Empire of Shadows

The ringing of the phone drew Lance’s attention away from the file in his hand to the phone.

The manager from the labor service company had written him a report, explaining the bright future of the company’s development, and at the same time mentioning the current problems.

The union people are fighting back.

The workers that Lance’s side connects with the factories are not allowed to be union members. If they are, they must apply to withdraw before they can register with the company.

This is equivalent to digging up the roots of the union.

The union side strongly protested. They had already talked with the company twice, but had never reached any agreement.

Not letting the union interfere with the company’s operations was Lance’s bottom line. As for the rest, he didn’t care.

The manager said that the union side plans to promote a major strike in the supporting industries in Likalai State to counter the current ”atrocities” of Wanli Labor Service Company.

As long as it is an enterprise that has signed a labor service agreement with Wanli Labor Service Company, and the enterprises that have a cooperative relationship with these enterprises are all within the scope of the strike.

To put it simply, if there is an enterprise that produces pulleys, and this pulley company has signed a labor service agreement with Lance, because the entire factory is filled with workers registered on Lance’s side, and there are no union workers, it is impossible for them to threaten the factory by means of a strike.So they have now changed their method.

Pulleys need screws, nuts, and bearings. They will arrange for the enterprises that provide these spare parts to the pulley company to go on strike and demonstrate, to have them terminate their cooperation with the pulley company, to put pressure on the capital side.

Without screws, without nuts, without bearings, the pulley simply cannot be assembled. This is indeed a solution.

The manager was very worried that once they had successfully tasted the sweetness, it might trigger a more systematic ”encirclement and suppression” of Wanli Labor Service Company in more places.

This was a very difficult hurdle, at least in the manager’s opinion.

Once the power of a major strike sweeps up, whether it is a capitalist or a politician, they will have to bow their heads!

He proposed to Lance whether to use some means to temporarily ease the relationship with the union, instead of going head-to-head like this.

Lance was just about to talk to the manager when the phone rang first.

He picked up the phone. ”This is Lance.”

”It’s me.”

The familiar voice in the receiver made a smile appear on Lance’s face. Mr. Gomez had already left; he had gone to prepare the ”local specialties.”

”Senator.”

”Tom just told me that so-and-so is on your side and plans to sell some special things. What are your thoughts?”

Senator Cleveland still thought very highly of Lance. The longer they got along, the more he could discover Lance’s strengths and specialties.

He felt sorry for Lance. If Lance weren’t a gangster boss, he actually wouldn’t have minded having Lance take over his class.

Politics, this thing, is different from wealth.

Anyone can inherit wealth, as long as the person who owns the wealth is happy.

There was a great tycoon who had transferred his assets of hundreds of millions to his dog, and for this, he had also established a foundation.

It is said that before this dog died, the people of the foundation were already considering how to continue to hold this money. They were breeding the dog, and from the offspring, they would choose the one with the best bloodline, and then inherit a foundation of hundreds of millions.

A dog had its own manor, its own butler, its own maids, everything!

This might sound incredible, but this is the characteristic of wealth. It can be in anyone’s hands, even if it’s not a person.

The nature of wealth will not change. A dollar is a dollar. It won’t be because the guy holding this dollar is a dog that the clerk in a store will refuse to sell a one-dollar worth of goods to the person who is walking this dog.

Well, walking a person, but also a person walking a dog. As long as they can legally put the money into their own pockets, they don’t care what they are.

But politics is different.

The nature of politics will change between different heirs, because political interests have always been ”uncertain.”

For example, Senator Cleveland has completed some work with a certain colleague, and the colleague he helped said, ”I owe you a favor.”

Then the question comes, a favor, what kind of a favor is it, and what will this person pay for this favor?

When this favor is in Senator Cleveland’s hands, this person might do his best to do something for him.

When he decides to pass on this favor, its nature will change.

If the heir is a good-for-nothing, then the limit of this favor is most likely ”I can’t do anything.”

But if this heir is a person who surpasses Senator Cleveland, then this favor will still be ”I will do my best,” without even saying any ambiguous words.

So the heirs of many politicians are not necessarily their own sons.

It could be their own nephew, their own student, or even their own colleague!

Whoever is the most suitable will be chosen.

And politics looks at ”lines,” at ”factions,” not at ”bloodlines.” So choosing a qualified heir to a political legacy is very important for a top politician.

Lance met all the necessary elements for a top political heir. He was thick-skinned, had a black heart, could do good things, could do bad things, was good at acting, had a flexible mind, and had full marks in social skills...

Senator Cleveland could find many strengths, and every once in a while, he could discover some new ones.

But his shortcomings were as obvious as his strengths: his origin, his background.

He could have many strengths, countless strengths, but as long as he had these two shortcomings, it would make it impossible for him to become a suitable politician, which was a pity.

So Senator Cleveland was willing to have a chat with Lance. Maybe Lance could still give him some inspiration, some enlightenment.

