Chapter 446: Seizing the Iron Mine

The scorching sun of Western Australia was like molten gold poured down from a heavenly deity.

It mercilessly baked the endless ochre-red desert.

Zhao Zhenshan crouched beside the freshly extracted rock core, his fingers brushing over that piece of jet-black, lustrous Shitou that felt heavy in the hand; a metallic chill spread from his fingertips, forming a strange contrast with the scorching air around him.

His heart pounded in his chest, his ears ringing.

Not from heat, but from shock.

As the leader of this exploration team, he had seen plenty of good ore.

But this thing before him…

He picked up a geological hammer and struck off a small chunk.

The fracture surface, under the vicious sunlight, glittered with an almost eerie, dark luster.

Its specific gravity was extremely high.

Its magnetism was extremely strong.

He tested it with the portable assay kit he carried.

When the reading popped up, his hand shook and the instrument nearly fell into the red soil.

The estimated grade exceeded sixty-eight percent.

And it was easily separable magnetite ore!

He slowly rose to his feet; having squatted too long, his vision darkened and he nearly toppled from the heat wave.

His assistant Xiao Liu hurried to steady him: "Team Zhao! Are you alright?"

Zhao Zhenshan waved a hand, drawing in a deep breath of scorching dry air.

His gaze swept over the surroundings.

Several drills continued to roar.

More black rock cores were being pulled from the ground, like silent black spines, exposed to the gaze of the ancient wilderness.

Bùlǎng Mǐlè came over, his white-flecked beard trembling with excitement: "Zhao! God! What have we found! This could be the biggest surprise in the Pilbara in decades! A brand‑new, high‑grade massive magnetite deposit! If the word gets out, it will shake the entire mining industry!"

"Shake?"

Zhao Zhenshan snapped his head toward Bùlǎng Mǐlè.

The shock in his eyes had vanished, replaced by a sharp, frightening calm.

"'No.' His voice was low but firm: 'We cannot let it shake.'"

Bùlǎng Mǐlè stared: "What?"

Zhao Zhenshan offered no explanation.

He strode quickly to the drill and barked at the operator: "Stop! All drilling, halt immediately!"

The operator stared at him, bewildered.

"'Did you hear me! Shut down!' Zhao Zhenshan almost growled."

The drills' roars died out one after another.

The sudden silence made the desert feel even more empty and eerie.

Only the rustle of hot wind over gravel remained, along with the labored, puzzled breaths of the crowd.

Everyone halted their work, looking puzzled at Zhao Zhenshan.

The exploration team, locally hired workers, and Victor's security detail.

Zhao Zhenshan stood in the midst of the chaotic exploration site, red dust clinging to his sweat‑soaked work pants.

The sun made his gaunt face gleam, beads of sweat continually rolling from his forehead.

His eyes flashed like lightning as he scanned each face.

"Everyone, listen up." His voice wasn't loud, but he exerted himself so everyone could hear over the wind: "From now on, everything here—what you see, hear, and touch—is the company's top secret."

He paused, then said word by word: "No one may leak any information to the outside by any means—including your families, friends, or even other colleagues."

"Violators…" Zhao Zhenshan's eyes turned icy, "you will bear the consequences."

Those words carried grave weight.

The site fell dead silent.

Only the heat waves silently distorted the air.

Bùlǎng Mǐlè opened his mouth to speak, but seeing Zhao Zhenshan's indisputable gaze, he swallowed his words.

This usually quiet leader now exuded a decisive force that made hearts race.

"Victor!" Zhao Zhenshan shouted.

"Here!" Victor stepped forward; this former Soviet officer stood ramrod straight, his face expressionless but his eyes vigilant.

"Take your people and seal off this area." Zhao Zhenshan pointed to the surrounding hills, "Establish a perimeter; no unauthorized person may approach. All exploration team members are to be centrally managed for now—without my permission, no one may leave the camp alone, nor use any communication device to contact the outside."

The camp had a shortwave Radio Station, the sole link with the outside world, originally used for regular check‑ins and receiving orders.

"That Radio Station…" Victor asked.

"You will guard it personally. Except for me, no one may use it." Zhao Zhenshan said.

"Understood." Victor replied curtly and turned to arrange it.

His movements were swift and efficient; with a few gestures, his security detail fanned out, seizing several high points and key routes.

The atmosphere instantly turned tense and grim.

Zhao Zhenshan walked up to Bùlǎng Mǐlè, his tone slightly softened but still unyielding.

"Bùlǎng Mǐlè, as a professional you should know what this discovery means. Before the ownership is settled, any leak could attract countless vultures and trouble. We need time."

Bùlǎng Mǐlè looked at Zhao Zhenshan, then at the black "treasure" on the ground, and finally nodded slowly.

He was a geologist, but he also understood the ruthless rules of the mining industry.

"I understand, Zhao." He sighed, "I'll keep the people I bring in check. But… you can't hide fire with paper; such a big commotion— aerial photography, geological survey— will eventually…".

