hard to end the Congolese civil war as soon as possible.

But in 2001, he was assassinated by his own bodyguard.

After his death, President Kabila Jr. took over his father's banner and became the new generation of leader of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

However, Kabila Jr.'s prestige is obviously far inferior to that of his father. Faced with the fragmented tribal forces in the country, he can only work hard to bridge the differences and avoid another civil war.

This is the limit of what Kabila can do, and we can't expect him to do more.

After everyone settled down in the reception room, President Kabila said with a smile, "I feel very close to Mr. Lin Yuan when I see his yellow skin, black eyes, and black hair."

"Mr. President, what is the reason?" Lin Yuan asked curiously.

"I lived in China for a period of time," said President Kabila Jr.

He went on to say, "During that time, I studied at the National Defense University in Yanjing and received selfless military knowledge, which I continue to benefit from to this day."

After hearing President Kabila Jr.'s answer, Lin Yuan suddenly understood.

I have always heard an interesting story that wars between African countries are often civil wars among classmates.

As an alumnus of Yenching National Defense University and alumnus of Jinling Military Command College, what he said is true.

“When I went to China, I received a warm welcome and the meticulous care I still remember vividly today.

Logically speaking, since Mr. Lin Yuan has come to Congo, as his host, I should also take care of you.

If you stay in Kinshasa, I will make you feel at home, but if you want to go to the rainforest to shoot, that is beyond my control." President Kabila said.

"You know, although I am the president in name, I am actually just a big mayor of the capital. The local tribes really don't obey my orders." President Kabila continued to complain.

Lin Yuan understood his subtext, which was that he could not provide any direct help during the filming.

If Lin Yuan was just an ordinary film company owner, he would definitely be disappointed to hear what little Kabila said.

After all, what the crew needs most when filming a movie is a commitment to safety.

But President Kabila cannot give this most important thing.

But Lin Yuan was not depressed at all, because his purpose of coming to Congo was not just to make a movie.

If he wants to control Congo's resources in the future, he must establish a good relationship with President Kabila.

Although this president seems to be in name only, he is a president elected by the people after all and can nominally represent the entire country.

If Lin Yuan wants to have a moral foothold in its expansion, it must sign a formal agreement with the legitimate government of Congo so that it can be recognized by the international community.

Although the agreement with the government is just a formality, the agreement that actually determines its success or failure still requires reaching a consensus with the tribal chiefs.

However, this government step is still necessary to follow the legitimate process.

Therefore, Lin Yuan must maintain a good relationship with little Kabila. Moreover, he is not as weak as he says. He is definitely a powerful figure in the local area.

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "We have prepared a small security force of our own. We are confident that we can deal with ordinary robbers and bandits, so there is no need to trouble you, President."

Little Kabila nodded and said: "Previously, the activities of some international organizations in our country were threatened mainly by scattered bandits from various places.

I've seen Mr. Kane's security team. They're incredibly elite. Add to that the Humvees and the remote weapon station system, and ordinary bandits really can't do anything to you.

As for those larger military forces, as long as you don't provoke them, they generally won't cause trouble for you."

Lin Yuan nodded and said, "Thank you for the reminder, President. As an outsider, I know very little about the Congolese jungle.

Mr. President, could you give me some advice on where would be a better location to shoot a movie?"

When Lin Yuan said this, President Kabila's eyes immediately lit up.

Lin Yuan was putting the power to divide the cake into his hands.

You should know that the arrival of Lin Yuan’s film crew will bring great benefits to the local area.

When an entire crew arrives at the filming location, food, clothing and other expenses are a considerable expense, which will promote local economic development.

At the same time, it will also bring about a series of more substantial expenses such as personnel recruitment, equipment and material procurement.

After the film is completed and released, it will be equivalent to a free promotion for the local area on a global scale, which will greatly promote the development of local tourism.

The locations Lin Yuan visited during filming in his previous films have all gained significant fame thanks to the films' success. For example, the poplar forests and the Li River, where Lin Yuan filmed "Hero," remain incredibly popular even after several years. Local businesses use Lin Yuan's film locations as prime destinations to attract international tourists.

After several years of influence, the Populus euphratica forest and Lijiang River have become quite familiar attractions to people in Europe and the United States.

