Chapter 331: The Frenzied Shopping Spree

"What a joke! That's impossible!"
"Saudi Arabia and Russia abandoning production cuts? That's like picking up a revolver and shooting themselves in the head!
Are these two oil giants getting too comfortable? Only a donkey could make such a thing!"
This conjecture is as absurd as believing the sun will rise in the west tomorrow.
At this critical juncture, tormented by the pandemic, abandoning production cuts is a classic case of "I don't want to live anymore, so you shouldn't either," a suicidal act dragging the whole world down with them.
"So, that apocalyptic scenario is out of the question.
The more likely scenario is that Chairman Su intends to repurpose these facilities, right?"
"Yeah, that's probably it. Did Chairman Su specify what he's going to do with these oil storage tanks?"
"No," Du Yuanhang shrugged, a knowing look on his face.
"He just said one thing: 'Take whatever you can get, buy it all.'
And me? Same old routine, I didn't ask a single question, just nodded in agreement.
You all know what Fanghuan Group's corporate culture is, right?"
Yes, Fanghuan's corporate culture, especially regarding Su Hao's decisions, can be summarized in one sentence:
"Abandon ego, absolute obedience."
In short, it's about storing your brain away and not overthinking.
Because everyone knows that if you follow Chairman Su, money will just "duang duang" onto your face.
"Alright, stop thinking about it!" Du Yuanhang slammed his hand on the table, issuing the final order:
"Buy every single oil tank on the market, every single one!
We just bought up so many shipping companies at rock-bottom prices; the cash sitting in our accounts is practically going moldy!
Don't be stingy, spend it like crazy! This is Chairman Su's order!"
"Yes, Mr. Du!"
With that order, a frenzied buying spree targeting oil storage facilities, from domestic to overseas markets, began.
As for what Chairman Su actually intended to do with this pile of "scrap metal"... only heaven knows.
Anyway, put your curiosity away and just do as he says.
"Oh, right," Du Yuanhang said, as if remembering something, "What's the situation with the shipping companies in the Middle East?"
"I was just about to report to you," his subordinate hurriedly opened a document,
"Several shipping companies in Europe that are up for sale are currently flirting with a new power in the Middle East, and the negotiations are quite advanced."
Du Yuanhang's brows furrowed instantly.
The global pandemic has devastated the shipping industry, but it has become a feast for Fang Huan Shipping.
They are piecing together their fragmented shipping empire piece by piece with overwhelming force.
But just as Fang Huan Shipping was reaping the rewards, an uninvited guest kicked open the door.
What's more troublesome is that this uninvited guest is no ordinary person.
"That company called 'Levant Chain' has a very powerful background.
It's said that a Middle Eastern conglomerate is backing it, practically force-feeding it petrodollars, turning it into a fat and powerful behemoth with an extremely terrifying rate of expansion."
The Levant Chain: A rising shipping power in the Middle East, emerging like a comet.
The word "Levant" originally refers to the eastern Mediterranean coast, a region historically a crossroads of trade between East and West.
Their ambition is clear: to revive the glory of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
"Their core objective is the Port of Beirut in Lebanon.
It's a vital passage between the Mediterranean and the Middle East, a strategically vital location!
The Levant Chain's plan is to seize the Port of Beirut, using it as a fulcrum to leverage the entire logistics network across Europe, Asia, and Africa, creating their own maritime hub!"
"So... the Port of Beirut is now up for sale?"
"Yes. Yi Qing has completely crippled the shipping industry; the companies that previously held operating rights there have absconded.
Now, the Levant Chain is planning to seize the opportunity and swallow the port whole!"
Ports, especially strategic ones like this, are never purely commercial projects; they always involve deep state intervention.
The Port of Beirut is the economic lifeline of Lebanon, previously operated through partial privatization.
However, the successive bankruptcies of shipping companies have plunged the port's operations into dire straits, forcing them to put its operating rights up for sale.
"The Levant Chain wants to take over?"
"Yes. The problem is, once they succeed, this snowball effect will be no joke.
They have the geographical advantage and endless oil money. Once they establish themselves, they'll first dominate the Middle East, and next, they'll inevitably infiltrate our core shipping routes."
Fang Huan Shipping's ultimate goal is singular:
To forge a maritime hegemon, an unshakeable shipping empire!
The tragedy of being dismantled by the EU must never be repeated.
The only way to prevent such a tragedy is to become stronger, ridiculously strong!
How strong?
Strong enough that the entire world's shipping system would be paralyzed without them!
But now, the Levant Chain has appeared.
They seem to have seen through Fang Huan's intentions, or perhaps they simply want to take advantage of low oil prices and use surplus petrodollars to personally build their own shipping empire.
A formidable adversary is rapidly expanding in the Middle East, a land flowing with milk and honey.
"So, if they seize the port, our future will be fraught with uncertainty?"
"Yes. More importantly, what's their biggest advantage? Oil! Petrodollars!
They can acquire fuel at a lower cost than anyone else in the world!
What allowed our shipping industry to revive?
Wasn't it locking in low-priced crude oil before the price surge, using our cost advantage to slowly wear down our competitors?"
The Levant Chain clearly wants to replicate this successful path.
What does losing a little money now matter?
With an inexhaustible supply of petrodollars backing them, as long as they can hold out, they will be the ultimate winners!
"So, even if it means grinding our teeth, we have to seize the operating rights of the Port of Beirut!"
Du Yuanhang's tone became resolute.
"Exactly. The Lebanese government is also very shrewd; they saw the two tigers vying for power, so they set a very high starting bid."
"But we believe that no matter the cost, we absolutely cannot allow the Levant Chain to succeed!
Otherwise, we will pay a heavy price for our hesitation today!"
Du Yuanhang took a deep breath. He knew this was beyond his authority to make a decision.
"Phew... This is no small matter. I must go see Chairman Su immediately!"
It concerns the future of the entire shipping empire; we must ask the true helmsman to make the final decision!!