Chapter 217: Smooth Return to Hong Kong
Standing aside, Lin Haoran watched curiously, wondering how Li Weiguo and Li Weidong would conduct the selection.
Since they were both former soldiers, it was obvious they would employ the most standard and rigorous methods from military practice to select the elite.
However, Lin Haoran himself had never served in the military and naturally didn't understand these procedures.
"You should all know by now, out of 300 people, only the strongest 200 will be chosen. Whether you seize this opportunity depends on your own abilities!
This selection will be conducted with fairness and transparency, and will be divided into two major phases: the preliminary test and the re-evaluation stage, followed by a comprehensive assessment," Li Weiguo announced.
As for Li Weidong, he was better suited to direct physical tasks.
After Li Weidong explained the process, Lin Haoran understood how they intended to conduct the selection.
First came physical fitness tests: long-distance running to assess endurance and cardiovascular function, sprints to measure explosive power, push-ups and sit-ups to evaluate upper body and abdominal strength, pull-ups to test upper body pulling strength, and standing long jumps to measure leg explosive strength.
Each event would be strictly scored by both evaluators.
After the physical tests, they requested to use a nearby military training base for further evaluations. After receiving approval from their superiors, the move was quickly arranged.
At the base, the 300 candidates underwent firearm accuracy testing, disassembly and assembly speed tests for firearms, all with scores assigned individually.
Next came stress tests and psychological evaluations, ensuring they could remain calm and perform efficiently under high pressure.
All of these constituted the preliminary phase.
Then came the highlight: one-on-one combat matches.
Using a specific scoring system, they assessed each participant's combat skills, offense and defense capabilities, and tactical use.
The entire selection process lasted more than half a day, ending only near 10 p.m.
After scoring and ranking, the top 200 based on total scores were selected.
The remaining candidates, unfortunately, were eliminated.
Lin Haoran observed the entire process closely and found that even those who were eliminated displayed impressive abilities.
However, since the mainland authorities had only approved 200 participants, Lin Haoran, despite feeling regret, did not request an increase.
"Your selection method is practically at the level of special forces elite screening!" even the training base officer exclaimed.
For the eliminated veterans, Lin Haoran generously prepared a financial subsidy for each of them, recognizing their effort and time, ensuring they didn't leave empty-handed.
Meanwhile, after finishing their market inspections in Yangcheng, Bao Yugang and Guo Henian returned to Hong Kong via Dongguan for some interim site visits.
Lin Haoran did not accompany them, as his primary purpose in this trip wasn't market investigation, but to find capable veterans to bring back to Hong Kong, which he had successfully accomplished.
As for the mainland market?
Lin Haoran already knew exactly which regions would prosper in the future, how they would develop, and where the greatest opportunities for land appreciation lay.
Rather than true market research, this trip was more about personally experiencing the era's local atmosphere.
After the selection and arrangements, Lin Haoran gave the veterans two days to return home and prepare.
Then, they would be escorted to Huizhou, near Sai Kung, and secretly transported across the border to the Sai Kung coast in Hong Kong.
All expenses were covered by Lin Haoran, with local government assistance.
All these details had already been agreed upon with the leadership — with the major task of securing the veterans completed, everything else was smooth sailing.
By noon on March 12th, Lin Haoran left Yangcheng and appeared in a remote village in Huizhou.
This village, near the northeastern border of Pengcheng, was several dozen kilometers from the coast.
Led by local government personnel and guided by Li Weidong and Li Weiguo, they reached their destination.
This was the brothers' hometown.
The village was small, with only dozens of households, all sharing the surname Li.
When the brothers reunited with their family, Lin Haoran took the opportunity to observe the mountain-backed village.
The brothers' return caused quite a stir among the villagers.
The village houses, nestled at the foot of the mountain, were mainly built with yellow mud bricks and black-tiled roofs.
From the locals, Lin Haoran learned that after the brothers' disappearance, life in the village continued as usual, with their story becoming mere gossip.
Their families faced no punishment, as the government simply listed them as missing persons.
In places like Pengcheng and Huizhou, illegal immigration to Hong Kong was so common that it barely raised eyebrows.
Those caught were punished; those who succeeded remained unbothered.
However, it was unprecedented for successful emigrants to return with government escort, sparking considerable curiosity and excitement.
Lin Haoran gave the brothers two hours for reunion and preparation.
Afterward, they would depart for Hong Kong.
