Game within game: chess player

The R Organization is an unofficial private Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with Russia as its core and independent of OPEC and the United States. The R in this is Russia. To put it bluntly, Russia wants to gain a greater say in the road to future oil hegemony, so it unites small and medium-sized oil-producing countries and individuals outside the sphere of influence of OPEC and the United States to establish an oil export management organization.

As the leader of the R organization, Russia is well versed in the principle of gathering sand to form a tower and accumulating a small amount to make a lot, so it secretly established the R organization outside the two major international oil exporting countries and organizations. At present, the R organization is only in its initial stage. Russian officials have not come forward. Instead, Gorman has been authorized to unite several domestic oil chaebols to search for new oil-producing countries and individual oil companies with cooperation potential around the world.

At this point, Ye Fang came into Gorman's sight, and he strongly invited Ye Fang to join.

Because Ye Fang's oil company is not located in China, but in South Africa, and South African President Mbeki is Gorman's best friend, so he was drawn into this R organization. At present, Mbeki has not yet established a firm foothold in domestic politics, and his control over the domestic economy is not enough. Based on this background, Gorman and Mbeki want Ye Fang to join the R organization in the name of South Africa, which can also be regarded as Mbeki By borrowing flowers and offering them to Buddha, having a large African country like South Africa join the R organization, at least in name, can greatly enhance the appeal of the R organization.

"But I am Chinese, shouldn't I represent China?" Ye Fang asked.

Gorman sighed and said, "It's not that the Russian high-level officials have not approached your country's top leaders about the R organization, but the attitude of your country's competent authorities is quite ambiguous. They neither said to join nor not to join, but only said that the top leaders Consultation is needed, but there is no news about this consultation. We absolutely hope that China will join. If China joins, we will have the confidence to compete with OPEC and the United States."

Ye Fang waved his hand and said, "The little oil produced in China is not enough for our own use? Every year, we still import oil from Saudi Arabia. The addition of China is more of a symbolic meaning, and it has an impact on the fight for the right to speak about oil." Not very strong."

"We are very aware of the oil production of various countries in the world, and we have been collecting relevant information about oil extraction in various countries. As you said, China's joining has more symbolic meaning, but China's attitude has made me never understand what it means. What’s going on, so now we have to exclude China first,” Gorman said.

As a Chinese, Ye Fang is of course familiar with domestic politics, and also understands the intention of the upper-level leaders to see through the situation without telling the truth. The reason why China does not express its position is because China has its own considerations on this matter. Although this organization is unofficial and secretive, there is no guarantee that things will be leaked one day, leaving the Chinese government passive in the international community and bearing the pressure of public opinion.

Originally, joining the R organization was a thankless task for China. It was just a wedding dress for others. As a responsible and influential country in the world, joining any international organization or establishing an international organization must be carefully considered. Yes, China will not be accustomed to joining in an official name any cooperative organization promoted by other major powers unless the organization is led by China.

However, the Chinese upper echelons also hope that there will be such an organization, which can at least secretly confront OPEC and the United States, and cannot allow one to dominate. China, which is highly dependent on oil, has always hoped to gain a voice in oil that suits its identity. Unfortunately, although it produces a large amount of oil, it is also a major oil consumer. While self-producing, it also imports a large amount of oil, which determines that China cannot export oil and thus cannot truly affect international oil prices.

This is also the reason why China has an ambiguous attitude on this issue. Oil is basically a state monopoly industry in China, and a few private oil companies basically survive on two barrels of oil. This shows how much China values ​​the oil industry. Ye Fang was almost certain that the higher-ups wanted to join. The problem was that he had not thought of how to join. Because of his close relationship with Russia, it was difficult to refuse directly, so the matter had been delayed.

As a high-level Russian official, he can certainly understand the concerns of the Chinese government. However, Gorman is from a plutocratic background and does not understand the domestic political ecology, so he cannot understand the real thoughts of the upper-level government. This kind of idea of ​​being both responsible and independent is incomprehensible to Western businessmen. Naturally, they cannot think and consider issues from the perspective of the Chinese government. Now at least for Ye Fang, this is an opportunity. After all, he can do business in the name of another country. An Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has a voice, which will undoubtedly greatly improve the competitiveness of Longpai Oil Company in the future.

Ye Fang's Longpai Oil Company is definitely not the largest in oil production, but the oil it produces is the best quality among light crude oils. It is known as the golden oil among oils and is very competitive in the international market. It's just that the company is still mainly in the oil storage stage and has not made it public.

"I'm just joining on behalf of South Africa. Will there be any problems here in South Africa? If there are still people in South Africa who want to join the R organization in the future, do I need to give up?" Ye Fang turned to Mbeki and asked .

