King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer

Joe Ga was having dinner when he got a call from his younger brother. The situation his brother described made Joe burst into laughter so hard that he sprayed Ambassador Steven with rice grains. After apologizing, he stood up to find a spot and said with a chuckle, "Don't let them scare you, you're the one with the money, you're the real boss!

If it's embarrassing for you, then just buy a little less and take care of their business on the side. Directly send me the goods to Central Africa.

Don't worry, everything is legal.

I have end-user certificates, you can think of it as a legal private military company's arms permit."

"......"

Hearing his younger brother's voice tremble, Joe Ga laughed heartily and said, "Don't be afraid, they're just trying to bluff you.

If they keep scaring you, just point at the J20 and say you want to buy one.

And say you're going to place it at the company's entrance for people to check in and take pictures. Let's see if they dare to sell it to you, haha..."

As he spoke, Joe Ga hesitated for a moment but eventually stopped laughing and advised, "Xiao Liang, those people from the military-industrial complex are seasoned players and have political agendas behind them.

We brothers don't owe each other anything, so we can't let others manipulate us.

My company is a bit complicated in its makeup; it's no problem to buy some arms for personal use, but if I were to barter arms for oil dollars to supply those warlords, then I'd be making enemies.

That would be like crippling one of my legs; the loss outweighs the gain!

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You can tell them clearly that you're not in charge of the arms business, and to come to me directly.

However, you should get in touch more with the folks from AVIC; they have a cheap supply chain, and I'm counting on you to send more airships my way."

Qiao Liang, on hearing this, nervously asked, "Are they trying to force you to pick sides?"

Joe Ga just laughed and replied, "How could that be possible? The benefits and value we create with our current position and status are much bigger and more valuable.

You can think of their actions as a kind of adjustment and probing; they need to know whether my mind is functioning clearly.

Only after this adjustment can we find the most comfortable state of cooperation, establishing the right boundaries, most importantly ensuring not to step on America's sensitive nerves.

Don't think I'm being overly cautious; it's a necessity!

As time goes on, you'll need to spend more and more. Your trade company can't be limited to just China; when necessary, you'll need to spend in America and Europe.

You might not understand this now, but once you meet more people, you'll realize that international politics is sometimes just business.

As long as the money is spent in the right places, it can generate endless benefits and power!"

Qiao Liang, even more anxious now, stammered, "Brother, I'm still a bit confused. How does spending money translate into benefits and power? How should I spend this money?

You've thrown me for a loop here; I'm afraid I might screw things up!"

Joe Ga shook his head, amused, and said, "How can spending money be a mistake?

For now, I'll have someone send you a list of materials. Just pick the domestic companies you like best to produce the materials on the order and send them to me.

Xiao Liang, there's no harm in spending money, but it's also a skill.

I know your nature; given a choice between a remote company and one in a big city, you'll choose the former.

That's not wrong, but it's not detailed enough.

If you really want to do something meaningful, then establish a third-party investigation firm to figure out the nature and composition of the target companies, and choose those that can benefit more people.

Keep doing this, and you'll gain huge conveniences and power!"

Qiao Liang tried to digest this content, beyond the understanding of most college juniors, and helplessly said, "Brother, I still don't quite get it. I can imagine the 'convenience,' but how do you acquire 'power,' and how do you wield it?

This is too complex; maybe you should find a professional to handle this after all.

Monica, for instance, is great. Don't worry, I definitely won't rat you out to my sister-in-law."

Joe Ga sensed his brother's hesitation. It wasn't a bother to make an engineering guy deal with such matters, but it was indeed a pressure because he'd worry about messing up even such a simple task.

After a moment's hesitation, Joe Ga said, "Okay, you keep running the company. Next week, fly to America and look up a woman named Gami Kopurko, she's a friend of mine.

We have a mutual friend from the third generation of the Bush Family, and he's running for the chairmanship of the Republican Victory Committee in Texas.

Have the company allocate $20 million for you to take there; just buy beef and lamb, place a $20 million order with the Cattlemen's Union in Texas, and tell them you support Prestor.

Then just observe the development of events, and when you dine with Prestor, ask him directly what power he can share with you, what conveniences he can offer?"

As he spoke, Joe Ga noticed that Qiao Liang's breathing was uneven over the phone. He said with a laugh, "This isn't the kind of simple quid pro quo you're imagining; it's something you could do in China too, it's just not as transparent as in America.

Sometimes things are too subtle in China, without someone to guide you, it would take you five years to get the hang of it.

But once you've got the gist of it, you won't misunderstand other people's attitudes and cause embarrassment, and the rest gets easier.

If you really can't learn, no worries, after all, it's not our own money we're spending.

You are the person I trust most. If I can't entrust this to you, I'd be worried leaving it to anyone else!"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Liang decisively said, "Brother, I'll do as you say, but don't blame me if I cause trouble."

As soon as Joe Ga heard it, he understood what was going on. Laughing, he said, "Tong Tong is my little sister too, she doesn't need your help to wipe her ass.

What's wrong with being a bit flamboyant? Just posting on social media, young people should be flamboyant! Tong Tong's dad is about to get promoted, he definitely won't give you any trouble for this!"

