King Of War: Starting with Arms Dealer
Chapter 947 - 851: Let's Sit Down and Talk

France's sudden intervention led to a deadlock in negotiations between the Syrian Government and the Kurds.

The Syrian Government, though controlled by Russia, still has its basic autonomy.

Russia wants regional influence and interests in resources such as oil and natural gas; to legitimize everything they gain, they need to support and respect the Syrian Government.

On the other hand, despite their apparent enthusiasm, the Kurds have no autonomy to speak of.

Joe Ga wasn't disappointed by this; in fact, he took the French intervention as an opportunity.

Joe Ga's base has always been in Africa!

The French have yet to clean up their mess in Mali, and now they dare to meddle in Syria, which is really... a "godsend".

Sending only 400 people is hardly enough. Joe Ga feels that France, as a major power wanting to showcase its strength, should send three to five thousand troops over.

It wouldn't take too long; just one or two years could bring financial strain to France's economy.

It's not to look down on the French; it's just a reality that they can't engage in dual-front warfare.

The more they invest in Syria, the more they'll have to relax their control over Africa.

Then, to maintain their influence in Africa, P·B will become a crucial entity they must vie for.

However, European and American politicians are somewhat utilitarian and won't consider too far into the future.

Convincing the French to agree to Kurdish-Syrian Government peace talks at this stage is simply a fantasy.

That's probably one of the reasons why America pushed France to the forefront; under the current media influence, it's inconvenient for them to comment on the peace situation in northeastern Syria and PB.

Retaking Mosul is the key to America flexing its muscles!

Whether the Black guys in the White House can retire with honor depends on this!

If he can take down ISIS following Bin Laden's demise during his term, then he is destined to become the most successful anti-terrorism president in American history.

To facilitate cooperation, Joe Ga took the initiative to call Prime Minister of France Valls...

He wanted to ask if they could talk; even if not for peace talks, it'd be fine to simply get oil fields and refineries operational.

Unfortunately, Valls' feedback was less than ideal; the guy was due to step down in December and was busy with the transition of power.

If it were a banking issue, he would be more than happy to help, since he has shares in it, but the Syrian matter is another story...

But Joe Ga didn't walk away empty-handed; although Valls didn't help, he did share the domestic situation in France...

President Hollande, exhausted by terror attacks and domestic economic issues, had already announced his intention to give up re-election a year in advance.

This guy is simply uninterested in the Syrian issue; the troop deployment was a direction from America and political inertia.

After Joe Ga roughly understood the French situation, he sat in his office for a long time before picking up the phone and calling Chris, far away in Baghdad...

"Buddy, help me find some refinery management staff, and then bring them to the safe zone."

Before Chris could even congratulate Joe Ga on his great victory, he received a new order and curiously asked, "Hu Lang, what are you up to?"

Joe Ga, stroking his chin, said: "I've taken over the refineries in the Kurdish-controlled areas from Halliburton, and now I want to get them back up and running."

Chris was stunned for a moment, then excitedly said: "Hu Lang, I watched the press conference broadcast and cheered for you... I saw Jafari from Syria there; tell me, have you solved the oil field issue?

If so, you're going to make a fortune. If Russia doesn't deliver, the Syrians will need the oil themselves.

Shit, to process Syrian crude oil and then sell it back to them, that's good business."

Joe Ga was amused by Chris's comment and said with a chuckle: "If I'm making all the money, how will the Kurds and Syrians have enough to buy my goods?

If I don't appease them, and they're all busy fighting, how can I conduct my legitimate business?

I send a truck of goods worth 3,000 from Iraq but pay an extra 1,000 in security fees. How the hell am I supposed to make money?"

Upon hearing this, Chris sighed and said, "Hu Lang, don't tell me you're thinking about sharing the profits with them?

There are many factions among the opposition armed forces in northeastern Syria; sharing benefits with just the Kurds won't suffice."

Hearing this, Joe Ga replied with a smile: "Why not? The oil fields and refineries belong to Syria; if they can't operate them, I'll help them get started.

This would create thousands of jobs and a secure corridor through Kurdish-controlled areas into the interior of Syria.

That's a good thing!

My identity determines that I stand morally and legally justified only by doing good and correct deeds, allowing my business to thrive smoothly.

What's the point of making a little money by refining oil on their land and selling it back to them?"

Now accustomed to Joe Ga's thought process, Chris sighed and said, "You're always right. Wait for me, I'll bring people by plane tomorrow.

Baghdad lacks many things, but not petrochemical talents."

"But boss, you have to be careful, the oil fields near Deir ez-Zur in Syria are key leverage for America's control over Syria, don't get yourself trapped."

Joe Ga now has a reasonable understanding of the internal situation in Syria, he knows where 'Deir ez-Zur' is.

