Exchange of Fire

"I didn't expect Mr. Zhang to have such a skilled person in your team," Chris said with a slight sigh.

Zhang Yang didn't get the answer he wanted, so he just smiled and waved to his mine protection team.

He discovered that ever since his mining team was given the buff of absolute loyalty to him, they seemed to have begun to understand his meaning infinitely. Sometimes, they didn't even need to say anything; a single gesture was enough for them to understand everything without words.

The next second, everyone was stunned.

The mine protection team of over a hundred people stepped forward in unison, lined up in a row, and took off their AK47s.

Then, simultaneously fire at the target wall in the distance.

Swish swish··

On the target wall, from left to right, a bullet hole stretched out instantly, perfectly straight and visible to the naked eye.

Chris was completely shaken.

The mine executives who were watching from the sidelines were also stunned.

Even though it's only been a few days since our big boss first came to this mine, how did he manage to control the mining protection team to this extent? Of course, the big boss is everyone's benefactor, so it's expected that the mining protection team will be so obedient, but the current situation goes far beyond mere obedience.

Zhang Yang waved again.

Everyone instantly holstered their guns, as if nothing had happened.

With ease and composure, as calm and serene as a cloud in the sky.

Many members of Vanguard Security were also watching from the sidelines.

Many of them initially just watched with a spectator's mentality, observing everything unfolding before them.

After all, many of them were former elite special forces soldiers, while these mine protection teams were, to put it nicely, amateurs, and to put it bluntly, a rabble. Otherwise, there would be no need to hire them.

But at that moment, everyone was moved.

This... this...

Putting everything else aside, just look at the marksmanship of this group of people, their perfect uniformity, and their absolute obedience to orders; with proper training, they would be an elite force.

And these people were just a mine security team?

"Team Leader Chen." Zhang Yang stopped talking to Chris about it and walked straight to the person in charge of security at their mine from Vanguard Security, smiling. "I wasn't joking, I'm serious. Help me with the training, the price is negotiable."

Private security companies are founded to take on business and make money.

Protecting him is part of the job, and being responsible for the security construction of the mine is also part of the job. So why can't we do this for money, like training his own mine security team?

"Mr. Zhang, training is no problem," Captain Chen said without hesitation. "I just don't know what kind of training you're referring to?"

Zhang Yang casually lit a cigarette and chuckled.

"You think I want to train security guards? It's special forces training, of course!"

"Then I can't make that decision myself. How about I report it to the branch office?" Team Leader Chen asked tentatively.

"Okay, you go." Zhang Yang nodded with a smile.

A few moments later, after a few phone calls, the matter was settled.

There's no reason not to make money when there is an opportunity.

It's said that money makes the world go round, and on the continent of Africa, everything has a price tag; it's simply a matter of how much money you have.

When Zhang Yang had a need, Vanguard Security naturally rushed to provide the corresponding services.

That's the price...

"They really don't hold back when they open their mouths." Zhang Yang shook his head and smiled.

That's why Captain Chen is so inflexible. For such a small matter, those of them present could have just discussed it and divided the money among themselves, but instead they insisted on reporting it upstairs, adding another middleman.

However, since the price is clearly stated, he won't hold back.

Among the Vanguard Security personnel present were former Navy SEALs, Delta Force members, and even Chris, a former Royal Marines. They must have a lot of training methods; this was a perfect opportunity to thoroughly expose him.

"Mr. Zhang, are you sure you want to use our training method?" Chris was wearing a camouflage T-shirt, with tanned skin and a great figure.

"OK." Zhang Yang nodded.

Admittedly, special forces training methods are inhuman and painful, but his mine protection team has a buff: absolute loyalty.

100% loyalty means 100% obedience.

He did whatever he was told to do.

No matter how inhuman the training methods are, as long as he says one sentence, these people will persevere even if they don't want to. That's the power of a system.

"Okay." Chris nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

In the days that followed, several former special forces soldiers from Vanguard Security began serving as temporary instructors, subjecting Zhang Yang's mine protection team to extremely rigorous and hellish training.

It's utterly outrageous.

Because Zhang Yang had given prior notice.

