Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 972: Persia is a big fat sheep (Second update, please subscribe)

"For the future of Iran, we will definitely carry out land reform in the future!"

Finally, Pahlavi stopped talking, and his excited expression became much calmer. He just looked at Li Yian, his eyes full of expectation, an expectation of recognition, just like a student longing for recognition from his teacher.

Like all enterprising people, Pahlavi was a man with dreams and his own ideas. Otherwise, he would not have formulated the second seven-year development plan just after coming to power with the support of the United States. The previous seven-year plan was formulated in 1948, but it was a complete failure. Due to the nationalization of oil and the subsequent British economic sanctions, the plan was almost on the verge of failure.

However, last year Iran's oil revenue began to recover, and it received a $4500 million development grant and a $2.45 million loan from the United States. With this as start-up capital, Iran began its second seven-year development plan, trying to change Iran's backward appearance in the short term.

The total investment of this plan is US$12 billion, which will be used for infrastructure construction in industry, agriculture, transportation, education and other areas.

Although this plan was a bit ambitious, it was still a complete success in the end. Iran changed its ancient appearance that had lasted for 20 years and showed a new look in the th century. It was also because of this opportunity that Pahlavi proposed the more ambitious "White Song Name" plan in .

Only ten years later, Iran even became the ninth most powerful economy in the world. Moreover, in Tehran and many other big cities in Iran, people's lives are almost the same as those in Europe and America. People can wear all kinds of beautiful clothes to show off their figures.

Everything seems so magical. Even in the 21st century, there are still many Iranians who post photos of their mothers and even grandparents, photos of that era.

It seems that for many Iranians, that era was the best era, an era that they miss.

But even so, that era collapsed in a short period of time.

Li Yian didn’t care whether Iran under the rule of Pahlavi was a success or a failure. What he cared about was the market!
In response to Pahlavi's expectations, Li Yian nodded slightly to show his agreement.

"Yes, you are right."

Then he added more emphasis and said.

"The countryside needs reform, so we need to build railways even more. Railways can not only bring farmers out of the countryside and provide them with job opportunities, but the railway company's stocks are also the best choice for promoting reform and redeeming the landlords' land!"

In another world, this is what Pahlavi did - the government raised funds for land reform by selling shares of state-owned factories, then bought back the excess land from the landlords at market prices, and then sold it to tenant farmers at 30% below the market price.

Logically speaking, he should be successful by doing this. After all, similar policies have been successful in many countries - using state-owned enterprise stocks to purchase landlords' land and distribute it to farmers, converting landlords' land capital into industrial capital, thereby achieving a virtuous cycle of capital.

Of course, this is just theoretically speaking. As for the effect... I'm afraid only God knows, because in the end, it was those people who overthrew his rule.

However, at the moment, Li Yian did not say that far ahead. When teaching students, one must first see how much they can absorb.

"Buy the land with railroad stock!"

Li Yian's suggestion made Pahlavi's eyes light up, and he said excitedly.

"That's what I think, and some of my advisors have suggested that, and this approach has been successful in East Asia, and that's what I want to learn."

"So, compared to the airport, the railway is undoubtedly more important. After all, the railway company is something that can be seen and touched. Those landowners will definitely be happy to hold shares in the railway company. Moreover, even if they hold shares, it will not affect the overall situation of state-owned holdings. After all, the railway company has strong capital and its market value may be as high as billions."

Then Li Yian naturally talked to him about power plants and roads. In a word, it was about infrastructure. Of course, the more important thing was to win orders. Li Yian even turned into a salesman and said to Pahlavi, "In terms of power generation facilities, Nanyang's technical strength is still very strong. Compared with small power generation equipment in Europe and the United States, our power generation equipment is larger, more efficient, and cheaper, which is more suitable for Iran's needs. Of course, in terms of railway technology, Nanyang's advanced technology is also well known. Our bullet trains are even faster than airplanes. Even the Russians plagiarized our technology. As for the Americans, they also introduced technology from us..."

Li Yian, who turned into a salesman, was not exaggerating, but telling a fact. Nanyang is indeed leading the world in some technical fields, and is also world-class in many technical aspects.

Since the technology is world-class, of course we should sell all these products. Iran is also a very good trading partner, which was the case during the Pahlavi era and will continue to be the case in the future.

After all, Nanyang has always been very flexible in identifying old friends and is absolutely not restricted to certain forms.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I know that according to our seven-year plan, in the next seven years, our industry will focus on building factories such as petroleum, chemicals, textiles, sugar, flour, cement, and fertilizers, and building 7 power stations and supporting transmission networks across the country. I can give a considerable part of these orders to Nanyang! But..."

Putting away the small notebook in his hand, Pahlavi directly stated his conditions.

“We need Nanyang to send experts to help us create industrial development plans and send engineers to help us implement construction!”

Faced with such conditions, Li Yian could only agree reluctantly. Well, it seemed very reluctant, but in fact, he did it with a smile.

Of course, good students who are humble and eager to learn should be encouraged. In the end, Li Yian even offered to provide them with loans to help build railways.

"...Of course, the loan is at a low interest rate. Although it is not enough to support Iran to complete the construction of the railway network, it will definitely help your construction."

A low-interest loan is just a stepping stone. With this loan, Nanyang can extend its hand into their railway construction, from the most common sleepers to rails, from locomotives to maintenance equipment. In the next ten to twenty years, Nanyang can at least obtain orders worth tens of billions of dollars on Iranian railways.

Railways are just one of them. The next things to come are airport construction and airline planes. Aren’t they all opportunities?

Pahlavi was naturally grateful for Li Yian's generosity. In addition to expressing his gratitude, he directly expressed his intention to purchase two C2 and four C707 jet airliners, and even took the initiative to propose an oil cooperation plan.

"Your Majesty, I hope to cooperate with you in oil exploration in the Persian Gulf. I believe that there are a lot of oil in Iran's territorial waters!"

It has to be said that Pahlavi knew very well how to attract Nanyang to join. In fact, the reason why Pahlavi was so eager to show Nanyang, in addition to the success achieved by Nanyang, which made him extremely yearning for it, a more important reason was that he hoped to introduce forces other than the United States. After all, the role played by the United States in Iran now was too heavy. Even if he was rescued from house arrest with the help of the United States, what if the United States wanted to replace him in the future?
As for Britain, it is completely in cahoots with the United States, not to mention Russia. Even the punctuation marks they say cannot be trusted. Therefore, compared with them, Southeast Asia became another choice for Pahlavi.

It can not only help him modernize his country, but also enable Iran to free itself from the influence of the United States to a certain extent.

Although he was young, Pahlavi was very competent in international politics and he knew clearly what he should choose.

The United States is just a very helpless option for him, but he is not without choices outside the United States.

Because of this, ever since they met, Pahlavi had been trying to please, but in the end he revealed his yearning for Southeast Asia.

Looking at the good student in front of him, Li Yian naturally extended an invitation to him, inviting him to visit Nanyang at an appropriate time.

At that time, the two sides can continue to strengthen cooperation. For example, in the military, Iran is a major purchaser of weapons. Although it is not yet, it will definitely be in the future...

(End of this chapter)