Chapter 1371 The players behind the scenes (second update, please subscribe)
1 million tons of oil pipeline!
How much is such a contract worth?
The total value exceeds 800 million US dollars!
In this era, it is a huge order, accounting for more than 1% of the UK's gross national product!
Last year, the UK's GDP was only US$81.2 billion!
It can be seen that the gold withdrawal capacity of heavy industry in this era is still very high. After all, this is a traditional heavy industry that is still the economic foundation of various countries.
Therefore, such a large order, and it was also a "grey" one, naturally had to be reported to Li Yian's case. Looking at the report in front of him, Li Yian was silent for a while, and then said:
"Big brother is still very kind!"
Such a sigh is definitely from the bottom of my heart. There is no way. In the past ten years, the Eastern Group headed by Big Brother has taken advantage of it.
At its peak, their annual profits alone amounted to two to three billion US dollars! It’s almost equivalent to 1% of GDP, or even close to 2%!
What is this concept?
It is the spirit of internationalism!
Now they are giving away money again!
Can't you be moved?
While being moved, Li Yian also understood that it was difficult to get the money.
“This order is a bit tricky!”
"Yes, Your Excellency, although they said that the contract will be paid in cash and gold, it is certainly difficult to hide the millions of tons of steel and the large diameter of the oil pipeline. Once exposed, it is likely to cause the United States to Investigation and backlash ”
Zuo Xiaohan said directly:
“Therefore, the company plans to complete this transaction through the establishment of a third-party company through re-export.”
Nodding slightly, Li Yian said:
"This order is very large and involves many aspects. We can let them coordinate with the investigation department to avoid the possibility of exposure as much as possible."
After a few simple words of advice, Li Yian no longer cared about this matter. After all, this was just a "normal" trade. Even if Donghai Steel does not do this business, steel companies in West Germany, the United Kingdom and even the United States will do it. At the beginning, they did it secretly, and later, they simply lobbied the officials to end the embargo.
This is the reality of this world. Large European and American companies have never stopped cooperating with Moscow for money. As long as Moscow is willing, they can buy almost everything they need.
This is also the reason why, in order to attack the Soviet Union, Reagan later imposed an embargo on the Soviet Union and at the same time targeted European and American companies, and even conducted comprehensive investigations on some companies.
But, that was just the Reagan era.
Nowadays, the Soviet dollars and gold are still very popular.
Thinking of Reagan, an old friend, Li Yian couldn't help but feel a little emotional. In the past ten years, Reagan's acting career has not been very smooth. Although he is the chairman of the Screen Actors Guild, his acting career has been on a decline, and Guild affairs also seriously affected his career.
"If nothing else happens, I should have changed my career to politics in the past two years!"
Of course, Li Yian is concerned about his old friends, but this kind of attention is more concerned by the office - on his birthday, Christmas and other holidays, he is reminded to send him a greeting card, and the representative office will also send one. Small gifts.
However, just because Li Yian doesn't care doesn't mean that no one cares. There are other people who help him pay attention to those "old friends".
"...After the crisis ended last year, he became more and more active. He became a TV host for an electrical appliance company. He traveled around the country, talking to factory workers and giving speeches..."
While Cheng Peng'an was reporting, Li Yian looked at the file in front of him. This was a file created by the Investigation Department for his friends. In the past ten years, they had established a complete set of files for their old friends and had been tracking them. Their movements.
Follow up and observe, and provide some appropriate help when necessary. After all, providing help in times of need always requires the right time.
"In short, his influence is expanding, and to a certain extent, it has attracted the attention of the outside world, but for now, there is no force to support him."
After thinking for a while, Cheng Pengan said:
"Your Excellency, if necessary, we can provide him with certain support through some institutions."
"No, just keep paying attention for now,"
For these people, the best way is to pay attention and observe, without changing them or helping them, and eventually they will go their own way.
But what is certain is that it was the crisis last year that inspired Reagan to devote himself to politics. This is probably something that many people did not expect. Who would have thought that a crisis would forge Reagan’s belief that he must overthrow the Soviet Union?
Sometimes, the world is so wonderful, and an accidental event can bring too many changes to the world.
Thinking of this, Li Yian glanced at the calendar and asked:
"By the way, how's the progress with John Profumo?"
John Profumo was the British Secretary of State for War and Prime Minister Macmillan's right-hand man. He was also the protagonist of the "Profumo" scandal. The core of this scandal was between Profumo and the song and dance singer Christine Keeler. An extramarital affair, what kind of extramarital affair is that? That woman is simply a social butterfly.
