Chapter 593 This is inviting a wolf into the house
Friedrich was confused and picked up the folder on the table. After reading it for a while, he flew into a rage: "How could he do this? This is treason!"
"Treason?" Xiao Peng said innocently, "You've misunderstood something, haven't you? Everything Governor Weil did was for the people of Germany! It was a good deed to accumulate virtue for the people of Lower Saxony!"
Friedrich was furious: "How can he benefit the people? He's doing it for himself! It's great that the people can have a share of the soup!"
Xiao Peng spread his hands and said, "Isn't that what you all do?"
Friedrich froze in place as if someone had punched him in the throat.
"Ashes!" Xiao Peng kindly reminded him. Friedrich didn't react when the ash from his cigar fell onto his expensive suit.
What Friedrich has in his hand now is an agreement specification formulated by Lower Saxony. The agreement clearly states: Stephan Weil, the governor of Lower Saxony, will take the lead in joining hands with Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to carry out a "three-state and eight-port joint ocean exploration" plan.
The plan is not complicated.
Currently, there are eleven ocean exploration companies of varying sizes operating in these three states. Previously, due to interstate competition and political differences, these seventeen companies competed fiercely. Now, they plan to unite and form a coalition to compete with ocean exploration companies from other countries.
Why is it called "Eight Ports"? These three states have a total of eight deep-water ports, and all of these eight deep-water ports will be opened to this alliance first!
They hope that Xiao Peng will take the lead in developing an ocean exploration industry in their three states. In exchange, Xiao Peng can enjoy a series of preferential policies in these eight ports and the tax preferential policies of these three states.
How pragmatic are the Germans? This incident shows it: they don't care if Xiao Peng is Chinese or not; if you can help us get rich, you're a good person. Now, as long as Xiao Peng signs this agreement, he will instantly become the "leader" of this alliance.
But when Friedrich saw the agreement, he was shocked: "Are you planning to overthrow the German regime?"
Others didn't understand the meaning of this agreement, so why didn't Friedrich understand?
While Germany's naval power is among the strongest in Europe, only three of its sixteen states have coastlines—the very three states mentioned in the agreement. Furthermore, these three states lack deepwater ports. For example, why didn't Germany provide timely support during the Battle of the Heligoland Bight? Wasn't it because the cruisers were stuck in the harbor? These eight deepwater ports also include Germany's military bases!
If this isn't 'letting a wolf into the house', then what is?
Why couldn't the three states' ocean exploration companies unite? The key issue was the lack of unity among the state political parties. Germany has countless political parties, large and small, but they are primarily divided into two: the ruling party and the opposition. All sixteen of its state governors belong to these two factions, making it incredibly difficult to get them to unite.
Now Stephen Weir doesn't know how to persuade the other two states to join forces, but he knows it with his toes: it must be because of money.
The economic benefits of deep-sea salvage are beyond imagination. Norderney Island is a prime example: even with just one ocean exploration vessel, it generates significant economic benefits, from port fees to personnel expenses and ship supplies. This single vessel generates as much revenue as tens of thousands of tourists!
Not to mention how many related industries will be driven by its influence after its successful salvage?
But here comes the problem: Stephen Weir belongs to the opposition. If the alliance he took the lead in establishing becomes stable, its voice will surely increase. Will this lead to the other two states defecting?
The most important thing is: he is still powerless to do anything about this matter.
Germany is a parliamentary republic. Although many people don't know this and think Germany only has a chancellor, it does have a president.
This can be understood by comparing Germany and the UK.
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary monarchy. The Queen is the titular head of state, but she holds no executive power, save for the power of signature. Ultimate executive authority rests with the Prime Minister. Besides being a mascot, the Queen's role is to sign. The Prime Minister places laws and regulations passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate before the Queen, who then signs them. Even if the laws abolish the monarchy, the Queen will obediently sign them, as that's her sole job.
Germany's parliamentary republic is similar to the UK's, except the Queen replaces the President, who is responsible for signing bills and has no veto power. It's a ceremonial position. The Chancellor is the true leader.
However, Germany's post-World War II occupation regime, in order to prevent the Chancellor from exercising absolute power and expanding his authority, has established a system whereby the ministers report to the Chancellor, who reports to Parliament, with the two governing bodies checking and balancing each other. Simply put, it's "each doing their own thing."
Germany has sixteen states, and each state has different policies and people's livelihood. At the state level, the governor, not the prime minister, has the final say. If these three states really signed this agreement, the only way to overturn their actions is through federal legislation. Not to mention how difficult it is to pass such a federal decree, it would not be surprising that it would take several years; and even if the federal decree is passed, whether they will enforce it is still a question.
Xiao Peng said, "You just said that you have a good relationship with the Dutch IHC Group and that they won't rent me a dredger? Then I'm so grateful to you! Two dredging companies in Schleswig-Holstein are waiting for this deal, and the price is much cheaper. Seriously, please, please ruin this for me! As for you saying that I will ruin my salvage plan? On the high seas? Are you planning to go back to World War II?"
Friedrich's eyes widened after hearing this: "Mr. Xiao, don't you have any interest in your country's cultural relics?"
"I'm interested." Xiao Peng didn't hide his feelings. "As a Chinese, who wouldn't be interested in such a well-preserved artifact from the Old Summer Palace? But I'm still a businessman, and I only weigh the pros and cons." He picked up the agreement on the table and directly found a pen and signed his name. "This kind of agreement is a cooperation, while cooperation with you is not cooperation. I know you are a noble, but I am Chinese and never recognize the so-called aristocracy. So Wolfgang, please put away your arrogance!"
Friedrich was completely dumbfounded when he saw Xiao Peng's signature. The moment Xiao Peng signed, it meant that Xiao Peng would not be able to salvage the fish on the high seas. Even if the fish were salvaged in German territorial waters, he could only watch: there were three states standing behind him!
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