My Realistic Simulation Game

Chapter 240 Power Must Not Be Touched

Ekaterina took Qin Yuan's call for help with unusual seriousness.

This was not out of personal affection, but because in the past few months, the value and power demonstrated by Qin Yuan and the Far East Group he controlled had far exceeded the initial expectations of their "club".

In their original plan, Qin Yuan, as the "front man," would be able to expand production through existing channels after acquiring the Baltic brewery, and steadily contribute a considerable dividend to them every year, which would be considered a great deal.

If good projects come along later, we can continue to work on them.

But they never expected that Qin Yuan's ambitions and scale were so vast.

He not only quickly integrated the brewery but also introduced the new product line "Tsar Kvass".

Furthermore, with dazzling financial skills, centered around the Baltic Brewery, and utilizing the funds of the Far Eastern International Bank and complex related guarantees, it acquired eight breweries scattered throughout the Soviet Union in a very short period of time.

They managed to create a massive Baltic Beer Holding Group!

It's worth noting that in the initial Baltic brewery deal, they held a portion of "phantom stock" through hidden clauses.

The subsequent acquisitions of these eight factories were also facilitated by their "club," which provided indispensable "facilitation" and policy support.

Therefore, what this newly emerging beer giant receives each year is no longer a pittance, but a huge profit that would tempt anyone.

Qin Yuan's position in their minds has long since evolved from a useful but replaceable "white glove" to an indispensable "senior partner," and now even a closely bound "community of interests."

Therefore, how could they not know about the turmoil caused by the ten banks?
They had been observing from the sidelines, and to some extent, they were even waiting for Qin Yuan to take the initiative to come to them, so as to further confirm the cooperative relationship between the two parties and assess Qin Yuan's ability to handle crises.

Now, the phone rings.

Catherine, and the forces she represented, immediately began to act.

Just as Qin Yuan had predicted.

Suppressing Far Eastern International Bank will harm more than just its interests.

It is also their emerging community of interests, which intends to divide up the alliance's legacy.

Protecting the Far East is protecting their own money and political capital.

However, it will take some time for Ekaterina to arrive from St. Petersburg.

Before this, Qin Yuan did not wait idly.

He went straight to the Moscow city government building.

His political allies were not limited to people like Catherine.

Mayor Tatav, who overlooks the entire city, and Deputy Mayor Luzhkov, who is more pragmatic and will become the "Tsar of Moscow" in the future, are both key figures he must win over.

"Mr. Qin, please wait a moment. The vice mayor is attending an emergency meeting. He asked me to take you to his office to rest first."

A young, beautiful, and well-mannered female secretary from the municipal government respectfully led Qin Yuan to Luzhkov's office.

"Miss, may I have the honor of knowing your name?"

As the secretary was about to turn and leave, Qin Yuan asked a question as if it were unintentional.

The female secretary was slightly taken aback, then gave a professional smile: "My name is Batulina."

After saying that, she gently closed the door and left.

"Baturina. As expected, I was right."

Qin Yuan looked around Luzhkov's office with a smile on his lips.

Rumors circulated that Luzhkov had devoted himself to his work after losing his wife, but little did people know that this deputy mayor, known for his toughness and pragmatism, had already been secretly living with his secretary, Batulina, who was thirty years younger than him.

This relationship has not yet been made public, but Qin Yuan's memories from the future tell him that this Batulina will become one of the richest women in Russia in the future, and the industrial empire she controls is astonishingly vast.

Of course, it was precisely some of her problems that ultimately became one of the handles used by her political enemies to attack Luzhkov.

Thinking about these past events, time quietly slips away.

"Mr. Qin, what brings you here?"

About ten minutes later, Luzhkov pushed open the door and walked in with a smile. His gaze towards Qin Yuan held scrutiny and a hint of aloofness.

One of the key topics at the meeting he just concluded was the financial turmoil triggered by the Far Eastern International Bank.

The influence of the Ten Banks in Moscow's political and business circles is deeply entrenched, and many officials, including himself, have close ties with these Western banks.

