bookrebus Chapter 719 Safety is also a commodity
Chapter 719 Safety is also a commodity
Everyone took their seats around the oval conference table.
Without wasting any words, Zhang Chi pushed the two telegrams and the CIA's assessment summary to the center of the table.
"Everyone is aware of the situation. The John people's transition plan has failed, and the subcontinent is about to descend into large-scale religious violence."
"Some of our friends are getting restless and are reaching out to us for help." Zhang Chi's gaze swept across the crowd. "Today's meeting has only one topic: Southeast Asia. What's next?"
He glanced around at everyone and said, "Okay, everyone think about this first, and I'll say a few words on a different topic."
The meeting room fell silent.
Zhang Chi leaned forward slightly, his hands resting on the table: "I know, the war is over. The Japanese devils have been driven back to their homeland. Our Southeast Asia has also risen up from under the iron heel of Western colonialists."
"What's everyone thinking right now? A wife, kids, a warm bed, and enjoying a peaceful life. Right?"
Everyone paused for a moment, then laughed, and the atmosphere eased a little.
“That’s right, it’s only human nature.” Zhang Chi smiled, but the smile quickly faded. “But to put it bluntly, a country must be prepared for danger even in times of peace. It must have a sense of crisis.”
He tapped his fingers on the table.
“Intervening outside costs money, takes effort, and can even result in deaths. It’s painful, right?” Zhang Chi’s voice deepened. “Pain is to be expected.”
In the late Roman Empire, the Romans lived a life of debauchery and extravagance. Does Rome still exist today?
The Kaiyuan era was a golden age, with all nations paying tribute. Was it not glorious?
And then what? Emperor Xuanzong of Tang hid in the deep palace with his daughter-in-law, playing "love kisses" and ignoring state affairs.
What did this lead to? It led to the An Lushan Rebellion.
No one laughed in the meeting room.
“Now that there’s a problem in Sindhu, chaos has already broken out. Some of us might think, ‘What’s it to us? We can just watch the show.’” Zhang Chi shook his head. “No. Absolutely not.”
He stood up and walked to the map.
"Today, I'm proposing a concept for the first time." Zhang Chi turned around and looked at everyone. "Safety is also a commodity. A commodity that can be traded."
Everyone present who was able to enter this conference room must have some skills, and Zhang Chi's words immediately caught the attention of many.
"Between nations, industrial goods, agricultural products, and mineral resources are certainly commodities. But why can't security services—services that protect a region, a regime, or a group of people from the threat of violence—be considered commodities?"
Zhang Chi pointed to the world map: "If we can't do business with swords, how can we protect the mines, factories, and railways we invest in overseas? How can we ensure the safety of our businessmen's lives and property? How can we ensure that our raw material supply lines are not cut off?"
He walked back to his seat, but did not sit down.
“Of course, if we go too far and march in with guns and cannons, that’s called colonialism. It will provoke opposition from the local people and condemnation from the international community, which would be counterproductive.” Zhang Chi placed his hands on the edge of the table. “Therefore, security services are the most suitable promotional material and stepping stone for the initial intervention phase.”
“We are not colonialists. We do not occupy land, plunder resources, or enslave people.” He looked around at the crowd. “We simply… provide a service. A service that protects the safety of the local population, maintains social order, and helps legitimate governments govern effectively. Doesn’t that sound a little less harsh?”
Grand Secretary Zhang Guangsong seemed thoughtful: "You mean... we're packaging our military presence as security cooperation?"
“It’s not about packaging, it’s about cooperation,” Zhang Chi corrected. “We provide technology, equipment, and training methods. The other party provides money, or exchanges resources, markets, or strategic locations. It’s a fair trade where each party gets what they need.”
Li Zhenguo, who was in charge of diplomacy, nodded: "This is a good idea. It can gain practical benefits while maintaining the moral high ground."
“More importantly,” Zhang Chi returned to the map, pointing the pointer to the northeastern states of India, “by providing security services, we can legitimately enter these regions.”
Help them build defense systems, train their armed forces, and integrate intelligence networks. Over time, these places will naturally develop... well, how should I put it, a sense of security dependence.
The meeting room fell silent again.
This time it's digestion.
Digest this entirely new concept and commercialize safety.
"So, let's get back to today's topic." Zhang Chi sat back down in the main seat. "What's next for Southeast Asia? My opinion is very clear: India needs to become independent. Few people agree with the independence plan proposed by John."
Previously, our agreements with those princely states were all secret. Now, by providing security services, we can openly, legally, and deeply intervene in the chaos of the subcontinent.
"To help our friends gain a foothold, while simultaneously building strategic depth for ourselves."
Bai Hongsheng, who was in charge of economics, spoke up: "I agree. It makes sense economically. Security services in exchange for resource extraction rights, market access, port usage rights... the long-term benefits are considerable."
Zhang Guangsong immediately stated: "This method is good. Simply giving away money and guns will eventually become a bottomless pit. Only a transactional model can last."
Zhang Chi looked at Li Zhenguo again; this was a talent he had promoted from the army.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should first prepare public opinion by drafting a 'Statement on Respect for the Right to Self-Determination and Security Concerns of Diverse Cultural Groups in the South Asian Subcontinent,' in a calm, rational, and humanitarian tone. It should not name or criticize any party, but only state our principles."
Then he looked at Chief of the General Staff Tan Zhijie:
“Previously, we went to other countries as instructors under the identity of the Nanyang National Defense Army. In the future, we may need to set up a company and go there as a private enterprise. You can take care of the specifics. I only have one request: use more veterans to solve their worries about the future.”
Tan Zhijie nodded. Some people are used to dealing with war. If they really retire, they may not be able to adapt to peacetime and could be a potential threat. It would be better to send them out to serve.
After some discussion, everyone quickly reached a consensus.
Zhang Chi made the decision:
"Then it's settled. Refine the details according to this approach. I need to see a complete action plan within three days."
He paused, then softened his tone: "Gentlemen, I know you all want a peaceful life. I've thought about it too. But some things, if you don't do them now, you'll never have the chance to do them again. Some hardships, if you don't endure them now, you might have to bleed later."
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July 17, evening, Kolkata, Harrison Road.
A fight that escalated from a verbal argument attracted more and more supporters from both sides.
Someone threw the first stone, smashing the window of a fabric shop run by a member of the Crescent Moon sect.
Then came the second piece, the third piece...
Then, the Molotov cocktail arced through the air and landed on the Sindhu cult food stall across the street, flames erupting.
Screams, curses, cries, and some more primal roars mingled together. Clubs, machetes, and homemade weapons appeared. John, a police officer who arrived at the scene, tried to disperse the commotion with shots but was instead drawn into the melee and quickly lost control.
The riots spread rapidly to the surrounding neighborhoods like sparks thrown into an oil depot.
That night, the preliminary count of dead and injured exceeded 150.
This was merely the prelude to a tragedy that lasted for months, swept across northern India, and ultimately resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
Almost immediately after the first plume of smoke rose over Calcutta, several carefully worded official diplomatic notes from Southeast Asia were sent to the Hyderabad Royal Palace, the Assam Maharaja's Palace, and the Manipur Royal Palace, respectively...
The note concluded: "...Based on our shared belief that no nation should be forced to accept an unacceptable fate, the United States of Southeast Asia is willing to work with you to explore practical paths to ensure peace, security and independent development."
The window paper has already been pierced.
The game of chess in the South Asian subcontinent has officially begun.