"Not a bad opportunity!"
Though seemingly light-hearted, the words rang differently in Li Yian's ears. Before he could even react, Li Guoren continued.
"Look at those people over there..."
He gestured with his fork towards some well-dressed individuals nearby, obviously not government officials, and said,
"They have Morgans, Rockefellers, General Motors, Fords, all the big American conglomerates and corporations. Unlike the officials who are busy dismantling the British colonial empire, these gentlemen are silently taking over the post-war world. No guns, no bloodshed, just money and resources. It's all very cheap, but any important mines, factories, and financial groups will be absorbed by American giants. The British have no way against it. Look at those enjoying their steaks, just like us..."
Cutting into his steak with the fork and knife, Li Guoren spoke with a tone that was not without sarcasm.
"While Sherry's husband drops bombs over Germany and Beth's lover eats sand in North Africa, these polite American wealthy folks are painting the post-war world map in their own way. This map is different from Roosevelt's political map or the generals' military maps. It has its own mountains, rivers, towns, and troop deployments. They are also waging a world war, but this map belongs to those American tycoons. However..."
Putting down his utensils, seeming to have lost interest in the American beef on his plate, Li Guoren said with solemnity,
"As long as you seize the opportunity, you can be part of it!"
Huh!
In the face of his words, Li Yian suddenly had a thought—this man is no ordinary person!
Indeed, he was extraordinary. How many people could, in 1943, pierce through America's post-war plans with just a few simple sentences? It was 1943, not 1953.
"To be part of it? How so?"
Li Guoren smiled.
"Some people eat meat, some drink soup. Just seize the opportunity. And the opportunity is to cling to the thighs of Americans. As the British withdraw from various places in the future, especially with the withdrawal of Britain and France from the South Seas, seizing the opportunity and establishing good relations with them now will guarantee a prosperous future for you, Yian."
Right!
The first half was speaking sense, but the latter half knelt down directly. The contrast between the two was so great that Li Yian couldn't even react properly. But then Li Guoren's words about "making money by holding onto American thighs" made perfect sense.
"Bravo, Brother Chengjie, I admire your insight."
"Just a humble opinion. What I said is just picking up on common knowledge. Ambassador Gu often says that this war is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for our country. The Americans, to avoid repeating the mistakes of the last European war, are bound to dismantle the British and French colonial empires for their own benefit. After the war, Asia, Japan, defeated by the Allies, and Britain and France being driven out by the Americans, as a balance in Asia, will certainly support our country. As for individuals? Americans will flourish even with just a little soup. Yian, just grab onto the thighs of the Americans. When Britain and France withdraw from the South Seas in the future, seize the opportunity, and what's there to worry about in terms of family business not prospering?"
Nice!
The first half made sense, the latter half... knelt down. The contrast was so significant that Li Yian couldn't keep up. But then Li Guoren's words about "making money by clinging to American thighs" made perfect sense.
As they chatted further, Li Yian's gaze kept wandering towards those well-dressed Americans. Among them were officials and corporate managers, sipping on rare Scottish malt whisky and even French wine, cutting into the flesh of the British Empire. They were chatting and laughing, dividing the post-war world among themselves.
"They are the real winners!"
In that moment, Li Yian finally understood why it was said that America was the true victor. Because their gains from the war were unimaginable. They didn't just turn the various European countries into their loyal dogs; more importantly, those American magnates were silently taking over the world.
In fact, so-called multinational corporations were achieving their future glory in this war. They were using the war profits they made to support exile governments, providing lifelines to foreign companies on the brink of bankruptcy, purchasing the stocks of those companies at ridiculously low prices. While millions of Allies were bleeding and dying for the cause of justice from Asia to Africa, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, these seemingly polite, well-dressed individuals had already quietly negotiated with the exile governments. They were buying up the most promising mines, oil fields, and factories all over the world.
Moreover, while people around the world were in dire straits, these individuals were mapping out their territories. Under their instigation, American officials wielded their big sticks to force Britain and France to abandon their colonial empires. And while the world was still catching up, these seemingly harmless American magnates, like lurking giants, were waiting for the right moment to silently take over the world.
In the exchange of toasts, Li Yian saw those well-dressed Americans as lurking giants, continuing to lie in wait. And in this process, anyone who could see through the situation and seize the opportunity would reap great rewards.
And this... was it not his opportunity as well?
As he swirled the wine in his glass, looking at the French red wine, Li Yian smiled.
Yes, this was his opportunity!