Break out of the courtyard

Chapter 853 Relationship Begins to Deteriorate

In response to Zhang Heping's question, Professor Lin hesitated for a moment in order not to lose points in front of his student Chang Wen, and then he said:

“After World War II, because Magnesium had a large amount of gold reserves at the time, Magnesium established the link between the magnesium dollar and gold through the Bretton Woods Agreement. Other currencies were linked to the magnesium dollar, making the magnesium dollar the core of the global reserve currency.”

"In order to expand the circulation of magnesium dollars, the country also provided magnesium dollar assistance to Europe, Japan, South Korea and other countries, and then strengthened the dominant position of magnesium dollar settlement in trade settlement."

“In the 70s, after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system, the United States reached an agreement with Middle Eastern oil-producing countries to settle oil trade in magnesium dollars, which consolidated the irreplaceable role of magnesium dollars in international commodities.”

Zhang Heping nodded. Seeing that Professor Lin had stopped talking, he continued, "Nowadays, the foreign exchange reserves of central banks of various countries are mainly in magnesium dollars. Cross-border transactions of enterprises are mostly settled in magnesium dollars, causing the global economy to fall into the 'magnesium dollar trap'."

"The Middle East war has re-established the hegemony of the United States. With the North Sudanese regime already defeated, the United States can transfer its inflation risk by printing more magnesium dollars in the future."

"Professor Lin must have heard about the efficacy of the longevity potion. I can say without any modesty that humans can live without oil, but they cannot live without the longevity potion that delays aging and prolongs life!"

"With this explanation, Teacher Lin, do you understand my intention of linking the cost of the life-extending potion to RMB?"

Professor Lin nodded heavily. "Although this is the first time I've heard of Consultant Zhang's idea of printing money to shift inflation risks, judging from the current situation of excessive issuance of magnesium dollars, they are actually already doing this!"

"Thank you, Advisor Zhang, for clearing up my confusion. I will convey the conversation to my colleagues at the Bank of China truthfully."

Zhang Heping spoke briefly to Professor Lin, and after deciding on the time for their trip to Hong Kong Island, he and his niece Chang Wen saw Professor Lin off to the car.

"When you go to Hong Kong Island with Professor Lin and his team, you must stay within the bodyguards' sight at all times." Zhang Heping turned to look at his niece Chang Wen and instructed:

"The composition of Hong Kong's population is very chaotic now, filled with spies, agents, gangs, etc. from various countries."

"Don't worry, Third Uncle!" Chang Wen said with a smile, "After Professor Lin and I go there, we will only go back and forth between the company and the hotel. We won't run around!"

"Put on the positioning bracelet I gave you before. If something happens, I can find you the first time." Zhang Heping said, and walked towards the door of the villa.

Chang Wen followed closely and explained the reason why he didn't wear the bracelet. It was simply because professors were very simple and it was not convenient for him to wear it on a normal basis.

Zhang Heping’s advice is very simple: wear it on your feet!

……

Dinner at Governor's House, Central, Hong Kong Island.

The Governor of Hong Kong sent Shen Bi to Shenzhen several times to invite Zhang Heping to a banquet, but Zhang Heping refused on the grounds that he was too busy.

On the contrary, it is his father-in-law Tang Ming, a tall old man who looks younger than his eldest son Tang Ren, who has recently frequently attended parties hosted by the Governor of Hong Kong.

Of course, Xu Jiefeng, who was also 20 years younger, also went along. Since they were now living in their eldest son Tang Ren's house, they had to come along.

Tang Ren is 67 years old this year. Although he has taken good care of himself, the wrinkles on his face still betray his age.

Tang Ming and Tang Ren, father and son, attended the banquet together, so naturally there were many topics to talk about, but the tone of conversation tonight was a little off!

"Mr. Tang, I read the latest Times, which often mentions that there is no human rights and no law in the mainland. I heard that you were detained for many years without reason?"

A middle-aged blonde woman suddenly came up to Tang Ming and asked questions in standard Mandarin, which made Tang Ming and Xu Jiefeng stunned for a while, as if they were reminded of bad memories.

The situation of North Soviet Union is over. As those allied countries have successively seceded and become independent, the original propaganda offensive against North Soviet Union has begun to turn to the few remaining socialist countries, especially the mainland!

"It's much better now!" Tang Ming replied with a smile, "At least it's not like you Eagles, who divide Hong Kong Island into first, second, and third categories of citizens. They talk about human rights every day, but in reality they divide people into different levels."

Tang Ming's position is still very firm. If he had not come to Hong Kong Island to advertise Shouyuan Medicine at the request of his fourth son-in-law, he might have gone to the capital to attend various meetings.

The blonde middle-aged woman seemed not to understand Tang Ming's sarcasm. She caught Tang Ming's first half of his words and asked, "Mr. Tang said that things are much better now, which means that the mainland did not have it before..."

Xu Jiefeng raised her glass and shook it between the two of them, interrupting them, "Madam, it's so hot, and you're wearing a coat over your skirt. Are you catching a cold?"

"Your pockets are bulging. Are they filled with medicine bottles?"