Each brother gathered their few possessions; there wasn't much to take, as everything would be newly bought in Hong Kong.
Over the past year, with little to spend on, the brothers had saved almost all their salaries.
Now, they had enough to each buy a property in Hong Kong with ease.
When the villagers learned they were taking their families to Hong Kong, envy spread throughout the village.
Many pleaded with the brothers to take them along, but understanding the trouble that would bring their boss, they firmly refused.
Being able to reunite with family and start anew in Hong Kong was already a dream come true.
Two hours later, they were ready.
Li Weidong brought his parents and grandfather; Li Weiguo's parents had passed away, but he brought his grandparents and a teenage younger brother.
"Let's go. If we hurry, we can reach Hong Kong before dark," Lin Haoran said after checking the time.
Thus, the nine of them boarded a government bus bound for the Lo Wu Border.
Ordinary people couldn't cross the border legally, but with Lin Haoran's influence, plus the brothers now being Hong Kong ID holders, there were no issues.
After proper registration, they crossed openly.
On the Hong Kong side, a mid-sized bus arranged by Lin Haoran was already waiting.
By a little past 5 p.m., Lin Haoran finally returned to central Hong Kong.
This mainland trip had lasted exactly one week.
After bringing the families to Hong Kong, Lin Haoran noticed that the brothers' loyalty ratings had quietly reached 100.
Back in Hong Kong, Lin Haoran arranged housing for the families, further deepening the brothers' gratitude and loyalty.
Since their families had just arrived, he also approved rotation vacations for the two of them.
After all, traveling around Hong Kong with one bodyguard instead of two made little difference, and his bodyguards were now armed, ensuring even greater safety.
The next day, under Lin Haoran's direction, the two hundred retired soldiers were secretly smuggled in batches into Sai Kung's Lobster Bay.
Lobster Bay, located southeast of Sai Kung, had far less border patrol activity than the north, making the operation smooth and unnoticed.
Upon arrival, the veterans were temporarily housed at the second factory of Green Island Cement Company in Sai Kung.
Bringing two hundred young men directly into the city center to apply for IDs would have attracted too much attention.
Lin Haoran entrusted this task to Burton of Green Island Cement.
For Burton and other senior expatriate managers, this was a minor issue.
To reduce risks further, Burton arranged for the group to be divided and brought into the city over a week to apply for IDs.
Meanwhile, at the Charny Building in Wan Chai, in the general manager's office of Oriental Press Group.
Lin Haoran sat with Cui Zilong.
Since acquiring Oriental Press, Lin Haoran hadn't visited often, handling business with Cui Zilong mostly by phone.
This was only his second in-person visit.
"Mr. Cui, since we added the intelligence department, can you still manage everything?" Lin Haoran asked with a smile.
"Boss, it's manageable. I can delegate most tasks to my subordinates," Cui Zilong answered while making tea.
"In that case, how about I give you some additional responsibilities? Of course, I'll also increase your salary and benefits accordingly," Lin Haoran said.
This time, Lin Haoran came with a clear purpose.
With two hundred veterans now in Hong Kong, it was time to formally establish the security company.
After careful thought, he decided that security and intelligence complemented each other, and that Cui Zilong should head the new company.
After all, Oriental Press was now Lin Haoran's private property, and Cui Zilong worked directly for him.
"Boss, please tell me what exactly you have in mind," Cui Zilong asked curiously, pausing his tea-making.
"Have you heard about the troubles our Green Island Cement branch in the Philippines had with local gangs?" Lin Haoran asked.
Cui Zilong nodded, "Of course, I've heard."
"After that incident, I realized that as our businesses grow, without adequate security, it's impossible to guarantee their safety.
Therefore, I plan to create a security company wholly owned by us.
I've already recruited two hundred highly capable retired soldiers for the foundation.
My goal is to build this security company into a powerhouse, capable of protecting all our industries and even expanding into a major security brand, like G4S, Securitas, Allied Universal, ADT, Brink's, Guardforce, North American Security, Guard Services, or Best Security.
I want to know — would you be interested in being its general manager?
If yes, the position is yours; if not, I'll find someone else," Lin Haoran explained directly and clearly.
"Two hundred retired soldiers?" Cui Zilong repeated in astonishment.
That was a huge move!
"Yes, and all of them have real combat experience, having fought in wars, with some even killing enemies firsthand," Lin Haoran added with a smile.
He had learned this from their personal files — many of them had won second-class or even first-class military honors, demonstrating their battlefield excellence.
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