The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 868: International Laughing Stock
January 2, New Year's Eve.

The whole country is celebrating the Spring Festival and Chinese New Year.

This year's Spring Festival holiday lasted a total of seven days, and we didn't go back to work until the seventh day.

However, the New Year atmosphere in the capital is obviously weaker than in previous years.

Because fireworks are banned in the capital, the festive atmosphere is much diluted.

Liu Tao and his family returned to the capital last night.

Compared to last year, there are two more people in their family.

It was the first time for the two little guys to celebrate Chinese New Year, and their eyes were filled with curiosity.

Unlike other children who received red envelopes, the two little guys didn’t know what red envelopes were and played with them in their hands.

A 7-month-old baby is already very agile. He is no longer as soft as when he was just born. He can sit very steadily and roll over.

The children finished their reunion dinner early and were happily counting their red envelopes.

Liu Tao and other adults were chatting.

"The Americans have really lost face in Somalia this time and have become a laughing stock in the world," Liu Zhenbang gloated.

It is true that both parties are good friends, but that does not mean that they wish the best for each other in private.

I wish the other party would be as unlucky as possible.

"Somalia is in chaos now. The Americans were unprepared, so it's normal for them to suffer losses." Liu Tao was also gloating.

Somalia has been in a state of anarchy since January 1991, when Somaliland seceded and became the Republic of Somaliland.

Throughout Somalia, warlords are fighting for power and none of them is willing to submit to anyone else.

American soldiers captured two senior officials of the Somali military government in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. However, the US military underestimated the situation and suffered heavy losses, with a total of 180 people killed and 730 injured.

The American soldier was beaten to death and publicly desecrated in the street. The incident was also broadcast on television, causing an uproar.

Crowds all over the world were sitting on stools, cracking melon seeds, and speculating whether the Americans would take action and send troops into Somalia.

There was so much anger in the United States about this incident that it felt like they had been slapped in the face several times and their faces were swollen.

However, unexpectedly, this time the US government demonstrated extraordinary strategic determination and only took sanctions measures without sending troops to take action.

The current US government is determined to reduce military spending.

The determination is very great.

To be honest, the situation in Somalia suddenly got out of control, and Panshan Group did suffer losses, which were quite significant.

After all, Panshan Group has invested in building factories and mining in Somalia. When the situation got out of control and the war broke out, some mines could not operate normally.

The only thing that was not affected was the fishing teams fishing in the sea.

Somalia's fishery resources are very rich, but Somalia's equipment is very backward. The annual catch there is at least 1000 tons, and sometimes even 2000 tons.

The caught seafood is mainly exported to Singapore, Bangkok, and supplied to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Guangdong Province.

"It seems that the Americans really want to develop the economy, reduce military spending, and reduce government spending," Liu Zhenbang said. "I heard that the construction plan for a batch of warships has also been stopped, and even NASA's funding has been cut."

Liu Tao nodded and said, "We have to cut it down. The scale of U.S. debt is so large, and the hole dug by Reagan is too big. If this continues, the U.S. fiscal revenue will be overwhelmed by the interest and maturing U.S. debts that need to be paid every year." To be honest, Bush Sr. did a good job.

After winning the Gulf War, the military did not escalate but stopped at the right time. Military expenditure was also curbed and decreased instead. A large part of the military expenditure of the Gulf War was paid by the Gulf countries, European and American countries, Japan and South Korea, and the United States only paid a part. Those military expenditures were all purchased by American military industries. On the books, the United States still owes tens of billions of dollars in military expenditures, but in fact the United States did not lose money in the Gulf War.

If OPEC oil prices are suppressed to below $25, the United States will reduce its spending in this area by tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars.

The replenishment of the U.S. strategic oil reserves alone can reduce spending by at least $750 billion.

European and American countries, Japan and South Korea will not suffer any losses either, because oil prices are suppressed and they can reduce their oil imports by at least several billion dollars each year.

Unfortunately, during the debate on TV, the other party turned the tide with one sentence: "Stupid, the problem is the economy."

I have to say that the other side was very good in this regard. They directly seized the U.S. economy, which was in a trough at the time. That was the weak spot of the Republican Party. They directly seized this weak spot and launched an attack, thus turning the tide.

Liu Tao called a few older ones over.

Liu Hongying's eldest son, Qian Zhenguo, is 24 years old this year. He was admitted to Peking University and is now studying for a master's degree at Hong Kong University. Liu Hongying's eldest daughter, Qian Lifang, is 22 years old this year. She was admitted to Tsinghua University and is currently a junior. She will graduate next year. Liu Hongying's second son, Qian Zhenhua, is 19 years old this year and was admitted to Beijing Institute of Technology last year.

Liu Honglei's eldest son, Chen Weijiang, is 22 years old this year and a junior at Southwest Associated University. Liu Honglei's eldest daughter, Chen Weihong, is 20 years old this year and was admitted to Beijing University of Technology last year and is still a freshman.

Liu Tao asked about their future plans.

Liu Tao pays close attention to his nephews and nieces.

"Uncle, I don't want to inherit my father's business." Qian Zhenguo said courageously.

A few years ago, Qian Huaqiang had been constantly telling Qian Zhenguo to study hard and help him manage the company after graduation.

It can be said that Qian Zhenguo is one of the most prominent second-generation rich people in the mainland.

However, due to the influence of Liu Hongying, Qian Zhenguo did not develop the bad habits of the rich second generation.

When I was in college, I received a scholarship. When I went to Hong Kong University, I also received a full scholarship. So far, I have never asked my family for money.

Qian Huaqiang couldn't help but said, "You stinky boy."

"Brother-in-law, let Zhenguo speak. The child is already grown up, so listen more to his ideas." Liu Tao interrupted Qian Huaqiang and motioned Qian Zhenguo to continue.

Qian Huaqiang glared at his eldest son and dared not say anything else.

He was not afraid of his parents, but he was very afraid of his brother-in-law Liu Tao, as well as his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Others may not know about the bad things he did outside, but doesn’t Liu Tao know about it?
"What he did was too low-tech. I want to start my own business, just like my aunt, in the Internet field. If my aunt can succeed in her business, so can I!" Qian Zhenguo said.

When Liu Ziyu heard this, she smiled brightly and gave Qian Zhenguo a thumbs up, "You have great ambition. Auntie admires you."

Liu Tao felt amused. It seemed like he was another person influenced by Liu Ziyu.

However, Liu Ziyu has always been the leader of these children. Later, he went to the best school and had the highest academic qualifications. It is normal for children to admire Liu Ziyu since childhood.

"It's a good idea to start your own business. I support your ideal. The Internet will indeed develop very rapidly in the future and there is a lot of room for development." Liu Tao nodded and said, "But you can't fall behind in learning. You need solid skills to start a business better and go further."

Liu Tao is very supportive of children doing what they want to do. After all, the children in his family have the right to choose, instead of having to think about making money to support their families too early.

Children from poor families have to grow up early, not voluntarily, but because they are forced to do so.

(End of this chapter)