84: The drivers had a great time

Golden Summit Holy City, Le Méridien Hotel.

The dazzling crystal chandeliers illuminated the signing hall as if it were daytime. Prime Minister Surayut stood before the gilded signing table, the steel pen in his hand glinting coldly under the spotlight. Beside him, Ains calmly adjusted the holographic projector, casting a 3D construction model of the Siam Strait into the center of the hall.

"Allow me to introduce the engineering and technical details of the canal," Ains's voice echoed through the simultaneous interpretation system, "The canal is 70 kilometers long and will be constructed using our newly developed integrated canal excavators."

As he explained, the projection switched to a simulated animation of the construction site: two giant machines, like steel behemoths, advanced through the tropical jungle, each equipped with a cutter head 70 meters in diameter.

"Each 'Gonggong' excavator is equipped with our specially developed quick-setting cement injection system," Ains tapped the control panel, and the screen zoomed in to show construction details, "While excavating, high-pressure nozzles will inject a special cement slurry into both sides of the newly dug canal."

The scene switched to a test scenario in a cement laboratory: a flowing grey slurry, after adding a blue catalyst, began to solidify at a visible rate. A digital timer showed that after 57 minutes and 23 seconds, test personnel were already able to drive a heavy truck on the hardened cement surface.

"The strength of this quick-setting cement is three times that of traditional port cement, and its corrosion resistance is five times greater," Ains smiled, looking at the Golden Buddha Federation Minister of Industry, "It is fully capable of resisting seawater erosion and ship collisions."

Prime Minister Surayut noticed the earth accumulation zones marked on the projection along both banks, where the excavated red earth stretched like mountains on either side of the canal. Ains added at the opportune moment: "All excavated earth will remain on both banks, and the Golden Buddha Confederation Government can independently decide whether to use it for land reclamation or infrastructure projects."

The Minister of Finance's eyes lit up, and he quickly began calculating on his tablet — this earth was enough to build three new large industrial zones in Golden Summit Holy City Bay.

"More importantly," Ains switched to the last slide, "canal maintenance will create over 20,000 long-term jobs, including lock operators, waterway maintenance workers, and ecological monitors."

When the signing pen was put down, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall. Prime Minister Surayut forced a smile as he shook hands with representatives from various countries, but when it was Ains's turn, his fingers noticeably stiffened for a moment.

"Pleasure working with you, Your Excellency Prime Minister," Ains used the handshake as an opportunity to lower his voice, "Two 'Gonggong' excavators have already arrived at Songkhla Port, and the special tranquilizer has also reached the Southern Front. Before sunrise tomorrow... all problems will be resolved."

The projection continued to display the construction process:

The cutter head rotates and advances, moving 15 meters per hour. Cement slurry is injected simultaneously, forming a U-shaped canal. Intelligent robotic arms install prefabricated revetment modules. Ecological restoration teams immediately plant mangrove saplings.

"From commencement to navigation, it is expected to take only one hundred days," Ains announced to the entire hall, "Shortening the construction period by four years compared to traditional methods."

After the thunderous applause gradually subsided, a Global Messenger reporter was the first to raise his hand: "Mr. Ains, your company claims to be able to complete the canal project within one hundred days. Is this overly optimistic?"

Ains smiled and pressed the remote control. The projection switched to a live video: a giant machine labeled "Gonggong-1" was working on a river in the Emerald Principality, its cutter head rotating, neatly slicing through the soil as if it were tofu.

"This is test footage from three months ago," Ains pointed to the timestamp in the bottom right corner of the screen, "The same equipment, under more complex geological conditions, set a record of advancing eight hundred meters in a single day."

A reporter from East Ocean Yomiuri Shimbun immediately followed up: "Why is the excavator named 'Gonggong'? This seems to be a name from an Eastern Federation myth."

"Our boss greatly appreciates Eastern Federation traditional culture," a hint of playfulness flickered in Ains's eyes, "Gonggong was an ancient water god who angrily struck Buzhou Mountain, causing the sky to tilt to the northwest. Our 'Gonggong,' however, is meant to split the isthmus and connect two oceans."