Mbeki waved his hand and said, "Mr. Ye, you can rest assured on this. South Africa is not a big oil-producing country to begin with. As far as I know, there are no businessmen in the country who have invested in the oil industry on such a scale as Mr. Ye, so it will be quite promising in the future." For a long time, your company has been in a monopoly position in the South African oil industry. At the same time, in the future, I can also authorize your company to exploit oil in all areas of South Africa, not just in this area."

Ye Fang knows that oil exploration requires a large amount of capital investment. Although South Africa is also a big country in Africa, when the entire continent is still struggling for survival, no businessmen are willing to invest huge sums of money in oil field development. Just do cross-border trade. If you can make a lot of money, who would be stupid enough to spend money to drill for oil in a wild land?

This also means that South Africa is not a major oil-producing country. It does not mean that South Africa does not have good oil fields, nor does it mean that it does not have large oil reserves. It is just that the country does not have the budget to exploit it.

"Ye, don't worry. Mbeki is my brother of life and death. He will definitely guarantee Russia's interests in South Africa. Guaranteeing my interests will guarantee your interests, so you can rest assured to use your fists in South Africa." Gorman exclaimed.

From Gorman's attitude, Ye Fang can even infer that there must be secret support from Russia behind Mbeki's South African regime. In this way, Mbeki will be very friendly to Ye Fang in both personal and official matters. After all, Ye Fang Fang’s company is also a major taxpayer in South Africa.

"Okay, I agree to join the R organization on behalf of South Africa." Ye Fang said solemnly.

"Okay, we have a happy cooperation!" Gorman and Mbeki stood up at the same time. The three of them shook hands with each other to reach an agreement. Then the three of them opened a bottle of red wine to celebrate, which was a welcome ceremony.

Wine has been the best tool to increase personal friendship since ancient times. After a few bottles of red wine, Ye Fang, Mbeki and Gorman immediately became brothers of life and death. In the end, the three of them persisted under Gorman's whim. They must be sworn brothers of the opposite sex according to Chinese customs. Gorman, who had just watched the Russian version of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", proposed to have the Taoyuan Three Kingdoms sworn brotherhood according to Liu Guanzhang, but there is no Taoyuan in the oil town now, so Ye Fang proposed to go to the small square downstairs and say sworn vows to the bright moon in the sky. .

Soon, three empty red wine bottles were placed on the stone table in the small square downstairs, with three candles inserted on them. The drunken Gorman hugged Mbeki with his left hand and Ye Fang with his right hand and knelt down on the stone. Before the case.

At this time, Gorman had long forgotten the oath of the Taoyuan Three's sworn brotherhood, and left the matter of hosting the ceremony to Ye Fang. Ye Fang naturally did his part and sorted out the process before starting this South African process. A nondescript sworn act.

"I'm Gorman!"

“Me Mbeki!”

"I am Ye Fang!"

"Since we become brothers of the opposite sex today, we don't want to be born in the same year, the same month, and the same day, but we want to die in the same year, the same month, the same day! From now on, we will share blessings, share hardships, and make fortunes together!" Originally, Gorman also added the serious issue of sleeping with women. The oath of discriminating against women was categorically rejected by Ye Fang. After the three people finished reciting the oath, each of them kowtowed three times towards the candles on the three empty wine bottles and the bright moon in the sky, drank the red wine in their hands, and then The wine glass in his hand fell heavily to the ground.

"Big brother! Second brother!"

"Big brother! Third brother!"

"Second brother! Third brother!"

The three of them helped each other and stood up and shouted loudly. Gorman and Mbeki, who had not known how moved they were for a long time, actually shed tears. Ye Fang, who was dumbfounded by this nondescript Three Kingdoms brothers' sworn homage, also dropped his head in response. After a few tears, the three of them hugged each other.

In this way, under the witness of several bodyguards around, Liao Yuanzheng and other company executives and employees upstairs in the surrounding hotel, especially Zhou Guanglong, the Taoyuan Three Kingdoms marriage modeled on the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" came to an absurd end.

First of all, as the company's senior management and staff, Liao Yuanzheng was extremely excited that his boss actually had a relationship with the President of South Africa. This personal relationship is a strong lever, which has a unique and huge advantage for the company's future expansion. Therefore, everyone is full of confidence in the company's future, which greatly increases the sense of belonging of all company employees to Longpai Petroleum Company.

