Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2710 The Roar of Incompetence (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
For any country, the first thing to consider is its own interests.

If one's own interests conflict with the interests of other countries, then... sacrifice others!
This is an unchanging rule.

What does this mean for small countries?

It means... you're just sitting ducks.

Whether it is served on the table depends solely on whether the major powers need it, or in other words, whether it aligns with their interests.

If you need it, then let's not waste any more time and just serve it.

Damascus.

What did Damascus look like at that time?
Anti-aircraft guns were everywhere in the streets, posters calling on the people to resist the Allied forces were everywhere, and traces of war were everywhere.

This place is in the midst of war, but far from it. After the Soviet aircraft carrier "Minsk" arrived in the Mediterranean and entered Syrian waters, the shadow of war finally dissipated from Syria.

Although the war was still ongoing, there were actually not many direct clashes between the two sides. Even if there were, it was the Syrian army stationed in northern Lebanon that was passively taking hits.

In response, the Syrian army could only passively take the hits.

Besides that, there's nothing they can do.

In September, in the depths of autumn, the air in Damascus carried a slight chill.

Inside the presidential palace, facing the visiting Soviet envoy, President Assad tried his best to suppress his anger, his fists clenching unconsciously.

But it is still trying its best to restrain itself; the lion is now on the verge of rage.

Sitting opposite the lion, Soviet envoy Ivanov showed no fear; he calmly reiterated Moscow's demands.

"Mr. President,"

Ivanov's Arabic had a strong Russian accent, but he spoke it very fluently.

"Moscow's stance is clear: for comprehensive peace in the Middle East, Syria must withdraw all its military districts from northern Lebanon and completely cease military operations in the region. Simultaneously, it must cease supporting any party and refrain from initiating any armed conflict. This is a prerequisite for peace and the basis for Moscow's continued support for Syria."

After he finished speaking, the conference room fell into a brief silence.

Assad's brow furrowed suddenly, and the rage surging in his eyes almost burst forth!

It was reason that prevented him from immediately erupting—North Lebanon, a strategic location that Syria had cultivated for many years!

Now, however, Moscow is casually asking them to give up.

He thought of the Syrian soldiers who had died on the battlefield in Lebanon, of the Arab brothers who had been driven to northern Lebanon and displaced, and of everything he had done over the years. An uncontrollable anger surged up from the bottom of his heart.

Even so, he had not lost his mind.

As president, he was well aware of the cruelty of politics, and even more aware that turning against the Soviet envoy at this moment meant that Syria would be completely isolated and helpless.

Moscow's support is Syria's only source of strength in the face of the coalition's encirclement, and it is also the foundation for its ability to maintain its rule.

Therefore, he suppressed his anger and maintained his calm expression, without revealing the slightest dissatisfaction.

He looked at Ivanov and said:

"Mr. Special Envoy, I understand Moscow's good intentions and the importance of peace for Syria. But I have a question: what about southern Syria?"

When he mentioned "southern Syria," the lion's tone became slightly more forceful, and he stared at the other man as he spoke:

“The coalition-backed local armed groups have completely taken control of the entire southern region. They have occupied our cities, and southern Syria has become a living hell. Moscow demands that I withdraw my troops from northern Lebanon and compromise with the coalition in exchange for peace. So what about southern Syria?”

Ivanov seemed to have anticipated this question, and meeting the other's gaze, he said:

"Mr. President,"

His tone remained calm as he said:
"The situation in southern Syria is a fait accompli. The coalition-backed armed forces have achieved dominance over the region, and your army cannot defeat them. All you can do is face it."

"Face it?" The lion's long-suppressed rage could no longer be contained. He suddenly stood up. Although he was thin, the aura he exuded at this moment was still imposing.

At this moment, he truly seemed to be a lion, just like his name suggests, an angry lion.

"Mr. Special Envoy, you want me to face reality? But don't forget, that's Syrian territory! It's an inseparable part of Syria!"

The lion's roar grew louder and louder, filled with long-suppressed anger and resentment, echoing in the empty conference room.

"I can withdraw troops from northern Lebanon, just as you said, for the sake of peace and the Syrian people, I can make concessions. But southern Syria, absolutely not! That is Syrian territory, our homeland, how can I tolerate foreign powers trampling on our sovereignty?"

