Chapter 353: The Pearl Hidden Beneath the Yellow Sand
Li Tang stepped off the plane along with He Runqi and the others, immediately greeted by vehicles sent by Frando. Outside the car window, after traveling along an uneven, dusty road lined with modest houses, they passed pedestrians dressed in ragged clothes, women carrying heavy loads atop their heads, visibly burdened by poverty and hardship.
Finally, they arrived in a distinctly different area. Through the window, the scene transformed dramatically: beautiful streets, rows of elegant villas, occasionally roaring supercars, and loud, pounding music. It felt as if they had moved from hell directly into heaven within minutes.
They settled into one of these luxurious villas, complete with vast lawns, palm trees, and a sparkling swimming pool.
"Is the accommodation to your satisfaction?" Frando asked, still holding a lit cigar. He pointed casually to the villa next door, "I'm staying right over there."
Li Tang stepped out of the car and glanced around, feeling overwhelmed by the stark contrast. Undoubtedly, they were now in a neighborhood reserved exclusively for the wealthy. Even in Huaxia, he had rarely seen such luxury, and certainly not juxtaposed so sharply against the poverty they'd just witnessed.
"Here, try one—enjoy the sweet air of Africa," Frando said, offering a freshly lit cigar to Li Tang.
Instead of accepting it, Li Tang asked, "How much does one of these cigars cost?"
"This is custom-made—about a thousand dollars each," Frando replied casually, the price insignificant to a multimillionaire like him.
Li Tang pointed at a local woman trimming branches near the gate. "How much does she earn?"
Frando shrugged, asked someone nearby, then translated the answer to Li Tang: "About ten dollars a week."
"The wealth gap here is shockingly severe," Li Tang remarked, momentarily overwhelmed by a surge of empathy and concern for social justice. But this emotion quickly faded. He knew he was powerless to change anything in this place. He had seen similar situations in Guinea. The stark realities of poverty and inequality were everywhere, beyond his capacity to alter.
"We'll rest here today, then take a flight directly to Katanga Province in the south tomorrow," Frando said, outlining their schedule. "The Democratic Republic of Congo is vast, but its infrastructure is terrible. It would take far too long by road."
"All right," Li Tang replied simply.
Early the next morning, they chartered a flight directly to Katanga Province. This time, they were greeted upon landing by a tall, well-built local man in an expensive suit, a chunky gold watch on his wrist, and multiple gemstone rings on his fingers.
"Frando!" the man greeted enthusiastically, flashing white teeth.
Behind him stood a row of luxury SUVs and several heavily armed guards.
"Seniga, I told you I'd come. How have you been lately?" Frando warmly shook hands with the man.
"Very well," Seniga replied cheerfully.
Frando pointed to Li Tang beside him. "This is Li Tang from Huaxia. Surely, you've heard of him."
Seniga looked confused, staring questioningly at Li Tang.
"The mysterious owner behind Australia's Lianying Mining!" Frando revealed directly.
"What?!" Seniga's eyes widened dramatically in astonishment. "I know you!" he exclaimed, excitement gleaming in his eyes as he pointed at Li Tang.
"Hello," Li Tang greeted politely, shaking Seniga's hand.
"Lianying Mining, and the Pebble Project, right?" Seniga couldn't hide his admiration. "Your business is enormous! You're a genuine top-tier billionaire—you know how to make money!"
He repeatedly scanned Li Tang from head to toe, puzzled by his simplicity and the complete lack of visible luxury. In sharp contrast, Seniga himself displayed as much wealth as possible, eager to show off his affluence through gold jewelry and expensive accessories.
"Seniga is also a famous mining tycoon here in Congo, a top-tier millionaire," Frando explained. "He owns a tantalum-niobium mine that generates tens of millions of dollars annually."
Though initially confident talking about money, Seniga quickly realized that compared to Li Tang, he was insignificant. He refrained from bragging further, instead gesturing towards the waiting vehicles. "I've prepared a feast in your honor."
In the car, Frando sat next to Li Tang, explaining, "Eastern Congo has always been unstable, with multiple armed groups fighting for control. A few years ago, major unrest occurred, and now over ten thousand UN peacekeepers are stationed there. It's still dangerous today."
