Hong Kong Island: From a small stall to a global supplier

Liu Yumin is the head of an exploration team within the Guangxi 215 Geological Team, holding the rank of section chief.

The geological team was established in 1954. In June 1982, the Guangxi 6 Geological Team discovered the world's rare No. 100 ore body. The ore body is large and rich, with an average total content of tin, lead, zinc and antimony of 20%, and a total amount of polymetallic minerals of more than 130 million tons.

During the same period, while conducting detailed exploration of ore body No. 100, the team also discovered large-scale extra-rich tin polymetallic ore body No. 105 in the deep part on its right side, making a significant contribution to national and local economic development.

The title of "patriotic businessman" is quite useful. His efforts have indeed paid off. Wang Yaotang made a request to his hometown, and after some coordination, he directly brought in the best team in the country with the most experience in tin mine exploration to Shan State.

As Liu Yumin got out of the car, he looked up at the 30-plus-story Victory Building. The reflection from the glass curtain wall made him squint involuntarily. He raised his hand and gently rubbed his eyes before following the welcoming team of secretaries into the building.

This was his second time in Hong Kong. The last time, he only transited through the airport and saw Hong Kong from the air. His most memorable impression was of Kowloon Walled City, since it was just flying overhead. So this was his first time entering the most prosperous area of ​​Southeast Asia's largest city.

Wow, it's so tall and so big! It's hard to believe that this is private property!

I heard that hotel belongs to him, as does the mining area he's exploring. How much money must this guy have!

Upon disembarking from the plane, he was greeted by an ultra-luxurious Bentley, a car he had only ever seen in newspapers and magazines. Once inside, he and his entourage dared not move an inch, fearing that even the slightest scratch on the luxury car would cost them their entire fortune in compensation.

Upon arriving at the Peninsula Hotel, the oppressive atmosphere of its luxurious decor made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I slept very cautiously that night, afraid of soiling the sheets...

It's no wonder he was so cautious. The country was poor at that time, and they were geologists who spent most of the year sleeping in tents in the wilderness. They were lucky if they could find a run-down guesthouse in a county town near the mining area. The best place they stayed was a guesthouse they stayed in when they were receiving awards in the province...

It's hard to say.

Entering Wang Yaotang's private elevator leads directly to his top-floor office. Stepping out, you'll find yourself in the reception area, where beautiful receptionists serve tea and water. Many people are queuing up here, watching as people are led into the other office one after another. It took more than half an hour before a secretary called Liu Yumin's team in.

The extravagant office, spanning over 200 square meters, once again made Liu Yumin and others nervous, which was one of the purposes of the interior design.

"Section Chief Liu, hello, hello." Wang Yaotang stood up, smiled, walked over, and extended his hands. "You've been working in the deep forests of Myanmar for months on end. It must have been really hard for you."

"Mr. Wang, you're too kind. It's no trouble at all."

Wang Yaotang shook hands with the four members of his team and exchanged polite words. He then personally led them to sit on the sofa in the reception area, asked what they would like to drink, and asked his secretary to prepare it. He then inquired about the difficulties they had encountered during their exploration.

It was their first meeting, and they had no superior-subordinate relationship. Wang Yaotang's enthusiasm was so great that Liu Yumin and the others knew it was just a show of courtesy and respect that he was putting on. But they still felt warm inside, and their impression of Wang Yaotang quickly reached its peak.

Although it was just a few words of concern and nice words, it was enough that such a wealthy tycoon was willing to put in the effort for her.

After all, for Wang Yaotang, every second meant earning several hundred yuan...

Of course, Wang Yaotang's purpose was also to get them to work diligently. After all, they were invited guests, and the extra effort they put in could bring huge economic benefits and future cost control, while he himself only spent some words.

After some pleasantries, the conversation turned to the mining area, finally reaching Liu Yumin and his colleagues' area of ​​expertise.

“Mining exploration must be meticulous. Through drilling, pit exploration and other means, we must determine the industrial reserves in the mining area, that is, the recoverable reserves, as well as the distribution range of prospective reserves, and key parameters such as tin grade, ore body thickness, dip angle and burial depth of different ore sections, so as to provide a basis for the development scale and mining method selection.”

"We also need to focus on investigating whether there are geological structures such as faults and karst caves that disrupt the continuity of the ore body, or 'depletion zones' where the grade drops sharply in some areas. We must avoid the disconnect between the designed mining plan and the actual mining, which would result in huge waste."

"In addition, tin mines are often associated with valuable elements such as tungsten, copper, lead, zinc, and silver. Tin mines in nearby Yunnan are associated with tungsten and bismuth. We need to analyze the occurrence and recovery value of associated minerals in advance to see if they are suitable for comprehensive mining and avoid wasting resources."

