LRAB Page 194
Page 194
After reviewing the two proposals prepared by Su Chang, a senior executive spoke first: "President Su, we are already familiar with your island project. President Tan has also given us a detailed introduction to your plan. We are very interested in it, especially the cooperation proposal you put forward."
Su Chang smiled slightly and said respectfully, "Thank you for your attention, leader. The island project is very important to me and is a key part of building my homeland. We hope to cooperate with the country to jointly promote the success of this project."
Another leader nodded and then said, "President Su, we have conducted preliminary evaluations of both of your proposed plans. We believe that the second plan, namely, in-depth cooperation with the state, and even establishing a base on the island, may be more suitable for the current national strategic needs. What do you think?"
Su Chang's heart skipped a beat, knowing that this was the higher-ups testing his attitude.
He pondered for a moment, then said, “Sir, the second option does indeed have many advantages. With the help of the nation, we can ensure the safety and stability of the islands, while also obtaining more resource support. However, we need to find a balance in maintaining control of the islands.”
The leaders exchanged glances, and then one of them said, "President Su, we understand your concerns. However, the government's intervention does not mean you will lose control of the island. We can clarify the responsibilities and rights of both parties through an agreement to ensure your interests are not harmed."
Chapter 356 Ye Cunxin's Problem
Su Chang nodded and then said, "Sir, I understand what you mean. However, we prefer the first option, which is that we contribute funds to seek national support, but we are responsible for the defense ourselves. In this way, we can maintain complete control over the island while ensuring the independence of the project."
The leaders were silent for a moment, then one of them said, "President Su, we understand your thoughts. However, the first option is riskier, especially in the face of interference from external forces, which could put you in a passive position. We prefer the second option, which can ensure the safety of the island and also provide you with more support."
Su Chang knew that the higher-ups' attitude was very clear. He took a deep breath and then said, "Leader, I understand your concerns. However, we hope to find a compromise between these two options. For example, we can jointly manage the island's defense affairs with the state, but maintain a certain degree of independence in internal affairs."
The leaders discussed the matter among themselves for a while, and then one of them said, "President Su, we can consider your proposal. However, the specific details still need to be discussed further."
Su Chang nodded, feeling relieved. He knew that although the negotiations hadn't fully met his expectations, they had at least laid the foundation for future cooperation.
After the negotiations concluded, Su Chang and his delegation left the state guesthouse.
Tan Zongming patted Su Chang on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Su Chang, the outcome of this negotiation was quite good. The higher-ups are very interested in your proposal, and subsequent cooperation should proceed smoothly."
Su Chang smiled and then said, "Old Tan, we owe you a lot for your help this time. We'll need your continued support for future collaborations."
Tan Zongming nodded and then said, "Su Chang, don't worry, I will continue to follow up on this matter. However, you also need to be mentally prepared that the subsequent negotiations may become more complicated."
Su Chang nodded, understanding that the real challenge had only just begun.
Back at the hotel, Su Chang convened a meeting with Zheng Fangxiu, Cui Tianqi, and Guan Xiaodi to discuss the day's negotiation results in detail. They unanimously agreed that although the higher-ups' attitude had softened somewhat, the subsequent details of the cooperation still needed to be handled with caution.
“Young Master, we need to prepare a detailed cooperation agreement as soon as possible, clearly defining the responsibilities and rights of both parties,” Zheng Fangxiu said.
Su Chang nodded and then said, "Okay, Big Sister, you're in charge of drafting the agreement. Tianqi and Xiaodi, you two continue to monitor the progress on Liang Dawei and Xiong Kuohai's side. We must ensure that we have enough leverage in the subsequent negotiations."
Everyone nodded to show their understanding.
Over the next few days, Su Chang and his team held several negotiations with the higher-ups, resulting in a back-and-forth back-and-forth.
A few days later, Su Chang received another call from Tan Zongming.
"Su Chang, the higher-ups have agreed to your proposal and are preparing to sign a preliminary agreement. The time is set for the morning after tomorrow, and the location will still be the State Guesthouse." Tan Zongming's tone was tinged with excitement.
Su Chang took a deep breath and then said, "Okay, Lao Tan, thank you for your hard work. We will definitely be prepared."
After hanging up the phone, Su Chang stood by the hotel window, gazing at the distant sky, feeling a sense of relief.
