Chapter 341: Arrested
The purpose behind the establishment of Bafen Island Iron Ore Company was crystal clear: secure mining rights to the Malihe Iron Ore deposit.
They had conducted on-site inspections of Malihe Iron Ore's surface mineralization, and consulted veteran geologists who had participated in the exploration project there more than thirty years ago, obtaining detailed information. They were confident—the exploration potential there was virtually limitless.
How much potential exactly?
It was very likely the largest iron ore deposit in all of Jiaguo.
With iron ore prices rising sharply in the international market, rights to a large-scale, high-quality iron ore deposit inevitably smelled of blood, attracting every giant shark from the global mining industry, eager to take their share.
Fulin clearly saw this and acted swiftly and decisively.
Beyond drafting an initial exploration plan, he had also outlined a financing strategy. As soon as the exploration rights were secured, the company would immediately go public, raising capital to commence exploration on Bafen Island.
Finding iron ore there was practically a certainty.
As for the exact scale of the deposit, that would depend entirely on subsequent exploration activities.
Fulin was filled with anticipation.
"Boss! The exploration rights to Malihe Iron Ore have been taken by someone else!" shouted the employee responsible for liaising with the Mining Authority, rushing breathlessly into Fulin's office.
"What did you say?" Fulin thought he had misheard.
"We submitted our application documents, but they were returned by the Mining Authority. They told us the exploration rights had already been claimed."
"But when we checked before, the mining rights for the whole of Bafen Island were completely unclaimed. No one was conducting exploration there!"
"I specifically asked around. A company named Hantie secured the Malihe Iron Ore exploration rights…"
"Hantie Company? Ever since exploration was halted in the seventies, the Malihe Iron Ore rights have remained unclaimed for decades. Isn't it too coincidental that someone suddenly swooped in ahead of us to apply for the rights?"
Fulin scanned the faces of his trusted aides in the office, his eyes filled with a piercing suspicion: "Did someone among you leak our plans?"
Before applying for the Malihe Iron Ore rights, everyone had been hopeful and enthusiastic about the project. Prominent surface indications and keen interest from international mining giants were strong positives.
Everyone remained silent.
"No one here would be stupid enough to do something like that, Boss. Do you really think anyone among us is that dumb?"
"Then how could someone else have beaten us to it?" Fulin felt the invisible hand of conspiracy behind the scenes.
"We need to investigate this Hantie Company. Perhaps that will clarify why someone else secured the exploration rights first."
"What is Hantie Company?" Fulin had never even heard of this name.
"It's a newly established company with registered capital of fifty million US dollars. The legal representative is Frando…"
"Poisonous Frando?"
"Yes, that's him. He's a renowned global mine hunter with significant discoveries in countries like Aoguo and Nanfei."
"But he's never handled an iron ore project before; copper and nickel mines are his areas of expertise."
"That's true, but we've learned that the major shareholder behind Hantie is actually Liantying Mining's boss. Frando is just a minor shareholder."
"Li Tang?" Fulin knew the name very well.
In fact, anyone familiar with the global mining industry would know that name.
"Yes."
"How did he find out about Malihe Iron Ore?"
"Perhaps Frando informed him."
"Li Tang already controls Liantying Mining, a company valued at 20 billion Ao Yuan! This is outrageous—this is blatant bullying!"
Fulin's anger grew with every thought. The more he pondered, the more something felt off.
Considering how large Liantying Mining was, even if Fulin's company had submitted the application first, the Mining Authority might still have prioritized Liantying Mining's application due to their financial muscle.
They went straight to the Mining Authority and raised a huge commotion. Seeing how determined Fulin and his men were, the Mining Authority brought him directly before Minister Waci, head of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals.
Although the rights had been signed off by the Mining Authority, it was Minister Waci who ultimately made the decision. He would have to shoulder responsibility.
Listening to Fulin's emotional accusations, Waci nodded slightly, "You're a local business, and ideally, we should support you more. But you were late with your application. If you'd submitted your papers just half a month earlier, the rights would have been yours. I'm sorry, but you've lost your chance."
Hearing Waci say this himself, Fulin grew even more furious: "We checked a month ago—Malihe Iron Ore exploration rights were still unclaimed!"
