Chapter 292: The important people on the USS Conway

Everything turned out as President Walsh and the Commander-in-Chief of Normandy had guessed: the attack on the Rumaila oil field was indeed carried out by Kurdish militants, with the aim of continuing to kidnap world public opinion and interfere with US military operations. Although this was the plan, when the news of the Rumaila oil field explosion reached Badina, Acting President Majid was still heartbroken.

In the morning, when Magid and Zhou Ming were dining together in the presidential palace restaurant, Magid kept nagging Zhou Ming, 'This Rumaila is not not only the wealth of the Al-Hussein family, but also Iraq's largest oil field. The current proven reserves are over 3 billion tons, ranking sixth in the world. It would be a pity to blow it up like this!'

'I say, Mr Acting President, since you have already given the order to attack the Rumaila oilfield, don't dwell on how big it is, because it doesn't make any sense.'

Zhou Ming said to Majid, 'In fact, Zhou Ming did not intend to say these words. After all, before persuading him to order an attack on the Rumaila oilfield, oilfield, Zhou Ming had already explained all the pros and cons to him clearly. Now Majid's rambling was just too annoying, and Zhou Ming could not help but explain it all over again for the sake of his own ears.

This made Zhou Ming feel very helpless, and at the same time, he understood that although Majid's vision was clearly more accurate than Salm's, why had Iraq been ruled by Salm for more than ten years, and no matter how outstanding Majid was, he could only be the number two for the rest of his life? It was all down to this determination.

Sarm may not have the same vision as Majid, and he too would be scared by the US bombing, but at least when it comes to making decisions, he will not hesitate, and once he has made a decision, he will not regret it.

However, no matter how good Majid's judgment is, his indecisive style is always the biggest problem that prevents him from becoming a big shot. Just like now, even though he has already ordered the Kurds to disguise themselves as US troops attacked the Rumaila oil field, but he is still constantly complaining, reluctant to part with the extraction equipment and the oil still underground that has not been extracted. He is acting like a small-time person.

'Of course I know that the Rumaila oil field has always been the destiny of the Al-Husseini family, because whether it's coups or wars, you've always relied on the Rumaila oil field to provide you with a steady stream of funds.'

Zhou Ming suddenly changed his tone and said, 'But Mr. Acting President, please understand that in our business community there is a saying: no matter how precious something is, only what can be sold is a commodity that is valuable, and if it cannot be sold, then it is worthless.'

Zhou Ming's words made Majid lower his head. With Majid's wisdom, of course he understood Zhou Ming's meaning. Due to the US oil embargo, no matter how much oil the Rumaila oilfield can produce, oil, it cannot be shipped out and exchanged for US dollars. In this situation, even if Rumaila is the world's largest oilfield and can produce one billion tons of oil per day, it is useless because it cannot be sold.

'I understand the reasoning, but I still can't help feeling a little reluctant,' said Majid. 'In the past, with the Rumaila oilfield, no matter what happened to the Al-Husseini family, they could at least retain their last remaining wealth. We never imagined that one day we would destroy it with our own hands.'

'It's just that the times are changing so fast that your mind can't keep up,' Zhou Ming said with his hands spread out. 'But never mind, at least the no-fly zone over Badina has been lifted now, hasn't it? So the cargo ships will be able to bring all the food to Basra.'

Majid nodded and said, 'I have already contacted the shipping company responsible for the transport. Their ship will enter the bay tomorrow and after passing the inspection by the US Navy, it will go straight to Basra. I can understand the oil-for-food deal, but trading a giant oilfield like Rumaila for food always seems like a bad deal to me. After all, Rumaila is the only oilfield that can produce oil in exchange for food, isn't it?'

'That's true, but there are more oilfields in Iraq than just Rumaila, and only your family, the Al-Hussein, can trade them for food,' Zhou Ming told Majid.

Seeing that Majid still didn't quite understand, Zhou Ming continued, 'I know you look down on agriculture and think that oil is more valuable than corn and wheat. I admit that this is true . But that is in an open market with an abundance of all kinds of goods. In other words, when you go into a market where there is corn and wheat, but also oil, then oil will definitely be more expensive than corn and wheat.

' At this point, Zhou Ming deliberately paused for a moment before asking again, 'What about the other way around? What if there is only oil in a market, but no corn or wheat?'

'You have to know that corn and wheat are essential for people to eat every day, while oil, no matter how valuable it is for industry, is only a flexible demand. In other words, it is nice to have, but if you don't have it, it won't kill you.'

Zhou Ming continued, 'This is the case in Iraq right now. Of a total population of over 20 million, more than 7 million are starving or at risk of starvation . At a time like this, it is clear who is more important: food or oil? After all, you can't eat oil, but without food, all the oil workers or soldiers in the guard will die.'

'The United States is powerful, but most people only see its powerful military and financial strength. Few people care that the United States is now the world's number one agricultural exporter and the world's number one industrial power.'

Zhou Ming said: 'Industry goes without saying, while agriculture is the foundation of everything. Any product is based on the premise of being able to eat. If this advantage is lost, then no matter how strong the US financial strength is, it will be reduced to the meat toilet of other countries, just like a certain island country in East Asia. As long as if anything happens in the US, they can come and reap the rewards of your economic success at any time, and you won't be able to resist.'

