When I went home for Chinese New Year, I spent a million times more money on my foreign wife.

When Chen Yue sent the message, it was already 1 a.m. local time in Mo City.

"Brother, the stock prices of five European companies are still falling. Nasdaq dropped another 12% in after-hours trading, and the CEOs of three companies jointly wrote a petition to the U.S. Department of Commerce, demanding the withdrawal of the chip ban."

Chen Yang did not reply.

He was standing in the corridor on the second floor of the manor, staring out the window.

A jet-black bulletproof sedan was parked at the entrance of the manor, with a small flag on its roof. It was the flag of the Russian Empire.

Lei Zi came up from downstairs.

"Boss, someone from the Kremlin has arrived. It's the Emperor's personal envoy, and they specifically request to see you."

"What is it?"

"They didn't say. But the person who came was the First Vice Chairman of the Emperor's Security Committee, named Igor. For someone of his rank to make a personal trip is no small matter."

"Let him in."

Igor, in his early fifties and a former soldier, walked with a brisk pace. Without exchanging pleasantries, he immediately handed over a gold-embossed invitation.

"Mr. Chen, His Majesty invites you to a private banquet at the Kremlin tonight."

"tonight?"

"Now. The car is outside."

Chen Yang glanced at the national emblem watermark on the invitation.

"How many people are at the banquet?"

"Two people."

Chen Yang put the invitation into his pocket.

"Lei Zi, have twenty men follow the car."

Igor shook his head.

"Mr. Chen, private armed forces are not allowed to enter the inner city of the Kremlin. His Majesty guarantees your safety in his personal capacity."

"Then five people will do it. Wait in the outer city."

Igor nodded, turned and went downstairs.

Chen Yang made a phone call.

"Chen Yue".

"Brother, I'm here."

"I need to go to the Kremlin. The Emperor himself invited me."

The keyboard clicks stopped on the other end of the phone.

"What level of meeting?"

"A private dinner. Just the two of us."

"Brother, what kind of chips are you going to bring?"

"No. Let him name his price."

"The rare earth ban has caused a huge reaction in China. People from the diplomatic department called me three times this afternoon, asking if I had instructed them to do it. I sent them a scanned copy of the letter of appointment as you instructed, and they didn't ask any more questions after that."

"What about Li Bu's side?"

"Minister Li personally replied with a message, just four words: 'Go ahead and do it.'"

"Okay. Keep an eye on the production line, and don't stop purchasing equipment for the second phase of 3nm."

"Brother, what if the Emperor brings up the oil fields—"

"I don't want the oil field."

There was a two-second silence on Chen Yue's end.

"What do you want?"

"Settlement rights".

Chen Yue remained silent. Having spent over half a year in Harbin, she knew better than anyone the daily cash flow of the Snow Palace Group. All energy trade with Russia was settled in US dollars. The US took a cut from every single transaction.

If the settlement currency could be changed to Chinese Yuan—

"Brother, if this deal goes through, the US will go crazy."

"Let him go crazy. You keep an eye on things domestically, I'll handle the negotiations."

The phone hangs up.

-

The Kremlin, Catherine Hall.

Only two sets of cutlery were set on the long dining table. There were three white candlesticks in silver candlesticks, their flames motionless.

The emperor sat at the north end of the table.

He was in his early sixties and not very tall, but sitting in that chair, his imposing presence made the entire hall seem three times smaller.

Chen Yang was led in and sat down at the south end.

The two were separated by a table four meters long.

The Emperor raised his cup first.

"Mr. Chen, welcome."

"Your Majesty is too kind."

The two clinked glasses; it was vodka.

The emperor put down his wine cup and didn't beat around the bush.

"Your chips, your drones, your armored pickup truck. Three things that saved my front lines."

"It's just business."

"No." The Emperor shook his head. "Today you cut off rare earth supplies to five European companies, their stock prices collapsed, and the first crack appeared in the US chip alliance. This isn't business; it's strategy."

The waiter brought out caviar and dark bread, then left.

The emperor scooped up a caviar with a silver spoon and put it in his mouth.

"I want to give you something in return."

"What?"

"Siberia."

Chen Yang didn't touch his chopsticks.

