Break out of the courtyard

“There’s a Pacific Insurance company that’s being established in Shanghai. You can look into how they operate.”

Zhang Heping did not directly answer his third daughter's question, but instead guided her to find the reason herself.

Although domestic insurance regulation is still immature, relevant legal requirements have been discussed and studied for many years.

Therefore, the People's Bank of China certainly wouldn't issue an insurance license to a rich second-generation like Zhang Nian who lacks company management experience and consistent profitability.

Even if the Peace Group applies for an insurance license in mainland China, it will encounter many restrictions. Whether it can obtain an insurance license in the end may depend on how effective the Life 160 drug is!

Of course, if you register or acquire an insurance company in Hong Kong Island, then you don't need to consider so many things.

Hearing the commotion, Chen Shuting came over and pulled Zhang Nian aside to ask her about the problems she had encountered in mainland China. Then she went to the other side to talk quietly so as not to disturb Zhang Heping.

The next day, Zhang Heping went out for a morning run but did not return home.

He went straight to the cafeteria for breakfast and then went to the biological gene laboratory building, leaving the old men and women living near Professor Hua empty-handed.

Zhang Heping was at home, so it was difficult to restrict those people from visiting him, since even Elder Hua couldn't refuse them entry to the academy.

However, at the biological gene laboratory building where the Life-Extending 160 drug was stored, Zhang Heping gave the college's security a strict order, forbidding outsiders from approaching.

The clinical trials for the Life 160 drug have not yet been conducted in the laboratory building; currently, they are only using cells from some elderly people for testing.

Even so, it still excited the assistants and students.

According to Zhang Heping, once the Lifespan 160 drug is successfully developed, human lifespan may exceed 160 years!
Zhang Heping glanced at the lab logs and checked the cell tissues cultured by each experimental group before heading to the Shenzhen International Trade Center Building with his bodyguards.

The 4th Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to 11 first-prize winners, 32 second-prize winners, and 1055 third-prize winners.

Of the 1098 laureates, only 14 were foreign, from the North Soviet Union and the United Kingdom.

Many people are saying that Zhang Heping is retaliating against O.M.'s two joint statements, but that's not actually the case.

Leaving aside the fact that the United States restricts its citizens from accessing the World Internet Forum, in terms of the sheer number of papers published, foreign experts publish far fewer than their mainland counterparts.

As for the quality of the papers, Zhang Heping is naturally in charge of ensuring their quality.

It is said that a generous reward will surely bring forth brave men!

The sheer amount of money awarded in the first three Peace Prizes has already ignited a frenzy in mainland academic circles.

Those professionals who were arguing that making missiles was less profitable than selling tea eggs all wanted to improve their own financial situation by writing papers, so they wouldn't actually have to sell tea eggs.

Most importantly, publishing papers on the World Internet Forum is very free; there's no seniority-based system of vying for first authorship.

Secondly, many domestic Nobel Peace Prize laureates have publicly claimed that they received technical guidance from Consultant Zhang after uploading their papers.

Subsequently, they added a lot of experimental data and revised the paper many times before submitting it to the World Internet Forum, thus winning the Peace Prize.

This sentiment was also heard from foreign Nobel Peace Prize laureates in the past, but it has disappeared in the last two years.

After Zhang Heping arrived at the Shenzhen International Trade Building, Liang Kai, the secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Government Office, came to find him.

This middle-aged man, three years younger than Zhang Heping, is the secretary Liu Yuan brought back to the capital to get their marriage certificate during the Spring Festival.

"Advisor Zhang, what do you think about this year's Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony? Should we allow foreign journalists to attend?"

Zhang Heping shoved Secretary Liang on the shoulder, pulled him closer, and said in a deep voice, "How do we know if those foreign journalists are spies?"

"If we let those foreigners in and something goes wrong, who will take responsibility?"

"So don't make trouble for yourself, just keep everything the same!"

Secretary Liang responded somewhat awkwardly, escorted Zhang Heping into the building, and then went to report the matter.

In previous years, Zhang Heping did not meet with the Nobel Peace Prize winners in advance.

But this year is different. Apart from the two hawks, Zhang Heping had dealt with all the other winners before, including the 12 experts from the Northern Soviet Union.

Therefore, he agreed to come to the exchange meeting today and discuss current and future technological developments with award winners from various fields.

However, after Zhang Heping arrived here, some people still asked about the Longevity Elixir.

"Advisor Zhang, are there any longevity potion advance cards among the physical prizes for this year's Peace Prize? It's just that my elderly mother is getting on in years, so I'm only asking this out of shame."

~
A cabinet meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan.

"The funds of the six major merchant groups have been used to purchase shares of leading companies in various countries, and our Second Sun Island project has been initially launched."

"Next, we will gradually acquire shares in those leading foreign companies and eventually gain control of them!"

