What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 416 Danger is also an opportunity
Rio de Janeiro

Long ago, in order to balance the various regions, Rio de Janeiro, as a port city, ceased to be the capital and moved to the inland city of Basseria.

But now Enrique prefers to stay by the sea and fly to Africa immediately if anything changes.

Although Kazimirz said that the Second Fleet would be unable to take any other actions for a period of time after launching a massive gap, Enrique was quite clear about his own strength.

Let alone the technologically enhanced Second Fleet, even if we traveled back 50 years, Bass would have a hard time defeating the Hans of that time.

But how could they possibly withstand a force capable of wiping out an entire aircraft carrier battle group?

Although the Imperial Diet has not yet reached a decision, the dispatch of troops is a foregone conclusion. Kazimirz stayed behind mainly to discuss the selection of the forward base and the scale of the local cooperative operations.

Enrique had no problem ceding one or two ports, but he was reluctant to send local soldiers to their deaths.

Deploying troops costs money, and Enrique is focused on developing the economy and has no desire to get involved in any conflict.

The territory can be given up, but people cannot leave.

However, General Itamar had some objections:
"Sir, we should solve this problem ourselves!"

Enrique gave him a look that said, "Are you kidding me?"

"We? You think we can defeat the Second Fleet?"

"It's difficult, but who says the Second Fleet is necessarily our enemy?"

Itamar, having spent more time near the center of power, now had a strange glint in his eyes:
"They have powerful and mysterious technology, and they haven't done anything for so long, so they are not enemies."

"And if we could cooperate... have you forgotten the mines in Appalma? That base is only temporarily suspended, not closed. With Hans's help, it's bound to succeed. This is our opportunity!"

The “mine” that Itamar referred to was actually their former nuclear program. As a vast power, Pakistan once established a sizable secret nuclear material base in the 80s and attempted to manufacture nuclear warheads.

In 85, the authorities proactively terminated the agreement in order to ease relations with neighboring countries. Another reason was that they were also aware of the problems:
Having mushroom bombs is one thing, but lacking a relatively complete and solid industrial base, it's likely that even if they were to actually manufacture them, they wouldn't be able to protect them.

Children who possess gold will attract greed, while children who possess M1911 will face severe punishment.

Until last year, when the world signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, any future nuclear tests would be subject to sanctions from around the world. Itamar once thought that he would lose the Mushroom Egg forever.

But then the Second Fleet appeared, a force capable of severely damaging carrier strike groups in coastal waters.

"The Second Fleet has the capability to strike aircraft carriers using conventional means, and you are well aware of the industrial capabilities of the Hans. As long as we obtain these two items from them and complete the manufacturing of the Mushroom Egg, we will have no weaknesses!"

"As long as we find them first and then reach a mutually beneficial cooperation, we will provide asylum and residency in exchange for industrial technology..."

Itamar enthusiastically described a bright future, but Enrique was terrified and said:
"General, you've gone too far. I think you need to calm down!"

He became extremely uneasy, and after hesitating for a moment, he left in a hurry.

This greatly disappointed Itamar, who could only clench his fists in frustration.

……

Claw
"Mr. Tang, your timing is really unfortunate."

Plevani warmly received Tang Wen, but said somewhat dejectedly:
"The rainy season in the second half of the year is too severe; construction has been impossible on Mionas Island for the past week."

It was already mid-to-late July, and the Siamese economy was still showing signs of collapse due to the rampant devaluation of its currency. Meanwhile, international oil prices were being driven up by the big players, making Plevani feel like he was being scratched by cat claws.

Every day the rainy season is delayed, Mionas Oil Company's valuation decreases!

He certainly couldn't wait to sell oil and receive dividends. As long as the reserves and oil quality could be confirmed, the oil company's valuation would skyrocket, and he could easily rake in hundreds of millions of dollars in profits by selling his shares.

And Tang Wen lived up to everyone's expectations and solemnly promised:
"Rest assured, our domestic construction team is not afraid of difficulties. Even in bad weather, we will conduct preliminary exploration work first, and start construction as soon as the weather improves!"

Of course, Tang Wen had carefully chosen this time; it wouldn't be ideal to build an oil field without bad weather. His assurance immediately made Plevani beam with joy, and he enthusiastically invited him to another banquet.

……

Off the coast of Miãos Island, on the Luzon side

Amidst rapidly changing weather, a survey vessel packed up its equipment and prepared to return to shore.

The survey vessel has the blue letters SLB on its side, indicating that it belongs to the international oil tycoon Schlumberger Group and is commissioned to conduct exploration work.

A few hours later, the survey ship docked at the port of Santa Maria, where the chief expert was found by the impatient Suha.

"Mr. Wayne, is there any result?"

Wayne shook his head slowly, like a surgeon whose operation had failed, and replied with great apology:
“We haven’t even found any large oil fields in the vicinity; the nearest reservoir should be more than 800 kilometers away.”

"How is this possible?"

Suha immediately questioned:

"Shell and Geiger have already leased the land and are ready to develop it. They would never do a losing business, so how could they not even have an oil field?"

"This is also what puzzles us, but unfortunately, this exploration operation has not found anything."

Wayne was also very conflicted and not very confident in his conclusion.

Geijin's Nansha oilfield is producing more every month, and Shell doesn't seem like a culprit. In comparison, it's absurd that I haven't found anything.

He didn't believe his authority could surpass that of the two companies, so he offered a conjecture:
"This situation has happened before. After all, there has been relatively little exploration around Miãos Island. Perhaps there is a sudden geological fault that just happens to keep us outside the boundary."

Perhaps a proper survey result can be obtained on the other side.

"So you need to go to the other side to survey?"

"So much the better."

Suha was immediately stumped. Clearly, this was simply not going to work. Only a madman would allow Luzon's survey ship to cross the border and conduct research.
How about... sneaking over there?
Just as he was hesitating and going back to think it over, the local television station reported a news item:
The Gejn oil exploration vessel and construction team arrived at Mionas Island, preparing to search for wellheads once the weather improved.

The news had just finished airing on television when a phone call came in on his cell phone. It was from Suha's brother-in-law, who was also his biggest backer.

"Suha, you know that Gekin has arrived, right?"

"Yes, brother-in-law, but..."

His brother-in-law interrupted him:

“You know, Miojas Island was originally supposed to be our island.”

Suha immediately realized:

"Should we stop Geigin from developing it?"

"No, no, no, I've heard about it. Their mining techniques are very special. Let's keep an eye on them for now, and then drive them away once the equipment is installed."

Then we'll give Gaijin another chance to continue development, and then decide on the profit distribution.

Hearing his brother-in-law's confident plan, Suha couldn't help but lower his voice:
"Are we really going to seize Miojas Island?"

"That was originally our island, but it was forcibly separated from us later."

Suha's brother-in-law said viciously, "Can we let go of the oil right under our noses?"

Forget about good neighbors, even if it's your own brother, you have to take it!
(End of this chapter)