Chapter 34: The Gold Rush in the Buddhist Holy Land
At the same time, at the Mahabodhi Temple a few kilometers away, Wang Qiu and the others waited until they were about to suffer from heat stroke due to the sun, and finally saw a regular ground force sent by the Indian government - and it was a cowhide coaxing force. armored battalion.
It was already in the afternoon, more than twelve hours before the arrival of the big monster Godzilla, and the original location of this armored battalion was less than twenty miles away from Bodh Gaya... But even so, as Indians By the standards, this is already amazingly efficient.
——Unlike China, India is a federal country with a relatively complete separation of military and political affairs. Without the authorization of the parliament, the army cannot run around at will. Even the Indian government cannot direct it... As a result, the response speed will naturally not be much faster.
Then, like many other Indian armies in the mainland, this armored battalion is also seriously short of personnel. It is equipped with only five old-fashioned British "Capital" tanks in total - this is a tank studied at the end of World War II and is only smaller than the Soviet Union. The T-34 is slightly "newer" It has a total combat weight of about 50 tons, a crew of four, and is equipped with a 105mm rifled cannon and a 7.62mm machine gun. This type of tank was born too late and basically failed to catch up with World War II, but it did participate in it. The Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Middle East Wars. Unfortunately, the record is mediocre and the overall performance in all aspects is very poor. However, even though military observers all over the world are booing, as a member of the Commonwealth, the Indians still have the obligation to share the worries of the master, so they imported more than a hundred old tanks that had been retired from the British and after "modernization" modifications Equipped with the Indian Army.
Then, because India has independently developed the "Arjun" tank for thirty years, its performance is really disappointing. As a result, these old tanks have been used by the "thrifty" Indian Army until the 21st century... However, seriously When using these tanks manufactured in the late 1950s, the unlucky Indian driver discovered that he really couldn't control these grandfather-like guys. While chatting with them, Wang Qiu learned that when they left the station, two of the five "Captain Centurion" tanks could not fire at all. On the way to Bodh Gaya to fight monsters, another Centurion emitted a plume of smoke from its engine and broke down crookedly on the side of the road. In the end, the lineup that Wang Qiu and the others saw at the Mahabodhi Temple consisted of only two Centurion tanks and five armored vehicles of unknown types, plus a bunch of infantry in trucks. The weapons in their hands were basically old-fashioned Li En weapons. The Field rifle looks like it has traveled through time and space - it is really full of retro World War II style!
However, these Indian infantrymen who seem to have traveled through time from World War II are not strictly speaking the most miserable. What's even more miserable is a group of naked men who came over by "suspended transportation" outside the car. They didn't even have to wear military uniforms. They just wore pants and shirts. They were all unkempt and skinny. Wang Qiu couldn't understand what these guys were doing. He just heard that the soldiers and officers seemed to call them slaves...
Hey, with such an impressive military appearance, no wonder when China and India fought in the Himalayas in 1962, even three cooks of the People's Liberation Army captured more than a hundred Indian prisoners! However, this is not the most embarrassing record of the Indian Army. What is even more embarrassing is that a dozen terrorists attacked the Indian Parliament and killed several people in the capital New Delhi. What a good performance.
Compared with American superheroes and Japan's various super-powered teams, is it really okay for Indians to use such a lineup to deal with alien monsters?
However, although the military appearance of this Indian armored force is very bad, its combat effectiveness is very questionable, and its equipment is even more antique, the Indian major who leads this armored force is quite decent, even if the weather is hot and he is sitting in a narrow and bumpy cabin. In the tank, he was still dressed meticulously, even his leather boots were polished. As soon as he arrived at the Mahabodhi Temple, he ordered a few infantrymen to continue advancing in armored vehicles for reconnaissance, while he set up camp on the spot to supervise the battle. Next, after meeting Wang Qiu and others, especially after recognizing Mr. Chandra Shukla, the eldest son of a wealthy family in Bihar, the Major's attitude was really extremely enthusiastic, and he quickly greeted him. He said that he also cordially invited them to have afternoon tea together.