This incident is famous because it not only led to the resignation of another Plovmo, but also led to the resignation of Prime Minister Macmillan and the collapse of the entire Conservative Party... All I can say is... a social butterfly tripped up the entire British political arena. Even to a certain extent, it changed the entire world.
After listening to your question, Cheng Pengan shrugged his shoulders and said:
"Your Excellency, we not only have all the clues, but also have substantial evidence. At first, we thought it was just an extramarital affair between them, but as the investigation deepened, we found that Christine Keeler This woman is a very extraordinary character.
As a well-known socialite in London, she has had close relationships with at least more than 30 British dignitaries and nobles in the past year. What is even more fatal is that she even had an affair with the senior naval attaché of the Soviet Embassy in London, Ye Vgeny Ivanov was having an affair, and Ivanov was a KGB agent! ”
"This is the most deadly place!"
Li Yian said:
"Who would have thought that their war minister and a Russian spy shared a concubine?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, but now news of this matter has spread. Rumors about their affair began to circulate among the public at the end of last year, but this matter is very strange, because
We have reason to believe that someone deliberately spread this rumor! Because they met at a pool party with important guests. Christine was in Luoyong at the time, and then she became Profumo's lover, which was a normal thing in London.
As for the rumor of scandal, this is unlikely in itself. After all, those who participate in that kind of "pool party" are often rich or noble, and they are all important political and business figures. They will not leak any information. ”
Not just London!
The same goes for the United States. The United States also has Loli Island!
How old was this Christine when she entered the London social circle?
But he’s only sixteen or seventeen years old!
All we can say is that all crows in the world are generally black! Angsa has such virtue, he looks sanctimonious on the surface, but what is behind it?
Pool party...you really know how to play!
Taking out a file from his bag, Cheng Pengan continued his analysis:
"We have reason to believe that this is most likely planned by the Russians. After all, John Profumo has taken a tough stance on colonial issues and issues with Russia.
If this matter is used to bring down Profumo, it will be extremely beneficial to Russia's activities in Africa and other places. Therefore, there is a high possibility of behind-the-scenes planning. ”
As an intelligence expert, Cheng Pengan immediately noticed the problem after discovering the scandal.
"It's possible."
Li Yian said:
"In this world, there may be accidental events, but sometimes people use them to achieve their own goals."
After thinking for a moment, Li Yian asked:
"So, does the ministry have any plans for this matter?"
"Your Excellency, personally I think Christine is a very valuable subject."
oh!
Li Yian's brows raised slightly,
Looking at the photo in the archives, this photo is a black and white photo taken by the master of photography Lewis Morley: Christine Rowe is sitting on a chair, both innocent and seductive.
But every man has to admit that this woman is a very attractive woman, otherwise she would not be active in London's political and business circles.
"Although Profumo is the Minister of War, he is just the Minister of War. For us, his value is relatively limited. However, as a socialite of London's upper class, Christine traveled in the political and business circles and interacted with many people. There is an affair, if..."
Cheng Pengan looked at Your Excellency, thought for a moment, and directly expressed his thoughts.
"If she can be used by us, through proper operation, she may be able to exert greater value. Moreover, she also has a certain relationship with Russia. In this game, Two-Face is also extremely important. They can play a role The effect is also unimaginable.”
Listening to his thoughts, Li Yian took another look at the woman in the photo. In this game, women have always been an indispensable role, and sometimes they are also crucial.
"So is she reliable?"
"Your Excellency, in this industry, a lot of intelligence is provided by unreliable people. Because they are unreliable, they become intelligence providers. Therefore, the question is not whether they are reliable, but whether they are useful to us, and On the other hand..."
Cheng Pengan added:
"We need Profumo's hard-line stance in the African colonies. After all, we need Britain to maintain their colonies to protect our interests! We have extensive interests in East Africa and need hard-liners to safeguard them. Only in this way can we stop Russia People have put their hands there, and as of now, the situation there is turbulent, and any changes in London may threaten our interests in East Africa.”
East Africa... is the company's breadbasket. In the past ten years, the company has cultivated tens of millions of hectares of local farms. The importance of those farms is self-evident. Therefore, the tough British have no intention of developing East Africa. There are benefits to stability.
"In other words, we need to keep Profumo!"
After thinking for a moment, Li Yian said:
"Okay, then do what you want!"
(End of chapter)