Chapter 448 The pursuit of fairness, hidden rules and economic and trade cooperation

Author: Wang Zixu

Chapter 448 The pursuit of fairness, hidden rules and economic and trade cooperation

Zhu Jingyuan's last request actually left nothing to discuss.

Wedemeyer returned again to report to Emperor Nicholas of Lucia.

First explain Daming’s requirements, and then add your own analysis and suggestions:

“The terms of the cooperation method that Daming finally proposed do not seem particularly unfair.

“The cost of oil resource extraction in the early stages is already high, and Daming actually wants to provide us with technology transfer.

“It seems quite reasonable to take more share in the first twenty years to offset the costs incurred by Ming Dynasty.

“The next 20 years will be divided into 50 and 50, and after 40 years, it will be regarded as the same as the production share, which seems very reasonable.

"But the problem is, although we don't know whether there is oil under the land of the Ming Dynasty east and south of the Urals, nor do we know the amount of oil reserves on both sides.

“But according to Ming Dynasty’s cooperation method, it is obviously most beneficial to Ming Dynasty to not develop the Ming side at all.

“If the contract is signed according to the existing terms, Daming may develop passively regardless of whether there is oil on the Daming side.

"What's more important is that even if there is no oil at all on the Ming side, even if the Ming Dynasty clearly wants to develop passively, we Lucia cannot make the same response, and we cannot develop passively.

"We need oil from the Volga region because we currently do not find enough oil resources in other regions.

"The Ming Dynasty has abundant oil resources in other regions. Even if the oil in the Ural-Volga region is completely abandoned, it will not affect the Ming Dynasty's oil resource supply at all.

“We can’t expect more from the Ming side, and Ming is open to development and sharing with us.

"We cannot expect to encroach on Ming's interests under any circumstances. This is an important principle at the diplomatic level today.

“So the guiding direction when we sign a cooperation treaty should be to pursue fairness as much as possible. Only fairness can prevent us from suffering big losses.

"So we should make a final revision request to add supplementary terms for regular revisions to the contract."

After reading the report, Nicholas fully recognized Wedemeyer's suggestion. The goal of cooperating with Daming was not to suffer losses, so after thinking about it for a while, he replied to Wedemeyer to follow his ideas.

Two days later, Daming and Lucia met again, and Wedemeyer put forward his final proposal:

"Technology is developing extremely rapidly in today's world, especially in internal combustion engines and petrochemical-related industries.

“At the end of the world war, we could not have imagined the state of our current oil and gas turbines.

“It is unimaginable now what the world will look like ten or even twenty years from now.

"So we suggest that the contract can be signed according to the current plan, but a special explanation should be added.

“After the contract is signed, it will be reviewed and revised every ten years.

"If the development of technology and situation in the next ten years does not cause the original contract terms to cause a major unfair situation, then the revised joint species will only update the signing date and details.

“On the contrary, the clauses that cause serious injustice must be modified and a new version of the contract must be signed.

“This revised clause also urges both of us to let go of our concerns and invest as much resources and energy as possible in the in-depth development of local resources.

"If Daming is willing to cooperate with Lucia in the development of oil resources with a fair and just attitude, then we can start drafting the contract itself now."

The meaning of Wedemeyer's last sentence means that it is his last request. If Daming accepts it, he can sign the contract.

Lin Zexu did not dare to make a rash decision, so he took Wedemeyer's reply and asked Zhu Jingyuan for instructions:

“The Lucians are very clear about their positioning and have no illusions about taking advantage.

“If I insist on distributing income according to a fixed time and fixed proportion, and do not allow subsequent supplementary amendments to the terms, then in the eyes of the Lucians, we are obviously going to develop passively.

"Unless we use force to put pressure directly, the Lucians will definitely delay and shirk the blame further.

"So the student suggested that if His Highness is not prepared to use force, then he can accept the terms of the Lucians."

After reading it, Zhu Jingyuan smiled helplessly and nodded:

"Since the people of Lucia are so calm, then this contract can only be signed like this..."

Zhu Jingyuan then replied to Lin Zexu, asking him to accept the supplementary amendment terms.

So far, Ming and Lucia have finally reached an agreement on cooperation in the development of oil resources in the Volga-Urals region.

After Wedemeyer received Lin Zexu's response, he breathed a sigh of relief.

If Daming can accept his proposal, it means that Daming is really willing to cooperate, rather than simply grabbing resources.

