186: Chapter 186 The Navy's Ambition

Whether it was a loser who couldn't pass the college entrance exam or a spendthrift who only knew how to chase girls, as long as they passed through Old Wu's hands, they could get an admission letter from a prestigious university in three months and be packaged as a doctoral candidate from an Ivy League school in half a year.

Later, when news of the 'cutting line' spread through the circles, the immigration agency business became a disaster area. The wealthy had either fled long ago or were waiting for death. Old Wu's capital chain broke, he was drowning in debt, and a few days ago, he had even tied a rope to the rafters in his attic.

Lin Zhou found him at that time.

"Old Wu, greet the Ministers and the Dean." Lin Zhou leaned back in his chair, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest.

Old Wu bent down, the flesh on his face bunching up. He smiled with extreme humility, yet with a professional warmth.

"Greetings to all the leaders, just call me Little Wu. From now on, in this territory, I'm the one here to run errands and do the dirty work. If there are any thankless tasks, you all need only say the word."

Chen Yuan frowned and slapped his pen onto the table.

"Leader, what is this guy's background? Can he handle the Immigration Bureau's work?"

Lin Zhou tapped the table, making a dull sound.

"Old Wu used to be an overseas study agent. Don't let the 'agent' title fool you; he has connections in various countries. He can dig up the talent we desperately need within a reasonable framework."

He turned to look at Old Wu, his tone flat but carrying a sense of oppression.

"The task I gave you, how is it coming along?"

Old Wu immediately stood up straight, his ability to read the room instantly flaring up. He pulled a stack of printed lists from his briefcase and placed them respectfully in front of Lin Zhou.

"Rest assured, Leader. If our Immigration Bureau has one specialty, it's tracking and finding people."

"As long as you sign the ship purchase contract, whether it's retired captains or old masters who have repaired radar for a lifetime, I can find them all for you according to the list."

He chuckled and pointed to a few key items on the list.

"I have already contacted more than thirty American sailors who lost their jobs due to military budget cuts; several of them are veterans from Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. There are also a dozen or so turbine experts from Eastern Europe who used to repair nuclear-powered submarines."

"These people are living miserable lives locally, owing mortgages and unable to even pay their children's tuition. As long as we issue the visas and throw enough US dollars at them, I guarantee they will run faster than anyone. Even if they have to swim, they'll swim all the way to Africa."

Qin Yue listened from the side, her brow furrowing tighter with each word.

"These people have overly complicated backgrounds. American veterans—who can guarantee there aren't a few CIA eyes hidden among them? If they leave a backdoor in the system, our ships will be targets."

Old Wu quickly interjected, his face full of confidence.

"Dean Qin, that's an outsider's perspective. Don't we have the Jinyiwei here? Officer Jack's people will definitely screen them down to their eighteenth generation of ancestors."

"Besides, I'm not issuing them ordinary work visas; it's the 'Distinguished Contribution Green Card' of the Cyber Freedom Republic."

Old Wu lowered his voice, his tone carrying a ruthless edge.

"I will bring their entire families to our sphere of influence. Medical insurance, education, housing—everything will be tied to their contributions. The money we provide will be enough for them to live for three lifetimes back home, but the premise is that they must be obedient. If they dare to betray us, they'll have to weigh the consequences for their entire families."

Such tactics of entrapment mixed with interest-binding were exactly what people like Old Wu played best.

Lin Zhou was satisfied with this division of labor. He didn't need every subordinate to be noble; he only needed them to be useful enough in their respective fields.

"Old Wu, you are fully responsible for recruiting for the Navy. He Jun, Qin Yue, you two go coordinate with the ship buyers."

Lin Zhou stood up, walked to the world map on the wall, and drew a long arc across the vast Africa continent.

"Our core objective now is diplomacy with African countries."

Qin Yue opened a new briefing, her tone much lighter.

"Leader, the current situation is very favorable for us. Of the thirty-nine countries we have established diplomatic relations with, thirty are in Africa, accounting for more than half of the African Union."

"Although these countries have weak foundations, they hold solid votes in the United Nations."

"Especially after we provided the Miracle Seed, the two big players, South Africa and Nigeria, have also started to loosen up. As long as these two big bosses nod, the African Union will officially accept us as a formal member next year."

Lin Zhou looked at the map, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"This is what we call 'encircling the cities from the countryside.' Those Western powers look down on us now, thinking we're just messing around in the desert, a bunch of nouveau riche making a fuss."

"The day they hold a meeting at the UN and realize that with a wave of our hand, one-third of the seats follow us, their expressions will be spectacular."

Chen Yuan was calculating on the side, the abacus beads clicking loudly.

"Leader, diplomacy is going smoothly, but money can't just flow out like this. This ship purchase and modification will likely cost three hundred million US dollars."

"That's not even counting the later maintenance and the expenses for these foreign sailors. Our current inventory is enough to last two years at most. If we don't find a source of income quickly, this is a bottomless pit."

Lin Zhou turned around and looked at this money-obsessed Minister of Revenue.

"Old Chen, don't just stare at the expense ledger."

He pointed to the maritime defense line on the map.

"With a navy, we can get a piece of the 'paid escort' business on the Red Sea route."

"Those large cargo ships pay astronomical amounts of protection money to pirates every year. With our escort, small pirates definitely won't dare to come looking for trouble."

"Moreover, the Blackstone Group's investment in 'Oasis One' is starting to generate benefits, and the leasing of data center computing power has begun. No one will notice these small side hustles. We can use escort operations to train our navy."

As the meeting drew to a close, Lin Zhou looked at He Jun, who had been full of enthusiasm.

"He Jun, how are the preparations for the commendation ceremony for the Ironforge battle?"

He Jun stepped forward and replied casually.

"The Gold Mine War commemorative medals have been produced."

"The Ghost and Phantom squads will receive the Fourth-Class Explorer Medal. The medals have been custom-made with a pure gold base and embedded with anti-counterfeiting biological chips."

Lin Zhou nodded.

"Issue the bonuses at 20% of their annual salary; don't deduct a single cent. Also, open an honor wall for them on our official website. Use codenames for names and numbers for meritorious deeds."

"We want all soldiers to see that bleeding for this territory not only brings in a lot of money, but also destined glory. Next month, I will return to the territory to personally preside over the commendation ceremony and see how that 'Desert Water Town' is coming along."

The meeting dispersed, and everyone left in a hurry.

Only Lin Zhou remained in the conference room. He drew the curtains, looked at the night view outside, and felt his head swelling.

This state of high-speed operation had lasted too long; he couldn't remember the last time he had a solid night's sleep.

"Old He!" Lin Zhou called out.

He Jun pushed the door open, still holding the terminal displaying pictures of the ships they were planning to buy.

"Leader, what's up?"

"Book me a plane ticket to Hainan. Don't use my official identity. I'm not taking a large entourage, just two guards."

Lin Zhou rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh.

"I'm going to rest for two days as a regular tourist, see the sea, and eat some authentic seafood. Having stayed in this sand for so long, I feel like I'm about to turn into a dried corpse."

He Jun grinned.

"Done, I'm familiar with this. I'll arrange it for you right now, and I guarantee those reporters and bureaucrats won't find out."

Lin Zhou stood before the window, feeling like he could finally catch his breath.