A burst of laughter erupted in the hall. Among the Eastern Federation delegation, Zhou Zhengyang, who had just been transferred to be the Ambassador to Thailand, struggled to control the corners of his mouth. After all, having learned some information about the Titan boss from the highest levels, he felt for the first time that facial expression control was a profound art.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Four Provinces, Government Army Frontline Command.

General Bawei watched as the red dots on the tactical screen extinguished one by one, then nodded to the New Union Army advisor beside him: "Begin."

Three thousand drones loaded with Titan tranquilizers simultaneously took off, like a cloud of death, swooping towards the rebels' last stronghold. On the monitoring screen, the Serum Warriors, once invulnerable, were now falling in swathes, like harvested wheat.

"Too easy..." the Special Forces Commander murmured, "It's like playing a video game."

In the abandoned rubber factory, the rebels' last stronghold. Adu De loaded the last bullet into his magazine. Outside the window, the humming of drones grew closer.

"Leader! Sector C has fallen!" A blood-stained warrior stumbled in, "The Government Army used a new weapon, brothers fall as soon as they're hit..."

Adu De looked at the map on the wall; the red markers representing their control area were few and far between. Three days ago, the North Steel advisor suddenly withdrew; yesterday, the last batch of serum ran out; and now...

The sound of shattering glass suddenly rang out as a tranquilizer pellet pierced the window, exploding into a light blue mist indoors. Adu De felt his legs suddenly lose sensation and he knelt heavily on the ground.

"Tell the brothers who are still alive..." He struggled to reach for the pistol at his waist, "Don't resist... We were all... deceived..."

Golden Summit Holy City, spoils of war warehouse.

SIA agent Robert Wu and North Steel GRU Colonel Ivanov stood together, a rare sight, supervising soldiers counting captured equipment.

"All serum samples are here?" Robert asked in a low voice.

Ivanov nodded: "According to the agreement, we split them equally. But the data must be completely destroyed; the Eastern Federation must never know this technology exists."

In the shadows behind them, a metal box labeled "Medical Supplies" was quietly loaded onto a Nova United States transport plane. Inside the box, three red test tubes labeled "Alligator" glowed faintly in a constant temperature chamber.

After the signing ceremony, Golden Buddha Federation Minister of Finance Songchai quietly stopped the Eastern Federation Commercial Attaché: "Sir, I have an impolite request..."

Ten minutes later, in the penthouse suite of the hotel, Songchai rubbed his hands as he faced the Eastern Federation delegation: "Regarding the earth transportation... we urgently need at least 200 heavy trucks."

Zhou Zhengyang put down his teacup: "Minister, as far as I know, Titan promised to handle the earth transportation."

"But they're asking for too much!" Songchai pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, "The transportation fee for each ton of earth is 5 eagle dollars; just this amount of money..."

Zhou Zhengyang exchanged a glance with the Commercial Attaché beside him: "We can provide Dongfeng heavy trucks, 180,000 eagle dollars per vehicle, zero down payment, and a ten-year interest-free loan."

Songchai's eyes lit up: "This... this is too generous!"

"However," Zhou Zhengyang changed the subject, "driver training takes time. How about this, we provide a 'vehicle-person integrated' service, leasing both the vehicles and drivers to you. Salaries will be paid according to our domestic standards, and the cost will be included in the vehicle. How does that sound?"

The Assistant Minister of Finance quickly calculated and whispered in Songchai's ear: "60% cheaper than Titan's quote!"

"Deal!" Songchai excitedly shook Li Ming's hand, "We need 100 vehicles for the first batch, can they be in place by next week?"

Golden Summit Holy City streets, that evening.

"Extra! Extra!" A newsboy waved the freshly printed evening paper, "Eastern Federation aids Golden Buddha Federation with 300 heavy trucks!"

At a street food stall, several truck drivers gathered around the newspaper, discussing animatedly:

"I heard the monthly salary is 20,000 Thai baht? That's more profitable than running the Gemini Islands route!"

"But you have to go to the Southern Four Provinces... Isn't there still fighting there?"

"What's there to be afraid of! The news says Titan has already dealt with the rebels..."

Eastern Federation, Mountain City Freight Driver WeChat group.

[Group Announcement] Dongfeng Heavy Truck Golden Buddha Federation project registration channel is open!

