Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

"General," Wang Chengan lowered his voice, "Do you think it could be Sukarno? Or the Somni family?"

Chen Tong shook his head: "Sukarno would not do that."

&34;Why?&34;

"Think about it," Chen Tong said slowly, "Sukarno is now at a critical juncture. The Asian Union has just been established, and various forces are ready to make a move. What he needs most is China's support, so how could he do such a stupid thing?"

Wang Chengan nodded: "Then the Song Yi family..."

"It's even more impossible," Chen Tong smiled faintly, "The Song Yi family has been running the business for three generations and they know best what is 'business wisdom'. They have just shown us their value today, how could they destroy their future so quickly?"

&34;Then these people...&34;

"Wait patiently," Chen Tong walked to the map, "Zhou Ming, the CIA's South Asia director, will be here soon."

Wang Cheng'an's eyes lit up: "Director Zhou is coming?"

"Yes," Chen Tong nodded, "Maybe there are bigger forces behind this attack. It's much better to let professionals investigate than to guess blindly."

"I see," Wang Cheng'an suddenly realized, "that's why you said it was just a minor incident."

Chen Tong looked out the window at the night and said, "Sometimes, the most important thing is not to find out the truth right away, but to see clearly how everyone reacts after the incident. This is often more valuable than the truth itself."

Wang Chengan nodded thoughtfully.

The next evening, a middle-aged man in a neat suit came to the military camp. He looked like a successful Chinese businessman, but Chen Tong knew that this man was Zhou Ming, who was giving the British intelligence department a headache.

"General," Zhou Ming said with a smile, "I heard that you encountered a little trouble?"

Chen Tong asked him to sit down: "I wonder what Director Zhou thinks?"

"This is a simple matter," Zhou Ming said confidently, "We have already spread our intelligence network in South Asia. We will be able to find out who is behind this within three days."

Chen Tong did not take up the topic, but suddenly asked: "Director Zhou, who are our pawns in the Asian Alliance?"

Zhou Ming was obviously stunned for a moment, obviously he didn't expect Chen Tong to ask this. He hesitated for a moment and lowered his voice: "Rahman."

"Sure enough," Chen Tong smiled knowingly, "No wonder he was always so aggressive at the Asian Union meetings and opposed Sukarno everywhere."

"The general has good eyesight," Zhou Ming exclaimed, "Rahman is indeed an important chess piece we have planted. Although he is greedy, he is easy to control."

Chen Tong stood up and walked to the window: "So, could this attack be related to him?"

Zhou Ming's eyes flashed: "General, what you mean is..."

"A chess piece controlled by us," Chen Tong said meaningfully, "will often be used by others. Especially when he wants to play both sides among multiple forces."

Zhou Ming was silent for a moment: "I understand. I'll go check out Rahman's recent activities."

"No," Chen Tong turned around, "let him continue his performance. Sometimes, the value of a chess piece does not lie in what it can do for us, but in who it can lead out."

Zhou Ming showed an expression of sudden enlightenment: "General, you are very smart!"

"By the way," Chen Tong seemed to recall something, "Have any British warships been active in the South Asian waters recently?"

"Yes," Zhou Ming replied immediately, "Just three days ago, two warships docked in Singapore."

Chen Tong nodded: "Then keep watching. Sometimes, the most important clues are often hidden in the most conspicuous places."

Singapore, inside a luxuriously decorated private club.

Rahman sat there anxiously, looking at the well-dressed English businessman opposite him: "Mr. William, I really don't understand why you want to do this? It's too risky!"

"Risk?" William sipped his red wine elegantly. "Compared to becoming a pawn of China, which one do you think is more risky?"

Rahman's face changed: "But... that attack has already made Chen Tong suspicious. If it is discovered..."

"Don't worry," William interrupted him, "No one would have thought that a pawn controlled by China would attack China's general. This is just the perfect disguise."

&34;But...&34;

"Rahman," William put down his glass, his voice suddenly turned cold, "What do you think would happen if China knew that you were working for us at the same time?"

Rahman turned pale: "Are you threatening me?"

"No," William smiled warmly again, "I am reminding you. In this world, no one wants to be someone else's pawn. But if you have to choose, why not choose a more powerful master?"

"Is Ingrid... indeed more powerful?" Rahman murmured.

"You know the answer very well," William said meaningfully, "China is just a newcomer in South Asia. We have been operating in this land for hundreds of years."

Rahman was silent for a long time, and finally nodded: "I understand. What do you want me to do next?"

"It's very simple," William took out a document from his briefcase, "At the next meeting of the Asian Alliance, follow this proposal."

Rahman took the document, glanced at it quickly, and his face changed drastically: "This...this is going to..."

"That's right," William stood up and straightened his suit. "Remember, you are not betraying anyone, you are just choosing a better future."

When he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and said, "By the way, let me remind you that two British warships will stop in Singapore soon. If you encounter any trouble..."

Rahman smiled bitterly: "I understand."

After William left, Rahman slumped in his chair, sweat dripping from his forehead. The night scene of Singapore outside the window was still prosperous, but his heart was filled with anxiety.

He knew that he had fallen into a vortex from which there was no turning back.

"General," Wang Cheng'an walked quickly into the office, "The AAC Secretariat has just sent a notice to hold an emergency meeting in Jakarta in two days."

Chen Tong was reading an intelligence briefing. He looked up and asked, "Will all member states participate?"

"Yes," Wang Chengan nodded, "It is said that they are discussing the military cooperation framework of the Asian Union. Rahman will also attend."

"Military cooperation?" Chen Tong chuckled, "It seems some people can't wait."

&34;The General means...&34;

Chen Tong stood up and walked to the South Asia map hanging on the wall: "Look, Singapore, the Strait of Malacca, the Indian Ocean route..." He ran his finger across the map, "These are the places that Yinggeli cares about the most."

&34;So this meeting...&34;

&34；不出意外的话，&34；陈统淡淡地说，&34；拉赫曼会提出一个&39；精彩&39；的提案。&34；

Wang Chengan frowned: "Should we stop him?"

"Stop it?" Chen Tong turned around with a faint smile on his face, "Why should I stop it? Sometimes, the best chess game is to let the opponent make the move he wants to make."

&34;But...&34;

"Notify Zhou Ming," Chen Tong ordered, "and have him prepare what I want. Also, send a message to Sukarno that we fully support his leading role in the Asian Union."

"I understand." Wang Cheng'an was about to turn around and leave.

"Wait," Chen Tong said, "Go ask the Song Yi family if they are willing to attend this meeting. Just say that I personally invite you."

Wang Cheng'an suddenly realized: "The general wants to..."

"Chess pieces are just chess pieces after all," Chen Tong sat back in his chair, "A true chess player will never be led by the chess pieces."