Chapter 362 Who is the Gunman? (Correction): Attack
Ivanov became emotional and blurted out, "Everyone, all the smart people told me not to get involved in manufacturing. Doing manufacturing in Russia is digging your own grave."
"Isn't it better to just do retail honestly and sell crude oil honestly?"
"No!" Ivanov answered himself, making a firm gesture of refusal. "Because Russia cannot exist without industry and manufacturing. The more everyone is unwilling to touch it, the more I must do it. Otherwise, if everyone runs away, what will happen to our country's industry and manufacturing?"
Looking at the president, whose expression remained largely unchanged, he grew even more grief-stricken. "We are not America. America can abandon manufacturing and focus solely on financial services because it can print dollars to reap the wealth of the world. We can't do that. The rubles we print are not recognized by other countries."
How bright the spring sunshine is outside the window! The chirping of birds drifts through the window and into the president's office—what a delightful melody!
Unfortunately, Ivanov could not feel that joy, because spring is a season that easily makes people depressed. The growth of all things only highlights the loneliness of death.
"From the moment the Soviet Union lost the Cold War and began to disintegrate, the ruble lost its status as equal to that of the dollar."
His voice was hoarse. "Mr. President, you are a pragmatic man. You know that under these circumstances, Russia can only accumulate wealth through industry and agriculture. And for agriculture to develop, it must have a strong industry; otherwise, it is impossible to achieve modern agricultural production."
The president remained silent, sitting behind his desk.
The media always portrays him as an irritable, shallow, naive fool whose brain has been ruined by alcohol.
But in fact, everyone who can become the head of state must have their own unique qualities.
At the very least, as someone who had been favored by his elders since childhood and considered himself good at reading people, Ivanov couldn't figure out what the president was thinking at this moment.
But as long as the president doesn't call a halt, Ivanov will continue, "Our cooperation with the Mitsui Group is based on the premise of oil and gas exports. Once exports stop, the transfer of Suzuki truck technology, the upgrading of lathe technology, and the JX-900 Mark III process will all be in vain."
He wearily reached out and rubbed his face, his voice filled with exhaustion. "I don't know if I can keep the ZIL truck factory and the Moskvich automobile factory afloat by then. Sir, I really don't know what to do. Without money and technology, all the factories will go bankrupt."
Silence fell over the office once again.
In late May, Moscow was already full of spring. There was no need for heating or fans. The office was quiet, with only the "tap tap tap" sound coming from the window.
That's a little bird curiously pecking at the glass.
It was a very cute scene, but unfortunately neither of the two people in the office turned around to look at it.
The president finally broke the silence, looked up at Ivanov, and said with a sigh, "But what about Siberia? Without energy supplies, what will happen to the factories and people of Siberia?"
What to do? The answer is obvious.
Without energy, how can factories produce? Factories will go bankrupt, and workers will lose their jobs.
Even farmers living in rural areas are unable to engage in agricultural production or even live a normal life without energy supply.
After all, it's the 1990s now, which Russian can still live like a primitive tribe?
What will they do? They will head west, they will leave the Far East, leave Siberia, and head towards Moscow, towards St. Petersburg, towards these major cities in the European region.
This is undoubtedly a huge challenge for big cities.
Although Luzhkov's expulsion of outsiders from Moscow was widely criticized, the president, as an administrator, tacitly approved the mayor's actions because this unconstitutional behavior actually benefited Russia.
The influx of a large population into major cities is not only a disaster for those cities, but also a catastrophe for the Siberian Far East.
The Russians have all fled, leaving this area a vast vacuum.
Once foreign populations migrate there, land ownership becomes ambiguous, and Russia is in danger.
The United States used immigration as a means to seize large swathes of Mexican territory and incorporate them into the United States. California, Texas, and other states came into being in this way.
This left the president no choice but to be vigilant.
Countless people are warning him that the United States remains Russia’s biggest and most powerful enemy.
However, this enemy is separated by the ocean, and its threat to Russian territory is far less than that of Japan and China.
As neighbors, both countries have territorial disputes with Russia.
Japan is known for its fondness for land reclamation groups, having done so before and after World War II, and it continues to this day.
With such a large population, once the national policies were relaxed, they traveled all over the world and settled down to live their lives.
The president even suspects that there are now more Chinese people than Russians in some parts of the Far East.
They possess incredible resilience and seem capable of surviving in any environment.
In this situation, the president is even less likely to allow citizens to leave their original places of residence.
Otherwise, what will Russia do? Send troops to be stationed in those vacuum areas?
That would require a huge number of soldiers.
It takes at least 10 ordinary people to support one soldier, and the role played by 100 soldiers in this situation is far less than that of 1,000 people living here.
