Chapter 2402: Chapter 2994: Imagination Runs Wild
He Runxian was in an extremely foul mood; Zuo Jing City pulling the "assisted defense" move was just shameless.
Combat strength was short everywhere on the planet right now—was it really worth assigning people to help defend a factory that was basically shut down?
If we were really that important, then at the very least... shouldn’t you give us some military orders?
But this was also a move he had no way to refuse. There were many stated reasons for "assisted defense," but roughly speaking, it meant the local side deemed a certain position very important and had to operate this way, and they were entitled to refuse to give any clear explanation.
Hesheng could disagree, but could not oppose it; it involved a key position on the battlefield, very likely enough to sway the course of the war.
He Runxian had been unable to get in touch with the broker. Earlier he’d thought maybe the other side was busy transporting goods and had no time to reply, so if he waited a couple of days there might be news. But now that "assisted defense" had appeared, odds were the other side would never trade with him again.
That afternoon, listless, he called again, "Sir, are you there? Headquarters has just rushed out another batch of mining equipment."
The next second, a miracle happened—the other side actually replied. "You’re that sure I still need mining equipment?"
"Huh?" He Runxian was stunned for a moment, but right after that he recalled some of Uncle Hui Qing’s guesses.
So he let out a weak, bitter laugh. "So you really are in touch with Zuo Jing City. The moment ’assisted defense’ comes down, you suddenly have time to reply? I mean, even if you want to bargain, you don’t have to pull such a disgusting trick, do you?"
Feng Jun found this a bit baffling. Fortunately he’d been spending the past two days figuring out all kinds of situations. Thinking it through briefly, he caught the other side’s logic and could only reply, half amused and half exasperated, "Tell me, aren’t you overdoing it with that imagination of yours?"
"Imagination?" He Runxian froze, then turned his head to glance at He Huiqing beside him. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
"If I were really tied to Zuo Jing City, would I need to do business with you like this?" Feng Jun let out a cold laugh.
But taking the opportunity, he still advertised himself a little. "We just haven’t decided whether we want to keep working with you. The confidentiality at Hesheng Headquarters is honestly pretty bad. It wasn’t until we heard about assisted defense that we decided to give you one last chance."
Uncle and nephew exchanged a look. He Huiqing snorted softly. "So this broker organization really is well informed. Knowing about Zuo Jing is one thing, but they even have a read on Hesheng Headquarters’ situation—can’t be underestimated."
He Runxian picked up the handset, pressed the talk key, then replied, "We really value this opportunity and don’t want to delay things anymore. Whatever conditions you have, you can just state them directly."
"I don’t even know what conditions I can raise," Feng Jun’s voice sounded a little annoyed. "We do still need a large amount of mining equipment, but working with your Hesheng... it just feels like way too much trouble. We’re not afraid of trouble, but nobody likes it."
He Runxian could understand what he meant. "We did indeed bring you some trouble, sir, but this is a very special time. Some conditions we提出 are tied to the life and death of Human Warriors. You understand that as well."
"You’re trying to sell feelings to a broker?" Feng Jun chuckled and replied offhandedly, "We don’t mind lending a hand if it’s something we can do in passing. But trouble has already appeared and you still want to use morality to tie my hands... you trying to make me die laughing?"
He Runxian had no answer to that, and in the end could only say, "We can offer a steep discount on the mining equipment."
"You call that a condition?" Feng Jun asked curiously. "What makes you think I’d care about that little price difference? I already told you, I really am not short on money."
He Runxian pondered a moment, then answered in a low voice, "How about this: since you’re inside a broker organization, you must be very capable, but some things may not be convenient for you to handle personally. If Hesheng steps up instead, the results might be better."
Hearing that, He Huiqing couldn’t help but glare at him viciously: Are you insane?
The waters surrounding brokers were far too murky. Just trade with them; why wade in that deep?
Hesheng Group had only just managed to crawl onto shore—you know what you’re doing?
In the end, He Runxian was still young; he dared to take risks with some things. But under that glare from his uncle, he added, "For example, last time you said it wasn’t convenient for you to buy medicine. Hesheng helping you buy some medicine would be very convenient."
"Oh?" Feng Jun was clearly tempted, but still slightly hesitant. "I don’t really know much about medicine, but we are short on some. Thing is, I don’t get along with the guys in charge of meds. Since I don’t even know what to buy..."
"Leave that to me," He Runxian said decisively. "Give me some time; I’ll have the base hospital prepare a general-purpose handbook. When you come put down the deposit, you can take it with you."
"That so?" Feng Jun drew out his words. "So if I don’t put down a deposit, I don’t get this little booklet?"
"If you really want it, I can still give it to you," He Runxian replied calmly. "I just think you weren’t interested in medicine to begin with, and if you’re also not interested in the order, then whether you get this thing or not doesn’t really matter."