As he spoke, his chest heaved violently, and his rage made him look like a truly furious lion.

If it were a Syrian, they would probably be paralyzed with fear by now.

But faced with the lion's anger and discontent, Ivanov remained calm, meeting its gaze without any fear.
"Mr. President, please calm down. I understand your anger and I know why you are angry. But you must understand that the current situation is very dangerous. Under the threat of the coalition forces, Moscow has chosen to preserve your rule over the whole of Syria. That is the most important thing."

His tone carried a blatant warning:
"Mr. President, let's face reality. With Syria's current strength, you cannot hold onto northern Lebanon under the coalition's offensive, let alone retake southern Syria."

In fact, I can tell you definitively that if Moscow hadn't intervened and pressured the coalition forces; if our fleet and aircraft carriers hadn't been deployed in the Middle East to create a deterrent, the coalition forces would have already captured northern Lebanon and occupied Damascus, and you would have lost everything you have now.

Ivanov's voice wasn't loud, but every word was piercing, striking Assad's heart and making his anger somewhat awkward.

"Now, you must make a choice. The first option is to continue and let the war continue. In that case, the coalition will further arm the forces opposing you, support a puppet regime, and gradually erode your rule. In the end, you will lose power, lose your country, and lose everything."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Assad, his tone softening slightly:
"The second option is to accept Moscow's proposal to withdraw troops from northern Lebanon and achieve a complete ceasefire. Under the protection of the Soviet Union, you will continue to hold power in Syria and continue to rule this land. Your family and your power will be preserved. Although Syria will lose some territory, you will retain the most essential thing—power. Mr. President, power is the foundation of everything, isn't it?"

Ivanov's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Assad's head, extinguishing the fire of anger in his heart and gradually bringing him to his senses. His chest stopped heaving violently, and the anger in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by contemplation and struggle.

He slowly sat back in his chair, crossed his hands on the table, and gently rubbed the tips of his thumbs together, as if weighing the pros and cons, considering his way out, and pondering the future of Syria.

At that moment, he was thinking about himself, his family, and the future of his community.

The lion remained silent with its head down for a long time, as if an eternity had passed.

He thought of Syria's current predicament, of the coalition forces, of Syria, and of Moscow.

He knew that Ivanov was right; with Syria's current strength, it was simply no match for the coalition forces, let alone the opposition forces backed by the coalition.

Moscow's support was his only lifeline.

Anger solves nothing, and impulsiveness will only make him lose everything.

The strong never complain about their circumstances, but the weak... can only face reality.

He is the president of Syria. He cannot only consider his own dignity and anger, but also the fate of the entire country and many other things.

In fact, over the past few months, he has expressed his desire to hold peace talks through various channels to end the conflict, but his appeals have not received a positive response.
Chang'an's attitude, in particular, worried him. He wondered if Chang'an wanted to replace him directly, just like the opposition they supported in southern Syria, which was the same as what they did in Iraq and Indonesia.

Therefore, he dared not gamble, dared not cease hostilities, because he couldn't figure out the other side's true intentions. If Chang'an's goal was to force him to step down and to take everything that belonged to him, then he would fight to the very end, no matter what.

After all, in the end, no matter what, you'll end up with nothing.

After a long silence, he slowly raised his head. The anger in his eyes had vanished, replaced by composure and calm. He looked at Ivanov, his tone devoid of its previous fury, replaced only by a pragmatic calculation and compromise:
"Special Envoy, how has Moscow decided to protect Syria?"

He paused, then pointed out the reality directly:
"Even if the coalition forces have now stopped their offensive and achieved a complete ceasefire, what about the future? Will they continue to support the opposition forces in the future?"
Now in Syria, opposition forces are stirring in various regions. Will the coalition continue to support them? Will they continue to infiltrate Syria, waiting for an opportunity to launch an offensive and ultimately completely occupy the country, just like the SEA did in Iraq and Indonesia?

He then emphasized:
“Even if I concede now, in a few months, or maybe a few years, the opposition they support will march on Damascus and take everything away. What will Moscow do then?”

After speaking, the lion stared intently at the envoy before it, awaiting his reply.

However, his tone was calm now, no longer filled with anger as before. A powerless roar is meaningless.

Ultimately, powerless roars cannot change the harsh reality. And reality must always be faced.

(End of this chapter)