163: Issuing new currency and mandatory exchange

“The difference is huge.” David waved his hand, signaling him to calm down.

“We are conducting military exercises. Isn't it perfectly normal for lines to fail and pipes to break within the exercise zone?”

“As for food supply... oh well, it's an exercise, with constant shelling. The drivers of those small food trucks are afraid.”

“They don't dare to go over. We can't exactly force them at gunpoint to risk their lives, can we?”

This set of rogue logic made Oliver and Mateo's mouths twitch, but inwardly, they were incredibly satisfied.

That's damn exhilarating!

“But...” Pedro still wanted to say something.

David raised his hand and cut him off.

“Pedro, you must understand our ultimate goal.”

“Our goal is not to go to war with US, but to completely drive their occupying forces off our land!”

“Before, we didn't have the strength, so we had to endure it. Now that we do, why should we still care about their attitude?”

David stood up, walked to the edge of the terrace, and looked down at the entire city.

“US supports the traitor Zia Jackson, attempting to interfere in our internal affairs.”

“This incident is our strongest 'justification'! Everything we are doing now is based on this 'justification'.”

“We are the victims; we are upholding national sovereignty and security.”

“If you firmly establish this narrative, we will be invincible internationally.”

“As for the scale, I will manage it well. Don't worry, a war won't start.”

“US currently has too many pressing issues to deal with; they don't have the energy, let alone the guts.”

“To start a war with an uncertain outcome just for a base in a small South American country.”

“What we need to do is constantly pressure them and make things difficult.”

“We need to make every day they spend here feel like sitting on pins and needles.”

“We need to make them understand that Bolivia is no longer a place where they can do whatever they want.”

“Once they can't stand it anymore and retreat shamefully, we will then ease relations with them on the economic front.”

“We'll give them a way to save face. At that point, business continues as usual, money is earned as usual, and we get both reputation and practical benefit.”

David's speech, logical and brimming with dominance, gradually calmed the originally anxious Pedro.

He realized that he had only seen the immediate risks, while David saw the overall interests and the final objective.

“But... what if they really impose economic sanctions on us?” Pedro was still worried.

“Let them impose sanctions. This is a perfect opportunity for us to break free from economic dependence on them.”

He turned around, looked at the three men, and presented a plan he had prepared long ago.

“I plan to register a new company in Hong Kong, China.”

“Hong Kong?” The three men were stunned.

“Exactly,” David explained.

“Hong Kong is an international free port and a world-class financial center.”

“Registering a company there to do business globally is simple, and the tax rate is extremely low.”

“Many goods exported to Western countries can even enjoy import tariff exemptions.”

“Most importantly, I am Chinese, and I know the place well. If the company is based there, no matter how long US's arm is, it won't reach it.” “In the future, many of our Yunhan Group's operations, including cooperation with Bolivia.”

“...can be processed and transacted through this new company, perfectly circumventing any financial sanctions they might impose.”

This plan made Pedro's eyes light up.

This is essentially removing the firewood from under the pot!

“Furthermore,” David continued.

“I recall you mentioning earlier that the domestic currency devaluation issue is very serious. Are you planning to issue a new currency?”

Pedro quickly nodded, “Yes, Mr. David. We have been researching this matter in secret.”

“The relevant proposal is essentially mature, and we expect to officially implement it by the end of this year, or early next year at the latest.”

“Very good.” David nodded approvingly. “This matter must be implemented quickly.”

“Issuing a new currency is not just about solving inflation; it is also the best opportunity for us to conduct a thorough financial anti-corruption campaign.”

“It's the best chance to re-regulate market order!”

Pedro agreed wholeheartedly: “You are right. The old Bolivian Peso is rotten to the core.”

“It has become a tool for many corrupt officials and black market merchants to launder money and evade taxes.”

“By issuing a new currency and enforcing mandatory exchange, we can force all this dirty money hidden beneath the surface to come out!”

“Furthermore, we have designed the exchange of new and old currencies to use a proportional scaling model.”

“For example, ten thousand old units exchanged for one new unit, ensuring that the wealth held by ordinary citizens does not shrink and the national foundation is not shaken.”

Mateo also added, “We have already implemented extremely strict gun control nationwide.”

“There are virtually no large-scale armed forces among the populace.”

“Therefore, even if implementing the new currency policy affects the interests of certain individuals, they won't be able to cause any trouble.”

“That's right.”

David patted Pedro on the shoulder in satisfaction.

Filled with fervor, Pedro strode away quickly.

He was going to prepare for the televised speech that was destined to shake the world.

David stood where he was, watching Pedro's back disappear through the doorway.

No matter how loud the slogans or how great the determination, absolute strength is ultimately required to back it up.

Otherwise, everything is just a castle in the air.

US is no philanthropist; they only recognize one thing.

Whether your fist is hard enough.

David turned and sat back down on the sofa, sinking into it completely.

He closed his eyes, and his consciousness instantly sank into a world only he could perceive.

A cold system interface, full of mechanical and metallic luster, slowly unfolded before his eyes.

[great nation manufacturing system]

Host: David

System Fund Balance: 375 million USD

“It's still too little.”

David looked at the number and shook his head lightly.

Previously, setting up the 1st Brigade and JF-17 Thunder fighters for Bolivia had nearly emptied his reserves.

If he wanted to arm-wrestle with US, this amount of money wouldn't even make a sound.

However, money has never been the biggest problem for him.

With a thought, a virtual financial terminal interface popped up.

The real-time data for “Star Financial” was clearly displayed on it.

A dazzling number dominated the center of the screen.

Profit: +2.86 billion USD.

This was the result of the Star Financial Company ruthlessly harvesting a wave of “leeks” in the Japanese financial market a while ago.

The Japanese people, who enjoy a 'good little life,' had made an outstanding “contribution” to his military strengthening plan.

“Well done.”

David's mouth curved slightly upward.

Without hesitation, he issued the command.

“System, charge 2 billion USD into my account.”

[Instruction received. Funds are being transferred from the associated account “Star Financial”...]

[Transfer successful.]

[System Fund Balance: 2.375 billion USD.]

Looking at the long string of numbers, David finally felt a little more secure.

Having money brings confidence.

Next, he needed to transform this money into a torrent of steel capable of smashing US's ambitions.

He first opened the procurement list for “Army Equipment.”

Bolivia currently has only one elite 1st Armored Brigade.

The configuration of this brigade was completely armed according to David's requirements, using various top-tier export-edition equipment produced by the System.

It included export-edition Main Battle Tanks equivalent to the 99A, and export-edition Infantry Fighting Vehicles equivalent to the 04A.

It also included export-edition Self-Propelled Howitzers equivalent to the PLZ05, plus various supporting air defense, reconnaissance, and logistics units.