I was a prince in the Middle East

Chapter 25 Flip the Table! Let the King go first!
Just as Walid was lamenting the room full of anti-kings, Prince Khalid raised his second finger.
"Royal-Tribal Pact"

"Through this agreement, the tribe recognizes the ruling position of the Saudi family as the royal family, while the royal family must guarantee the tribe's autonomy and traditional interests."

But the kingdom wants to modernize, build new cities, develop industrial parks, and make plans, so land acquisition is inevitable!
This century-old agreement is facing unprecedented challenges!

"Royal-People Contract,"

The third finger refers to the fact that "citizens relinquish their right to political participation, while the royal family provides high-welfare guarantees such as free medical care, education, subsidies, and no income tax."

What is the current crisis?
The dramatic fluctuations in international oil prices have caused Saudi Arabia's GDP per capita to go on a rollercoaster ride!
1981年人均GDP是1.8万美元，1991年暴跌到7300美元，2001年回升到9400美元，2011年又冲到2.4万美元。

but……"

Prince Khalid emphasized, "Please note that over these 30 years, the actual quality of life of ordinary people has not significantly improved along with the fluctuations in GDP."

In some respects, it has even declined due to inflation, population boom, and employment pressures!

The unemployment rate, especially among young people, remains stubbornly high!
The problem is that they're used to high welfare benefits and unwilling to do hard work, yet they're dissatisfied with their income levels!

At this point, Prince Khalid shrugged helplessly.

Prince Alwaleed shook his head with a wry smile, "High welfare breeds laziness, which is a global problem, but it's especially severe here."

Prince Khalid's gaze swept over the crowd, becoming deep and solemn:
"Walid, did you see that?"

To resolve the crisis of this triple contract—breaking the shackles of religion to unleash economic vitality, balancing tribal interests to promote modernization, and reforming the welfare system to stimulate social dynamism…

Saudi Arabia will rise from the ashes and become a powerful, socially progressive, and cohesive Middle Eastern hegemon!

This is not a fantasy, but a path we must take and are currently exploring with great difficulty!

He abruptly changed the subject, saying, "However, a truly prosperous, independent, and united Saudi Kingdom is by no means what Washington wants to see!"

What they want is an oil-producing country that will always need their 'protection', a Saudi Arabia that is easy to divide and control internally and powerless to challenge their regional hegemony externally!
so……"

Prince Khalid shrugged. "The United States has never left this desert!"
They secretly sabotaged every step of this triple contract!

They incited the most conservative religious forces to resist change, spread discontent among tribes regarding the royal family's land seizures, and used the high-welfare trap to weaken the people's ambition..."

At this point, he sighed, "So, we completely agree with your statement that the US has motives, and we are more inclined to believe that..."

It was the Americans who did it!

Including the 'accidental' deaths of so many young princes within the royal family over the years!

His gaze sharpened. "The core issue is what you pointed out: a modern Saudi Arabia is even less in their interest!"

As for why the royal family doesn't dare to openly mention the United States?
Because no one can or has the right to turn against the United States!

So... since internal strife needs an excuse, the pretext that 'the prince may have been murdered by other factions' can also be a good fig leaf.

In fact,

He lowered his voice and said, “After King Fahd suffered a stroke in the 90s, the CIA suggested ‘partitioning Saudi Arabia’.”

Even more people died then, all because they resolutely opposed separatism, and that's why they met their tragic ends.

Walid suddenly understood!
Many of the confusing and entangled questions about the power struggles within the Saudi royal family that I had in my previous life have now become as clear as the sun breaking through the clouds, thanks to my father's penetrating analysis!

That's it!

The hidden threads within the pages of history are now finally coming together to form a coherent narrative!
He took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and continued to explain his reasons:

"Thirdly, investing in Salman's family, in my view, is a risk-free arbitrage."

"No risk?"

Prince Alwaleed raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Nephew, you said it’s low risk, so I can barely accept it.”

But 'risk-free'? I can't agree with that.

The business world is like a battlefield, and the political arena is an even deeper abyss. Where can you find something that is absolutely risk-free?
Putting everything else aside, whether Salman can outlive Abdullah is a risk, and it's your biggest risk.

Walid was prepared: "Second Uncle, you should know very well that after Prince Salman suffered a stroke, he was actually diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease."

This is no secret within the royal family.

Upon hearing this, Prince Alwaleed was not convinced; instead, he revealed a knowing smile that said, "Just as I thought."

