Back in the car, everyone was talking about the evening at the Tulip Hotel, except for Song Heping, who sat silently in the back seat of the bulletproof Lincoln.
He felt as if he were walking on the edge of a cliff, with captivating scenery in the distance and a sheer drop beneath his feet.
Here, one could see sights invisible to ordinary people, but also face risks unimaginable to them.
"Song, what are you thinking about?"
The cook seed to sense Song Heping's mood.
"Nothing much." Song Heping looked out at the street through the car window and responded faintly without much explanation.
The Lincoln left the airport, and at the doorway, six SUVs carrying two teams of local rcenaries hired by "Musician" imdiately followed, escorting the bulletproof vehicle in front and behind.
Song Heping looked around and then asked Ferrari, "New recruits?"
"Yes," Ferrari replied. "But we didn't hire many this ti, just 50 n, temporarily used to interchange duties with the two platoons stationed at the oil fields. Otherwise, staying at the oil fields all year round without being allowed to return would drive anyone crazy."
Song Heping rembered he had earlier instructed Ferrari that if the transport contract were secured, they would need to start hiring a large number of personnel and purchasing vehicles and the like.
It seed that Ferrari was very efficient in execution and had already started preparations.
"I suggest that we keep a low profile going forward," Song Heping observed the situation outside the window and said, "Anyone who doesn't know better might think it's an official convoy and easily attract the attention of Resistance Organizations."
Ferrari was blunt, pointing to the cook sitting next to Song Heping and said, "I agree with you, but the cook here asked for his new bulletproof vehicle to be brought out for a spin."
Poked in the rib by Ferrari, the cook imdiately blushed, "I asked you to bring the Lincoln, not to bring so many people!"
Ferrari spread his hands: "You said to make it big, so I arranged for two squads. What else did you expect? I thought you wanted to involve everyone not assigned to the oil fields and water stations."
In terms of eloquence, the cook was always at a great disadvantage against Ferrari.
Blushing purple, he could not co up with a rebuttal.
Eventually, it was Song Heping who changed the subject: "Ferrari, have you finished the equipnt procurent plan I asked for?"
"Done, I'll show it to you when we get back," Ferrari said. "It's a big investnt, 100 transport trucks, at least 10 fuel trucks for support, and we need to find a yard and set up a complete maintenance departnt."
"Money is not a problem."
Song Heping didn't even blink an eye.
Now, he was very confident.
The "Musician" Defense Company's current funds were more than sufficient, definitely not a financial issue.
"But the quality of the technical staff must be high."
No problem, our salary offer is quite attractive. Illiguo has no shortage of unemployed personnel," Ferrari said. "Yusuf even ca looking for a few tis after hearing about it, wanting to introduce so people to work here."
Nepotism?" Song Heping gave a wry smile.
The sa old issue of pulling strings to get through the back door everywhere.
"You handle it, I don't interfere with administrative and logistical matters. I only care about results. While we must consider local relationships, our company has a bottom line, which is we don't tolerate idlers. Everyone here gets their fair share of salary, but if they think they're here to slack off, they're sorely mistaken."
"Okay, I'll handle it," Ferrari said. "Right now, the most troubling issue is the land."
"Land?" Song Heping said. "Does our company need to expand further?"
"100 vehicles need a parking space. Parking outside the Green Zone seems unsafe, and finding land inside the Green Zone is difficult as space is scarce everywhere," Ferrari explained.
Song Heping said, "You should talk to Yusuf. He has a lot of resources and a wide network. He might be able to help you."
"Alright, I had the sa thought. I'll ntion it when he cos to arrange staff in a few days. My idea is to buy the land for the truck yard outright this ti. Buy it big, as long as it's within the Green Zone. A remote location doesn't matter. We might as well build the company's office building and accommodation there too."
"An office building?" Song Heping was surprised.
Ferrari said, "It'll cost more, but it solves many problems permanently because we also need to hire 300-500 local rcenaries who will later be responsible for escorting the convoy's supplies. With so many people, they need a place to stay before going to work, and a place to eat, right?"
The cook couldn't help but interject, "Ferrari, you're planning like those big corporations like AAFES! We are just a small company!"
"Securing a $240 million annual contract, we're no longer a small company," Ferrari retorted. "I'm not saying do it now; I ant to wait until Song Heping signs the contract. This is my plan, understand? Planning! Besides, land in the Green Zone is still not too expensive. Buying now is better than buying later. If we need it in the future, it'll be more costly. Investing in land is also a way to gain value..."
Talking and suddenly impatient, he waved his hand and said, "I'm not discussing this with you anymore, cook. You don't understand investnt!"
"Alright, alright, can you two not clash like Mars hitting Earth every ti you et?"
Song Heping pointed to White Bear and Grey Wolf in the sa car and said, "Look at Grey Wolf and the others, they haven't said a word."
White Bear said, "I'd like to speak up, but I don't understand, so I'd rather keep quiet. As long as I can make money following you guys, I don't care about the rest."
"Exactly, I'm good at fighting, but this stuff gives a headache," Grey Wolf agreed with White Bear.
