Ireland, located on the eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean and across the sea from the United Kingdom, is the bridgehead between Europe and the Americas. This island nation has a very well-maintained natural environment, with rivers and green grass, and has the reputation of "Emerald Island". It covers an area of more than 70,000 square kilometers and has a population of less than 5 million, but with a GPD of more than 250 billion US dollars and a per capita GDP of more than 50,000 US dollars, it is a highly developed capitalist country.

Dublin is the capital of Ireland, a metropolitan area of 1.2 million people. It is Ireland's largest port and the most important manufacturing city, as well as a financial and cultural centre.

Exit from Dublin International Airport to meet Bell Stone and Bill. Gross is a gentle drizzle, because of the warm maritime climate, the temperature difference between winter and summer in Dublin is not very large, and October is the wettest season.

In September, the Irish government auctioned off a government bond for a total of 1.9 billion euros, and the Pacific Investment Management Company at the time bid for some of the bonds, so when they applied to the Irish government in their official name to meet with the finance minister, this request was quickly granted.

"Mr. Zhong, this meeting is mainly with me?"

This time Bell Stone is with Bill. The identity of the staff member around Gross followed, although this identity could not be concealed at all, but the content of this visit was not considered confidential, so there was no need to delve into this identity.

"Yes!"

Zhong Shi took a deep breath, feeling the freshness and humidity in the air, and couldn't help but be a little intoxicated. After a faint look around, he whispered, "The main issue is how they deal with the current state of the banking industry, and what they might do if there is a debt crisis." ”

"I see!"

Bill. Gross silently read it twice. Taking a deep breath, he gave a man dressed in black an inquiring look.

It was the reception staff sent by the Irish government to greet them, and after asking Gross about his identity, he took the initiative to take the luggage of the two and welcomed them to a Mercedes Benz van that had been waiting here for a long time.

"Gentlemen, Minister Lennihan has two hours to spare tomorrow morning. He will receive two in his office. ”

The man in black was in his thirties, with red hair, whitish skin, and freckles on either side of his nose, typical Celtic features.

He didn't ask for Bell Stone's name, apparently believing that Bell Stone was nothing more than Gross's henchman. It's just that what he doesn't know is that in his eyes, this follower is much more famous than Gross.

Gross snorted and didn't say anything more.

When the man saw Gross's posture, he naturally didn't say anything more. The next two of them were sent to the booked hotel without saying a word.

Nothing was said all night.

"Hello, Mr. Gross!"

Renehan is the current Minister of Finance of Ireland, and the man who is in charge of the country's fiscal policy is still upright, but the years have left a lot of marks on his face, making him look extraordinarily old.

At this time, he was taking off his reading glasses and looking at the two good visitors outside the door, and after the secretary's whispered reminder, he remembered today's itinerary, and immediately showed a polite smile on his face. He stood up and greeted Gross and Zhong Shi, and at the same time stretched out his hand and said enthusiastically. "Welcome to Ireland."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Minister!"

Gross took two quick steps, clasped the other man's palm tightly, and his face was also full of smiles, "It's an honor to be able to take part of our busy schedule to host us. ”

"This is my assistant. Mr. Zhong Shi. ”

After finishing speaking, he immediately introduced Zhong Shidao to the other party, "He is my right-hand man in bond analysis, and I think he is very grateful for your reception." ”

"Hello, Mr. Zhong!"

Lenihan's expression was obviously stunned, and his suspicious gaze couldn't help but look at Zhong Shi. Then he asked tentatively, "I heard that there is also a tycoon in the financial industry in Hong Kong, also named Zhong Shi, I don't know the two?" ”

"Recognized!"

Zhong Shi chuckled in his heart, the expression on his face remained unchanged, and he admitted calmly, "Yes, Mr. Minister, I am the Mr. Zhong you are talking about. ”

"He's my business partner now!"

Seeing that his disguise had been exposed, Gross quickly explained, "We are both interested in Ireland at the moment, so we came together to see if there are any investment opportunities here." ”

For Zhong Shi's honesty, Lenihan obviously didn't expect it, and after looking at Zhong Shi meaningfully, he waved his hand, "Two of you, please take a seat first." ”

It's not a big office. On the left side of the room is a two-metre-high bookshelf filled with a variety of books. On the right is a small sitting space, with a few sofas and a small coffee table forming a small conversation area. In the middle of the room is a mahogany desk, where Lenyhan usually handles his papers. On the table stands a tiny Irish flag, which is all there is to the office of a national finance minister.

The meeting was held here, not in a special meeting room, and it is clear that Lenihan intended to characterize the meeting as private rather than an official one.

"You two came, I don't know why?"

After the two sides were seated, Renehan pondered for a while before asking, "If I'm not mistaken, Pacific Investment Management specializes in bonds, and Tianyu Fund is a hedge fund, am I right, two?" ”

Although located on an island in Western Europe, Renehan has heard of the world's largest financial institutions, much to the surprise of Bell Stone and Gross.