Facing the senator’s question, Lance was also very frank. ”We need some role models. Terrorist rule is only a part of rule. If we want to turn the Yalan region into the territory of the Federation, then we not only have to occupy the territory there, but also have to capture their people.”

”This person Gomez has a very special identity. He knows people from all walks of life in Rapa. The characteristics of a merchant have given him a flexible interpersonal relationship and a bottom line. He can play a lubricating role for us.”

”We can set up a few typical examples on the Yalan side, to let people see the huge changes in the development of these typical areas, the freedom of the people, their affluence, their stability, and then let them compare.”

”Before, they had no chance to choose, but now, we have come!”

Senator Cleveland listened to his words with great approval. ”You’re right. The power of a role model is infinite.”

”When everyone is very poor and backward, they won’t complain about anything, but suddenly someone becomes as you said, and they will become unbalanced.”

”You don’t have to give money to a homeless person, but as long as you do, you’d better give it to everyone.”

This was a case that had happened in the Federation. There was a kind-hearted person who, every time he got his salary, would give a little money to the homeless on the street of his company.

Not much, five cents.

One time, he didn’t have enough change. After giving money to the first few homeless people, he found that he didn’t have enough change for the last one.

His wallet was full of one- and two-dollar bills. He could accept giving a homeless person five cents to help him out.

But he couldn’t accept giving a homeless person a dollar, so he showed his wallet. ”I have no change, sorry.”

And then he left.

The next day, when he passed by here, the homeless person who had not received any help took the initiative to find him and reminded him that he needed to pay his five-cent donation.

This made this person feel that he was being extorted!

He had given these homeless people money because he was being kind, but he did not accept extorted aid, so he refused.

This had made that homeless person the laughingstock of the surrounding homeless, and this had also made the homeless person hold a grudge.

Not long after, the homeless person had stabbed this guy to death.

This had also led to the appearance of some tips in the news media at that time, such as ”please pay attention to your own safety when supporting the homeless.”

The people of the various countries in Yalan are those homeless people. If only a few of them were given freedom, development, and stability, then the remaining countries would make a fuss themselves.

He admired Lance’s thinking and thoughts. ”You go and get in touch with this so-and-so person about this matter. And there’s one more thing.”

”Around June, you’d better find a reason and take your men and leave Golden Port City as much as possible.”

Lance was startled. ”You already know the exact date?”

Senator Cleveland listened to his words and smiled with a ”hmm.” ”You just need to know this yourself.”

”Lance, I’m very optimistic about your future. Although your current identity restricts you from going up, sometimes you don’t necessarily have to stand in the front. Do you know what I mean?”

They had known this exact date about a week ago.

Dantra was not fighting the Slad alliance alone. They also had their allies, for example, their good neighbor, Ander.

Ander’s spies had obtained a piece of intelligence from Dantra. The intelligence mentioned a combat plan about a ”Hot Summer,” and then they had tried to decipher it.

From the deciphered content, they had gotten some uncertain keywords, for example, June, for example, Golden Port City, for example, movie.

The intelligence department’s side had analyzed that it was possible that they were planning to really, according to the movie ”Surprise Attack on Golden Port,” to arrange a combat plan, to launch a surprise attack on Golden Port City to release the war pressure they were facing.

After a discussion and consultation among a small group of people, although they had had someone continue to keep an eye on similar news, they had not announced it to the outside, and had not even made any preventive thoughts!

For this week, the spies planted by Slad had also given some feedback from the side. The Dantra people were carrying out a comprehensive maintenance for their warships.

Some military factories had also begun to produce supporting ammunition consumables such as shells for these warships. It could be seen that they indeed might launch a naval battle.

However, even so, Congress and the military still had no intention of taking precautions, but they had been constantly evaluating.

In the federal society, there has always been an ”opposition” to the issue of participating in the war. If it is said that participating in the war this time is to maintain world peace, it can more or less be justified.

Then invading Yalan, which has no relationship with the Federation, is obviously not a just war.

The huge consumption brought by the war had also made the federal government very nervous. Every bullet, every shell, was money.

Now, the ”saturation tactics” on the front line had put a lot more pressure on the Federation’s military expenditure. And Yalan, as the closest raw material supply country to the Federation, if they could take this place, then the military expenditure pressure would decrease, and they might even be able to make a profit.

So how to make the public accept this ”unjust” war?

Very simple.

The existence of Yalan has already threatened the security of the Federation’s homeland, as well as the ”bringing freedom to Yalan” that Lance had just mentioned, from a practical point of view, from a humanistic care point of view.

The conversation with Lance had once again given Senator Cleveland an important inspiration, which was why he had revealed a little of this news.

Lance was very smart. This was obvious. He had gotten the answer.

”The interests of the country are above all else,” Lance said after a moment of silence.

Senator Cleveland smiled with satisfaction. ”You are an outstanding talent, Lance.”

