Upon meeting Yusuf again, his enthusiasm was even greater than before. Without needing any instructions from Song Heping, he immediately gathered those brothers from various departments in Baghdad who were under the "Musician" defense protection, organizing a barbecue party in his own backyard.
The same set of protocols adhered to their meeting.
This time, Song Heping brought backpacks for the children, chosen from the Green Zone specifically for Yusuf's children, all imported goods.
Although backpacks are commonplace in other countries, good quality backpacks are rare in Iligo.
Children in Iligo who are still able to attend school and carry these backpacks come from exceptional family backgrounds.
Ordinary families' children, let alone attend school, are doing well just to scrape by.
Some clever children would scavenge through garbage bins outside the Green Zone daily, or wait for the garbage truck to slow down and pull some sellable, usable, or edible items from it.
The bolder ones would run to the coalition military camps to sell things, offering colorful discs and such to the US Army.
The current state of Iligo is quite magical.
You call it backward, it has all sorts of demons running amok, full of salacious details.
You say it is open and advanced, but people here struggle even to eat enough.
Song Heping had seen such situations; he was dumbfounded the first time he saw it.
Over time, he gradually grew numb to it.
As for Yusuf's wives, he brought perfume.
Despite the women here dressing conservatively and covering their heads when outside, at home serving their husbands, they do not shy away from such items, using whatever means to be charming.
For the elderly, electrical appliances were given.
A frying pan, a small oven—favorites of elderly housewives.
Yusuf's deepest impression of dealing with Song Heping could be summed up in four words—he was like a breath of fresh air.
After all, Song Heping was the owner of a defense company, a foreigner, but he didn't put on airs at all, calling him "brother" and "buddy" affectionately.
Compared to Song Heping, those American soldiers were completely different; they were dismissive and commanding in their speech, blowing hot air, spitting while they talked, severely insulting his dignity.
Because of this, Yusuf devoted himself wholeheartedly to the tasks Song Heping entrusted him with, feeling utterly unable to face Song Heping if he failed to handle them.
Just like this time, arranging for the chef's special cargo transit permission, a third was exported outright under the guise of "collectibles."
This approach was certainly bold enough.
A third of the military hardware was enough to equip two infantry battalions.
To call these "collectibles" was to mock the blindness of the customs officials.
But these were not the main point.
The main point was the remaining two-thirds.
Yusuf managed connections from earth to sky, from Baghdad to Basra Port, then onto the ship, all green lights, with docks and loading managed by little officials from the Baghdad "brothers."
The saying goes that the local officials are not as good as those currently in charge.
Although these seventy-plus officials did not hold high positions, they were in charge of various specific affairs, and it was they who carried out the work.
Whatever procedures needed to be arranged, or people needed to be organized, a call and a stack of green notes could settle it.
In Illigo Country these days, what could be a stronger pass than green notes?
Taking advantage of the others' absence, Song Heping and Yousuf began discussing the matter, with Song's primary concern being safety.
"Rest assured."
When it came to smuggling military equipment, Yousuf gave his assurance, "Absolutely no problem, one-stop service, all our own people, completely reliable."
"Brother, there's something I don't know if I should say or ask," Song Heping said. "Strictly speaking, I shouldn't be meddling, but you and I are good brothers. Beyond making money, I must also consider your safety."
Yousuf said straightforwardly, "What can't we discuss between us? You consider me a brother, and your affairs are my affairs, and my affairs are yours."
Song Heping smiled and said, "I know this time the cook sold the military equipment to you for a hundred thousand dollars as a running fee. I don't see a problem with the price, but I want to ask, the hundred thousand dollars, did you share it with the brothers handling this matter?"
"Of course!" Yousuf immediately replied, "I won't hide it from you, eighty thousand dollars I've already spent; twenty thousand went to friends at customs, thirty thousand were spent at the Temporary Management Committee office, ten thousand for port security by the ICDC forces, and also for border inspections and dock management office, loading the ships..."
He began counting on his fingers to calculate the costs for Song Heping.
Song Heping interrupted him, "I don't want to know your costs. I'm happy no matter how much you earn because you earn it through your skill. My point is, our business should flow gently and steadily, not be a desperate one-off. You need to be generous and distribute the money so that everyone gets a share. That way, you're securing your safety.
Otherwise, believe it or not, if you hog it all, you won't be able to continue this business for long?"
"I believe." Yousuf said, "Sharing the spoils together is the safest way."
Song Heping added, "Brother Yousuf, if you wish, I can provide you more funds in the future to help you move up the ladder. If you can bring down some big shots in the United Security Council, our range of weapons could be more extensive..."
Yousuf was intrigued, "Are you talking about those American equipment?"
Currently, the local forces in Illigo have two sources of military equipment, one being the arms left by the previous government, most of which are outdated, and the other mainly provided by the Americans.
The Americans also provided a substantial quantity of military equipment.
Song Heping had heard about, and even seen, this.
For example, the ISF Special Forces, whose equipment comprises purely American military hardware, from Humvee armored vehicles to individual soldier weapons, all purchased by the military-industrial complex after the American Congress allocated funds and then shipped here.
Indeed, the American equipment sold in Harvey's weapon shop follows the same route.
Old Demon's cousin Donald had mentioned it during casual conversations.