He knew that the success of these negotiations meant the island project had taken a crucial step forward. Whatever the future held, he would continue to work hard to ensure the project's success.
After signing the preliminary agreement, Su Chang felt much more relaxed. He knew that this was only the first step in the island project, but its success laid a solid foundation for subsequent work.
The higher-ups basically agreed to his proposal and even allowed him to select retired soldiers from the Nanjing Military Region to help him build a defense team on the island, which was undoubtedly a huge step forward.
Su Chang decided to leave Zheng Fangxiu in Kyoto to handle the remaining details of the agreement and related matters. As the capable assistant assigned to him by the system, Su Chang trusted Zheng Fangxiu completely. He believed that with Zheng Fangxiu in Kyoto, the subsequent work would proceed smoothly.
"Big sister, I'm leaving Kyoto to you now." Su Chang said to Zheng Fangxiu, "After the agreement is signed, there are still many details to handle. You'll need to take good care of things, and contact me immediately if anything comes up."
Zheng Fangxiu nodded and said with a smile, "Young Master, don't worry, I will handle things here. You must also be careful when you go to Jinling, and be cautious when selecting personnel, after all, it is related to our future safety."
Su Chang nodded, and then boarded a flight to Jinling with Guan Xiaodi and Cui Tianqi.
It was already evening when the plane landed at Jinling Airport. As soon as Su Chang and his group stepped out of the airport, they saw a major general, deputy commander, in military uniform, waiting at the exit. The major general was tall and had a serious face, giving off an aura of authority.
"General Su, welcome to Jinling." The Major General Deputy Commander stepped forward and shook hands with Su Chang: "I am Li, the Deputy Commander of the Jinling Military Region. I have received the instructions from the higher-ups, and I will fully cooperate with your work from now on."
Su Chang smiled and nodded, saying, "Commander Li, thank you for your hard work. The main purpose of my trip to Jinling is to select some retired soldiers to form a defense team for our island. I hope you can give us your support."
Deputy Commander Li nodded and then said, "General Su, you're too kind. It's our duty. I've already made arrangements. Should we go directly to the military region to check the list and information of retired personnel, or should we go to the hotel to rest?"
"Commander Li, there's one more person who hasn't arrived yet, so I'll go to the hotel to rest first," Su Chang replied.
Deputy Commander Li nodded, and then the group got into the car and headed to their accommodations arranged by the military region.
The next morning, Su Chang and his entourage arrived at the Jinling Military Region. Deputy Commander Li personally led them to the computer room to review the list and information of retired personnel.
Inside the computer room, several staff members were busy operating the computers. Deputy Commander Li gestured for them to retrieve the list and information of retired personnel, and then handed the printed documents to Su Chang.
"Commander Su, this is the list and detailed information of the soldiers who have retired from our military region this year," said Deputy Commander Li. "You can take a closer look and select suitable personnel."
Su Chang took the document and glanced at the list. His gaze lingered on a few names for a moment, a slight thought flashing through his mind. Although these names came from different films and television shows, Su Chang showed no sign of surprise. He knew that the line between reality and fiction was blurred here; what mattered was whether these people were capable of handling the work ahead.
"Commander Li, I'd like to see the detailed information about these people first," Su Chang said, then handed the list to Guan Xiaodi, Cui Tianqi, and Xiong Kuohai, who had arrived the night before.
Guan Xiaodi, Cui Tianqi, and Xiong Kuohai took the list and began to examine it carefully. They divided the information into three parts, each responsible for one part, to ensure that no important information was missed.
Su Chang sat to the side, recalling the names on the list: Tan Xiaolin, Ye Cunxin, Ouyang Qian, He Lu, Shen Lanni, An Ran, Tang Xiaoxiao, Qu Bi Azhuo, Tian Guo, Long Xiaoyun, and Leng Feng. Although these people came from different backgrounds, their abilities and experience were undoubtedly outstanding.
"General Su, do you have any special requirements?" Deputy Commander Li asked. "We can further screen personnel based on your needs."
Su Chang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Commander Li, could you arrange a spare office for me? I need to talk to them all alone."
Deputy Commander Li nodded and then said, "Don't worry, General Su, no problem. I'll have someone arrange it right away."
Deputy Commander Li immediately waved to someone behind him, and a major ran over. Deputy Commander Li then instructed him to arrange for an empty office to be set up.
