Chapter 480: Shameless Merchant

"Hold position for now," A Si Kui Si decided, "but monitor them closely. If they cross the concession zone's red line, strike back immediately. If not… treat them as a mirage in the desert."

He paused, looked at Ge Lei: "Edward, what's the latest development in Lanfang?"

Ge Lei pulled a telegram from his briefcase: "Chen Feng sent an official note this morning, expressing regret over the 'accidental encounter' on the Somme River and reiterating Lanfang's neutral stance of 'non‑intervention in the European war.' The note specifically mentioned— their military cooperation with Sakura Country is 'purely commercial,' and wherever Sakura Country soldiers appear, 'it has nothing to do with Lanfang.'"

"Unrelated?" Bei Er Fu sneered, "They sold tanks to Deguo, sold rifles to those Cao County folks, and now say it's unrelated?"

"Legally, they have a solid footing," Ge Lei said helplessly, "Chen Feng is a shrewd lawyer; all contracts sidestep direct military involvement clauses. Tanks are exported as 'civil engineering vehicles,' rifles as 'hunting equipment,' Sakura Country soldiers as 'labor export'… we can't find any leverage."

The firewood in the fireplace crackled.

"Then create leverage," Ji Qi Na's voice was cold, "we can declare Huo Er De Sa a military exclusion zone and demand Lanfang troops withdraw by a deadline. If they refuse—"

"If we had that capability," A Si Kui Si cut him off, "Arthur, does the navy now have the ability to clash head‑on with Lanfang's navy in the Persian Gulf?"

Bei Er Fu fell silent. He recalled the two newly acquired Hood‑class battlecruisers—no, now called the Hood and the Queen Ship. Excellent warships, but too few. Lanfang has at least four ships of the same class in the Persian Gulf, with more under construction.

"We need time," Bei Er Fu finally said, "at least six months, until five more Jianghe‑class destroyers are delivered, and until the Hood and the Queen Ship are fully combat‑ready."

"We don't have six months," A Si Kui Si stood up and walked to the world map, "Gentlemen, look at this battle damage report. The Somme River campaign has been raging for three and a half months; our total casualties have exceeded 420,000. The domestic conscription age has been expanded from eighteen‑to‑forty‑one to seventeen‑to‑fifty. Factories even have women and youths on the front lines."

His finger traced northern France on the map: "If we can't achieve a breakthrough before next spring, and Degjun launches a massive counter‑offensive with those new tanks… we could lose the entire Flanders region. Then Paris would be exposed to Degjun's artillery."

The study was deathly silent. Only the rain and the crackling of burning firewood filled the air.

"So," A Si Kui Si turned, his gaze sweeping each person, "we need more soldiers, weapons that can counter Deguo's new tanks, and… miracles."

"Or, we need dirtier methods," Ge Lei said suddenly.

Everyone's eyes turned to him.

"Prime Minister, do you recall Chen Feng's proposal in Dubai?" Ge Lei lowered his voice, "regarding… Sakura Country manpower."

A Si Kui Si's face darkened: "Continue using Yazhou people as cannon fodder?"

"It's not cannon fodder, it's 'labor personnel'," Ge Lei corrected, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "just as they're doing now. Deguo can buy it, why can't we? Moreover, we could buy more—Chen Feng hinted that Sakura Country can still supply at least 500,000 'workers.'"

"Morally…" Bei Er Fu began, but couldn't continue.

"Morality?" Ji Qi Na's fist slammed the table, "Five thousand Yingguo lads die in France every day, and you talk to me about morality? If the lives of 500,000 Yazhou people can buy ten thousand Yingguo lives, I think it's worth it!"

"And then?" A Si Kui Si stared at Ji Qi Na, "How will post‑war history write it? 'The British Empire bought Asian slaves with money, feeding them into Europe's meat grinder'?"

"History is written by the victors," Ge Lei said calmly, "If we win, this history can be glorified, forgotten, or framed as 'international humanitarian aid.' If we lose… who cares how history records it?"

The fireplace's flames danced on each face. The rain outside grew heavier.

A Si Kui Si returned to his seat and sat down slowly. He picked up the battle damage report, turned to the final page—the appendix of the fallen list. A random page, a random line:

Private Thomas Wilson, nineteen, Manchester native. Mother widowed, two younger brothers. Killed on 30 September 1916, Somme River. Body not recovered.

Nineteen years old. Same age as his youngest son studying at Oxford.

He closed his eyes. After a long while, he opened them.

"Send a telegram to Sakura Country's Prime Minister Xi Yuan Si Gong Wang," A Si Kui Si's voice was weary yet clear, "in my name, invite him to 'exchange views on Far‑East affairs and international cooperation.' The wording must be courteous, but the pressure must be full."

"Specific terms?" Ge Lei took out his notebook.

"First, we urgently need troop reinforcements. Quantity… initially twenty thousand. Can be delivered in installments."

"Second, price at Deguo's standard, two hundred pounds per person, but require Sakura Country to bear part of the transport and equipment costs."

"Third, politically, we can promise to support Sakura Country's 'special interests' in XX after the war."

Ge Lei quickly noted, "Anything else?"

A Si Kui Si was silent for a moment, then said, "Privately tell Xi Yuan Si Gong Wang, if Sakura Country agrees to exclusively supply us with manpower and cease shipments to Deguo, we can… raise the price to two hundred fifty pounds per person."

Bei Er Fu inhaled sharply, "That would require fifty million pounds! The treasury can't muster that much cash!"

"We can issue war bonds, use colonial concession development rights as offset, promise post‑war industrial investment," A Si Kui Si said expressionlessly, "Money can always be found. But people, people's lives, cannot."

The study fell silent again. Only the rustle of a pen tip on paper could be heard.

"Additionally," A Si Kui Si added, "activate the Military Intelligence Section Six 'Eastern Dragon' program. I need to know exactly what technology Lanfang gave Deguo, whether we can develop it ourselves, or… steal it."

"Understood," Ji Qi Na nodded.

"Also," A Si Kui Si concluded, "accelerate the navy's integration of the Hood and the Queen Ship. If we can't win on land, we'll seek opportunities at sea. Tell General Jie Li Ke I need a feasibility report on a decisive battle in the North Sea."

"Yes."

The meeting ended. After the three left, A Si Kui Si sat alone in the study, watching the fireplace flames dwindle. The milk had cooled, a film of fat forming on the surface.

He picked up the phone: "Connect to Your Majesty the King's bedroom."