From beginning to end, all members of the mine protection team gritted their teeth and persevered with the training.

They were all energetic young men, full of vigor and vitality, their sweat glistening in the sunlight, exuding an increasingly fierce aura.

Especially the local Black people.

These Black people, with their innate racial gifts, are indeed physically exceptional. Furthermore, having shed their former laxity and left only absolute obedience, their fighting prowess has improved by leaps and bounds, making them incomparable to others.

Zhang Yang stayed at the mine for almost half a month, and the people there changed almost every day.

On this day, under the blazing sun...

The members of the mine protection team, all wearing military green short-sleeved shirts, were lined up in rows of ten, their bodies covered in sweat and salt stains from the sun, and they were jogging.

When the local Black people from the mine occasionally passed by, they would look at them with fear and keep their distance, not daring to make eye contact.

That is to say, Zhang Yang wasn't that brutal.

Otherwise, he would definitely be a large mine owner who enslaves and exploits the local people.

"Mr. Zhang, do you know how many people are in a special forces team?" Chris stood next to Zhang Yang, looking at the rows of fierce-looking mine protection teams in front of her, her tone filled with undisguised amazement.

"Ten people? Or a dozen or so?" Zhang Yang asked casually.

"Usually there are six to a dozen people," Chris said. "Your group of over a hundred is equivalent to ten special forces teams... Don't tell me they're just ordinary mine protection teams; their potential and progress are evident to all."

"But they really are just a mine protection team." Zhang Yang shrugged. "From beginning to end, all I wanted was to protect my little plot of land, my small business."

"You really are..." Chris blinked, the word "miser" on the tip of her tongue but she didn't say it.

This is no small industry.

This is a massive industry that generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually. How can someone who manages such a large industry be described as a miser?

"By the way, there's something I'd like to remind you." Chris withdrew her gaze from Zhang Yang, which had been lingering there. "The area around the mine hasn't been very peaceful lately. Anti-government armed groups from the neighboring province have invaded several villages nearby. With such a large target around here, be careful."

"I will pass the notice down; employees are strictly prohibited from leaving the premises recently." Zhang Yang nodded.

Gango is indeed not a peaceful place.

Zhang Yang hadn't noticed it before, but recently, the faint sound of gunfire coming from afar, and the constant alertness of the Vanguard Security Team members, did indeed make him vaguely sense something unusual in the air.

That day, Lu Hang rushed over to report something.

"Mr. Zhang, there's something I need to report to you."

"What is it?" Zhang Yang remained relaxed throughout.

Even though war raged outside and small groups of rebels occasionally raided surrounding villages, everything remained peaceful in this vast, isolated mining area.

"Wukan's village was wiped out by armed men from the neighboring province, Wukan's entire family was killed." Lu Hang wiped the sweat from his brow, looking somewhat anxious. "We made some inquiries, and it turns out that some of the armed men involved in this cleanup were former employees who had been fired from our mine."

The local people who were promoted last time are in charge of managing Wukan and are responsible for the previous employee layoffs.

As for the miners who left the mine and turned into militants, it's not surprising. In this area, where life is precarious, it's common for villagers to join these organizations from time to time.

"So you think this is their revenge, right?" Zhang Yang asked.

"Very likely," Lu Hang. "The last robbery targeting our Chinese employees was carried out by locals working in collusion with us. These people are extremely vicious; the only way to deal with them is through force. You can't expect them to have any conscience."

Only when the mine is powerful enough and offers sufficient income can it motivate the frontline workers to obediently work on the front lines.

Once a mine becomes weak, or its revenue falls short of expectations, there will be plenty of troublemakers causing problems.

"Pass the word down that no one should go out unless absolutely necessary, especially our people," Zhang Yang instructed.

It wasn't that he treated people differently.

It's true that locals don't stand out in public, but their own people are too conspicuous, even in normal times, let alone during special circumstances.

"Mr. Zhang, should we ask the local government for help and request them to send more people to stand guard?" Lu Hang asked again.

"Rely on them? Rely on them to come and freeload?" Zhang Yang shook his head. "For now, don't bother. Strengthen security in the factory area, pay close attention to security, and act according to the situation."