After several hours of careful review, Guan Xiaodi, Cui Tianqi, and Xiong Kuohai had compiled a preliminary list of qualified candidates. They handed the list to Su Chang, awaiting his final decision.
Su Chang took the list and examined it carefully. He discovered that the selection results for Guan Xiaodi, Cui Tianqi, and Xiong Kuohai included the names he had in mind. This made him very satisfied.
"Commander Li, I would like to meet these people." Su Chang pointed to several names on the list and said, "...Tan Xiaolin, Ye Cunxin, Ouyang Qian, He Lu, Shen Lanni, An Ran, Tang Xiaoxiao, Qu Bi Azhuo, Tian Guo, Long Xiaoyun, Leng Feng, and..."
Deputy Commander Li glanced at the list and then nodded: "Commander Su, you have excellent judgment. These are all outstanding retired soldiers from our military region. Their abilities and experience are outstanding. However, there is one person who, even if the other party agrees, you may not be able to take with you."
"Oh? Why is that?" Su Chang looked at Deputy Commander Li with a puzzled expression.
Deputy Commander Li looked at Su Chang with a troubled expression, but remembering the instructions from the higher-ups, he gave Su Chang a wink. Su Chang understood immediately and dismissed Guan Xiaodi, Cui Tianqi, and Xiong Kuohai.
After the three left, Deputy Commander Li pointed to Ye Cunxin's name on the list and said, "You probably can't take this person with you. She is indeed very capable, but her background is a bit problematic. She is restricted from leaving the country, so..."
Su Chang had watched the original drama "Fire Phoenix" and knew what problems Ye Cunxin had. It was a complete special forces team. If one person was missing and someone was temporarily brought in to replace them, it would be much more difficult to get them to work together.
So Su Chang pretended to be completely unaware and said, "Commander Li, I saw Ye Cunxin's information. She, Tan Xiaolin, Ouyang Qian, He Lu, Shen Lanni, Tang Xiaoxiao, Qu Bi Azhuo, Tian Guo, and An Ran are from the same place. I think this should be a complete team. You understand what it means to be missing one person, right? Can you tell me more about Ye Cunxin's situation?"
Deputy Commander Li hesitated for only a moment before giving a general overview of Ye Cunxin's situation. However, the introduction was rather vague. Ye Cunxin's father was one of the leaders of a world-renowned terrorist organization (Nordehao), and her mother was a spy planted by the terrorist organization in China. Although her father was dead and her mother was already in prison, Ye Cunxin was still restricted from leaving the country.
Su Chang finally realized a problem. Most people like Ye Cunxin should stay in the army until the end of their lives, so why was she allowed to retire? This was very abnormal. So he asked, "Commander Li, shouldn't Ye Cunxin have been asked to leave the army long ago? Otherwise, she should have stayed in the army. Why was she allowed to retire?"
Commander Li paused for a moment before saying, "This is a secret. All I can tell you is that their team made a serious mistake that had serious consequences, so they were all asked to retire."
Su Chang nodded, indicating that he believed Commander Li's explanation, and then said, "Commander Li, then I feel that you should hand Ye Cunxin over to me even more."
"Oh? Why?" Commander Li looked at Su Chang with a puzzled expression.
Su Chang smiled and explained, "Commander Li should also know about the agreement I signed with the higher-ups, right?"
Commander Li didn't understand what Su Chang meant by suddenly saying this, but he still nodded. Su Chang continued, "Then you should understand that there is also a part of the country on the island. Don't you think that makes it easier for you to control her whereabouts?"
Deputy Commander Li was also taken aback, then said, "How about this, you talk to the others first, I need to consult with the Commander."
"Okay, no problem." Su Chang knew that Deputy Commander Li wouldn't make the decision on this kind of thing, so he nodded in agreement.
Chapter 357 Conversation
Su Chang sat in the makeshift office, waiting for her first interviewee—Long Xiaoyun.
Long Xiaoyun is a retired lieutenant colonel from the Jinling Military Region, possessing rich command experience and outstanding tactical skills. Su Chang is very interested in her background and abilities, especially her performance in special operations, which undoubtedly makes her one of the key figures in his formation of the island defense team.
Not long after, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
"Please come in," Su Chang said.
The door opened, and a tall, capable-looking woman walked in. She was dressed in simple casual clothes, her eyes sharp and calm, her steps steady, giving her an air of quiet authority. Su Chang recognized her immediately—Long Xiaoyun.
