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Chapter 482: Chapter 392: Declaring Sovereignty (Please Subscribe!)_1
Receiving the orders from Yangon, Ge Dan heaved a sigh of relief. If they hadn’t agreed, he would have been in a difficult position. That’s the trouble with being the negotiators, they have no decision-making power. When a command comes from the top, no matter how challenging, they have to bite the bullet and negotiate, not daring to voice any opposition.
He hung up the satellite phone.
"Group leader, has Yangon agreed?" Sang Jin, who was standing by, asked, looking at Ge Dan’s relaxed face.
Ge Dan nodded, smiling with relief, "Yes, they have. Our task for today is accomplished."
Hearing this, Sang Jin also relaxed. For one thing, they both could now rest peacefully for the night.
They went back to the conference room.
"Leader Ling, Yangon has agreed to the three demands that you made, and also consented to make the Asia Dollar one of our foreign exchange reserve currencies. But if you want to use Asia Dollar to purchase our goods, there will be some quota restrictions. After all, it wouldn’t be fair, logically or emotionally, if you keep printing money and buying our stuff. What do you think?" said Ge Dan.
Yangon did not agree to them arbitrarily imposing a ’mint tax,’ so restrictions were set. According to the agreed exchange rate, the value of products Ling could purchase within Myanmar with Asia Dollar should not exceed fifty million US dollars.
It was a form of disguised aid.
Ge Dan thought that Ling would be dissatisfied with these restrictions or would question the quota, but to his surprise, Ling replied: "No problem, I agree."
This time it was Ge Dan who was taken aback. He asked, "Leader Ling, you don’t want to know the quota for buying goods with the Asia Dollar that we’re giving you?"
"No need to. I bet it wouldn’t be too much anyway. Don’t mind. We just wanted the recognition for our own sake. Whether or not we buy your goods doesn’t matter. However, I hope you announce it officially as soon as possible that the Asia Dollar is included in Myanmar’s trade policy." Ling shook his head.
Tang Qing never planned to buy anything from Myanmar. What was there to buy? Jade? They had their own mines here; they didn’t lack it. As for other stuff, Myanmar certainly had it, but it was quite expensive to transport it all the way from Thailand-plus the tariffs. Who the hell cared about your quota?
Moreover, the given quota implied they were looking down upon the value of the Asia Dollar, assuming that the Asia Dollar could only circulate within its territory.
What they didn’t know was that once Myanmar acknowledged the ’reserve currency’ status of the Asia Dollar, these Asia Dollars could be used to purchase various industrial equipment from the mall at a very low price, just like the weapons and equipment before. That price was deeply ’moving’- less than half of the market rate.
Considering that the Asia Dollar could purchase goods worth the same value, to heck with it, you’d be begging me to buy your goods. Quota, keep it to yourself.
"Um.. there should be no problem in that. We will declare it publicly tomorrow morning." Ge Dan was puzzled by Ling’s actions. Fifty million dollars were freely available; all Ling had to do was to print currency, but if he didn’t buy any goods, that would be stupid. They were missing out on beneficial opportunities, and it puzzled him.
"That’s good. Mr. Ge Dan and Mr. Sang Jin, please have a good rest tonight." Once the negotiation was over, Ling didn’t waste time making small talk.
"Thank you." Ge Dan rushed to say. They had planned to stay here; he wouldn’t dare to travel at night. Besides, he had been tasked to inspect the area, so there was no way that he would just leave.
Under the escort of two soldiers, Ge Dan and Sang Jin were led to a three-story guesthouse next to the service center.
They checked in for free.
Whilst lying in the soft bed, Ge Dan felt a sense of unreality. In his fixed perception, these chieftains usually lived either in thatched huts or bamboo sheds. On the one hand, due to the traffic constraints of the area, and on the other hand, living on the edge of a knife, any day could be the last day, so simplicity was paramount. Given the safety and relocation issues, they rarely ever ’cleaned up’ their accommodation.
"Group leader..."
"Don’t speak. Be careful, the walls have ears. Go to sleep," Ge Dan said.
"Oh..." Sang Jin immediately shut his mouth.
The night passed without any conversation.
Early morning the next day.
Ge Dan and Sang Jin woke up early. Since their work was always on high alert, their sleep hours were scant, no more than a maximum of six hours, or even less.
After getting cleaned up.
Following the guidance of two soldiers on the doorway, they came to the restaurant on the first floor.
The restaurant was bustling, with many people coming and going. Being the best guesthouse in the town, it allowed outsiders to stay – though it was expensive, it was within an acceptable range. Therefore, many merchants lived here as it was easier for them to meet others.
Seeing the soldiers behind Ge Dan and Sang Jin, everyone unconsciously made way for them, their eyes filled with respect.
