The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 723 The Arrival of the International News Team, The Old Yin-Yang Master BBC

As the inspection drew to a close, Chen Wentai hurried over and whispered a few words in Ali Khan's ear.

Ali Khan was taken aback at first, then raised an eyebrow: "News team? At this time?"

"Now is the time, Your Majesty," Chen Wentai said with a smile, but his eyes held a deeper meaning. "The horrors of Calcutta and Punjab have been broadcast around the world. Now, the whole world needs to see a different 'South Asian subcontinent story.' A story that is not just about massacre, hatred, and despair."

"what do you mean……"

“Show Hyderabad,” Chen Wentai’s voice was very persuasive, “show that the markets, teahouses, and schools here are open as usual. Show how your guards maintain order professionally and with restraint.”

Showcase your image as an enlightened, modern monarch committed to peace and prosperity.

Of course, there's also the technical equipment we from Southeast Asia provide for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid.

He moved slightly closer, lowering his voice even further:

"Your Majesty, the arena of public opinion is the battlefield. You must let the world see that when the Congress faction and the Star-Moon Alliance only bring about bloody division, it is the Hyderabad model that protects people of different faiths and maintains development and stability."

This will lay an incredibly solid foundation for you to gain a more favorable international standing and recognition in the future.

Independence requires not only the gun, but also the pen and the camera.

Ali Khan's eyes lit up completely. Chen Wentai's words had opened a new door for him.

"What should I do?" Ali Khan asked anxiously.

“It’s very simple, just be yourself, but with a little adjustment,” Chen Wentai said calmly. “Wear your most dignified, not your most glamorous, attire, and speak in a calm yet firm tone about the ‘well-being of all the subjects of Hyderabad’ and the ‘tradition of peaceful coexistence.’”

He accompanied reporters on a visit to hospitals and schools, and emphasized 'discipline' and 'protection of the people' when visiting soldiers.

The rest is up to the cameras and pens of the reporters.

They will find the story they want themselves, a hopeful story, the complete opposite of one in Calcutta.

The press corps included reporters from the United States, France, and Southeast Asia. Ultimately, the corps was organized with the help of Southeast Asia, so Chen Wentai was quite certain that they would speak for whomever they chose.

Ali Khan took a deep breath, feeling all the pent-up emotions in his chest dissipate, and a surge of heroic spirit welled up within him.

With the dual support of his friends in Southeast Asia in terms of military and public opinion, he seemed to see Hyderabad not only standing firm in the coming storm, but perhaps even forging a broader future.

-----

The arrival of the international press corps was like a pebble thrown into the calm surface of Hyderabad's lake, creating ripples that were larger than expected.

Among them was an uninvited guest: Charlie Foster, the BBC reporter who had been rendered speechless by the Nanyang engineers at the auto show.

After visiting the orderly market, interviewing several shop owners who spoke highly of their religious neighbors, and filming the Royal Guard's civilized law enforcement checkpoint, the press group was taken to the observation area of ​​the suburban training base.

There was no live ammunition, but the armored vehicle maneuvering demonstration, the soldiers' hand-to-hand combat, and the tactical formation training still exuded professionalism.

Charlie Foster's eyes swept across the equipment like searchlights, finally locking onto Zhao Zishi, who was standing on one side of the reviewing stand, wearing a jacket and overalls.

He walked straight over with his notebook and microphone in hand, wearing the BBC's signature smile, a mixture of politeness and skepticism.

"Mr. Zhao, this is Charlie Foster from the BBC. May I have a few minutes of your time?"

Zhao Zishi nodded, his expression indifferent.

Chen Wentai, who was standing nearby, took a half-step closer and whispered in Chinese: "Old Zhao, these reporters are all seasoned barbs. Their questions will definitely be barbed. Remember, he asks his questions, you ask them back, don't fall into his logical traps."

“Of course, Mr. Foster.” Zhao Zishi’s Onsa language was hastily learned and had a heavy accent.