Waci shrugged indifferently, "Perhaps half a month ago?"
"How much did they bribe you?"
Fulin directly accused Waci, whose previously smiling face froze instantly.
Waci believed he'd covered his tracks well: "You're questioning the integrity of our Ministry?"
Fulin sneered inwardly.
This developed country always prided itself on its supposedly transparent laws and strict oversight. They constantly criticized other countries for corruption, yet beneath their shiny exterior was the naked greed of capitalism.
Accepting bribes directly might be too blatant, but they had countless legal ways to profit—like placing family members in companies as high-ranking executives, collecting millions each year in salaries. Perfectly legal, wasn't it?
Before coming here, Fulin had already heard that Waci's daughter had recently been appointed an advisor at an investment bank, despite her professional background being in landscape architecture!
The entire capital community of Jiaguo—and even Meiguo—knew Frando's reputation for influencing powerful investors. Placing someone in an executive role wasn't difficult for them. It was nothing more than feeding another mouth.
"I understand your anger, and I sympathize, but please remain rational," Waci said, observing Fulin's hostile demeanor.
"Hantie Company is essentially foreign, and Li Tang is Huaxia-born!" Fulin shifted his attack.
Attacking Waci head-on was counterproductive, but perhaps targeting Li Tang would yield results.
"I don't personally know Li Tang," Waci replied, somewhat relaxing his attitude.
Fulin pressed forward regardless: "He's Huaxia-born. You have no idea about the forces behind him! Whether it's coal or iron ore, exploration is merely a cover for his true intentions. They'll use these opportunities to map our terrain and spy on our military zones. They harbor hidden agendas threatening national security and our people's freedom!"
Waci felt the accusations were absurd, refusing to fall for such exaggeration.
"We'll thoroughly investigate these claims and won't tolerate anyone who poses a threat!"
"Minister, listen to me!" Fulin saw that Waci intended to dismiss him.
"I'm busy. Excuse me."
Adjusting his jacket, Waci left his office. Naturally, he intended to lock up after everyone had vacated.
Fulin was practically kicked out, forced to watch as Waci drove away swiftly. Standing helplessly, he burned with rage.
"Boss, what should we do now?"
The team felt disoriented. Bafen Island Iron Ore Company existed solely for the Malihe Iron Ore project. Now, without those rights, their direction vanished.
"We must take back those mining rights!" Fulin ground his teeth fiercely.
…
The creation of Hantie Company and acquisition of Malihe Iron Ore rights were mostly arranged by Frando, as instructed by Li Tang.
After all, Frando's team understood Jiaguo's mining landscape intimately, simplifying the process.
Once Frando confirmed everything had proceeded smoothly, Li Tang didn't ask further questions. Instead, he immediately called Alice to arrange the funding.
The exploration fund of fifty million USD was substantial. Frando maintained his technical teams in Jiaguo capable of conducting exploration under any conditions.
With a $50 million budget, profits were guaranteed. Even outsourcing much of the work would earn considerable commissions.
Why refuse such easy gains?
After wrapping up the Malihe Iron Ore arrangements in the Nute region, Li Tang prepared to leave when Li Xingchao called.
"When are you coming back?" His voice sounded anxious.
"Soon. Something wrong?"
"Qiqi returned home a while ago and resumed work. She mentioned you were busy investing in an iron ore project on Bafen Island. What's the real story?"
"I was touring Bafen Island, stumbled across surface iron deposits, and decided to invest to see if the scale could be expanded."
"Really? Just casually discovering iron ore in a deserted place?" Li Xingchao clearly doubted the story.
"It was just luck," Li Tang laughed briefly before becoming serious. "Are you still concerned about the Malu River Coal Mine in the Rocky Mountains?"
"Yes, we're still working on it."
"You're investing just $15 million—barely a bit over a hundred million Yuan. Why drag it out so long?"
Li Xingchao sighed deeply, frustrated by internal corporate bureaucracy. "You wouldn't understand how state-owned enterprises work!"
Li Tang didn't argue. "So, will you withdraw from the project?"
"Is the coal project really that promising?"
