Chapter 1457: 1,438th Chapter: 80 million

Gao Yang went to inspect the airport that now belonged to him.

It’s a bit of a stretch to call Beira Airport an airport. There’s basically no ground control system, no radar, just a few high-power radios that can communicate with airplanes in the sky, and a runway on sandy ground. Of course, there’s no condition for night landings since there are not even indicator lights on either side of the runway; pilots would need to dare to land blindly at night.

But in any case, Beira Airport can accommodate An-32 planes taking off and landing. With this airport, Gao Yang can use air transport for urgent situations to Yemen, whether to transport people or things, it’s feasible.

Of course, the port is the most crucial part. Controlling the port means arms can be continuously delivered to Beira, which is vital. Originally, the Skull Gang had to launch an attack on Beira from Bosaso, transporting arms over long distances, mainly launching attacks from land, making supply a major burden.

For Gao Yang, the matters lying ahead are numerous and chaotic, all waiting to be resolved.

The affairs must be handled one by one, but Gao Yang does not know what to prioritize.

The Solar System Company is still an empty shell, but its prospects are very promising. Little Donnie is staying in America to temporarily manage the Solar System Company’s affairs, his biggest complaint being too much business but absolutely no manpower, he’s always been a lone commander, unable to take on any doable business.

Other security companies are worried about not having business to do during their initial stages, whereas Gao Yang is troubled by too much business and insufficient manpower. Morgan has laid out such a smooth path for him that too much business becomes a hassle.

The Solar System Company is the obvious operation while Gao Yang’s plan in Yemen is covert. It also requires manpower, it needs someone to lead the whole situation but Gao Yang hasn’t even found the person to manage in Yemen.

Taking down Beira was the first step, only to have a convenient foothold and bridgehead in Yemen. Now that Beira is conquered, the rest is crucial, but Gao Yang simply does not have the spare capacity to further establish a strategy in Yemen.

The plan was to earn a sum in Ukraine and then focus on managing the Solar System Company while stirring Yemen’s inevitable chaos, to preemptively lay the groundwork for Satan to reap significant benefits on the Yemeni battlefield. But the plan has changed.

The change comes from Ukraine. Gao Yang couldn’t even earn a sum, instead, he’s put all his capital into it. What he needs now is not future returns but cash. Without cash, both the Solar System Company and operations in Yemen cannot proceed. So, he acquired five aircraft at an extremely low price, almost for free, but it barely helped with his current financial strain, instead became an additional burden.

Aircraft needs maintenance, you can’t just leave them unchecked. Then you have aircraft, but what about the crew members? Without pilots you have nothing, without ground staff, planes are just a heap of scrap metal. Well, if you want the aircraft to be functional, then you need to spend money on people.

Grand Ivan and Djo Malthael’s war not only bogged Gao Yang down but directly pulled him into the water.

When it was almost dark, Maide and Abu entered Beira through the port.

Abu was still dressed in the luxurious military uniform that Uriyangko had found for him, wearing a large-brimmed hat and sunglasses, looking impressive. Beside him, the slender Maide still wore a white short-sleeved shirt and had a baby face, looking more like Abu’s attendant.

But everyone knows, that Maide, the one-armed man appearing like a child, is the soul of the Skull Gang.

The Skull Gang’s main source of income is collecting maritime tolls, which is certainly illegal, essentially no different from piracy. It is precisely because they rely on collecting tolls that the Skull Gang has not expanded toward the Somali Right Angle at the easternmost, after taking Gandara, they turned south. Leaving some room for pirates entrenched at Somalia’s easternmost tip.

Furthermore, one of the biggest benefits of keeping pirates is allowing those national armies that dispatch warships to the Gulf of Aden to remain under the guise of combatting pirates. This is very important, if true pirates were eradicated, the Skull Gang would become the target of pirate zaps.

Keeping pirates allows continued toll collection, fighting pirates means bearing all the pressure themselves. Although toll collection isn’t a good strategy, it’s much milder than pirates hijacking ships for ransom.

Then, the Skull Gang led by Maide has a significant degree of secularization, and their philosophies and actual actions are quite moderate. Compared to several warlords in Somalia, the Skull Gang is the most acceptable one. Additionally, the secularized Skull Gang clashes intensely with the extremist Somali Youth Party. All these factors lead to the Skull Gang’s existence not attracting foreign military strikes but rather a tacit acceptance of its expansion.

