Chapter 86: Risky Loophole

In the trading hall of the North Russian Securities Company, there was a moment of silence. Both Li Chengtonggang and Irbedov looked at Zhou Ming blankly and in disbelief. Top-notch novel

Shutting down the securities company is not an obstacle but the greatest help?

Li Chengdonggang and Irbedov were both confused by Zhou Ming's words. They didn't understand why Zhou Ming would think that way. Could it be that Zhou Ming wasn't planning to go through the capital market to exchange the old rubles in his hands for US dollars or the currency of another country, and then finally exchange them for new rubles? But even if Zhou Ming didn't plan to do that, the securities company had always been the centre of their attention. Now that it had suddenly been shut down, it wouldn't do them any good either. How could Zhou Ming think that way?

Facing the doubts of the three people in front of him, Zhou Ming was not in a hurry to answer. Instead, he said to Irbedov, 'Since the president has come here in person to give orders, this securities company should stop all business? There will be no more placing orders or selling?'

Irbedov, although he did not understand what Zhou Ming meant, still replied, 'Yes, I can let the employees of the securities company go on holiday immediately.'

Zhou Ming shook his head at this time and said, 'Mr. Il'bedov is indeed a good boss who understands his employees, but I want to say that I did not say that the employees of the securities company can take a holiday.'

'Since the president has personally come to request the closure of the capital market, I am a businessman and I still have to do business in this country. I dare not disobey the orders of the president of the country. I hope Mr. Zhou Ming can understand,' Il'bedov said.

'I think you must have misunderstood me, Mr. Irbedov. I am also a law-abiding citizen. Both in our country and here in the North Russian Republic, I will abide by the supreme local decree. So of course I will not let you disobey the president's orders. I just have some questions for you.'

Zhou Ming paused deliberately at this point and then said slowly and deliberately to Irbedov, 'I would like to ask Mr. Irbedov, I understand that when the stock market encounters force majeure and needs to be shut down, it will suspend business. What if it is unfinished business?'

'If it is unfinished business that has not yet been completed, as long as it is business that was completed before the company received the shutdown order, it will be completed...'

Irbedov's words stopped abruptly here, because the clever Jew suddenly realized something. He looked at Zhou Ming and asked with uncertainty, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, what do you mean?'

Zhou Ming smiled slightly and said, 'I feel like I already spoke with you on the phone yesterday, and you also accepted my commission more than an hour ago, and you even sent ten armoured trucks to the Cherv market to load up old rubles. The president's order just happened to come just now, so how is this supposed to be my order that should be prioritised?'

Upon hearing Zhou Ming's words, Irbedov and Li Chengtong suddenly understood what Zhou Ming meant. Zhou Ming was just going to play a close game.

Indeed, the President of Northern Russia had just personally come down to demand the closure of the securities company. However, the problem was that Zhou Ming's business had started before the closure notice was received. The regulations of the Northern Russian Securities Company stipulated that transactions that had already started should be completed first, even if the securities company had already stopped trading. As it stands now, although the President of Northern Russia has requested the closure of the securities company, as long as Zhou Ming's business was submitted before the closure, it should be completed first, even if the securities company has now closed for business.

The closure is not a bad thing, because usually due to the many things going on at the securities company and the large amount of transactions submitted by Zhou Ming, the securities company needs a certain amount of time to calculate, but now that it is in the closing stage, no one will come and interfere, and the entire securities company can focus on helping Zhou Ming calculate, so how can you say that it is not a good thing?

It is just that the idea is certainly this idea, but at the heart of this idea lies what Yerbeldov thinks.

After all, this is a borderline ball, and there are risks in implementing it. If Yerbeldov supports it, there is no need to say anything and just do it, but if he disagrees, there is nothing that can be done about it.

Feeling the stares of the several Chinese people around him focused on himself, Irbedov thought for a moment and said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, I understand what you mean, but Mr. Zhou Ming, please also understand me. You know that since the president himself came to the securities company to request a market suspension, he must have his considerations. If I go along with it but oppose it in my heart, I'm afraid it will cause a lot of trouble!'

Li Cheng and Tong Gang immediately frowned, because from what Irbitov said, it was clear that he was trying to get an unreasonable price.

But this was normal. After all, Irbitov's decision would determine the future of Zhou Ming's billions of old rubles. It would be idiotic for him not to take this opportunity to make some demands.

