The Chairman said, "Under no circumstances can Great Dragon Country officially step into this matter. After all, we and Ox Country are both nuclear powers; one wrong move could spark a nuclear war. As for Havassa seeking help from a third country, that possibility is almost zero. To other nations, Xijin is a small, dispensable country, but its strategic significance to our nation is immense. While the Xijin Crown Prince hasn't vanished from the Earth yet, reclaiming Xijin is both justifiable and an immediate imperative."

"I understand, Chairman. You truly are profoundly strategic. Frankly, I’ve long been fed up with what Ox Country has been doing."

The Chairman handed me a stack of files. "Here is Havassa’s contact information. He is currently in M Country. You must avoid any contact with him within Great Dragon Country’s borders. Furthermore, we absolutely will not permit Havassa himself to enter the country anytime soon, to avoid giving Ox Country any pretext. What you do with the rest is up to you."

I replied, "Let Havassa put up some money, and under the banner of Red Dragon Security, I will help him restore his kingdom. Even if Ox Country has objections, I’ll treat it as mere noise. We take their money to do their bidding; no one can find fault. If they’re unhappy, they can challenge us to a fight."

Yi Xiaorou turned to the Chairman. "Chairman, that’s just how Zhao Qian is; please don’t mind him. His attitude has been getting increasingly assertive lately."

The Chairman laughed. "I like that attitude. Without a hardline mentality, who would dare to poke the bellies of Ox Country and M Country? I actually hope his attitude gets even bolder. If he could reclaim control over Budan and Nepal, then recovering the Tibet-South territory would become feasible, and the entire Xizang region would stabilize."

Yi Xiaorou sighed. "Chairman, you’re spoiling him. We’ll suffer when we get home."

The Chairman roared with laughter. "For the great cause of the nation and the people, you two will just have to bear with it for a while."

The Chairman skillfully changed the subject, and everyone couldn't help but laugh and banter for a while. Since everyone was present today, I proceeded to discuss my plan to lease Wan’an Shoal with the Chairman.

The Chairman was very generous. "I'd give you the entire Nansha if you wanted it, but Yue Nan and Fei Lu countries would likely never agree, especially since Yue Nan has been continuously strengthening its navy these past two years. Their objective is clear: to secure their interests in the South China Sea reefs."

I had already given this problem deep consideration, so I told the Chairman, "Chairman, the government only needs to sign a formal document with me. There’s no need for complicated clauses. Just state that Dadi Energy is leasing and developing Wan’an Shoal for 50 years, with all rights belonging to Dadi Energy. As for how to negotiate with Yue Nan, that will be my job."

The Chairman looked troubled. "The implications surrounding Wan’an Shoal are far more extensive than most people imagine. Besides our country insisting on sovereignty, Yue Nan also claims Wan’an Shoal and the reefs to its west as part of its continental shelf. Moreover, the Ming Dao side announced in '92 that Wan’an Shoal is the westernmost point of their current territory. Cooperation for the joint development of Wan’an Shoal and its surrounding waters was signed over to M Country’s Shrek Company in month, year '02. For the government to unilaterally breach that contract now would be indefensible in international discourse."

Fang Yanmeng chuckled slyly. "Brother Zhao Qian, there's no need to seek the Chairman's opinion on this matter anymore; we don't even need a contract signed. We already acquired Shrek Company. Why are you still painstakingly discussing it with the Chairman?"

The Chairman was surprised by this turn of events, and I was left feeling a mixture of amusement and exasperation. I turned to Fang Yanmeng and said, "Why didn't you say so sooner? I already sent you the Wan’an Shoal plan."

Fang Yanmeng looked wronged. "We acquired so many companies during the recent chaos in the US dollar financial markets that I haven't even managed to get a handle on all their operations. How could I know everything they were involved in? Don’t believe me, ask the elder sisters—you know they’ve been overseas every single day recently."

I apologized to Fang Yanmeng with a hint of regret. "I wronged you, don't be angry. I’ll let you punish me severely later. Since the contract for Wan’an Shoal is already in hand, and it's under the guise of an M Country company, handling things will be even easier. Later, I will organize a surface naval fleet in the name of Red Dragon Security and sail to Wan’an Shoal to conduct economic escort missions. If any Yue Nan vessel shows up, we sink it. I won't need to be polite to them."

The Chairman grew curious. "Tell me about this surface naval fleet. How do you plan to assemble it? And since Wan’an Shoal is far from the coast, how will you solve the air superiority issue?"

"I plan to primarily use cruisers, supported by destroyers, and deploy Mars-class nuclear submarines underwater. Air superiority can be managed by the Venus-class submarine carriers. Should that be enough to deal with Yue Nan?"

The Chairman remarked, "Quite an undertaking. Do you require financial backing? I can provide some."

I declined. "Let’s forget it, Chairman. Your funds wouldn't even plug a gap in my teeth. I'll just recoup these costs once I reach the South Sea. Then, we'll fight our battle, and you can sit back and watch. If M Country objects, they can join the fray too. We'll thoroughly stir up the South Sea until it’s a complete mess. I wonder if countries like Fei Lu and Wen Lai will be frightened then. Afterward, you can lease the other reefs to me, and they won't dare utter a single word of protest."

The Chairman questioned, "If we push all the responsibility onto Red Dragon Security by doing this, will it work?"

Xiao Chuchu interjected, "It's fine. Red Dragon Security has already established its headquarters in M Country, and we’ve hired many personnel conducting business worldwide. This scale of operation for Great Dragon Country won't raise suspicion from other nations. Besides, even if Yue Nan tries to settle the score with Red Dragon Security, they wouldn't dare cause trouble in M Country."

The Chairman warned, "Once the navy becomes public, we must be wary of M Country. They won't stand idly by while this formidable force exists. Moreover, the Mars-class submarines recently created friction with M Country. I suggest we use the Mercury-class nuclear submarines, which are already available for public sale. The Mercury-class capabilities are not weak, and with the support of the Venus-class carrier submarines, they are more than sufficient to handle those Southeast Asian nations."

I said to the Chairman, "You certainly have more experience. Agreed, we'll do as you say. I will immediately send someone to M Country to contact Havassa. Then, he will issue a statement against Ox Country. We will stage a diversion where our air force travels over Bangladesh and Ox Country to enter Xijin territory, while the main army ascends directly from underground for a surprise attack on Ox Country."

The Chairman concluded, "I will not inquire further into this matter. Handle it as you see fit. Go and rest now; we are almost at Kyoto."

Li Qi wanted to come out with us but was stopped by the Chairman. Li Qi looked very reluctant. "Grandfather…"

As expected, the Chairman accepted my relationships with the women, but he could not condone his granddaughter fooling around with me.

We parted ways with the Chairman at the secret base in the Kyoto suburbs. The main group proceeded to Iron Bull Tofu Company to settle Zhou Ni and her mother. Before boarding the plane, Xu Jing called her mother to prepare two bedrooms. Fortunately, the company's original factory had many staff dormitories, and a little tidying up made them livable.

I had Xu Jing advance Mother Zhou one year's salary. Since the two children needed money for schooling, giving her a lump sum outright might make her resistant; this method was more discreet.

Although Zhou Ni was very reluctant, I still had to return home. Long Teng University's military training was underway. I told Zhou Ni that I would see her again in a month when she could return to school, as her foot needed a few days of rest at home anyway.