Empire of the Ring

'To build a harmonious world of peaceful development.' While reading the signboard of China's One Belt One Road project office, Park Jong-il smirked.

"Harmonious world? That's funny. It's just a huge scam."

"The project promoters provided information, and the Trade-Investment Promotion Agency bought our land. The Chinese side said that it was done stopping local people's attempt for land speculation."

"It's like a cat caring for a mouse. Who's worried about who? Why would Kazakh people who have vast land become involved in land speculation—unless they've gone crazy?"

"Can we punish them with Kazakhstan's law?"

"What would you do by imprisoning Chinese government officials? Anyone can buy and sell land in Kazakhstan."

"If that's not possible, find something to nitpick on so that we can close down the Chinese One Belt One Road promoter's office."

"Isn't that too much? We should wait until the delegation returns from China before doing anything reckless."

"China has already shown its dark side since its Trade-Investment Promotion Agency bought the land around the free trade zone. You don't think they were only involved in land speculation, do you? Haven't you seen them illegally plundering diamonds in Siberia? Mobilize agents and police officers to investigate every activity of Chinese companies in our land."

"I thought I'd take a break, but these guys are making me restless."

"You can rest forever when you die."

"Man, I was hoping I can take advantage of having a friend who's the Duke of Kazakhstan, but it seems like I'm always in the field."

"You and I both are not destined to rest. Just endure your destiny."

"I'm going to retire in ten years, so don't try to hold on to me."

Park Jong-il's Intelligence Department, which now was Kazakhstan's national intelligence service, had been investigating China's One Belt One Road promoter's office. As it turned out the Chinese side was involved in land speculation, the Chinese side made an excuse that it was done preventing the fluctuation of the price of land in the free trade zone.

It was not illegal for foreigners to buy land in Kazakhstan, but the Chinese government's ill motives were obvious.

"If China gets away from doing this without any punishment, what would China think of us? There's no excuse for cheating Kazakhstan."

"We have already notified them that we should change our business plans, so let's take some time to sort this. I'm afraid we'll have a dispute with China."

"China can never do anything about Kazakhstan. The representative of the Information Agency, Basten, says that the Chinese economy is in crisis. It's so full of bubbles that it won't be weird if it could go bankrupt at any moment. They can't afford to invest abroad, but the only way China can survive is through exports."

"Really? I guess the Chinese government absolutely needs us for this project."

"Yes, they have no choice but to follow as we set our course."

Then Park Jong-il squinted his eyes and approached Youngho closely. When Park Jong-il did this, he always came up with some kind of trick, not a normal way to deal with an issue.

"Why are you sitting close to me? You get freaky when you do that."

"Man, you've become an expert of me."

"It's a country-to-country affair, so don't try to be clumsy."

"It won't disappoint you, so listen to me first. I'm going to get Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on our side."

"What are you saying?"

"The Chinese government made an investment commitment to those countries, right? But they haven't made much progress on their initial promise. We should squeeze into that gap."

"I'm listening."

"We should get the two countries to step out of One Belt One Road? We'll suggest a benefit in return for them stepping down. Wouldn't that be worth a try?"

"There are a thousand places to spend money here in Kazakhstan, we can't afford that."

"We're the center country of Central Asia. If we convince those two countries well, they'll rather choose us than to follow China's lead. Words don't resolve anything. We should actively shake them."

"That's why I'm already funding their anti-government organizations."

"That takes too long. Maybe you'll see results in 50 years. I don't know about Uzbekistan, but Kyrgyz is about to collapse. Let's take this opportunity to resolve there first."

***

Kyrgyzstan was a country smaller than the Korean Peninsula, with a population of only 5.5 million, but it was made up of about 80 multiracial groups like Kazakhstan.

Eighty percent of the country's land was a mountainous region more than 2,000 meters above sea level, boasting beautiful natural scenery that was called the Alps of Central Asia, and only about eight percent of the country's land could be utilized. Because of that, unemployment was over ten percent of the population, and GDP was less than 1,500 dollars per person.

When Park Jong-il told Youngho to resolve Kyrgyzstan, Youngho thought about it deeply whenever he had free time. Jong-il's words meant that Kazakhstan should take Kyrgyzstan.

He wondered how China would react if Kyrgyzstan was absorbed into Kazakhstan. If Kazakhstan were to stand in the way of One Belt One Road project, China would take Kyrgyzstan as a secondary solution, although the route would get unnecessarily longer in distance. From Youngho's point of view, it would be annoying to have an additional 850-kilometer extension of the border with China, but it was quite tempting since Kyrgyzstan had a lot of gold as its underground resource. Even with the increase in the border, it would not be a problem since the Tian Shan Mountains would be blocking China's entry.

"Your Highness, Kyrgyzstan has a significant amount of deposits of gold, charcoal, uranium, and rare metals."

"We also got a lot of resources. Is there anything else to note?"

"There's a mountain lake, Issyk-Kul. It's the second-largest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca in South America."

"It's the world's second-largest mountain lake?"