Therefore, he knew very well why Qin Yuan had come to him at this time.

"Mayor Luzhkov, thank you for taking the time to meet with me at this crucial moment."

Qin Yuan didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "You must already know the situation. What the Ten Banks have launched against us may seem like a commercial lawsuit, but in my opinion, it is more of a malicious attack on Moscow's favorable investment environment."

Luzhkov's eyes flickered slightly. He calmly picked up his coffee cup and said lightly, "Mr. Qin, there's no need to overreact. The matter isn't that serious."

"Far Eastern International Bank's development speed is indeed amazing, and the interest rates it offers are far beyond the market norm, so it's understandable that it has aroused doubts and reactions from its peers."

"No, Mr. Mayor, you underestimate their ambitions." Qin Yuan shook his head, leaned forward slightly, and said solemnly:
"This is no longer an ordinary business competition, but a political struggle."

"Haven't you noticed the recent series of undercurrents in Moscow?"

"Their attack on the Far Eastern International Bank for 'unfair competition' is, in essence, an attack on the high-interest savings and convenient services we provide to the citizens of Moscow, and an accusation that the policies you and Mayor Tatav support, which benefit the citizens, are wrong."

"Their real goal is to damage Moscow's image of reform by bringing me down."

"If a company backed by the municipal government, successfully creating jobs and boosting the market can be easily brought down by a lawsuit from foreign capital, which investor will dare to come to Moscow in the future?"

"The reputation of the 'City of Miracles' that you have painstakingly built will suffer a severe blow."

Luzhkov's heart skipped a beat.

On the day Far Eastern International Bank opened, he and Tataf were indeed present in person to show their support.

If Far Eastern International Bank really collapses, wouldn't that mean they misjudged people and their policies failed?
This is practically handing a knife to their political enemies.

This is no longer just Qin Yuan's business; it concerns his core achievements as the leader of Moscow.

Seeing the change in Luzhkov's eyes, Qin Yuan knew the time was right and immediately offered a more practical bargaining chip: "Mayor, the Far East Group has directly or indirectly provided tens of thousands of jobs in Moscow. The Baltic Brewery, Jeanswest, and Cherkizovsky Market are all stable sources of tax revenue."

"If the banks suffer setbacks, the entire industry chain will face a tight cash flow, and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of families will be affected."

“More importantly,” Qin Yuan lowered his voice, “the success of the Cherkizovsky Market proves that our model can effectively regulate the black market, stabilize prices, meet the needs of citizens, and greatly reduce the management pressure on the municipal government.”

"Should such a promising situation be ruined by a malicious lawsuit?"

Luzhkov remained silent. Just as Qin Yuan had said, the Far East Group had long since been marked by his Luzhkov faction.

Suppressing the Far East is tantamount to denying his ability to govern.

But he is still weighing the options.

The rapid expansion of Far Eastern International Bank did make him somewhat uneasy; its unbridled growth seemed to be getting out of control.

“Mayor,” Qin Yuan softened his tone at the right moment, and offered a more enticing vision, “I plan that after we weather this storm, we will locate some of the core headquarters functions of the Far East International Bank, as well as the headquarters of the future Beer Holding Group, in Moscow.”

"This will likely be a landmark achievement in your term, bringing in foreign investment and revitalizing the private sector."

"However, what I'm worried about now isn't actually the ten banks themselves. What I'm worried about is that if we back down under pressure, they will only become more unscrupulous."

"Today they can use the charge of 'unfair competition' to bring me down, and tomorrow they can use the same methods to squeeze out other emerging local companies."

“If this continues, they will completely monopolize Moscow’s financial lifeline.”

Qin Yuan's gaze was almost tangible, fixed on Luzhkov: "At that time, on the land of Moscow, the rule-makers will no longer be you and Mayor Tatav, but those... Western bankers."

Oops.

Luzhkov suddenly looked up.

The power he wields must not be touched.

(End of this chapter)