Foster cut to the chase, and his questions were indeed as sharp as a knife:

"Mr. Zhao, as is widely known, the United States of Southeast Asia is providing Hyderabad with a large amount of military training and weaponry."

Does this violate the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries under international law?

Do you acknowledge that this constitutes substantial interference with the future unification process of India?

The surrounding reporters fell silent instantly, their ears perked up like rabbits, their pens hovering over their notebooks.

Zhao Zishi's facial muscles remained completely still; he didn't even think for long, as if the answer was already prepared:

"First, we need to clarify a few basic facts."

"First, as a princely state with a high degree of autonomy, Hyderabad's monarch, His Majesty Ali Khan, has the perfectly legitimate right to build and train his own royal guard to maintain security and order within the state. This is the cornerstone of Hyderabad's internal affairs."

"Secondly, all cooperation between Nanyang and Hyderabad, including some of the professional consulting and equipment you see, is based on a completely transparent business cooperation agreement signed voluntarily by both parties."

Neither I nor my colleagues are officials of the Nanyang government.

We are employees of 'Longteng International Security and Risk Assessment Company', providing security consulting services, personnel training, and necessary technical support to our contracted clients.

He paused, his gaze fixed on Foster:

"Our work has a simple purpose: to help our clients improve their ability to maintain stability and protect civilians and critical infrastructure."

This aligns with basic international business principles and is consistent with the core spirit of the newly established UN Charter, which emphasizes promoting social stability and protecting human rights.

Mr. Foster, which international law is violated by helping a local government prevent the spread of violence and protect innocent civilians?

Foster clearly hadn't expected the other side to be so well-prepared, and to have disguised their military advisor as a security company employee.

He quickly adjusted: "However, commercial cooperation of this scale will inevitably strengthen Hyderabad's separatist tendencies and affect the future unification process of India as a whole country."

Don't you think this is a form of disguised, far-reaching political intervention?

“Mr. Foster,” Zhao Zishi interrupted him, this time with a slightly stronger tone, “I would like to ask you, and all the journalists present, to consider a more fundamental question.”

He glanced around, his gaze sharp:

"In the current subcontinent, is it considered interference to help a region maintain order and protect the lives and property of civilians, or is it to fulfill one's duty by allowing killing to spread, being unable to maintain the most basic security, and watching tens of thousands of people die from hatred and chaos?"

The faint shouts of soldiers on the training ground only served to accentuate the deafening silence.

Zhao Zishi continued: "You came from Calcutta, or you've read the reports from there. What did you see? Unbridled atrocities, mountains of corpses, ordinary people crying in despair, and the authorities who claimed to maintain order being helpless and even collapsing. That's called dereliction of duty, that's called a vacuum of order."

“And here, in Hyderabad,” he pointed toward the city outside the base, “you see markets operating as usual, children going to school safely, people of different faiths living side by side, and a local government effectively fulfilling its most basic function of protecting its people.”

If we must point to any interference, then it is chaos and violence that are brutally interfering with the right to life of every ordinary person.

All we did was, at the request of a legitimate government, provide expertise and tools to help them resist this evil interference and defend the peaceful life that rightfully belongs to their people.

Is there a problem with this?

"Well said!" a young journalist from a Middle Eastern media outlet couldn't help but exclaim.

Then, scattered but sincere applause rang out from the press corps, gradually forming a continuous chorus.

These journalists had mostly come from or were on their way to hell like Kolkata, where they had witnessed bloodshed and despair. The order in Hyderabad and the idea of ​​protecting ordinary people contained in Zhao Zishi's words struck a chord with their deep-seated yearning for civilization and reason.

Charlie Foster's face turned a deep shade of liver.

He opened his mouth, wanting to refute.

But he didn't say anything in the end, and just silently turned around and squeezed out of the crowd.

His back view showed a hint of panic.

Chen Wentai stood a little distance away and smiled.

Old Zhao deserves full marks for his performance.