The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 745 Be flexible: Be tough when necessary, and be a green tea when appropriate.

"So, if the fund is established, what will be its investment direction?" a Ministry of Finance official asked. "As Minister Lin said, purchasing White Eagle Treasury bonds is the safest option."

“It’s a safe approach, but it’s passive and the returns are low.” Zhang Chi shook his head. “We need to take the initiative.”

Investment can be diversified.

First, we should invest in key overseas resource companies, such as iron ore stakes in Australia, to ensure the security of the raw materials needed for our industrialization.

Secondly, we can appropriately invest in reconstruction projects in Europe, especially those companies or projects that possess the technology we need, in exchange for technology and distribution channels.

Thirdly, a portion should be allocated to high-credit-rating bonds to maintain liquidity and stable returns.

This is the weakest time for many established companies in Europe.

Many companies that have benefited greatly from the first and second industrial revolutions are now in dire need of rebuilding.

In Zhang Chi's view, this was the perfect time to get involved.

Lin Wenshu still had concerns: "Is the risk too high? The international investment environment is complex, and we lack experience."

At this point, Zhang Chi revealed a deeper plan: "This fund will form a closed loop with the World Bank loan that Chen Zhenchuan is trying to secure."

We use World Bank's low-interest, long-term loans to invest in domestic long-term infrastructure such as railways and power plants, reducing local operating costs and attracting more foreign investment to set up factories.

At the same time, the higher returns from sovereign wealth funds' overseas investments will be used to cover the principal and interest payments on World Bank loans in the future.

In this way, we obtain the infrastructure urgently needed for development without excessively increasing our fiscal burden. Instead, we may establish a virtuous cycle of 'using foreign capital to support domestic construction and using overseas profits to repay international debt.'

The intricately linked strategic conception plunged everyone present into deep thought, their eyes gradually brightening.

Just then, a confidential secretary rushed in and whispered a few words in Zhang Chi's ear.

Zhang Chi's expression remained unchanged; he simply nodded slightly.

Then, he looked at everyone and said in a relaxed tone, "It seems that President Chen has encountered some minor trouble over there. Our friends in White Eagle are not satisfied with the pace of our financial opening up."

He paused briefly, then continued:

"Send a signal to Zhenchuan, and if necessary, you can 'casually' reveal that if the World Bank's conditions are too harsh, our channels for economic and technical assistance cooperation with Russia have always remained open."

Perhaps this northern behemoth would be interested in some long-term industrial equipment and technology that they are unwilling to provide.

Sometimes, acting a little more manipulative can actually gain you geopolitical leverage, or bargaining power.

Finally, Zhang Chi stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the bustling port in the distance:

"Gentlemen, the fundamental idea behind our establishment of this fund and our various arrangements is actually quite simple."

We cannot be content with being farmers who simply pick fruit and sell it for money in the international market.

We want to use the money we earn from selling fruit to buy other people's fruit tree seedlings, or even buy an entire orchard with potential.

Perhaps the saplings we buy at the beginning are of average variety and the orchard is in a remote location, but as long as we cultivate them carefully, our own orchard will be able to bear fruit in all four seasons in the future, and we will no longer be subject to others.

This is the significance of sovereign wealth funds, and also the way for Southeast Asia to survive in the future.

The vivid metaphor of planting trees makes complex financial strategies clear and tangible.

In the conference room, Bai Hongsheng was taking notes thoughtfully, Lin Wenshu began to re-examine the draft in front of him, and the officials of the Ministry of Finance were whispering among themselves.

-----

On the evening that the Persian princess's entourage rested in the provincial capital of Qazvin, the local royal family and nobles hosted a grand banquet.

Inside the brightly lit banquet hall, melodious tunes were played on traditional Persian musical instruments.

Princess Ashraf changed into a deep purple evening gown, looking dignified and noble, seemingly unaffected by the daytime attack.

However, just as the waiter brought out a plate of exquisite saffron rice, Yuan Pan, who was standing in the shadows in the corner, suddenly moved.

His movements were as swift as a gray lightning bolt, instantly cutting through the crowd and grabbing the waiter's wrist just as he was about to place the plate in front of the princess.

"Don't move."

The waiter's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively tried to clench his teeth.

"Crack!"

With his other hand, Yuan Pan gripped his jawbone like an iron clamp, dislocating it with a slight force. Then, he inserted two fingers into the other man's mouth and skillfully pried out a tiny capsule hidden in the gap between his back molars.

“Cyanide.” Yuan Pan held up the capsule to the light, then stared coldly at the waiter, whose face was covered in cold sweat and whose mouth was agape due to a dislocated jaw. “Want to die? Not so easy.”

Xin Lebang and his guards quickly brought the scene under control.

A quick test revealed that the rice in the dish was contaminated.

With survivors, interrogations become simple yet brutal.

Although the waiter was merely a bribed pawn, the coded message and contact information he provided became the first clue Yuan Pan used to trace the source of the problem.

-----

Three days later, the convoy arrived at a reservoir construction site in Mazandran province.

This is one of the key livelihood projects aided by Southeast Asia.

Although northern Persia is close to the Caspian Sea, the inland areas remain arid and receive little rainfall.

This reservoir, which is about to be completed, will provide a stable source of irrigation water for tens of thousands of acres of farmland downstream and will serve as an important window for the Persian royal family to showcase the achievements of cooperation with Southeast Asia.

Colorful flags fluttered on the viewing platform.

Accompanied by several officials, the princess smiled and waved to the cheering workers and local farmers.

Just as the crane was slowly moving the last huge precast concrete component toward the dam breach, an unexpected event occurred.

"collapse--!"

A chilling sound of metal snapping rang out.

The thick steel cable snapped without warning, and the precast component, weighing several tons, lost its traction. Like a meteorite, it did not crash into the dam, but instead, with tremendous inertia, slammed into the viewing platform to the side and below.

"careful!"

Xin Lebang, who had been closely following the "princess," reacted quickly, lunging forward and pushing the "princess" away from her original position. The two of them fell heavily onto the sand several meters away.

"Boom!"

The precast component destroyed half of the viewing platform, sending debris flying and dust billowing everywhere.

Xin Lebang felt a sharp pain in his left arm, which must be a fracture, but he couldn't care less about himself and hurriedly looked at the person beneath him: "Your Highness, are you alright?"

The "princess" he was protecting looked up, her face filled with terror, but that face... although the makeup was very similar, it was clearly not Princess Ashraf herself.

This is a stunt double.

The real princess was sitting in an inconspicuous armored vehicle a few hundred meters away, coldly watching everything through binoculars.

And beside her was Yuan Pan.

"It seems the fish has taken the bait."

-----

Not long after, in a secret room.

Persian Army Major General Karim Bakhrami was roughly forced into a chair by two members of the Dragon Team.