As he spoke, Joe Ga thought of something and, with a smile, said, "You're just afraid of being cursed at online, aren't you?

I'll give you a piece of real advice: no one can be liked by everyone. If you don't want to be universally despised, you can choose the most hateful guy to be your enemy.

It could be some arrogant rich second generation, or some annoying star—it doesn't really matter.

You're surely not going to fight and kill, so just go online and rant about them.

Make an enemy first, and it's best to make a big one.

Then you'll find that cursing others helps you find people who share your values, and those are the people you need to unite with."

Joe Ga's words temporarily shrunk the issue down to the online realm and lit up Qiao Liang's fighting spirit.

While on the car ride earlier, Tong Tong's social media account was severely cyberbullied, with various rich kids and celebrities making snide comments, pushing the cyberbullying to a peak.

Tong Tong's social media, filled with posts of princes and princesses, was screenshot by someone and posted online along with a messy dormitory photo of her, quickly attracting a malicious online storm.

Tong Tong is a carefree girl; she could treat arguing with netizens as a game, just turning off social media to rest when tired, acting as if nothing was the matter.

But Qiao Liang couldn't handle it. He was precocious and sensitive, and although his life suddenly improved, making him seem too tolerant at times, the moment something involved someone he was close to, that protective streak he inherited from his brother would flare up.

A 15-year-old boy who took his bedroll to the hospital, taking on the responsibility of supporting the family, how could he be weak?

After hanging up the phone, Qiao Liang sat at the office entrance manipulating his phone for a bit, then with a simple grin, pushed open the conference room door and said with clasped hands, "Dear senior colleagues, I just posted a social media status. Please have your company's social media account share it. Much appreciated!!"

Tong Tong was in the company lobby, loudly arguing with netizens, while Old Tong, in high spirits, engaged in fervent conversation with the small fries who couldn't enter the conference room, pretending he didn't have this "great filial daughter."

Just as Tong Tong felt thirsty and wanted a sip of water, she saw her social media account had a lot of @mentions of 'people.'

Those intimidatingly renowned conglomerates had collectively shared a status...

"Spreading rumors will not only rot your mouth, but also wear out your legs running to court!"

It mentioned a series of well-known internet celebrities, rich second generations, singers, and stars...

Tong Tong hadn't figured out the connection when netizens pointed out incredulously...

"Damn, AVIC is taking a stand for someone, who exactly is this 'plump rosy Tong Tong'? Is she a princess who'll send J20s to bomb those foul-mouthed jerks?"

"That's nothing, China North Industries is also showing up—tanks will soon arrive at their doorsteps."

"Going by what you're saying, China Shipbuilding also shared the post, so the aircraft carrier will enter the Yangtze river to sweep away the evils, right?"

"Ignorant lot, China Aerospace also shared it—anyone who curses our plump girl, they'll launch into space."

"All frogs in a well, haven't you seen that Industrial and Commercial Taxation has shared it too? Open up, time for a tax inspection!!"

"You all lack imagination—The Bank of China shared it too, aren't they going to wipe out those foul-mouthed guys' bank accounts?"

.........

.........

As Tong Tong looked at the string of netizen comments, she giggled and lay back on the sofa. Just as she was about to stand up and continue her verbal battle with those 'baddies', she paused, then remembered that the account seemed to be one she had registered for Qiao Liang.

She was 'Plump Rosy Tong Tong'; Joe Ga was 'Skinny Greeny Joe Ga'.

Because the screen name was so terrible, Qiao Liang never admitted it was his social media account.

Seeing Qiao Liang's very first social media post was to stand up for her, Tong Tong covered her face with her hands, moved for 5 seconds, then collapsed back on the sofa with a wicked laugh, kicking her little short legs around as if posting a 'keep out' sign for strangers...

"So cool, that's what a domineering CEO should be like!"

As she said this, Tong Tong, under her father's ghost-like gaze, took out a cartoon makeup mirror to check her reflection, patted her plump cheeks with satisfaction, and declared, "Yep, I am the wife of a domineering CEO..."

With that, Tong Tong swept her electrifying gaze over the various beauties walking through the company lobby, imitating the Empress Dowager from TV with a cold laugh, exclaimed, "After I shred a few more mistresses, my merit will be fulfilled and I can pick a day to ascend to heaven, hahaha..."

Tong Tong's craziness made Old Tong extremely nervous. At this point, he couldn't pretend he didn't know this nincompoop any longer. He took out his phone and called his doctor wife, saying, "Honey, come over quick in the car. Our daughter is so happy she's going crazy. Not sure if Xiao Liang will still want her now?"

.........

Far away in Liberia, Joe Ga watched his brother's first battle closely, delighted at the resounding success, he drank a few extra glasses. Then, dragging Ambassador Steven along with him, he declared, "We're going to war tomorrow. Let the SEALs do the killing, we'll set up evacuation safety registration points!"

With that, Joe Ga, intent on facing the muzzle of terrorists, declared to the astonished Ambassador Steven, "Let us march toward the guns of the terrorists and show them that we are not afraid at all!"

Ambassador Steven, looking at Joe Ga who didn't seem to be joking, said helplessly, "I don't know if the terrorists are scared, but I'm about to be scared to death..."