June 28, 1914.
While inspecting Sarajevo, the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Ferdinand, and his wife Sophie were suddenly targeted by assassins.
On the first attempt, the assassin threw a bomb at their motorcade, but a bodyguard deflected it, and the attack failed.
Yet on the second attempt, a mistake by the chauffeur led the car into an alleyway where it was forced to back up. That blunder handed a second opportunity to the assassin, who had already been preparing to swallow poison.
This time, Archduke Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie were not so fortunate. Cold bullets tore through his neck and pierced his wife's heart.
It was precisely this assassination that brought the simmer between two rival blocs vying for world hegemony to a full boil.
When the arms race escalated past what either side could bear, going to war had become their best option.
In July, Austria-Hungary formally invaded Serbia, while Germany declared war on France and Tsarist Russia!
With that, the First World War officially erupted.
Flipping through the newspaper in his hands, Liu Ren's expression remained placid. He knew full well that even without the Sarajevo incident, the flames of war were bound to ignite; both sides had long been itching to pull the trigger.
And it was precisely the outbreak of war that sent the Silver Rock Arms Factory into overdrive.
As countless shipped-in "cotton-picking machines" were slotted into factory posts like expendable cogs, the entire war machine kicked into high gear.
Now, not only did they have to deliver two hundred thousand Garand rifles to France, but Great Britain had also placed an order for over a hundred thousand.
And that was hardly the lion's share; far more was coming from mortars, Maxim machine guns, and Gatlings...
As the arms factory ran round the clock, blurring day and night, Liu Ren couldn't help but tap the financial statement and say, "Find a way to expand the factory as fast as possible. If there's not enough land, go to Lauren; if anything else is lacking, go to Robert. We must rise to the very top in the coming years!"
Hearing Liu Ren's words, the hired managers below all put on grave expressions.
They understood that as long as the war raged on, their Silver Rock Group would never face a liquidity crunch.
As for what would happen once the war ended—that was not their concern!
A steady stream of wealth poured into the conglomerate from overseas. Watching the figures change day after day, Liu Ren suddenly found himself thinking that money felt rather meaningless; it was merely a string of numbers.
Handing most of the corporate affairs over to professionals, Liu Ren suddenly understood how Chancellor Zhuge Liang had worked himself to exhaustion.
Running just one arms factory like Silver Rock Group kept him run ragged; how could anyone bear the weight of running an entire empire?
Setting the overarching direction, Liu Ren decided to treat himself to a holiday. After all, he was neither a genius nor an industry specialist, and an amateur trying to micromanage professionals was a recipe for disaster!
Speaking of which, one could hardly fail to mention that renowned "micromanagement master" and Logistics Chief.
He had been a famous diary fanatic—because what respectable person kept a diary?
Yet similarly, he was endlessly torn to shreds in other people's diaries!
As for the man who cursed him in his diary, that was none other than the famous four-star general, Joseph Stilwell!
And that man was ruthless enough to curse out even "Cripple Roosevelt"!
He had even slapped a distinctive moniker on the Logistics Chief: "Peanut"!
Why Peanut? Because most Europeans were allergic to the damn things, and severe reactions could prove fatal!
Evidently, Stilwell had started cursing too soon. Only when MacArthur was beaten on the Korean Peninsula—standing there with his hands in his pockets, not daring to strike back—did people finally realize how formidable the Logistics Chief's opponents truly were!
Logistics Chief: *Back in my day, I had to face ten monsters like that all by myself—ten whole monsters!*
***
Manhattan, the Astor Estate.
A motorcar pulled inside and came to a stop before the fountain.
Stepping out, Liu Ren walked forward with a smile. "Long time no see, gentlemen!"
"Hahaha, we've just been waiting on you, Liu!"
Calling out a greeting, Robert strode over with a beaming grin.
After exchanging pleasantries, the men headed to the golf course in the rear.
Gazing across the lush green lawn, Liu Ren glanced at the golf club in his hand and fell silent.
It felt as though he had brought the wrong tools. Surely he should have brought a shovel and a hoe, with a few bags of seeds tucked into his briefcase!
"Liu, the group's recent growth has been truly astounding!"
Speaking to Liu Ren, Lauren couldn't hide his excitement.
He truly hadn't backed the wrong man; investing in Liu Ren was easily the smartest decision he had ever made in his life.
Hearing Lauren's praise, Liu Ren replied calmly, "When the wind is strong enough, even a pig can fly. We ought to thank the war!"
"Right, Liu has it spot on—thank the war!" Robert laughed heartily, raising a hand in high spirits.
As the group chatted and joked, Robert spoke up, "Liu, I'm thinking of running for office."
Hearing this, Lauren nodded, signaling he had already been briefed.
Looking at Robert, Liu Ren understood that the man was seeking his backing.
After all, Manhattan was home to a substantial Chinese population, and through Gatsby, Liu Ren was gradually taking control of Brooklyn.
The former Jewish and Irish factions were steadily being driven out.
"No problem, Robert. You have my full support!"
Looking at Robert with a broad smile, Liu Ren naturally had no reason to oppose his partner's climb up the ladder; they were allies, after all.
So long as Robert had no intention of betraying them, Liu Ren would back him with both hands, even if he climbed all the way to Washington step by step!
"Seems we're all on the same page!" Lundin chuckled, smiling widely.
Among the four of them, Robert handled the political sphere above, Lauren provided connections and financial backing, Lundin oversaw legal matters, and Liu Ren naturally acted as the iron fist in the shadows.
It was precisely because Liu Ren handled that side of the business that the other three could rest easy.
No one knew better than they did what this young man had endured, clawing his way from a Chinese laborer who survived the sinking of the Titanic to where he stood today.
In just two years, he had risen from a penniless Chinese laborer to the president of an arms conglomerate valued at over fifty million dollars!
Even if on paper the Silver Rock Group belonged to the Astor family, everyone knew that this Chinese man pulling strings from behind the scenes was its true master.
***
Time slipped by, and the election drew near.
Yet at such a crucial juncture, Robert placed an urgent call to Liu Ren.
"Liu, something's gone wrong! That damn woman betrayed me! Fuck, fuck!"
Howling in frantic rage, Robert roared into the receiver like a cornered beast.
Hearing his outburst, Liu Ren frowned. "Don't say such things over the phone, you idiot! Have you completely forgotten your manners? Calm down, Robert! The world hasn't ended! Take a deep breath and keep your head!"
Panting heavily, Robert seemed to realize he had lost his composure. He immediately said, "I'll wait for you at the usual place!"
Hanging up the receiver, Robert's gaze turned chillingly cold.
He had never expected that at such a pivotal moment, he would be played for a fool by a woman!
Had he known, he would have agreed to her demands and paid her off!
"Fuck! Fuck!"
With a vicious backhand swipe, Robert sent everything flying off the desk, roaring in fury.
Back in his office, Liu Ren looked at the silent receiver, his eyes turning cold.
He knew that someone must have gotten their hands on leverage over Robert; otherwise, the man would never have lost his temper so completely.
"An idiot who can't keep it in his pants."
Massaging the bridge of his nose, Liu Ren's eyes hardened into a frigid stare.
Chapter 33