Chapter 200: We've Got the Upper Hand
And that was absolutely true.
Before this, who would've thought that by using our own advanced exploration technology, we could go abroad and conduct successful exploration projects—and in doing so, take control of more global resources?
The exploration rights to the Taluge Copper-Gold deposit had been acquired from BHP Tuo.
That fact alone was enough to prove that China's geological expertise and technical judgment were in no way inferior to the most advanced exploration teams in the world.
The success of this project sent a powerful message to the entire exploration industry:
There was no need to idolize foreign techniques.
There was no need to feel inferior.
China had the capability to achieve world-class exploration results.
For China's journey to becoming a global force in mineral exploration, this was a milestone—an inspiring turning point.
It would boost confidence not only in China's geological community but in its entire copper mining sector.
"Twenty-three million tons of copper," Zhao Hepu murmured, still caught in a daze. "And 760 tons of gold—just that gold reserve alone puts this among the top-tier deposits globally."
"It really is an electrifying piece of news," Ouping Guo added with a long sigh.
And who wouldn't agree?
The moment they heard the numbers, everyone in the room felt a rush of adrenaline, a surge of blood to the head. It was like they were back in their most passionate years, hearts pounding with excitement.
"The exploration license for Taluge was purchased from BHP Tuo. Funny enough, the one who handled the deal was Gores himself," Zhao said with a chuckle, the memory vividly returning.
Bit by bit, moment by moment, everything came rushing back—each detail now felt even more significant in hindsight.
Thinking about it now, he felt a deep, satisfying sense of justice, like a long-simmering grievance had finally been avenged.
"I wonder if Gores would still be in the mood for sightseeing with his family if he heard this news," Zhao said with a smug laugh, his belly quivering with mirth.
"That's right! I'd almost forgotten—it was you, Hu Zhenchi, Li Tang, and the rest who went to Austria and negotiated that deal," Guo said, also chuckling. "BHP Tuo spends hundreds of millions of dollars every year on exploration, employing one of the most elite teams in the world. And yet—even they missed this."
"Which only proves that Li Tang has a pair of 'fire eyes' like the Monkey King himself!" Zhao laughed heartily.
"Just imagine how BHP Tuo's employees must be feeling now, knowing they passed up on a super-rich deposit," Guo added, a bit mischievously. "And what about the shareholders and board? What would they say if they found out that Gores sold a license with tens of billions in potential for a measly $8 million? Would they fire him?"
"Maybe he'll resign in shame," Zhao offered with a grin.
"Eight million dollars means nothing to BHP Tuo—it's just a drop in the bucket," Guo admitted.
"But with what we know now, if the Taluge license went up for international auction, the starting bid would be at least a billion dollars."
"And even at that price, companies would fight tooth and nail for it."
"Thankfully, it's in the hands of a Chinese company," someone added with satisfaction.
"This deposit could reshape the global copper market."
"Thankfully, we have someone like Li Tang."
"Without Li Tang, which Chinese company would have dared to spend $8 million—70 million yuan—on a prospect that BHP Tuo itself had abandoned?"
"The more I think about it, the more I pity Gores. The backlash he'll face at BHP Tuo will be brutal."
They all laughed and chimed in with their thoughts, voices overlapping.
Niu Fu sat quietly, listening to his capable team as they cheerfully tore into Gores. The banter may have been a little mean-spirited, but he couldn't help feeling delighted.
He didn't say anything—but his face had visibly relaxed. He, too, was enjoying this moment of triumph.
As the laughter died down, he finally spoke. "The discovery of the Taluge Copper-Gold deposit proves that Chinese companies can surpass mining giants like BHP Tuo. This time... we've got the upper hand."
His tone remained humble, but the pride in his voice was unmistakable.
…
Meanwhile, Li Tang received a call from Qin Jianshe, inviting him to lunch with Niu Fu and Ouping Guo.
But when the call came in, Li Tang was at home cooking. His father was sitting on the sofa.
