1028: Chapter One Thousand and Twelve: Cash in one hand, guns in the other.
1028: Chapter One Thousand and Twelve: Cash in one hand, guns in the other.
Damascus and Portland had a ten-hour time difference, but when Gao Yang made calls, he never considered the time difference.
If he needed to make a call, he’d do it unhesitatingly.
Luckily, those who he often contacted also needed to take calls from all over the world.
They were accustomed to having their phones on 24/7, ready to answer at any time, but even so, Gao Yang often got scolded for waking people from their sleep.
But there was one person who wouldn’t get angry no matter when Gao Yang called.
On the contrary, he actually looked forward to Gao Yang’s calls, especially when he received them in the middle of the night, because more often than not, it meant good news for him.
That person was, of course, Morgan.
So when he received a call from Gao Yang, Morgan said in a delighted tone, “Hey, Gao, I haven’t gone to bed yet.
I hope this doesn’t affect the reason for your call—hopefully to tell me some good news.”
Gao Yang chuckled, “Actually, I don’t know if it’s good news.
I just got some information from certain channels.
Maybe you already know it, but I thought it might be useful to you, so I wanted to let you know.”
Morgan laughed, “Oh, what news have you received?
Let’s hear it.”
Gao Yang scratched his head, “Well, I’ve got news that Ukraine might be heading into chaos, big chaos, you know?”
Morgan sounded very puzzled, “Are you sure?
Ukraine has been unstable for the past few years and this year isn’t election year there, is it?
And who’s trying to change the power ahead of time?
By Ukrainian standards, chaos isn’t necessarily big chaos.
It’s just a shift of power between pro-Russia and pro-West forces, isn’t it?”
Gao Yang was quite surprised, “You don’t know?
I thought for sure you’d have received word.
My informant source says that if there’s trouble in Ukraine this time, it will be big trouble.
It might be more than just about who takes power.
You know, right now, many mercenaries have gathered in Ukraine but have yet to make a move, almost as if they are lying in wait.
An intelligence dealer I know suggested preparing for big business in Ukraine because he believes the crisis Ukraine faces this time is much bigger than before.”
Morgan asked grimly, “Are you certain?”
“Very certain.
You really weren’t aware?
I thought for sure you would have already gotten the message and even made preparations.”
Morgan replied somberly, “I really didn’t know.
I haven’t received any news, and I haven’t seen any signs from the current situation that Ukraine is about to plunge into chaos.”
Gao Yang believed Morgan wouldn’t deceive him, so he frowned, “Could the information I received be wrong?”
After a moment of silence, Morgan said sternly, “Not necessarily, really, not necessarily.
I can’t keep tabs on every corner of the world.
Maybe Ukraine is really brewing a storm.
Share with me what you know.”
After Gao Yang detailed what he knew, Morgan was silent for a long time.
Gao Yang wasn’t in a hurry and didn’t say anything, just quietly waiting.
A few minutes later, Morgan said resolutely, “There’s definitely a problem.
According to what you’ve said, indeed, some people in Ukraine are waiting for an opportunity.
Once it comes, Ukraine will be in chaos.”
Gao Yang whispered, “Should we prepare?”
Morgan spoke solemnly, “Listen to me, if Ukraine is going to be in chaos, I should have received some news, but I haven’t, which suggests two possibilities.
One possibility is that America isn’t getting involved.
The other is that this matter is very big, extremely so, and there’s no need for me to do anything until the situation in Ukraine becomes clear.”
Gao Yang gave a wry smile, “Which do you think it is, should I prepare?”
“My advice is that you could prepare, but don’t be hasty to act.
Don’t move recklessly in the early stages.
You can engage in simple trades, but don’t be quick to invest heavily in Ukraine.
Go for quick deals, but not the slow ones.
Trust me, when the time comes for big and long-term business, I’ll tell you.”
Gao Yang scratched his head again, “What counts as ‘quick and small business’?”
Morgan laughed heartily, “Don’t you have friends in the arms trade?
Seize the opportunity to remove valuables from Ukraine, whether by theft, smuggling or whatever means you choose, it’s up to how far you can go.
The gold reserves in the national treasury, weapons, aircraft, anything—getting them out, that’s quick and small business.”
Gao Yang clicked his tongue, “I understand what quick business means, taking advantage of chaos, but is that really considered small business?
Then, what are slow and big businesses?”
Morgan cleared his throat, “How much can emptying a mansion of its furniture be worth?
The real value is in the mansion.
The country of Ukraine itself is what’s truly valuable—big business, slow business.
That’s about acquiring land, acquiring Ukraine’s quality assets, like mines and factories, the very basics.
You could even buy the country itself.
That’s the real big and slow business.
