Great Power Reclamation

It was already midnight at the Junken City Night Market, but the place was still bustling with noise, various shouts and aromas mixed together, making people reluctant to leave.

At a table in a corner, a group of people sat around, shouting and yelling. Yang Geyong, in particular, stood out with his curly white hair and tall stature.
"If anyone drinks less, I'll never forgive you!"

Wei Yuxiang glared at him: "What do you want? Just because you can drink a lot doesn't mean you're so great! What are you going to do about it if I don't drink?"

The thug stood up and pulled at her, saying, "You two fight every time you meet. You're both seventy years old, can't you be a little more mature?"

Ivan, slurring his words, raised his glass: "Cheers! Who's afraid of who?"

Wang Lina slammed her hand on the table: "Yang Geyong, you'd better drink with me if you dare!"

Yang Geyong immediately backed down. He couldn't afford to offend this woman; after all, he had been irresponsible.

Ye Yuze patted Li Lindong on the shoulder beside him: "You've completely retired. Have you made all the arrangements with the car group?"

Li Lindong gestured with his chin: "There are more electric cars than gasoline cars now, and Wang Lina is in charge of them."

He picked up his glass and took a sip, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "Times change so fast. I've spent my whole life working with internal combustion engines, and now I'm an antique."

"What's wrong with antiques?" Yang Geyong, with his sharp ears, turned around upon hearing this.

"Antiques are valuable! Which of us didn't come from the era of hand tractors? Now, Warrior brand cars are world-famous cars, isn't that all thanks to the foundation we laid?"

Wang Lina poured herself a glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor) and drank it all in one gulp.

"Old Yang is right. Without your accumulated experience in gasoline-powered vehicle technology, there would be no electric vehicle transformation. Mr. Li, it's good that you've stepped down. Be my advisor. Electric vehicles are the trend, but we still need to continue developing gasoline-powered vehicles, especially in overseas markets."

Ye Yuze smiled as he looked at his old friends. The dim lights of the night market shone on everyone's faces, revealing wrinkles that bore the marks of time, yet their eyes still shone with light.

This group of people started from a steel rolling mill and has now become a multi-industry industrial giant, Warrior Group, over a full fifty years.

“Speaking of Africa,” Ye Yuze suddenly said, “Gui Gen’s fund in London invested in a photovoltaic project in North Africa. I met with him a couple of days ago.”

The table fell silent instantly. Everyone looked at Ye Yuze.

"How is the child?" Yang Geyong asked first. "The last time I saw him was three years ago, when my Akhal-Teke horse gave birth to a foal."

“We’ve grown up,” Ye Yuze said, “and we’ve run into trouble too. Do you guys remember Chen Wei? The one from the company’s administration department, someone reported his foundation.”

"Chen Wei?" Wang Lina frowned. "That guy who loves to take advantage of others? Does he dare to touch Gui Gen?"

"I've taken care of it," Ye Yuze said casually.

"But the matter at hand is not so simple. He wanted to integrate the Ye family's resources at home and abroad, which was a good idea, but he was too young and couldn't grasp the right balance."

Li Lindong said thoughtfully, "Actually, the underlying idea is a bit like ours back then. Remember? In the 1980s, when we assembled cars, we used the factory buildings of the military reclamation farm, Russian technicians, and the orders that you, Ye Yuze, brought from Guangzhou. That was also about bringing together all kinds of resources."

“But that was within the country,” Wei Yuxiang continued. “Now the Ye family has expanded too much, with three different sets of rules in the US, China, and East Africa. Using them all together carries too much political risk.”

The young conman chuckled: "If you ask me, it all comes down to this kid having guts. Which of us didn't start by breaking the rules? Back when we started private businesses, how many people called it the tail end of capitalism? And look at us now?"

Ivan raised his glass: "I support Little Traitor! Young people should take risks! Ye, your grandson has more guts than you did back then!"

Ye Yuze shook his head, then nodded: "It's okay to take risks, but we have to learn to protect ourselves. I had Gui Gen take our old photo album with him, hoping he can learn something from it."

Just then, Ye Yuze's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, stood up, and walked to a quieter spot.

"Grandpa, I'm back in London." It was Ye Guigen's voice on the other end of the phone.

"The restructuring plan has already been implemented. In addition, the first phase of the photovoltaic power station in North Africa has been connected to the grid and is generating electricity, two weeks ahead of schedule."

"Okay." Ye Yuze only said one word.

“There’s one more thing.” Ye Guigen paused. “Hassan—the partner in North Africa—invited me to attend the grid connection ceremony. He said the local government wanted to award me an honorary citizenship because the project solved the electricity problem for three villages.”

Ye Yuze was silent for a few seconds: "What do you think?"

“I want to go. But Elizabeth advised me to be cautious, saying it might involve diplomatic matters. After all, I have the backing of the Warrior Group and the funding of the American Brothers Group.”

“She’s right,” Ye Yuze said. “But you should go.”

"grandfather?"

"Those who run businesses must see that what they do is actually implemented."

Ye Yuze looked at the bustling crowd in the night market and said, "Back when we assembled our first car in the military reclamation city, everyone from the entire farm came to watch. The moment the car started moving, an old worker cried, saying that it was the first time in his life he had ever built a car. That sense of accomplishment was more real than any amount of money we made."

