Chapter 274

Chapter 274: Dragoon! Dragoon?

Gem Valley suddenly gained special military significance, transitioning from a settlement of Pashtun civilians to a point of strategic interest, while the outside world remained completely unaware. Soon, dozens of helicopters arrived, bringing considerable supplies and exploration personnel.

Following this, hundreds of cargo planes filled to capacity began dropping various supplies and equipment, leading to a significant construction and development effort in Gem Valley, all witnessed by the incredulous Pashtun people and mercenaries.

The dense swarm of helicopters and cargo planes, akin to a torrential downpour, dropped parachutes that overwhelmed the skies. Those parachutes spoke louder than any words could; they reflected the might of an extraordinary partnership, rendering the owners of Gem Valley mere background characters at that moment.

What does “overwhelming the host” truly mean? This was the real definition!

Was this just a powerful organization?

Due to Lin Mo’s consistently cautious nature and strict confidentiality requirements, the Chinese military adopted a brand new code name for their military ally, engaging with the people of Gem Valley.

Dragoon!

Dragoon?

That’s right!

The puzzling “Dragoon”!

This had no connection whatsoever with the newly established first gem mining company in Gem Valley, Dragoon Mining Company. Of course, it was no coincidence but a deliberate choice.

Truth and deception intertwined; only those involved knew the full story, which was so complex that outsiders could never untangle it. It appeared more like a military base of the Gem Valley people, significantly enhancing its confidentiality.

This ultimately left external forces and international intelligence agencies in the dark, unable to determine if a major power was involved or if local forces were simply growing stronger. Both “Dragoon” organizations had deep connections to someone, all tied to core interests.

Perhaps this military organization sharing a name with the Gem Valley Pashtun’s newly established company carried a trace of national-level backing, with dedicated personnel communicating with the people of Gem Valley. Others remained tight-lipped, revealing nothing at all.

However, no one among the Pashtun people voiced their suspicions; they buried these doubts and conjectures deep in their hearts.

Just as Sir Knight once said, knowing more brings greater danger, and behind these people were undoubtedly formidable powers.

What truly eased the minds of the elders in the Gem Valley Elders’ Council was that this mysterious “Dragoon” organization ensured their arrival did not infringe upon the Pashtun people’s interests. They adhered completely to the recently signed military alliance agreement, harboring no thoughts of encroachment, merely breaking ground on plans for their territory to construct a genuine military base.

Furthermore, the Pashtun people and mercenaries reaped the immediate benefits of being allies, receiving not only abundant supplies but also an enhanced defense of the valley.

Multiple mobile surface-to-air missiles were deployed, with formidable 30mm rapid-fire cannons emerging from fortified bunkers on both sides of the valley entrance. There were even artillery positions and multiple rocket launchers standing guard, while the surrounding hills were fitted with numerous sensors—infrared, night vision, and optical.

How could the lavishness and wealth of the “Taliban” and the “World Uyghur Congress” even compare? Even the current Afghan government troops wouldn’t stand a chance in an attack.

Even if the coalition forces of the past returned with ten times the numbers, the Pashtun people held solid confidence to keep them all at bay, clearly understanding that their new collaborators were genuinely committed to transforming this place into an impregnable military base.

The “Dragoon” military base generously provided seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural equipment, making the residents of Gem Valley natural logistical supporters of this base, allowing both sides to each meet their needs and strengthening their cooperation through shared interests.

Beyond the basic subsistence from agriculture and livestock, the Pashtun people could also find work opportunities by running shops, contributing to their living expenses. This local acquisition of labor resources became a great way for base builders to reduce construction costs.

Within the “Dragoon” military base in Gem Valley, the bustling construction of the airstrip commenced, with many of those working being Pashtun residents.

This spared the residents of Gem Valley from having to rely on poppy cultivation like much of Afghanistan, allowing them to genuinely improve their quality of life through agricultural development.

The military collaborators were both generous and friendly, and the Pashtun people felt satisfied.

What could be better than having a friendly, sincere, and unexpectedly strong military ally?

