Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

Inside the tea room of Guo Henian Manor, the aroma of sandalwood and aged Pu'er tea mingled in the tranquil air. Lu Chen sat opposite Guo Lao, both of them with wisps of cigarette between their fingers, and outside the window was an exquisitely manicured tropical lawn.

"Seventh Uncle, I want an island," Lu Chen's voice was not loud, but it carried a sense of determination, "an island that can serve as the Southeast Asian base for my Jiahe Security."

"Ah Chen, are you sure you want to take this step?" Guo Henian shifted his gaze from the mahogany cane in his hand to look directly into Lu Chen's deep, unfathomable eyes. "In Malaysia, while regular land sales are legal, the nature of a private island is completely different. The manpower and resources you'll spend, and the potential vigilance from Malaysian authorities, will be many times greater."

Lu Chen picked up the teacup and gently blew away the foam.

"Seventh Uncle, I must take it down, because that would mean it's an extraterritoriality," Lu Chen explained to Old Master Guo.

"Jiahe Security aims to protect the lifeline of Chinese businesses throughout Southeast Asia. We need a true core stronghold that is unaffected by local political fluctuations."

Looking at the young man before him, Guo Henian was once again genuinely amazed by the sense of control that had allowed this sugar king, who had dominated the business world for decades, to exclaim in admiration.

"...Alright! There are two conditions for buying the island," Guo Henian held up two fingers, "First, approval from the relevant cabinet departments, especially the Land Bureau and the Ministry of the Interior; second, a guarantor of sufficient influence to silence the royal family and the government."

Lu Chen smiled slightly and drank the tea in his cup in one gulp: "These two conditions, looking across the entire country of Malaysia, are probably only something that you, Uncle Qi, can decide with a single word."

"Haha, you little rascal, you're trying to completely tie this old man to your chariot, aren't you?" Guo Henian laughed heartily, then his eyes turned serious. "Give me a few days. Malaysia has a lot of rules, but as long as you find the right key, the door will eventually open."

"Then I will await your good news, Uncle Seven!"

Lu Chen originally thought that the "few days" Guo Lao mentioned would be at least a week, but he ultimately underestimated the value of the title "Asian Sugar King" in Malaysia. Just the next evening, when the sunset dyed the clouds in Kuala Lumpur golden, Guo He Nian invited him to visit again.

Inside the manor, the butler placed a heavy photo album with a dark red leather cover on the marble coffee table in the presidential suite.

"Take a look." Guo Henian pointed to the photo album, his expression calm as if he were discussing what to cook for dinner. "I've already spoken to the people on this list about the islands. Once you've chosen your island, the rest of the paperwork will be delivered. Jiahe's lawyer just needs to sign and pay."

Lu Chen flipped through the photo album; each page was a high-resolution aerial photograph, accompanied by detailed ocean current data, freshwater resource reports, and the distribution of shipping routes in the surrounding area. He couldn't help but marvel again at the extent of this influence—it was far more than just money; it was the best manifestation of decades of deep cultivation in this region, an entanglement with every inch of the power structure.

Lu Chen's fingertips slowly glided across the photo album. His movements were slow, and finally, his fingers stopped on a specially marked drawing.

"That's it."

It is an island located on the east side of the Strait of Malacca, right at the junction of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

On the map, it resembles an eyeball embedded on the edge of the South China Sea, its geographical location extremely delicate. It is not far from Kuala Lumpur, allowing it to provide support to Malaysia at any time; it is a stone's throw from Singapore, facilitating access to the latest global information and financial resources; and its flanks directly overlook the waters of Indonesia.

"A keen eye." Guo Henian nodded approvingly. "This island was formerly known as 'Broken Halberd Island' by the local fishermen. Its size is moderate, about twelve square kilometers. Most importantly, the central area of ​​the island is very flat, with almost no complex highlands or jungles, making it ideal for direct modernization and large-scale infrastructure construction. It truly is the best location. Are you planning to build a training base and transit station?"

"Not only that," Lu Chen stood up, his gaze fixed on the distant night, his tone revealing an unprecedented ambition, "I want to build it into the 'Eye of Southeast Asia'—an eye for Jiahe Security in Southeast Asia."

……

Now that the base has been selected, the subsequent deployment is simple.

After returning to the hotel, Lu Chen looked at the two young men in front of him with cold faces and sharp eyes.

Heaven nurtures righteousness, Heaven nurtures ambition.

Among the Seven Sons of Tianyang, Tianyangsheng is the leading general, decisive in killing; while Tianyangyi and Tianyangzhi are more inclined to planning and coordination, quick-witted, and excellent base builders and managers.

"Ah Yi, Ah Zhi. You two will stay in Kuala Lumpur for now." Lu Chen turned around, his voice echoing in the hall. "Old Guo will assist you in completing the transfer of ownership of the island. You have two tasks: First, oversee the construction of the Nanyang Eye. We've just received the two billion US dollars from Guanchaiba and Luo Lie, and I'll prioritize allocating it to you after it's been properly cleaned up. I don't care about the budget, just speed and quality. Within three months, I want to see preliminary fortifications and a signal receiving station; within a year, I want the Nanyang Eye to be initially operational!"