Moreover, if these 1,000 people stayed in the local area, they could support themselves and their families and create social wealth. However, the duties of soldiers dictate that they cannot engage in production and can only consume a large amount of military funds.
This would be a heavy burden for Russia.
Therefore, even though the decision to shift the oil and gas produced by the Sakhalin-1 project from export to domestic sales was not the president's own idea, now that he knows about it, he will still agree without hesitation.
Because everyone knows perfectly well that this is a zero-sum game.
The president looked at the young man sitting across from him at his desk. He looked so tired and haggard, clearly having been on the go for a long time and full of worries.
But the president repeated his question: "What about the factories and people in Siberia?"
Without hesitation, Ivanov replied, "Use local Siberian oil and increase production from local oil fields."
He couldn't help but complain, "From the perspective of energy transportation costs, Sakhalin Island's oil and gas should not be supplied to Siberia. This is entirely a mistake caused by the rigid system of the Soviet era. Its geographical location dictates that its oil and gas should be used for export to earn foreign exchange. In this way, we can export energy from the east and the west, and we will not be easily strangled."
The president shook his head: "You still haven't provided a solution; increasing oil production isn't that easy."
"That's a question that oilfield managers and the petroleum regulatory committee should consider."
Ivanov emphasized, "The destruction of the old supply network is also a good opportunity to adjust the old management system. They cannot take shortcuts and ruin their future. If I were the oil field manager, I would definitely introduce new technology and equipment to increase production capacity."
He was implying to the president that if Russia wanted further reforms, it had to dismantle the old bureaucracy. This might be an opportunity.
The vast oil system needs an injection of fresh blood.
The president looked at him and sighed: "My young man, not everyone has the courage of you."
Ivanov blurted out, "Therefore I possess a precious quality, the very quality that my homeland, Russia, needs most right now. Sir, you should cherish me."
The president laughed out loud and joked, "My young man, my cherishing you would only be meaningful if I were a young and beautiful woman."
He stopped laughing and nodded. "Okay, we'll think about it carefully."
Ivanov knew he was about to be shown the door, so he stood up and emphasized, "Sir, please, under no circumstances, cut off our oil and gas exports. It concerns the jobs and lives of hundreds of thousands of workers, and the future of Russian manufacturing. We cannot lose our manufacturing sector, because we are not a third-rate country. We clearly possess a large pool of talent, highly educated talent. If we were to become a country entirely reliant on selling crude oil, natural gas, and minerals, it would be a disgrace to all Russians."
The president simply nodded.
Whether he agreed or simply said he heard it, Ivanov couldn't find out.
The office door opened and then closed.
A Kremlin staff member brought over coffee and paused for a moment when he saw Ivanov already walking out.
The latter nodded to him, picked up a cup of coffee from the tray, and gulped it down.
He hadn't eaten or drunk much on the way, and now he was extremely hungry and thirsty.
After finishing his coffee, he put down his cup, politely thanked the staff, and walked out.
As we walked up the long steps of the Kremlin, laughter rang out beside us: "Oh God, the ladies at the Moscow balls would be heartbroken if they saw you like this."
Berezovsky looked at him with a smile, his tone full of concern, "My handsome young man, how did you end up in such a sorry state?"
Ivanov turned to look at him, not missing the mockery in his eyes.
In late February, before Ivanov flew to Shanghai, he had a disagreement with Berezovsky.
The latter was unwilling to relinquish his All-Russian Automobile Union securities scheme, which he saw as a way to amass wealth, because he was raising funds to acquire a large number of shares in state-owned assets.
However, more than a year later, public interest in these car securities dwindled. Berezovsky then hoped to promote his car securities through more advertising channels.
He set his sights on MTV, hoping to attract more people to buy car securities through the popular variety show.
Ivanov refused, disagreeing with his decision to advertise on MTV, and the two sides parted on bad terms.
Therefore, it is perfectly normal for Berezovsky to come over and mock him now that he has been humiliated.
The president's confidant also solemnly emphasized: "As Russian citizens, we should not care too much about personal gains and losses for the sake of the country. Don't you agree, my young sir?"
He sighed inwardly.
This young man is too naive. He has been born into a privileged family and has never experienced setbacks, so he thinks things are too simple.
Did he think that by solving the Kremlin's problems, he would become a member of the dinner table?
No, no, no, it's not that easy.
Plump lambs are always coveted, but they may end up on the dinner table.
The Kremlin steps seemed endless, but Ivanov didn't stop. He continued walking, nodding in agreement: "Yes, the president is fair in his rewards and punishments. Guess what he'll reward me for making this sacrifice?"