"Yes, we're specialized in bonds."

Gross replied cautiously, "Even though we're buying Treasury bonds, it's logically the safest investment in the world." However, out of consideration for the rights and interests of investors, we still need to do some due diligence. ”

"I understand!"

Renehan touched the tip of his nose, feeling a little amused, there was nothing wrong with Gross's words, in fact, the heads of many financial institutions would try their best to talk to the top of the government, and such visits were completely normal and legal. But the appearance of Zhongshi is a problem. At least he had never heard of X-Spatial being involved in the issuance of Irish government bonds, "but Mr. Zhong doesn't seem to be our creditor, so what is his intention?" ”

He didn't ask Bell Stone directly, but asked Gross, who was clear that he hadn't been able to trust Bell Stone so far.

"Although we have not been involved in the Irish government bond market so far, in fact we have been following Irish government bonds for a long time. That's why I'm here. ”

Naturally, Zhong Shi wanted to take the initiative to say what he meant, but he said calmly, "We believe that there is a lot of investment space in Irish government bonds, and we do not rule out plans to buy Irish government bonds in the future." ”

"I see!"

Lenihan nodded expressionlessly, rubbed his hands, and then patted it, and looked up at the two of them. "So, gentlemen, what do you want to know?"

"We want to know what the current government plans to do when it comes to bad bank debts."

After smiling at Zhong Shi, Gross first asked, "Judging from the public information, since the Anglo-Irish Bank provided capital injection a year ago, it has injected up to $34 billion into the banking industry so far. I would like to ask if there are any signs of a turning point in Ireland's banking crisis so far? Or rather. If the problems in the Irish banking sector persist, with the current financial strength of the Irish government. Is there still a capacity to continue to support the injection of funds into them? ”

I have to say that this question is very sharp and directly hits the crux of the problem. You must know that now Rannihan is also anxious about this issue, of course, when he declares it to the public, he will categorically not admit that the Irish government is not capable of this.

"We are very confident in saving the banking sector!"

Lenihan didn't hesitate for a moment, and said very dryly. "So far, at least, our rescue plan has been very effective. Although the housing bubble has done us some damage, what is certain is that after the injection of funds, the fundamentals of the banks have improved significantly. As for what will happen next, we need more data. One thing is for sure, though. It is a matter of principle that the government will not allow a bank to have a crisis. ”

"Old fox!"

Zhong Shi secretly cursed in his heart. There is no practical content at all for this official answer. But it is obviously impossible for the other person to lie, so the meaning of this answer depends on how the listener interprets it.

Bell Stone's interpretation of Lenihan's words is: The Irish government is about to be unable to hold on.

"Okay, I think I get what you mean!"

After exchanging glances with Zhong Shi, Gross continued to ask with a blank face, "Another question I want to know is, if there is a real debt crisis in Ireland, and I am talking about a small probability of happening, then does the Irish government plan to ask for help from Europe?" ”

"If you ask for help, I wonder how you plan to accept the IMF or the EU's terms?"

Gross carefully organized the wording, and after a while, he said slowly, "As far as we know, the Irish government's support for certain industries in the country is clearly contrary to certain policies of Europe or the IMF. I would like to ask, what would you do as a finance minister in this situation? ”

"What you're saying is groundless!"

Renehan obviously couldn't sit still, and waved his hand to stop Gross from continuing, "Not to mention the situation of the debt crisis, let's just talk about the current economic situation, even after the bursting of the housing bubble, our real economy has not been seriously harmed. Our GDP is still growing, and although our debt levels are somewhat high, they are still within a manageable range. As for what you said, so far, we haven't discussed it. ”

"You haven't discussed what to do in the event of a debt crisis?"

Hearing the other party's words, Gross's expression was obviously a little flustered, and he pondered for a moment before continuing, "Okay, let's leave this aspect aside for the time being. I also have a question as to why there is a carpet bailout of Ireland's banking sector, rather than a merger of them, so that the government will be able to bail out a lot less money after the merger. ”

"To prevent monopolies!"

Lenihan looked at Gross and then at Bell Stone, and then burst out laughing, pointed at the two of them, and said, "Gentlemen, you don't even understand such a simple truth, do you?" Ireland is not a big country, the number of financial institutions is far less than the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries such as the United Kingdom, if the merger and reorganization, then the financial situation of the whole country will be concentrated in a few large institutions, it is easy to form a situation that is not big. As a result, small and medium-sized enterprises and rural households, which were originally easy to obtain loans, will find it difficult to get what they want from large institutions, and thus lose their original function as banks. ”

"It's also important that we don't give the outside world the image of favoritism, and if we give financial support to the big banks and refuse to allow the small banks to be swallowed up, then we are not a qualified government, but a spokesman for certain classes. Our government will never carry this kind of black cauldron. ”

He spoke righteously, but Bell Stone and Gross were skeptical. (To be continued.) )

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