Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 307 This is not dusk, but the sunset of the British Empire
President Su's gaze was like a knife, as if it was going to pierce Zhuang Xiyan.

But seeing Zhuang Xiyan chatting and laughing with the local warlords, he really had no choice.

Strictly speaking, as a president, he is just a Zhou emperor who is somewhat similar to the common ruler of the world. The separatist tendencies in Kalimantan and Sumatra are very obvious. Although they are barely surviving now, they only follow orders and not declarations.

Historically, Indonesia has had military conflicts with Malaysia over Kalimantan Island, and fought a civil war due to the independence movement on Sumatra Island. Although both wars ended with the victory of the Indonesian central government, they also planted the seeds of concern that Indonesia would move towards a military government model.

Because of the existence of SAARC in this time and space, President Su is very sure that if Kalimantan and Sumatra separate, SAARC will definitely provide them with military support.

【Perhaps... I can go to the Soviet Union?】

But when he thought of the Soviet Union's usual domineering style, he was afraid that if he really turned to them completely, his position would be in jeopardy, and the Soviet Union might even interfere in his internal affairs. President Su became hesitant again.

Isn't this like driving a tiger to devour a wolf?

Not only Kalimantan and Sumatra, but even on Java Island, all those with oil are in close cooperation with Zhuang Xiyan.

In fact, at this stage, although the nationalization of Indonesia's oil is a foregone conclusion, whether the profits from nationalization should be transferred to Jakarta is a problem.

What if those warlords with oil have the support of SAARC?

"Mr. Zhuang, you're so confident! I heard you didn't even bring a bodyguard with you when you returned to Indonesia this time. I admire you. To use the Chinese saying, this is considered going to a meeting alone. You're quite courageous, aren't you afraid that you won't be able to leave Jakarta alive?"

Zhuang Xiyan: "To be honest, I really wish I could die here. I can leave my name in history. Mr. Zheng is now hoping for a rise in global oil prices and a reduction in oil and gas production. If Indonesia doesn't cooperate and civil unrest breaks out, the same thing will happen, and the effect might even be better. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will coordinate global oil and gas production capacity, so when the time comes to divide the spoils, you can get less."

After saying that, without waiting for President Su to say anything else, even the other people on Java Island began to persuade President Su to value peace.

Representatives from regions with oil quickly expressed their support for the nationalization of oil and that a large amount of profits from oil sales would be turned over.

After a while, President Su sighed, nodded resignedly, and said, "Mr. Zheng, can you guarantee that this oil price war will succeed? If not, wouldn't our Indonesian oil production be reduced for nothing? Wouldn't that mean we'd lose a lot of money?"

"Right now, Indonesia is in a state of disrepair and the country is short of money. If losses are caused by this, who will bear the consequences? Mr. Zheng, will there be any compensation?"

Zhuang Xiyan: "I'm sorry, Mr. Zheng said that only when we advance and retreat together can we be called an alliance. If we're not willing to take even this little risk, then it's not an alliance, but rather a unified purchase and sale. Of course, if you allow us, the South Asian Association for Petroleum, to invest in Indonesian oil, then unified purchase and sale is not impossible. Alternatively, you can sign a long-term contract with us, based on the current oil price."

Mr. Su snorted coldly upon hearing this. "What? Mr. Zheng is certain that without you, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), we won't be able to sell our oil? You Chinese are really underestimating our capabilities. It's not like we can't cooperate with Shell! The past is over. For the sake of our country, we can now look to the future and move forward."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Xiyan sneered, turned around, and began whispering with his secretary.

Then he turned around and said to General Su with a smile, "Dear General Su, and all the generals and representatives, I am honored to share with you some good news. Just now, Penang Petrochemical Company and Standard Oil of the United States have jointly invested in and subscribed to a total of 108 specialized oil and gas tankers from Shell. At the same time, the three companies have cross-shareholdings, and Shell has also introduced a strategic investment from Morgan Stanley."

President Su: “………………”

Everyone: "…………"

........................

Meanwhile, New York, USA.

