The meeting on the first day ended.
Everyone needed time to think and discuss internally. It was impossible to make a decision over a few hours of meeting on such an important matter.
Jiang Chen proposed a plan for colonizing Himalia to all participating member states.
The principle of the plan was that Celestial Trade would provide the equipment and solve the technical barriers while all the other countries would provide people and funding. Based on the contribution, the colonization index each country received was different, and this index also determined the “shares” held in the Himalia colony.
The major energy companies would participate in the development of Himalia resources as developers. They would purchase equipment from Future Heavy Industries, pay land taxes to the colony, as well as fees for oxygen, free water, and other necessities. The manufactured black alkane would be shipped back or sold to other countries based on internal policies.
Regardless, the transportation of the black alkane had to rely on the Seagull-class transport ships.
In any case, Celestial Trade was set to win on this plan.
As they walked down the corridor outside the conference room, Lu Wei asked Wu Changfeng.
“What do you think of Celestial Trade’s proposal?”
“Cunning.”
It was Wu Changfeng’s evaluation of Celestial Trade, or Jiang Chen himself.
“Oh? Why do you say that?” Lu Wei asked with a smile.
“Don’t you think we are like miners working for him?” Wu Changfeng grinned and looked at the President of PetroHua, who was walking not far away and was engaged in a passionate conversation with the foreign minister, and continued, “They found a gold mine, and then provided us with equipment, shelter, and even the railway to transport the ‘black gold’. Then he shouted to us to come, so we are going.”
Lu Wei took a second to process the analogy, then he laughed out.
“Your thought process is very novel, but it does make sense now that I think about it… But do you think our country will agree?”
“Of course. We will soon become the world’s largest energy importer. The natural gas resources on Himalia are dispensable for Russia, but they are too important for us.” Wu Changfeng smiled and walked towards the PetroHua boss not far away, then raised his chin and pointed at him. “Don’t you see how happy my guy is? Before colonizing Himalia, we are relying on Russian imports for natural gas, but after colonizing Himalia, we might even have natural gas left over to export.”
“Then do you think Russia will support Celestial Trade’s plan?”
“Why not?” Wu Changfeng shrugged. “Not only will they, but they will do everything they can to get more shares than us at tomorrow’s meeting, and then continue to secure their status as a major producer of natural gas. The importance of black alkane is much greater to them than to us.”
It was foreseeable that Gazprom and PetroHua would compete fiercely at the meeting tomorrow.
Lu Wei smiled, and chose not to continue on this topic, but after they walked forward for a while longer, he suddenly asked a question.
“What do you think about the task that the leader gave you?”
“Since you have asked me so many questions, do I get to ask you one?” Wu Changfeng chuckle, then turned his head to look at Lu Wei, “How about you answer this question first?”
Lu Wei smiled, pondered for a second, and continued.
“From my personal observation, the Earth Defense Alliance is transforming from a United Nations-like organization to a political union.”
Wu Changfeng raised his eyebrows.
“Oh? Why do you say that?”
“I thought you had noticed it,” Lu Wei said with a smile, “It not only has 50,000 standing force, but it also has its own fleet. Although there is only one Envoy-class, it is now the largest starship in the entire solar system. And now, it even has its own territory.”
Wu Changfeng’s eyes flashed with a hint of splendor.
In fact, he did start to notice these things Lu Wei said a long time ago.
“Why do you think Jiang Chen is devoting so many resources to the Earth Defense Alliance? Just to win over allies? Afraid to cause outrage because he has a monopoly? Think about it, who else is qualified to be their opponent now? I am afraid it is only the aliens from 20.5 light-years away,” Lu Wei said this sentence with the same smile, then after a pause, the smile on his face disappeared as he continued, “In fact, from your position and my position, we should be able to see clearer than outsiders.”
“What do you mean?” Wu Changfeng asked calmly and did not reveal his thoughts at this moment.
“Why ask me? Ask yourself. Where are you sitting?” Lu Wei said with a smile.
“Of course…”
Wu Changfeng subconsciously wanted to say the answer, but suddenly, a trace of realization appeared in his eyes.
“That’s it.”
He was a member of the Earth Defense Alliance Committee and based on the regulations of the Earth Defense Alliance Committee, all members served life-long terms. After he took the DNA telomere extension agent, his life span was far beyond that of ordinary people.
Once the Earth Federation is established…
This answer was perhaps hurtful.
But as far as his position was concerned, he would naturally side with the Earth Federation.
After Wu Changfeng stared at Lu Wei for a long time, his shoulders relaxed, and he smiled bitterly.
“When did it start?”
“Me? Maybe after I saw the Envoy-class starship,” Lu Wei continued while he stared into the starry universe outside the window, “I believe after seeing something like that, everyone will have the thought that the old age is over, and a new era is coming.”
“So, you decided to follow the trend?”
“Aren’t you the same?”
Lu Wei patted his colleague on the shoulder, then put his hands behind him, smiled, and walked away.
On the other side, PetroHua President Zhang Jianhua and Foreign Minister Zhou Yi were already on the train. Yesterday, the Hua Embassy in Xin had already booked rooms at a Celestial City hotel. They went straight to the conference center after they got off the G100 and were still adjusting to the time zone difference. Now, they could finally relax.
“Black alkane is an amazing technology.” Zhang Jianhua examined the black crystals the size of a thumb in his hand, then said with emotion, “If our country can introduce this technology, we can at least save hundreds of billions in annual expenditure on energy storage and transportation.”
Every participant received a piece of this black crystal when the meeting ended.
As Zhang Jianhua focused on the black alkane in his hand, the way he looked at it was just like the way someone looked at a piece of diamond. As the President of PetroHua, he knew better than anyone the economic value behind this piece of crystal.
Zhou Yi, who sat beside Zhang Jianhua, put down the phone in his hand and closed his eyes to rest. Just now, he made a phone call to the person above him and briefed him about the meeting, which included the conditions set by Celestial Trade, as well as what Hua could set to benefit from.
The intention from the above was very clear. Hua had to seize this historical opportunity, and the colonization of Himalia had to be completed. The bottom line was 25% of the shares, at any expenses. Zhou Yi even faintly heard some rumors that the leader above planned to establish Hua Space Trade Company, with 50 billion capital injected by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, to manage Hua’s assets in Himalia.
He had to think carefully on how to gain the most for his motherland with the least cost.
It was not only Hua making the phone calls, but the Russian foreign minister also spoke on the phone with the Kremlin. Exxon Mobil, with their headquarter on the other side of the globe, urgently convened a board meeting. Royal Dutch Shell used all its public relations power to put pressure on the Second House of the Dutch Parliament and demanded the Netherlands to apply for entry into the Earth Defense Alliance, with the minimum of showing their intent…
That distant moon had attracted the attention of too many people.
Tonight would be a restless night for many.
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