The journey starts from the Titanic

Thousands of miles away, Situ Nan could only bless him in his heart.

With a "ding", he broke off a delicate zippo lighter, burned the telegram, and then took care of other things.

Chapter 50-The Forgotten German Merchant Ship

As Situ Nankai Golden Finger, the oil industry in Texas has developed much better than in its original history, and more large oil fields have been explored ahead of time.

The scale of the oil industry in Texas is also larger than in its original history. In particular, stimulated by Occidental Petroleum, other local oil companies such as Gulf Oil and Texaco Oil have to speed up their development, and oil prices have been slowing down. With growth, oil is in short supply. More than half of the oil in the United States is produced in Texas. Such sweet pastries will naturally attract Standard Petroleum, Shell and other oil. If it had not been prepared, Western Petroleum would not have grown up so easily.

However, Situ Nan felt more comfortable that the two super large oil fields that he was holding in his hands had not been discovered yet, even though he had bought most of the land.

The longer the delay, the better for Situ Nan. In short, Situ Nan was very satisfied with the oil company's affairs, and this trip was not in vain.

The next day, Situ Nan met Hans. Since the start of the war, Situ Nan has not seen Hans for almost two years.

This German was calculated by Situ Nan. In 1914, in the petrochemical plant that Occidental Petroleum and Germany cooperated with, although everyone had half of the shares, they were eating the bowl and watching the pot. In addition, the German held half of the shares in Situ Nan. It's already my own.

Because once the United States declares war, these German-owned enterprises will be frozen by the US government, and Occidental Petroleum can get the shares of the other half of the joint venture in the hands of the Germans with almost no effort.This was in Situ Nan's calculations, waiting for the peaches to fall off when they were ripe.

Hans has not had a good time staying in the United States these two years.In the European war, many Germans were unable to return to China and stayed in other places.

Like the German colony in China, the Shandong Peninsula was taken down by the Japanese because of isolation and helplessness.

Poor Chinese!They are neutral, but just like the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, the so-called neutrality means watching two robbers beaten up in their own home, but they can do nothing.

The Americans are also neutral. Although they are obviously on the side of the Allied powers, the neutrality has always been good.

However, things seem to have changed a little bit, and the Americas have become unstable. The secret activities of Colonel Karl von Boyd, the German naval attache in Washington, led to his recall and aroused great dissatisfaction.

This is nothing but the so-called Zimmerman memorandum in February 1917.This diplomatic letter from the German Minister of Foreign Affairs (in office from 1916 to 1917) to the German Minister in Mexico was intercepted and deciphered by the British, and the British immediately notified the United States.Zimmerman suggested that if the United States participates in the war against Germany, Mexico should go to war with the United States. The reward is for Mexico to regain "Texas, New Mexico and Arizona".

It is now the end of 1916, not far from the leak of diplomatic letters next year. This is a turning point in history.

The German leak was discovered by the British. The British did not need to even think about it. The U.S. government also admitted this statement, as if to warn Germany and Mexico. That tone sounds really bad. !

This is what Germany can't do authentically. After the leak of diplomatic secrets, it not only angered the Americans, but also hurt the Mexicans.

Since the introduction of the Monroe Doctrine, the United States has believed that the United States is the master of the Americas. This is a matter of destiny.Now the Germans have clearly crossed the border and reached into the back garden of the United States. This is unacceptable to the Americans.

The Mexicans did not steal the chickens and lost their rice. The Americans caught the handle and had to accept the unequal treaties imposed on them by the United States again.

Of course, the Mexicans are not good birds. They inherited a large area of ​​land from Spain. The native Indians of this land were all killed by the Spanish.The Mexican rulers were corrupt and incapable of pursuing China's Beiyang government.

The biggest reason that really caused the United States to participate in the war was the unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans. This method of warfare was very inhumane. All ships passing by the German submarine were sunk by the fish launched by the submarine. In short, people blocked killing, and Buddha blocked killing Buddha. , I have not let go of killing mistakes, nothing is more evil than this.

The German submarine wiped out all merchant ships going to Europe, so do the Americans still need to do business?Not only does business fail, but life is not guaranteed. Isn't this forcing the Americans to worry about the Germans?

What didn't say, let's fight!

Especially the Americans who can speak out of character such as "weapons of mass destruction", well, let's talk about the US government!Are they afraid that they have no excuses if they want to fight?

The dark tide is surging, this is the suppressed calm before the war.Feeling a little bad, Hans had to find Situ Nan.

"Hans, haven't seen you for so long, do you look bad?" Situ Nan said, with a sincere attitude.