[Old Zhang]: Holy cow! Just saw the recruitment notice, 20,000 monthly salary with food and accommodation included? And bonuses? No cap?

[Master Li]: Really? No overloading checks? No speed limits?

[ Captain Wang ] : Absolutely true! My cousin works at the Dongfeng factory, he says the trucks are all custom-made, with a carrying capacity starting from 100 tons!

[ Brother Zhao ] : I just signed up. The interview only asked three questions: Can you drive? Are you in good health? Are you willing to go abroad?

The group chat instantly exploded, with a 200-person group flashing 999+ messages in the blink of an eye.

Dongfeng Motors Driver Recruitment Site.

"Queue up! Everyone queue up!" HR Manager Old Liu shouted into a megaphone, but his voice was completely drowned out by the noise. The recruitment hall was packed with burly men, the air thick with sweat and cigarette smoke.

"Manager Liu!" A driver with a scarred face pushed his way to the front, "I've driven mining trucks, I can haul 300 tons!"

Old Liu wiped his sweat: "Mining trucks don't count, only those with long-haul freight experience..."

"I've driven the Qinghai-Tibet line!" The big man slapped down his driver's license, "I can still hit 80 mph at an altitude of 5,000 meters!"

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from behind. Two drivers were wrestling over their place in line, and security guards rushed over to break up the fight.

"Stop fighting!" Old Liu had a flash of inspiration, "The loser goes to the Golden Buddha Federation, and the winner goes to the Jing'an Bureau!"

The crowd burst into laughter, and the two fighting men sheepishly separated.

A highway service area.

Three Dongfeng heavy trucks were parked next to the gas station, with a dozen drivers gathered around smoking.

"Have you heard?" The bald driver said mysteriously, "There aren't even traffic police in the Golden Buddha Federation, you can drive however you want!"

"Nonsense!" A young man in a baseball cap retorted, "My cousin drives a bus in Golden Summit Holy City, and he says there are traffic police."

"Is that the same?" The bald man blew a smoke ring, "We're a national aid project, flying the national flag! With dedicated roads, how great is that?"

Amidst the laughter, the service area TV suddenly cut to a news report:

"Dongfeng Group announced today that the first batch of 100 heavy trucks aiding Thailand have all completed their modifications, with the load capacity standard increased to..."

"Hear that?" The bald man triumphantly stubbed out his cigarette, "Starting from 100 tons! If this were in China, the road administration would have fined us down to our underwear!"

Dongfeng Automobile Factory, Modification Workshop.

"Engineer Wang, can this truck really haul 100 tons?" A young technician asked, touching the thickened steel plate.

Chief Engineer Old Wang tapped the newly installed hydraulic system: "See? Special suspension, military-grade standard." He lowered his voice, "Anyway, the Golden Buddha Federation is paying, so build it to the max!"

In a corner of the workshop, several modified trucks were being painted. Beneath the bright red characters for "China-Thailand Friendship," a smaller line read: "Load Limit 80 tons."

"This number..." The technician hesitated.

"It's for inspections." Old Wang winked, "In reality, it won't fall apart with at least 120 tons!"

Magic City Port, Loading Site.

"Have you checked everything?" Transport Manager Old Chen ticked off items on a checklist, "Spare tires, tools, spare parts..."

"Brother Chen!" A driver suddenly ran over, "Can I bring a few extra boxes of instant noodles? I heard the food in the Golden Buddha Federation is terrible!"

Old Chen laughed, scolding: "Get lost! There's plenty on the ship!" He turned to the other drivers, "Remember, when you get to the Golden Buddha Federation, all of you rein it in! Don't embarrass the country!"

"Got it!" Everyone responded cheerfully, their faces full of excitement.

Golden Buddha Federation, Songkhla Port Dock.

The first batch of Eastern Federation drivers had just disembarked when they were stunned by the sight before them.

"My goodness..." Old Zhang's mouth hung open, "This machine must be ten stories high!"

On the dock, two "Gonggong" giant excavators were unloading, with hundreds of fuel tankers parked nearby, all there to deliver fuel.

"Master Zhang, right?" A translator in a Titan uniform came forward, "Your truck is in Zone 3, and it's already filled with fuel."

