Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

She leaned slightly forward, lowering her voice even further, yet each word struck Liu Jianguo's heart like a hammer blow:

"Your current power, whether overt or covert, has reached a point where..."

It was a rather large, even somewhat "awkward" phase.

On the surface, your position is not low, and your future looks promising.

Secretly, Li Bing, Zhou Weiguo, Xu Wenqiang, Liu San, and their overseas contacts...

Even including Hong Kong, which you might reach through Emily and the others...

Each one alone might not be enough to cause sleepless nights, but what about when they're all together?

Wouldn't someone with a discerning eye, after a little networking, feel alarmed?

She paused, giving Liu Jianguo time to process what she had said, before continuing:

"Continue as you are now, letting these forces grow independently, like chopsticks that are getting thicker and thicker."

Although they are still displayed separately, they have become so thick that they cannot be ignored.

Many people and forces will not stand idly by and watch as chopsticks grow as thick as them, or even thicker.

They will feel threatened.

Once they feel the threat is significant enough

Before you tie these chopsticks together, one by one,

Or we could try to break it together.

Jianguo, you don't think nobody can tell you're not connected to me, do you? There are no secrets that stay hidden forever.

Seeing the subtle shift in Liu Jianguo's expression, she knew she had touched on the key point and said:

"Yes, you have your own little world, a way out, and a trump card, so you may not be afraid of mutual destruction."

But will they think you're not afraid?

They don't know you have a trump card to counterattack; they'll only judge based on common sense.

The final result will likely be a situation that no one wants to see.

But an inevitable collision can result in mutual destruction, and everything you've painstakingly built could be ruined in an instant.

Tang Jingxian changed the subject, her tone becoming firm, and continued:

"So instead of waiting for others to think the chopsticks are too thick and break them, we should take the initiative ourselves."

Connect them in a smarter, more reassuring way.

It's not simply about binding them together into a thicker, giant log; that would be too frightening.

Instead, it forms an "alliance," a "cooperative network," much like the ancient "Vertical Alliance."

She traced lines on the table with her finger and said:

"To clearly place Li Bing, Zhou Weiguo, Xu Wenqiang, Liu San, and even others who may join in the future, under an 'alliance' or 'collaboration platform'."

This alliance can have a loose appearance, such as being called a "mutual aid association," "joint chamber of commerce," or "industry association," etc.

However, it must have a clear communication mechanism, resource allocation rules, and shared interests.

In this way, they are not seen as anyone's private army.

Rather, it is a community of shared interests, encompassing "business cooperation," "technical exchange," and "mutual assistance among fellow townsmen."

It sounds reasonable and legal, reducing political sensitivity.

Internally, however, their strength can truly be united as one, with information sharing, resource complementarity, and a single call to action eliciting a hundred responses.

Most importantly—

She looked directly into Liu Jianguo's eyes and said:

"Once such an alliance is formed, even if it is only in name,"

The relationship between these forces began with a vague "everyone listens to Liu Jianguo" mentality.

They became explicit 'alliance members'.

If you want to harm one of them, you have to consider the reaction of the entire alliance. This in itself is a powerful deterrent and a source of cohesion.

It will instantly "solidify" these scattered forces, transforming them from scattered sand into a whole that, although composed of multiple parts, is difficult to break.

Moreover, this approach is far more flexible and secure in the current situation than direct control in your personal capacity.

Liu Jianguo fell silent.

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes slightly closed, his fingers unconsciously tapping the hard rosewood tabletop, producing a dull "tap-tap" sound.

Tang Jingxian's words were like a key, unlocking a box in his heart that he had always been vaguely worried about but had never thoroughly sorted out.

Yes, he has always known the benefits of decentralized development, and he has always been wary of the risks of over-integration.

But Jingxian is right, times change.

The current operations have indeed expanded a bit too much.

Li Bing's domestic connections, Zhou Weiguo's armed training, and Xu Wenqiang's Hong Kong underworld connections.

Liu San's upcoming overseas expansion, along with his increasingly prominent official position and the resulting increased attention...

These forces are like balloons that keep inflating, even though the strings are still in your own hands.

However, the balloons themselves are large enough to potentially collide with each other or cause external lateral movement.

He himself often felt a sense of disconnect—on the surface, he was a promising young cadre, but behind the scenes, he was the controller of the nascent form of a vast, invisible empire.

These two identities complement each other at times, but more often, especially at a higher level, they may be a dangerous kind of "impurity" that needs to be guarded against.

This "awkward" position is like walking on a tightrope; it seems balanced, but in reality, every step is fraught with danger.

Continuing to let the balloons inflate on their own without providing them with a more robust and "compliant" framework is indeed drastically increasing the risks.

Jingxian's idea of ​​an "alliance" was like a flash of inspiration, clearing away his previous blind spots in thinking.

It's not about brute-force mergers and acquisitions, but about building a platform that connects interests and rules.

Perhaps... this really is a viable path?

After a long while, Liu Jianguo slowly opened his eyes, his eyes flashing with a thoughtful and deliberating light.

He looked at Tang Jingxian with a complex expression, a mixture of admiration, realization, and a hint of seriousness.

He spoke slowly, his voice low and deep:

"Jingxian, you're right. I was thinking too simply before, or rather, I was somewhat dependent on the path."

They only thought about continuing to hide and disperse, but they didn't expect that as the scale grew, dispersion itself could become a conspicuous feature.

"Strategic alliance"...that's an interesting idea.

It's not about consolidating power, but rather about building a stage so everyone can perform on it.

I set the rules, I write the script; it seems like we're all discussing it together, but actually…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

"This is indeed a better approach than forcibly binding them together, and it is also more adaptable to the current environment."

However, the specifics of how to set up this platform, the form to use, and the rules and regulations are still pending.

How should the rights and obligations of the members be divided? How can we ensure that this alliance is effective without becoming too powerful or even backfiring on itself?

There's a lot to learn about this.

"I can't rush this; I need to think it over carefully, considering all aspects."

He didn't make a decision immediately, but he had clearly taken Tang Jingxian's advice to heart and was preparing to put it into deeper thought and planning.

Tang Jingxian saw that Liu Jianguo was deep in thought, his brows furrowed and his fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the table. She knew that he was digesting and weighing the pros and cons and the feasibility details of the proposal.

She said no more, gently stood up, a gentle smile on her face, and softly said:

"Hmm, think it over carefully. I'm just an outsider with a clearer perspective, and I was just mentioning it casually. Ultimately, the decision is yours."

This matter cannot be rushed; it requires careful consideration.

"You sit and think it over. I'll go check on the children; it's time to check their homework."

She left Liu Jianguo alone, turned around, and left the study with light steps, carefully closing the door behind her.