King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer

Joe Ga, the boss, was always busy. He was busy responding to the requests for assistance from the Iraqi Government soldiers on the Mosul Frontline, busy coordinating relations on all sides, busy keeping an eye on the logistics routes from south to north of Iraq, and busy finding a way out for the supplies that could make it as far as Gaiyara but had no strength to move forward…

This intense busyness needed to continue until all issues were on a smooth track before it could stop.

All these matters required Joe Ga's personal intervention. It wasn't that he didn't want help, but most of the time, others couldn't help, and those who could were unwilling to report to Mosul.

Because of CACI's presence, the Chris team that was supposed to assist him had placed the so-called intelligence headquarters in Baghdad, passing the intelligence work over to his people at the European headquarters and to Thompson, while he himself, along with a bunch of shrewd and strong retired intelligence agents, began to work as salespeople.

They inserted many 'bloodlines' into the main artery of the humanitarian corridor, waving the grand flag of P·B, and carved out territories in the commercial desert of Iraq.

It didn't really matter what goods they sold, and it wasn't a big deal even if they were sold at half price or given away…

Chris thought he had grasped Joe Ga's core concept and was determined to develop the humanitarian corridor into Iraq's largest wholesale goods channel, vowing to become Iraq's largest channel dealer.

Footwear, fabrics, soap, toothpaste, laundry powder, sanitary napkins, and other daily necessities were Chris's weapons.

The supplies worth 5 million US Dollars that Joe Ga promised to the surrendering militia included food, cooking oil, salt, sugar, medicines, vehicles, and the like.

Chris carefully calculated and integrated these supplies into several 5 million dollar gift packages. They satisfied the militia, and with these inconspicuous daily necessities that one couldn't do without once accustomed, he rudely opened up a vast channel of goods.

If the locals couldn't afford cars and houses, could they really not afford these cheap things?

Once there was basic security and their stomachs were full, Iraqis, who had once enjoyed prosperity, would involuntarily start using these things. And once they were accustomed, they would only use them more and more.

Chris was now handling money and goods worth seven figures every day; the guy was making a killing...

Although the lion's share was Joe Ga's, and Chris could only take a share of the profits, the sense of accomplishment was irreplaceable.

What's the fun in oil fields or similar ventures compared to seeing such terrifying daily turnover?

Oil operations can lead to wars and deaths, but who would call a man selling toilet paper a scumbag capitalist?

According to Chris, why fight at all? Just drag it out with ISIS and maintain the war status quo to factually preserve P·B's existing conveniences.

Just give him a few more years, and he would build a powerful commercial logistics network in Iraq, and in the future, any goods wanting to enter Iraq would have to ask P·B for permission.

Joe Ga felt that Chris was dreaming impractically because running a logistics system is a heavy investment in any country, and P·B's transport lines were all assets gained through leveraging others'.

Investing heavy assets in a place like Iraq, he wondered, would insurance companies be willing to insure your logistics center?

However, Joe Ga didn't burst Chris's bubble. The main artery from south to north of Iraq was already open, and the harder he worked, the larger the sales volume of the goods sent by P·B would be. Sooner or later, he would understand that establishing a logistics network was unrealistic.

Maintaining the main artery and getting locals to join voluntarily was the best approach.

People need to feel hopeful about making money and see it as profitable for the industry's value to increase.

Monopoly is the most hateful act in the world; getting rich together with others allows them to help share the pressure and difficulties.

With the Iraqi affairs at this stage, as long as there's a good outcome in Mosul, it's only a question of how much P·B wins by. There's no need to go into more detail,

Those are issues to consider only when a company hits a bottleneck...

Joe Ga finished his cumbersome morning work and made routine phone calls to greet the female friends at Chris's place; then he looked at Nis, who had tied her hair in a ponytail and was tapping on the calculator...

For some reason, Joe Ga found Nis, who was calculating, exceptionally sexy!

He walked behind Nis and leaned down, his hands bracing against the desk encasing Nis within his arms, and kissed the top of her head.

Looking at the material application report in front of Nis, he coughed and took a pen to discount the Kurdish forces' logistical application by 40%, then snatched the pen from Nis' hand, threw it away, and said with a smile, "Let's go eat. I'm sick of the current work, and we'll go to the shooting range to play this afternoon. If we don't work for a day, the people outside won't go hungry."

Nis looked up from her chair at Joe Ga's chin and said, "The casualties in Mosul City have increased these past two days; the Iraqi Government soldiers simply can't hold onto the buildings cleared by the mercenaries.

If this continues, many people will feel weary!"

There used to be civilians fleeing Mosul every day, but this has become scarce recently.

ISIS would like to see this situation..."

Joe Ga shook his head upon hearing this and said, "I underestimated the situation in Iraq...

The Americans want to fight ISIS, so they support the Kurds. Mosul will eventually be Kurdish territory.

