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Chapter 684: Chapter 588: Myanmar’s Future (Seeking Subscription!)_1
September 21.
Myanmar.
Yangon.
The weather was gorgeous; the sky was clear, and not a cloud was in sight.
Logically, such beautiful weather should naturally bring joy.
Yet, the group of people standing at the entrance of Myanmar’s presidential palace wasn’t able to muster any happiness. The reason was that Ling was scheduled to visit today. A local power leader was visiting, and they had to personally greet him. Such a situation was quite a blow to their pride.
They didn’t understand what Lang Cai was thinking, why he was making such a fuss, even arranging an honor guard parade.
Lang Cai.
That was the name of the elderly leader in Myanmar. As the helmsman of Myanmar, which was currently under military control, Lang Cai was the highest-ranking official of all the soldiers and the government of Myanmar.
Having spent his life in the military, he’d risen and fallen many times to reach his current status.
Logically speaking, there was no need for them to make such grand preparations for Ling’s arrival. However, after careful consideration, Lang Cai ultimately decided to greet him formally.
After all, he was a respected man, and Ling had been pretty decent. Ling had come to meet them, bringing with him just over a dozen soldiers. It was a show of true sincerity; they couldn’t afford to be petty in return.
A nation.
At least this level of magnanimity needed to be displayed.
Ling had entered Myanmar early in the day. Under the escort of over a dozen vehicles, he was speeding towards them. The roads were cleared, and about ten minutes ago, he had entered Yangon City and was driving their way.
Lang Cai led the way.
Kan Qin and other deputy leaders followed.
Surrounding them were hundreds of guards, ready to protect the convoy.
However, Lang Cai was not concerned about security. Ling had already handed in all his weapons. In other words, Ling had come unarmed. As for those dozen personal guards, they were also weaponless. Therefore, he had nothing to fear.
His goal was, in fact, to show Ling who was in charge here.
Once Ling entered Myanmar’s controlled area, the soldiers on both sides were on full alert. However, Lang Cai ordered that there must not be any conflict without his command. Otherwise, given the tense standoff, one misfire could lead to a seriously messy situation.
Soon enough.
The convoy arrived at the open space in front of the presidential palace and slowly stopped.
No one was allowed to open the door.
Ling, dressed in a uniform different from those of any other country, opened the car door himself and stepped out, causing many onlookers to smirk at his self-sufficiency.
Seeing Ling, Lang Cai promptly reached out his hand in greeting with a friendly smile: "Ling, welcome to our country." Ling also reached out, shaking hands with Lang Cai.
President Lang Cai, I’m honored by such a grand welcome," Ling nodded and replied with a smile.
Lang Cai was pleased with Ling’s demeanor. In the scenario where both parties needed to maintain face, he laughed and said, "Ha, ha, it is our pleasure. Let me introduce some people to you. This is our vice leader, Kan Qin."
"Hello, Mr. Kan Qin. I’ve got the chance to hear about your great deeds from afar. I’m honored to meet you." Ling responded with a smile. Faced with the hospitality from Myanmar’s big shots, a stern face wasn’t suitable for peaceful negotiations.
"Hello, Mr. Ling." Kan Qin said with a generous smile on his face. He was a doer, approved of the economic achievements in Ling’s territory, and was happy about it. He had always wanted to find an opportunity to exchange views with Ling properly.
However, this wasn’t the right time. 𝘯𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"This is..." Lang Cai went on to introduce the other deputy leaders and heads of important departments.
Before long.
After going through the procedures of walking down the red carpet, watching the honor guard parade, and visiting the Buddhist statues in the temple with Lang Cai, Ling finally arrived at the conference room.
It wasn’t their usual conference room, but one for foreign affairs meetings, of which there were two types: one with a table for business discussions, and the other without a table for friendly exchanges.
Ling’s visit was obviously not just for a small talk. Thus, they were sitting around a large oval table.
Fresh flowers were placed in the middle.
Microphones were set up in front of them.
It was an exceptionally formal setup.
Only two of Ling’s personal guards were allowed into the room, with the rest standing outside. Needless to say, the soldiers stood completely faultless, prompting a competition among the local guards.
Inside the main conference room.
The atmosphere fell into silence for a moment.
Because the main topic was coming up next, although Ling seemed easygoing, it would be naive to think so. Ling’s approach was too sharp, quite fitting with his looks.
Cold.
Serious.
Indeed, when it came to serious matters, Ling’s face resumed that expression.