However, Zhou Ming did not care about Irbeldov's price hike. Compared to Li Cheng and Tong Gang, who were frowning, he looked relaxed and said, 'I understand your difficulties, Mr. Irbeldov, but there is one thing that cannot be helped. Anyway, my money has already been put on your car and has entered the securities company's account. It is now outside the securities company's door.'

'Now, due to the order of the President, the securities company cannot handle it. I understand, but after the market reopens, my money must be in a currency that can be circulated in Northern Russia,' Zhou Ming finally reminded him, 'because the securities company's account is linked to the account of the United Bank.'

Il'yev's face looked a little unpleasant, because Zhou Ming's words were forcing him to give in. He fully believed that he was holding the key to Zhou Ming, but he didn't think that the key was also his own.

The reason was just as Zhou Ming said, the accounts of the securities company and the Union Bank were linked, and the money Zhou Ming deposited was naturally in the Union Bank account.

On the other hand, since this was a bank and not a safe, the money that Zhou Ming deposited was still in circulation in Northern Russia at this time. So when he came to withdraw it, the bank had to give him money that was also still in circulation in Northern Russia. It was impossible for the money that depositors deposited to be usable money, and for the money they withdrew to be a pile of unusable scraps of paper.

This idea made Irbedov feel very annoyed, because it was exactly as if he had been stuck by Zhou Ming around the neck. No matter what, he had to help Zhou Ming find a way to exchange the old rubles for new rubles of the same value.

At this time, Zhou Ming said to him again, 'But I think this is a very good thing for Mr. Irbedov.'

Facing Zhou Ming's encouraging words, Irbedov felt a little surprised, and then Zhou Ming explained to him, 'United Bank was originally the leading bank in Northern Russia. Now that so much wealth has been injected into it, even if it is only old rubles, the back and forth flow between the capital market and the financial market will create a very large value for United Bank. I wonder what you think, Mr. Irbedov?'

'Of course, there is one more thing,' Zhou Ming added, 'in transactions between securities companies and banks, if I remember correctly, the intermediary can charge a commission, so Mr. Irbedov, you also have a very good personal interest!'

Hearing Zhou Ming say this, even old pros like Li Cheng and Tong Gang beside him could not help but silently praise Zhou Ming in their hearts.

In fact, Zhou Ming's strategy was very simple, which was to give a piece of candy after a stick. First, he threatened to tell Irbitov that no matter what he did, the end result would be to help him exchange for new rubles. Later, he told him that as long as they continued to follow the pace they had agreed on beforehand, both his Union Bank and himself would be able to obtain tangible benefits.

Because after all, they were still on other people's land, and they were also facing the local tyrants here. Neither blind threats nor blind benefits would work.

Threats will be counterproductive. If Irbeldov gets annoyed and is determined to fight against Zhou Ming, then Zhou Ming will be unable to do anything even if he holds onto the money and bullies Zhou Ming. On the contrary, if Zhou Ming just keeps giving him benefits, then Irbeldov will think that he is easy to bully. At that time, who knows what will happen. Therefore, the correct approach is to give a little honey with a big stick, just like what Zhou Ming is doing now.

However, everyone understands this reasoning, but it is difficult to really do it and use it as fluidly as Zhou Ming did.

With this in mind, Li Cheng and Tong Gang glanced at each other, and they both saw relief in each other's eyes. In their opinion, the fact that Zhou Ming could say this meant that the matter was now very stable, and unless Yerbedov suddenly went crazy, he would be convinced by Zhou Ming.

Sure enough, while Li Chenghe and Tong just thought this over, Irbedov on his side cooperatively gave a wry smile and said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming's words really exceed the scope of ordinary people's thinking.'

Irbedov was really helpless when he said this, because Zhou Ming's words were exactly what he had previously told himself to persuade him to help. Irbedov never expected that he would say it again at this time. They say that a donkey will not fall in the same pit twice, but what about Irbedov's situation now? How could this not make Irbedov feel helpless?

Zhou Ming also smiled, because it was not difficult to see from Irbedov's words that he had already compromised. So Zhou Ming also said, 'Thank you, Mr. Irbedov, for your praise, but I still insist that your cooperation with us definitely has very good prospects in the future.'

'I never doubted this, and I also believe that Mr. Zhou Ming will definitely surprise the world in the future.'

After praising Zhou Ming, Il'yichov turned around and called the head of the securities company, telling him, 'Immediately count Mr. Zhou Ming's old rubles and complete this transaction for him.'