"Is your cold contagious?" Xu Jiefeng asked three times in a row, and pulled Tang Ming back two steps as if avoiding the plague god.

The blonde middle-aged woman's expression froze. Was she supposed to tell the other person that there was a recording device in her pocket?

After all, Tang Ming had done undercover work before. After his wife Xu Jiefeng interrupted him, he reacted belatedly and realized that the middle-aged blonde woman opposite him had ill intentions.

However, since this was the Governor's House, Tang Ming couldn't do anything to this woman, so he turned around and went somewhere else.

Tang Ming did not realize the seriousness of the matter. As Western media criticized the mainland's human rights, trade and other issues, a public opinion war against the mainland began.

To this end, the capital has also drafted a white paper on the human rights situation and is preparing to release it to the public at the right opportunity.

On the other side, Tang Ren and Tang Qiang were surrounded by several Magnesian people, discussing the recent increase in tariffs on electronic products by Magnesium.

"Mr. Tang, with your relationship with the Peace Group, you can easily transfer the production of smartphone components to Magnesium."

"In this way, you will not only save a lot of tariffs, but also make a lot of money in the production of mobile phone parts!"

A fat, bald, white-skinned old man, with his left hand in his pocket and a wine glass in his right hand, was talking incessantly.

It seemed as if everything was done for the Tang family's business, but it was difficult to conceal his ambition to acquire technologies related to mobile phone components!

A gray-haired man from Magnesium nodded and agreed, "Mr. Tang, if you need funding or other support, you can always come to us."

"Just like Datang Communications, we will definitely support you with all our strength!"

Tang Ren raised his glass and said with a smile, "I'm already retired, and my sons are in charge of the company's affairs."

Tang Qiang smiled and said, "Mr. Bell knows me. I am not interested in physical business. The increase in tariffs by the Magnesium country has no effect on me."

"It still has a big impact!" The gray-haired man from Magnesium named Bell frowned and said, "You should have heard of the World Trade Organization proposed last year!"

"Europe and other countries have reached a preliminary intention and only need to wait for a formal meeting to confirm it before it can replace the GATT."

"You may not know yet that the soon-to-be-established World Trade Organization did not invite the mainland!"

"If Datang Communications cuts off the supply of mobile phone parts, the 4G communication equipment we invested in Magnesium will become a pile of scrap metal!"

The bald old man interrupted at the right time, "As I said just now, you can transfer the production of smartphone components to Magnesium to avoid wasting the huge initial investment!"

The three generations of the Tang family had never expected that the dinner where they had discussed the efficacy of the 120-year lifespan potion a few days ago would become a party entirely targeting the mainland.

When they returned home in the evening, they told Zhang Heping about these things on the phone.

Zhang Heping on the other end of the phone laughed and said, "Isn't this normal?"

"Northern Sudan is doomed. European and American countries must find another opposing country to target, otherwise they will fight among themselves."

Tang Ren turned on the speakerphone and asked, "Heping, what about the mobile phone parts issue? What should we do in the future?"

"The wool comes from the sheep!" Zhang Heping said disdainfully: "The Chinese in China don't dare to ban the import of smartphone components like they did with trams. They also hope to reverse-decode mainland chip technology from the chips in those components."

"So, whatever amount they raise the tariffs, you just have to raise the price of your phone by that amount!"

After hearing what Zhang Heping said, Tang Ren felt relieved.

As Zhang Heping said, unless the people of Magnesium do not buy smartphones, the increased costs will be paid entirely by Magnesium consumers!

So, will the Americans not buy smartphones?

Tang Ren couldn't help but look at his grandchildren who were playing games against each other on large-screen smartphones next to the sofa, and his third son Tang Qiang who was checking stock information on a large-screen phone.

The answer is self-evident!

……

While the Middle Eastern prince was still trying hard to show his filial piety and finding ways to raise 120 billion RMB, the chief steward of the Eagle Country made a special trip to the capital of the mainland under the guise of a visit to discuss the new airport in Hong Kong Island.

The Eagles want to reclaim land in the north of the outlying island and spend HK$100 billion to build a new airport.

One hundred billion Hong Kong dollars is approximately 130 billion magnesium dollars.

Is this expensive?

Among the several airports invested by Hailukong Company in the mainland, except for Banna Airport which is too remote in location and has incomplete infrastructure and equipment, the cost is a bit high, reaching 6 million magnesium yuan; the average cost of the other airports does not exceed 2 million magnesium yuan!

This comparison may still not be very intuitive.

Take the nearest Shenzhen Baoan Airport for example; construction began in 1988 and was completed in October 1990, with a total cost of 10 million yuan.

The distance is so close, but the price difference is nearly 100 times. Who in the country would agree to let the Americans build this airport?

So, on September 9, taking advantage of the "Seventh Five-Year Plan" Science and Technology Research Summary and Commendation Conference, Mr. Hua brought Zhang Heping to the capital.

As a result, Secretary Chen went to receive the award certificates and medals for Zhang Heping, and Zhang Heping was taken directly to the meeting venue to discuss the issue of whether or not to build a new airport in Hong Kong Island.

