Chapter 181: Route Planning

The next morning, in the Special Transactions Department.
His colleagues were whispering about the latest developments at Fang Huan Shipping, but Su Hao didn't hear a word.
His mind was completely occupied by Lin Weiming from yesterday.
That eerie golden light emanating from him, like an unsolvable mystery, swirled repeatedly in his mind.
Since Lin Weiming possessed the golden light representing "national destiny," it meant that a tremendous opportunity was brewing within the country.
However, no matter how many documents and reports he reviewed, he couldn't find a single clue.
“I reckon the domestic authorities will definitely try to find a way to stop putting all their eggs in one basket,” Liu Bo discussed.
“However, right now, apart from Fanghuan Shipping getting incredibly lucky, the global shipping industry is losing money; the market is at an unprecedented low.”
Li Huilin chimed in:
“That’s right. Many countries can’t even keep their port operations afloat. What used to be highly coveted by governments is now being scrambled to sell operating rights!”
That was it!
It struck Su Hao like a bolt of lightning, clearing the fog in his mind!
“Sister Huilin!” He abruptly looked up, his gaze fixed intently on Li Huilin, who had just spoken. “What did you just say? Port operations?”
“Yes, Mr. Su,” Li Huilin quickly replied.
“Ports used to be a sure-fire way to make money, but now with the global trade contraction, cargo ships aren’t running much, so they’re losing a lot of money too.”
An even stronger intuition surged into Su Hao’s brain!
"Immediately! Right now! Get me all the information on ports worldwide currently offering operating rights for sale!"
"Yes! I'll get right on it!"
Shortly afterward, a thick stack of documents compiled by the research team was delivered to Su Hao's desk.
Just as Li Huilin had said, port businesses—these "golden nuggets" that were previously unattainable—had become hot potatoes, being put up for sale at bargain prices.
Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas, gateways to Asia via the Strait of Malacca;
Colombo South Port and Chittagong, radiating influence across South Asia;
Dohare Container Terminal and Jeddah Port, guarding the Red Sea;
And key nodes along the Suez Canal…
Su Hao unfolded a huge world map and marked each port on it.
Just then, an incredible scene unfolded.
Brilliant golden lines, like living serpents, flowed from his fingertips, winding and meandering across the map.
With pinpoint accuracy, they connected the seemingly unrelated ports he had marked!
Golden threads intertwined, shimmering with light!
Finally, on the vast map, a golden shipping route spanning the ocean and traversing the continent was outlined!
It was an almost miraculous, incomparably magnificent sight!
Su Hao was stunned for a moment, almost forgetting to breathe.
"President Su...? President Su?"
If Li Huilin hadn't called out softly again, he probably would have stared at the map in disbelief forever.
The intuition he felt from this golden shipping route was the same as the golden light he had seen on Lin Weiming yesterday!
A bold, outrageous idea exploded in his mind.
That arrogant, troublemaking Deputy Director Lin, could he possibly be…
A crow bringing good news with an olive branch?
A money-bringing boy?!
***
A year ago, the capital city government devised a grand plan to counter potential future blockades—the "Global Shipping Route Plan."
A grand blueprint aimed at creating a maritime Silk Road entirely under the control of the Xia Kingdom by controlling key global shipping nodes, thus constructing the largest geoeconomic belt in human history.
Since then, although the government has cooperated with nearly 150 countries worldwide, progress has been exceptionally slow, even stagnant, over the past year.
The biggest bottleneck is the choke point of the maritime Silk Road—the ports.
To open up this "global shipping route," it is necessary to control those strategically important "nodes."
And not just one or two, but all the key nodes along the optimal shipping routes planned by the government.
But the operating rights to these ports are exorbitantly expensive.
More importantly, the international giants holding these "golden geese" had no intention of selling. They had no desire to sell to Xia Guo.
Therefore, they could only wait.
Finally, the opportunity arrived.
The global shipping industry's downturn left those once-invincible giants in dire straits, scrambling to cut their losses, and the prices of their shares plummeted.
"Now! This is a once-in-a-lifetime entry opportunity!"