Secondly, Zhou Guanglong, who was an invited guest, never thought that Ye Fang could marry the President of South Africa. If Zhou Guanglong had not seen what Mbeki looked like in newspapers and TV, he would not have believed that he was in the small room downstairs at this time. The fat little black man worshiping in the square is the president of South Africa. This scene undoubtedly gave Zhou Guanglong a huge shock, even bigger than a diamond mine. For people like Zhou Guanglong who can only live in darkness forever, what they long for most is a sense of recognition.

What could be more important than gaining the approval of a country's president? At this time, Zhou Guanglong asked himself how he was worse than Ye Fang? I have plenty of money, but I am just timid and behave more conservatively. If I can be like Ye Fang, then the whole world will be my own in less than three years, and I may not be able to sworn sworn friends with the president or prime minister of any country.

For a moment, Zhou Guanglong felt his blood surge, and now he could not wait to hug Ye Fang's thigh. At this time, Zhou Guanglong had decided to mobilize funds to start a business partnership with Ye Fang, and use Ye Fang's big ship to quickly sail out to sea and display his greatness. Ambition, and then completely get rid of the title of drug lord and underworld boss.

Finally, there was Ye Fang. When Ye Fang, Gorman, and Mbeki were singing and dancing in the square with red wine in hand, Ye Fang suddenly felt something inexplicable. Ye Fang didn’t know what it was. I find the current scene very funny, but also very touching.

Gorman, the oldest of the three, is the eldest brother. At almost fifty years old, he is laughing loudly and heartily like a child. The second brother, Mbeki, is 45 years old this year, and now he does not have the demeanor of a president of a country. He pulls Ye Fang to dance with African characteristics. Ye Fang is convinced that this is the most relaxed moment for these two people, because there are so many people surrounding them. They are no longer cunning politicians and profit-seeking businessmen, but brothers who are sworn in a foreign country. They are willing to reveal their most satisfying moments to each other, because tomorrow morning they will become the person they may even hate.

"Ye, believe me! Tomorrow will be better!" Gorman hugged Ye Fang and said loudly.

"Yes! Tomorrow will be better!" Ye Fang laughed and agreed.

None of the three of them got up the next morning, and it was almost noon before the three of them got up. Mbeki was going back to Cape Town, the capital, to handle government affairs. Gorman unloaded several trucks of arms and took away Ye Fang's Moutai. Ye Fang originally brought Maotai to Gorman, but now that Mbeki has it, Maotai is divided into two and divided between the two.

Gorman came to South Africa for two purposes. One was to see Ye Fang's oil field production, and the other was to lobby Ye Fang to join the R organization. Now both of these goals have been achieved. Before leaving, Gorman told Ye Fang about There will be the first closed-door meeting organized by R in Russia in two months, where the trend of crude oil prices next year will be discussed. I hope he can participate on time.

Ye Fang calculated the time and the Guangzhou problem should have been solved by then, and simply agreed. Before leaving, Ye Fang told Mbeki about the possible discovery of diamond deposits in his oil field and hoped that South Africa could provide some preferential policies. Mbeki told Ye Fang that diamonds are a key regulated industry in South Africa. After all, they are a large source of tax revenue in South Africa, and there are strict regulations on the export of diamonds.

However, these are not problems under Mbeki. Mbeki promised Ye Fang that if the diamond reserves in the oil field are clear, he will arrange for someone to contact Liao Yuanzheng, and the relevant procedures and export procedures will be completed. Because South Africa has focused on supervising diamond companies and levying heavy taxes, in order to avoid this, Mbeki suggested that Ye Fang symbolically donate some shares to the government and turn the diamond company into a national shareholding, so that he can apply for special tax exemptions. The tax saved in this way is very huge, and it is only a drop in the bucket compared to the share of profits donated to the government.

At the same time, Mbeki promised Ye Fang to set up a police station in the oil town and be responsible for paving the road from the city to the oil town.

What Limbeki needs to reciprocate is political achievements. On the one hand, he hopes to increase investment in South Africa. On the other hand, he hopes that Ye can build this seaside oil town well, make the oil company bigger, increase employment, and especially increase government subsidies. Job opportunities for black people will create more benefits.

"Second brother, don't worry. When you govern South Africa, I will run the company well and make it bigger and stronger! By this time next year, we will strive to have more than [-] black employees!" Ye Fang promised.

"Good brother, keep your word!" Mbeki patted Ye Fang on the shoulder and said with a smile.

Ye Fang watched Gorman and Mbeki leave the oil town, and when he turned around, he saw Zhou Guanglong, who was drooling over him. Ye Fang's mouth showed a charming smile, thinking to himself, old fox, if you still take the bait this time, if I don't wipe out all your wealth this time, my surname will not be Ye!