"So we must act quickly." Zhao Zhenshan interrupted him, "Before others react, grab what we need and hold it tightly."

He waved to summon assistant Xiao Liu: "Immediately organize all obtained rock cores, data, blueprints. Mark them, seal them. Restore the site to its original state, erase as much as possible the traces of large‑scale exploration. To the outside say… we are conducting a routine 'soil improvement potential survey'."

"Soil improvement?" Xiao Liu asked, puzzled.

"Yes." Zhao Zhenshan's eyes were deep, "Red land might be suitable for growing tea."

That night, the exploration camp was unusually quiet.

No usual after‑work clamor and chatter.

Only the desert wind, tirelessly howling.

In the tent, Zhao Zhenshan, by a dim wind‑proof lamp, wrote an extremely brief report.

It omitted mineral details, using vague yet urgent wording: "Found important clues, need further verification and handling of related rights, recommend senior management dispatch a specialist promptly, and prepare sufficient funds and legal support."

He sealed the note, called Wei Ke Duo to split the duties.

"Tomorrow morning, you personally bring two guards to protect me, drive to the nearest wired Telephone station; I will send this report back to the Hong Kong headquarters. Then wait there for further orders."

Wei Ke Duo listened, asked nothing, just nodded.

This former Soviet soldier had long been accustomed to carrying out orders, especially those with obvious "special operation" overtones.

The message traveled at top speed from the Australian desert to Hong Kong, then from Hong Kong to Shenzhen.

Li Ping'an saw the vague yet thunder‑laden telegram late at night.

He stood by the office window, gazing at the dark southern sky, as if he could pierce the distance and see the black mountains sleeping beneath the red desert.

His reaction mirrored Zhao Zhenshan's.

Calm.

Extreme calm.

"Immediately contact Zhou Wenbin, have him finish the wrap‑up work in London and fly to Perth, Australia at the fastest speed."

"Notify Chen Anbang, prepare to lead the most elite international mining law and real‑estate law team to rendezvous in Australia."

"Have the person in charge of Wanshang Mining Company, Ma Guotao, depart simultaneously. He is an expert, knows how to evaluate and operate."

He gave consecutive orders to Lin Wanyi, who had arrived overnight, clear and without hesitation.

"Where's the funding?" Lin Wanyi recorded quickly.

"Divert part of the capital flowing back from the Japanese market. Allocate a portion from the Hong Kong branch. Through the newly acquired Matthew Bank channel, rotate another portion. It must be fast, covert, amount… start with five hundred million US dollars."

Li Ping'an mused, "Tell Zhou Wenbin his mission is not exploration but 'land acquisition'. Using all legal and compliant means, in the shortest time, obtain the exploration rights and mining rights for the discovered area and surrounding lands where veins may extend. Price is negotiable, speed is paramount."

"Understood." Lin Wanyi nodded, "Reason?"

Li Ping'an walked to the map, finger pointing at the region.

"Zhao Zhenshan already gave the reason." A faint, barely perceptible smile curved his mouth, "Red land, suitable for tea. Or, suitable for a 'large‑scale comprehensive agricultural development trial'. What we buy are barren, neglected desert pasture lands, for 'land improvement' and 'future agricultural investment'."

He looked at Lin Wanyi: "Our stance must be lofty, vision 'long‑term', we can even complain about the climate and soil here, making us appear as wealthy, whimsical Eastern investors."

Lin Wanyi understood; this was to openly repair the road while covertly moving the supplies.

A few days later, Zhou Wenbin arrived in Perth, dust‑covered and weary.

He had just stepped away from London's drizzling rain and negotiations, and plunged into the Southern Hemisphere's scorching sun and brand‑new challenges.

Almost simultaneously arrived with Chen Anbang's legal team and Ma Guotao's mining‑technology assessment group.

In an unremarkable motor inn in Perth, the group held an emergency meeting.

Zhao Zhenshan also secretly came from the exploration camp, bringing more detailed preliminary data and rock‑core samples.

When Ma Guotao saw those jet‑black, glossy ores and heard the preliminary reserve estimates, the veteran of decades in mining couldn't help but gasp.

"My heavens… if this is real…" he rubbed the ore samples, hands trembling, "This far exceeds our original plan to take stakes in those old mines! This is the true source! The lifeline!"

"Therefore, it must be flawless."

Zhou Wenbin's face was serious; he felt pressure greater than the London financial negotiations, "Li's directive is clear: spare no expense, but stay legal and compliant, acquire quietly."

Chen Anbang adjusted his glasses, before him lay the complex land and mining regulations of Western Australia.

"Time is tight," he analyzed quickly, "Legally, land ownership and mining rights are separate. First we must purchase or long‑term lease the land ownership from the current owner—maybe the state government, maybe a private rancher. Then apply to the state Department of Mines and Petroleum for an exploration licence and mining lease. This process is usually lengthy, requiring environmental assessments, community consultations, etc."

"Is there a way to accelerate?" Zhou Wenbin asked.

