Empire of the Ring

Although there had been small and big gunfights at the border between Kazakhstan and China, the morale of the army in charge of defense remained as high as the beginning.

The shoot-outs these days were intended to disturb the Chinese side by provoking the military in order to send supplies to Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet.

The soldiers had been cooperating well as the independence of Uyghurs and Tibetans were directly related to the future of Kazakhstan.

They were tired as the tension was prolonged, but they knew that it was not going to expand to an all-out war.

As the commanders of the army did not conduct unreasonable operations and having such trust directly contributed to the soldiers' high morale and pride.

With such combined factors, the Kazakh Army could stay fierce and proactive.

The Chinese military reinforced its guard at the border region, its attention was divided as the Kazakh military provoked it here and there. As a result, it was not aware of the supply line carried out by the local nomadic people.

Even if it did, it was hard to grasp the traffic lines of the nomads as they freely traveled through alpine regions. It was because there were not many Chinese troops who could guard such a region when it was even difficult to breathe.

Even so, without heavy weapons, militias' performance against Chinese troops had limits, and they could not fully corner the Chinese side.

As it seemed to be the right timing, Youngho decided to send the Royal Bodyguards disguised as mercenaries.

At the same time, Cha In-soo's private military company also requested mercenary deployment to private military companies in different countries.

The first country to respond was the UK.

Kazakhstan once helped the UK to move the British Army stationed in Germany was about to be disorganized and to repay for the past assistance, it introduced Gurkhas in Nepal.

Gurkhas were a Mongolian minority tribe living in the mountains of central and western Nepal, and Gurkha mercenaries referred to those from this tribe.

Gurkha mercenaries were currently serving as mercenaries in India, Brunei, Singapore, and Malaysia, as well as Britain, with their unique combat power, bravery, and excellent physical conditions such as lung capacity from living in alpine regions.

In particular, there were about 3,000 Gurkha mercenaries who were active in the UK, and they were so active that they were responsible for a certain portion of the British Army's force.

The British Army's selection criteria were based on a difficult test in which applicants were required to get through 5 kilometers in the Himalayan mountainous region within an hour while carrying a 25-kilogram pile of stones.

In Singapore, there was also a separate organization called the Gurkha Police Force.

About 1,800 Gurkhas were dedicated to special security and private security as well as anti-terrorism missions, and Singapore was picking second-highest-ranking officials who did not pass the British military's enlistment test.

They could be hired as Singaporean police officers after receiving high-level special training and passing a review of their dedication and job suitability.

As such, Gurkha mercenaries were gaining popularity in each country, and it was proof of their bravery.

Cha In-soo, who had returned from Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet, visited Nepal to recruit Gurkha mercenaries.

Despite having to digest the tight schedule of traveling to such places, he did not seem tired at all.

"How can you be so energetic? What have you been eating?"

"I dug and ate some wild ginseng in the Tian Shan Mountains, and now I'm full of energy. Why do you ask?"

Park Jong-il, who could not accompany In-soo on the visit to the Uyghur camps, smacked his lips as if he was jealous.

"Man, you didn't go to look after the training camps but to collect mountain herbs."

"Dude, I suffered so much camping out in the mountains and fighting against Chinese troops. I should have something in return at least. You'll see if you spend some time in the Tian Shan Mountains.

"I can only go when someone sends me. I feel like getting sick spending so much time at the desk."

"Don't be such a cry baby. I almost died!"

"Okay, okay. By the way, how many Gurkha mercenaries can we bring?"

Youngho interrupted their conversation.

"If randomly recruited, we can bring about 300. Good ones don't even consider us since they're going to join the British Army."

"Randomly picked? That means they're not good enough."

"It's only a little difference. All of them have been training their bodies for long in order to become mercenaries."

As they could make money to live in Nepal for the rest of their lives if they worked as mercenaries for several years, Gurkha boys prepared themselves to become mercenaries from their teenage years.

Also, young Gurkha men worked hard to enter the British Army because they were guaranteed pension even after they were discharged once they entered the army.

"But it means they fall short of the recruitment standard of the British Army. How are they compared to the Royal Bodyguards?"

"Their shooting skills or operational skills may lag behind, but their physical and mental capacities should be ahead of the royal guards."

"Then the guerrilla warfare must be perfect for them. If they're loosened in Tibet, the Chinese troops will be frightened."

Park Jong-il explained how good the Gurkha mercenaries were at guerrilla warfare in length.

"But still, bullets don't discriminate."

Even the bravest warriors could not avoid bullets.

Each would have to be trained to use all kinds of guns and learn the concept of operations in order to be reborn as real warriors.

"Let's decide to hire them. It's hard to find warriors like them."

***

Following the Gurkhas, leading military companies Blackwater and Sandline showed interest in participating in the independence struggle of Uyghurs and Tibetans.

The fact that private military companies showed an intention to enter the war meant that there was a chance of winning in the independence struggle.