"Another aspect is the assessment and prevention of geological disasters, designing mining plans based on fault and aquifer conditions, such as advanced drilling and grouting for water plugging, as well as natural disasters such as damage to the terrain caused by mining, which may lead to landslides, mudslides, seepage and water accumulation during heavy rains, etc..."

After discussing exploration, the discussion moved on to mining methods. For tin sulfide ore, the preferred method is flotation, using butyl xanthate as a collector (with the pH value controlled at 8-9), and the recovery rate can reach 85%-92%.

For tin oxide ore, a combined gravity separation and flotation process should be used. First, coarse tin particles are recovered by shaking table, and then fine tin particles are floated to avoid the impact of oxidized ore slime on the recovery rate.

Listening to Liu Yumin and the others explain, Wang Yaotang only got a general idea of ​​what they were saying. They didn't go into details, so he knew that the leader couldn't really understand.

After listening to a lot of information, Wang Yaotang felt that he had a general idea of ​​tin mine development, which was good.

"The local people's mining methods are too backward, which not only cause huge waste and high costs, but also cause extremely serious damage to the land and mining areas. This destructive mining must be stopped immediately," Liu Yumin said with some distress.

The geological exploration team worked so hard to explore the mountains and forests, and seeing others waste it felt like killing them.

“I know their development methods are outdated, but you said the costs are extremely high…” Wang Yaotang frowned. “They’ve also been smuggling tin ingots out of the country, and they can’t sell them because the price is too high.”

"They mine by exploiting labor, paying very little money, barely enough to make ends meet, so of course their costs are low. What I mean by high costs is the damage they cause to the mining area. They could have produced one ton of ore, but they only produced 300 jin (150 catties), increasing the cost tenfold!"

“I understand.” Wang Yaotang nodded.

It's like the illegal mining of rare earth minerals back in my hometown...

Large-scale industrial mining does indeed have a higher utilization rate of natural resources, but the corresponding investment is enormous. Take wastewater treatment as an example: mining wastewater containing suspended solids and heavy metals can be treated by 'sedimentation tank + filtration + activated carbon adsorption' and then reused in ore dressing plants with a recycling rate of ≥90%. However, the corresponding cost of building wastewater treatment equipment is very high.

However, according to Liu Yumin and his team's design plan, the investment in the Jingdong Mine would be quite huge. Transportation, power and water supply, living facilities, even if some machinery is purchased from China, the investment would not be less than HK$5 million. The infrastructure of the mining area is too poor.

Moreover, in the past two years, let alone making money, we need to continue to increase investment in the construction of the second and third phases of the project, a modern mining area. Don't expect any profit within three years.

Wang Yaotang's brows twitched as he looked at this plan. No wonder the Hong Kong financial sector was unwilling to invest in mining. The investment was huge, the output was slow, and the profits were low. They could have made more money investing in other things than in that damn mining!

This is only the Jingdong mining area; the Nandou mining area has not yet been explored.

Wang Yaotang rubbed his temples and cursed inwardly, but he still had to make the investment.

Despite its many drawbacks, the mining industry also has a significant real and social impact on the local area. A mining company with a thousand employees can create jobs for tens of thousands of others and influence the economic and political structure of a region.

It's impossible to threaten people with a gun all day long, but large mining companies are everyone's big daddy, often more effective than holding a gun to someone's head, and they really can grant any request.

After all, if a mining area goes bankrupt, an entire region is completely finished.

Wang Yaotang didn't expect to make much money through mining; what he wanted was to maintain his influence. He believed that he would make big money during financial crises and the internet age, as such opportunities were not plentiful, and he wasn't worried about that at all.

During the 98 Asian financial crisis, international speculators profited more than $40 billion by shorting the Thai baht, but the actual losses were so huge that they were incalculable. So who made the money?

The biggest beneficiaries are actually the large companies that settle transactions in US dollars.

They borrowed Thai baht in Siam to invest, but used US dollars to settle cash flow as much as possible. Once the financial crisis ended, their investment would double immediately.

The biggest losers are ordinary Siamese people and merchants holding large amounts of Thai baht. The more Thai baht they hold and the more assets they have denominated in Thai baht, the greater their losses. In contrast, multinational corporations that settle in US dollars actually make a fortune.

The Thai baht pricing here refers to items that cannot be priced in US dollars, such as housing, industrial land, domestic products, and food.

This is a huge loss for rice farmers in Siam, because the purchase contracts signed with foreign grain companies are priced in Thai baht, but the price is immediately converted to US dollars after the grain is shipped out of the country.

The Siamese farmers suffered losses, while foreign grain merchants profited.