"The newly discovered oil and gas field in Eastern Siberia has reserves ranking among the top three in the world. I'll give you 50% of the development rights, independent operation, and a 20-year tax exemption. Your Black Kite Group will be responsible for the oil field's security, and the Russian military will not interfere."

This price, placed on the international energy market, would be enough to make the board of directors of any multinational oil giant stand up and applaud.

Chen Yang picked up the bread and tore off a piece.

"don't want."

The emperor's hand stopped on the wine glass.

"You don't want the oil field?"

"I don't lack oil fields. Katyusha's Arctic oil fields are enough for me to use for thirty years."

"So what do you want?"

"Settlement rights".

The emperor remained silent.

Chen Yang put the bread down.

"From today onwards, all energy trade, military procurement, and commodity transactions between Russia and China will be settled in Chinese Yuan. No US dollars, no euros, and no other third-party currencies will be used."

The emperor picked up his wine cup, but didn't drink it; he simply swirled it around twice.

"Mr. Chen, do you know what you want?"

"Know."

"You're killing the dollar."

"The US dollar accounts for 19 percent of global settlements in Russia. This move will shake the foundations of America's financial hegemony. Give me oil fields, and I'll just have another mine. Give me settlement rights, and I can tear a hole in America's dollar system."

The emperor put down his wine cup.

"Does the Chinese leadership know you're talking about this?"

"Know."

"Did they authorize it?"

Chen Yang took the letter of appointment out of his suit pocket, unfolded it, placed it flat on the table, and pushed it over.

The inscription reads "The Plenipotentiary Representative of China's Foreign Trade," and is signed by the highest-ranking official in Beijing.

The emperor stared for thirty seconds.

He pushed the letter of appointment back.

"When will it start?"

"Next month on the first. The first energy order settled in Chinese dollars will be no less than 10 billion. I need you to open a dedicated Chinese dollar clearing channel at the Central Bank of Russia to ensure that the funds arrive within four hours."

The Emperor stood up and walked to the window. Outside the palace, the night view of Mo City unfolded, with lights stretching as far as the eye could see.

"I agree."

He turned around.

"But I have one condition."

"explain."

"Give me one of your 3-nanometer wafer production lines. Build it within the territory of Russia, and share the technology."

"I can provide the production line. Technology sharing is not an option. My people will manufacture the chips, and I'll sell the finished products to you at a price 40% lower than the US price."

The emperor stared at him for five seconds.

"make a deal."

The two men, four meters apart on the table, raised their glasses again.

-

The manor, four in the morning.

Chen Yang returned to his study and dialed Chen Yue's number.

"The negotiations are complete. Settlement will be in Chinese Yuan, effective from the first of next month."

On the other end of the phone, Chen Yue's breath hitched.

"Brother, you really closed the deal?"

"The Emperor himself agreed. Now report the news to Minister Li and have him report it to Yanjing through the highest-level confidential channel."

"I'll take care of it right away."

Chen Yang hung up the phone.

My phone rang again; it was a message from Chen Yue.

"Brother, Director Li just called back. He said Beijing already knows. The highest level has issued a commendation order, the level is—"

She typed a string of ellipses, as if hesitating over how to phrase it.

"Special Merit. Brother, this is the first time since the founding of the People's Republic of China that a private businessman has been awarded a special merit."

Chen Yang placed his phone face down on the table.

Footsteps came from the other end of the corridor, and Katyusha walked over wearing a bathrobe, her hair loose, carrying a cup of hot milk.

"You're back? How did the talks go?"

"good."

What does "it's alright" mean?

"It means that from now on, your father will be charged in Chinese dollars when he sells oil."

Katyusha placed the milk beside him.

"My dad would definitely cry if he found out."

"He won't cry. He'll call me and ask for the chip."

Katyusha turned and walked towards the bedroom.

Chen Yang picked up the glass of milk and took a sip.

The phone screen in the study was still lit up; Chen Yue had sent another message.

"Brother, all the equipment for the second phase of the 3nm production line is in place. Installation and testing will begin at 8:00 AM tomorrow."

Chen Yang replied with a single word.

"quick."

He put down the milk, picked up the gold-embossed invitation to the Kremlin private banquet on the table, folded it, and locked it in the safe in his study.

Two things were already in the safe—Li's letter of appointment and the chip engraved with "Binggong Dazai".

The third thing was locked inside.