"Yes." Chen Anbang nodded, "If the land's intrinsic value is low, we can claim the purchase or lease is for 'non‑mining purposes' like agricultural development, and promise substantial upfront investment and jobs; the state may green‑light the transaction and even offer incentives. After obtaining the land, we can apply for small‑scale, unobtrusive exploration permits under the guise of 'geological survey for building foundation assessment' or 'searching for irrigation water sources'. Once resources are confirmed, we expand the permit scope gradually. This requires very sophisticated legal design and local PR."

"Local PR is on me."

Zhou Wenbin said, "Ma, you lead the technical team, under the title of 'agricultural soil expert' or 'water‑resources engineering consultant', cooperate with Engineer Zhao, conduct a 'secondary verification' of the target area, and draft a respectable 'large‑scale tea plantation and agricultural experiment base' blueprint, with investment and employment figures inflated."

Ma Guotao forced a smile, "I've never drawn a cake before. But… for the real cake underground, this fake cake must be drawn round."

The operation unfolded swiftly.

Zhou Wenbin, in a suit, as General Manager of "Wanshang International Agricultural Investment Company", carried a meticulously prepared proposal, began visiting relevant departments of the Western Australia Government and the remote county government where the target land lay.

His pitch was full of idealistic colour: an Eastern conglomerate, attracted by the red desert's unique soil potential (experts say it may suit certain drought‑tolerant tea varieties), vows to build a modern, integrated agricultural demonstration base combining planting, processing, research, tourism, to spur the remote area's economy, etc.

The proposal was exquisitely beautiful, renderings stunning, investment amount and job promises very enticing.

For the remote parts of Western Australia, whose economy relies mainly on mining and whose agriculture is weak, such a seemingly "green" investment bringing jobs is quite attractive.

Though some officials muttered privately, wondering if these Easterners were just burning money planting tea in this god‑forsaken place?

Yet no one would oppose the investment and the political credit.

Meanwhile, Ma Guotao and Zhao Zhenshan, with the "expert group", under Wei Ke Duo's security "protection", under the name of "soil surveying and irrigation system planning", "walked" across the vast red desert.

They cleverly avoided the core zone that had already yielded astonishing rock cores, sampling and surveying only the broader surrounding area in a seemingly casual but actually precise manner.

All activities were strictly confined within the land area already being negotiated for purchase.

Chen Anbang, with his legal team, worked day and night studying clauses, communicating low‑level technical details with officials of the state Land Management Bureau and Department of Mines and Petroleum, ensuring every step was legal and compliant, leaving no after‑effects.

They even hired a reputable local law firm and a surveying company; all actions were conducted in the open sunlight.

The purpose was merely, cleverly cloaked in the splendid guise of 'agricultural development'.

Funds flowed like silent water, continuously pouring into Australia through the channels of Hong Kong and London.

Negotiations for land purchase and long-term lease proceeded remarkably smoothly.

Those desert lands were inherently low in value; their owners (mostly state governments or large ranchers holding only grazing rights) rarely thought there could be any treasure underground, and were happy to monetize these 'useless lands' or exchange them for long-term steady returns.

Zhou Wenbin displayed superb negotiating skill, neither pressing the price so hard as to arouse suspicion, yet securing maximum control and future flexibility on key terms.

He used the need for sufficient land to conduct long-term agricultural rotation and ecological experiments as a pretext, expanding the acquisition range far beyond the known ore belt, forming a vast buffer zone.

One month later.

Ownership or long-term lease of over five hundred square kilometers of land in the core area had quietly been transferred to the Australian-registered subsidiary of Wanshang International Agricultural Investment Company.

Related 'agricultural development permits' were also approved one after another.

Moreover, on this basis, the limited 'geological survey permit' applied for on the grounds that 'constructing supporting facilities requires understanding geological conditions' was also obtained.

With this permit, deeper and more professional prospecting activities could proceed covertly under a legal guise.

Zhao Zhenshan could finally breathe a little easier, ordering the prospecting team, under his strict supervision and Victor's security, to resume detailed exploration of the core area, further clarifying the ore body's exact scale and quality.

Shenzhen, Li Ping'an received the phased encrypted report sent back by Zhou Wenbin.

"The land is basically secured, the legal framework is complete, and the path for subsequent exploration and mining rights applications has been opened."

Just a few short lines conceal countless days and nights of toil, scheming, and the movement of vast sums of money.

He stepped before the world map, and on Australia's vast red region he planted another small blue flag.

Blue represents resources.

Together with London's financial red and Shenzhen's manufacturing green, they complement each other.

The black secret beneath the desert remains deeply hidden.

But the key to the first lock on the treasure is already firmly grasped in hand.

He seemed to hear, beneath the distant red earth, the black ore vein breathing like a slumbering beast.

Steady.

Enduring.

Waiting to be awakened, to inject the most primal and powerful force into his industrial domain.

The morning light outside the window illuminated the marked red desert on the map.

Beneath the silence, thunder has been buried.