"Katanga Province is in the south—can you guarantee our safety?" Li Tang asked, concerned.
"To be honest, foreigners in Congo face danger everywhere," Frando admitted, pointing at Seniga's car ahead. "Seniga's mine is located in the most troubled eastern province, yet he still earns millions annually. He's a powerful man with his own armed security. We must rely on such people to operate safely here."
"Can we trust Seniga?" Li Tang asked.
"Yes," Frando nodded. "Seniga has ambitions. He told me most people in Congo still don't have electricity. Building hydropower plants would be extremely profitable, a huge business opportunity. But hydropower requires significant investment, around five hundred million dollars from American or European investors."
"That's an enormous sum!" Li Tang remarked, slightly surprised. Despite his rugged appearance, Seniga clearly possessed sharp business acumen.
"It's almost impossible to raise that kind of money locally; he needs international capital. So he can't afford to offend us foreigners," Frando said, glancing at Li Tang's relatively fair skin and then at He Runqi behind them, noticing with amusement that despite both being from Huaxia, their complexions were vastly different.
"Besides, Seniga is a congressman and a mine owner, combining wealth and political power. In Congo, such support is essential."
"A congressman?" Li Tang asked, astonished. It was a system he'd never heard of.
"Yes, officials in Congo can run businesses openly."
"Such a system has many flaws," Li Tang noted cautiously. He wasn't well-versed in politics, but even he recognized the risks of such arrangements.
Frando smiled indifferently, long accustomed to different systems and cultures around the world.
They soon entered Seniga's luxurious mansion in Katanga Province. Surrounded by high fortified walls and guard towers staffed by armed men, patrols circled the perimeter day and night. The setting was lavish, yet the heavy security made them uneasy. The sumptuous banquet featured imported champagne, expensive beef, and premium cigars, clearly imitating Western wealth.
"Everything here is imported, prepared specially for my esteemed foreign guests!" Seniga warmly announced, though dining and sleeping in this heavily fortified compound gave them an uncomfortable sense of constant risk, the fear of an explosive wake-up call at any moment.
After briefly resting, they set off for their intended destination—a region in southern Katanga Province bordering Zambia, within the Central African Copperbelt.
They arrived at an area transitioning between desert and vegetation. Seniga casually explained, "This region is gradually desertifying. The Kalahari Desert in the south is slowly encroaching northward."
He pointed southeast, adding, "Down there, extending towards Zambia, lies the famous copperbelt, with numerous foreign-owned copper mines making huge profits—lots of Euros!"
Frando gestured at the ground beneath their feet. "In this specific area, we're at the northern edge of the copperbelt, where rock and mineral layers are believed to have disappeared. Previously, surface surveys were conducted, but no visible ore signs were found, so drilling never commenced. Most geologists assume this is beyond the copperbelt."
Li Tang observed closely. Between sparse grass blades, thin layers of sand had begun accumulating, gradually burying the fertile soil beneath. The desert was mercilessly consuming the greenery. Due to this layer of sand, surface rocks were obscured, making it hard to judge the true geological conditions beneath.
"You suspect the copperbelt extends here and hasn't truly disappeared?" Li Tang questioned.
"Yes, there's a chance," Frando confirmed. "Geophysical data show underground anomalies. Also, less than a hundred kilometers southeast of here, numerous copper mines exist, supporting this area's potential."
"Could it just be hidden under the sand?" Li Tang pondered aloud.
"Perhaps," Frando agreed cautiously. "Or maybe it's buried deeper beneath other geological layers."
"All right, let's proceed with this project," Li Tang decided confidently, shaking the fine yellow sand from his fingers and clapping his hands decisively.
Frando stood stunned, momentarily unable to process Li Tang's swift and bold decision.
Had he truly just decided to invest in exploration so casually?
What about the famed great exploration expert? Where was that incisive eye and professional expertise that everyone had praised?
Frando had originally thought Li Tang would deliver an insightful geological assessment of the area, analyzing its mineralization potential, and perhaps even offering theories about the formation and characteristics of the possible ore deposits.
But Li Tang had said nothing at all and had simply announced his decision to invest.
It suddenly felt as if bringing Li Tang here made no difference whatsoever!
"So, what do you think about the mineralization potential here?" Frando finally asked.
