147: Chapter 147 The strongest makeshift team in history! Their goal is to fleece the motherland dry!

"Interest-free loans?"

Chen Yuan's eyes instantly lit up, his accountant's instincts immediately starting to calculate: "That's right! Many of China's aid loans to African countries are interest-free or even directly waived! We are located in Africa and are a country of pure Chinese blood; in terms of both emotion and reason, we should enjoy this treatment!"

"It's not just interest-free loans..." Chief Justice Zhang Zhe adjusted his glasses, adding from the perspective of law and international practice.

"A diplomatic relations package usually includes Most Favored Nation trade status, investment protection agreements, cultural exchange memorandums, and so on. These are all things we must fight for. Especially Most Favored Nation status, which will have a profound impact on our future exports of industrial and agricultural products."

President of the Privy Council Qin Yue considered it more deeply: "We cannot simply position ourselves as a recipient country. In negotiations, we must demonstrate reciprocal value. Our 'Miracle Seed,' our 'Data Ark' project, and our role as a strategic foothold for China on the African continent—these are all our important bargaining chips. What we want is not one-way aid, but a comprehensive strategic partnership."

In the conference room, the people who had just been immersed in joy quickly entered work mode. The original "ragtag team," after two years of real-world experience, had each grown into professionals capable of handling matters independently.

Lin Zhou looked at all this with satisfaction; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

"Good, then our negotiation team will be centered around Qin Yue, Chen Yuan, and Zhang Zhe." Lin Zhou made the decision.

"Qin Yue, you will serve as the head of the delegation, leading the rhythm and strategy of the entire negotiation. Chen Yuan, you are responsible for all economic issues, especially loans and aid. Your task is to legally and compliantly extract more hard cash from the motherland's pockets."

"Mission guaranteed!" Chen Yuan patted his chest, full of energy, already sketching a vision of large sums of capital flowing into the national treasury in his mind.

"Zhang Zhe, you are responsible for reviewing all legal texts to ensure that every document we sign is most beneficial to us and leaves no future troubles."

"Understood." Zhang Zhe nodded rigorously.

"He Jun, you will attend as a military observer, mainly to provide professional opinions on issues involving military cooperation, hiring instructors, and equipment procurement."

"Yes!"

"As for me," Lin Zhou smiled, "I will provide support from behind the scenes. When necessary, I will also step forward personally."

He was very clear about his own positioning. In such a formal diplomatic setting, his identity as the "Supreme Lord" was a bit too conspicuous and could easily cause unnecessary trouble.

Having Qin Yue, a former professional diplomat, step forward was the safest choice.

"Our goals are very clear." Lin Zhou concluded at last, "First, formally establish diplomatic relations, exchange Ambassadors, and obtain full diplomatic recognition from China."

"Second, sign a package of cooperation agreements to secure long-term interest-free loans or development aid of no less than one billion US dollars."

"Third, finalize a military cooperation framework to pave the way for us to form the National Defense Force. Fourth, use technical cooperation on the 'Miracle Seed' as our 'meeting gift' to the motherland, using it to leverage even greater interests."

"In a word," Lin Zhou's gaze swept over everyone as he said half-jokingly, "we must show the spirit of the 'millions of canal workers whose livelihoods depend on this' from back in the day, and use every means possible to flee—cough, secure the support of the motherland. Does everyone have confidence?"

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison, their momentum like a rainbow.

The negotiation team was thus established and immediately plunged into intense preparation work.

Qin Yue pulled out all public agreement templates of China establishing diplomatic relations with other countries over the past ten years for study;

Chen Yuan began to frantically collect data on aid received by various African countries, preparing a report over a hundred pages long that combined "crying poverty" with "painting a grand vision;"

Zhang Zhe locked himself in his room, pre-drafting various agreement clauses word by word.

A week later, the official notice arrived.

The negotiation location was set at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When Qin Yue led Chen Yuan, Zhang Zhe, He Jun, and the others into that solemn gray building, everyone's feelings were somewhat complicated.

Especially Qin Yue; she had once worked and fought here as a Chinese diplomat. Today, however, she represented another country, sitting on the other side of the negotiating table.

The delegation sent by the Chinese side was equally powerful.

The head was a Deputy Director of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, surnamed Wang. He looked to be in his forties, with a warm smile, but his eyes held the peculiar prudence of a professional diplomat.

The members came from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, and relevant departments of the military's General Staff. Clearly, they had also made ample preparations for this negotiation.

The negotiation began, and Director Wang spoke first with a face full of smiles, yet what he said was airtight officialese.

"Dean Qin, we meet again. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to congratulate the Cyber Freedom Republic on its remarkable achievements in such a short period. We highly appreciate your country's... uh, active efforts in maintaining regional stability."

When Director Wang said "active efforts," that tiny pause allowed Qin Yue to immediately capture the underlying meaning.

"Director Wang is too kind." Qin Yue returned a professional smile as well, "As a neighbor, maintaining regional peace and stability is our due international obligation. We are also very pleased to see that, with our... assistance, our neighbor Egypt has smoothly passed through its transition period and is moving toward a more stable and prosperous future."

After an exchange of verbal thrusts and parries, the negotiations entered a substantive stage.

On procedural issues such as establishing diplomatic relations and exchanging Ambassadors, the two sides quickly reached an agreement.

However, when Chen Yuan cleared his throat and took out his carefully prepared report to state the request for an interest-free loan of one billion US dollars, the atmosphere across the negotiating table quietly changed.

Director Wang's smile remained warm, but the representative from the Ministry of Finance beside him, a serious-looking middle-aged man, had already set down his teacup.