"Yeah! The horrible weather these days, cold and humid, is annoying," Hans complained, but his frowning brows didn't seem to worry about the weather at all.

"Yeah! Remember to take a break! Come on, warm yourself up with a glass of wine." Situ Nan smiled and said, the weather seemed to be in a warm room, and it seemed quite atmospheric.

"Hey!" Hans sighed. It seems that he is really anxious about Germany's anxious war in Europe, especially now that the United States has reported that it is going to participate in the war. Hans knows how terrifying the potential of the Yankee country is. And he also felt in his heart that the United States would join the war sooner or later.

As long as you pay attention to the information on merchant ships sent to Europe in the newspapers, you will know that American industries are now serving the Allied countries. All materials sent by the United States to Europe have entered the Allied countries. Among the tens of billions of dollars in materials sent by the United States to Europe. Only less than 500 million US dollars was exported to Germany.

After the British Royal Navy blocked Europe, the import of materials from Germany was cut off. In a more literary phrase, the rope was tightened around the giant's neck.

What makes Hans even more ironic is that the Germans can't use the refined oil produced by the joint venture refinery between Germany and Occidental Petroleum. Instead, they continue to use it for their enemies.

Seeing Situ Nan's face indifferent and faintly smiling, Hans thought to himself: Did he expect the war to start so early from the beginning?

The cooperation between Germany and Occidental Petroleum had just been completed and the war broke out. This time is too accurate, right?Now all the benefits have been taken away by the Americans, to be precise, taken away by this somewhat sincere half-foreigner in front of them.

"I think the US government is about to enter the war, right? Once we enter the war, the assets of our German companies..." Hans said while staring at Situ Nan, as if he found something in his eyes now.

But he was disappointed. Situ Nan still had a faint, gentle smile on his face, and there was no wave of waves in those eyes that looked like a deep pool.

"You have to ask Wilson this question. He is the president. I am just a businessman. I only care about my business. Although our business has something to do with war, it is only a business." Situ Nan said.

Looking at Hans’s disapproving expression, Situ Nan continued: “However, as you said, this situation is likely to happen. But in any case, please believe that we will always be friends and we will never let you be a friend. You suffer." Situ Nan focused on "you".

Hans understood, his frowned brows loosened a lot, and Situ Nan's assurance finally relieved his heart.Even if German companies in the United States are frozen, Stuart guarantees that Hans' interests will not be harmed, which is already content for this self-proclaimed patriotic German.

There is nothing to blame for this. Struggling to survive, one has to bow his head under the eaves.

Hans sighed, relieved.

However, Situ Nan's next words immediately caused the patriotic German Hans to throw his emotions to Guava Island.

"As far as I know, in addition to joint ventures like yours, Germany's assets in the United States also have a number of merchant ships that had to stay in the United States due to the British blockade. The figure is about 600,000 tons.

This is a big number. They will definitely be detained by the US government. If the United States enters the war, it will be the shipowners who have suffered heavy losses, and they will get nothing.

If they can be bought at a low price before the United States declares war, what a big deal is this?The ship now is very valuable, you know."

Situ Nan said.

"Don't you think?..." Hans really understood.

"It's not what I think, it's us! I and you." Situ Nan looked at Hans's surprised expression with satisfaction, and then said: "I want you to be my agent and negotiate with the German shipowners. After all, you are compatriots. It’s easier to talk. If it’s cheaper for the US government, it’s better to sell it to us earlier, and they will at least get a certain amount of compensation. I believe you are better to your compatriots than the US government to them! Anyway, you won’t let you do it for nothing. "Situ Nan said.

A glimmer of greed flashed in Hans's eyes. He didn't know if he had been in the United States for a long time, he had failed his studies, and he had started bargaining with Situ Nan.

Situ Nan thought to himself, if this is done, his shipping company will almost expand!Maybe there will be another title of the ship king!

Of course he has no appetite to eat all of this cake, and many people are eyeing it.

Hans was so enthusiastic that he was so worried when he left.

As the saying goes, "It's better to kill a life than to kill a familiar." Hans has no guilt about this deal. Maybe he still helps those compatriots!

After he got Situ Nan's information, he began to selectively contact the owners of German merchant ships who were staying in the United States.

"What? Half price?"

When they heard Hans's offer, they shook their heads quickly!

"Why don't you grab it? Are you collecting the ship? I think it's collecting the body! If it wasn't for my compatriots, I would..."

Some shipowners became angry as soon as they heard it, and counted Hans down, verbally denounced this "non-national!"