"As you mentioned," Li Tang replied calmly, "the geophysical surveys have already indicated underground anomalies. Given its location at the northern end of the mineralization belt, it's very likely that the copper belt extends into this area but is concealed by certain geological circumstances."
Li Tang gestured toward the sand-covered ground. "Without visible bedrock exposures, even God himself couldn't provide a precise analysis of the strata."
"True enough." Frando nodded thoughtfully, then asked again, as if still uncertain, "Are you really sure about investing in exploration here? Since we're good friends, I'll be upfront with you. Even if we discover a deposit, given the unstable political environment here, mining operations will face considerable risk."
"Isn't that exactly the risk we mineral explorers need to take?" Li Tang replied resolutely. While others might still have doubts, Li Tang was entirely clear in his mind. As Frando suspected, the copper belt was indeed beneath their feet, only obscured by drifting sands.
Once the sand was removed, the ore layers below would be exposed. They weren't even deeply buried. If it weren't for desertification encroaching on this region, the largest and richest deposits of the Central African Copperbelt wouldn't have remained undiscovered—becoming lost pearls beneath the sand.
Frando couldn't quite fathom Li Tang's seemingly casual approach. He handed over a geological map, pointing out, "We're currently here. Southeast of us is the main copper belt. To the northwest, this large area is vacant—unclaimed for mineral rights. How should we define the scope of the project?"
Despite everything, Frando still deeply trusted Li Tang's expertise. Even though Li Tang appeared casual and nonchalant now, Frando understood this might simply be the mysterious mannerisms of a truly exceptional expert. After all, someone who could discover world-class deposits like the Talego copper-gold mine and the Pebble project was undoubtedly no ordinary man.
Li Tang examined the map carefully, matching coordinates and mentally aligning the known positions of two major ore deposits. He soon had a rough assessment.
"When applying for exploration rights, include this entire region," he said, circling a large area on the map with a pencil, effectively capturing both target ore bodies.
Frando looked closely and raised an eyebrow. "This is not a small area—it's easily four or five hundred square kilometers."
The larger the area, the greater the workload and investment required for exploration.
In recent years, Frando had extensively scattered his projects worldwide, particularly in Africa, managing several explorations simultaneously. However, most of the wealth he'd earned from selling nickel exploration rights back in the 1990s had been nearly exhausted.
If they found minerals here, it would certainly require substantial further investments for detailed exploration. Not that Frando worried about securing funding. Promising projects always attracted investors.
His decision to involve Li Tang had multiple purposes: on one hand, leveraging Li Tang's exceptional copper-gold exploration skills; on the other, Li Tang's identity as a Huaxia entrepreneur was also attractive. Anyone paying attention to the global economy understood clearly that the Huaxia market was becoming increasingly influential, gradually reshaping the entire world's economic landscape.
Previously, discovering a large deposit usually meant selling the exploration rights to big mining corporations for a substantial one-off payment. But compared to the profits made from actually developing the mines, the gains from simply selling the rights were negligible.
Frando also dreamed of transitioning from merely selling exploration rights to becoming a genuine mine developer—a far more lucrative venture. Clearly, working with Huaxia capital could help him achieve this goal. After all, all world-renowned mining giants were developers, not mere exploration companies.
Li Tang's own business was unique and exceptional, a special case.
"How shall we structure our investment if we establish a company here?" Frando asked, clearly mindful of the fact he had only received 20% equity in Han Tie Mining previously—a deal he still regretted.
"For a project of this size," Li Tang replied thoughtfully, "an initial investment of fifty million dollars should be enough to complete basic exploration. If promising results emerge, we'll obviously need more funding later on."
"Another fifty million?" Frando ran his fingers nervously through his slicked-back hair, marveling quietly at the scale of Li Tang's ambitions. This was indeed the style of a world-class billionaire—treating an initial exploration investment of fifty million dollars as if it were pocket change.
Had Frando tackled the project alone, he would have started modestly with a few million, then used early drill results to seek funding from capital markets. This approach minimized his financial risk.
"How about the same deal as Han Tie Mining—I contribute forty million, and you ten million?" Li Tang teased lightly.
"No, no, no!" Frando hastily refused. "I must have at least fifty percent ownership this time!"