He paused for a moment: "You go, represent the project team. Honors are acceptable, but make it clear—this is the result of business cooperation, a win-win situation for Chinese enterprises and African countries. Don't mention the Ye family, don't mention US funds, just say it's an investment project of the 'Cornerstone and Wings' Fund."

"I understand," Ye Guigen's voice became more firm. After hanging up the phone, Ye Yuze returned to the table. Yang Geyong had already opened another bottle of wine and was playing a drinking game with Xiao Guaizi.

"A phone call from Guigen?" Wang Lina asked.

"Yes. The North Africa project has started generating electricity."

Wei Yuxiang gave a thumbs up: "This kid is good! Back then, our aid to Africa was a government project. Now, young people are doing it in a market-oriented way, which is more sustainable."

Li Lindong suddenly said, "Actually, the automotive group also has a presence in Africa. The assembly plant in East Africa uses the Warrior Group's brand, but the technical partner is a German company. This model might offer some insights for Guigen."

Ye Yuze's eyes lit up: "Tell me in detail."

"Simply put, it's a multi-layered collaboration," Li Lindong explained. "The Warrior Group provides the brand and some capital, the German company provides the technology and management, and the local government provides the policies and market access."

"Legally, each link is an independent contract; in reality, it forms a complete industrial chain. This avoids political risks and integrates the advantages of all parties."

Wang Lina continued, "Our electric vehicle division also uses a similar model. The batteries are from the Warrior Group, the electronic control system is self-developed, and the motors are developed in cooperation with a Japanese company. But the final product is the 'Warrior' brand, and the main sales channels are in Africa."

As Ye Yuze listened, things gradually became clearer. Although these old colleagues had stepped down from their front lines, their minds remained sharp, and they had a thorough understanding of the business logic of the new era.

“Let’s organize these experiences,” he said. “I’ll send them to Guigen. They’re young and energetic, and we old folks have experience. Combining them is the only way to ensure a complete legacy.”

Yang Geyong raised his glass: "Come on, let's toast to the legacy!"

"cheers!"

A dozen or so glasses clinked together, their sound crisp and clear. The lively atmosphere of the night market enveloped the group of white-haired elderly people, as if time itself had stood still at that moment—

Fifty years ago, they sat together in the same way, working on a bundle of steel for infrastructure construction; thirty years ago, they worked on the Warrior Group's first automobile factory; now, they work on the future of the next generation.

The young people at the next table looked over curiously. A boy with dyed blond hair whispered to his companion:
"Who are those elderly men and women? They look so imposing."

His companion lowered his voice: "You don't recognize them? That's the founding team of the Warrior Group! The one in the middle with the really tall white hair is Yang Geyong! The one next to him in the Zhongshan suit is Ye Yuze, the founder of the Warrior Group and Huaxia Brothers Company!"

"Holy crap!" The blond boy's eyes widened. "Legendary figures! What are they doing drinking at the night market?"

“I heard they get together once a month at the Junken City night market. My grandfather said that they were drinking here fifty years ago when this place was still a desert.”

Ye Yuze vaguely heard the young people's conversation and smiled slightly. Yes, fifty years ago, this place was indeed still a desert. They drank cheap liquor and planned how to expand their car factory. Now, the desert has become a city, and the car company has become a multinational corporation.

But some things haven't changed—like the vibrant atmosphere of the night market, the lively banter of the old folks, and the original desire to do something meaningful.

Wang Lina's phone rang. She answered it, said a few words, and her expression turned serious. After hanging up, she said to Ye Yuze:
"I just received news that Chen Wei's 'Great Wall Capital' began liquidation this afternoon. He himself went to the regulatory authorities and voluntarily explained the issues."

Silence fell over the table once more.

"He's smart," Yang Geyong snorted.

"But will his outburst have any subsequent impact on the Guigen Foundation?" Wei Yuxiang worried.

Ye Yuze waved his hand: "What's meant to happen will happen. Since he has chosen this path, he must learn to deal with all kinds of situations. What we can do is pass on our experience to him and give him resources to use, but he has to walk his own path."

He raised his glass, looked around at his old friends, and said, "It's a blessing that we can still get together and drink. It's an even greater blessing to see the next generation grow up. Come on, let's have another drink—to the city we built, and to our hearts that haven't grown old yet!"

"Dry!"

Glasses clinked again. The night market remained bustling, the aroma of barbecue filling the night air. Further away, the high-rise buildings of the military reclamation city were brightly lit, and traffic flowed steadily along the highway.

This city, which grew out of the Gobi Desert, is like these elderly people, possessing a tenacious vitality and an insatiable drive to move forward.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in London, Ye Guigen was standing by his office window, looking at a long message from his grandfather on his phone.

The message contained a detailed record of the elderly people's discussion tonight, especially their experience with multi-level cooperation models.

As he read through the entries, he could almost see the table in the corner of the night market, and the scene of his grandfather and those legendary elders sitting around chatting.

The last message read: "Ultimately, we must take things one step at a time, but we must also look far ahead. Our generation built a city; your generation will connect the world. It will be difficult, but worthwhile. Your grandfather, uncles, and aunts all support you."

Ye Guigen took a deep breath and replied, "Received. I will take every step carefully."

Outside the window, the Thames flows quietly. Across the river, the lights of the London Eye swirl in the night, just like the ever-turning world.

And he stands at the crossroads connecting East and West.

The road ahead is long, but I am no longer alone.

Because behind them are the gazes of an entire generation and the blessings of a city. (End of Chapter)