Because the Peace Group controls the only airport in Hong Kong Island, everyone above them wants to hear Zhang Heping's opinion.

In particular, when it was reported that Zhang Heping wanted to use RMB to challenge the international currency status of the magnesium dollar, Advisor Zhang's opinion became more important.

As soon as Zhang Heping followed Mr. Hua into the Huadu Hall conference room today, everyone in the venue stood up and applauded.

Looking around, most of them were experts in economics and finance, and there were no big leaders, so Zhang Heping could sit on the podium with confidence.

The conference host briefly mentioned the topic of discussion and then handed the microphone to Zhang Heping, which was quite direct.

"Ahem!" Zhang Heping cleared his throat and said, "I see many of these are familiar faces, so I won't be polite with you all."

"Before we talk about the new airport in Hong Kong, we must first know one question: Do the Eagles want to return Hong Kong?"

"You don't want to, right?"

Zhang Heping looked around and saw that most people were taking notes with pens and notebooks, so he slowly said, "Anyone who has dealt with the Eagles should have noticed that many Eagles look down on the Magnesians and call them hooligans and thieves."

"But then again, the Eagle Country guys started out as pirates, selling opium trash, so they're actually not much better."

None of the participants expected Zhang Heping to belittle the Eagle people in such a way. For a moment, no one dared to make any loud noise, and even their breathing became much slower.

"So, you guessed it right. The Eagles proposed HK$1 billion to build a new airport. They definitely had bad intentions."

"You can even be bolder. When the new airport is halfway built, the Eagle country suddenly tells you, sorry, the 1 billion budget is not enough, you need to add more money!"

“To put it simply, they want to use this new airport to bring down the Hong Kong government’s finances!”

"To put it more complicatedly, with so much money, the Eagles will definitely be able to embezzle some of it for their own personal use."

"Advisor Zhang!" A middle-aged male professor in the audience raised his hand, stood up and asked, "With your influence in Hong Kong Island, it shouldn't be difficult to get the Air, Land and Air Company to win the new airport construction project!"

"If we let Hailukong Company take over the project and then let the domestic construction team do the work, we estimate that it will cost at most 20 billion magnesium yuan!"

Zhang Heping raised his right hand, pressed it towards the other party, motioned him to sit down, and said, "You are still considering the issue of how much money you have!"

"Whether it's 130 billion magnesium yuan or 20 billion magnesium yuan, for me, it's like 130 yuan or 20 yuan, there's no difference."

"As long as I want, the Peace Group can plunder 130 billion British pounds from the Eagle Country's financial market at any time!"

If someone else said this, the economic and financial experts present would call that person a pig!

However, the person who made this boast was Zhang Heping, the capital tycoon who had just plundered tens of trillions of yen from Japan's real estate and stock markets!

Zhang Heping paused for a moment, and seeing that no one had any objection to his outrageous remarks, he continued, "To deal with this matter simply, it would be nothing more than limiting the amount of money the Hong Kong government can borrow to build the airport, and not allowing them to spend money before it is earned."

"A more complicated approach is for the Hong Kong team to send someone to join the airport construction planning team to oversee all revenue and expenditure of the construction of the new airport on Hong Kong Island."

At this point, Zhang Heping leaned back in his chair and said calmly, "In my opinion, the Hong Kong government's decision to build this new airport actually has a deeper meaning. They want to kick the bodyguards and security guards of the Umbrella Security Company under the Peace Group out of the security team of the new airport!"

"Over the years, at my request, no guns, knives, explosives or other dangerous items are allowed to enter or leave Hong Kong Island on the three transportation routes of sea, land and air. Even the Governor of Hong Kong is prohibited from doing so!"

"However, there are still unexpected events. For example, when the Eagle King and the former Eagle Country Chief came to Hong Kong Island, the weapons brought by their followers were beyond the control of the bodyguards and security guards of the Umbrella Security Company."

"To put it mildly, this is because there are no relevant restrictions in the laws of Hong Kong Island."

"To put it in a broader sense, it's because Hong Kong Island is still under the jurisdiction of the Eagle Country guys."

"I have said so much, but I actually want to tell you all." Zhang Heping sat up straight, brought the microphone closer, and said seriously:

"The Peace Group will compromise on the issue of the new airport on Hong Kong Island, but will ask the Hong Kong government to introduce relevant public safety laws."

What does Zhang Heping want this public security law for?

The first reaction of most people present should be to restrict Eagle King and the Chief Steward from bringing weapons into and out of Hong Kong Island!

But Mr. Hua knows that the weapons and equipment secretly controlled by the Umbrella Security Company are the most dangerous existence in Hong Kong Island!

Therefore, Mr. Hua had a vague guess that Zhang Heping was restricting the Umbrella Security Company!

He is worried that Umbrella Security Company will become too powerful to be eliminated one day!

Thinking about it this way, Mr. Hua suddenly felt that he should send more people to increase the infiltration of the Umbrella Security Company.

Just when Mr. Hua was thinking about other things, everyone in the meeting began to discuss how to restrict the Eagle Country guys along the lines of agreeing in principle to build a new airport for Hong Kong Island...