"Mr. Zhang, the main imports of Kaibong currently are textiles, energy, and mechanical parts," Hong Yi quickly searched for a moment and then provided Zhang Menglong with an answer.
"Energy again?" Zhang Menglong smiled faintly, "It seems that it really is a universal card!"
Zhang Menglong waved his hands grandly, "Same old method, cut off their water, electricity, and gas supply. When their entire country is out of power, just wait for them to come begging us!"
"Mr. Zhang, this tactic is very effective against countries like Qingqiu, but it’s very difficult when dealing with developed countries like Kaibong," Hong Yi said.
"Oh? How so?" Zhang Menglong frowned slightly.
"According to the data I have, the current energy composition in Kaibong is 20% to 22% nuclear power, 22% to 24% renewable energy, 26% coal, and 27% natural gas. Your family controls most of the natural gas and crude oil resources, and you don’t have many coal mines."
"Ah? My family has a blind spot in assets?"
"No, it should be said that your ancestors had a far-sighted vision. After all, coal is a highly polluting energy source, and it is not favorable for long-term development. Hence, a long time ago, they had excluded this part of the assets!"
"Damn! They really had an eye for sustainable development!" Zhang Menglong complained.
"However, the demand for coal in Kaibong is still very high. 99% of their coal resources come from imports, with almost zero domestic production. Merely cutting off their natural gas supply, they can still maintain the normal operation of energy in most areas."
"But if the coal supply is cut off, then more than 50% of the nation’s electricity supply will be compromised, and that would be a severe blow to them," suggested Hong Yi.
"Where do they import their coal from?" Zhang Menglong continued to ask.
"Last year, Kaibong imported 178 million short tons of coal from Australia, 32 million short tons from Yinhei, 21 million short tons from Tsarist Russia, and 3 million short tons from America. For them, the largest import is from Australia."
"Get me some information on Australia’s coal mines."
"Sure, Mr. Zhang, I will send it to your email immediately."
Within a minute, Zhang Menglong received a notification for an email in his inbox, "Good grief, you guys are practically encyclopedias!"
Zhang Menglong opened the document that was only two pages long, but very concise, and it additionally highlighted the parts that interested Zhang Menglong the most.
Coal mines in Australia are mainly located in the Sydney Coalfield, Bowen Coalfield, and Latrobe Valley Coalfield. Kaibong’s imports of coal from Australia mainly come from these three coalfields, with a ratio of approximately 3:5:2.
In this document, there was also information on the owners of the three coalfields.
"Oliver Clarelode, Arthur Rippert, Blund Niordor, what a coincidence!" Zhang Menglong saw the three names and a knowing smile appeared immediately.
When he went to Europe for an auction, thanks to the introduction of the Rothschild family, many rich people were scrambling to toast him, and Zhang Menglong had kept many business cards and contact details at the time.
These three Australian coal magnates were also among these people, and Zhang Menglong still remembered that Oliver was a skinny, bald man in his fifties, who had a fairly famous Australian actress by his side at the time.
"Who would have thought that one day, I would actually deal with these stinkers of money," Zhang Menglong slapped his head, "Damn, I lost all those business cards!"
"Mr. Zhang, we updated your phone last week, and in your phone, we have the private contact information of most of the people at the top of the world’s social pyramid!" Hong Yi said.
"Is that even possible?" Zhang Menglong typed Oliver’s full name in the contacts, and sure enough, the contacts not only contained his contact information but also some personal briefs and critical information.
"Of course, not everyone’s information is qualified to be in your phone, they must be billionaires with assets over 10 billion US dollars or key officials from various countries, and of course, with the exception of your friends!"
"My God, such a high threshold!" Lu Yiyao exclaimed from the side, "Hehe, I never thought I’d make it into a directory reserved for those with a net worth of over 10 billion US dollars."
"You’re thinking too much, your number isn’t in my contacts!"
"What did you say?" Lu Yiyao pinched the soft flesh around Zhang Menglong’s waist.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! It’s etched in my memory, who needs an address book!" Zhang Menglong quickly begged for mercy.
"That’s more like it!"
...
In Queensland, Australia, within a towering skyscraper, a lean, bald man in a business suit sat upright at his desk.
"Mr. Oliver, here is this year’s export report!" Oliver’s beautiful secretary adjusted her glasses, "Last year’s total mining volume was 170 million tons, an increase of 12% compared to the previous year, with 80 million tons exported to Kaibong, an increase of 8%, 12 million tons to India, an increase of 9.2%, and 30 million tons to Huaxia, a decrease of 63%..."
"This year, Huaxia’s import volume has noticeably decreased, and Kaibong Country has become our largest importer."
"How about next year’s orders?" Oliver’s face didn’t look so good, a decrease of 12% was a truly terrifying number.
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"Kaibong hopes to import over 200 million tons of coal from us, India hopes to reach 50 million tons, and there’s no news from the Huaxia side yet."
"Those idiots upstairs have no idea how much money they’ve cost us!" Oliver said angrily.
"Mr. Oliver, your phone is ringing!" The secretary pointed to Oliver’s vibrating mobile.
"This is Oliver," he answered the phone, his tone cold due to his bad mood.
"Mr. Oliver, this is Zhang Menglong!"
"Mr. Zhang?" Oliver’s expression changed faster than a face turn, "Mr. Zhang, I apologize. I wasn’t in the best of spirits just now, and my tone might have been a bit off."
Oliver was a smart man; so far, those who had crossed Zhang Menglong had all been unlucky, and he did not want to test whether he’d be the exception.
The last time he left Europe, he had also vaguely heard that the organizers and the countries that had failed to secure the final auction item wouldn’t let him leave Europe so easily.
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There were even some unspeakable secrets that someone had revealed to him, stating that unless Zhang Menglong’s skills were out of this world, it was impossible for him to leave Europe alive.
But reality proved that Zhang Menglong was living quite comfortably, having recently defeated four God of Cars, shocking the racing world, and most outrageously, he had even solved a mathematical problem that had perplexed experts for a century.
In Oliver’s mind, Zhang Menglong had become a very mysterious figure.
"So, Mr. Oliver, have you come across any troubling matters lately?"
"Ah, let’s not talk about it, it’s not worth mentioning!" Oliver sighed, "It’s all due to some national influences. Even if I have a headache over it, I can’t do anything without the country changing its policies."
"As for you, Mr. Zhang, it’s been two or three months since we last met. What brings you to call me all of a sudden? I don’t suppose it’s to invite me for tea, is it?"
"Hahaha!" Oliver was quite a talker, which did endear him to Zhang Menglong quite a bit.
"Of course not, but if Mr. Oliver does come to visit Huaxia, I will definitely treat you to a tea tasting," Zhang Menglong laughed.
"Since Mr. Zhang is so courteous, then I really would like to visit Huaxia," Oliver was a businessman after all, never straying too far from talk of money, and he’d already said quite a bit of to Zhang Menglong.
"Mr. Zhang, if you’re looking for a businessman like me, it must be for conducting business. I presume it’s quite a substantial deal you have in mind?"
"Haha, I do like how forthright you are, Mr. Oliver," Zhang Menglong laughed, "Only, this deal is rather large, and I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to discuss."
"Go ahead, Mr. Zhang, no matter how big it is in coal business, I can handle it!" Oliver said confidently.
"Then I’ll just come out with it!" Zhang Menglong began, "Mr. Oliver, are you selling your Bowen Coalfield?"