"A few days ago, Liu Naishun personally called me, saying that the exploratory drilling at Malu River Coal Mine has already yielded preliminary discoveries. From the current stratigraphic conditions, coal layers from the Gaite and Gaisen formations are perfectly preserved underground. It has the potential to be a very large deposit!"
"Really?"
"Your company's Xie Jiashu is already on-site with his technical team monitoring everything. He knows the geological conditions there better than I do. If you don't believe me, you can contact Xie Jiashu directly."
"If there's anyone I trust completely, it's you!"
"I've already committed 30 million US dollars myself, with the first 10 million already transferred, which is enough to cover initial expenses. The next 10 million can arrive anytime."
Li Tang had no hesitation when spending his own money. "Additionally, Liu Naishun committed five million USD, which he assured me a few days ago was almost ready."
It was understandable that Shenxia Group's pledged fifteen million USD had been delayed due to complicated approval procedures for large funds. But the reason behind Liu Naishun's five million delay was clear: he was a cunning businessman who became willing to release the funds quickly only after the recent drilling showed that the underground coal layers were intact and highly promising.
If the exploration hadn't been promising, Li Tang doubted Liu Naishun would have delivered a single penny of his promised funds. These small calculations didn't surprise Li Tang, and he didn't bother pointing them out.
Everyone acted in their own interest, which was completely normal. If every business deal required complete honesty, it wouldn't be business—it would be romance.
Li Tang implied to Li Xingchao that money wasn't an issue on his end.
After a brief silence, Li Xingchao finally spoke up: "When are you coming back? We should discuss this face-to-face."
"I'm coming soon, but first, I'll stop by Vancouver to gather and bring back the latest geological results from our recent project."
"Good. When you return, I'll pick you up."
After ending the call, Li Tang boarded a flight straight to Vancouver, then headed to the Malu River Coal Mine project in the Rocky Mountains. He asked the technical team there to prepare and copy a set of geological data before catching a flight back to Yanjing.
After thoroughly briefing Li Xingchao on the project and repeatedly emphasizing his reasons for optimism about the Malu River Coal Mine, Li Tang successfully convinced him to confidently invest the pledged 100 million yuan.
In truth, Li Tang didn't genuinely need Shenxia Group's money. The main reason he hadn't discarded the hesitant Shenxia Group was strategic, thinking of future considerations.
Once the Malu River Coal Mine results became public, Li Tang believed it would undoubtedly shake up the global coal industry.
A mine of such magnitude and quality was clearly too big for him alone to develop.
In terms of underground coal-mining technology, Shenxia Group was undeniably a world leader. Financially, he would also require collaborators. Even after exploration, developing such a mine would necessitate not just Shenxia Group's participation, but potentially major steel manufacturers like Haigang Steel and Tangshan Steel—both massive consumers of coking coal—to guarantee success.
Having persuaded Li Xingchao, Li Tang returned to Yunding Tower, signed company documents, and took some time to recuperate.
It wasn't until Liu Naishun called to report major breakthroughs at the Malu River Coal Mine that Li Tang boarded a plane again, crossing international borders to return to Vancouver.
However, as soon as he landed—before even leaving the airport—he was arrested.
The Gua country's authorities and police were polite enough, presenting him with an arrest warrant, ushering him into a vehicle, and locking him behind bars.
Only during interrogation did Li Tang learn the reason: someone had accused him of stealing coordinates of Gua country's military security zones and smuggling this information abroad, severely compromising national security.
Local police even had clear "evidence" against him: during his previous flight from Vancouver back to Yanjing, his luggage contained copies of geological documents and discs from the Malu River Coal Mine project, which had been recorded during airport security checks. They suspected this data contained highly sensitive material.
In the office of the editor-in-chief at the Financial Post building, Joseph urgently summoned Erwin: "Our informant in Vancouver just provided crucial intel—a major scoop concerning Li Tang, the elusive boss behind Liantying Mining!"
"What?" Erwin was astonished.
Tracking news about Li Tang, the mysterious boss behind Liantying Mining, had always been Erwin's assignment. It was unprecedented for the editor to proactively provide him with intel.
But this was understandable. Li Tang had aggressively invested in two major exploration projects—the Malu River Coal Mine and the Mali River Iron Mine. Although similarly named, the two projects were geographically distant, one deep in the western mountains, the other amid the frozen Arctic Circle in the northeast.