"Okay, Mr. Zhang." Lu Hang nodded quickly and left.

There are too many small armed groups in the vicinity, most of them insignificant. Sometimes, if any dare to approach the mining area, we fire warning shots and they retreat.

Everyone knows that the mining area is a tough place; at most, they'll target lone Chinese people with kidnapping or extortion.

Very few dare to launch a large-scale attack.

For the next few days, everything within the factory area remained normal, with no changes.

The only issue is that the perimeter security is a bit tighter.

Sometimes, regardless of day or night, a gunshot or two would occasionally ring out, only to be quickly silenced.

Everyone's used to this. After all, this kind of thing happens from time to time, and basically no one can get close.

Zhang Yang sat calmly in his office, his attention focused elsewhere.

"The poorest place has the richest mineral resources, it's really..." Zhang Yang studied Gango, especially the mineral deposits in the province, and couldn't help but sigh.

Other families, sitting on this gold mine, are getting richer and richer.

How did Gango become the poorest country in Africa?

No, to be precise, these enormous profits only benefited a small group of people: local armed groups, warlords in power, and mining companies from all over the world that flocked to the area.

Okay, that includes him too.

A country so rotten to the core has no future, and Zhang Yang naturally wouldn't have any other thoughts. He's thinking about the same things as other ambitious people: how to maximize his own interests on this land.

"Mr. Zhang!" The office door was suddenly pushed open.

Zhang Yang looked up and saw Chris hurrying in.

"What's wrong?"

"There are armed men coming, and quite a few of them. I suggest you come with us and avoid them for the time being," Chris said hastily.

"That serious?" Zhang Yang asked, his face full of surprise.

"This is no joke, we must ensure your safety." Chris grabbed Zhang Yang's hand and tried to pull him away. "Huh?"

She discovered that she couldn't pull it up.

"Don't be too nervous, how many people are there?" Zhang Yang said casually, and walked straight out.

Chris was taken aback, but instinctively followed.

"There are about several dozen armed men, fully equipped, and we are currently engaged in a firefight ahead... Mr. Zhang, please cooperate with us."

"Have the mine protection team gone?" Zhang Yang waved his hand and asked.

"The mine protection team?" Chris was taken aback. "These people... we can handle them, we don't need the mine protection team for now."

Zhang Yang smiled.

It's surprising that the people at Vanguard Security have such a strong sense of pride. Calling in the mine protection team would be tantamount to admitting their own inadequate security, which, given their pride, they would naturally not allow.

But what time is it now?

"Come here, everyone..." Zhang Yang waved his hand, standing inside the mine.

In the distance, the members of the mine protection team who were on duty patrolling and maintaining order in the factory area immediately assembled. They were all wearing bulletproof vests, holding AKs, and had fierce expressions, exuding an indescribable toughness.

"Mr. Zhang!"

"There's an attack outside the mine, go and fight it off," Zhang Yang casually ordered.

When armed men attack a mine, the defenders, acting in self-defense, have always been willing to fight to the death.

"It's Mr. Zhang!"

The mine protection team of over a hundred people immediately assembled and rushed to the scene of the firefight without hesitation. To the uninitiated, they looked like elite troops from somewhere.

The mine protection team, trained by the Vanguard Security personnel, was indeed a completely different team.

"You..." Chris stammered, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.

Zhang Yang ignored Chris and went straight with the mine protection team, intending to check the situation on-site and see how well the team performed in actual combat.

Chris panicked immediately.

"Mr. Zhang, you cannot go over there."

"It's nothing," Zhang Yang said casually, without stopping.

The two walked one after the other.

Chris was quite puzzled.

Zhang Yang was walking, and she was jogging after him. But no matter how she tried, she couldn't catch up... Are you kidding me?

Along the way, the sounds of gunfire were almost upon them.

"Mr. Zhang!"

Ahead, several fully armed Vanguard Security guards looked over and immediately became anxious, "You can't come here, it's too dangerous!"

"It's okay, let me see." Zhang Yang looked into the distance.

Outside the mining area, several dilapidated trucks were parked far away, and a group of slovenly militiamen were spreading out, constantly exchanging fire with those present.