Chapter 239: The Mining License
Li Tang, stationed in Kuren City, Mengguo, remained closely attuned to the progress of the Shazhai Molybdenum Project's acceptance process. Estimating that results should be in, he took the initiative to call He Runqi.
"Li Tang, when are you coming back?" He Runqi's voice was feeble the moment the call connected. "If you don't return soon, I think I'll collapse here in Huizhou."
"What's wrong? Has the acceptance work worn you out?"
Li Tang assumed it was overwork. After all, the entire technical department of Shazhai Molybdenum was under He Runqi's management. The burden on such young shoulders was considerable.
"As management, you don't need to do everything personally," Li Tang advised. "Delegate properly and just focus on seeing the results."
"It's not the work—it's the drinking," He sighed. "Boss Xiao, President Qian, and GM Geng are all here in Huizhou. Because the project has succeeded, they're thrilled. Every other day they drag me out for drinks. Since you're not around, I'm their drinking stand-in. They just came by again, inviting me to dinner tonight—I'm not going. I don't care what happens, I refuse to go!"
Hearing this, Li Tang laughed. "I told you before—playing the fool at a banquet isn't shameful. You're quiet when sober, but after three drinks, you're the star of the show."
"Don't laugh at me. If you were here, you'd be passed out under the table too!"
"Get our old class president involved—he's got a strong liver!" Li Tang offered a suggestion, vaguely remembering that Dai Yingchi held the crown for best drinker back in college.
"I did bring him out for the first celebration banquet. He strutted in confidently… only to realize he was no match for those old-timers like Geng and Xiao," He Runqi groaned. "Now if I invite him out, he hides in the bathroom for an hour!"
Li Tang nearly burst out laughing. "You all better take it easy—don't end up in the hospital."
"And after drinking, Qian insists we go for foot massages," He continued complaining. "I'm exhausted. So how's your project going over there?"
"Pretty smooth so far," Li Tang replied, "but no progress on follow-up tasks yet."
"The exploration project here is basically wrapped up. Most people are idle now. Aside from drinking, we've been discussing our next steps with Geng and Xiao. Since the survey reports and resource estimates are finalized, everyone agrees: the next step is applying for a mining license."
"With 2 million tons of molybdenum, Shazhai's scale is massive—this is a key national resource. The license application will be reviewed in Yanjing, and it won't be easy," Li Tang said. He was abroad and couldn't personally oversee this complex process.
"My plan," said He Runqi, "is to first prepare all documentation per licensing requirements. We'll commission Huizhou's environmental institute to conduct an environmental impact report for mining development. That needs serious funding. We'll also engage a design unit to draft a preliminary development and utilization plan."
He hadn't discussed these details with Li Tang beforehand—it was clear he had already matured into an independent thinker.
Hearing this, Li Tang was relieved. His company's development no longer required his constant supervision.
"Go for it. Let me know if you hit any roadblocks."
"These two tasks need major funding. We'll get started here, but eventually, we'll need you back to resolve the financial side."
"If it's just about money, it's not a problem."
Li Tang ended the call with a smile.
He was currently at the Kuren City office of Nanhuang Resources, a lean operation mostly staffed by Guo Fengchun, Alice, and a few others. Their main task was managing relationships with Mengguo authorities.
Seeing Alice sorting documents, he asked, "Did you confirm our appointment with Director Jirigela?"
"Jirigela said he's free all afternoon. We can head over anytime."
Li Tang glanced at the time.
"Let's go now."
The Mineral and Petroleum Administration building was close. Kuren City wasn't a large place.
Their car bumped along uneven roads—Li Tang and Alice sat in the back, while Guo Fengchun drove. They hadn't hired a local driver; such talent was hard to find.
Alice glanced sideways at Li Tang several times, hesitating before finally saying,
"I've heard that our Talego Copper-Gold Project has been classified as a strategic mineral resource in Mengguo. The highest levels of their government are paying close attention."
"That's normal," Li Tang said, opening his eyes from a brief rest. "Thirty million tons of copper, thirteen hundred tons of gold, and over seven thousand tons of silver—that's equivalent to the entire wealth of a small, poor country."
"But that might not be good for us." Alice looked concerned.
"You've heard something else, haven't you?" Li Tang turned to her.
