Chapter 850 The Beginning of the Food War

After assigning the task to Li Yabo, Chang Haonan left the compressor research.

The study of thermal effect is a relatively simple and straightforward part, which can be handed over to students.

But the new mechanism——

Considering that it corresponds to the thermal effect, it can be temporarily named the cold ablation mechanism. After all, it may involve a completely new theory, so Chang Haonan still has to come in person.

So... since we are going to do material research, the prerequisites are naturally equipment and materials.

Even if Chang Haonan has a system, it is the same.

And according to his speculation just now, the cold ablation mechanism is strongly related to the basic theory of molecular dynamics.

Then the research equipment required is not something that can be done with these small fights now.

In addition, in addition to equipment, several full-time researchers who do not lead students and are dedicated to scientific research may be needed.

And postdoctoral fellows.

Of course, all of these have to rely on the new laboratory under construction.

Otherwise, the school headquarters will have no place to put people, let alone equipment.

After sorting out the primary and secondary relationships here, Chang Haonan turned directly to Tang Lintian's office.

The latter was flipping through a document at this time.

Judging from the two newspapers placed at hand, they were probably delivered just now.

Hearing the footsteps coming from far away, Tang Lintian looked up and saw Chang Haonan appearing at the door.

"Professor Chang?"

He put down the pen and documents in his hand:

"What a rare guest... How come you have time to come to me today?"

The last time Chang Haonan took the initiative to come to Tang Lintian's office was when he had not even graduated from college.

It also indirectly led to the latter's can of good tea exposing his position, and finally being attacked.

At that time, Tang Lintian was still the dean of the School of Aeronautical Science and Engineering.

After that, the two met, either outside or in Chang Haonan's office.

"About the new laboratory."

Chang Haonan sat directly opposite Tang Lintian's desk, and the latter took out a tin can from a corner of the filing cabinet as usual.

Du Yishan has retired, and Chang Haonan and Liu Zhenxiang don't drink tea much.

As the president of Beijing Aviation University, it is highly likely that there will be no fourth person who dares to come to him directly to attack.

Chang Haonan, who was not in a hurry at the moment, was waiting for Tang Lintian to make tea, and he inadvertently glanced at the two newspapers placed next to him.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a warning: abnormal drought may lead to a reduction in soybean production, and we must be vigilant about the harm caused by extreme climate to humans"

"Global warming is imminent, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a warning of production reduction"

"!"

Seeing these two headlines, Chang Haonan was shocked.

He had seen similar plots in his previous life.

It was the first round of attack launched by the United States at the strategic level after China joined the WTO.

But that time seemed to have happened around 2004.

Now that China joined the WTO a year ahead of schedule, the Americans who suffered some losses in the past few years are obviously a little impatient.

So only three months have passed, and they can't wait to do something.

The two cups of tea were soon placed on the desk separately.

"New laboratory..."

Tang Lintian sat back in his seat and was about to continue what he had just said, but soon noticed Chang Haonan's glance at the side, so he temporarily changed the topic:

"It says here that soybean futures have risen to more than three times last month, and there is no sign of easing."

"Hmm..."

Chang Haonan nodded absentmindedly, picked up the cup and blew twice:

"Although soybeans are not the staple food, they are the main oil crops after all, and they are also half of the survival necessities. Once there is a risk of insufficient supply of this kind of thing, the price increase will not be based on the supply and demand relationship, but will continue to rise until someone can't afford it."

Tang Lintian was just picking up two newspapers to read, but after hearing what Chang Haonan said, he became interested:

"Professor Chang also studies some economics?"

After asking, he felt that it seemed reasonable, and added:

"Oh... I almost forgot that you are still in charge of this large state-owned enterprise..."

Chang Haonan took a sip of tea, then shook his head:

"It has nothing to do with that."

"I really don't understand economics, but I have read Some history. ”

He put the teacup back on the table:

"During the Spring and Autumn Period, in order to destroy Lu and Liang, Guan Zhong of Qi suggested to Duke Huan of Qi that he should buy a kind of fabric called '绨' that was a specialty of these two countries at a high price , and at the same time dump grain to them at a very low price. Lu and Liang saw that it was profitable, so they ordered the land across the country to be planted with 绨. ”

“After only a few years, the grain production of Lu and Liang was basically zero, and they could only rely on imports from Qi. At this time, Duke Huan of Qi suddenly ordered the whole country to change to 绨. Wear silk, so that the two countries' silk can't be sold, and at the same time suddenly increase the price of exported grain, directly causing a round of famine, and taking down two major troubles without bloodshed..."

"The history books are more obscure, calling this operation the Silk War, but the core is actually food. After all, people can go without clothes and houses when they are forced into a corner, but if they don't eat, they will definitely starve to death."

Tang Lintian, who is a science and engineering graduate, naturally has not read "Guan Zi", which is relatively unpopular even in pre-Qin works.

But listening to Chang Haonan's detailed story, he knew that it was unlikely to be made up on the spot.

Besides, there is no reason for the other party to make up such a story to comfort himself.

"So what you're saying is... the Americans hope that by raising the price of soybeans, our country will stop growing food and switch to soybeans, and then cut off our food supply in a few years..."

Halfway through his words, he felt that something was wrong.

After all, Lu and Liang were just two small countries.

China obviously cannot directly apply it.

"no no……"

Chang Haonan also showed an expression that he couldn't bear to look at:

"Our country has control over staple food, and there is basically no way to make decisions about it..."

In the last round of negotiations to join the WTO, China and the United States exchanged a package of conditions, including opening up most agricultural markets.

This also includes staple foods.

However, as opening up continues, the red line for cultivated land and yield indicators are still there. In any case, it is impossible for the whole country to plant soybeans.

Tang Lintian thought so and immediately breathed a sigh of relief:

"Then what do you mean..."

Chang Haonan pretended to think for a while before answering:

"I estimate that the other side simply wants to target our country's soybean industry."

"If you think about it, our country's cultivated land area is not enough. Most of it can only be used to maintain staple food production. Soybeans themselves rely on imports. Now that prices are soaring, soybean farmers must expand their planting area, and downstream companies will also be eager to buy from the international market. Buy soybean futures in case it goes higher.”

"Wait until next year, or the year after next at the latest, and they will announce that production has not dropped as expected, causing soybean prices to plummet..."

Although Chang Haonan didn't finish what he said, it's not difficult to guess what happened next.

Except for a small number of companies that are protected by the state, most downstream companies may go bankrupt as a result.

Soybean farmers who have hurriedly expanded their planting area will obviously also face huge losses.

And the most troublesome part is——

In the last generation, China was able to win the staple food war. Although wonderful operations played a very important role, in the final analysis, the country's nearly 2 billion acres of cultivated land was the bottom line.

No matter how bad the situation is, it’s not like we really can’t afford to eat.

But the soybean industry obviously does not have this advantage.

Its own self-sufficiency capacity is very weak, and related industries are still dominated by private enterprises and collective enterprises, and there is no way to impose orders and prohibitions like central enterprises.

And now stocking up on soybeans…

Apparently it's a little late too.

Therefore, Chang Haonan couldn't even think of any good solution for a while...