Chapter 355 - Taking Out 2%
Chapter 355: Taking Out 2%
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
It was as if a war mobilization command had been issued. The behemoth of a beast called “capital” was awakened.
Domestic capital, foreign capital, established capital institutions, new capital consortia… Xing Hai Technologies received countless investment applications in a short time.
Xing Hai Technologies did not reject any applicant. For that purpose, it had opened a global trading platform and placed the taxation rights of 300 cities on the platform, thus allowing capitalists to buy, sell, transfer or donate those rights.
Each city was divided into 1,000 “blue tax stocks” with a holding period of 99 years and a price of $100 million per share. Alternatively, it was divided into 1,000 “red tax stocks” (also known as permanent tax stocks), with a perpetual holding period and a price of $300 million per share.
Among the 300 cities, 200 were fixed as “blue tax stocks” and the remaining 100 were fixed as “red tax stocks”.
As a result, after the trading platform went online, and with the inclusion of interested VIP investors who had paid a sum for insider trading, the total investment of $60 trillion had been cleanly taken up by countless investment institutions around the world in about two weeks.
Chen Jin’s Xing Hai Technologies did not need to spend any money to solve the funding problem.
It could only be said that the power of capitalists was terrifying. But unfortunately, there were too few deserts on the earth. Otherwise, even if $100 trillion was needed, global capitalists could come up with the entire sum.
For the ordinary people who could only stand by and look at the situation, the agitated motions of capital seemed incredible to them.
“Even if the desert transformation was completed, isn’t it better to get some high-quality people to emigrate there? What is the use of refugees? What value can they generate?”
“Yeah, the refugee population is just a burden. The investors will be losing money, much less making a profit from them.”
“It is very difficult to improve the quality of the population. At least 20 years is needed to convert the base numbers of a population into something that can produce bonuses.”
“This is only a capital bubble. Xing Hai Technologies has been very good at publicizing this investment. The actual effect is very likely to be dashed to bits by reality.”
“Haha, those refugees are arrogant loafers. Xing Hai Technologies expects those gofers to work? stop dreaming!”
“Yeah, I also think it’s excellent if those refugees are willing to grow enough food for themselves to eat. It is impossible for the capitalists to exploit them.”
“But why are the capitalists still throwing money fanatically into that investment? They seem to be very optimistic about it.”
“I feel that that the “Xing Hai Law” may be in play. Those capitalists are just blindly following the company.”
“Xing Hai Technologies never gets involved in a losing business. You think that you can’t squeeze anything out from those refugees. That’s because we are too kind as humans, and we have spoiled them. Morality is always sabotaging the law. Hence, we are helpless in the face of the refugee crisis. But computer programs and robots don’t debate ‘humanitarianism’. If you don’t work, then they’ll starve you until you die. Humanity, kindness, compassion, and so on, can all go to hell! This is probably the greatest strength of and the reason for the confidence in Xing Hai Technologies.”
“Oh, it sounds a little cruel. But why do I think that this is a very good idea, especially for those refugees?”
“Managing humans with computer programs and robots to build a utopian society with no corruption, no humanity and no pity. Is this good or bad? Can it last long-term? Will it be overthrown by rebels in the future?”
Some people raised a series of questions.
…
The market was in a frenzy. The capitalists had seen a window of opportunity to untold riches.
But many countries in Northern Africa could not sit still. Countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and Niger protested and made their dissatisfaction clear.
“Xing Hai Technologies, you can’t do whatever you want on our land.”
“You can carry out business activities, but don’t regard this as your own land. This is our homeland! It is not a place for refugees.”
“Xing Hai Technologies, the use of the desert that you have undertaken has gone beyond the permitted scope of your contract. It has become invalid and we will take back all the land. Since you have gone against the contract, we will not refund a penny.”
“Even if it is a desert, you can’t do what you want with it! We sold our land, not our sovereignty. Xing Hai Technologies has no right to implement the so-called “Domed Base” plan on our land. We firmly oppose it!”
Many small countries protested and tore up their collaboration agreement. They asked Xing Hai Technologies to leave their country as soon as possible.
However, less than a few days later, three aircraft battle groups from Merica entered the Mediterranean Sea to conduct live-firing exercises.
Many European countries also held joint military exercises on the northern shore of the Mediterranean Sea that involved more than 50,000 troops. It was a very large scale exercise.
In terms of diplomacy, they exerted tremendous pressure on those small countries. Public opinion was very severe and their governments were wielding the threat of sanctions.
They even threatened the North African nations. “If you don’t cooperate, we will not rule out the use of force and may support new forces to take power.”
Faced with threats and intimidation, the small countries trembled.
They helplessly looked to the international community, especially looking to Z country to preside over justice and to say a few words in fairness. But they only received silence in exchange.
They chose to give in in less than two days and contracted all the deserts to Xing Hai Technologies.
The comments by netizens regarding this incident hit the nail on the head.
“They overestimate themselves. Xing Hai Technologies has the support of Merica and all of Europe. They also have the support of $60 trillion worth of global capitalists. You’re just a few small countries. What are you bringing to the fight against such a combination?”
“Don’t be like ‘a mantis that tries to stop a chariot’ when faced with a mighty force.”
“The government is really acting like a gangster this time round. They’re not even saying a single word in fairness. They’ve chosen to turn a blind eye.”
“$1 trillion in state-owned capital has been invested in the ‘Dome Base’ plan. It’s already a good thing that our government is not actively pressuring them with the European and Merican governments. And the African countries are really expecting us to speak on their behalf?”
“Ah, a bunch of small countries facing a desperately difficult fate. They occupy the lowest rank among all the countries in the world, but they are challenging a group of gangster champions, all in vain. Just what are they bringing to the fight?”
“A wise man submits to circumstances. What can they do with the deserts in their hands? It will still be the same in 10,000 years. It is better to give the land to Xing Hai Technologies so that they can use it to benefit the whole world. Sometimes, incompetence is a sin.”
With that being said, Xing Hai Technologies could not really act like that much of a gangster to the extent of taking away their sovereignty with the sale of the land from those countries.
Land did not equal sovereignty. Chen Jin was very clear about this point.
In order to avoid creating potential hidden dangers, he would block the mouths of those small countries.
After some discussion, Xing Hai Technologies came up with compensation measures. After construction of the city was completed and income was generated, 1% of the annual net income thereafter would belong by the sovereign state where the city was located.
In addition, another 1% of the net income would be paid to the United Nations as membership dues. These dues would be used as contributions to everyone in the world.
When this compensation plan came out, the response was positive.
“Well, we accept.” Of course, those few small countries thought the compensation was too low. But even if mosquitoes were tiny, they were still meat, and they were better than nothing. They were definitely better than getting “beaten up” again.
Other countries also nodded in praise. Xing Hai Technologies had not forgotten about the United Nations and had taken the initiative to provide 1% for humanitarian services across the globe. This showed that Xing Hai Technologies was very dependable and had a heart that cared for the world. It was indeed commendable.
However, nobody knew that a shocking plan was hidden within Chen Jin’s decision to take out 1% of the profits for the United Nations.