After thinking it over, he politely declined Qin's invitation. "Let's do lunch another day," he said.
After all, meals with high-ranking leaders inevitably meant alcohol.
At those banquets, no matter how fancy the food, everything tasted the same.
On the surface, everyone seemed cheerful, exchanging pleasantries. But in reality, everyone had their own agenda. Even as they drank and smiled, they were calculating how much favor they'd won.
For Li Tang, a simple home-cooked meal with family brought far more joy.
When the food was ready, Li Zaiqiang washed his hands and sat down to eat. After a few bites, he frowned slightly.
"You over-salted the ribs," he said.
"Really?" Li Tang took a bite of the braised ribs. They were indeed a bit bitter—but he refused to admit it. "I think they're fine."
"Your cooking skills are far worse than your geological skills," Li Zaiqiang said, looking at the plate with mock disdain. Still, he picked up another rib and ate it with rice. Between bites, he said, "The school break is coming. Let's bring your mother over to stay for a while. She's never been to Yanjing. Show her around—see the sights, experience the culture."
"Sure," Li Tang nodded. "It's year-end, and most of the projects are in cold regions anyway. Everything's shut down for now."
"Our geological team is mostly back. Only about ten people stayed behind—they're in a hotel. But the rooms aren't ideal for office work, so a few days ago we started using your company's office space at Yunding Tower—just to draw maps and organize data."
Li Zaiqiang had returned to Yanjing a bit earlier and had quietly brought his team to work in Li Tang's company office.
They still had reports to complete and wanted everything wrapped up before Chinese New Year so the team could enjoy the holiday.
"There's plenty of space at the office. Use whatever you need—it's all yours," Li Tang said. He had visited earlier and noticed them working, but didn't think much of it.
"As long as you don't mind," his father replied.
Then he looked at his son carefully and got serious. "The Taluge project burned through a lot of cash—especially for drilling. I know you've had to prioritize spending. I understand. But regarding the technical fees for the Guizhou Geological Bureau and the China Geological Survey, I calculated the totals: each agency is owed over 10 million yuan. So far, Zhongcheng Mining has only paid 3 million in advance to each. The rest hasn't been settled."
"The exploration fees…" Li Tang sighed.
He knew the Guizhou Bureau had been extremely understanding. They never pushed for payment.
Their attitude had influenced the China Geological Survey too—who also didn't press for money and continued to work hard.
For that, he was deeply grateful. And also, admittedly, a little guilty.
"To keep things on schedule, I prioritized paying the Mengguo drilling contractors," he said, meeting his father's eyes with sincerity. "Per the contract, we should have paid quarterly. But we've delayed. I haven't forgotten, and I really appreciate everyone's patience and trust."
"As long as you're aware," Li Zaiqiang said, clearly trusting his son. He just wanted to remind him.
"The final investment installment from the shareholder companies has now been transferred to our account. You can ask the finance team to start settling the accounts tomorrow," Li Tang said. "Each of the two agencies can receive about 10 million before the New Year. The rest… will have to wait until after the holiday."
"Ten million before the break—that's not bad," his father said. He wasn't trying to pressure him. "At least everyone can enjoy the holiday knowing they've been paid."
"That's just basic courtesy. I get it," Li Tang said. "You've all worked hard these past few months. You deserve every yuan."
"Don't get all formal on me now," Li Zaiqiang said with a smirk, finding his son's tone oddly official.
"I didn't mean to…"
"Well, since you said that—after lunch I'll call Director Han and have him fly over tomorrow to finalize the payments."
"Book the flight. I'll have the company send a car to the airport."
As he ate his son's overly salty food, Li Zaiqiang thought about everything his son had accomplished—and couldn't help but feel proud.
In a moment of lightheartedness, he asked, "By the way, why does your company have foreigners working there?"
"We're an international company. Having foreign employees is perfectly normal," Li Tang replied casually.
"That's true."
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