He couldn't afford another situation like Han Tie Mining. With a determined grimace, he mentally calculated: scraping together twenty-five million dollars was painful but still doable. Previously, he had always leveraged other people's money for exploration, thus avoiding personal financial strain. This time, however, investing entirely his own money put significant pressure on him.
"All right, let's each put in twenty-five million and split it fifty-fifty," Li Tang agreed easily.
If Frando hadn't proposed the project first, Li Tang himself would have eventually come and claimed these exploration rights anyway. Likewise, had Li Tang not joined, Frando certainly would have pursued the exploration alone. Since their intentions coincided perfectly, splitting the stake equally seemed perfectly fair.
Having agreed to a simple structure, Li Tang immediately phoned Alice.
From the two hundred million dollars earned from the Pebble project sale, they had already spent approximately 120 million, leaving over eighty million dollars still available, with additional profits gained from currency depreciation.
"Boss!" Alice answered excitedly, as always delighted to hear from Li Tang.
"I'm currently in Congo, Africa, and I've just found a project I like," Li Tang announced succinctly. "I plan to invest twenty-five million dollars in exploration. Send someone to handle the funding arrangements—once the money arrives, we'll start immediately!"
"Another new project?" Alice was already used to her boss's relentless energy—he was always either actively exploring or en route to the next exploration.
"Copper, highly prospective," Li Tang kept his explanation brief.
"All right, I'll send a team over. Anyway, twenty-five million isn't a big deal, and our team members are all very capable."
"Good. With you overseeing our investment decisions, I feel completely at ease," Li Tang assured her. "However, do prepare mentally. This project has strong potential to yield a major deposit, requiring significant additional investment later. But that will be in the future, perhaps one or two years from now—maybe even longer."
"Another huge deposit?" Alice said, already familiar with the pattern.
"It definitely has potential," Li Tang cautiously affirmed.
"Boss, you really are incredible!" Alice exclaimed again, still genuinely amazed by her boss's abilities despite being accustomed to his success. Every new triumph deepened her admiration for him.
"It's still early," Li Tang modestly responded. "We need the exploration results first."
"By the way, where exactly are you now?" Alice suddenly asked.
"In Congo, Africa."
"My father is also in Congo! Which province are you in?"
"Katanga Province," Li Tang replied, surprised by the coincidence.
"He's also there!"
After hanging up, Li Tang quickly contacted Christo. Both were staying in Katanga Province's capital, and agreed to meet up.
Returning from the exploration site, Li Tang noticed He Runqi clutching a white cloth bag tightly.
"What have you got there? A gold nugget?" Li Tang joked curiously.
"Samples," He Runqi mumbled dejectedly, clearly exhausted from the long journey.
"What kind of samples? Let me see," Li Tang asked, puzzled, having seen no exposed bedrock at the site.
"No!" He Runqi stubbornly refused, gripping the bag tightly.
"Really found gold and keeping it for yourself?" Li Tang laughed, amused.
"It's genuinely a sample!" He Runqi insisted defensively.
A nearby technician revealed the truth, "Director He dug up some sand, saying he wanted it for planting grass at home."
"You dug up desert sand? Are you out of your mind?" Li Tang laughed loudly and mercilessly. "You think you can grow plants with desert sand?"
He Runqi sighed deeply, complaining, "I came all this way but found nothing. I couldn't just leave empty-handed."
"What exactly were you hoping to see?"
"I wanted to examine the geological strata, assess rock types, gauge exploration potential, maybe identify chalcocite ore layers," He Runqi explained, shaking his head in frustration. "Yet I still have no clue how you concluded this place has potential."
"Big-picture judgment," Li Tang comforted, patting him on the shoulder. "Exploration inherently involves guesswork and gambling. Not every deposit reveals itself clearly at the surface."
"Just based on that, is it worth investing fifty million dollars?" He Runqi questioned doubtfully.
"You're right—but I'm willing to gamble," Li Tang replied confidently.
Later, back in the provincial capital's affluent district, Li Tang met Christo as planned.
Currently, everyone in the global mining community knows that wherever Li Tang launches a project, significant mineral discoveries inevitably follow.