"Understood, boss!"

Tian Yangyi and Tian Yangzhi stood with their backs straight, their eyes burning with an excitement called "expanding territory".

"Furthermore," Lu Chen turned around, his tone turning extremely cold and stern, "from today onwards, 'Jiahe Security' will be officially renamed—'Jiahe Security'."

The difference between "security" and "security" is only one word, but their natures are completely different.

Security is merely bodyguards protecting employers, while defense implies possessing heavy military capabilities to defend sovereignty, intervene in regional conflicts, and even participate in local conflicts. Lu Chen's ultimate ambition is to transform Jiahe Security into a private military contractor like Blackwater.

"Boss, I understand," Tian Yangyi nodded heavily. "We will build the branch in Malaysia according to military standards."

Lu Chen patted the two men on the shoulders. He knew that on this land of Southeast Asia, the first "ironclad shield" belonging to the Chinese was being slowly forged in the hands of these two young men.

……

After finishing all the arrangements in Kuala Lumpur, it was already mid-August.

Lu Chen stood on the tarmac and bid a brief but solemn farewell to Mr. Guo.

However, after the private plane bearing the Lu family logo pierced the blue sky over Kuala Lumpur, Lu Chen and his entourage did not return to Hong Kong.

"Boss, everything is ready. The flight route has been arranged for you in Beijing," said Ba Wanghua, sitting next to Lu Chen, holding a top-secret document faxed by Cheng Yiyan. "President Cheng has held friendly talks with Director Chen of the Mainland's Hong Kong Island Office. The Mainland warmly welcomes Jiahe and you."

Lu Chen took the official document and looked at the familiar red official seal on it. A certain emotion that had been dormant in his heart for many years quietly resurfaced.

In fact, before the trip, Cheng Yiyan, general manager of Golden Harvest, had already held several rounds of top-secret consultations with Director Chen of the Mainland Office in Hong Kong Island, at Lu Chen's instruction.

When Director Chen heard the plan that "Golden Harvest International plans to invest no less than US$500 million in Shenzhen to establish a large-scale logistics base covering electronic communications contract manufacturing, electronic product assembly, and logistics," even this seasoned director was so shocked that he was scalded by his tea on the spot. Director Chen wholeheartedly supported Golden Harvest's idea of ​​investing in the mainland, and expressed that the mainland would fully cooperate.

Moreover, upon learning that Lu Chen wanted to travel north in person, Director Chen immediately made an emergency call to the capital, which issued the highest directive: ensure the absolute safety of Mr. Lu Chen's trip, with all departments fully cooperating and giving him the green light!

"The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Commerce have established a special joint reception team," the woman continued, her tone tinged with shock. "After your plane lands, you will receive the highest level of security. Director Chen even hinted privately that a higher-ranking official might meet with you at the State Guesthouse this time."

Due to the special status of the young man, as a senior inspector of Hong Kong Island, it was inconvenient for him to go to the mainland during this sensitive period. He had already returned to Hong Kong to report on his duties. Therefore, only the female police officer and Ruan Wen accompanied him this time.

Lu Chen closed his eyes, feeling the plane's steady vibrations at an altitude of 10,000 meters.

He was well aware that at this juncture in 1983, with the ongoing Sino-British negotiations, many business tycoons in Hong Kong were still observing or even preparing to withdraw their investments and emigrate. At this time, the fact that a top-tier company of Golden Harvest's size, which had previously expressed goodwill, was proactively requesting to move north, bringing with it the most advanced communication and semiconductor technologies, was of immense significance to the mainland, which was just beginning its reform and opening up and was extremely eager for foreign exchange and technology.

He was not just a businessman; he would be regarded as a benchmark of "patriotic Chinese businessmen" and stand at the forefront of that turbulent era.

Five hours later, the outline of the North China Plain became faintly visible through the plane window.

As the wheels of the private jet gently touched the runway of Beijing Capital International Airport, Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

Outside the porthole was the clear, slightly dusty sky typical of Beijing in the 1980s.

The hatch slowly opened, and a gust of dry air, carrying a faint scent of grass, rushed into the cabin. It was the smell of a northern summer in 1983.

Lu Chen stood at the top of the gangway and looked around.

At that time, the Capital Airport was not as magnificent as it would be in later years, but the rows of black Hongqi cars on the tarmac and the welcoming crowd dressed in dark blue Zhongshan suits, standing as straight as pine trees, exuded a solemnity that made no one dare to underestimate it.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group strode forward. Although he was dressed simply, the imposing aura he had honed through countless battles was undeniable.

"Comrade Lu Chen." The middle-aged man's voice was loud and clear, carrying the characteristic straightforwardness of a northerner. He extended both hands proactively. "I am the head of the Beijing reception team. My surname is Liu. Director Chen mentioned you to me many times in Hong Kong, saying that although you are in Hong Kong, your heart is with the motherland. The motherland welcomes its wanderers home!"

As Lu Chen descended the last step of the gangway, he felt the heaviest weight the world had given him in those calloused, warm, and strong hands.

He turned around, looked at Ba Wanghua and Ruan Wen who were following behind him, looking somewhat bewildered yet curious, and revealed a relieved smile.

Thank you.