The "Sea Route Plan," dormant for a year, was about to be reactivated!
The official plan was to take advantage of the global trade slump to acquire all the port operating rights along this prime shipping route at rock-bottom prices!
This crucial task fell on the shoulders of the Ministry of Commerce.
By snapping up all the shares that had fallen to bargain prices, a "Great Wall of the Sea" completely under their control would become a reality!
This was an opportunity that would never come again if they missed it.
Success was the only option; failure was not an option!
However, from the Ministry of Commerce's perspective, this was no challenge at all.
They had patiently waited until those port companies were practically starving, even when they were begging for their acquisitions, they had feigned arrogance and refused.
What was the rush?
Their previous haughty and disdainful attitude was still fresh in their minds.
Wait a little longer, wait until they're desperate, then the price can drop even further!
Ministry of Commerce, Lin Weiming's office.
"What?! Rejected?!"
"Yes, Director Lin. All the core ports we expressed interest in acquiring... rejected us."
Lin Weiming's mind went blank.
He simply couldn't understand.
Just a while ago they were groveling like grovelers, begging us to buy their shares, and now they dare to refuse?
"Why?! Weren't they almost bankrupt?!"
"Because... a new buyer appeared and bought all their shares."
"What?! This port business was practically dead, what idiot would take it over?"
"It's a company called... Fang Huan."
"...!"
Fang Huan!
Holy crap!
These damned traitors!
"The problem is, Director Lin... all the other ports on the acquisition list have already had their shares sold to Fang Huan!"
"Wh-what?!"
Lin Weiming felt dizzy.
How could this be?!
How could it be such a coincidence, exactly the right time, to snatch up all the most crucial nodes in their "ship route plan"?!
"Wait... you mean, Fang Huan knew about our secret shipping route in advance and then precisely intercepted it? How is that possible!
Even I only received the finalized port route map two days ago!"
"The specifics are unclear, but according to intelligence, Fang Huan started frantically acquiring port shares around the world several weeks ago."
This happened last time when dealing with US sanctions, and it happened again this time!
These bastards, could it be that they've planted spies in the US and at our highest levels?!
"Then change the route! Change the ports!"
"No, Director Lin, this route is the optimal solution derived from countless calculations by numerous experts. Changing one part will have far-reaching consequences.
The higher-ups have given a firm order: we must get these shares back no matter what!
And the plan has already been released. If we mess up the first step..."
The subordinate didn't finish speaking, but Lin Weiming already felt a chill run down his spine.
This was a mega-project concerning the nation's fate and reputation!
It was dying before it even started?
And the problem stemmed from the very first link in the Maritime Silk Road, which he was in charge of?
He could already foresee his fate.
"So, you mean I should go to Fang Huan and his gang right now and kowtow to them?!"
"Director Lin... we've already sent people to contact them, but they've all refused..."
Lin Weiming's vision blurred.
Damn it, he couldn't possibly send the Minister of Commerce himself, could he?
What was he, the deputy director, doing then?
"I'm not going! Why should I bow down to those guys?!" Lin Weiming roared in fury.
"Damn it, they've got some nerve! Daring to go against the country!"
He was certain this was Fang Huan's retaliation for the previous threat!
These reckless bastards! Crushing them would be as easy as crushing ants!
"Where did they get this intelligence from..."
In his rage, a chilling thought struck him like lightning.
'No... how did they know?'
This final port route map was top secret in the country, known to very few.
Even he, the one directly responsible, only received it two days ago.
But Fang Huan acted weeks ago!
'That means...!'
Behind Fang Huan...
stood someone he couldn't even imagine... a figure with unparalleled influence!
Someone who could leak top national secrets to them weeks in advance!
Then, then, it can only be… someone from the core decision-making level!
“!?!”
Having figured this out, Lin Weiming jumped up from his chair, his face ashen, cold sweat instantly soaking his shirt.
“Book the tickets! Immediately! Book tickets to Shanghai right now!”
“Ah? Director Lin, you…you just said you weren’t going…”
"Going is shameful, not going is deadly! I'm about to lose my job, who cares about saving face?!
Stop talking nonsense, book the tickets now!!"