Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 113 Directors and Managers

Kuala Lumpur Airport.

Zheng Yi's luxury private jet slowly landed and docked. Lapek came forward enthusiastically to greet Zheng Yi.

However, the pure white cabin door with an elegant and luxurious atmosphere slowly opened, and the first person to come down was a beautiful and elegant stewardess wearing a cheongsam.

After the beautiful stewardess, the next person to come down was still not Zheng Yi himself, but a whole team of valiant and proud bodyguards, all over 1.8 meters tall, each of them armed with live ammunition and with a submachine gun hanging around their necks.

There were actually more than thirty people.

Lapek's smiling face froze, and he felt very embarrassed for a moment.

After all, we're treating you to a meal out of kindness, yet you bring bodyguards? And so many of them?

You should know that the Colonial Office is very strict on gun control. At least on the surface, there are strict gun control laws in Kuala Lumpur.

Zheng Yi came to Kuala Lumpur with so many bodyguards, and the weapons on those bodyguards were so sophisticated. Carrying such weapons made the Colonial Bureau feel a little uncomfortable.

Strictly speaking, Malaya was still a British colony, and Zheng Yi, a Malayan, should have been under their jurisdiction.

But this is not over yet.

Almost as soon as Zheng Yi's plane landed, six American planes appeared in the sky.

After that, there were thirty or forty World War I biplanes, which made Lapek's face even gloomier.

When the pilots came down from these planes, without exception, they were all equipped with Thompson submachine guns.

Zheng Yi had more than fifty bodyguards with him on this trip!
What is this for?

Isn't this just pure show-off?
This is Kuala Lumpur!

If the Colonial Bureau really wanted to harm Zheng Yi, how could fifty bodyguards, let alone five hundred or five thousand, be able to protect you?

You are really good at pretending!!
However, when Lapec saw this scene, he had to admit that Zheng Yi was indeed amazing. After all, Penang was really contracted out for only a little over half a year.

In just half a year, the development was so rapid. Zheng Yi had transformed himself from an ordinary businessman and scientist to a big figure in the entire Nanyang and even the world. It really made him feel that the speed was unbelievable.

It was difficult for him to adapt to the change in his identity for a while.

The leader among these bodyguards is naturally Li Xiaowei. In fact, these people are not bodyguards, they are all Penang police officers.

Zheng Yi positioned the Penang police as a police force, and they are not there just to maintain law and order, so they will naturally be more generous when it comes to equipping them with equipment.

He was no longer afraid of what the Colonial Office might think of him, and since he did have money, he naturally bought whatever he could get, the best of everything.

Use the imported ones first, and then we’ll see when our own factory starts production.

He didn't really come here to show off, but Li Xiaowei insisted that he needed protection, and it was a good opportunity to let these new recruits go on a mission to train them. Zheng Yi reluctantly agreed to let Li Xiaowei take these more than 50 policemen to accompany him on the trip.

It's not Zheng Yi who wants to show off, but Li Xiaowei who wants to show off.

After a while, when all the policemen had lined up outside the plane, Zheng Yi was the last one to come down from inside, smoking a cigar. He was indeed very stylish.

After Lapek's expression stiffened slightly, he quickly stepped forward, took the initiative to shake hands with Zheng Yi, and said with a smile:
"Dr. Zheng is truly impressive. Under Dr. Zheng's leadership, the small city of Penang has transformed day by day and is almost becoming the manufacturing pearl of our Far East.
I heard that Dr. Zheng has made a fortune these days? Congratulations, congratulations!"

After hearing this, Zheng Yi did not say anything, but said: "Lapek, the ultimate development direction of Penang is actually not just to develop manufacturing.

Just the day before yesterday, I had dinner with people from Citibank, Morgan Bank, and your British HSBC and Royal Bank.

"Don't you think Penang is particularly suitable for a financial hub? Look, Nanyang is a complex region with a mix of British, American, Dutch, Japanese, French, and Chinese influences, and Penang lacks monetary sovereignty."

"Since we don't have monetary sovereignty, what do you think of completely abandoning tariffs and foreign exchange controls? Should we issue two new currencies, one based on the US dollar and the other based entirely on the British pound? What do you think of issuing two new currencies (similar to the Hong Kong dollar)?"