Maggie said after a moment's thought: 'I think it's a bit hard for someone like me, who gets lamb chops for lunch every day, to understand, but I'd still like to believe what you're saying, Mr. Zhou Ming. I'm just worried that a single oil field like Rumaila can really reverse the US military's course?'

Zhou Ming smiled and said, 'Don't worry, the strange logic and influence of those Western countries' holy mothers absolutely surpasses your imagination. For them, they can blow up their own country to pieces for a complete stranger from a foreign country, and in the end, even the government cannot help but make compromises.'

'Of of course, the most important thing was the huge profits to be made from the oil-for-food programme. So even without public opinion, the various consortia that wanted to profit from the programme would have helped us prepare this public opinion.

Zhou Ming told Majid, his words were not unfounded, because Ming Chow vaguely remembered hearing in a previous life that the son of a certain UN Secretary-General and the prime minister of a certain Western country were implicated in the bribery scandal of the Oil-for-Food Programme. They were both accused of using their positions to secure the participation of bribery companies in the programme.

Then it is clear that the profits involved must be unimaginably huge to have dragged the UN Secretary-General and a Prime Minister into the scandal.

As as a metaphor for later generations, for Western countries, oil is gold and food is just a stone that can be found anywhere; in Iraq, however, the opposite is true, oil is a stone that can be found anywhere, while food is precious . So if we trade our stones for the equivalent amount of Iraqi gold, it's like getting gold for free! This kind of windfall is enough to drive anyone crazy!

Majid exhaled heavily and said, 'I understand. With the US military blockade, the oil from Rumaila cannot be shipped out anyway. We can just restart when the time comes.'

'This is a very positive idea. Then, if the war ends in the future, I hope I can get the first contract to revive the Rumaila oilfield,' Zhou Ming said to Majid.

'I hope to see that day soon,' Majid said.

At that moment the life secretary of the presidential palace suddenly walked into the dining room and reported to Zhou Ming and Majid that Hua Xia Ambassador Lin Hong had requested to enter the presidential palace and had something important to discuss with Zhou Ming.

This request made Ming feel a little helpless, because he had been living in the Presidential Palace all along, and had actually forgotten that he was just a businessman who had come to change history. It seems that power can indeed make people lose their way!

Ming thought to himself, while also secretly warning himself that this was Iraq, and Majid, even if he was not determined enough, had been the number two for so long. If he ever really crossed the line, even if he was willing to let him go, the Al-Hussein family would not.

Subsequently Zhou Ming ended his breakfast and met Lin Hong in the reception room. Lin Hong came up and smiled and said to Zhou Ming, 'It really is Comrade Zhou Ming who has come alone.'

Zhou Ming frowned when he heard this: 'Is there something you want to tell me, Ambassador Lin?'

Lin Hong nodded: 'It's news from the mainland. Yang Laojun asked me to tell you that tomorrow morning, when the Sincorniche Conwy arrives in Basra, an important person hopes to meet you there.'

This news came as a great surprise to Zhou Ming. He knew that the Sincere Conway was the first ship in the oil-for-food programme to deliver food to Iraq, so who would be following that ship to Basra? Could it be Lin Muqing and Tang Ran? were so worried about their safety here that they secretly followed the oil-for-food programme freighter over?

If it was Tang Ran, Zhou Ming believed that she was capable of doing such a thing, but it was unlikely with the mature and stable Lin Moqing.

At this time Lin Hong then said to Zhou Ming, 'Comrade Zhou Ming, I think you'd better not guess, because it's someone you can't guess, and it's not convenient for me to tell you here.'

Zhou Ming knew that although he and Lin Hong had communicated in Chinese, there were basically no Chinese speakers in the Presidential Palace, but it was always better to be careful. Besides, the person who could make Lin Hong find his way here to give him a direct order is not simple, so he nodded very decisively and said, 'Okay, I understand. So when do we set off for Basra? Now or tomorrow?'

'The The person who gave himself the order was definitely not an easy person, so he nodded very decisively and said, 'Okay, I understand. So when do we set off for Basra? Now or tomorrow?' 'The

Sincongwei will arrive at the port of Basra tomorrow morning, and we will set off tonight,' Lin Hong said.

Zhou Ming had no objection to Lin Hong's decision, so after informing Majid, Zhou Ming and Lin Hong set off. In fact In the past, Zhou Ming would not have notified Majid, but now he realised that he was a guest after all, so he had to at least show a minimum of respect to Majid, the current host of Iraq. Otherwise, without Majid's support, many things would not get off the ground.

At noon Zhou Ming and Lin Hong set off after lunch. They were travelling in the embassy car. In the car, Zhou Ming asked Lin Hong, 'Ambassador, can you tell me now?'

'I thought you would never ask. We'll find out when we get to Basra tomorrow,' Lin Hong said.

Zhou Ming shrugged: 'Knowing in advance is always a bit reassuring, isn't it? Very often, a surprise that comes too suddenly can easily turn into a shock.'

Lin Hong laughed and then told Zhou Ming, 'The person you are going to meet is U.S. President Walsh. Yang Laoshu told me personally over the phone.'

Zhou Ming said with a sigh, 'No matter who said it, I don't believe it.'