Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 1371: Players Behind the Scenes (Second update, please subscribe)

100 million tons of oil pipeline!

How much is such a contract worth?
The total value exceeds US$8 million!
In this era, this is a huge order, exceeding 1% of the UK's GDP!

Last year, the UK's GDP was only 812 billion US dollars!

It can be seen from this that the cash-generating capacity of heavy industry in this era is still very high. After all, traditional heavy industry is still the economic foundation of various countries.

Therefore, such a large order, and a "gray" one, must be reported to Li Yian. Looking at the report in front of him, Li Yian was silent for a while, and then said:
"Big Brother, you are still very kind!"

Such a sigh is absolutely from the heart. There is no other way. In the past ten years or so, we have taken a lot of advantages from the Eastern Group headed by Big Brother.

At the peak, their annual profit concessions alone amounted to two to three hundred million US dollars, which was almost equivalent to 1% of GDP, or even close to 2%!

What is this concept?
This is definitely the spirit of internationalism!
Now they are giving money again!
Can't be moved?
While feeling touched, Li Yian also understood that it was not easy to get the money.

“This order is a bit tricky!”

"Yes, sir. Although they said the contract will be paid in cash and gold, it is certainly difficult to hide millions of tons of steel and the large diameter of the oil pipeline. Once exposed, it is likely to cause an investigation and backlash from the United States."

Zuo Xiaohan said directly:

"Therefore, the company plans to complete the transaction by setting up a third-party company as a re-export method."

Nodding slightly, Li Yian said:

"This order is huge and involves many aspects. We can ask them to 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 did not do this business, steel companies in West Germany, Britain and even the United States would do it. At the beginning, they did it secretly, and later, they simply lobbied the government to stop the embargo.

This is the reality of the world. For the sake of money, big European and American companies have never stopped cooperating with Moscow. As long as Moscow is willing, they can buy almost everything they need.

This is also the reason why, in order to strike back at the Soviet Union, Reagan, while imposing an embargo on the Soviet Union, also launched a massive crackdown on European and American companies, and even conducted a comprehensive investigation of certain companies.

But that was only during the Reagan era.

Now, the Soviet Union’s dollars and gold are still very attractive.

Thinking of his old friend Reagan, Li Yian couldn't help but feel a little emotional. In the past ten years or so, 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 downward trend, and the affairs of the guild have also seriously affected his career.

"If nothing unexpected happens, he should have switched to politics in the last two years!"

Li Yian certainly cares about his old friend, but this kind of care comes more from the office - on his birthday, Christmas and other holidays, he is reminded to send a greeting card, and the representative office will also send a small gift.

However, Li Yian’s indifference does not 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 company. He traveled around the country and gave speeches to factory workers..."

While Cheng Pengan was reporting, Li Yian was flipping through the file in front of him. This was a file that the Investigation Department had created for his friend. Over the past decade or so, they had created a complete set of files for their old friends and had been tracking their movements.

Follow up and observe, and when help is needed, if necessary, we will also provide some appropriate help. After all, helping others in times of need always requires the right time.

"In short, his influence is expanding and, to a certain extent, attracting the attention of the outside world, but for now, there is no force supporting him."

After thinking for a while, Cheng Pengan said:
"Your Excellency, if necessary, we can provide him with some support through some institutions."

"No, just keep paying attention for now,"

For these people, the best approach is to pay attention and observe. There is no need to change them or help them. Eventually they will go their own way.

But what is certain is that it was the crisis last year that aroused Reagan's enthusiasm for politics. This is probably beyond the expectations of many people. Who could have thought that a crisis would forge Reagan's belief in defeating the Soviet Union?
Sometimes, the world is so wonderful that an accidental event can bring so 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 the right-hand man of Prime Minister Macmillan. He was also the protagonist of the "Profumo" scandal. The core of this scandal was an extramarital affair between Profumo and the singer and dancer Christine Keeler. What kind of extramarital affair was it? That woman was simply a socialite.