”If they really come over, after this matter is over, you will have a big job, a real big job!”

”Anyway, that’s it for now.”

”Do it well, and we will all have a bright future!”

”If you have any problems, contact Tom. If he can’t solve it, then call me again.”

After Lance hung up the phone, he sat there and thought for a moment, then he shook his head and continued to start his work.

A surprise attack on Golden Port did not mean a surprise attack on this city, but on the three important places in this city: the port, the docks, and the military base.

Of course, it was unavoidable that some shells would fall into the city, and would also cause many casualties, but this was war.

He could only take care of the people he had a good relationship with. As for the others, he hoped God would bless them.

Every year, the people of the Federation spend a large amount of money on their faith, donations, and gifts, hoping that God will be of some use.

As for the ”big job” that Senator Cleveland had mentioned, Lance could probably also guess that it was to rebuild Golden Port City.

Mainly to rebuild the Golden Port Docks, to rebuild the New Port Docks, and to rebuild the naval base.

Lance had a large amount of cheap labor in his hands, and these reconstruction works did not require any operators from high-tech industries. What was needed was this kind of low-level labor, and Lance had a great advantage in this aspect.

He didn’t ask the senator whether Admiral Miles’s side knew about this matter. Whether he knew it or not, it was superfluous to ask, so he simply didn’t.

The next period of time was no different from the past. Every day, there was good news about the war.

The Federal Department of the Treasury had released a message, saying that the interest on the five-year war bonds might be raised by two to three points. The bond market had immediately become lively.

The financial market, the free commodity market, and the overall upward trend of the economy had made the people of the Federation begin to accept this war. Some domestic social activists were constantly spreading the idea of ”the Federation’s manifest destiny” to society, claiming that this war would change the fate of the Federation’s decline.

In early March, Hiram, who was ”campaigning” in Indeno State, came back from there for a rest.

During this period, they had also opened up the market of a city. Firefights, and mutual attacks, were happening every day.

The rules between the gangs were actually very simple, and that was that there were no rules.

Whoever can survive, whoever is the strongest, is the one who speaks the loudest.

Under the support of the lieutenant governor, the cities that were leaning towards him were all in a ”police-civilian integration” to fight against the invasion of the Lance Family.

What was fortunate was that the scale of these cities was not too large, with a population of a few hundred thousand, two or three hundred thousand, and the number of gangs was limited.

After a batch was beaten down, it would be very difficult for them to replenish their manpower. The situation would arise where the number of people would become less and less, and soon they would disappear without a trace.

However, Hiram had not led his men into this city to personally open up the market, because the mayor and Mayor Wade were not a gang. In this situation, the police in the city would infinitely target them, so Hiram and his men would just fight the gangs, and leave after the fight, never staying.

Although they would not enter these ”hostile cities,” their liquor would.

Some of the original gangs had either disappeared without a trace and could not be found, or had been beaten so badly that they had retreated.

New gangs began to grow wildly, and among them were also some gangs supported by the Lance Family.

They had obtained a ”loan” from the Lance Family’s side, to be used to buy weapons, vehicles, and even to take out a loan to buy liquor and then sell it.

These people were locals, but they were also bound with the interests of the Lance Family. The mayor did not have any good means to deal with this method.

If you eliminate this batch, a new batch of gangs will appear. To expect them to eliminate all the gangs and to prevent new gangs from appearing is unlikely.

As long as they left the city limits, the Lance Family would let them know what ”firepower” and ”enthusiasm” were!

So although they had not entered the cities, the cities were already filled with the liquor sales channels provided by the Lance Family.

After this battle, Elvin decided to take a temporary break, so Hiram took the opportunity to run back and present a treasure.

Lance had personally picked him up at the train station. After the two had hugged, Lance had asked, ”You said you brought me a gift.”

Hiram nodded and beckoned to his subordinate behind him. Soon they had brought a box over, opened it in front of them, and inside were two bottles of wine.

This was not Lance’s own wine. He could tell at a glance. Although it was very similar, there was still a difference.

He picked up the wine and turned it around, looked at it carefully for a while, and then said with a half-smile, ”Copper Label Whiskey, Gold Label Distillery?”

Hiram nodded. ”We got a piece of news and intercepted this car. It was full of this.”

Lance put the wine bottle back and clapped his hands. ”Well done!” he said, putting his arm around Hiram’s shoulder. ”Want to get something to eat?”

Gold Label Distillery, on the Golden State side, had been at odds with Lance. Lance had always remembered this.

It wasn’t that he was very vengeful, but that there were too many distilleries that had gotten a franchise!

He had to find a way to get rid of some, so that the price of liquor could be stabilized.

Recently, the price of liquor had begun to fall, which showed that the number of suppliers in the market was increasing.

When supply is greater than demand, there will be a bidding problem.

So ensuring a healthy supply and demand relationship is the only way to continue to make big money!