The bronze chandelier at 23 Wall Street swayed in the cigar smoke, the tips of John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s crocodile leather shoes tapped rhythmically on the Persian carpet, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor of the Manhattan Bank Building, one could see freighters dragging black smoke on the East River transporting American steel to all parts of the world.

"Gentlemen, the blood vessels of the British Empire are drying up in the deserts of the Middle East." He twirled his whiskey glass, and the sound of ice cubes clinking made dozens of figures around the round table straighten their backs at the same time.

These bankers, who control more than half of the liquid capital in the United States, know that an earthquake is about to occur on Wall Street.

The telegrams in the safe still carried the heat of Cairo. The arms contract signed three days earlier by Iranian and Egyptian envoys on a yacht on the Nile was now fermenting in the vaults of Credit Suisse.

"The Egyptians used the Suez Canal, and the Iranians used oil to show us their sincerity. The war has begun."

As he spoke, Little John took out a newspaper. In the newspaper, Zheng Yi was grinning loudly with the negotiating representatives from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and other countries in Haifa.

"Our allies are already taking action. Starting today, all oil from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and even some oil from Africa will be priced in US dollars. Just now, we completed our relative control over Shell. Mr. Will of the Netherlands sent a congratulatory message, expressing his full support for the dollar pricing of oil and agreeing to a 50% production cut in the Netherlands' northern oil fields starting tomorrow."

"Also, there's a strike going on at BP's headquarters in the UK. The latest price for futures oil has risen by $35 per barrel."

As he spoke, Little John proudly lit his cigar with his solid gold lighter and said with a smile, "I heard that if the price of a barrel of oil rises by $0.3, the market value of an aircraft carrier will evaporate on the London Stock Exchange. Everyone, I guess you all made a lot of money this time."

The people sitting there looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

These people are well-known figures in the United States, and the stomping of their feet can make the world tremble. To a certain extent, they control the US dollar, and then control the United States, and then control the entire world.

Normally, no one shows their emotions on their face, but today everyone is really happy.

After the previous world hegemon, Britain, was slaughtered, everyone got a big piece of fat meat during the New Year.

Everyone acted almost crazy.

Even they themselves can't tell how much money they made this time. The money is so much that it needs to be counted.

British newspapers have been promoting the so-called "black crisis", which has further stimulated panic in the market. In just three days, BP Oil's stock price has plummeted by 48%, and it is very likely that it will continue to fall.

"Everyone."

John D. Rockefeller Jr. put a stop to the bankers' extravagant behavior.

"Our comrade is fighting on the front line. You have seen that he is doing so well. Now, it is our turn to fight."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes turned and they sat up straight again.

"We are willing to follow the Rockefeller family's lead." John Jr. smiled and said, "The British pound has been the world currency for too long. When the London foreign exchange market opens tomorrow..."

He rubbed his thumb over the watch chain, a trophy his father had won from Morgan. "I want to see the pound recede like the tide of the Thames."

As his orders were issued, tens of thousands of financial industry employees across Wall Street began to work frantically.

At the same time, the banking industries in Penang, Singapore, and even Hong Kong Island were busy, and everyone was doing the same thing: selling pounds.

The capital war in the 1950s did not require the smoke of gunpowder.

It doesn't even require presidential authorization.

Starting next month, the US dollar will become the world's only international currency.

At this time, Washington.

Marshal MacIlroy personally reviewed the press releases from 200 media outlets for tomorrow and received the most accurate information from an insider in the Pentagon.

"I heard that Fatty Qiu plans to visit the US in a week and give a speech to Congress? Haha, do the British think they can control the great United States? Or do they still think that the United States is just their lackey?"

"So, what do you mean?"

"Let's start the lobbying and propaganda campaign. Americans are not followers of the British. We oppose all imperialism that profits by exploiting the people of impoverished countries. Finally, send a telegram to Mossadegh, telling him that the United States will always support the self-determination of all Third World countries. A week later, on the same day that Fatty Qiu arrives in the United States, invite Mossadegh to come over on my private plane. I hope that more than half of the members of the National People's Congress will give him the warmest applause."

………………

London, England.