As he spoke, he blinked his beautiful peach blossom eyes, revealing an almost playful expression.
Berezovsky's smile froze as he suddenly realized something.
That means the president sacrificed the interests of Wuzhou Oil Company and will likely offer more generous compensation.
After all, everyone knows that Ivanov is a rising star in the Kremlin and has done a lot for the president.
If such a person not only fails to benefit but is also taken advantage of, what will other capable people think?
Would they still dare to get close to the president? They would spare no effort to support newcomers to take office.
To avoid being poached without his knowledge, the president had to offer some reassurance.
So what is this gift used as a consolation present?
Berezovsky felt his temples throb involuntarily as he looked at Ivanov's meaningful gaze.
He's trying every possible way to acquire shares in Siberian Oil Company!
With just one order from the president, the ownership of the shares can be changed.
Things that are easy to gain are even easier to lose.
Berezovsky was sweating profusely; the terrifying possibility made it impossible for him to laugh.
That's Siberian Oil Company!
While he was slightly stunned, Ivanov had already quickened his pace and descended the steps.
Berezovsky had to hurry to catch up, running all the way to the Kremlin gate and onto the square in front of it before he caught up with him. He emphasized, "Hey! Ivan, my dear friend, there's something I have to emphasize to you: the export-to-domestic resale has nothing to do with me. I absolutely did not do anything in it."
Pigeons were flying in the square, quickly passing overhead, forcing him to duck his neck.
Ivanov smiled and raised his eyebrows: "Of course, how could I not believe you? We are both shareholders of Channel One."
Then he lowered his voice, as if to reassure you, "You don't need to worry, Mr. Berezovsky. Next time, if the president wants to take something from you, he will surely compensate you."
Berezovsky was truly struck dumb this time.
Ivanov's words reminded him that their property was insecure and could change hands at any time in Russia.
This feeling is absolutely awful. No matter how successful you are as a businessman, you can't protect your assets here.
Is the so-called reward from the president really what he wants?
If you don't have the power to make decisions, you're always a lamb to the slaughter.
Ivanov sighed softly and looked up at the Moscow sky.
What a beautiful season this is! If it weren't for the massive earthquake in Sakhalin Oblast, he and Wang would be here leisurely preparing for their summer.
He nodded to Berezovsky again, politely said goodbye, and finally said, "Sir, we are all the same."
On Sakhalin Island, 10,417 kilometers away, Wang Xiao was also preparing to set off.
Before leaving, she emphasized to the construction company manager, "The compensation cannot be paid to the family all at once. Otherwise, it would be like a child carrying a fortune through a bustling market, which would cause them trouble."
She thought for a moment, then added, "It's paid out once a year. That way, even if someone tries to take advantage of them, they won't be so eager to harm them so they can get the money next time. And—"
She added, "When taking the money, all the beneficiaries must be present, so that they don't start harming each other internally for the sake of money."
The construction company manager sighed, "Mr. Wang, you really have a lot on your mind."
Wang Xiao sighed, "What can we do? They risked their lives here, and the money they got because of their deaths ended up harming their families. Wouldn't that be a sin?"
Money is a two-sided thing; the number of people who truly have the ability to manage money is far fewer than people imagine.
After saying hello, she stepped forward to catch her flight.
Watanabe Taketa rushed over: "Miss Wang, I heard that the oil and gas from Project No. 1 is going to be exported and then sold domestically?"
The Petroleum Regulatory Commission didn't operate in secrecy; they brazenly and forcefully compelled Wuzhou Petroleum Company to transport oil and gas to Siberia without trying to hide it from anyone.
It would be difficult for Watanabe Taketa not to know about this.
Wang Xiao didn't intend to keep it a secret.
How can you hide it? It's something that can't be hidden at all.
She nodded: "That's true, so I'm going to Moscow now."
Watanabe Taketa's heart sank straight to the bottom of the Strait of Tartary.
He couldn't help but complain, "Thatcher was right, the Soviets really have no sense of contract. They not only don't abide by the rules set by others, but they also don't abide by the rules they set themselves."
Wang Xiao smiled and said, "Speaking of which, Margaret Thatcher's most famous nickname, 'Iron Lady,' was given to her by the Soviets."
It's really interesting to think about.
She didn't comment on Watanabe Taketa's complaints, but simply extended her hand to him: "Watanabe-kun, please wish us good luck. From the beginning of our cooperation until today, Wuzhou Oil is very satisfied with Mitsui Group as a client. I wish us good luck and hope that we can continue to cooperate smoothly."
Taketa Watanabe grasped her hand: "If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know. I'll do everything I can to support you."
