In news photos and videos, Min Bochen, the Temasek President, always appeared nodding and bowing obsequiously when meeting with Su Jie.
This greatly disappointed the onlookers who had hoped to witness a head-on clash between the two nations, and perhaps even a resumption of warfare. They had not expected Temasek to submit so swiftly, compromising with the Jieke Group even as their livelihoods were threatened.
When these news stories broke, Min Bochen, the President of Temasek, was on his knees in front of Su Jie.
"Mr. Su, I have taken your teachings to heart and rest assured, we will behave ourselves from now on and will not cause any more trouble," he said.
Min Bochen stood up and bowed to Su Jie before carefully turning with his two confidants and excusing themselves.
In order to gain the forgiveness of the Jieke Group, he had paid a heavy price, making numerous concessions for their benefit.
But in Min Bochen's view, it was all worth it.
Although the construction of the Kra Isthmus Canal would severely threaten the interests of the Malacca Strait.
This was, after all, just an issue of livelihood. Even if the Kra Isthmus Canal were completed, Temasek, relying on the Malacca Strait, could still earn money, just not as much as before.
If he managed to thoroughly offend the Jieke Group, it wouldn't be a matter of eating less but a risk of losing everything, including his life.
With the close proximity between the two, it would take less than a day for the Spider Main Battle Mecha to reach from Siam Songka Prefecture to the capital of Temasek, a few hundred kilometers away, to have troops at their doorstep. This fierce tiger was something he couldn't afford to provoke.
"He's a smart man," Su Jie remarked casually as he watched Min Bochen's retreating figure.
"That's quite a compliment," said Liu Yingying with a smile, as she poured tea for Su Jie. She had often heard Su Jie criticize other nations for being dim-witted pawns of the Beautiful Country.
"Knowing how to judge the situation isn't simple! However, it's a pity that he's ultimately from a small country, he can't call the shots, and the Beautiful Country won't like someone like him," Su Jie said leisurely as he sipped his tea. Yingying blinked and then heard him continue, "One of the confidants who came with him is from the CIA."
"Ah, then he really is pitiful," Yingying immediately understood. The CIA's infiltration was indeed everywhere.
"By the way, shouldn't we do something? What about supporting him as an agent?"
"It's useless. He's a smart man that will only swing between the powers, like a businessman, he favors no one but his interests. He only wants to do business with us, not to be our friend," Su Jie shook his head and said, "The Beautiful Country wants Temasek to test us, but we can also use this opportunity to continue spreading our influence. If the timing weren't premature, we wouldn't let them off so easily. But all of this, once the Kra Isthmus Canal is completed and the Lanhai No.1 Battleship is ready, the tables will turn."
There was a coldness in Su Jie's smile. The main reason for not taking action this time was that the Kra Isthmus Canal was not yet completed, and the Lanhai No.1, still in the fitting-out phase, had not yet become a formidable force.
Southeast Asia consisted of island countries, and future wars would inevitably be naval battles. Su Jie needed to build up force until his own naval power was fully developed, and then it would be time to strike.
When Yingying heard the name Lanhai No.1, she recalled the last time Su Jie took her to see the secret fitting-out of the Lanhai No.1. She couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement; it was a super battleship far more terrifying than a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.