"Enough, we've already agreed that Ferrari handles administrative and logistical matters. 'Do not suspect those you employ, and do not employ those you suspect.' If there's sothing to discuss, let's do it in the shareholders' eting, not here in the car."
Finally, it was Song Heping who definitively ended the discussion, steering the conversation back to the company's next steps in developnt and expansion.
Song Heping and Ferrari had a half-hour conversation in the car, and he had to admit that Ferrari was truly talented.
With him around, Song Heping almost didn't need to worry about anything outside of military affairs.
Bringing him in as a core mber and giving him shares was the right move.
What's most valuable in the 21st century?
Talent!
After returning to the company, everyone quickly ate sothing and then returned to their rooms to rest.
At five in the evening, Song Heping was on ti for his appointnt.
It was the sa old place, Peter's office.
And the sa lavish dinner.
First, Peter inquired about so details of the recent mission, then offered many words of praise.
Finally, he changed the subject.
"The bidding for the transport contracts starts next month. Is your proposal ready?"
Peter forked a piece of beef into his mouth, chewed it slowly while looking across the table at Song Heping.
"A bid?"
These words caught Song Heping sowhat off guard.
Previously, when they signed the military contract, it was done right in his office.
Why all the formality with a bid this ti?
"Otherwise?"
Peter shrugged with a smile, saying, "Did you still think it was one of those secret operation contracts that could be completed in my office?"
Song Heping thought to himself that nothing that had been said was wrong.
A 240 million US Dollar annual contract, he had thought too simply.
In fact, he couldn't bla himself.
He had never done such a huge deal before.
240 million US Dollars, converted into RMB, was an astronomical figure.
Even though the Aricans are affluent and even if Congress agreed to allocate hundreds of billions of dollars for the reconstruction of Illiguo, they still had to follow procedures.
"No, no, no, I just haven't dealt with such a large contract before," Song Heping said. "I'll have my company prepare the bid docunts right away... But after preparing the bid docunts, what then?"
Song Heping was genuinely embarrassed now.
He knew nothing about such matters.
"No worries, just learn slowly," Peter appeared especially tolerant, showing no signs of bla or disdain.
Song Heping felt uneasy again.
There was no such thing as unconditional love in this world.
He had no relationship with this General Peter; his care made Song ever more cautiously reflexive the more enthusiastic he appeared.
"When the ti cos, you can contact my adjutant, Frank, for all bidding matters. He can help clarify any problems you have,"
Peter then outlined so of the bidding processes.
Outsourcing and procurent of military services by the US military has always been an Arican practice, not just since the war in Illiguo.
In fact, the money invested there was still managed by Aricans, with the US military having specialized personnel and institutions in charge of auditing all engineering, weapons, services, and others, forming an independent, unified, and very mature defense procurent system.
This institution is known as the Ministry of Defense's Procurent Committee (DAB), where all internal and external weapon purchases and outsourcing services of the US Army are reviewed, whilst specific recomndations on purchasing details and regulations and standards are proposed by the local command in Illiguo.
Having heard this, Song Heping had a rough idea in his mind.
But he cursed inwardly.
Who says Aricans don't have nepotism?
He was a pri example!
In Peter's words, his company's scale and capability review could absolutely be managed, and if not, funds could even be allocated to help his company achieve it.
Song Heping was no longer calm upon hearing this.
He suddenly rembered sothing.
Peter and the CIA were probably very aware of his company's financial situation.
Although he had secured contracts for two large oil fields and a water supply station, and sporadically signed so short-term contracts, the inco was still far from enough to expand his company to the scale required by the procurent committee.
Just as Ferrari had said, if he was to hire three to five hundred staff, plus purchase over a hundred various vehicles, and find a location to set up a maintenance departnt, it would likely cost millions of dollars.
This posed a problem.
Peter and the CIA might wonder where this guy's funds were coming from?
The gold transaction between him and Avanti was highly confidential.
It definitely couldn't be exposed to the Aricans.
Thinking this, a chill suddenly ran down his back.
Previously, he and Ferrari had been discussing how to recruit people and buy cars and land to expand the scale, yet he had overlooked a terrifying detail—doing so would expose the real financial situation of his company!
"General, we do indeed face so difficulties with funds."
He imdiately made up his mind and started acting poor.
"Currently, our company has only about two million on its books. The company's administrative manager told that to take on this transport business, we need to hire at least 300-500 people, require at least 100 trucks and 20 tankers, and also need to establish a parking lot and a maintenance departnt..."
"Don't worry about that."
Peter said: "I have already considered all of your concerns."
"So…" Song Heping cautiously probed, "How will the funds be managed?"
Peter looked at Song Heping, swirled his whiskey, and smiled, "Song, don't you have an important appointnt tonight?"
Song Heping felt a small stir in his heart.
This old guy knew he was going to the Tulip Hotel tonight?
That ant…
He even dared not think further.
"Yes."
He hurriedly admitted: "The head of AAFES's local branch, Robbin, has invited for a eting tonight."
"Then go et him, it will be good for you," Peter said. "You should know that your business was originally handled by AAFES, and they allocated it to your company. Go and thank them."
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