Just in November 1978, the turmoil in Iran, a major oil producer in the Middle East, reached a new high. One after another general strikes paralyzed the economy and shut down major industries.
For example, 37000 refinery workers took part in the strike, which led to a sharp reduction in the production of the oil sector. The production plunged from 6 million barrels a day to 1.5 million barrels a day, so that exports were suspended.
According to the intelligence analysis collected by Gao Xian, theoretically speaking, the share of Iranian oil in the world market at this stage is about 5%. Even if something goes wrong, other oil producing countries should work harder. International oil companies should be kind, so that the world will not have a second oil crisis.
However, in the "old script", the second oil crisis occurred in 1979, which should be inseparable from the "credit" of oil interest groups, and then take advantage of the situation to speculate. It really can't hit good luck.
You know, since the world's first oil crisis broke out in 1973, in addition to the North Sea in Europe, Texas and Alaska in the United States, Siberia in the Soviet Union, Mexico and Venezuela in Latin America, they have also become the main force of oil supply outside the oil producing countries in the Middle East.
From this perspective, the global energy supply market is not short of oil. Therefore, in order to make profits in the crisis, we should also observe how various forces collude.
Gao Xian's habit is that he is more willing to get first-hand information only if conditions permit. Therefore, he decided to go to the Middle East in person.
After resting at home for two days, Gao Xian set off. His first stop was London, England. By the way, he had a look at the excitement here.
In the winter of this year, Britain was full of discontent. There were widespread strikes one after another and public services were paralyzed, which seriously affected the normal daily life of the people. The degree of turbulence was no less than that in Iran.
The reason is that in order to cope with the serious stagnation of the British economy, the Labour government has launched a voluntary income plan, that is, it stipulates that the salary increase of grass-roots workers shall not be higher than the upper limit set by the government.
The purpose of doing so is that the Labor Party's government hopes that through the income plan, the labor union and the labor side will exercise restraint in the demand for salary increase, tide over the current difficulties with the government, and finally suppress stagflation.
By the summer of this year, the income plan of the Labour government had reached the fourth stage, stipulating that the salary increase of grass-roots workers in Britain from 1978 to 1979 should not exceed the "5% ceiling".
However, these upper elites in Britain could not really understand the hardships of grass-roots people's life. As a result, there was a strong response. Trade unions began to seek to resume independent collective salary negotiations, so strikes followed one after another.
After Gao Xian got off the plane, his subordinates from the London branch came to meet him. They were not afraid that public services caused by various strikes would remain unchanged.
Now that he has come to the UK, Gao Xian must pay a visit to Mrs. Thatcher, the leader of the conservative party. He is betting that after the other party takes office, he will open the door to the privatization of British state-owned companies.
Obviously, as the largest opposition force at present, the British Conservative Party led by Mrs. Thatcher is naturally very happy with the labor party on stage, which has been disturbed by the strike wave, and has made a trip from time to time.
When Gao Xian saw Mrs. Thatcher, the other party's expression was full of fighting spirit.
During the conversation, Gao Xian complimented: "the income plan implemented by the Labor Party in the economy seems to be unworkable. We can only rely on the Conservative Party led by you to turn the tide."
"I believe that one of my missions is to reverse the British economic recession," Mrs Thatcher said with interest
Quietly, Gao Xian murmured in his heart, "it is indeed one of them. You are still thinking about letting Britain rebuild the glory of the former British Empire and strengthen its influence on international affairs. However, you are destined to be beaten in the face on the return of Xiangjiang."
Mrs Thatcher asked curiously, "Sir Gao, I heard you have gained a lot in business this year?"
Gao Xian smiled. "Do you mean that I bought Xiangjiang land, or contributed to IBM's acquisition of Huanyu computer company and underwritten IBM's 500 million US dollars of bonds?"
Mrs Thatcher said plainly, "in this case, these are really Sir Gao's works. Then please sir Gao increase his investment in Britain and advise me on the economy."
Gao Xian said, "of course I am willing to serve. Congratulations on becoming Britain's first female prime minister."
Mrs. Thatcher happily sent out an invitation and said, "why don't I call Vivian over and your family spend Christmas here."
It should be pointed out that before 1978, Gao Xian and Margaret Thatcher decided that the labor party still in power would lose, not wishful thinking.
You know, after the end of World War II, Britain's Trade Union forces grew rapidly, and the basis for the Labour Party to come to power in the 1970s was to form an alliance with the Trade Union forces. But now, because of the income plan, the Trade Union forces demanding the resumption of independent collective pay negotiations have collapsed with the Labour Party, it can be predicted that the collapse of the Labour Party's government is not far away, The next British election will also be extremely unfavorable to the labour party.
……
After listening to Mrs. Thatcher's proposal, Gao Xian took Yi Huirong's mother and son to London. However, privately, he disclosed to miss Yi: "I'll go to the Middle East to investigate the oil market. Whether I can come back at Christmas is not certain."
"OK, Mrs. Thatcher, I can handle it." Yi Huirong, who met all kinds of big parties, reassured her husband. Finally, she didn't forget to give a special advice, "I heard that Iran is not peaceful. You should pay attention to safety, or you should shut down some companies."
Gao Xian nodded. "I just have this plan. After I arrive in Tehran this time, I'll see how to properly handle the business of favorable bank branches, hotels and trading companies there."
……
After the plane that Gao Xianhe and his entourage took landed in Tehran, they didn't feel anything at the airport, but they got on the bus. When they got to the street, they saw what it was called surging emotions.
Fortunately, Gao Xian and his party were all Chinese faces and did not attract attention. Although the speed of the car was sometimes affected, it was smooth. Finally, they arrived at the hotel Gao Xian invested in the embassy area.
While walking, Gao Xian asked the supervisor here, "how's business now?"
"Not very good." the other side replied pessimistically: "many foreign businessmen have begun to withdraw from Tehran, and the hotel operation may be limited by the upcoming new policies."
Gao Xian nodded slightly and thought in his heart, "let's just finish it and find a next home to answer the plan."