If Christo managed to learn the exact location of Li Tang's project and then preemptively filed for exploration rights on behalf of Freeport Copper & Gold, a Western corporation like theirs would surely gain preferential treatment. Even if both parties applied simultaneously, approval would undoubtedly favor Freeport Copper & Gold.
This risk had to be carefully managed.
"I'm just here casually looking around; nothing concrete yet," Li Tang said, brushing the topic aside.
"But Alice mentioned you already decided to invest 25 million dollars to start exploration, and she's already sending an investment team to process the funds," Christo immediately exposed Li Tang's excuse.
"Oh, that amount is for charity purposes, specifically supporting a nationwide geological survey in Congo—purely a public welfare initiative," Li Tang quickly concocted another excuse.
Everywhere in the world, comprehensive geological surveys are always necessary first steps toward mineral discovery. These broad surveys help identify areas with the highest mineralization potential, followed by more detailed exploration.
"Really?" Christo obviously didn't buy Li Tang's explanation. He'd have to be kicked in the head by a donkey to believe that someone would travel halfway across the world just to finance a charitable geological survey in Africa.
"Of course," Li Tang said with absolute seriousness.
"You don't trust me," Christo concluded sharply.
"That's not true. I swear!" Li Tang raised his hand dramatically, "I swear to God!"
Christo had always disliked Li Tang, and to this day, nothing had changed. However, he found himself powerless against him. The most frustrating thing was how Li Tang constantly appeared in television news and newspapers, always in the spotlight, impossible to ignore!
How annoying!
Why did his precious daughter have to become so infatuated with such a detestable person?
Seeing Christo's silence, Li Tang asked casually, "Director Christo, what brings you here? I recall Alice mentioning you've been busy in Indonesia dealing with the Grasberg mine collapse incident. Recently, there's been another major workers' strike there, severely affecting global copper supply. Copper prices have surged dramatically, largely due to your Grasberg mine's operational challenges."
Currently, the inventories at the three major global copper exchanges had nearly dried up, causing copper prices to soar uncontrollably. The Grasberg copper-gold mine had faced operational difficulties lately, annually producing over half a million tonnes of copper. Losing such a significant supply inevitably triggered a severe shortage, sending copper prices skyrocketing at an astonishing pace.
"The strike isn't part of my responsibilities," Christo shrugged casually, pausing noticeably as if deliberately withholding information. "I'm just here for a casual visit as well."
"Casual visit?" Li Tang raised his eyebrows skeptically. "Alice told me you've been here for more than a month already. Would a casual visit require such a long stay?"
This time it was Li Tang's turn to expose Christo's lie. "Director Christo, are you here to inspect a particular copper mine?"
"That's a trade secret. Don't pry!" Christo snapped irritably. He was angry that Li Tang was probing into his company's private matters, but even more annoyed that his daughter was sharing information so freely with him.
"You're here inspecting the FG copper mine project owned by Douglas, aren't you?" Li Tang said nonchalantly.
Christo froze momentarily. Clearly, Li Tang had hit the mark.
"Absolutely not!" Christo firmly denied.
"Your Freeport Copper & Gold's acquisition of Douglas has reached a critical stage. You're currently reviewing Douglas's key assets, aren't you?" Li Tang smiled faintly, enjoying Christo's discomfort.
The more Christo watched Li Tang's calm smile, the more unsettling it became.
How did this young man seem to know everything?
It appeared Li Tang had accurately guessed the progress of Freeport Copper & Gold's takeover of Douglas. The rumors about the acquisition had circulated publicly for years without any official confirmation. Now, the process had quietly entered a crucial phase.
Freeport wanted to swiftly conclude this historic acquisition quietly, preventing opportunistic investors from causing further complications. That's why Christo was vehemently denying and concealing details—yet this young man clearly saw through everything!
"You shouldn't guess wildly; I won't confirm anything!" Christo said guardedly.
Details of the acquisition were highly sensitive commercial secrets. If outsiders became aware of specifics, complications could easily arise.
Yet evidently, this Chinese man knew everything. He was incredibly resourceful and terrifyingly well-informed!
"All right, maybe I was mistaken," Li Tang said nonchalantly, brushing it aside.
