Empire of the Ring

The Sukhoi Su fighter jet assembly plant and Boeing’s Apache helicopter assembly plant would be built in an industrial complex on the left side of the military wharf in the royal territory.

The industrial complex was already a mecca of Kazakhstan’s aviation industry housing a Swedish Saab’s Gripen fighter plant, Cessna’s light aircraft plant, and Koç Holding’s helicopter plant.

It was about ten kilometers from Arirang royal territory’s administrative city, which was designated as an access control area.

But today, all military leaders, including Prime Minister Kasim, gathered there.

It was to celebrate the first day of construction of Russia’s Sukhoi Su fighter jet assembly plant.

“Your Highness, it feels strange. We used to use old-fashioned weapons from Russia, but now we’ve come to the point of assembling the latest weapons ourselves. Isn’t it evidence that Putin considers our country that important?”

Not all of the Russian weapons supplied by the previous administration were bad, but it was still thrilling to have the latest weapons that Russia was using at the moment.

This meant that Russia recognized Kazakhstan as an equal country, not looking down on it as a federal state like it used to.

It was truly a moment triumphant for Kazakhstan.

“This also represents our economic power. If we were a country that relied only on raw material exports like before, we wouldn’t have been treated the way we are now.”

“Your Royal Highness. I’m so proud to be a Kazakh. Even though it’s only an assembly plant, we can now make stealth fighters here.”

Kasim, who looked emotional, repeatedly exclaimed.

“Are you that happy?”

“Of course. I know that our technology can’t handle this. Russia has made a huge concession for us, hasn’t it?”

Kasim had been anxious inside because Russia could change its mind and delay technology transfer if it wanted to.

“Russia won’t act recklessly because we are helping it buy the critical parts. Also, Russia can’t do that even to keep doing joint ventures with us.”

“I see. Your Highness, with all due respect, I can’t help but wonder where the royal family’s money comes from. I mean you’ve been relentlessly investing in all sorts of projects.”

Anyone would be curious about that.

Although there were many royal businesses, it was not easy for even its most profitable company to make billions of dollars a year.

None of the royal companies that Kasim knew made that much money.

“There’s a little bit of a legacy of the Serbian royal family left.”

Since Youngho could not say anything about the slush funds taken from President Nazarbayev and Aliyev, he just disclosed the source of the money as a legacy of Serbia’s royal family.

Still, Kasim seemed to be skeptical, so he added a word.

“The profits from the royal family’s business are also formidable. We also run some secret businesses that you don’t know of.”

One of the secret businesses was taking the former president’s slush funds.

***

As Russia’s Armata tanks and Boeing’s Apache helicopters were licensed, the Kazakh Army also decided to drastically change its arrangement.

It decided to increase the number of mechanized brigades by two more and expand the Army’s Air Force to the brigade’s size.

China’s view of Kazakhstan’s military reorganization was not favorable.

The expansion of the mechanized division and the Army Air Force was based on the premise of an attack rather than a defense.

The Chinese government seemed to have taken it as a preliminary step to free the entire Uyghur.

It was continuously publishing articles about such speculation about Kazakhstan’s Army reorganization.

Even a ridiculous speculative article was published that Kazakhstan was aiming for the western part of China, which was nonsense.

Jong-il, who was reading Chinese articles at Youngho’s office, commented, “I think China has enough ground for misunderstanding. It’s a military reorganization right after your visit to Kashgar after all.”

Kazakhstan continued to shake China’s pride, and in a way, it could have been considered a provocation.

“Usually people who suspect others are the ones who have different thoughts behind people’s backs. Publishing such an article encourages the Chinese people to antagonize Central Asia. It’s a trick to divert the shaking public sentiment in our direction.”

While talking, Youngho realized that there were many suspicious points.

What would be the real reason that the Chinese government was mobilizing its state-run media to spread such rumors?

Maybe it was building a cause. It could try to take over Kashgar or Tibet in the name of blocking Kazakhstan’s provocations in advance.

“Jong-il. Have there been similar cases in Chinese media? Do you think we can find out what might the Chinese Communist Party be after by making such a noise through the media?”

