Chapter 422: The Murder of a Hardy Company Employee

Singapore.

Hardy's special plane touched down at Singapore Airport, where Governor Mountbatten and all officials from the Governor's Mansion were waiting to greet him.

Previously, when Hardy was the Governor of the Dominion of Penang, he and Mountbatten had been on equal footing. However, now that Hardy's position had changed drastically, Mountbatten was obliged to meet him personally. 

Hardy stepped off the plane, and Mountbatten quickly advanced to greet him.

"Hello, Governor Mountbatten. It's good to see you again," Hardy said with a smile, extending his hand.

Mountbatten shook Hardy's hand warmly, replying, "Welcome, Earl Hardy, to Singapore."

"I look forward to our cooperation and to building Singapore together," Hardy said.

Mountbatten agreed, noting that although Singapore had become the fief of Hardy's son, he retained his position as Governor of Malaya. The other Malayan territories remained under British control, but Hardy was now in charge of Singapore.

Currently, Hardy held three significant plots of land in Malaya: Penang, Malacca, and Singapore. Johor had been merged into Malacca, making Malacca a vastly improved region.

Initially, Queen Elizabeth's sister-in-law had proposed that Hardy become the Governor of Malaya, but Hardy had declined. Accepting the position would have made him responsible for all regional issues, whereas, by not holding the title, he could distance himself from potential problems.

Hardy's immediate focus was on stabilizing Singapore's internal affairs. On his first day, he was interviewed by reporters and outlined his management plans for Singapore, mirroring his policies in Penang and Malacca. His vision included equality for all citizens, protection of personal property, freedom of language and religion, and the establishment of a parliament to ensure political participation.

Hardy's efforts were aimed at gaining the support of the local Chinese population, who were the majority in Singapore and influential in both education and wealth. Given their connection with relatives in Penang and Malacca, many Singaporean Chinese quickly accepted Hardy's governance. 

The Chinese community, influenced by Confucian values, generally preferred stability and were not inclined to create trouble unless necessary for survival. As a result, Singapore stabilized under Hardy's rule, with reforms such as improved education and public services.

However, Hardy's policies encountered resistance from Malays, who faced reduced privileges and protested against the new regulations. Riots and demonstrations broke out, leading to violence and destruction. Hardy responded decisively, deploying soldiers to quell the unrest and arresting the troublemakers. The rioters faced severe consequences, including executions, while the British government remained uninvolved, considering it an internal matter for Hardy's dominion.

With Singapore officially under Hardy's control, he turned his attention to other pressing issues. In July 1953, the Korean War ended with a ceasefire agreement, while Indonesia imposed new restrictions on foreign investment, targeting Chinese enterprises like Hardy's. This move threatened Hardy's interests in Indonesia, where his investments were substantial.

The unrest in Indonesia continued to escalate, with violent protests targeting Chinese businesses. In Surabaya, thugs attacked a rubber factory and a foreign trade warehouse, causing significant losses and injuries. Among the casualties was Li Qiao, a technical director from Penang working for Hardy's company.

Enraged by the incident, Hardy ordered immediate action. He demanded that the Indonesian government arrest and punish the perpetrators, compensating for the losses. Hardy also instructed that the Hardy Group make a public statement denouncing the violence and demonstrating a hardline stance. If Indonesia failed to address the issue satisfactorily, Hardy vowed to take further action to protect his interests.

The next day, the Global Times reported extensively on the incident, condemning the Indonesian government's actions and highlighting the Hardy Group's determination to seek justice. Andy, the president of the Hardy Group, stated that if necessary, they might resort to deploying a "mercenary army" to defend their interests.