Empire of the Ring

“Your Highness. We’ve decided to change our economic growth rate goal to 8.3 percent.”

Youngho looked at Kasim, doubting his ears.

Even for a developed country, having a 4 to 5 percent of growth rate would be surprising, and 8.3 percent was a tremendous rate.

In the current era, only communist countries would show such a rate as they could fabricate the rate.

Kazakhstan’s growth rate goal this year was set at 7.5 percent, which was aiming for the stars, but the actual rate seemed to have gone up beyond that. It was an explosive rate of growth.

“Prime Minister, are you serious? Did we produce many products that were globally sold? If that’s not the case, did we find a huge oil field or something?”

“That’s not the case, but it’s because the industrial products produced in Kazakhstan had been sold to our federal states and the Kashgar and Ngari regions.”

Although Kazakhstan’s were not of great quality, people had to use them forcibly as Chinese goods were cut off.

It was also because Central Asian people’s income had increased.

As people made more money, their consumer desires burst out.

The domestic economy was skyrocketing when people bought all sorts of things they wanted and involved themselves in various civilized activities.

It was good news, but such a high growth rate meant that the size of the economy was small.

Advanced countries would not show this high growth rate.

Anyhow, this was all possible because the domestic demand rose at an explosive rate and the export market was strong.

This also meant that the government did not waste the national budget, which was admirable.

“The economy could’ve been stabilized despite the armed struggle with China. This is all thanks to you Mr. Prime Minister and other ministers.”

Kasim waved his hand as if he was embarrassed.

“No, Your Highness. We were able to reduce our defense budget and that allowed us to invest in the overall industry. It would’ve been impossible if the royal family did not invest in the national defense.”

“Oh, I meant to praise you but I’m being complimented instead.”

Youngho was embarrassed, but he was flattered.

It was something to be complimented, but all was to establish the royal family’s position.

The royal family could only exist when Kazakhstan stood strong.

“What kind of a royal family would strengthen the country’s defense with its own money? It’s not only I, but all the people are deeply grateful for the royal family. Everything is all because of your selfless work. The economic growth rate represents it all.”

Kasim’s praise continued for a while.

“It was a great turning point of my life when I met you. I am indeed a lucky man.”

As it continued, Youngho looked at him wondering what was going on.

“Oh, you put me on the clouds with your compliments. It’ll hurt if I fall from there.”

“Your Highness, since that’s the case, I’d like to suggest something. Why don’t we recruit new cabinet members and prime minister?”

This was shocking news.

“What are you talking about?”

“I feel like it’s been stagnant for too long. Please recruit young and capable talent to lead Kazakhstan.”

Kasim had been a perfect leader of the Kazakh government without a flaw or corruption.

Apart from his capabilities, it was someone whom Youngho trusted wholeheartedly, but he was saying that he would pass on his position to someone else.

Youngho could not accept it.

Kazakhstan was still in a transitional period. It needed a leader like Kasim who was trusted by the military as well.

“With all due respect, I cannot accept your suggestion. If you leave your post at a time when China is trying to find a way to push in, internal solidarity will collapse. Give way to your juniors when the situation with China is settled.”

Although Kasim was not a professional administrator, people continued to trust him as he led state affairs in a clean manner.

It was not easy to have someone like him around.

“Your Highness, our current relationship with China is bound to continue. It’s time for me to leave and make room for others.”

“Please don’t worry about that. We’ll get it sorted out with China soon.”

When Youngho assured him, Kasim tilted his head as if he did not understand him.

There was no way to stop China’s continuous attempt to dominate Central Asia unless the country was torn apart into pieces.

“Are you thinking about the whole Uyghur region?”

“Yes. There is no guarantee that the Kashgar autonomous region will be maintained. How long should we remain being insecure about it? I think now is the opportunity.”

It was a dangerous plan that could risk an all-out war.

Kasim could not exhale after breathing in because he was shocked to hear about Youngho’s plan.

Despite that, Youngho continued.

“If the whole Uyghur becomes independent, Kazakhstan will be safe for generations as there will be a stable buffer zone, which must happen. Until that day comes, I’d like you to lead Kazakhstan, Mr. Prime Minister.”

