Chapter 322.5: The Great Mexican Border Wall

In the Oval Office of the White House in America, the atmosphere was so tense it was almost palpable.
A group of advisors felt their temples throbbing, because that eccentric "King of Knowledge" had issued yet another insane order—an order capable of causing ten Nobel laureates in economics to suffer a collective stroke.
This old man was a walking trouble-maker!
Since taking office, he'd been either clamoring to drop nuclear bombs on other countries or threatening to withdraw all US troops stationed abroad to serve as security.
It was as if the entire world was his backyard, which he could do whatever he wanted with.
Everyone knew perfectly well that China was now a major threat, yet he seemed utterly oblivious.
This man was like a spoiled brat ready to overturn the table at the slightest provocation, issuing one chilling order after another at will.
The Minister of Defense and his generals were constantly in a sauna, their sweat never ceasing.
However, this time, the "divine operation" went even further.
He actually wanted to outsource America's national economic problems to China's sovereign wealth fund and corporations!
This is utterly ridiculous!
Even more fatal is that the other side holds a trump card:
a vaccine powerful enough to reverse the global pandemic!
This thing, in the current climate, is more effective than an aircraft carrier fleet; it's practically an unsolvable "asymmetric strategic weapon."
Whoever controls the vaccine controls the world's discourse; they are the most powerful person on this planet!
"So, what happened next? What did they say?" Trump, legs crossed, wore an expression of complete control.
The aide who reported the news swallowed hard, his face contorted as if he'd swallowed a hundred flies. He managed to utter the words he himself couldn't believe:
"They...agreed."
"Oh? Fanghuan Investment?"
"Not just Fanghuan Investment," the aide's voice grew even weaker,
"That China Strategic Investment Fund also responded...saying they're willing to play a constructive role at this crucial moment, injecting confidence into the core of global economic stability."
As soon as he finished speaking, Trump snapped his fingers, beaming with pride, as if he were a supreme strategist.
"What did I tell you? I said those guys had no choice but to obey!
They dare to threaten me with a few lousy vaccines? Threaten our great America? Hmph, overestimating themselves!"
The aides exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions worse than if they'd eaten shit.
This was absurd!
Everyone knew perfectly well that the current stock market was a bloodbath, a continuous, epic crash—whoever jumped in was doomed.
What difference was there between Fang Huan Investment and that Huaxia Strategic Investment Fund pouring money in now and jumping into a fire pit?
What awaited them was only their accounts evaporating at lightning speed!
The President completely ignored the expressions of his subordinates, boasting to himself:
"See? That's the art of politics!
We didn't touch a single penny of tax revenue, and they obediently handed over money to bail out the market!
We can do so many great things with the money we saved!"
A bold aide cautiously asked:
"Then, Mr. President, where do you plan to use this 'saved' money...?"
"Is that even a question? Of course, it's about building my great Mexican border wall!"
"..."
That damned wall again!
The staff were collectively speechless, only able to stare blankly at their spirited president with looks of utter disbelief.
Just then, the chief of staff, who had been silent all along, mustered all the courage he had ever mustered and stepped forward;
"Mr. President, forgive my bluntness... but this matter is bizarre in every way, utterly illogical!"
The President frowned: "What do you mean?"
"This market right now is a bottomless pit; whoever jumps in dies.
But Fanghuan Investment, they agreed without even a word of negotiation. Don't you find this a little eerie?
Don't forget, our opponent is Fanghuan Investment!"
Fanghuan Investment!
The name "Fanghuan Investment" represents a legend in the financial world.
Their investment track record is filled with unbelievable yet incredibly accurate predictions, a record so impressive it would suffocate any competitor.
They're like a pack of ravenous wolves with the keenest sense of smell, always ruthlessly exploiting every last drop, let alone engaging in unprofitable ventures!
Would such a bloodthirsty financial behemoth foolishly plunge headlong into this vortex of death?
And drag their country's sovereign wealth fund down with them?
“That’s hundreds of billions of dollars!” the chief of staff continued his analysis.
“Even a 1% drop, let alone a crash, would be an astronomical loss!
Why would they just barge in without even a single condition? It’s too strange!”
“Who said there were no conditions?” Trump scoffed.
“They shorted us before, making a fortune, and now they think they can control me just because they have a vaccine, demanding exorbitant amounts!
Now I’ve put a knife to their throats. What can they do but beg for mercy? That’s called being pragmatic!”
On the surface, the logic seems sound:
The domineering American government used ruthless methods to coerce Fang Huan Investment and the country behind it.
But that’s Fang Huan!
They’re a group of madmen who dare to scheme against even the gods, a group of madmen who dare to confront even the machinery of a state head-on!
They never yield to anyone, even at the cost of triggering a financial tsunami, paralyzing multiple countries!
"They're a bunch of complete lunatics!"
"Mr. President, do you remember? When the EU forcibly dismantled Fang Huan's shipping empire, their reaction was exactly the same as now."
The chief of staff reminded him,
"They offered no resistance, even going along with it, willingly selling all their shipping businesses at an exorbitant price.
And the result? You know the result better than anyone!"
The result was that the EU, at less than 20% of the original price, begged Fang Huan to buy back those valuable assets that had been dismantled, one by one!
"Times have changed!" Trump waved his hand impatiently,
"Those financial experts have all analyzed it for me; investing in the stock market now is pure suicide!"
"That's true, but..."
"What else did they say?" Trump pressed on aggressively.
"Didn't they also say that even with a massive influx of funds, it would only cause a brief market rebound at best?
Unless they can precisely invest only in stocks that can sustain their upward trend, the more money they invest, the greater their losses will be, right?"
"..."
"Do you think I'm brainless? I've planned it all out!" A sly glint flashed in Trump's eyes.
"The global stock market right now is a vast minefield, full of pitfalls!
I don't believe they have X-ray vision and can run at full speed while precisely dodging every single mine!"