If the Kurds themselves are not putting in the effort, they can hardly blame the government forces for not being committed.

This is war; without determination, you can't win merely with tricks!"

As he spoke, Joe Ga pulled Nis to her feet, put his arm around her shoulder, and started walking out while saying with a laugh, "Let's go...

You're not one to meddle, but if you're so concerned about the Kurds, why not ask Antar's opinion?

Has she said anything?"

Nis shook her head slightly and said, "No, I've seen her talking with some of the Kurdish fighters, but she seems a bit disappointed, and they seem somewhat dissatisfied with her."

Joe Ga laughed it off and said, "The Kurdish forces are a major power in Iraq, strictly speaking, much more powerful than P·B.

If you have the mindset of rescuing them, you are bound to be disappointed."

"Because you got the wrong person!"

As Joe Ga spoke, he pushed open the door, nodding to the people who greeted him, and said, "Nis, counterterrorism and charity are cards we can't afford to lose. I know you want to help me, but don't waste your energy on those you cannot control..."

The Kurdish refugees who remain on Baghdad Base, as well as others like them, are the ones who need help.

Like the Syrians, Iraqis, Circassians, and even the Turkish... all suffering from the ravages of war.

When I give things to those who are without clothing and food, they thank me.

But when I give things to the armed Kurdish, they only ask for more, because they think it's their due, their American daddy promised it to them.

But they never consider that those things are bought with Iraq's oil, and it's me who brings them in.

Why should I indulge them? If they withdraw their soldiers, I'll give them a discount on their supplies. That's fair!

They have their own political ideals which we have no right to interfere with, but that has nothing to do with me!

Only if we are impartial can P.B.'s Princess Charity win the support of the international community.

Otherwise, with the mess Chris is making in the south, someone will come out and attack us.

This is not Tubruq, we don't have the absolute say here.

But this situation is the best for us, as we cannot integrate them without harming the interests of the majority.

In any case, our goodwill has been released, which is enough...

What we can do now is to use our logistical advantage to do as much as we conscientiously can and make money along the way!"

The usually indifferent Nis, unusually let out a sigh, weakly clung to Joe Ga's arm, and said, "I'm really not good at dealing with these issues..."

Joe Ga was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily, "That's because you see yourself as an outsider to Iraq; you are trapped by the so-called 'charity'. You look at everything around you with eyes of 'salvation'.

I'm not like that. Wherever I go, I see myself as part of them, hoping to hold hands and develop and make money together.

If you look at things from another perspective, or put yourself in their shoes, you see something completely different.

Those leaders do not need us to save them, what they need is for their political demands to be supported and responded to.

If we can't provide that, then we act as if we haven't seen it, keep ourselves in the right place, and look for points of mutual interest to work on local cooperation.

These things may sound complicated, but don't worry, I think you did a great job in Tubruq!

You're comfortable there because you are Liberian; you feel a responsibility to them, so even if your methods are simple and crude, no one will blame you.

Because of your intentions and goals, you are on the same side as the locals.

Campaigning is really a profound art!

You don't need to be anxious or feel pressured. We're just the support team, how big of a mistake can we make?

Just be yourself, good guy or bad guy, strong or weak, if anyone dares to mess with us, we'll sort them out!

No matter what, you will always be the most important person to me!"

Listening, Nis slightly furrowed her brow and said, "You've really helped a lot of people, why do you always have to give so many reasons? To me, that is charity!"

Upon hearing this, Joe Ga replied helplessly, "Beauty, 'charity' is just a talisman I've created for P.B.

Essentially, it's still business, just a business that benefits many people.

When others praise us, we'll take it, but we mustn't be confused about it.

In the end, P.B. is still a mercenary company; we earn our living with guns, no need to put ourselves on a pedestal..."

After listening, Nis fell silent for a long time before slightly wrinkling her pert nose and nodding, "I understand..."

Seeing the peculiar expression on Nis's face, Joe Ga knew she didn't understand...

But Joe Ga didn't mind, and he found this Nis especially adorable!

This girl's sense of morality fluctuates with the needs of those close to her.

Antar, a Kurdish female sniper, is Nis's best friend.

But lately, Antar has had several unhappy partings with the Kurdish militias, causing Nis to worry about her friend, so she tried to help the Kurdish indirectly, to alleviate Antar's pressure.

It was supposed to be no big deal because, in the end, it was paid for with the underground oil of Iraq, and the Iraqi Government recognized it...

But when Nis repeatedly looked out for them, what she received in return was an intensification of their demands, which is when they needed to be checked.

As the two walked shoulder to shoulder towards the canteen, Joe Ga could already hear Old Bull's curses from afar...

"Dammit, they're nowhere to be seen in battle, but when we bring them food and drink, they dare to hit our people, I'll go kill them...

All of you, stop dawdling; everyone except those by the stove, grab your guns and follow me; dammit, they're turning the world upside down...