“This could be escalated into an all-out war. Would you still take the risk?”

“It’s not that we’ll be on the frontline, so there won’t be an all-out war with China. I’m going to mobilize the Kashgar militias. There’s not a problem.”

***

Numerous military supplies were being secretly transported to Kashgar.

Most of the weapons shipped this time were attack weapons rather than defensive weapons.

All of the old-fashioned Russian weapons remaining in Kazakhstan’s military were mobilized.

Although not new, the tanks and armored vehicles were enough to compete with the Chinese troops deployed in the Uyghur region in terms of firepower and mobility.

At the same time in Kashgar, the recruitment of militias was taking place extensively.

People in their 17s to 40s were participating in the recruitment of militias, both male and female, with a large number of young women participating.

Although the Muslim Uyghurs traditionally disapproved of women’s advancement into society, the atmosphere in Kashgar was not so at all as all Uyghurs longed for independence.

“Your Highness, I think we’re going to have 200,000 militias at this rate. It takes a lot of money to train and arm them all.”

Kasim, who visited Youngho’s office, was worried about preparing military supplies.

“It’s an opportunity to get rid of aging military supplies that only consume maintenance costs.”

There were still many old-fashioned Russian weapons left in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan as well as Kazakhstan.

Such weapons were kept just in case, so Youngho was going to use them all up this time.

The decision was made because Kazakhstan could now produce state-of-the-art weapons.

“We still have a long way to go before starting a full production of the new weapons. Although they’re old-fashioned weapons, their performance is second to none.”

“How long are you going to keep them for? Now the federal forces must be re-armed with new weapons. Don’t worry, the cost of rearmament will be covered by the royal family.”

In fact, unlike Kazakhstan’s military, the federal military was poorly armed.

It was leaving the federal border unattended because the Kazakh military covered it all, but ultimately, all must be modernized.

Kasim no longer insisted as Youngho promised to fund the rearmament from the royal family.

“I’m ashamed to rely on the royal family every time.”

“If you feel uncomfortable, I’ll send you an invoice later, so the government can pay us back.”

“I’ll do my best to pay you back if you’d accept it as Uyghur’s gold mine. I know there’s quite a lot of gold mines there.”

“Hahaha… I’m kidding. Besides, what kind of ally is it if you lend help with a bill?”

“Nothing comes for free of charge. We’ve helped Uyghurs’ independence struggle.”

It was, in fact, normal for a government to pay back if it was helped by another country in its struggle of independence.

“We’re making enough profits when Uyghur becomes a buffer zone against China.”

“Under Uyghur’s circumstances, we’ll have to take resources instead of money.”

Kasim had made Uyghur’s independence a fait accompli and was writing a bill already.

“Then we’re no different from China, aren’t we?”

“All we have to do is keep the line that doesn’t break the good relationship. It’s a very natural demand since we sacrificed our soldiers in Uyghur’s independence struggle.”

“If the Uyghurs gain full independence, they won’t even be able to afford to breathe in an arms race with China. We can’t approach this too rationally since Uyghur will play a role in dealing with China instead of us. We’ve got to remember Kazakhstan has more to gain from Uyghur’s independence.”

“Your Highness, just turn a blind eye to this matter. I’ll have a detailed discussion with the people of the interim government of Kashgar. Maybe rather than blindly helping them, saying that we will bill them later can save their pride and ease their anxiety.”

Kazakhstan was helping Uyghur because it was the same Central Asian nation, but this could be another seed of conflict as the Kazakh government could be seen as interfering in Uyghur’s internal affairs even after independence.

Rather, the claim for the cost of independence could help the good-neighbor friendship between the two countries.

No country would blindly help other countries.

Of course, if one knew a bill would fly in the future, he would feel less burdened to ask for more help openly.

“Listening to your words, it’s also about raising the pride of the Uyghurs. Anyway, unlike our government, they have to consider that the royal family is helping them with pure intentions.”

“Hahaha… Of course. They need somewhere to lean on. The government will take the villain’s role.”

“Please don’t ask too much from them since Putin might give a hand, too. We have to leave some for Russia in that case.”