Christo let out a relieved breath, quickly changing the topic. "As a registered professional engineer, I genuinely admire your achievements in mineral exploration. You recently discovered the Maru River coal deposit, and the Malihe iron deposit also appears to have tremendous potential. Truly impressive!"
"You're quite impressive yourself," Li Tang politely responded.
"Perhaps Alice's decision to follow you was correct after all," Christo said quietly, a rare concession.
"Not perhaps, certainly correct!" Li Tang immediately affirmed.
"But I still don't support her choice, because I believe she won't find happiness with you!" Christo declared stubbornly.
"…"
Li Tang soon departed Africa with He Runqi and others, flying back to Huaxia.
For now, the copper exploration project in Congo would be managed by Frando's team, conducting preliminary preparations. After Chinese New Year, Li Tang would dispatch a technical team to support exploration activities, possibly led by He Runqi himself or perhaps a professional geological team hired from China.
No sooner had Li Tang landed back home than Qin Jianshe hurriedly arrived at his office. Zhongcheng Mining was headquartered in Yunding Tower, just downstairs from Li Tang's office. Qin Jianshe had come representing Zhongcheng Mining, not Wukuang Group.
Although Li Tang no longer actively participated in Zhongcheng Mining's daily management or operations, he remained its spiritual leader.
"President Qin!" Li Tang immediately rose to welcome him. He had always respected Qin Jianshe—not only as his former superior but as an old classmate of his father.
"I have big news to share!" Qin Jianshe declared excitedly, barely seated on the sofa.
"What news?" Li Tang asked, curious.
"International copper prices have surged dramatically again!" Qin announced enthusiastically.
Surging copper prices were unquestionably good news for Zhongcheng Mining. The higher copper prices climbed, the greater the economic value of the Talego copper-gold mine, significantly boosting the project's development prospects.
"Oh?" Li Tang responded knowingly, still feigning mild surprise. "How much has the price risen?"
"Mid-last year, copper was around 3,300 dollars per ton. In the second half of the year, it surged to 4,400 dollars per ton. Entering 2006, the upward trend accelerated further. Copper prices have now exceeded 5,000 dollars per ton!" Qin Jianshe explained eagerly, eyes gleaming with excitement. He felt as though the international copper market had gone completely mad. "Prices are changing daily now—at this rate, it might surpass 6,000 dollars per ton by next month!"
Even at 3,000 dollars per ton, copper mines were profitable. But with prices nearly doubled, the potential profits were astronomical. At current prices, operating mines could recover their initial investments—originally projected to take five to ten years—in just one year! The returns were astonishingly lucrative.
"How's the construction progress at our copper-gold mine?" Li Tang asked immediately.
"It's progressing smoothly," Qin reported confidently. "The mine's camp facilities will be completed by year-end. The railway construction is slightly delayed but will finish either next year or the year after. Other sub-projects are mostly on schedule."
Qin had regularly updated Li Tang about Zhongcheng Mining's developments. He added, "Coal markets are booming too. Did you hear? A coal tycoon from Shanxi Province recently splashed out 200 million yuan in cash to buy an entire building in Yanjing. Unbelievably extravagant!"
Li Tang couldn't help but chuckle at the news.
"You could easily do something similar if you wanted," Qin remarked. "But knowing how low-key you are, you'd never make such a flashy move."
This observation was accurate. Li Tang's Shengshi Holdings had recently received another 200-million-yuan cash payment from selling Shazhai Molybdenum's shares. If he distributed it as dividends, purchasing real estate would be feasible—and, given Yanjing's rising property market, profitable as well, albeit requiring a long-term perspective.
"I actually think it's not a bad idea," Li Tang suddenly smiled thoughtfully.
"You're not seriously thinking of copying that coal tycoon and buying a building, are you?" Qin asked incredulously.
"Buying a residential building to distribute apartments among our employees might be a worthwhile investment," Li Tang suddenly considered. Qin's casual comment had inspired a useful idea. With year-end bonuses approaching, ordinary staff might not easily afford homes.
If the company provided housing, wouldn't employees feel greater loyalty as property values inevitably rose? Even Alice had yet to purchase a home. Given her invaluable contributions, gifting her a luxurious villa was entirely justified.
As the company continued to grow, retaining talent and fostering a sense of belonging among staff was certainly worth deeper consideration and discussion.
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