"Cough, cough, Mr. Ling, ten days ago you requested to come to Yangon to discuss the issue of the territory you occupy, I will declare ahead that our principle is simple, you hand over its control, and you can name your terms."
Lang Cai started casually, not expecting Ling to agree. If it were really that easy, they wouldn’t need to negotiate.
Shaking his head, Ling said, "Mr. Lang Cai, that is impossible. If I hand over all control rights, wouldn’t we be like lambs awaiting slaughter? We will never agree to this."
"Ling, you should know that the land you occupy is Myanmar’s territory, recognized by the world as Myanmar’s territory. In that regard, your control area is secession. Of course, we can take it back," Lang Cai began stating facts.
"But you did not have management capabilities before. After we straightened it out, you want to take it over, this is not right, is it?" Ling said.
"First, we are not taking it for free, you can name your terms, anything reasonable we can agree to. Second, this is a historical issue, we are at fault, but those who are also at fault are the people. Therefore, now that we have such an enlightened leader as Mr. Ling, I think it is time to make a contribution for the integrity of Myanmar." Lang Cai started reasoning again.
"But under my governance, it can still contribute to Myanmar," Ling said indifferently.
"Is this a firm refusal to hand over that piece of land?" Lang Cai’s eyes slowly turned cold, this was the bottom line he had set previously, if not agreed, he didn’t know what Ling was here to talk about.
Ling was not at all intimidated by the cold look on Lang Cai’s face, he replied calmly: "Yes."
Lang Cai took a deep breath, and couldn’t help but laugh: "Haha, Ling, what do you want to talk to me about today? Don’t tell me you came to waste my time, do you think you can withstand my anger?"
Ling’s expression remained calm, he said to himself: "I’m here today just to give a future to the land under my control, and even to Myanmar, I need a name."
"Oh? To give Myanmar a future, you’re talking big, are you saying we have no future without you?" Lang Cai sneered, he was young but incredibly arrogant.
"You could say that." Ling replied.
Upon hearing this, the people present and Lang Cai felt that Ling must be mad, a local power talking about the future of a country with these big shots of Myanmar, it was simply laughable.
"Alright then, I want to hear about this future you mentioned. Please consider carefully before you speak, we are not that easy to fool." Lang Cai lit a cigarette, to clam his nerves.
Ling squinted and slowly said, "Under so many years of your rule, Myanmar is still astonishingly an agricultural country. The main revenues come from agricultural products and various mineral resources, with few other industries producing income, and the industrialization process is still in the primitive stage.
Myanmar’s position on the international stage is basically irrelevant, and in Asia, it also plays an insignificant role. To put it bluntly, you guys are just playing in your own backyard and not even managing that well, ending up with two factions wanting to secede.
If this continues, the future of Myanmar is predictable, you will not be able to settle the two rebellious factions, the economy and technology are backward, the people live in poverty, in the end, Myanmar will not have any future, all that remains is a frog at the bottom of the well.
Even though the above might sound alarmist, I can already see the expressions on your faces. More than half are only blushing, only a few are ashamed, this just makes me see no future in complete submission to you guys.
This attitude of yours will ultimately not only lead my people under my control to decline, but also drag you into mediocrity.
Following your current line of thinking, there is no future for me, no future for the people under my control, and no future for Myanmar. I will not join in your pointless infighting, does President Lang Cai agree with this viewpoint?"
Ling spoke a long speech, especially the last sentence, which pricked their hearts severely.
The conference room fell into silence.
No one dared to refute.
Because what Ling said was true, although they wanted to deny it, Ling had seen through it all. Any argument would be meaningless, it would be more embarrassing to say it out than just to bury their heads in the sand like ostriches.
Talking to a smart person, especially a straightforward smart person, was a bit heartbreaking for these people.
After Ling finished.
The look on Lang Cai’s face was fluctuating.
Looking at the people present, his heart felt icy cold.
As Ling said, he of course knew the internal problems of his own country, very clearly. There was no external trouble, but endless internal worries. Content with the status quo, otherwise they wouldn’t be still clinging to agriculture while Thailand was industrializing.
Just as Ling said, they were having a great time entertaining themselves at home.
Even without the two younger brothers who wanted to split up, their future was quite worrisome. They wouldn’t die, but they wouldn’t live well either, not them, they were guaranteed a good life regardless, but the country of Myanmar.
Now Ling pointed it out.
It was really embarrassing, Lang Cai couldn’t find a reason to refute for a while. Self-deception, arguing forcefully is just another embarrassment.
It was clear.
Ling was not here to serve them.