Overall, the Skull Gang’s outlook is pretty good in Somalia, no longer drawing too much attention. Those countries wanting to control the Gulf of Aden and capable of maintaining a military presence there have Djibouti. Whatever happens in Somalia, it won’t affect them, whereas those without a military base in Djibouti, pirates are still kept around for them.

The outlook is promising, forces are always expanding, overseeing more people, territory getting larger but Maide hasn’t developed any sense of imposing authority. He looks the same as before.

Gao Yang has also shared life-and-death experiences with Maide, the most dangerous one in Gao Yang’s life. Such camaraderie naturally stands out.

Gao Yang grasped Maide’s solitary hand, smiling, “Long time no see.”

Maide also chuckled, “Yeah, long time no see.”

Now imposing Abu removed his white gloves and after shaking hands with Gao Yang with a serious face, he then pointed to a row of gunboats docked at the port, speaking deeply, “You have captured every single one.”

Gao Yang smiled, “Yes, every single one.”

Abu was one of Maide’s earliest followers, when Maide had nothing but a mouth, therefore as the biggest reward for pirate-born Abu was the chief of Skull Gang’s armed forces, Maide’s payback, although Abu is more of a mascot now because he really doesn’t understand warfare.

Abu removed his sunglasses, his serious expression suddenly vanished, embracing Gao Yang and exclaimed loudly, “Indeed, you guys are impressive, our Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armed Forces, buddy, come back and join us, when we establish our nation, Minister of Defense plus Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armed Forces are yours.”

In front of others, Abu can show off, but he absolutely won’t show off in front of Gao Yang. They came from humble beginnings, who doesn’t know who’s what? Moreover, comparing military prestige, Abu surely wouldn’t surpass Gao Yang.

The Skull Gang’s army sprang from the Instruction Platoon, the Instruction Platoon was trained by Gao Yang and his team, the first batch of Instruction Platoon members, as long as those surviving, are at least mid-level officers, those genuinely commanding a fight are Instruction Platoon members. In front of these people, Satan’s authority is unquestionable.

Abu might be serious but Gao Yang surely can’t take him seriously. He laughed, patted Abu’s arm, and loudly said, “Getting more and more like a General, buddy.”

Abu laughed showing his white teeth all over, pointed at a row of gunboats, loudly exclaimed, “These big ships made us go bankrupt, now good, all ours!”

Gao Yang nodded, then looked at Maide and said solemnly, “Set aside some money, at least five million, I’ve already arranged for it. Intelligence about the UK’s reaction to the Skull Gang’s capture of Beira will be brought to us, then evaluations about the UK’s future direction will also be provided. These all need payment, the first installment is temporarily five million.”

Maide nodded and spoke solemnly, “You’ve thought everything through. Five million is no issue, if gaining foresight into the Brits’ thoughts, it’s worth spending the money. Besides, when will the arms arrive? We need to strengthen defense and must quickly deliver arms, especially heavy equipment need priority.”

Gao Yang said solemnly, “The rocket launcher shipment last time, no issues right?”

Maide smiled, “No issues, of course no issues, those rocket launchers came in handy. Oh, your anti-aircraft missiles, I’ve put them in a warehouse in Bosaso but not sure if it’s fit for storing them.”

Gao Yang waved his hand, said solemnly, “I’ll quickly find a way to resell them, then don’t worry about storage. Besides, we might use them ourselves, let them be for now. The next batch of weapons should arrive in a few days, but there’s an issue if unloading at Beira Port, shipowners might be reluctant as it’s still a war zone here.”

Maide gestured, smiling, “No problem, I brought eight million, you take it all, raising freight charges is no problem, see what you can give us with the eight million and send it here, I trust you, no need for immediate settlements. Also, if feasible, ship us some food and daily necessities, we urgently need these to placate Beira’s citizens, I want Beira’s people to forget Somaliland, loyally follow the Skull Gang.”

Receiving eight million ahead of time completely surprised Gao Yang slightly but he immediately laughed, “Great, I need money urgently. When we came, we brought quite a few good things on the plane, use them first. Besides, what heavy equipment do you want?”

Maide’s baby face bore some fanaticism, loudly exclaimed, “Tanks! Artillery! Armored vehicles! Apart from countering Somaliland, in conflicts with Somali Youth Party, I want absolute firepower superiority!” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)

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