"You know how things work here—major decisions go through parliamentary votes. From what I hear, many lawmakers aren't happy that a Chinese company controls the mineral rights. They're thrilled the deposit exists—but not thrilled it's not theirs."
"We've discussed this," Li Tang said calmly. He had expected as much.
"Most lawmakers don't support us holding full rights to the Talego mine," Alice added gravely. "That could be a major problem."
"But according to Mengguo's mining law, foreign companies are entitled to full ownership. They have no legal grounds to revoke our rights."
"Let's hope they don't make it difficult."
"If they do, they'll have to consider whether they can handle the backlash from China," Li Tang said, then smirked.
"How do you always know what's happening in Mengguo's parliament?"
"I told you—my father worked here in project development. He knows some members of parliament."
Alice was always upfront with him.
"We're here."
Guo Fengchun parked the car and turned around.
The three of them entered the office of the Mineral and Petroleum Administration.
Director Jirigela stood up to greet them.
"Hello, friends from China!"
After a few pleasantries, Li Tang got to the point.
"Our exploration at Talego is nearly complete. Results have exceeded expectations. After careful review, Nanhuang Resources has decided to submit our final report shortly."
"So soon?"
Jirigela had profited handsomely from this project over the past year. As long as Chinese equipment stayed operational in Nanhuang, the money would keep flowing.
No one had dared disrupt their work—doing so would mean cutting off their own revenue.
"The results are clear. It's time to proceed to the next phase."
Li Tang was here to gauge sentiment.
"We've fulfilled all requirements—filed documentation, invested heavily. Under your country's mining law, we qualify for a mining license."
Mengguo's laws didn't restrict exploration methods. Once a company obtained a permit and invested sufficiently, they could apply for mining rights.
Every country operated this way—unless the deposit in question was of national strategic importance.
Talego Copper-Gold had already been declared strategic.
In such cases, approval required higher-level scrutiny—even signatures from top officials.
Still, Mengguo couldn't simply deny them. Nanhuang Resources held exclusive exploration rights. No one else could apply.
Unless the government took the extreme step of revoking their license—something not unheard of in other countries, but one that risked severe international consequences.
Jirigela scratched his head. He wasn't sure how to respond.
"This needs approval from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. I can't decide on my own."
"What's your position?" Li Tang asked directly.
"I'll talk to Minister Bayar and get back to you, alright?" Jirigela deflected.
"Sure. We'll wait."
"In the meantime, keep your team working. Go ahead and prep the application materials. If approval comes through, submit everything to me, and I'll push it through."
"Understood. No need to see us out."
Li Tang had expected this. Today's visit was just about reading the room.
As they exited the building, a convoy of luxury cars pulled into the courtyard.
In Mengguo, such cars were rare—only elite locals or foreign investors drove them.
Out stepped several men, chatting in a language Li Tang didn't recognize.
From other vehicles came blond-haired Westerners.
Clearly two different groups, but familiar with each other. They exchanged greetings and walked in together.
As they passed, they glanced curiously at Li Tang's trio.
"Do you recognize them?" Li Tang looked at Alice and Guo Fengchun.
Alice shook her head.
Guo Fengchun frowned. "Those guys speaking that gibberish—they're probably Japanese. I don't recognize them. But those Westerners… I'm pretty sure that's Viduka, Exploration Director at Lituo Mining."
"Lituo? And they're collaborating with the Japanese?"
Li Tang's expression turned thoughtful.
Why else would they be visiting the Ministry? Likely to launch a competing project.
What worried Li Tang was whether Lituo's involvement would interfere with their license application.
Officially, they had no ties with Lituo.
But in an alternate timeline, they were deeply entangled.
If not for Li Tang's intervention, the Talego project would've been discovered by Aiwanhao, a junior exploration company from Jaga.
Aiwanhao had no capacity to develop the mine, so they looked to sell stakes. Their CEO, Fernando, even visited China to meet with potential partners—favoring a Chinese firm because of geographical convenience and access to infrastructure.
But when Chinese companies rushed in, competition turned fierce. Like a bidding war, it drove up prices.
The China Mining Association tried to unify bids—but that backfired.
Mengguo viewed this as collusion and shut the door.
Lituo swooped in and took the prize.
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