Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

Liu Jianguo nodded subconsciously, his gaze still unfocused on a certain spot ahead, and murmured:

"Okay, I understand. I'll think about it some more..."

His mind was clearly completely absorbed in the sudden and grand topic of "alliance building".

The study quieted down, with only the occasional tapping of his fingers on the table and the faint, gradually fading sounds of the city outside the window.

Dusk filtered through the window, casting varying shades of shadow on his pensive profile.

As dawn broke, Liu Jianguo got up.

Tang Jingxian's suggestion about a "strategic alliance" was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples that lingered all night.

He needed to verify the necessity and feasibility of this idea immediately, and the best way to do that was to listen to the most authentic information from all parties.

Without disturbing his family, he quietly entered the small world. The air was fresh and the light was soft, but he had no time to appreciate it. He hurried along, heading straight for the conference room in the core building.

He sat down in the main seat and pressed the emergency assembly button without hesitation.

An invisible wave spread once again, summoning his core team.

As the waiting time passed, Zhou Weiguo, Xu Wenqiang, Emily, Qi Jiguang, Liu Jianming, and Li Bing appeared one after another next to their respective seats, except for the chair representing Liu San, which remained empty—he was already on his way to a distant country.

Everyone stood solemnly, their eyes all fixed on Liu Jianguo in the main seat, awaiting instructions.

They could sense that the atmosphere of this emergency meeting was different from usual.

Liu Jianguo didn't ask everyone to sit down. His gaze slowly swept over each loyal and capable face. He got straight to the point, his voice steady and carrying an undeniable authority:

"I've called everyone here today to discuss only one thing."

Do we need, and how can we build a closer alliance?

He paused briefly, then spoke of building a tight alliance, letting the word settle in everyone's mind.

"Following me, you have each created your own world from nothing."

But now, the plate is bigger, and the tree is taller.

His tone became serious, and he continued:

"I heard some voices and saw some signs."

Many of us have reached an awkward stage in our development—taking another step forward...

The expansion is no longer about territory and interests, but about what others perceive as a threat.

A single tree that grows too thick is always the first one targeted for felling.

If we continue to work alone, or rely solely on my loose connections with you individuals, the next step may not be continued growth.

Instead, it was a devastating squeeze and attack from all sides.

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp as he spoke:

"But what if we try a different approach?"

It is not a few solitary, conspicuous giant trees, but a forest where roots are connected and branches depend on each other.

To form an open or semi-open alliance, a community linked by interests and rules.

Externally, we cooperate, consult, and stand together through thick and thin.

Internally, we share information and complement each other's resources; we share both prosperity and adversity.

At that time, any force that wants to attack one of us will have to think twice.

It's not just one person or one business that's affected, but the entire alliance's reaction.

They need to think carefully about whether or not to continue the war.

Can we afford to pay this price?

After he finished speaking, the conference room fell into a brief silence.

Everyone is processing these words and reflecting on them in light of their own circumstances.

Liu Jianguo took in everyone's reactions and knew that he needed a more specific approach.

He specifically mentioned:

"Just talking about the concept of space."

Wei Guo, you go first.

Tell me about your situation, what's the situation like in Vietnam and Laos right now?

How much room and space is there for expansion?

Zhou Weiguo stood up in response, his posture as straight as a pine tree, and said in a crisp, military voice:

"Reporting to the Lord, we have now basically taken control of the Shangliao area, wiped out the existing armed groups, established a solid base and training system, and completed the initial integration of personnel and logistics."

He changed the subject, his brow furrowing slightly, and continued:

"According to the original plan, the next step is to target Zhongliao and open up a wider passage and resource area."

With our current military strength and preparations, we are confident of taking down the armed forces of China and Laos with a 70-80% chance.

but……"

He paused, lowered his voice, and said with obvious concern:

"We have conducted a detailed assessment and found that if we take military action against Central Laos, even if we succeed, the chain reaction will far exceed that of Upper Laos."

The situation in the Central Laos region is more complex, involving more stakeholders.

In particular, it will directly impact the established plans and agents of the CIA and certain multinational corporations there.

We could very well escalate from a regional armed conflict into a focal point of international attention in an instant.

It could even provoke direct intervention from the US military or its supported forces.

Risk and reward... currently appear to be disproportionate.

We... are restricted by invisible boundaries, and dare not easily take this step.

His report starkly revealed the ceiling to military expansion—not a lack of strength, but rather the constraints imposed by international politics and larger powers.

Liu Jianguo remained calm, nodded, and neither commented on nor denied the predicament implied in Zhou Weiguo's report. He then turned his gaze to the other side and said:

"Wenqiang, over there, in Hong Kong."

Xu Wenqiang stood up gracefully, straightened his suit cuffs, and his usual smile faded, replaced by a look of shrewdness and seriousness as he spoke:

"My Lord, things seem to be going well in Hong Kong."

Through a series of business operations, infiltration, and necessary unconventional means

Apart from those few long-established triads with deep-rooted backgrounds and close ties to the upper echelons of British Hong Kong,

The remaining small and medium-sized enterprises and emerging forces, more than 70% of which are already under our actual control or influence.

But that's also where the problem lies.

Xu Wenqiang paused to give everyone time to process what he had said, and then continued:

"We can't step into the limelight."

All control must be exercised through carefully selected, clean-background assassins.

They achieve this by taking on various roles, such as independent gang leader, chamber of commerce president, or industrialist.

They would never dare to form a unified banner or a clear subordinate relationship.

The reason is simple: the Hong Kong police, especially the Special Branch, are not to be trifled with.

Once they discover that a single force is secretly consolidating Hong Kong's triads,

No matter how powerful this force is, it will attract the most severe crackdown.

The Hong Kong British government would never allow the emergence of an "underground kingdom" that could threaten social stability.

Therefore, although we seem to have mastered a lot, we are actually a disorganized mess, unable to form a cohesive force.

Furthermore, it is impossible to effectively transform this power into influence at a higher level.

We are trapped in the realm of 'darkness' and 'dispersion'.