Wedemeyer relaxed mentally:

"Thank you Daming for your understanding, then we will let the clerical staff sort out and compile the contract documents now?"

Lin Zexu nodded lightly:

"The contract shall be subject to the clear text."

Of course, Wedemeyer did not raise any objections. It is common practice to sign cross-border contracts in plain text.

Instead, Wedemeyer asked about something else:

"May I ask Mr. Lin, on the Ming side, is it Da Ming Airlines that has come forward to provide technology and participate in the development?"

Lin Zexu shook his head:

"Daming Airlines will not come forward. It is Daming Royal Petroleum Company. They will contact you later."

Wedemeyer was a little surprised. This cooperation was obviously hosted by Prince Dashi, but Prince Dashi's company did not come forward.

In fact, within the Ming Dynasty, some unwritten rules have been formed in the management of the oil industry.

Judging from official regulations, Daming's oil industry is still a franchise for the time being.

At present, only the Imperial Consortium owned by the royal family, the newly established Daming Consortium owned by the imperial court, and Zhu Jingyuan's Daming Airlines, only these three companies have the right to develop and operate.

Of course, there is nothing good to say about the royal family and the imperial consortium. They can operate any industry within the Ming Dynasty.

Daming Airlines is the most special and should not have the right to develop it.

When Daming Airlines was registered, the entire aviation industry had not yet been formed, and the management level was still very crude.

Coupled with Zhu Jingyuan's special status, he directly obtained the management rights of all aviation industry-related industries at that time.

This of course includes "aviation fuel", and aviation fuel is a petrochemical product.

As a result, Daming Airlines indirectly obtained the right to develop and operate oil resources.

Under the franchise model, licensed companies can operate.

Strictly speaking, it is not illegal for Daming Airlines, which has obtained the operating rights, to participate in the development of the oil industry in any region.

But it's also very close to a gray area.

When the imperial court is sorting out and revising the management regulations on the business scope of enterprises related to the aviation industry, it can require Daming Airlines to re-register its business scope, and at the same time revoke Daming Airlines' oil management rights.

It's just that the Emperor of Ming Dynasty does not have this idea at present, and neither do the officials of relevant departments.

Most people think that Daming Airlines is the second royal consortium.

This is just like the Dashi Kingdom does not need to withdraw from the vassal state at all. It can be regarded as an imperial estate managed by the Prince of Dashi.

However, Zhu Jingyuan himself has high political sensitivity.

Ordinary people and officials may not care about the difference between Daming Airlines and the royal family consortium, but the royal family definitely does.

The profits from Daming Airlines are exclusive to Zhu Jingyuan and cannot be shared with other royal members at all.

Zhu Jingyuan has already received 30% of the Xintianfu royal family's dividends, which has made people jealous to the extreme. Now he is also exclusively enjoying the profits from the oil resources of the big food country. It is impossible not to make people jealous.

Zhu Jingyuan was favored by the two emperors Zhu Zhongliang and Zhu Jianyan, and was equivalent to the most favored child in the family.

Although in this case, even if Zhu Jingyuan is acting domineering outside, there is actually nothing the other royal family members can do.

But that will definitely affect Zhu Jingyuan's image and reputation.

Not only will it damage your impression in the eyes of your father and grandfather, but it may also cause trouble for the management of the clan in the future.

Since I have been away from home for many years, there is no guarantee that someone will not give me eye drops around my father and grandfather.

Zhu Jingyuan cannot guarantee that his father and grandfather really do not doubt him at all.

At the same time, my father and grandfather may be able to invest heavily in themselves based on the experience left by Emperor Shizu, but others in the royal family and court will not.

He is regarded as the default heir by the royal family and everyone in the court. In addition to being favored by two generations of emperors, it is also very important that he has no obvious stains.

If you are favored but ignorant, others may be helpless, but you can choose not to cooperate.

Only when you are favored and sensible can you truly be popular.

Therefore, after Zhu Jingyuan took advantage of the loophole, he was very conservative in managing the business scope of Daming Airlines in the petroleum industry.

Directly developed oil resources are limited to the territory of the Great Food Country.

The oil resources in Dashi Country were already the richest in the entire Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Jingyuan was very satisfied.

Outside the Big Food Country, Daming Airlines usually only provides technical support, and at most is responsible for exploration and drilling.

The subsequent daily mining and management work is usually left to the royal consortium.
To be continued...