Moreover, with the wide area of Gem Valley, accommodating four or five bases was not an issue, and both sides had ample space for future growth.

With military strength and defense secured, all that remained was to commit wholeheartedly to development.

As part of the military alliance’s terms, the mercenaries accepted the incorporation of the “Dragoon” military base, becoming responsible for the base’s outer defense and security, which did not significantly alter their previous roles. The transition proceeded very smoothly.

After all, regardless of incorporation, their original duties remained the same. The biggest difference was now they had the best advanced weapons and equipment, boosting their morale.

The considerable number of weapons held by the Pashtun people would be gradually confiscated. As they realized the strength of their new collaborators, they expressed understanding, knowing that protecting all of Gem Valley was essential.

In the valley’s defense battle, migration teams, formed from several villages, lost nearly one-third of their population—almost half compared to before they set out. The price they paid for their land was astonishing, prompting them to reach out to the organization behind Lin Mo after thorough consideration. People who had helped them before were deemed more reliable than strangers.

Every person in Gem Valley could easily find their role and threw themselves into the valley’s development. In just a week, a small town constructed of simple modular houses began to take shape.

The Elders’ Council discussed logistics and transportation, planning to send people back to their original villages to mobilize those friendly settlements suffering from the same turmoil, helping them relocate to this paradise.

Gem Valley was in need of fresh hands, and more people meant faster development. The “Dragoon” military base also required additional labor.

Pashtun girl Sally was not idle either. With the full support of Mude Zariyev, the former village chief and now an elder, she began recruiting strong young women to develop the Lapis Lazuli mine, conduct exploratory mining, and establish Dragoon Mining Company. Though sharing a name with the military base, this did not affect the formation and operations of Dragoon Mining Company.

By the way, does this cursed place have copyright? The answer is, of course, NO.

Will there be an impact between the two? The answer is also, of course, NO.

If a certain Knight were to come over and ask any Dragoon for a meal, will he charge them? The answer, of course, is even more NO.

If the Dragoon Mining Company were attacked, would the Dragoon military base stand idly by?

Sally only knew that the Dragoon Mining Company belonged to a particular man, who was part of the same organization as the military base. She did not mind the name overlap; after all, the signs for both companies looked quite similar.

In Afghanistan, where countless powerful figures emerged, as long as they were reliable, sincere, and had good intentions, it didn’t matter who they were. Each side just needed to maintain their own needs while ensuring mutual non-interference.

Following initial explorations, Dragoon Mining Company was pleasantly surprised to find their legitimate Lapis Lazuli mine held a significant volume of surface resources, making extraction easy.

Lapis Lazuli, a relatively rare gemstone, is often highly valued for its blue color and could yield considerable worth.

China historically referred to it as Qiu Lin, Jin Jing, Jin Yu, and Qing Dai. In Buddhism, it is called Venu Li or Bi Liuli, being one of the seven treasures, representing the body of the Medicine Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism. Wearing Lapis Lazuli is believed to bring peace, health, and protection, typically symbolizing heavenly authority.

Afghanistan stands as one of the important production areas for Lapis Lazuli, and the quality of the ore in Gem Valley is exceptionally high. With proper processing, it could sell for up to 80 yuan per gram.

The wealth of Gem Valley lies buried in the earth, waiting to be extracted and utilized. This Lapis Lazuli mine alone justifies Gem Valley’s illustrious title.

There’s no need to transport the raw stones out to find foreign merchants. Being adjacent to Afghanistan, China has a tremendous demand for Lapis Lazuli, particularly from religious consumers in the Tibetan region.

After quality assessments, the Lapis Lazuli mine in Gem Valley became the first hard currency in trade with the Dragoon military base, providing the initial capital accumulation for the first Pashtun enterprise, Dragoon Mining Company.

In exchange, the Dragoon military base not only brought abundant construction materials and daily supplies to Gem Valley but also provided procurement assistance for many other goods. Despite Gem Valley’s remote location, it remained unaffected.