Chapter 1144 - General Kars' Compromise
Chapter 1144: General Kars’ Compromise
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
In front of Li Qiang, General Kars did not dare to be sloppy, so he said things in great detail, and Li Qiang also listened intently at the side. General Kars could not determine whether Li Qiang knew about this matter or not.
“I roughly heard about this situation.” After General Kars finished, Li Qiang said faintly, “However, these things have nothing to do with us. If people don’t offend me, I won’t offend others. What we want are enough benefits. Only when they violate our interests will we take action on them. At other times, we have no time to pay attention to these contemptible scoundrels.”
Contemptible scoundrels? General Kars took a breath of cold air. These armed forces that seemed to give him a headache and was a crisis to his position were actually contemptible scoundrels to Li Qiang!
However, it was not surprising that General Howton did not have any counterattack at all when he thought of Li Qiang’s ruthless means that got rid of General Howton. Never mind that Li Qiang’s men’s training was excellent, but just the weapons and equipment alone were not comparable to those of his own.
When General Kars came in, he saw them. The rows of armored vehicles, tanks, and missile carriers neatly parked in the field; all these were the things that he could never dare to imagine.
The price of one of these items was enough for most of his military expenses, and it was not always possible to buy it. So with this alone, no power could compete with it on this land.
General Kars couldn’t help but sigh. If I could have such a strong army, then I wouldn’t be worried. Who would dare to provoke me? However, he also understood that this was just a thought, and it was actually impossible.
“Captain Li, in fact, I don’t want to hide from you. My current status has been threatened. The North Alliance is eyeing me covetously. If they unite several armed forces, my side… Ai!” In front of Li Qiang, General Kars talked rather truthfully. Otherwise, it would cause disgust when he said something hypocritical. So, General Kars was not bothered by being shameful, and he bluntly talked about the crisis he faced now.
“En, indeed, with the example of the North, if the South and the East followed to form alliances, then you are indeed in crisis!” Li Qiang nodded and said.
General Kars did not expect Li Qiang to look so thoroughly, so he sighed. “Captain Li, to be honest, can you help me this time?”
“How can we help you?” Li Qiang shrugged. “General Kars, you know that Brother Yang is a very realistic person. He values the benefits. With enough benefits, he will take action.”
“I know this, but… I am like this now, a temporary president who will soon be ousted from office. What promise can I give you?” General Kars sighed, “To speak frankly, with your current strength, you don’t need my promise and permission to get whatever minerals. You can just directly occupy it with the armored vehicles. No one would dare to say no…”
“Hehe, it seems that General Kars understands this too.” Li Qiang smiled and said, “I once said to Brother Yang that it is not a problem to occupy the entire Country X with our current strength…”
General Kars suddenly was stunned. He did not expect Li Qiang to really have such an idea! It could be said that if Li Qiang really wanted to, then those Northern Alliance, Southern Alliance, and General Kars himself would not be opponents of Li Qiang and the others.
“What did Mr. Yang say…” General Kars asked quickly.
“Mr. Yang said that this feeling is very good, but he is not interested in civil affairs. He is only interested in making money.” Li Qiang patted General Kars’ shoulder and smiled, “So General Kars, don’t worry. Mr. Yang won’t fight you for the president’s position.”
“Hehe… I still have self-knowledge. Even if Mr. Yang doesn’t grab this position from me, according to the current situation, I can’t be the president for a long time…” General Kars said with a bitter smile, “So, I am here to ask Captain Li to lend a helping hand.”
“The key is, what can you give us?” Li Qiang asked. “The problem now is that we can take action, but we should get the reward we deserve. Even if it is cooperation, it should be mutually beneficial, right?”
“This…” General Kars really couldn’t think of what he could give Li Qiang at the moment. They helped him to seize power and become the president. How could this be justified?
“What about this? General Kars, you think about it after you go back. I will also talk to Mr. Yang about what you said today and see what his opinion is. If it’s possible, we can conduct further negotiations, okay?” The meaning of Li Qiang’s sentence also represented his giving the notice to leave.
General Kars could only stand up and say, “Well, then I’ll trouble Captain Li to report this matter to Mr. Yang as soon as possible.”
“Okay, General Kars, you can rest assured. I will convey your meaning to Brother Yang.” Li Qiang actually got Yang Ming’s instructions in advance, but now he wanted to drag General Kars out to let the negotiations between the two sides become smoother.
After General Kars left, Li Qiang told Yang Ming about the negotiation process, and Yang Ming let him do as he saw fit. Obviously, he was very confident to entrust Li Qiang with full authority.