"You know, Penang welcomes British, American, Dutch, and other companies to open factories here. If you open a factory in Penang, you will be exempt from taxes and I will even give you land for free."

"Plus, I don't charge any financial taxes or fees. No matter how many US dollars or pounds come in, there is no need to worry about any losses when exchanging currency.
The US dollar and the British pound can also be exchanged relatively freely in Penang."

"What do you think of my idea? But there's one thing I have to say. If I really do this, the Colonial Office must support me. We will definitely not be able to use the Malaysian Ringgit anymore, and it will gradually disappear from the ranks of Penang's mainstream currency."

Lapek: "It seems... I don't really want to support you."

"Don't you support it? I thought your Royal Bank and HSBC had already negotiated with you. Tell me, is this nonsense? It's okay. I will mainly cooperate with the Americans at that time, so it will be the same."

Lapek: “…………”

Zheng Yi: "Penang isn't really a manufacturing capital, as I'd describe it. Rather, it's a place where the overseas interests of the old hegemon, Britain, and the emerging hegemon, the United States, converge. Finance and industry all serve this purpose. Do you think what I'm saying makes sense?"

Lapek: "I see, Mr. Zheng... You're truly remarkable. You also understand finance?"

"Does Sheriff Lapek also understand finance?"

"I don't understand, but I do know that if Penang really does what you say, then I'm afraid it's more than just a crossover between Britain and the United States, or international trade. I'm a police officer, and this doesn't mean... there's no fee for money laundering."

"British and American companies can freely invest and set up factories in Penang. They can take their profits away at any time without any fees. Most importantly, your Penang does not collect taxes. Mr. Zheng, are you trying to make it a financial city, or a city for tax evasion and money laundering?"

Zheng Yi: "Is that so? Is that so? Ah~, so that's how it is~, there's nothing I can do about it, Penang has no sovereignty. On one side is you British, and on the other side is them Americans. I'm stuck in between."

"Then you said that British and American companies are willing to invest in Penang, such as Gulf Oil, Shell Oil, Persian Oil, Standard Oil, as well as shipping, shipbuilding and so on. They are all willing to invest and build factories here.
These are all giants, wealthy enough to rival nations, with companies generating tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, of dollars in annual revenue. How could a small-time tycoon like me dare to collect their taxes or fees? Don't you agree?"

Lapek: “…………” For a moment, Zheng Yi made Lapek so angry that he gritted his teeth, but he couldn’t do anything to him.

Isn’t this Zheng Yi teaming up with those British and American giants to defraud the government of its money?
The first to bear the brunt is their Colonial Bureau!
A lot of money should have been their taxes!

In fact, in essence, this is still about taking the path of future Singapore and leaving the future Singapore with no way to go.

Although there is no handling fee, huge amounts of wealth are flowing in and out. Even if a small amount falls on the small country of Penang, it will be enough for them to make a fortune.

Because of Zheng Yi, Penang has already developed into one of the world-class bases for the petrochemical industry, and there is indeed a large amount of capital and resource flows into it.

Whether it is an American company or a British company, they can easily use very high-sounding reasons such as autonomy, overseas, etc. to deal with the audits of their own country's tax authorities and financial regulatory authorities.

Penang is small enough that even if Zheng Yi had ten thousand guts, he would not dare to covet the money of these international giants. It is small enough to ensure the safety of these funds and take advantage of the equal strength and mutual fear between Britain and the United States to survive in the cracks.

Of course, everything has a price. As a financial port and tax evasion port, the huge amount of wealth will make the per capita GDP of this small place extremely inflated, the gap between the rich and the poor inside is extremely wide, and class contradictions are particularly prominent.

and so……

Isn’t Zheng Yi giving houses to the people of Penang just like Singapore?

The houses have already been distributed, so what is there to complain about?

Isn't this globalization?

But for Lapec...

My great British government, the empire on which the sun never sets, is not being bullied by a colony like yours?

what?
This Lapek is a patriot after all.

A native of a colony actually dared to discuss with me openly how to help those multinational corporations exempt from taxes in front of me!!!

They earn so much money, shouldn't they pay taxes? If they don't pay taxes, will all the taxes fall on the poor?
Is there any justice?
Is there any Wangfa?
what?
Do you think that we, the officials of the British Empire, are just eating for free?!