The recently released film "The Legend of Tang Dynasty" has directly boosted Chang'an's tourism industry. After the film was released, the number of foreign tourists visiting the area increased by 6 times!
Therefore, when Lin Yuan was filming "Jungle Bully", no matter where he chose to film in Congo, he was sending a super gift package to the local area.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is so large that there must be more than one jungle area suitable for filming movies. Lin Yuan gave the right of introduction to President Kabila, which naturally means that he handed the power of dividing the cake to him.

But after expressing his delight, President Kabila did not immediately start recommending locations. Instead, he said cautiously, "Although there are many suitable filming locations in the country, considering safety issues, there are only a few places left to choose from."

"I have two locations for you to choose from. Please decide which one you prefer."

Lin Yuan was surprised that Kabila Jr. did not directly specify the location, but instead provided two options and let him decide for himself.

"Mr. President, please tell me. I will seriously consider it." Lin Yuan replied.

President Kabila looked at Lin Yuan and said with a smile:

“The first site was near Lisala, which was mainly Tutsi territory.”

"The second location is near Kisangani, which is mainly Hutu territory."

After hearing what little Kabila said, Lin Yuan felt more and more that the purpose of this second-generation man was not simple.

Under normal circumstances, when introducing available filming locations, one must provide a detailed description of the local natural conditions that offer advantages.

However, President Kabila did not mention it at all. This does not mean that the two places have no characteristics, but because the natural conditions are definitely very superior and can fully meet Lin Yuan’s filming needs, so there is no need to elaborate on these conditions.

However, local tribes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are an unavoidable topic, so young Kabila directly brought out the local tribal forces.

In fact, his choice can also be understood from another perspective, that is, President Kabila Jr. asked Lin Yuan:

"Would you like to have the filming location in Tutsi territory or Hutu territory?"

"Who do you want to give this gift package to? Which race do you want to be closer to?"

It turns out that where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and you have to choose sides no matter where you are.

Although Lin Yuan wanted to have the best of both worlds and become a joint spokesperson recognized by all parties, he had to choose a starting point at the beginning.

This initial choice cannot be ambiguous at all, otherwise no one will treat him as one of their own.

So the question is, which one is more suitable?

Which side is President Kabila Jr. on?

Lin Yuan knew that the current choice was very important. Once the right choice was made, many things would be much easier.

The consequence of making the wrong choice may cause today's conversation to end in an unpleasant mood.

In fact, this question is not difficult for Lin Yuan to choose, or he has only one choice.

From a racial standpoint, the Tutsis have long served as spokespersons for the interests of European and American countries and have deeper ties with mainstream European and American society.

If Lin Yuan wanted to improve his relationship with the Tutsi, he could quickly establish friendly relations with them through Betty's channels.

But because of this, Lin Yuan could not choose the Tutsi people.

Because Lin Yuan’s ultimate goal is to bridge the conflict as much as possible and achieve the goal of pleasing both sides.

Then the feelings of the Hutu people must be taken into consideration.

The Hutu people were originally wary of wealthy foreigners like him.

After seeing him getting together with the Tutsis, they will definitely completely close the door to their trust in him.

If Lin Yuan wants to win over both races at the same time, he must first establish good relations with the Hutu. Anyway, with Betty's support, there will always be a chance to connect with the Tutsi.

But the Hutu here can only rely on himself.

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "I heard that the Hutu people are more hospitable, so I plan to go shoot near Kisangani."

Hearing Lin Yuan's reply, President Kabila's smile grew wider: "Given Mr. Lin Yuan's popularity, he will definitely be welcomed wherever he goes.

But since you chose to shoot in Kisangani, I recommend you to shoot in Beta Village, northwest of Kisangani, which is located at the corner of the Congo River's big bend.

Not only is the river more powerful and majestic, but the nearby jungle is also exceptionally lush, and the diversity of species in the forest will leave you feeling satisfied.”

Lin Yuan was completely surprised that President Kabila Jr. would have such an attitude.

In the previous Congolese civil war, his father, Kabila Sr., initially introduced support from the Tutsi armed forces of neighboring countries.

However, as the war progressed, the elder Kabila chose to stand on the side of the broader nation, even at the cost of breaking with his former allies.

This is also one of the important reasons why old Kabila was assassinated.

"You can first take a boat to Kisangani, and then take the land route to Beta Village to shoot. The Tutsis and Hutus in that area are in the process of reconciliation, so the journey should be safe," Kabila continued.