“Captain Li, General Kars this time has nowhere to go. I’m not afraid that he would not agree to Brother Yang’s request.” Lu Xinyang was the one talking, Yang Ming’s hand-picked military advisor.
“Yes, this time, I am afraid that General Kars is really in a difficult situation. Otherwise, he wouldn’t talk to me so humbly. The pride from before is long gone.” Li Qiang sighed and said.
“However, if General Kars really cooperates with us, then it will always be in a weak, passive situation. We control the military power, and he only controls the civil affairs. In this way, whether he can be a president, it is entirely up to Brother Yang.” Lu Xinyang said with a smile, “This is also considered as the control of Country X’s regime.”
“It is true that General Kars is no different from Brother Yang’s underling. His rank is even lower than us.” Li Qiang also nodded. “However, it is better than ousting him.”
After General Kars returned to his presidential palace, he was also unable to do anything. Indeed, what Li Qiang said was very realistic and reasonable. If he wanted Li Qiang to send troops, what could he give to them?
General Kars established his title in wars. He knew that once these armored vehicles, tanks, and even bombers were put into operation, what a huge military expenditure it would be!
General Kars couldn’t afford such a sum of money. Even these gold mines and diamond mines could not be used to offset the debts. Therefore, if he wanted Li Qiang to send troops, then there was only one possibility, and that was cooperation.
How to cooperate? Li Qiang helps Yang Ming to be the president after helping me to seize power, and I will be the vice president? Let’s not talk about whether Yang Ming is willing or not, this title as the vice president does not sound pleasant. A president has become a vice president, not to mention most of the power is reduced, and I will be the laughing stock of others!
It was really a headache. General Kars frowned and looked at the secretary. “Do you have any better suggestions?”
“General Kars, this is the case now. If I have a better way, can I not say it?” The secretary also frowned. “The only way now is to wait for a reply from Mr. Yang…”
“This is the only way…” General Kars nodded.
When General Kars had just finished speaking, there was a knock on the door of the office. General Kars put away his worried look and said seriously, “Please come in!”
“Reporting to General Kars, it’s not good. According to our intelligence network surveillance, several armed forces in the South have begun to make a move, and there are signs of forming an alliance…” The intelligence officer who was also a confidant of General Kars came in.
“What?!” After General Kars heard it, he punched heavily on the table.
I have long known that these armed forces were trying to make a move. When I first got into power, they were still quite inactive. Now the North Alliance has formed; they are going to form an alliance too.
Now things really couldn’t be delayed anymore. General Kars took a deep breath. He couldn’t wait any longer. He had to call Li Qiang again and ask about the progress of the matter. Otherwise, if the alliances in the South and the North both invaded him, then everything would be too late!
Thinking of this, General Kars quickly picked up the phone and dialed Li Qiang’s number.
“Captain Li, it’s a phone call from General Kars.” Lu Xinyang glanced at the caller ID on the phone.
“Oh? Hehe, then let’s pick it up.” Li Qiang reached out and took the phone, then he pressed the answer button.
“Hello, General Kars, why did you call me soon after you left?” Li Qiang asked with a perplexed look. In fact, he secretly also understood that General Kars could not wait any longer.
“Captain Li, the armed forces in the South have begun to be restless. They intend to form an alliance. Now it is really urgent. What is the meaning of Mr. Yang? Can you give me a confirmation…” General Kars’ voice was very anxious, and he had lost his usual demeanor.
“I just told Mr. Yang, but Mr. Yang didn’t reply to me. He said that he will consider it…” Li Qiang said, “General Kars, don’t be in a hurry. This is a big deal. It can’t be hurried.”
General Kars thought, You are not in a hurry. Whoever is in power has no effect on you, but I am in a hurry! I will be ousted immediately. Can I not worry?
“Captain Li, see if you can talk to Mr. Yang about the latest situation, see what his opinion is, and then talk to me?” General Kars said anxiously.
“In that case, I just called him, and now it doesn’t seem good to call again. It sounds like I am urging him. I also don’t know if Brother Yang has thought well about it…” Li Qiang said with some difficulty.
“Captain Li, this time, I am begging you. This is the military situation. It can’t be delayed!” General Kars sighed and said, “Please…”
“Well, then let me try again. General Kars, you are so anxious! How can I describe you… Ai!” Li Qiang sighed and said helplessly.
“Thank you, Mr. Li. I am here to wait for the good news!” General Kars saw that Li Qiang agreed, so he replied happily.
“En, then, call me after twenty minutes.” Li Qiang looked at the time and said.
“Okay, okay, no problem,” General Kars said quickly.