The same principle applies to other fruits, rubber, and the like.

From this perspective, a strict monetary policy is a form of protection for ordinary people. People cannot betray their class, and anyone who advocates for monetary liberalization should die!

In an interview, Wang Yaotang criticized the monetary policies of Myanmar, Siam, Malaysia, and Indonesia for being too rigid, unsuitable for changes in the economic situation, lacking flexibility, hindering domestic or global economic development, causing internal or external economic imbalances, and prioritizing self-interest while ignoring global impact.

I am a capitalist!
Therefore, from this perspective, it is entirely possible to seek loans from Myanmar and Siam for investing in the Kengtung tin mine.

Purchases should be made in Myanmar Kyat whenever possible, with Thai Baht as the second choice. Thai Baht is widely used in the Kengtung area. As for loans in RMB, it's pointless. Without mentioning the dual exchange rate system, there are hardly any loopholes to exploit. Even Wang Yaotang wouldn't dare to do that...

They've kept all the records back home; they'll make sure you're arrested sooner or later.

Setting down the detailed exploration report and mining recommendations, Wang Yaotang smiled at Liu Yumin and the others. "Thank you all for your hard work. I have no experience in metal mining, and I know absolutely nothing about it. I'm so grateful for your help in getting a clear understanding of the reserves and mining plans." "Mr. Wang, you're too kind. It's what we should do," Liu Yumin replied with a wide smile.

"There's still the Nandu mining area to come, but there's no rush. You've been working hard in the mountains for months, so take a break in Hong Kong and let me show you some hospitality. Don't worry about any expenses during this time, I'll arrange for someone to take care of you."

"This, this, no, no, this won't do, this doesn't comply with the regulations, this is a mistake!" Liu Yumin hurriedly waved her hands.

Yesterday, when we were dining at the Peninsula Hotel, they didn't dare touch the exquisite tableware and dishes; it was just...too extravagant.

This was in 85! Even getting a bite of meat at home was a struggle!

"Where did you get such a dramatic mistake?" Wang Yaotang laughed heartily. Their trembling state reminded him of the first time he and his brothers went to Manghua Nightclub to check it out.

My heart was pounding, my mind was filled with erotic images, but my hands were so stiff I didn't dare to move.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. People need food to survive. Singing, eating, bathing, and sleeping are basic human needs. What's wrong with that? Just do as I say." Wang Yaotang didn't give them a chance to refuse.

I'm a master at dragging people down with me!

How much money could the four of them spend on eating, drinking, and having fun? Two or three hundred thousand at most. Wang Yaotang could earn it back by putting in just a little more effort during the exploration.

When Liu Yumin and the other three came out, they were dazed, their hearts were racing, and their minds were not working properly.

After seeing the four people off, Wang Yaotang instructed his secretary to send away all the people waiting outside, as he needed to consider matters concerning the mining area.

He had absolutely no experience with modern mining operations, and no one else in Hong Kong had any experience either. As for other Southeast Asian countries, Wang Yaotang didn't believe them even if they claimed to have experience.

So I still have to go back to my hometown for help.

There are large state-owned tin mines in Guangxi, and cooperative development is the only way.

How they manage things domestically is none of Wang Yaotang's business; it's common knowledge that they manage things very well abroad!

This is what it means to have the magnanimity of a great nation like China!

With the plan set, all that's left is to contact the ministry in Beijing. These large mining areas are directly under the ministry's jurisdiction, so we can go through official channels. Developing foreign mines earns foreign exchange, and even if it's just for political achievements, everyone will fight tooth and nail for it.

Just as Wang Yaotang had expected, not long after submitting his application, he received an invitation to come to Beijing for discussions. Upon hearing that he was going to the capital, his brothers all clamored to go and see for themselves.

The more I travel abroad, the more I yearn for my hometown.

I waited two days for Ah Jie to return from Siam, and then he took a private plane straight to the capital.

Wang Yaotang established a cooperation framework: the state-owned enterprise would provide management and technical teams, while he would provide funding, mining areas, security, water and electricity, transportation, and other aspects. Specific details would be discussed by his team, and the ministry specifically assigned several people to take Wang Yaotang and his brothers on sightseeing.

In the early 80s, Beijing was indeed incomparable to Hong Kong in many aspects, which is undeniable, including the size of the main urban area.

Chaoyang is still an agricultural area, supplying nearly one-third of the non-staple foods and vegetables to Beijing.

However, while wandering around Beijing, without Wang Yaotang's reminder, the bespectacled boy immediately took a liking to the courtyard houses near Nanchizi and Nanluoguxiang. The dilapidated houses were worthless, but the land in the core area of ​​the capital was worth tens of thousands!
Think about the land in the core areas of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It has nothing to do with whether you have a business mind. Every Hong Konger knows this well. In 1990, when Jackie Chan went to Beijing to film a movie, he bought eight properties in one go through an agent, spending a total of 4 million.