It is located in eastern Syria, on the banks of the Euphrates River, it's where the country's largest oil fields are.

ISIS has been entrenched there for many years, relying on black market oil stolen from Iraq and Syria to raise a large amount of funds, which allowed them to grow to their current size.

Now that the main forces of ISIS in Syria have been severely weakened, the Syrian Government and the Kurdish forces are both advancing, and it won't be long before that important oil field ends up sandwiched between them.

The refinery controlled by Halliburton is about 50 kilometers northeast of Deir ez-Zur.

But because the area where the oil fields are located is a conflict zone, none of that oil can actually be exported.

The most unfortunate thing for the Syrian Government is that, with the support of the United State Army, the Kurdish forces control the richest regions.

Located in the northeastern corner of Syria, near Turkey, are 'Kara Chuk' and 'Hasakah'.

And in the east, 'Deir ez-Zur' and 'Abu Kamal'.

'Kara Chuk' and 'Hasakah' are under Kurdish control, and 'Deir ez-Zur' and 'Abu Kamal' will soon become the focal points of their dispute.

Apart from 'Raqqa' in central Syria being under the control of the Syrian Government, all the other money bags are out of the Syrian Government's control.

The Syrian Government is desperate for funds, and the people from Russia's Energy Group are also anxious – what do you do without money?

Therefore, the 'Deir ez-Zur' region has become a focal point. America just has to use the Kurdish forces to gain control here, and it could choke Syria's throat.

However, America's focus has shifted for now, giving boss Qiao an opportunity.

He has to turn the raw rice into cooked rice before the French get familiar with the situation.

I'm an American company, operating a refinery legally under American law, who could criticize that?

I'm personally 'paying' to purchase the oil field exploitation rights, with the Syrian Government and Kurdish Democratic Forces' stamps on it, who dares to say it's illegal?

Joe Ga, having thought everything through, had Dorian notify Jafari and the Kurdish Democratic Forces representative Rogawani…

If this secret meeting is successful, Joe Ga is prepared to take on the risks himself, and help both parties reach a profit-sharing agreement regarding 'Deir ez-Zur oil field' and 'Kara Chuk oil field'...

At this stage, boss Qiao's prestige is definitely enough. Jafari and Rogawani arrived at the prepared meeting room at once.

The moment they entered, they saw boss Qiao drawing a simple diagram on a piece of white paper.

Being Syrians, they recognized at a glance that it was a schematic diagram of Syria's oil fields and pipeline locations.

Boss Qiao not only marked the location of the oil fields and the refinery, but also the route of the oil pipeline leading to Damascus.

The two exchanged glances, then frowning, they each took their seats to the left and right of boss Qiao at the head of the table…

After Joe Ga drew the last stroke on the map, he lifted it to check against the light, then nodded to both representatives, smiling and saying, "You both look very serious…"

While speaking, Joe Ga looked at the relatively embarrassed Rogawani and said with a smile, "Don't be like that. The French have come, and I know you have your own constraints."

After finishing, Joe Ga placed the drawing on the conference table, smiling and saying, "Deir ez-Zur is too important!

It is a vital source of revenue for the Syrian Government because as long as the oil fields start functioning, crude oil can be transported through pipes to Damascus, easing your energy crisis and financial issues.

It is also important for the Kurdish because controlling it ensures NATO's continuous support, otherwise your value would be discounted.

But we can still talk, right?

Compared to everyone getting no benefit and endless war, actually getting Deir ez-Zur's oil fields running is where the largest interest lies...

You agree, don't you?"

Joe Ga spoke frankly, causing the two elderly gentlemen to involuntarily nod their heads…

Jafari looked at Joe Ga with a heavy tone, "Hu Lang, you should know what Deir ez-Zur means to us, we must take it."

Joe Ga spread his hands and said, "But even if you managed to capture the oil fields with Russia's support, you'd still have to deal with NATO assisted Kurdish retaliation.

During warfare, those things don't produce oil, and an oil field that doesn't produce oil is as good as nonexistent."

As he spoke, Joe Ga looked at the uncomfortable Jafari and said with a laugh, "Sir, you should be able to sense that, in fact, I am a supporter of the Syrian Government.

Although I make a living with a gun, most people don't believe that my earnings have never come from waging war.

We need to come up with an ideal solution…

No war, get the oil fields running, and ensure everyone has a justifiable profit."

Jafari, a man genuinely wanting to solve problems, looked earnestly at Joe Ga and said, "If there really is such a solution, I'd be more than happy to help facilitate its realization.

Hu Lang, Syria has been in ruins for too long, we need funds, and more importantly, we need to recuperate."

Joe Ga nodded seriously, then turned his gaze towards the Kurdish representative Rogawani…

"And you, Mr. Rogawani!"