Li Qiang hung up and looked at Lu Xinyang. He shrugged with a smile. “This General Kars, why is he so anxious?”
“How could he not be anxious? If he is not in a hurry, he will be ousted.” Lu Xinyang said with a smile, “It’s hard for him. If we didn’t want him to accept our conditions at once, we wouldn’t be dragging him on like this.”
“Now, I am afraid that whatever kind of requirements we ask for, as long as he can continue to be in this position as the president, he will agree.” Li Qiang said.
General Kars now had a feeling of time passing by very slowly. Looking at the time pass by bit by bit, General Kars was in a hurry.
“What did Captain Li say?” The secretary asked very anxiously. As a member of the General Kars’ army, the survival of General Kars’ government also had a lot to do with him.
“He said, now he will help me to urge Mr. Yang… Ai, if it is not urgent, I will not do this. After all, this is a bit impolite.” General Kars said with a red face.
“I hope that Mr. Yang can give us a positive answer.” General Kars’ secretary was looking forward to it.
Finally, twenty minutes had passed. When General Kars saw that the clock’s minute hand reach the last minute, he immediately grabbed the phone and dialed Li Qiang’s number.
Looking at the phone call that was so punctual, Li Qiang was really a little dumbfounded. Even if General Kars was in a hurry, he didn’t have to be anxious to this extent, right?
In fact, this is the situation where the onlooker sees more of the game. General Kars was in the game. Although the alliances in the South and the North were unlikely to attack General Kars for a while, General Kars felt that things were at stake. It would affect him soon.
Li Qiang was out of the game and did not sense any urgency like what General Kars felt. In his view, these alliances of armed forces were not worth mentioning. There was no threat to Li Qiang at all, so Li Qiang would have this indifference.
“General Kars, you are really on time. I have just finished talking to Brother Yang here, and your call came in.” Li Qiang smiled.
At the moment, how could General Kars still be in the mood to joke with Li Qiang? He didn’t respond to Li Qiang’s laughter. He just said, “Captain Li, is there news from Mr. Yang?”
“There is. Brother Yang has considered and proposed a rough plan. I will send it to you. You see if it is feasible,” said Li Qiang.
“Okay, okay!” General Kars heard that Yang Ming had a plan, and he suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. The worry that depressed him for a few days had been finally solved. At least, he had hope, so he quickly and excitedly asked, “What did Mr. Yang say?”
“This is the case. Brother Yang said, if you want us to send troops, it is possible. But according to the current situation, we will not get too many benefits from sending troops. So, Brother Yang’s opinion is that only our army will exist in Country X in the future,” said Li Qiang.
“En?” General Kars was slightly surprised and understood Li Qiang’s meaning. Li Qiang asked him for military power, so General Kars quickly asked, “What about me?”
“Of course, in terms of civil affairs, Mr. Yang is also not interested. Brother Yang said that if we cooperate, you are still the president, but we take all the military power. We do not interfere with your civil affairs.” Li Qiang said, “But from every year’s financial revenue, you have to give a part of it to us.”
How could General Kars not understand Li Qiang’s meaning? If it were implemented according to Yang Ming’s way, then Yang Ming would become the King of Country X. Who did not understand that no matter how powerful the president was, it would be useless if there was no military power in his hands?
If Yang Ming controlled the military power, it was easy for him to change the president. However, this requirement was not unacceptable to General Kars. After all, if all the armed forces in the territory were settled by Yang Ming, he could safely be his own president. Although Yang Ming would be suppressing him on top, at least, he was still very proud. He still had the right to speak in most political affairs. As long as he listened to Yang Ming’s arrangement, it would be fine.
This was a bit like the relationship between the emperor and the prime minister back in the day. When he thought of it, General Kars was calm. In this matter, although there were both advantages and disadvantages, the advantages were greater than the disadvantages.
On the one hand, Yang Ming’s involvement could let him continue to be the president. On the other hand, although he surrendered his military power, Yang Ming would never allow other armed forces to exist in Country X. He would remove all these armed forces.
In this way, Country X would not be shrouded in the chaos of war, and he could have a comfortable ruling environment. He could develop Country X on a large scale.
When he thought of this, General Kars felt that this was a good thing. Otherwise, in this war-torn country, he was just a temporary president. He did not have the treatment that the president should have.
“I have no problem here!” General Kars said firmly, “Captain Li, see when you are free, and we can have a detailed discussion! I am very much looking forward to this cooperation!”
“Okay, I will ask Brother Yang, and then give you an answer!” Li Qiang said.
“Okay, then sorry for the trouble, Captain Li. I will be waiting for good news here.” General Kars breathed a sigh of relief, and he finally could sleep well again.