"Vice Minister Aso has performed well these past two years, which has enabled the Peace Group to stir up trouble in our Japanese stock market. Otherwise, the shares sold by the six major trading groups wouldn't have fetched so much money!"

"Unfortunately, we couldn't retain the 20 trillion yuan that the Peace Group withdrew from!"

"There is no perfect solution in the world. Without the funds from the Peace Group attracting funds from Euromag, the six major business groups would not be able to buy shares of those leading companies on the Euromag stock market."

"Unfortunately, the number of shares released by the listed companies under the Peace Group is too small."

……

This wasn't Aso Taro's first time attending a cabinet meeting, but it was the first time he'd seen these ministers sitting together so calmly and peacefully, completely devoid of the usual tension.

To his utter surprise, what these ministers were talking about now seemed to be related to the dramatic ups and downs of the Japanese stock market in recent years.

At this moment, Taro Aso was questioning his existence. If his comprehension hadn't declined, the sum of what he had just heard would be:

In order to avoid being blocked or restricted from exports by Europe and the United States, Japan's six major conglomerates have been promoting the appreciation of the yen in recent years while also looking for opportunities to sell shares of their subsidiaries and use the cash to buy stocks of high-quality listed companies in various countries.

Fake accounts!

The word flashed through Taro Aso's mind!

If the Japanese government and the six major conglomerates hadn't falsified accounts to deceive others, it would have been impossible to fool so many eyes around the world.

In particular, Zhang Heping, who provides electronic transaction systems for numerous banks!
However, when Aso Taro thought about the Peace Group's eventual withdrawal of investment at all costs, he couldn't help but suspect that Zhang Heping might have already discovered the ministers' plan.

However, when Taro Aso thought back to 1990, to the arrogant and self-assured confidence of the Japanese people, and to the prosperous scene of 1 million middle-class citizens...

I can’t believe it!

Unexpected!
Aso Taro never expected that all of this was a clever escape by the higher-ups in order to circumvent O.M.'s restrictions.

Following this line of thought, Aso Taro finally understood why his father-in-law had sent him to the Ministry of Finance, and why the Ministry of Finance had raised interest rates five times in a row against the market trend—it was all planned in advance. Textiles, small appliances, semiconductors, automobiles…

Aso Taro thought of the way O.M. had boycotted these Japanese export products, and how the Japanese government was forced to restrict its own export volume, and even pressured its citizens to buy O.M. products and change stock market rules, etc., and he couldn't help but clench his fists!

"Vice Minister Aso, I'm very sorry! I may have to break my promise to you about the high school history textbook!" The mustachioed minister of the Ministry of Education said, bowing slightly towards Taro Aso.

Upon hearing about the high school history textbook, Aso Taro, who had been daydreaming, immediately straightened up. "Sir, I have already agreed to Zhang-san's request to revise the high school history textbook."

"If this edition of the high school history textbook cannot be officially printed and distributed this August, I will hardly see Mr. Zhang again, and it may even affect our experts and students' exchange and learning at the Hong Kong Island Peace College!"

The former mayor of Suzuki, who was also present at the meeting, noticed his third son-in-law constantly wiping the sweat from his brow. Presumably thinking of the Umbrella Corporation's assassination methods, he spoke up:
"I heard that the Lifespan 160 potion has been delivered to Shenzhen Peace College!"

When the Lifespan 160 potion was presented, the old men who had held power for many years fell silent.

As of now, only the Aso couple can see Zhang Heping.

If that version of the high school history textbook used to trick Zhang Heping into shorting Japanese stocks were not printed, who among those present would still be able to see Zhang Heping?
The short, thin minister of the Ministry of Cultural Exchange also spoke up at the opportune moment, "Since it has already been promised, it is best to keep it. The six major merchant groups have too shallow an investment in the Peace Group, making it difficult to acquire their advanced technology."

"If Vice Minister Aso breaks his promise to that Advisor Zhang this time, we will have no choice but to ask the Ministry of Education to send someone to Hong Kong Island to communicate in the future."

Hearing his father-in-law and former superior speak up for him, Aso Taro secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The mustachioed minister of the Ministry of Education laughed and said, "I cannot make that decision."

"Then let's decide by vote!" The Minister of Foreign Affairs raised his right hand and cast his vote for his department's Vice Minister Aso first. "I need to remind everyone that no one from our department will be awarded the 4th Nobel Peace Prize, which will be held tomorrow!"

After one round of voting, most people raised their hands in support of Vice Minister Aso.

Whether they were after the new longevity potion or the Peace Group's technology, Taro Aso felt he had escaped a disaster.

When Taro Aso returned home and told his wife, Yuriko Aso, about what had happened, he was still shaken.

"I was thinking that if I couldn't print a new version of the high school history textbook, I would call Zhang Sang to apologize, then resign and go to the countryside to live in seclusion, so that he wouldn't send people to kill me!" Aso Taro said with an embarrassed smile.

