Opening game, American Tycoon

The laws of the empire...

Enduring the scorching weather, Ma Rulong didn't even know how he got to this point. He was clearly a policeman, a fierce defender of the laws of the empire, and now?

Not only did he blatantly violate the law, he even traveled across the ocean to Africa, which was his first time here.

What is he doing here?
"Here's my passport."

At the customs of Bechuana Special Zone, Ma Rulong took out his passport.

"From the mainland of the empire?"

The customs officer looked at the businessman in front of him and asked.

"Yes, businessman, come here for business."

"Hardware dealer?"

The customs officer looked at the convoy behind him, and then directly stamped it without even checking it. Why not check it, because in essence, Bena and the West African territories are the colonies of Ming Dynasty. The so-called customs is actually a symbol of existence. The meaning is greater than the actual meaning.

However, even if it is used as a symbol, it is necessary to ask symbolically.

"What's on the car?"

"It's humanitarian aid..."

He couldn't believe every word of the arms dealer. When Ma Rulong said these words, he felt various discomforts in his heart.

Although arms export is an important means to maintain the country's military production capacity and expand its hegemony, it is a legal arms export. What is he doing now?
It's smuggling!

The desire for greater profits and the desire to expand political influence interacted in an intricate smuggling network controlled by Imperial Intelligence, where it was carefully calculated day and night.

"In fact, the international arms trade is more or less the same."

Jing Zaigui, who was driving the car, explained while driving.

"For example, now, instead of getting out arms, we are helping the empire to fight the enemy. When Britain went to war with the Boers, the empire couldn't wait to sell the arms to the Boers instead of Britain? This is called Maintaining the balance of power, which may also be called killing with a knife, has kept the peace between us and the British. Of course, in the arms business, making a profit is the constant goal. This is an eternal principle. The only thing that can compete with it is political needs. Due to the need to expand the sphere of influence, sometimes we all have to reluctantly give up our love and give up profits. Therefore, the instinct to make money and political ambition are intertwined, and all It's all tied together."

Listening to Jing Zaigui's explanation, Ma Rulong said.

"So what do we do now? Are we making money now?"

Ma Rulong was very curious about this question.

"Of course it is making money now, but what guarantee is there in the future?"

"Why are you making money now?"

"Because at the moment the Boers have gold and diamonds, of course we will earn a little more money, but in the future... who knows? In the future, after the war lasts for a year or two, when their money is exhausted, we will If needed, supply weapons to them at cost price, or even at a loss, and by that time, I’m afraid all the money we earn will be posted in it..."

This is the reality of international games. Of course, Ma Rulong doesn't know all of this, and of course he doesn't need to. After all, for him, all of this has nothing to do with him. He just participated in this game by chance. In this game, each player has his own different identity. What is his identity in this game?
His identity in this game is just... the most inconspicuous little character.After the convoy entered the special area of ​​Bechuanaland, Ma Rulong occasionally turned his attention to the people on the side of the road. After arriving in Africa, he saw many local people with darker skin than Chinese people and traces of mixed blood in their appearance. .

"Mixed race from Japan..."

Jing Zaigui said.

"The number of Japanese immigrants in the African colonies of the empire is second only to Chinese immigrants, but because of their status... well, you know, the Japanese are almost second-class citizens. Of course, we don't admit this. , but the women in Dongying are proud to marry imperial men, so there are more men than women in the four provinces of Dongying, but this has no effect. After all, many Dongying men work in the African colonies, and there are almost tens of millions of Dongying people. Putting down roots here, marrying local women as wives, these people are of mixed race..."

When Jing Zaigui's words fell, Ma Rulong asked curiously.

"Then the Dongying people married the natives here, so what about the natives? Aren't they also more male than female, what should they do?"

Facing Ma Rulong's question, Jing Zaigui was stunned, and then said.

"Who cares about them!"

Yes, not many people care about those natives at all, and it can even be said that in everyone's perception, no one will consider the future of those natives at all.

In fact, in the past ten years, to some extent, the native population here has been rapidly replaced. The arrival of Chinese immigrants and Japanese immigrants has changed the population composition here. As for the natives, they...

Perhaps in a few decades, all this will be history.Of course, Ma Rulong is not a scholar, he has no interest in the future, and he doesn't care about the reality that there are more and more "coffee" here, and less and less dark chocolate.

This convoy full of "humanitarian relief supplies" is driving on the roads of the special zone. They are not very conspicuous. After all, such convoys are not uncommon on the road network built by the empire in Africa. After all, The empire's railway network here is not perfect. In this case, cars are the best supplement. However, in order to deceive people, the convoys still have to change their license plates along the way to prevent being discovered by interested people.

After all, according to the intelligence of the Imperial Bureau of Investigation, the British sent spies here. What are their spies doing?
It is nothing more than to investigate the actions of the so-called "arms smugglers" in this area. Although they do not have law enforcement powers, it does not prevent them from notifying the special district police department to crack down on arms smuggling. This is what the empire promised to Britain.

In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, "smugglers" like Jing Zaigui must avoid people who may threaten the entire operation as much as possible.

Of course, sometimes in order to make the transaction more smooth, they will also actively release some bait to attract the attention of those British spies.

After all, there are many baits like this in this land now.

Doing business is always risky.But for them... this business has no risk at all, after all, everything is under the control of the investigation department.

Even now, the route they say they're taking is carefully planned.Under normal circumstances, there will be absolutely no problems. Even if those British spies appear here, it will not affect them much.

You must know that this is the colony of Ming Dynasty.But even so, they still have to do everything possible to conceal their identities. After all, legally speaking, they are nothing more than a group of smugglers now...