sbdcsierra Chapter 269 Oil Crisis!
Chapter 269 Oil Crisis!
Zhong Yuemin said:
"The more corrupt the world becomes, the more someone needs to stand up and clean it up. Even if it can't be done for a while, at least we have to prevent those corrupt things from eroding clean places. There has to be someone to protect them. Let's not talk about the public good, but just for ourselves, don't forget that Commander Li has been eyeing our family covetously. He stabbed my Li Yuanchao and stole his girlfriend. It's no exaggeration to say that he hates us to the bone."
If you don't have any real power, they'll have plenty of ways to deal with you.
"Don't think so badly of him. Li Hailong is still a soldier. We just have different positions. As for you juniors, you're just doing nonsense. The adults won't interfere."
"Dad, you're a master at fighting on the battlefield, that goes without saying, your son is completely impressed."
Zhong Yuemin said:
"However, when it comes to understanding people's thoughts and using cunning tricks, you are really no match for me. Not everyone is as upright and honest as you. Some people are a menace, and you expect them to reform?"
"Take my enlistment for example. If Li Hailong hadn't interfered, would I have even needed to go to northern Shaanxi? And on your side, if Xiaobai's father hadn't helped you out, you might still be in there right now. Actually, these aren't the worst things. The Li family has some shady dealings; if they were exposed, they'd be executed ten times over."
"You're implying something, kid. Make it clear: ten executions aren't enough. What, does Li Hailong dare to punish traitors?"
"more or less!"
Zhong Yuemin said, "Dad, I can tell you, but you must keep your mouth shut and not let a word slip out."
"Do you think I'm a gossip? Hurry up."
"That's right, the Li family has a trading company in Hong Kong Island..."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Shanyue's expression was complex and shocked, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Is what you're saying true? This Li Hailong is incredibly audacious. This is all state property, and he dares to blatantly pocket it? Our country is facing so much hardship right now, tightening our belts. How much military equipment could he buy with this millions of dollars in embezzled funds? How many people could he feed? He's simply outrageous."
“Dad, it’s definitely true. I can’t joke about something like this. I’ve already talked to Uncle Zhou about it. This is one of our trump cards. If Li Hailong really goes all out and plays dirty, then don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Zhong Shanyue looked at his son and felt a little unfamiliar with him. Was he still the same carefree, unreliable brat who was always fighting and brawling?
"You have a large business in Hong Kong Island?"
"It's alright, I earn a few million a year!"
Zhong Shanyue's hand gripping the wine glass trembled violently. Seeing how nonchalant this brat was speaking, he felt an urge to slap him.
This is exactly the same idea as my in-laws.
He knew that the kid had some business dealings over there, but he never imagined it would be such a grand affair.
"Nothing can happen, right?"
"Dad, I'm doing legitimate work. I don't steal or rob. I earn money honestly. You can rest assured!"
Zhong Yuemin said:
"By the way, speaking of this, there's something I need to tell you. Aren't you in charge of the overall planning, coordination, and distribution of logistics supplies for the Beijing Military Region? Oil is also included in the distribution of supplies, right?"
"Of course, this is one of the most important controlled materials in the country. Without this, all the machinery and equipment of the army, sea, land and air would be rendered useless. Why are you asking about this?"
“Dad, although our country is vast and rich in resources, we don’t have much oil reserves. Most of it is purchased from the Middle East Gulf and transported across the ocean. The situation in the Middle East is very unstable, and wars break out at any time. With the slightest turmoil, oil prices fluctuate. I think our country should buy more oil now and store it up, just in case.”
"From what you're saying, there's going to be another war over there?"
"There's an 80-90% chance that oil prices will definitely rise. Our country's foundation is weak, and we don't have much money. But this stuff is a necessary consumable. It's always good to buy more while oil prices are still relatively stable."
Where did you get this information?
“Dad, I have my own transport fleet in Hong Kong, and I also frequently travel to the Middle East. The situation there is quite tense; several Arab countries are on the verge of war with Israel, and they've fought quite a few times in the past. This fourth war seems unavoidable.”
Furthermore, the Saudi oil minister, who was a guest at the White House earlier, also conveyed to the US that "if the US cannot implement fair policies in the Middle East, then Saudi Arabia will consider taking measures to restrict oil exports. This is a clear signal that if I can't beat Israel, then I can only use oil as a weapon. If these major oil-producing countries in the Middle East unite to impose an oil embargo, it would not be surprising if prices soared three or four times."
This isn't alarmist. In the Fourth Middle East War, although a small country won, several Middle Eastern nations used oil as a weapon. As a result, countries like the US, Europe, and the West, whose capital markets were highly developed and reliant on oil resources, saw prices skyrocket from $3 a barrel to $12, a fourfold increase, making gasoline unaffordable for ordinary people.
The US, Japan, South Africa, and Western Europe were all taken aback. The united Arabs had turned the world upside down. Gas stations in various countries adjusted their prices several times a day, ordinary people couldn't afford to fill up their tanks, public transportation and school buses stopped running, and more importantly, large trucks stopped running, paralyzing logistics and causing problems for industrial production and daily life.
This was followed by rising prices, from food to toilet paper, forcing people to reduce consumption and triggering the biggest market depression since World War II.
Conversely, oil-producing countries actually prospered – less than a year after the production cuts, Saudi Arabia's government revenue surpassed $100 billion in 1974, a 1000-fold increase in national income in just three years, a miracle that astonished the world!
Strictly speaking, it was only after the Fourth Middle East War that people around the world became aware of a problem and gained a clear, profound, and painful understanding of the oil crisis.
Zhong Shanyue watched as his son spoke eloquently and logically, making his arguments sound plausible. His analysis was far more substantial than that of the old professors and scholars in the international affairs research office. It was all practical information, not vague, abstract, or shrouded in mystery.
"Yuemin, did you figure all this out on your own?"
Zhong Yuemin nodded, without the slightest bit of embarrassment.
"Those doing foreign trade in Hong Kong Island have to keep an eye on the international situation."
Zhong Shanyue nodded, "I'll report this to my superiors later."
Just then, someone knocked on the courtyard gate. Zhong Yuemin went out to open it.
"Stop knocking, we're here." Thinking it was Zheng Tong and the others, they opened the door to find three pretty girls standing outside—Xiao Bai, Qin Ling, and Li Yan.