Lin Yuan nodded. Little Kabila’s suggestions were very detailed. Doing as he said would definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Kisangani, formerly known as "Stanleyville", is the third largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the capital of Oriental Province, and the largest industrial and commercial city in the northeast, with a population of 102 million.

The city is located in the tropical rainforest climate zone in the middle reaches of the Congo River, below the Boyoma Falls.

Kisangani also does not have a proper airport, so the only way to get there is by land or water.

But considering that Kisangani is more than 1100 kilometers away from Kinshasa, the poor road conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the armed thugs that may appear at any time along the way, it is clear that driving to Kisangani is definitely not a good idea.

That is why President Kabila gave the suggestion: take the water route and go by boat.

The Congo River is the second largest river in the world in terms of flow, with a total length of more than 4700 kilometers, making it an ideal transportation route.

The government forces may not be able to take care of the tribal armed forces in the corners, but they are fully capable of maintaining security along the transportation routes of the Congo River.

Traveling to Kisangani by boat is definitely the best option.

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "Then I'll follow your advice and take the boat to Kisangani."

"Lin Yuan, believe me, you won't regret your decision. The water journey from Kinshasa to Kisangani is about 2200 kilometers. Along the way, you can enjoy the scenery along the Congo River and complete this long journey by lying down." said little Kabila.

"I'm even more looking forward to it!" Lin Yuan replied.

President Kabila replied: "When are you going to leave?"

"As soon as possible. I need to arrive at the local area early to make preparations before filming so that subsequent crew members can move in smoothly." Lin Yuan replied.

"Okay! I will arrange a boat for you to Kisangani now. We will have lunch together at noon, and you can board the ship in the afternoon." President Kabila replied.

After hearing the president's words, Lin Yuan sighed again. As expected, with the support of local bigwigs, things progressed quickly.

Otherwise, he was unfamiliar with Congo and it would be difficult for him to find a large ship that could transport these Hummer military vehicles.

Although Kane and the others arrived in Kinshasa earlier than him and might know more than Lin Yuan, they were security personnel after all, and they might not be able to handle these daily chores very well.

Soon it was time for dinner and everyone came to the restaurant. The chef team of the Presidential Palace had already prepared delicious food.

This meal is mainly Western food, mainly because we were worried that Lin Yuan and his group would not be used to it, so we chose Western food which is less likely to go wrong.

But in addition to Western food, there are also some "delicacies" with local characteristics.

Among them, there was a thing called "Saka Saka", which really shocked Lin Yuan.

Judging from its appearance, this is the food that is closest to "shit", and it is green and sticky, which is really unbearable to look at.

Even more maddening than India's yellow goo.

But this is indeed the most authentic local delicacy, made with cassava leaves.

The reason why it appears green and pastey is because the crushed cassava leaves have turned into green mud, "polluting" the entire food into this state.

Although the appearance was touching, Lin Yuan was immediately conquered after he mustered up the courage to take a bite.

This is a taste that goes straight to the soul, salty, sour, spicy, minty and refreshing... multiple layers of flavors mixed together, making it impossible to evaluate.

But this green paste has an inexplicable flavor when eaten with staple food, making you want to eat another bite after taking one.

Even GAKKI-chan, a Japanese girl who has very high requirements for the exquisite appearance of food, couldn't help but take the first bite under Lin Yuan's encouragement, and cleared the whole plate of "Saka Saka" in front of her.

At the dinner table, the host and the guests had a pleasant conversation, and the topic of the conversation revolved around Lin Yuan's movies.

President Kabila Jr. is also a fan of Lin Yuan. He has watched every one of Lin Yuan's movies carefully and repeatedly many times.

Naturally, he is also very concerned about Lin Yuan's latest film.

When President Kabila Jr. learned that African elephants would be used in Lin Yuan's filming, he immediately expressed his willingness to help.

This made Lin Yuan express his gratitude again.

Lunch ended in a pleasant atmosphere, and Lin Yuan and his group said goodbye and left for the Kinshasa dock.

When the convoy arrived at the dock, Lin Yuan looked out at the crowded crowd outside, the people bathing and defecating unscrupulously by the river, and the layers of garbage floating on the surface of the river...

Looking at the scene before him, he suddenly felt a sense of time and space confusion:

Why does it seem like I'm in India again?

(End of this chapter)