"Confirmed information. Li Tang was arrested by local authorities at Vancouver Airport," the editor stated firmly.
This news was like a thunderclap on a clear day.
"What?!" Erwin jumped up in shock. "Is this true?"
"Absolutely. The source is reliable."
Joseph nodded emphatically. "This is major international news. Take your team and go immediately. I've informed our Vancouver contacts to gather details through special channels, but personally, I trust you more."
"How could something like this happen?"
Erwin was bewildered. "I've closely followed Li Tang's activities recently. His two investments here followed all regulations, secured local support, and won favor from indigenous communities. How could he be arrested?"
His previous focus had exclusively been on Li Tang's commercial activities and exploration progress. Ever since Li Tang's arrival, Erwin had followed and written dozens of articles, making Li Tang the pillar of his professional and personal life.
His earnings had skyrocketed due to Li Tang-focused news, and his editorial standing had visibly improved. Recently, Joseph had even hinted he might soon become deputy editor.
In Erwin's heart, he felt gratitude toward Li Tang. After all, Li Tang always generated significant buzz and attention. Frankly, Erwin dreaded seeing Li Tang involved in such a scandal, as he'd authored numerous flattering articles about him. In some way, Li Tang had become an integral part of his life and work, almost a friend.
"They say it's due to charges of endangering national security," Joseph admitted, though he himself had limited information.
"I'm leaving immediately for Vancouver!"
Erwin felt more shock at this news than if he'd heard his own father had been arrested. He couldn't sit still a moment longer.
"Make sure you report this thoroughly and quickly!" Joseph cared nothing for Li Tang's well-being, only about the massive sensation and headlines such news would create. That's what journalists like them craved.
"I'll get to the bottom of it!" Erwin dashed to his office, called his team, grabbed their equipment, and rushed straight to the airport.
Soon enough, the news spread like wildfire across Gua country via newspapers, television, and radio.
In the capital markets, this news detonated like an underwater torpedo, creating immense waves.
People across Gua country erupted in heated discussions:
"No wealthy person in the world is clean! Their hands are either soaked in blood or their hearts filled with dirty secrets!"
"Quick wealth is never legally obtained."
"Apparently, this mysterious Chinese guy is only in his twenties? At that age, amassing billions? Other than robbing banks, how else can you get rich so quickly?"
"Liantying Mining must be plotting something sinister."
"I knew trouble was coming as soon as he entered our country. He's surely bribing politicians and exploiting our resources. Typical capitalist!"
"They say it's espionage for threatening national security!"
"This young billionaire is finished now."
"Give him two hundred years in jail! Let those big black inmates teach him a lesson!"
"Don't know about lessons, but he'll definitely get hemorrhoids."
"Hahaha!"
Laughter roared through the bar. People were ecstatic at seeing a rich person arrested. It felt like celebrating a World Cup victory as they raised their glasses.
Frando sat frozen, cigar between his lips, listening incredulously.
"Is it true?" he asked someone nearby.
"Absolutely true. Confirmed by Financial Post and Vancouver police."
"But why?"
"Who knows?"
"He came here only to invest. He did nothing else!"
Frando racked his brains but couldn't fathom what Li Tang could've done wrong. Based on his understanding, no government department in Gua country would antagonize someone so wealthy for trivial reasons. Money equaled power in their capitalist society.
"He brought hundreds of millions in investment and created hundreds of quality jobs. No reason to arrest him!"
"Rich people are all crooks!" shouted someone nearby, clearly not recognizing Frando himself—a known billionaire in Gua country.
"There must be a misunderstanding!"
Frando found this situation absurd.
Recently, he'd maintained frequent contact with Li Tang regarding the Mali River Iron Mine. Li Tang had even called him days earlier to say he was heading to Gua country to join personally.
But as soon as he arrived, he was arrested?
What about their Mali River Iron Mine project now?
With their major shareholder imprisoned...
"This is ridiculous! The Ministry of Justice must be joking with our economy!"
Frando angrily threw his cigar into his drink, grabbed his coat, and stormed out.
Li Tang in prison benefited no one—least of all himself.
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