"The vote passed at the meeting, but Tianhuang's side hasn't made a statement yet!" Aso Yuriko frowned and said, "Father has been keeping this from us for a long time!"

"If we had known earlier that the six major conglomerates were planning a clever escape to seize shares in Euromagnesium, we..."

"That's no use talking!" Aso Taro waved his hand and said, "But don't worry, your father-in-law went along to persuade Tianhuang!"

"Now, I'm more worried that Zhang Sang has discovered the six major conglomerates' plan to escape unscathed, and then he'll think we deliberately kept it from him!"

Yuriko Aso was helpless in this situation and could only pour tea and avoid discussing the topic.

In the evening, the former mayor of Suzuki brought news that was neither good nor bad.

The new edition of the high school history textbook can be printed and distributed, but it cannot be used in Dongdu.

With no other option, the Aso couple flew to Hong Kong Island that very night.

The next morning, the two of them crossed the Luohu Port and, following the directions of the Japanese Cherry Blossom Chamber of Commerce, went to the Shenzhen International Trade Building to find Zhang Heping.

Unfortunately, when they arrived here, they were not only stopped by the police at the outside, but their cell phone signal was also blocked.

Cell phone signal was restored after they were 500 meters away from the China World Trade Center building.

Aso Taro dialed Zhang Heping's number on his mobile phone and heard that it was indeed not in service.

However, Mrs. Aso contacted Chen Shuting and learned that Zhang Heping was going home for lunch.

So, these two Japanese men in their early fifties went to wait at the entrance of Shenzhen Peace College, hoping to see the people and cars coming and going.

~
After attending two exchange meetings in the morning, Zhang Heping took a car back to Shenzhen Peace College.

Zhang Heping was not surprised by the arrival of the Aso couple.

After all, most of the funds from Europe and America have withdrawn from Japan and gone to Hong Kong to speculate in stocks and real estate, leaving very few capital firms willing to invest in Japanese car companies.

"Zhang-san!" As soon as Zhang Heping got out of the car, Aso Taro hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, then said, "I didn't expect the mainland to suffer such a huge flood. The donated supplies we brought are really too few. Please forgive us!"

Zhang Heping doesn't accept donations or supplies, so he didn't want to waste time chatting with the other party. As always, he said bluntly, "Get to the point. I have a lot of things to do today!"

"Hey!" Taro Aso responded, then licked his dry lips and said seriously, "The high school history textbook that Zhang asked me to revise last time has been revised and will be printed and used in August."

"However, we have encountered a problem: this new version of the high school history textbook cannot be used in Tokyo for the time being, and can only be used for teaching in cities outside Tokyo."

This differentiated teaching approach clearly treats students from Dongdu as "elites" to be cultivated, while students from other places are left to fend for themselves.

Zhang Heping asked noncommittally, "Is there anything else?"

Seeing Zhang Heping's serious expression, Aso Taro hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and saying:
"Mr. Zhang, I learned from the cabinet meeting yesterday that the six major conglomerates in Japan have transferred a considerable amount of funds to European and Hong Kong stock markets!"

"If you still want to take control of Japanese automakers, now may be the best time to do so."

"I understand. We'll talk again if needed." Zhang Heping nodded and then said, "Please make yourselves at home. I'm too busy today, so I won't entertain you any longer."

After speaking, Zhang Heping quickly got into the car and had the driver take him to the biological gene laboratory building.

Zhang Heping didn't delve into what Taro Aso had just said, because he also knew that the six major conglomerates hadn't withdrawn their investments to rescue Japanese stocks.

The fact that the six major conglomerates did not withdraw their investment means that their funds are outside the country!

Since the Peace Group and European and American capital can make money in the Japanese stock market, it's no wonder that the six major conglomerates can make money in the Hong Kong and European stock markets.

Zhang Heping guessed that the funds of the six major Japanese conglomerates would either boost or suppress foreign stock markets, but he never imagined that after buying stocks, these Japanese capital groups would actually try to quietly rise to the top and become major shareholders!

At the same time, Zhang Heping did not expect that Aso Taro's casual remark about "transfer" would encompass the Second Japan Island Project, which the six major Japanese conglomerates had been working on for many years!

Putting aside all the trivial matters related to Japan, Zhang Heping put aside Japan's car company after deciding to invest in the post-disaster reconstruction in mainland China.

After not trading stocks for so many days, Zhang Heping has come to understand something.

Although Japanese stocks plummeted, there weren't many Japanese residents actually investing in stocks. The number of people who jumped off buildings in Japan because of the stock market crash was less than the number of people who jumped off buildings after the last stock market crash in Hong Kong.

What truly demoralized the residents of the Japanese islands was the unsold properties and the huge loans they had taken out.

And those properties did not burst and disappear like a bubble!

Many Japanese residents believe that as long as the loan issues can be resolved, housing prices will eventually rise!
Therefore, the Japanese economy is not yet on the verge of collapse... (End of Chapter)