Their junior officers often cursed the lords in Congress during gatherings, saying those congress members are spokespersons for military enterprises. According to them, it made sense: if equipping the local forces in Illigo, why not use the arms left by Sadam but insist on importing a massive amount of American equipment?
It's understandable that a local special force like the ISF would want somewhat superior individual equipment, but recently, more and more Abrams tanks and Bradley Battle Cars shipped here reportedly intended for the government army formed by the Illigo Interim Government, with orders up to six billion dollars.
This money was allocated to the Illigo Temporary Management Committee in the form of loans, to be repaid with oil later. It sounds generous, but in reality, much of this equipment is secondhand.
Americans never do a losing business, and they are extremely tough when it comes to earning money.
Most of the Abrams tanks were directly pulled from old Abrams models in California's tank graveyard, refurbished, and then sold as new to the Illigo Interim Government.
Most of the armored vehicles came from this source, the only new items probably being the individual equipment and small arms for the ISF Special Forces—these indeed were new.
Once American military equipment arrived in Illigo, it was managed by the people within the United Security Council, and these supplies were beyond the reach of minor officials like Yousuf.
But Song Heping was drooling over that equipment.
Not to mention anything else, getting some to equip his own company's mercenary battalion could boost their combat effectiveness by several levels.
Especially the Humvee armored vehicles, if he could get his hands on a dozen or so, it would certainly be better than buying B7 armored vehicles.
However, if you went through official channels to purchase American military equipment, the prices were simply too expensive.
Especially from Harvey's side, the prices were practically murderous.
If he could get a batch through special channels, the prices would be very attractive.
"Exactly, American military equipment."
Song Heping said, "I'm interested in those things. I heard that the United Security Council is managing them. Do you have any connections to get some?"
"Well..."
Yusuf looked troubled.
American-style equipment was not something that locals in Iligo Country under the United Security Council could get their hands on, to say nothing of even the deputy head of the United Security Council.
Because officially it was locals running things, but behind the scenes, it was the Americans acting like Emperors.
"If you want that equipment, you'd have to directly bribe the US Army commanders stationed in Iligo Country, brother, don't dream about it."
"Is it that difficult?"
Song Heping stroked his chin, nodding thoughtfully.
Nobody from the United Security Council could make decisions, you had to go through the US Army commanders in Iligo.
Heh.
It was indeed very difficult.
Song Heping hadn't given up yet, but this wasn't something that could be rushed, he would take it slow for now.
He'd wait and see if he could think of a way to get some of that good stuff out later.
The profits from American military equipment in the arms market were not something Soviet equipment could compare with.
If you're going low-end, why give up on the high-end?
If you're going to do it, go big!
By now, Song Heping was already feeling ambitious.
After discussing American military equipment, Song Heping also proposed the idea of purchasing a batch of arms.
"No problem!" Yusuf asked, "How many do you want? We've recently found some new arsenals in the northwest region, enough for you to sell for several years."
Song Heping asked, "That many?"
Yusuf said, "I won't lie to you, the waters run deep here."
Song Heping curiously asked, "What do you mean deep?"
Yusuf said, "Do you believe that even if I sold all the arms from the arsenals we found, no one would care? As long as I give a cut of the money I make to the big shots in the Temporary Management Committee, they would pretend they saw nothing."
Song Heping was inwardly shocked.
He had thought about selling arms.
But he had always imagined just sneakily buying a small part from controlled armories to turn around and make some money, never had he thought about daring to sell off the entire Iligo Temporary Management Committee's arsenals.
Yusuf didn't seem to be boasting.
He had been too conservative...
"If it's all sold, what will the Interim Government's troops be equipped with?"
"Buy, of course!" Yusuf said coldly. "After selling everything, the Temporary Management Committee can apply to the Reconstruction Project Committee for funds to buy more."
"What?"
This time it was Song Heping's turn to be bewildered.
Having ready supplies and not using them.
Then after selling everything, applying for US Dollars to buy more?
What kind of absurd tactic is this?
"Don't understand, do you?"
Seeing Song Heping's confused look, Yusuf began to enlighten him.
"You still don't understand our Iligo. No, to be precise, you don't understand the current Iligo. Let me ask you, if we equip all our forces with the previous government's arms, it saves money, but how would the Temporary Management Committee and the United Security Council make money? Without transactions, there's no this—"
As he spoke, he gestured the act of counting money with two fingers.
"If the Temporary Management Committee and the United Security Council don't apply for funds to buy new equipment, how would the big shots at the Reconstruction Committee make money? If those bosses at the Reconstruction Committee don't make money, how would the high-ranking officials of the US Army in Iligo earn money?
If the high ranking officials of the US Army don't make any money, how would their country's military-industrial complex and arms dealers make money? How would the more than one hundred billion dollars in reconstruction funds be spent? Do you think they came all this way to give us warmth? They are here to make money..."
"Fuck!"
After listening, even Song Heping couldn't help but swear.
It really makes a lot of sense!
It was his naivety...
As Yusuf explained, the entire logic and profit chain made sense.
It was perfect!
If that was the case, what was he hesitating for?
Just sell it well!
Strive to sell!
With such a business opportunity laying before him, not seizing it would be an absolute misfortune!