Although they seemed to be companies only chasing money, they cared about causes and rarely participated in battles that did not have a chance of winning, especially when fighting against regular armies with remarkably stronger firepower.

Generally, such companies only entered unofficial wars.

Despite this, the reason that they wanted to join was that the Kazakh government was behind it.

Each country viewed that Kazakhstan would not be the only country supporting the independence of Uyghurs and Tibetans.

It was impossible if it was not discussed with the U.S or Russia, or there might be a hidden variable to combat China.

The American military company, Blackwater, was especially hoping to enter the war in the Tibetan region as it was already going to enter the civil war in Afghanistan instead of the U.S. Army.

"Is it true that Blackwater is stronger than the U.S. Army?"

"That's tricky. How can a private company become bigger than the regular army? But it's military experts' diagnosis that it has enough capacity to carry a small-scale unofficial war. You can say it's the world's most powerful private military company."

Youngho asked the question because Blackwater offered to carry out an anti-rebel operation in Afghanistan instead of the U.S. Army.

As the U.S. Army was spending so much in Afghanistan, it was positively considering it when a private military company wanted to take over its job.

The U.S. was in Afghanistan to preoccupy Afghanistan's underground resources and to stop China's advance in Afghanistan.

"How is the company compared to our Royal Bodyguards?"

"Of course, our guards are far ahead in terms of its firepower and war competency, but why do you ask?"

"The U.S. administration is looking into deploying a private military company now. I was wondering if we can take that job."

The forces of the Royal Bodyguards were too precious to send to Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet. Thus, it was better to let the mercenaries take care of the independence struggle and send the royal guards for the anti-rebel operation in Afghanistan.

Since the Royal Bodyguards were operating in Afghanistan at the moment, if they were disguised as a private company, it would also be highly profitable.

"We are getting money from the U.S. government for their presence there."

"That's the least amount the U.S. gives to its ally."

"I'm intrigued. If we offer a lower price than the American company, we might have a chance."

Park Jong-il immediately understood Youngho's intention.

The Royal Bodyguards were already deployed in Afghanistan, and they could not be pulled out even to preoccupy the country's underground resources.

If so, it would be a win-win for both countries if the royal guards could be utilized to their maximum. As they were not technically a regular army, there was no huge political burden either.

Even for the U.S. government, it would be a relief to lean on the Kazakh Royal Bodyguards than on a private company with risks.

"The American company would've lobbied the U.S. administration already. Will it give it to us so easily?"

"I'm going to grill Michael. It's going to be hard for him to refuse since he's had so many free rides on us."

Although Youngho had pulled him in for he needed the U.S. backup, it was his regard that the U.S. CIA was able to participate in the peace process of Azerbaijan and Armenia and the independence struggle of Uyghurs and Tibetans.

"Should I go to the U.S.?"

"What's gotten into you? You never volunteer."

"It doesn't look good if the Duke of Kazakhstan moves. The American company will also be on its edge."

"It could've been already confirmed. I hope we're not doing this for nothing."

"That's actually better. What is it going to say if we insist on dividing the area? Or we can say that we'll pull out from Afghanistan."

Youngho, who was the Duke of Kazakhstan, could not obstinately ask for the impossible for his face, but Jong-il would do anything to get his way.

It was because he would be going as a working-level negotiator.

"Well, I guess I'll get to see your masterpiece again, Jong-il."

"Don't even try to call Michael, alright? Or, he will try to do some tricks on you and wiggle his way out of it."

"I'll give you a piggyback ride if you beat him this time."

The U.S. military spent about 50 billion dollars a year in Afghanistan.

If Kazakhstan could get one-fifth of that amount, it could buy about 60 latest fighter jets, which would make the Kazakh Air Force an impregnable force.

With such calculation in mind, Youngho smiled contentedly, and Jong-il tilted his head.

"What's that face? Why do you look so evil?"

"Don't even think of coming back to Kazakhstan when you go to the U.S. this time without any fruits, or you can even steal some fighters on the way."

Park Jong-il clicked his tongue to Youngho's absurdity.

"You are blinded by money, and now the independence of Uyghur and Tibet is on the back burner."

"Don't worry, I'm going to drive the Afghan rebels to China. Then the independence of Uygurs and Tibetans will be put forward."

"Oh yeah? Then we should convince the U.S. administration with that."

It would be welcomed by the U.S. if a Kazakh military company operated in Afghanistan since the U.S. could support Tibet without trouble.

It was also killing two birds with one stone as it cost less.

The U.S., which always put its national interest first, would not refuse such an opportunity.

"Anyway, get some more information on this company called Blackwater. See which politicians it is related to. If they are tycoons, see if they have personal corruption. You can also draw them to our side using that as bait."

"We don't even have to take that difficult route. If everything's already confirmed, we will lobby to divide the area. There won't be any good for us by stirring up the American political circle."

"You can decide that on your own. Just make it happen no matter what."