The gilded bust of Queen Victoria on the fireplace was stained with whiskey. Fat Qiu's veiny palm pressed firmly against the front page of The Times: "The Black Tide of the Dollar Devours the Empire's Bloodline: Oil Pricing Power Officially Transfers to Washington." Outside the window, leaden clouds loomed over London's Tower Bridge, just like the sky on the day he lost the election in 1945.

"boom!"

An inkwell inlaid with a map of the Indian colonies slammed against the oak doorframe, the blue-black liquid splashing across Lord Nelson's portrait like blood and tears. "These Anglo-Saxon traitors!" the Prime Minister's roar rattled the crystal chandelier, and the aide stared at the cigar ashes scattered on the carpet, as if they were fragments of the British Empire.

The Chancellor's message was still twitching on the ticker: "Shell's Rotterdam headquarters confirms that at 10:15 this morning, 132 of its tankers were transferred to..."

The telegram tape was reflected in Fatty Qiu's cloudy pupils, and every character on it was gnawing at his memory of defending Malta in the Mediterranean in 1941 - he knew that the oil tanker escorted by the Royal Navy at that time was now flying the flag of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and was docked at the Penang pier.

"Prime Minister, urgent call to the BP board of directors." The secretary had barely finished speaking when Fatty Qiu raised the brass paperweight President George W. Bush had gifted him in 1941. Amidst the flickering snowflakes on the communication screen, the trembling voice of the BP chairman emerged: "The New York Stock Exchange has just opened, and our stock has been taken over by the Rockefeller Group. Ah!" The line suddenly erupted in a shrill busy tone, replaced by a cold announcement from a BBC female announcer: "The benchmark price of Arab Light crude oil has officially been pegged to the US dollar."

Fatty Qiu's facial muscles, afflicted by the aftereffects of his stroke, began to twitch uncontrollably. He stumbled, grasping the model of the battleship Winston, the empire's final glory, named after him, tilting in his palm.

"Zheng~Yi!!!"

The Prime Minister's dentures chattered between his teeth as he frantically tore down the photo of the 1945 Potsdam Conference from the wall.

In the photo, Zheng Yi has a sunny, friendly, youthful smile, and a cheerful smirk facing him.

"Shell, how dare they do this? This is a betrayal of Great Britain! I want to see Her Majesty the Queen. I want to see the Queen. Yes, Her Majesty the Queen is still the largest shareholder of Shell Oil."

The secretary beside him cautiously reminded: "Prime Minister, this... although... but..."

"Say!"

"Shell's largest shareholder is actually... the Dutch royal family, not our British royal family. Shell's explanation for this matter is that they were under pressure from the Netherlands, so the shareholders' meeting..."

"Fuck the shareholders' meeting! Do you know what they're doing? Do you know what they're selling? It's Britain's pricing power over oil and, indeed, all commodities! Can you tell me this is a bunch of businessmen who only care about money? Can shareholders decide that?"

"Fuck the equity deal! I won't acknowledge it. We in the British Empire still have a navy and aircraft carriers. I want to see the Queen. I want to send an aircraft carrier to Penang. I want... cough, cough, cough."

The Prime Minister suddenly coughed violently, and the gold-rimmed spittoon began to emit a dark red oil-like color. He looked towards Trafalgar Square, where the smell of burning BP flags came from protesters.

"It's bad, Prime Minister. It's bad."

"what happened again!"

"Both New York and Penang are selling pounds, and Egypt, Egypt."

"What's wrong with Egypt? Don't they have oil?"

"N-Sair launched a coup and imprisoned King Farouk. At the same time, they... they sent a brigade to fire at our garrisons stationed in the Suez Canal. The Israeli Air Force assisted them, dropping bombs on our troops. General Mills said... he needed the support of at least two aircraft carrier groups."

Fatty Qiu: "I...I...where can I find him two aircraft carrier formations?"

Another secretary said, "Prime Minister, then... a telegram has been sent from Penang, demanding that we withdraw the Singapore Navy and all military presence in the Far East within three days, otherwise... otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?"

"otherwise……"

"Okay, you don't need to say anything."

"Prime Minister, Prime Minister, Madam, Madam, the Queen has issued a warrant for you to go to Buckingham Palace immediately and explain to her what happened."

Fatty Qiu: “…………”

(End of this chapter)