Zheng Yi then put his arm around Lapek's neck and said, "I can assure you that the tax from the Malayan Colonial Bureau this year will definitely be higher than last year."

"Especially you, Mr. Lapek. When you retire in the future, or when your children grow up, I will guarantee any of these companies in Penang that you're interested in, whether they're British or American, and I'll reserve a position as an independent director for you."

Lapek was stunned. He turned around and looked at Zheng Yi in surprise: "Independent director? Including Shell Oil, I can be an independent director?"

"Yes, independent director. Of course, it also depends on whether you understand the situation."

"I'm sensible, of course I am. I'm the most sensible. What do you call this? This is called... internationalization, ah, globalization. Don't worry, I'm the most sensible."

As they talked, the two of them hugged each other's necks and waists and got into the car together.

"Professor Zheng, if Penang needs any help from our Colonial Office in the future, please feel free to ask. Our Colonial Office, from top to bottom, will serve you wholeheartedly."

"Help... that's easy to say. I was just about to ask you, why did you ask me to come to Kuala Lumpur this time... what's the situation? Are you planning to help the Malays deal with us?"

Lapek: "How could that be possible? No, I'm mediating. Conflict and war are always detrimental to the development of Penang, right? You know, our British rule in Malaya was actually far from solid most of the time."

"In the entire Far East, with the exception of Singapore, which is a direct British colony, all other regions are under indirect rule. That is, they have signed a rather broad treaty with the sultans. None of the nine sultanates are under direct rule."

"By controlling the sultans and senior government officials, they were able to establish relatively pro-British governments, thereby achieving indirect rule over the nine sultanates. Therefore... the true rulers of the nine sultanates were still these nine sultans."

"These nine sultanates signed a mutual assistance agreement back in the last century. This time, the sultans of Kedah and Perlis were attacked, and the other seven united to put pressure on us. We...are just trying to be peacemakers. Don't you Chinese always say that it's better to resolve a feud than to create one?"

Zheng Yi: "If these so-called nine sultans don't have the support of your Colonial Bureau, I wouldn't be afraid even if we become enemies."

After a pause, he suddenly smiled and said, "Even with your Colonial Bureau, I wouldn't necessarily be afraid."

Upon hearing this, Lapec looked at Zheng Yi meaningfully, as if he was a little dissatisfied, but he endured it.

"We rule Malaya in the hope of saving trouble, avoiding complications, and making more money. If you Chinese and Malays really engage in endless fighting, what good will that do us? If the war drags on, delaying Malaya's current rapid economic development, wouldn't that be very troublesome?"

"Mr. Zheng, I know you're not afraid. You've obtained a lot of weapons and resources from both the Royal Machinery and the Americans. But I have to remind you that you're just a city. If you want your economy to develop, you need a peaceful and healthy external environment. You can't just kill all the Malays."

As they were talking, Lapek and Zheng Yi both got into the car and headed towards the Colonial Bureau.

In the car, Lapek continued, "In the whole of Malaya, the food self-sufficiency rate does not exceed 30%. All food has to be imported from Thailand. There are very few places suitable for growing rice, and cash crops are basically monopolized by you Chinese."

"Even if the Malays do plant crops, the purchase price is determined by you Chinese. The only way they can survive on this peninsula is if they can grow some food. The upper class, on the other hand, only has a small amount of power."

"You Chinese are indeed powerful now, but there's no need to compete with them for the little money you earn from growing food. I know you have a very good relationship with Siam. If you're short of food, can't you buy it from Siam? You can also buy it from China."

"You're now competing with them for food, and Penang itself refuses to be governed by the Sultan of Kedah. Aren't you trying to kill these Malays? I know you're not afraid, but they're not feeling well, and why are you fighting you? Is it appropriate for a wealthy man to compete with a beggar for steamed buns?"

"I've heard a saying that goes, if sugar isn't sweet, make acetic acid. The Malays have helped you become beautiful and European, but if they really unite, they can destroy your ability."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi sneered and said, "Lao La, is this your opinion, or the opinion of the Colonial Bureau, or the opinion of the sultans conveyed on your behalf?"

Lapek: "This is just... a suggestion from a friend sitting next to me."

"Haha, then... let's talk about it later. I'll see their attitude later."

(End of this chapter)