Chapter 1148 The Empire's Proxy War (Second update, please subscribe)

Two minutes later, Li Haoze came up from the office on the 7th floor. He didn't look like a senior manager of a company, but more like a military officer.

In fact, he was born into a military family. He once served in the Imperial Army. After retiring, he was hired by the "Black Warrior Company" and participated in the elimination of Republican rebels in Mexico. He was ruthless and had a bad reputation in Mexico. He was even known as the "butcher" in some areas. However, he looked gentle and refined, so it was hard to associate him with the "butcher".

After the war, a total of 80,000 Black Warrior mercenaries chose to settle in Mexico. They were reorganized into the "Rural Mounted Police" to assist the central government of the empire in eradicating local separatist forces and restoring social order.

However, he did not join the "Country Mounted Police" but joined the railway company. As the manager of the railway company's security department, he controlled the company's armed forces - the railway police. In addition to the station police station, bureau, and station, the company also had a special mobile force to protect the railway line from attacks by bandits and robbers. In Mexico, bandits and robbers are endless. After the end of the civil war, Mexico was full of bandits, mainly Mexican rebels, bankrupt farmers, and unemployed vagrants.

In another world, the treatment of the bandits by the famous Mexican President Diaz after he came to power was jaw-dropping. He not only recruited all the bandits but also made them police officers to maintain public order! It is conceivable how they would maintain public order.

However, in this world, the black warrior has become a "rural policeman", but this cannot stop bandits from attacking trains, so the railway company also has its own special mobile force and even its own armored train. And Li Haoze is the director of all the armed forces of the company.

This is the characteristic of large companies in this era - not only do they have huge assets, they even have their own armed forces.

When Li Haoze walked into the president's office, Sun Chenglin had already stuffed the Guatemala report into a drawer.

He smiled kindly at Li Haoze.

"Wenjie, I have something I need to consider. I am in a hurry to make a decision, and I may need your advice."

The president's words made Li Haoze understand that this matter might need to be solved with fists. What was it?

bandit?

Or he is a powerful person somewhere. If he doesn't know what's best for him, just let the bandits get rid of him.

Well, companies fight bandits, but they also support bandits. Sometimes bandits can do things more conveniently than companies can, and can help companies solve many problems. Once the people are solved, the problems will naturally be solved as well.

"It's okay, President. Just tell me if you need anything."

"Well, you see, the company you know has always intended to build a railway to Guatemala. Well, this is part of the Pan-American Railway. At present, if the Imperial Railway negotiates with various countries to build the Pan-American Railway, it will easily arouse the vigilance of other countries. Therefore, if we come forward to build part of it, such as the railway in Central America, we can relax their vigilance, which is more conducive to speeding up the construction of the Pan-American Railway."

Speeding up progress is one thing, but what is more important?

Sun Chenglin wanted to use this opportunity to get into the top ranks of the Imperial Railway Company, or even become the president of the Imperial Railway Company!

Ambition needs to be supported by performance, so after taking office, he planned the "China-US Railway" on the spot as a capital to squeeze into the top of the Imperial Railway. This is also the reason why he values ​​this matter.

"But Guatemala rejected our request. They didn't want to let us build the railway."

"They refused?"

Li Haoze thought about it and then said.

"In 1871, Miguel García Granados and Justo Rufino Barrios staged a coup and came to power, establishing the Liberal Party regime. Two years later, Barrios came to power and began a series of social reforms, promulgating a new constitution and education law, reforming the church and confiscating its land, building roads and railways. He has been trying to promote the development of the national economy by improving transportation. Logically speaking..."

Recalling the information about Guatemala, Li Haoze frowned.

"They definitely need our technology and funding. If they refuse, it's probably out of some kind of distrust!"

"They are worried that if we get involved, it will damage Guatemala's sovereignty, but we are just businessmen and have no interest in their sovereignty at all."

Sun Chenglin was telling the truth. He really didn't have the slightest interest, at least not yet. Even if he did, it would be others who had it, not him. At most, he would cooperate when needed.

Of course, building railways will certainly infringe on their sovereignty to a certain extent, but this is a universal rule in the world and no one is exempt from it.

"If that's the case, it may not be easy to get their agreement. Barrios is an ambitious guy. He is well-known as a "reformer" in Central America. Since he came to power, he has suppressed local nobles by force, expelled Jesuits, confiscated church property, built roads, railways and telegraph lines, and encouraged farmers to grow coffee and develop agriculture. Not only is he tough at home, he even tried to restore the Five-Nation Federation that collapsed in 1838..."

"Yes, that's what I'm talking about!"

Sun Chenglin clapped his hands vigorously and said.

"Barrios is a very ambitious guy. Since he came to power, he has interfered in the affairs of other countries many times, and has been trying to lobby the other four countries to restore the Five-Nation Alliance. But he will definitely not succeed. Who will give up power to others? Therefore, I believe that after political persuasion fails, he will definitely choose to achieve this goal by force..."

Looking at Li Haoze, Sun Chenglin asked in a serious tone.

"Now what I want to know is: if he chooses to invade the other four countries by force, what is the chance of his success? I mean, with the current military strength of Guatemala, how high is the possibility of his success?"

"this……"

Li Haoze thought about it and then said.

"The company's investigation department should have more say in this matter. They should have a report on this matter."

"They are them, but you are a military man, and fighting a war is not a simple comparison of troop numbers, right? I want to hear your opinion - well, for example, with the support of the company, what are the chances of his success?"

“With the support of the company!”

Looking at the president in surprise, Li Haoze was full of confusion. What was the president talking about?

"Didn't Barrios reject our request to build a railway? Why should we still support him? Shouldn't we... overthrow him? He has suppressed the nobles and landlords over the years, and there are many people in the country who oppose him. We can completely choose one or two suitable targets, provide weapons and funds to overthrow his regime, and then negotiate with the new government. Wouldn't this be more beneficial to us?"

What is negotiation!

At that time, whatever the company says will be the final word. In order to regain what they have lost, those nobles will definitely be willing to exchange national interests such as railway rights for the company's support.

Facing his subordinate's question, Sun Chenglin leaned back in his chair and spoke slowly.

"But this may not necessarily be beneficial to the empire!"

(End of this chapter)