Ever since Leader Ling arrived, he had enforced military discipline and got rid of unruly elements. The soldiers had never harassed them since. Some who refused to change their ways even after being dismissed, committed crimes and were... thrown into the mining field for labor reform. Since then, any troublemakers within the territory were sent to the mining field. Consequently, no one dared to cause trouble anymore, even usual fights and conflicts required careful thought to avoid being sent there.
Ge Dan and his companion enjoyed some privileges, the only discomfort coming from two soldiers following them closely. But there was no other option. After all, they weren’t exactly ’honest folks’, how could they expect not to be watched?
Every table in the restaurant seated four. Finding no other table, Ge Dan placed his bag at one where a man was sitting alone. Upon seeing someone who seemed important approach, the man was about to leave his seat.
Ge Dan quickly held him back, saying, "Buddy, please sit. It’s not a problem."
This person was Wei Hao, who lived in a local village. He had stayed here last night since he had dinner late with friends.
"Uh, okay." Wei Hao looked at the two soldiers behind Ge Dan and slowly sat back down. He had thought that the soldiers would sit down as well. Apparently, that wasn’t the case.
"Friend, what do you do for a living?" Ge Dan asked with a smile. Sang Jin had gone to get the food. After being partners for so long, he knew exactly what Ge Dan liked to eat; otherwise, he would have wasted all these years.
"I’m a businessman." Wei Hao replied truthfully.
"How’s business?" Ge Dan planned to start with this man if he wanted to understand the local situation. Other than government officials, no one knows the local terrain better than merchants.
Wei Hao guessed that this person must be a visitor, definitely not a local big shot, so he relaxed, saying, "It’s very good. People’s spending power has increased a lot, and they are much more generous in buying things." He was in the business of daily necessities. Recently, the workers got their wages and his business was booming. Both the workers and business owners anticipated payday, as it fosters purchasing power.
"Hehe, this place has issued the Asia Dollar. How are you finding it?" asked Ge Dan.
"It’s great, very good. Trading became much simpler after the currency was unified. It’s not like before when we had to calculate exchange rates, and they were nothing like international rates, the losses were tremendous." Wei Hao got excited upon talking about the Asia Dollar.
As he understood, Leader Ling had reached an agreement with Wangsa. From now on, the Asia Dollar could be used as the trading currency at the ports. The price of the goods would be set according to its exchange rate. Moreover, the exchange rate for various foreign currencies to the Asia Dollar is 110% for this period. What does this mean? It means that the money that could have bought goods worth one million, can now buy goods worth 1.1 million, while the price of commodities within the territory remains unchanged.
What does this signify?
It signifies that the profit increases by tens of percent. The more you invest, the more you earn. Many businessmen have calculated this and gone crazy. As long as Wangsa certifies the settlement unit, it is a deal that won’t lose. Once they received confirmed news, they immediately pulled out money from various places and prepared to exchange a large amount of Asia Dollar and then turn them into goods. Otherwise, they would lose the opportunity once the exchange rate reverts to the original price after a week.
This is also regarded as the last arbitrage opportunity for them within the territory. There won’t be any more in the future.
Therefore, Wei Hao predicted that today would be a peak period for converting to the Asia Dollar. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
"How’s the public security around here?" Ge Dan then asked.
"It’s very good. Since Leader Ling confiscated all the firearms from the populace, the public security here has been excellent. There are barely any fights nowadays." Wei Hao deeply supported this policy. As people who traveled place to place, they had high safety requirements.
Wei Hao’s words almost made Ge Dan, who was eating, choke.
"Cough, cough, cough... You... You mean to say that Leader Ling has confiscated all the firearms here?" Ge Dan asked, shocked.
A gun ban?
That’s a bit shocking.
He took a moment to get his bearings.
"Yeah, it was completed a long time ago, and there are absolutely no homemade guns left either." Wei Hao said, shaking his head. He didn’t understand how the soldiers managed to find hidden guns so effectively. No household could hide their guns from them. The soldiers seemed to have a sixth sense and could see through lies instantly.
Not only inside homes, but even guns hidden in mountain crevices were also discovered.
Fortunately, the result was good. After that, everyone felt much safer, not having to worry about someone suddenly coming out with a gun and causing panic.
Upon hearing this, Ge Dan fell silent.
He had no idea about this information before, because this wasn’t a key intelligence area. Plus, the information was closely guarded. He came here with the sole intention of completing the alliance task.
Supportive of the complete confiscation of firearms, Ge Dan couldn’t help but speculate. Such an action would not be done by someone whose mind is only filled with money. If it wasn’t insanity, then all these actions indicated a purpose - to declare sovereignty.
PS: First Chapter, three Chapters will be released today.
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