As soon as the thought crossed their minds, Wu Guanyu, Ren Yuan, and the others were completely taken aback! From their observations, it seemed that the military convoy, along with the Lincoln limousine, had been sent by the military to receive Mavi, the Russian guest?
Before they could dwell on it too long, the steadily approaching Dongfeng Warrior military vehicles and the bulletproof Lincoln limousine came to a neat and orderly stop right in front of Mavi.
Immediately after, the door of the leading Dongfeng military vehicle opened, and a middle-aged officer with the rank of Air Force Senior Colonel stepped out. He walked straight up to Mavi, saluted, and said:
"Mr. Mavi, welcome! I am here on the direct orders of Lieutenant General Shen Hongshen to personally receive you!"
The officer's powerful and commanding voice stunned the senior executives of PetroChina and Sinopec standing nearby. They exchanged shocked glances, marveling at the scene before them.
None of them had expected that this Russian guest, Mavi, would have such a close relationship with the Chinese military. No wonder he had declined the luxury Mercedes and Volvo vehicles offered by the two corporations—after all, they simply could not compare to the bulletproof, extended Lincoln limousine provided by the military.
What they didn't know was that this military reception was just as much a surprise to Mavi himself. It was an unexpected gesture from the military. He had merely come to Shanghai to handle some business and preferred to keep a low profile. He had never intended for the military to get involved.
"Thank you, Colonel. Please convey my sincerest gratitude to Lieutenant General Shen Hongshen," Mavi said as he shook hands with the Air Force officer. His simple, casual outfit stood in stark contrast to the formality of the occasion.
But that wasn't his fault. Neither PetroChina nor Sinopec had informed him about the reception, and the military's welcome had also come without warning. Had he known in advance, he would have at least worn a suit, in keeping with proper etiquette.
"Of course, Mr. Mavi! I will deliver your message to Lieutenant General Shen Hongshen!" the middle-aged officer responded with a firm and respectful tone.
Ten minutes later, under the escort of several Air Force officers, Mavi stepped into the extended bulletproof Lincoln limousine. As the door closed behind him, the Dongfeng Warrior military vehicles roared to life, leading the convoy straight toward Lujiazui in Pudong.
With the military-green Dongfeng Warrior vehicles clearing the way, even traffic police hesitated to intervene.
Following closely behind were the Mercedes-Benz S320 sedans of the PetroChina delegation and the Volvo 960s of the Sinopec group.
The impressive convoy exuded an air of authority, making other vehicles on the road move cautiously, fearful of getting too close and risking even the slightest accident. Any collision with such a prestigious fleet would surely be a disaster for the other party.
Inside one of the Mercedes-Benz S320s, a male assistant turned to Wu Guanyu and asked, "Mr. Wu, which hotel do you think Mr. Mavi will be staying at? Could it be the Grand Hyatt in Jin Mao Tower?"
"If it's the Grand Hyatt, that would be quite the coincidence," Wu Guanyu replied with a smile. He had a good relationship with the hotel's owner, which would make hosting their foreign guest much easier.
However…
Half an hour later, Wu Guanyu and his assistant, who had expected the convoy to head to the Grand Hyatt, were stunned.
Instead of stopping at the hotel, the Lincoln limousine continued its journey and eventually arrived at the gates of China's most exclusive residential complex—"Ziyuan No.1." Without any delay, the convoy was granted access and drove inside.
In contrast, the Mercedes-Benz and Volvo convoys from PetroChina and Sinopec were immediately stopped by the security personnel at the entrance.
"Sorry, but unauthorized vehicles are not allowed inside," a security guard stated firmly as he lowered the gate barrier, blocking their path.
Wu Guanyu, Ren Yuan, and the other executives exchanged bewildered glances. As high-ranking officials in their respective corporations, they were unaccustomed to being turned away like this.
"Well, the meeting is scheduled for tomorrow anyway. I suppose we'll just leave it at that for now," Wu Guanyu sighed.
After all, Ziyuan No.1 was the most prestigious residence in the country, and its owner was bound to have an extraordinary background. It would be unwise to cause a scene, as doing so would only embarrass them in front of their Russian guest.
With no other option, the PetroChina and Sinopec convoys reluctantly withdrew, waiting for the official meeting the next day to properly receive the man who had left them so astonished today.
### The Next Day
At noon the following day, Mavi met with Wu Guanyu and Ren Yuan at the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the Jin Mao Tower in Lujiazui.
Before the negotiations began, Mavi made his stance clear: the oil business deal at hand was massive, and he wasn't looking to work with just one company. He encouraged both PetroChina and Sinopec to set aside their competitive rivalry and consider a strategic partnership for mutual benefit.
After a brief round of pleasantries, the three men took their seats by the restaurant's panoramic windows, ready to discuss the specifics of their oil-related collaboration.
Having witnessed Mavi's influence firsthand the previous day, neither Wu Guanyu nor Ren Yuan dared to be overly aggressive in negotiations. Instead, they remained composed and attentive, eager to hear what Mavi had to say.
"Mr. Mavi, what are your thoughts on China's oil market?" Wu Guanyu and Ren Yuan asked.
"The domestic market? I believe it has great potential for the future," Mavi replied confidently. "In fact… I would say that China's entire oil industry has yet to fully awaken."
He spoke with certainty, drawing upon his knowledge from his past experiences.
If anyone else had made such a bold statement in front of the vice presidents of PetroChina and Sinopec, they would likely have been dismissed as arrogant or naive.
But Mavi was different.
His two oil fields alone held a staggering three billion dollars' worth of oil reserves—equivalent to an astonishing 10 billion barrels of crude oil.
To put that number into perspective:
- In 2006, global oil consumption totaled 10.8 billion barrels.
- In 2001, the world consumed 6 billion barrels of oil.
This meant that Mavi's reserves alone could supply the entire world's oil needs for approximately one year and five months (based on 2001 consumption levels).
If all of that oil were supplied exclusively to China, it could sustain the country's needs for about six years—assuming full extraction within that period and the approval of the Russian government.
"Mr. Mavi, your perspective aligns perfectly with ours!"
(End of Chapter)