——Since modern times, British gentlemen have had the habit of drinking afternoon tea. Therefore, except for the earliest models that are too crude, all British-designed tanks, whether it is the Firefly in World War II, the Centurion in the 1950s, The Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 tanks of the 1960s were equipped with special electric tea-making devices, which allowed tank crews to drink hot tea safely while driving.
And this major who once studied in the UK, like most of the Indian elite, has learned the habits of the British - just like the old Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, the officer class was accustomed to eating Western food. Drink red wine and cut steak instead of nibbling rice balls with those "Army Red Deer". India's officer class also generally learns from the British and Americans in all aspects. They speak English far more fluently than their native language. Even their living habits are different from those of most locals. They almost look like A group of Europeans in India.
Of course, Mr. Chandra Shukla, who is with Wang Qiu and the others, is strictly the same guy...
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Although the centurion-style tank in front of me is very old, the electric tea-making device on it is very efficient. India's most famous Assam black tea is brewed almost in the blink of an eye. The tea soup from Assam was carefully poured into exquisite bone china teacups by the orderlies, and then served on a large tray. A refreshing fragrance spread out from a long distance - Assam Black tea is fragrant and very refreshing. It was a world-class tea as early as the British colonial era in India. Wang Qiu picked up the tea cup and took a sip. It felt very good.
And the cookies that were served as snacks made them even more overjoyed - Wang Qiu and the others had not eaten them for more than ten hours since they encountered the Godzilla monster landing at midnight the day before. It’s time for dinner, and I’m already ravenous. Now when I saw something to eat, I naturally reached out to grab it without any politeness, opened my mouth and chewed it, and in the blink of an eye, the biscuit box of Mr. Major was cleared away.
When Wang Qiu and the others finished their snacks and wiped the crumbs from their mouths, they were about to ask the major what countermeasures the Indian government and military had come up with to combat monsters. The soldiers, refugees, monks, reporters and foreign tourists gathered at the Mahabodhi Temple suddenly became commotion-first, several soldiers who managed the radio station rushed out of the field tent that had just been set up and shouted at everyone in Hindi. A few words or something. Then another reporter held a walkie-talkie and showed an expression of disbelief, but soon started shouting crazily.
A moment later, a large number of Indian soldiers climbed onto trucks and armored vehicles, screaming and rushing towards the space monster Godzilla standing in the distance. Their eyes were full of fanatical flames, just like the Pirates of the Caribbean who discovered the treasure in the Age of Discovery. . Thousands of monks, refugees, journalists, and idle members of society who came from nowhere also followed the army and rushed towards the monster.
Even the Major, who originally looked displeased, his eyes turned red for a moment after hearing the orderly's whisper. He only remembered to quickly apologize to the guests, turned around with extreme agility, got into the tank, and scurried towards the tank. He walked away from the place where the space monster Godzilla stood.
In an instant, the Mahabodhi Temple, where many people had gradually gathered, suddenly dispersed, with most of the monks running away.
Only Wang Qiu and others were left sitting in the shade of the tree, holding empty teacups and looking at each other in disbelief.
——Through some of the conversations they heard sporadically just now, they already have a rough idea of the Indians' "big discovery" on the monster...
I have to admit that the magic power of gold, a magical metal, is truly unmatched by both Chinese and foreigners. Even the white elephant in India, which has always been gentle, tame, contented and optimistic, was tempted by tens of thousands of tons of gold. Transformed into a red-eyed violent elephant!
"...Wow! This Godzilla is really a golden monster... It's like a windfall! My dear Xiao Qiuqiu, I never thought that in addition to your attributes of a degenerate god, you can also occasionally make a guest appearance. Returning to the God of Wealth? Indians are really lucky this time.”
After a brief silence, Marikawa Shizuka glanced at Wang Qiu with charming eyes, covered her mouth and said with a sweet smile, "...a big pile of gold from the stars!"
"...Well, the space monster Godzilla weighs 20,000 tons. As long as one-tenth of its body, that is, 2,000 tons, is made of gold, it will already exceed the total gold reserves of the Chinese government— "Our national gold reserves seem to be only over 600 tons!" Wang Qiu said thoughtfully.
"...If more than half, or even all, of this monster's 20,000 tons of weight is gold..." Levi's voice began to tremble.
