Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

Liu Jianguo hugged her again, offering a few words of gentle comfort to ensure she calmed down.

I also briefly inquired whether she had encountered any other difficulties in her recent research and spent a little time with her.

After Emily calmed down completely and refocused her attention on the drawings,

Liu Jianguo quietly left the small world, and his figure reappeared in the study of the courtyard house.

The sky outside the window was already nearing dusk.

Just as Liu Jianguo was recovering from the slight dizziness of feeling as if he had traveled through space, he heard the sound of the door being gently pushed open.

Tang Jingxian walked in carrying a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, the aroma of which wafted through the air.

She placed the teacup on the desk, looked up at Liu Jianguo, her gaze gentle and calm, as if it could soothe all agitation.

Her tone was casual, just like any wife waiting for her husband to come home:

"You're back. Has everything been taken care of?"

She didn't ask what it was about, but she clearly knew that he had left to deal with "that" matter.

Liu Jianguo took the teacup, the warm porcelain cup comforting his palm.

He took a sip, and the fragrant, slightly bitter tea invigorated him.

He didn't hide anything and simply said:

"Yeah, I just had a meeting."

Li Bing's position as the overall person in charge in China was officially confirmed, along with Liu San and his group of people skilled in "special affairs."

I sent them to America, starting in Chinatown, to lay an undercover investigation.

He rarely hid his core plans from Tang Jingxian, not only because she was his wife, but also because she often provided unexpected perspectives.

Upon hearing this, Tang Jingxian nodded slightly, her face showing little surprise, and then pondered for a moment before saying:

"America... such a faraway place."

Is your move an attempt to place a piece over there, which might come in handy in the future?

Is this... a move to expand overseas?

Her choice of words was cautious, but it revealed Liu Jianguo's long-term intentions.

Liu Jianguo put down his teacup, cast his gaze at the gradually darkening twilight outside the window, and said in a tone of confident foresight:

"It can't be considered an immediate large-scale invasion."

With our domestic foundation still unstable, it is far too early to expand overseas.

Just let Liu San and the others out first, scattering them over there like seeds.

Let them take root slowly, observe, accumulate strength, and establish some necessary channels and informants.

future……"

He paused, then continued:

That place presents both immense opportunities and enormous risks.

We will have to deal with it sooner or later, whether through cooperation or confrontation.

It's always better to lay the groundwork now than to cram at the last minute later.

Tang Jingxian listened quietly, her fingers gently stroking the rim of the teacup, as if carefully considering her words.

After a moment, she raised her eyelids, her gaze clear as she looked at Liu Jianguo, her voice calm yet carrying a rare seriousness:

"Jianguo, regarding your current arrangements... I have an idea, or rather, a small suggestion, I don't know... would you like to hear it?"

She asked very politely, even somewhat cautiously, but this only stirred something in Liu Jianguo's heart.

Liu Jianguo paused slightly as he was about to serve tea.

He knew Tang Jingxian well; she was intelligent and reserved, and always silently supported his career without ever interfering or meddling.

She was well aware of the danger and complexity involved, and she trusted his judgment.

Now, she's actually offering "suggestions" on her own initiative?

This is by no means ordinary.

Liu Jianguo's heart calmed down instantly, and all his thoughts focused on one point.

Jingxian never speaks without a purpose. If she speaks up, it must be because she has noticed some risks that she has overlooked or that may be quite significant, so much so that she has to break her usual principle of "not participating".

His expression immediately turned serious. He put down his teacup and sat up straight.

Liu Jianguo nodded, his expression more solemn than ever before.

He stood up and said to Tang Jingxian:

"It's not convenient to talk here. Let's go to the study inside."

He was referring to the smaller, more private, and better soundproofed study next to the bedroom.

Tang Jingxian gave a soft "hmm" and followed him into the inner room.

Liu Jianguo closed the door, gestured for Tang Jingxian to sit down in the chair opposite the desk, and then sat in the main seat, leaning slightly forward, looking intently at her as he spoke:

There is no one else here now.

Jingxian, please speak, I'm listening carefully.

Your opinion is very important to me.

Tang Jingxian met his gaze, no longer hesitating, and slowly spoke, her voice clear and calm:

"Jianguo, I'll just say it straight, no beating around the bush."

The principle I'm trying to convey is actually quite simple; it's the old wisdom passed down from our ancestors.

A chopstick breaks with the slightest bend.

But a bundle of chopsticks tied together is difficult to break.

She paused, looked into Liu Jianguo's eyes, and continued:

"You currently have Li Bing, Zhou Weiguo, Xu Wenqiang, Liu San under your command, as well as the potential overseas forces represented by the Emily sisters..."

In addition, your official position is becoming increasingly important.

Each stock, viewed individually, may have its own emphasis, and all are within your control.

But... they are ultimately scattered.

Each chopstick may seem to be held in your hand, but how closely are they connected?

Are we gathered together simply because of you, or have we formed a truly inseparable and unbreakable whole?

Liu Jianguo immediately understood Tang Jingxian's implication—she was reminding him that it was time to consider a deeper integration and restructuring of his scattered forces.

He almost subconsciously frowned slightly, leaned back, and tapped his fingers on the armrest more quickly as he spoke:

"You mean, you want me to integrate these forces right now and form a more cohesive organization?"

Jingxian, I understand your concerns.

But given my current status and position, doing something like this in a high-profile manner would be too risky and too conspicuous.

The authorities would not allow someone in a key position to possess such a large and tightly structured private force.

The current state, seemingly dispersed, is actually a form of camouflage.

Premature consolidation will only attract unwanted attention.

This has always been his concern, and it is also the main reason why he maintains the current loose alliance.

Tang Jingxian was not discouraged by his rebuttal. Instead, she gently shook her head and said with a deeper gaze:

"Jianguo, you were right, it spread quietly in the early stages."

Developing independently was the wisest choice at the time.

Because it lacks a foundation, it needs to be hidden.

But things are different now.