Hamid hesitated for a moment and said: “Many people, seeing that I almost died in the Maldives, may all associate it with their own future prospects and may not have such good luck as me. Now they are all in peril. If they can achieve high autonomy, it is definitely the best choice. It is just unknown whether the core layer will open this gap.”
Ye Chen said faintly: “Whether to open this gap depends on whether the internal and external pressures are great enough. When the pressure is not great, everyone wants everything; but when the pressure is too great, everyone will automatically make choices. Since there is now great external pressure and great internal estrangement, as long as these warlords like you can unite, striving for high autonomy is not a problem. The premise is to leave the capital and economically prosperous areas to the core layer.”
Hamid sighed: “If they cannot get economically prosperous areas, even if the core layer agrees, they will probably have to go to a godforsaken place and start from scratch. These warlords probably do not have such sufficient start-up funds.”
Ye Chen laughed: “This is the reason I called you. Bernard Arnault just called me; he is willing to donate two hundred million US dollars to you to help you consolidate the situation in Syria. I think you can take out a portion to support those brothers in hardship to build their own territories.”
Hamid exclaimed: “Arnault donated two hundred million US dollars to me?! This… this should all be for your sake, Brother Ye?”
Ye Chen laughed: “Whose sake it is for is not important. What is important is that these two hundred million US dollars can help you win over many hearts.”
Hamid said gratefully: “Brother Ye, you have really helped me too much. I do not know how to repay you…”
Ye Chen said: “Between you and me, there is no need to be so polite. Moreover, the foundation of the Wanlong Palace is also in Syria. In the future, it will require mutual cooperation and mutual help from both sides, huddling together for warmth. Only when you improve will the strength of the group improve.”
With that, Ye Chen asked him: “By the way, after you returned, have you contacted the opposition leaders?”
“No.” Hamid said somewhat sullenly: “These untrustworthy bastards who shoot from behind. I do not want to have any contact with them again!”
Ye Chen said faintly: “Do not be so impulsive. They shot from behind but did not take you down, so you must learn to seize this opportunity to act shamelessly and extort a sum from them! Listen to me; today, go find them for an explanation. Ask them to give you certain compensation; otherwise, do not stop. Not only make a fuss in Syria, but also make it known to everyone on the internet. When you have nothing to do, you can register a personal account online, shoot short videos, do live streams. The bigger the fuss, the more they will fear you. In short, you must think of every way to torment them, forcing them to reach a reconciliation with you.”
“Reconciliation?” Hamid asked: “Brother Ye, how do you want me to reconcile with them?”
Ye Chen said: “Make them give you at least certain compensation. It is best to force them to agree to expand your territory range. At that time, you can invite a exploration team to see if there is oil or natural gas in your territory. If there is, we will invest in extraction.”
Hamid said: “Brother, even if I can extract oil, I have no way to sell it. I do not have qualifications for import and export business; people will not do business with a warlord like me…”
Ye Chen laughed: “You do not need to sell it. As long as oil can be extracted in your territory, I will let the Wanlong Palace invest in an oil refinery. Gasoline and diesel will be directly digested internally by the Wanlong Palace; heavy oil can be sold to Isu Shipping, directly refuelling passing cargo ships at sea. Everything forms an internal closed loop. At that time, let the Wanlong Palace settle with you; you just collect the money.”