This incident is famous because it not only led to the resignation of the other party in the incident, Profumo, but also led to the resignation of Prime Minister Macmillan and the collapse of the entire Conservative Party. It can only be said that a socialite tripped up the entire British political arena. Even to a certain extent, it changed the whole world.

Listening to your question, Cheng Pengan shrugged his shoulders and said:
“Your Excellency, we not only have all the clues, but also substantial evidence. At first, we thought it was just an extramarital affair between them, but as the investigation deepened, we found that Christine Keeler was a very unusual person.

As a well-known socialite in London, she had intimate relationships with at least 30 British politicians and aristocrats in the past year. What's more fatal is that she even had an affair with Yevgeny Ivanov, the senior naval attaché of the Soviet Embassy in London, and Ivanov was a KGB agent! "

“This is the most deadly place!”

Li Yi'an said:
"Who would have thought that their war minister and a Russian spy shared a concubine?"

"Yes, sir, but now the news has come out. 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 for important guests. Christine was swimming at the time, and then she became Profumo's lover, which is a very normal thing in London.

As for rumors, that is unlikely. After all, those who attend such "pool parties" are usually rich or powerful, and they are all important politicians and businessmen. They will not leak any information. "

It's not just London!

The same is true in the United States, where there is also a Lolita Island!
How old was this Christine when she entered London's social circle?
But he is only sixteen or seventeen years old!

I can only say that all crows are black! Ansa is just like that, he looks righteous on the surface, but what kind of person is he behind the scenes?
Pool party...what a lot of fun!

Taking out a file from his bag, Cheng Pengan continued to analyze:

"We have reason to believe that this was most likely planned by the Russians. After all, John Profumo held a tough stance on both colonial issues and the Russian issue.

If this incident is used to bring down Profumo, it will be extremely beneficial to Russia's activities in Africa and other places. Therefore, the possibility of behind-the-scenes conspiracy is very high. "

As an intelligence expert, Cheng Pengan immediately realized the problem after hearing the scandal.

"It's possible."

Li Yi'an said:
“There may be accidental events in this world, but sometimes people use them to achieve their own goals.”

After thinking for a while, Li Yian asked back:

"So, what plans does the ministry have for this matter?"

"Personally, Your Excellency, I think Christine is a very valuable subject."

Oh!
Li Yian raised his brows slightly.

Looking at the photo in the archive, this photo is a black and white photo taken by the master photographer Lewis Morley: Christine Lo is sitting backwards in a chair, both innocent and seductive.

All men have to admit that this woman is a very charming woman, otherwise she would not be so active in the political and business circles of London.

"Although Profumo is the Minister of War, he is just the Minister of War. To us, his value is relatively limited. However, Christine is a socialite in London's upper class. She travels between the political and business circles and has affairs with many people. If..."

Cheng Pengan looked at you, thought about it, and then directly expressed his thoughts.

"If we can use her for our own benefit, through proper manipulation, she may be able to play a greater role. Moreover, she has a certain relationship with Russia. In this game, two-faced people are also extremely important, and the role they can play is 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 very crucial.

"So is she reliable?"

"Sir, in this business, a lot of intelligence is provided by unreliable people. Because they are unreliable, they become intelligence providers. So, the question is not whether they are reliable, but whether they are useful to us. On the other hand..."

Cheng Pengan added:
"We need Profumo's tough stance on the African colonies. After all, we need Britain to maintain their colonies to protect our interests! We have extensive interests in East Africa, and we need hardliners to protect them. Only in this way can we stop the Russians from reaching out there. Moreover, as of now, the local situation is turbulent, and any unusual movement in London may threaten our interests in East Africa."

East Africa... that's the company's granary. In the past decade or so, the company has opened up tens of millions of hectares of farms in the local area. The importance of those farms is self-evident. Therefore, a strong Britain is good for the stability of East Africa.

"That means we need to keep Profumo!"

After a little thought, Li Yian said:

"Okay, then do as you think!"

(End of this chapter)