Old Zhang followed the translator to the parking area, where rows of brand new Dongfeng heavy trucks were neatly parked, each one polished to a shine.

"This... this is my truck?" He touched the steering wheel, unable to believe it.

"Yes, from today on, you'll be driving it." The translator handed over the keys, "Oh, and there's no speed limit on the construction site, but don't exceed 150 kilometers. Ours is a highly automated construction site, so while there are few people, safety comes first."

"You have to have a chance to spend the money you earn, don't you?"

Old Zhang almost bit his tongue: "150?! Driving 90 in China can easily get you a ticket!"

Construction Camp Cafeteria.

"Eat whatever you want! Plenty for everyone!" The Golden Buddha Federation chef greeted them in broken Chinese.

The drivers' eyes widened as they looked at the seafood, roasted meat, and tropical fruits on the buffet table.

"This food! It's a hundred times better than a highway service area back home!" Master Li piled five large shrimp onto his plate.

Old Wang leaned in mysteriously: "Know why there's no speed limit? I just found out, Titan directly planned a dedicated route. This road is specifically for engineering vehicles; other cars aren't allowed on it."

"Really?" Everyone exclaimed.

"Why would I lie to you!" Old Wang pulled out his phone, "Look, I just took this, those Golden Buddha Federation drivers are already drifting their trucks!"

In the video, an empty truck drifted in a perfect arc on the dirt road, kicking up a cloud of dust.

At six in the morning, a hundred heavy trucks started their engines simultaneously, the roar scattering flocks of birds from the trees.

"Attention all vehicles!" The captain's voice came over the intercom, "Today's mission is to transport earthwork from Zone 3 to the land reclamation area, a total of 80 kilometers, five rounds! Bonuses will be calculated by kilometers and earthwork, so no need to pack it too full! Everyone be careful!"

Old Zhang buckled his seatbelt and stomped on the accelerator, roaring out. In the rearview mirror, the dusty convoy looked like an army setting off to war.

"Awesome!" He rolled down the window, and the tropical wind rushed in. No height limit bars, no speed cameras, and no road administration checks.

Only an endless construction site and other equally crazy drivers.

During the lunch break, a few daring drivers even organized a "load competition" to see whose truck could stack the highest. The eventual champion loaded a whopping 150 tons of earthwork, almost flattening his tires.

"Take it easy!" The captain shouted helplessly, "If the truck breaks, you'll be fined!"

"So what if I'm fined!" The champion driver said nonchalantly, "After this job, it's at least 900,000! 900,000 in three months, I'd still make a profit even if I had to replace a truck."

In the camp in the evening, all the drivers were reporting their safety to their families.

"I drove a lot today!" Old Zhang boasted to his wife during a video call, "At this rate, my bonus at the end of the month will be at least 250,000!"

On the other end of the video, his wife looked worried: "Be careful, I heard over there..."

"Don't worry!" Old Zhang turned the camera, "Look at the conditions we're living in!" In the converted container dormitory, air conditioning, TV, and refrigerator were all available, more comfortable than his house back home.

After hanging up, Old Zhang found dozens of unread messages on his phone. It turned out he had posted a video of the construction site to the driver's group, and the group was now in an uproar.

[ Video ] A heavy truck speeding at 140 mph on a dirt road

[ Photo ] A mountain of seafood for dinner

[ Location ] Golden Buddha Federation Songkhla Port

[ Group Message ] :

Holy cow! Is this heaven?

Where's the registration link? I'm quitting my job right now!

I heard the second batch needs to recruit 300 people, trucks running non-stop.

Old Zhang happily turned off his phone. Outside, the construction site's searchlights illuminated the night sky. Faint engine sounds drifted from a distance—the night shift drivers had already begun their third round of transport.

A week later, the front-page headline of the "Chuncheng Evening News" read:

"First Batch of Aid-Thailand Drivers' Income Exposed! Highest Monthly Income 350,000"

The accompanying photo showed a smiling Old Zhang standing next to his heavy truck, with the nascent canal taking shape behind him. The last paragraph of the report stated:

...According to Dongfeng Group, the recruitment for the second batch of 300 drivers has already received over 100,000 applications...