“Err… I’m not sure. I have no statistical data about that…”

“There’s nothing to do with statistics. Just check out recent articles published in China thoroughly and try to find some patterns. There must be a huge scheme going on. This could be a groundwork to recapture Kashgar or Ngari Prefecture.”

“Whoa, that could be true. From now on, I’ll have to recruit guys who majored in psychology in the Intelligence Department.”

***

The Intelligence Service led by Jong-il found several cases shown in Chinese media that revealed the Chinese Communist Party’s intentions.

The approach to the Bhutan border issue and the sovereignty of the South China Sea islands coincided with the current situation.

At the time of South Korea’s deployment of the THAAD missile, the fierce tone of the Chinese media was a similar example.

“When China had a dispute with a foreign country, the tone in Chinese media in advance was similar to this one.”

In other words, the Chinese government was using the same pattern for Kazakhstan’s situation.

If so, it meant that it would start its operation somewhere soon.

The Bhutan border issue or the South China Sea islands were already in development, so Uyghur’s Kashgar and Tibet’s Ngari Prefecture would be the next target.

China was hurt by the loss of two places and its pride more than enough to ignore the U.S. arbitration and naturally think about recapturing the regions.

Otherwise, people’s support would hit rock bottom.

“I’ll have to inform the interim government of Kashgar to make sure it gets ready for any Chinese provocations.”

“It’d be great if we can find out how much time is left.”

“Figure out the movements of the Chinese military with satellites and release all the intelligence agents.”

Even if Youngho was in the Chinese leader’s position, he would be desperate to recapture Uyghur’s Kashgar and Tibet’s Ngari Prefecture regardless of the means.

It was impossible to lose land after being defeated by minority militias even though China had 2.3 million powerful troops.

“Shouldn’t we let the Indian government know?”

“I don’t know if the Indian government would believe it if we say we learned about Chinese mischief in advance through the Chinese media.”

“I think it’s the right thing to do to inform the Indian government first whether it believes or not…”

The Indian government might think that it was a ridiculous story as there was no proof.

Youngho hoped that China would not touch Kashgar at least, but if Ngari Prefecture, which had laid the foundation for Tibetan independence, was lost, it would be a disaster as well.

However, it could also be a needless concern since it was still questionable whether China would deal with the burdensome Indian military.

“Ngari Prefecture is mostly useless, but Kashgar is golden land where oil is produced, and wouldn’t China try to target the easy Kashgar rather than Ngari Prefecture where the Indian Army is guarding?”

“It’s possible because the Chinese government doesn’t know that the Royal Bodyguards are deployed in Kashgar.”

There were a lot of worries, but it was also funny to worry about India when its power was not less than Kazakhstan.

“We’ve got enough problems in our hands. The Indian government is in charge of Tibet, so it’ll be up to the Indian government.”

“But I’ll still sneak a word to the Indian intelligence service.”

Since the Indian government was a close ally, Park Jong-il could not let it slide.

The information to be obtained from India was also formidable, so he had to let the Indian intelligence service know whether it believed it or not.

“It’s up to you to figure out. Just find out the movements of the Chinese Army first.”

The Chinese troops on the Kashgar border were also two divisions, so it was too much to say that they would attack with that amount of troops alone.

However, China would probably put in additional troops for forestalling.

“But should we help Tibet if China attacks it first?”

Although the management of Ngari was left to the Indian government, Kazakhstan could not be free from the Tibetan issue, so it would be forced to intervene in any way.

That was because if Ngari Prefecture collapsed, China could focus its military on Kashgar.

“If India wants, we should intervene… for Kashgar, too.”

The Kunlun Mountains were located between Kashgar and Ngari, so even if Ngari Prefecture went wrong, it was not a big threat, but it was not something to ignore either.

If Ngari Prefecture was attacked, help should be provided to get help from India later.

“Then why don’t we do a joint operation with the Indian government at all?”

“It won’t be easy before Chinese attacks first.”

If the two countries moved over something that might be happening, it would only provoke China.

It would be best for each country to work alone for now.