But that requires investments, and you have to wait a long time to see returns.
However, if you do make a big deal, you control the country’s lifelines.
By then, haha, that’s when the big money comes in.”
Gao Yang exhaled and said, “As expected, it’s too slow and too grand, forget it.
I’ll just deal with some small trades.”
Morgan laughed and said, “Big business isn’t for everyone.
It’s enough for us to be good agents.
Let’s leave state-level matters to the states and the financial syndicates.
We just need to seize opportunities and get our rightful share.
Also, these slow deals, we can only make them when the situation becomes clear.
It’s not good to gamble when things are still uncertain.
Ukraine is caught between Russia on one side and the European Union and NATO on the other.
Who will win or lose is anyone’s guess, so you just need to seize the opportunity to rush into Ukraine and take away everything you can, making a fortune in the process.”
Gao Yang replied with a smile, “Understood, although I still don’t know how to prepare, I will try to make a score.
What about you?
Are you coming with me?”
Morgan said, “No, I won’t get involved.
I deal with the slow business.
If I enter Ukraine as an individual, it won’t be good for me.
It might be more loss than gain.
However, your information is quite useful.
I can arrange some things in advance.
If the situation really changes drastically, taking early action can give a big advantage.
Also, I need to quickly continue my search for my guns in Ukraine.
Once a country loses order, it will be tough to do anything.
Thanks, Gao.
You’ve done me a big favor.”
Gao Yang laughed and said, “Don’t mention it.
Um, any advice on the business I could do?
I mean, what preparations should I make?”
Without hesitation, Morgan said, “Cash!
Channels, routes!
The most important is cash.
Listen to me, no matter where, when chaos erupts, the most reliable thing is cash.
You could wave your bills and buy everything at unimaginably low prices.
But you need a reliable and safe route to transport them out, lest you end up with goods piled up in Ukraine and can’t get them out.
Also, it’s best if you already have channels for doing business.
Choose your targets carefully to buy everything you want at super low prices.
There’s no need for war – it’s not worth the loss and also wastes time.
Just pave your way with bills.
Trust me, the power of cash has always been greater than that of guns.”
Gao Yang laughed heartily and said, “Okay, I got it.
I’ll prepare the cash in advance, a large sum of it.”
Morgan also smiled and then said, “Of course, you should be ready to use force as well.
If the people you do business with won’t play ball, then you might have to resort to force.
Although the power of cash surpasses that of guns, the premise is that you have enough of it.
If you think using guns is more cost-effective than spending money, then use them to take what you want.
If cash occasionally loses its power, then use a more direct approach.”
After a pause, Morgan said gravely, “Cash is useful, but force is the most direct way.
With one hand waving cash and the other brandishing guns.
Prepare enough cash and bullets, and use whichever works best.
It’s simple.”
Gao Yang thought for a moment and then said with frustration, “The problem is, I don’t know when Ukraine will fall into chaos.
I can gather tens of millions, but if I need to prepare it in cash, that’s not so easy to do.”
Morgan spoke in a low voice, “Prepare at least thirty million in cash, US Dollar or Euro, both are fine.
I can help with the cash.
Up to thirty million, I can get it to you in one day.
More isn’t an issue either.
Within one hundred million, it takes at most two days, and it’s only a two percent fee.
So, you don’t need to rush to keep a pile of cash at home.
When the time comes, just give me a call.”
“Thanks, I knew you could help.
I won’t disturb you any longer, goodbye.”
“Mm, Gao, one more thing.
When you find the time, help me look for that shotgun.
I’m in a tight spot, almost desperate.
It’s terrible when the clue is right in front of you, but you can’t grasp it.
I feel that maybe only you can help me.
You’ve always been lucky.”
“Alright, no problem.
I’ll try it out once I’m done with my current tasks.
Talk to you later.”
Gao Yang hung up the phone and immediately called Polovich.
“Hello, buddy.”
Gao Yang got straight to the point, “Can you deal with arms in Europe?
Like buying weapons and then moving them.”
“Of course not.”
“How about other things?
Apart from weapons, is that possible?”
“Other things, yes.
What’s up?”
“Ukraine is about to erupt into chaos, big chaos.
Want to partner up for a score?”
“Ukraine?
Forget it, no can do.
I can’t do business in Ukraine.”
Gao Yang was disappointed and said, “Alright then, I understand your difficulty.
I’ll look for someone else.”
“Listen to me, friend.
Ukraine, that’s Grand Ivan’s turf.
No one can do business there except for Grand Ivan’s guy in charge of Europe, but you’re an exception.
You could strip Ukraine bare and Grand Ivan wouldn’t say a word.
So, you can go ahead.
I can’t partner with you, but I can help you.
You get my meaning?” (To be continued.
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