"It is a lake that does not freeze even in winter because of its low salinity. Its length is 177 kilometers and width is 57 kilometers."

"What would a mountain lake do to help us?"

"The lake could be the most important part of Kyrgyzstan. Some parts of southern Kazakhstan are importing electric power from Kyrgyzstan now. Since the lake is in the mountain, it has great potential in waterpower generation. The only problem is that it's an area that's exceptionally prone to earthquakes."

Almaty, which was close to Kyrgyzstan was once completely devastated by an earthquake.

Eriksson said earthquakes often occurred, but Youngho did not really care about that. The charm of Kyrgyzstan was none other than gold. He had no idea what the estimated reserves were, but gold was Kyrgyzstan's first export item.

"Currently, how much gold reserves and production does Kyrgyz have per year?"

"It's about 25 tons a year which is one-fifth of Kazakhstan's. They would be able to produce an amount that's equal to Kazakhstan's if they engaged in more active gold mine development. The estimated amount of reserves is 10,000 tons."

"It's hard to judge."

"We have more to lose than gain if we decide to take over Kyrgyzstan, but once it gets within China's reach, we might lose Tajikistan as well."

"I'm not particularly in love with Kyrgyzstan, but I guess we should get involved for Kazakhstan's peace."

"Kyrgyzstan may not have much, but someday it might become the world's best resort-like Switzerland. Also, we don't know what's hidden in the Tian Shan Mountains unless we explore the region."

"Let's weigh international relations and start working on it if there are no major obstacles."

"Why don't you use the border dispute between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz rather than getting directly involved?"

"Why would we pour oil on the fire that already exists between the two?"

"That will give us the justification to be involved in those two countries' affairs."

"We're using the border dispute between the two countries, which could come at the expense of the two people's lives."

"There are still frequent armed struggles between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. If we resolve it once and for all with one big event, it could be a one-shot solution to prevent more sacrifices."

"I'd like to step in and do it myself if I could."

"Kyrgyzstan is a strictly independent country. We must take the role of the middleman if we think about the relations between Kyrgyzstan and other countries around the world. Then we should encourage the people of Kyrgyzstan to choose Kazakhstan in the future."

***

The One Belt One Road promoter's office in Almaty was shut down and pulled out. As the prosecution and police expanded their investigation to other Chinese companies in Almaty, the Chinese government quietly closed its office. In other words, it was the same as the Chinese government admitting to itself that there were more illegal activities going on under the table.

Illegal activities committed by Chinese companies were countless. There were already cases of human trafficking, which was taken by a shock.

Biracial beauties in Kazakhstan were being sold to China for cheap money. In particular, mixed-race girls of Slavic descent were very popular. This happened in Kazakhstan, where it was supposed to be well off in Central Asia. It would be more severe in countries like Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan.

When Youngho looked up after looking at data that Prime Minister Kasim brought, he also stared at the ceiling.

"Prime Minister, what do you mean by human trafficking under the pretext of marriage?"

"It means people pay to buy brides from their parents."

"Is it still happening now?"

"With the new government in place, we have launched a crackdown, and all international marriage agencies were shut down. It's all happened when the previous regime was in place."

"But the Chinese companies were involved in this kind of illegal activities without fear. Make a formal complaint to the Chinese government. If you don't return Kazakhstan's daughters, One Belt One Road will be gone."

"It's not as easy as you think. They're not taken by force, but decided to be sold on their own."

"Do you think they would be having a normal marriage in China? Probably eight or nine out of ten girls would be sold to illegal prostitution businesses."

At Youngho's words, the faces of Prime Minister Kasim and other cabinet members sitting in the conference room turned red. Such an idea was unthinkable in a former secular Muslim country.

"We need to start with a thorough investigation. The Chinese government will be stuck when we give them concrete evidence. Please inform the Kyrgyz and Uzbek governments of this too. The nations of Central Asia should speak with one voice. I'm so embarrassed that I can't bear it. It's degrading that Kazakhstan's daughters have to face this."

"There are many people that are protesting in front of the Chinese Embassy because of the Chinese companies' involvement in illegal activities. This is also a great opportunity to press the Chinese government."

"If you have the departure data of the Kazakh girls and Chinese people who bought them, you'll be able to track them down. And tell families to report if their family members who went abroad are missing."

"Many families would keep quiet rather than being embarrassed."

"It's a national problem. If we don't correct it now, our next generations will point fingers at us."

"Your Highness, the sentiments of those who believe in Islam are different from what you think. Any women who got married now belong to other families."

"I'm sure they don't belong to their original families anymore, but to the new government and royal family of Kazakhstan, they are still the daughters of Kazakhstan. We have to correct that wrong tradition first. Is it possible to sell people with money in the 21st century? Religious freedom is guaranteed now, but they still have ill traditions packaged in the name of religion, which must be eliminated now. Only then will we be able to take a step to become an advanced country."

Youngho was too furious that he mentioned about sensitive religious issues. However, as he was done speaking, ministers started applauding. It seemed that his mention of 'the daughters of Kazakhstan' had moved their hearts.