"Lieutenant Colonel Long, please sit down." Su Chang smiled and stood up, gesturing for her to sit down.
Long Xiaoyun nodded and sat down in the chair opposite Su Chang, looking directly at him without the slightest restraint.
"Hello, Mr. Su." Long Xiaoyun's voice was steady and powerful, with a hint of military crispness.
"Lieutenant Colonel Long, I've long admired your name." Su Chang said with a smile, "Your resume is outstanding, especially your experience in special operations and command, which is exactly what our island project needs."
Long Xiaoyun nodded slightly, not saying anything more, clearly waiting for Su Chang to continue explaining the situation.
Su Chang didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "I own a small island next to the Baboon Kingdom. I've reached a cooperation agreement with the country and am currently building a defense team for the island, mainly responsible for its security and defense. The island project is still in its early stages, and the Baboon Kingdom is constantly obstructing its progress. The tasks ahead may be very challenging, involving many aspects. We need someone experienced and capable like you to serve as the team commander."
After listening, Long Xiaoyun pondered for a moment, then asked, "President Su, could you elaborate on the background and future tasks of this project? I need to know more details before I can determine whether 913 is suitable for me."
Su Chang nodded. He knew that Long Xiaoyun was a cautious and rational person who wouldn't make decisions easily. So he briefly introduced her to the background of the island project, its current progress, and future plans, especially the island's strategic location and potential security threats.
“Lieutenant Colonel Long, our island is located in a very important strategic position, and may face threats from many directions in the future, including pirates, terrorist organizations, and even potential threats from certain countries such as the Baboon Nation. Therefore, we need a highly professional defense team capable of dealing with various complex situations,” Su Chang said.
After listening, Long Xiaoyun frowned slightly, clearly thinking about what Su Chang had said.
After a moment, she raised her head and looked at Su Chang with a firm gaze: "President Su, I understand. This project is indeed very challenging, but it's exactly what I'm interested in. However, I have a question."
"Please go on," Su Chang gestured for her to continue.
"You mentioned that most of the commanders of the island's defense team will be retired soldiers. So how will the command authority be allocated within this team? As the commander, will I have enough autonomy to formulate and execute tactics?" Long Xiaoyun asked directly.
Su Chang smiled. He knew that Long Xiaoyun was a very opinionated person and wouldn't want to be tied down. He replied, "Lieutenant Colonel Long, rest assured. We highly respect the opinions and judgments of professionals. As the team commander, you will have full autonomy to formulate and execute tactics. We will only coordinate at the strategic level; the specific tactical arrangements are entirely up to you."
Long Xiaoyun nodded, clearly satisfied with Su Chang's answer. She then asked, "So, what is the size of the team and its equipment? I need to know how many resources we have available."
Su Chang was prepared. He took out a document from the folder and handed it to Long Xiaoyun: "This is the preliminary team size and equipment list. Our first plan is to build an elite team of about 500 people, and we will try our best to meet your needs in terms of equipment. Of course, the specific details still need to be discussed and adjusted further."
Long Xiaoyun took the documents, carefully reviewed them, and then nodded: "President Su, this list looks good, but some equipment may need to be upgraded, especially communication and reconnaissance equipment. In addition, the team's training will also take some time to reach its optimal state."
“These are not problems at all,” Su Chang replied readily. “We will fully support your work. You can bring up your needs for equipment and training, and we will implement them as soon as possible.”
Long Xiaoyun smiled with satisfaction, then stood up and extended her hand to Su Chang: "President Su, I'd like to join your team. I hope we can have a pleasant collaboration."
Su Chang also stood up, shook Long Xiaoyun's hand, and said with a smile, "Welcome to the team, Lieutenant Colonel Long. I believe that with your addition, our defense team will be even more outstanding."
After seeing Long Xiaoyun off, Su Chang breathed a sigh of relief. Long Xiaoyun's addition undoubtedly boosted his team's strength, and he was filled with anticipation for the upcoming interviews.
The second interviewee was Leng Feng. (See above image)
Leng Feng is a retired special forces soldier who excelled in numerous dangerous missions, particularly demonstrating exceptional talent in individual combat and tactical assaults. Su Chang was very interested in his abilities, especially his adaptability in extreme environments.
When Leng Feng walked into the office, Su Chang immediately felt a strong aura. Leng Feng was burly, and his eyes revealed a resolute and decisive look, as if he was ready to meet any challenge at any time.