Before Wang Yaotang could even speak, all four brothers wanted to buy houses, putting their accompanying staff in a somewhat awkward position.

It's not that the property can't be traded, it's that Wang Yaotang and his group are foreigners...

Even in 2020, foreigners were still subject to regulations, and ordinary homestays could not accommodate them; they had to be qualified to receive foreign guests.

Do you really think the relevant departments back home are stupid? Don't they know how much prices will rise in the future? It's just that in China, transactions are like meat rotting in the pot, and it's impossible for foreigners to take advantage of low prices.

Of course, those who can speak to the authorities are at least international friends, and it's not impossible if they have a valid reason.

Take Wang Yaotang, for example. He collaborated with state-owned enterprises to develop overseas mines, and each of his five brothers was given a unit under the pretext of needing office space and housing.

These aren't old courtyard houses found through agents; they're valuable properties held by the government for various reasons. They're large, well-located, and can be renovated with water and electricity systems. They're not called courtyard houses, they're called work units.

Buying it for you is already considered a gift.

Wang Yaotang didn't need to worry about the renovation of the old building or the upgrading of the water and electricity systems; all he had to do was pay. The Beijing courtyard house, which he had only dreamed of in his previous life, was now his. That evening, he specially went to the glass house of the Kunlun Hotel to enjoy himself with Master Jing...

At that time, there weren't many decent nightclubs to go to in Beijing.

I spent a week in Beijing, and the negotiations there are almost complete. The specific shareholding ratio of the state-owned enterprise still needs to be determined after on-site inspections, factory construction plans, investment amounts, and the number of personnel to be contributed.

The Wang brothers had had their fun and flew back to Hong Kong Island. A week later, the inspection team organized by the state-owned enterprise arrived in Hong Kong, where they were given food, drinks, and foreign language lessons...

If you're going abroad, of course you need to learn a foreign language.

Of course!

After resting for a few days to recover their strength, they joined Wang Yaotang's group and flew to Bangkok. From Bangkok, they transferred to Yangon, and from Yangon, they took a truck to Taunggyi. After resting for a night, they took a pickup truck and bumped around for six or seven hours before finally arriving in Kengtung.

Everyone was exhausted, but Wang Yaotang had already arrived in Jingdong and rested for a day.

"Wang Sheng, how did you get here so quickly?" Xu Maochen, a member of the delegation, looked at Wang Yaotang with a tired expression and his eyes were filled with shock.

"I flew directly from Bangkok on a modified Y-5 passenger plane, refueled in Chiang Rai, and then came here with a smile," Wang Yaotang said.

"Then we, you, this, I..." Xu Maochen was speechless.

"Hey, it's not that I'm deliberately trying to cause trouble for you, I'm just illegally crossing the border, I don't have any entry permits."

Xu Maochen and his group were stunned on the spot. Suddenly, they had a clear understanding of the chaotic situation in Myanmar. Laws and regulations were nothing but toilet paper!

"Alright, alright, take a rest first." Wang Yaotang said with a smile, and had someone settle them into the Chinese staff area.

After everything was settled, Wang Yaotang chatted with Luo Xinghan about the situation at the mine.

The mine has actually been operating all along, developed by several local armed groups, not by Luo Xinghan. He doesn't care about the little money he can make from mining and smuggling.

“If we want to develop this properly, we have to win them over first.” Luo Xinghan said with some difficulty, “I can talk to them, but this mining area is the lifeblood of his tribe.”

Although it wasn't explained very clearly, Wang Yaotang understood it, as shown in the picture:

“Poor mountains and bad waters breed wicked people. If you take a step back, they will dare to take an inch and a mile. Today they dare to ask me for benefits, tomorrow they will dare to rob the entire mining area. My lifeline, ha, just cut off their heads!” Wang Yaotang sneered. “This is actually no different from the streets. Talking about tea is useless, beheading the underlings is useless. We must kill their boss.”

“I’m very experienced!” Wang Yaotang grinned. “There will be many jobs in the mining area later, enough to make them forget about their boss.”

Luo Xinghan's lips twitched, and he wanted to say something but ultimately gave up.

Jingdong's development made him feel like his career had entered a second spring. If the tin mine could be successfully built, he dared not imagine what Jingdong would become in the future.

He knew that he would be remembered by history as the leader of Jingdong's development, and the thought of his own statue being erected in the square made him tremble.

For Jingdong's sake, we can only ask you to make a small sacrifice.

Rest assured, history will forget you… (End of Chapter)