Feng Jun chuckled. "So you’re starting to try and flip the passive position—quite some talent. But... that alone isn’t enough."
"It’s more than that," He Runxian grew more confident. "I said there are things inconvenient for you to do where Hesheng might be more suitable. That’s not limited to buying medicine—how can you treat it as just one favor? Plus we’ll still offer discounted equipment."
He paused, and under his uncle’s pressing gaze, coughed lightly and added, "And... triple the freight."
"You think I care about that freight?" Feng Jun sneered. "I already said, when it’s easy, I don’t mind doing something nice for my comrades... How many units this time?"
"A hundred and six," He Runxian answered quickly. The number changed every day, but it was etched into his brain. "Ninety-two underground units, fourteen open-pit. Each underground unit does ten thousand tons, each open-pit fifteen thousand."
"Listen up, Director He," Feng Jun said lazily, "I already told you, I don’t need that bit of money from you."
"I have my principles," He Runxian replied in a low voice. "That’s a total of 1.13 million tons... Hesheng isn’t short of that bit of money either."
It wasn’t that he insisted on butting heads; he simply had to show his sincerity. And he wasn’t worried the other side would take offense.
Of course Feng Jun didn’t mind saving money. After a brief pause he said, "Then tonight, a forty-thousand deposit. How’s that?"
"No problem," He Runxian replied firmly. "Right, pickup time will be in three days. Some units are still in final testing, and we need added secrecy... five days would be better. Just remember to contact us ahead of time then."
He assumed the other side was quite powerful, with people on both ends.
"No problem," Feng Jun agreed very readily. "And think about what else you can help with while you’re at it."
He Runxian put down the handset and spread his hands at He Huiqing. "You saw it too, Uncle—it’s not that I refused to pay the freight."
He Huiqing, however, just watched him and spoke thoughtfully. "What about sending him a basic Warfield Hospital setup?"
He Runxian frowned and thought for a moment, then nodded. "Fine, let’s arrange that for now. But it’s best to wait for him to raise conditions first."
"I’m heading out," He Huiqing stood up. "I still have to go talk to the city. If they insist on assisted defense, all base employees will be pulled back to our ancestral land, and they can forget about any further help from us."
He Runxian snorted coldly. "Let’s hope they’re not stupid enough to actually impose wartime controls."
In reality, Zuo Jing’s Official Government was much smarter than he’d imagined.
The moment they heard "no further help," they immediately understood what it meant, and instead of making assumptions, they stated their goal outright. "If Hesheng can provide assistance, how soon at the earliest? The city’s medicine stores are critically low."
"I can’t promise anything," He Huiqing replied in a low voice. "Maybe... two months?"
"A month and a half," the other side answered crisply. "Otherwise, you might as well go back to your ancestral land."
Staring into his eyes, He Huiqing said slowly, "Then we’ll start preparing to move."
"I really am not forcing you," the other side hurried to explain when he saw He Huiqing about to blow up again. "Huiqing, you should know this: if we use what we got from you freely, it won’t even last twenty days!"
"That’s a mistake in Zuo Jing City’s decision-making. What does it have to do with our company!" He Huiqing exploded in anger and raised his hand to press his comm bracelet. "Forget it, we can’t operate anyway... we’re moving!"
"There’s no need for this," the other man waved his hands quickly. "We have even less say over military orders than you think. You should cut us some slack."
"So for military orders you shift the blame to the military, and for medical supplies you expect us at Hesheng to shoulder it," He Huiqing slammed his hand down hard on the table. "I’m really curious what exactly it is you people can do!"
"Enough," the Official Government representative was losing face too. "Two months then... After the war, the medicine and equipment you donate will be offset against your taxes."
"That’s peanuts," He Huiqing scoffed. Frontier Star enjoyed extremely generous tax breaks. The medicine and equipment he’d already donated were enough to offset three to four years of taxes; donating more would only write off a few more years.
Not to mention we’re talking "after the war"—who knows who’ll be in charge here then!
"I want to make money. Why shouldn’t I sell medicine on the black market?" He Huiqing was in a position to say that. Trafficking strategic supplies in wartime was illegal, but there was no way to eradicate it completely, and it wasn’t necessarily pure scalping.
Just two days ago there’d been a case like that in Zuo Jing: a father’s injuries were too severe, and he figured that even if he survived, he’d be disabled, so he sold his rationed meds for a high price and traded them for some nutrient solution for his kids.
As for the He family doing something like that, it’d be even easier. They’d been rooted on Xingzheng Star for hundreds of years; they had connections everywhere.
But He Huiqing was mostly just venting. What he cared more about was, "Let’s be clear up front: give you as much as last time, and then we’re even!"
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