"...As soon as this news gets out, the price of gold in the international market will definitely collapse immediately..."
Wang Qiu shrugged, "...Since the birth of human civilization, the total amount of gold mined by all mankind in ancient and modern times, all over the world, is only a few hundred thousand tons, and among these hundreds of thousands of tons of gold, Quite a few are still sleeping under the sea and in tombs forever!”
"...Doesn't this mean...explosive currency depreciation, coupled with ultra-large-scale quantitative easing? I'm afraid the global economy will be hit into a mess, right?" Levi muttered, "...and, so much gold has fallen. In the hands of Indians, they may not be able to keep warm. At the end of the 19th century, the British thought. In order to compete for 30,000 tons of gold from South Africa's gold mines, they fought a bloody Boer War. If it were replaced by India now... wouldn't it be enough to trigger the Third World War? I guess there will be many forces with red eyes trying to reach out, right?”
"...Haha, it shouldn't be as serious as you think. First of all, this monster's body is not necessarily made entirely of gold. It is probably just covered with a layer of gold scales. Secondly, even if it is really 20,000 Ton of gold, the current price of gold in the international market is about US$1,200 per ounce, which is US$40 per gram. Twenty thousand tons of gold is actually equivalent to US$800 billion.”
Wang Qiu thought for a while and then replied, "... Every time the Fed prints money through quantitative easing in recent years, it has printed trillions of dollars. Isn't the global economy not collapsing yet? As for this? Won't start a 21st century Boer War...I think you really are You think too much, brother Levi. Most countries in the world are no longer on the gold standard. Almost all currencies are national credit currencies and are guaranteed by national credit. Although gold reserves are still very important, they are not what they used to be. That kind of special meaning.
If the Bretton Woods system had not collapsed, 20,000 tons of gold might indeed trigger a global quarrel among the five permanent members of the United Nations, but now, it is not enough for the five hooligans to fight openly and openly. As for financial war and looting... haven't those giants been doing it all the time?
Of course, it is almost certain that if so much gold suddenly falls, it will cause panic in the market. The crazy plunge in global gold prices is also expected. Haha, since the birth of paper money, in every turbulent period, people have rushed to exchange their banknotes for gold. But in the coming days, I'm afraid it will be the other way around, with people all over the world scrambling to exchange gold for U.S. dollars... I wonder if the Fed should laugh or cry by then? However, no matter how much the price of gold in the international market depreciates, Indians will make a fortune this time. The losses caused by the previous monster falling in Bodh Gaya are just drizzle in comparison... Eh? Where has Mr. Chandra gone? Weren't you still drinking tea with us just now? ”
"...Are you talking about him?" Levi pointed out his hand. Wang Qiu turned around and was shocked to find that Chandra and his valet had gotten two donkeys from somewhere and were riding towards Godzilla. The direction of the monster hurriedly hurriedly hurriedly - this guy obviously couldn't reach the magic power of gold.
So, the next question before the three foreign visitors, Wang Qiu, Li Wei and Marikawa Shizuka, is: Do they want to come over and get a share of the pie?
"...I think we should forget it! This is India, not our territory. Even if we follow them to grab gold, how much can we take away? With our current wealth, will we still be short of a few kilograms of gold? Really? There’s no point in risking something like this!”
Wang Qiu, who was used to seeing the big world, scratched his hair and persuaded Levi and Marikawa Shizuka, who were a little eager to try, "...I heard from the armored major just now that the investigation team urgently dispatched by the United Nations has arrived in New Delhi and is heading to Bihar. Erbang, come here. We will just sit here and wait, and then we will return to China with the Chinese representatives. If you want to take risks, there will be many opportunities in the future, but it is best to be safe at the moment..."
In short, under Wang Qiu's persuasion, the group gave up the idea of taking advantage of the chaos to make a small fortune, and continued to stay in the Mahabodhi Temple, patiently waiting for rescue.
Later, it was proved that this was a very correct choice - the people present seemed to have lost their minds under the magic of gold, but they forgot to look back and think carefully about the things that came from the stars on the space monster Godzilla. Is gold really that easy to get? Unfortunately, they were all dazzled by the golden light at this moment, their eyes were dyed red, and they couldn't think of anything more...