Neither he nor his company, Mitsui Group, were willing to give up the oil and gas resources on Sakhalin Island, as there were no more convenient or cost-effective oil and gas resources elsewhere.
He will closely monitor the progress of this matter, as its development will determine Mitsui's next steps in its energy strategy.
He genuinely doubted that there wasn't a single sane person in the Russian authorities.
Because anyone who has made such a decision will understand just how foolish they are.
This completely destroys Sakhalin Island's oil and gas resources.
From then on, the foreign investor dared to invest in the Sakhalin Island oil and gas project without hesitation.
If you spend a lot of money and time, and finally manage to find oil and gas, you won't be able to decide where the oil and gas goes afterward.
When that time comes, who will you seek justice from?
Without foreign investment, the Russian government, with its current financial resources and talent pool, is simply unable to independently complete the exploitation of the deep-sea oil and gas fields on Sakhalin Island.
In this way, outsiders dare not enter the field, and those inside are unable to complete the work, so wouldn't the Sakhalin oil and gas field be rendered useless?
Wang Xiao shrugged, thanked him for his support once again, and stepped onto the plane to return to Moscow.
She got off the plane on the first day of June.
Yes, it's Children's Day, and it's a beautiful sunny day. That's wonderful.
Standing at the airport, bathed in the warm, bright Moscow sun, Wang Xiao was almost momentarily dazed.
She watched the clouds in the sky for a full ten seconds before getting into the car: "To the container market."
She needed a bustling market and noisy crowds to calm her inner anxiety and replenish her courage.
The market was as bustling as ever, and business was especially good during the changing seasons.
The coming and going of trailers and the hurried merchants constituted a flow of cash.
This is the biggest source of confidence in the container market.
Wang Xiao walked into the cafeteria; she was hungry and wanted to eat.
On Sakhalin Island, due to limited conditions and her unhappy mood, she almost never had a peaceful meal.
Now, smelling the familiar aroma of food, her taste buds seemed to suddenly come alive, and her appetite returned.
She feels like she could eat a whole cow right now.
As soon as Wang Xiao entered the cafeteria, her second sister saw her and waved frantically at her: "Hey, hey, Mr. Wang."
As he spoke, he brought over his tray and asked her, "I heard there was a huge earthquake on Sakhalin Island, and the island was completely destroyed. What's the situation?"
Wang Xiao comforted her, saying, "A major earthquake did occur, but it happened on the north side of the island. The island didn't collapse. It's a very large island. Our oil and gas field is on the south side, so it wasn't affected much; it didn't collapse either."
The second sister then clutched her chest, thanking God, "Goodness, thank goodness we're alright, otherwise we would never have had the chance to receive dividends in our lives."
Before Wang Xiao could speak, a merchant next to her turned around and said, "You're too happy now, Second Sister. I heard that the oil and gas field on that island was destroyed by the earthquake. They can't supply oil and gas to Siberia, so they have to draw oil and gas from our project."
Those around him who heard him speak immediately forgot about their meals and turned around, puffing out their cheeks and asking indistinctly, "Oh, Mr. Wang, is it true?"
They haven't received any dividends since last year; they've invested it all.
If we were to sell it to Siberia now, there would be even less hope.
When the government is in arrears, it's all IOUs piled up, and you might not get paid until the year after the monkey.
Wang Xiao's heart sank; he hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly.
If market sentiment is unstable, problems are likely to arise later.
She pressed her hand down: "Comrades, listen to me. Regarding this matter, the situation is like this..."
Before she could finish speaking, a loud "bang" suddenly came from outside.
Immediately, someone cursed: "Who the hell is crazy enough to set off firecrackers? We all said we can't set them off! Who's going to take responsibility if a fire breaks out?"
He had barely finished cursing when another rapid barrage of words followed.
Wang Xiao sensed something was wrong, and Xiao Gao and Xiao Zhao also started walking towards the window, wanting to find out what was going on.
Before they even reached the window, a group of burly men suddenly rushed in through the doorway, their dark gun barrels pointed at them.
The burly man leading the group shouted, "Squat down! Everyone, squat down with your hands behind your heads!"
My God! Everyone present was stunned.
The merchant who had just been pressing about profit sharing almost burst into tears: "Um, I don't want the profit sharing, Mr. Wang, you don't have to point a gun at me, do you?"
Wang Xiao was equally bewildered.
Who are these people? Where did they come from? They don't look like police officers.
What about the internal security forces? What about the internal forces that Punonin promised to send to protect the container market?
Damn it, she knew that damned tax police major general was completely unreliable.
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Good evening [I'm so sleepy, I'm going to sleep now].
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