He spread his hands, his gaze towards his nephew carrying a meaning that said, "You are excellent, but you are still too young."

"Nephew, haven't you hit the nail on the head? This precisely proves that there is a risk!"

He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying the natural sensitivity of an investor to risk.
"The general consensus in the medical community is that, compared to healthy elderly people of the same age, the life expectancy of Alzheimer's patients is usually significantly lower."

Cognitive impairment leads to difficulties in daily living, decreased immunity, and a surge in the risk of complications...

These are all real factors that shorten lifespan!
You're telling me there's no risk?
This in itself is a huge and difficult-to-quantify risk variable!

It directly threatens the lifespan of your core investment—Prince Salman!
Old Salman died before Abdullah, so at least three-quarters of everything you did yesterday will be wasted.

Walid smiled too, ignoring the subtle changes in everyone's expressions.
"Second Uncle, but have you ever thought that Prince Salman is not an ordinary person? He receives the highest level of care."

Just like you did to me back then...

"If it were an ordinary person, I would have certainly died after the car accident."

Upon hearing this, Prince Alwaleed's shrewd businessman's smile vanished, replaced by a deep sense of emotion and piety.

He sighed softly, his gaze falling on Walid with a complex mix of fear and genuine relief:
“Nephew, you’re right. Top-notch nursing care is certainly essential… but ultimately, it’s because you’re lucky to be alive, it’s God’s blessing!”

After Walid joined the crowd in chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great), he continued,
"I asked the Chinese doctor who performed acupuncture on me to help me wake up."

This is their view: Alzheimer's patients, due to the progression of cognitive impairment, actually avoid many of the troubles that ordinary elderly people experience.

For example, the persistent anxiety about wealth, power, and the future of one's descendants.

Turki said that Crown Prince Salman is now so forgetful that he sometimes even forgets the seasons.

Our current King Abdullah, on the other hand, is constantly scheming for his descendants...

Even yesterday, he was thinking of betting on my chessboard to get a share of the profits. This kind of continuous mental anxiety is extremely damaging to one's health.

Both parties enjoy top-notch medical care and there are no issues such as poor medication adherence, high risk of falls, or malnutrition.

Therefore, at the same age, a healthy elderly person with persistent anxiety is likely to have a lower life expectancy than an Alzheimer's patient without anxiety burden!
and……"

He emphasized, "King Abdullah is eleven years older than Prince Salman!"

"Hahaha!"

Prince Talal suddenly burst into laughter, his gaze towards Walid filled with approval.

"Well said! Walid's judgment was correct!"
The current Abdullah is more like Zhuge Liang from the ancient Chinese Romance of the Three Kingdoms, who devoted himself to the cause until his dying breath!
"If one insists on handling everything personally and worries excessively, one's life will not be long!"

"Grandpa, you still read Romance of the Three Kingdoms?" Walid was genuinely surprised this time.

Prince Talal stroked his neatly trimmed beard, his eyes gleaming with wisdom: "These past decades of 'seclusion' have been spent either thinking or reading to pass the time."

Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad said: 'Even though learning is as far away as China, one should seek it there.'

Why not read about Eastern wisdom?

At this point, Prince Talal smiled, "In fact, Abdullah wants Old Salman dead more than anyone else right now. Riyadh, the heart of the kingdom!"

Although Salman Sr. was previously ranked low in the Sudri faction and his rise to power was dramatic, let's not forget that he served as Chief Executive of Riyadh for decades.

He's been in charge of the military and political affairs here for decades, and he probably knows every single one of the rat holes in the area!
Abdullah himself may not know how many days he has left, and under these circumstances, he has no time to reorganize.

For the sake of his children and grandchildren, he then had to make peace with Salman the Elder, and even... he had to make peace with Muhammad.

Otherwise, the day Salman ascends to power will be the day the Abdullah family is destroyed.

Walid was truly astonished by this cheap grandfather.

This is a bit mind-blowing!

Based on public reports and historical analysis, it is clear that the time traveler initially looked down on this grandfather.

He could have seized power in two more years if he had just endured it, but he ended up revolutionizing himself.

But now it seems that this old man, who has been lying low for many years, is becoming more and more mysterious with age.

This situation...

This insight...

“Dad, Walid,”

Prince Alwaleed's voice broke the brief silence, "It's not that I want to argue with you."

I admit that Walid's analysis, in terms of logic and probability, makes a lot of sense and is highly likely to be true.

He paused, his eyes sharpening. "However, this is still not risk-free."

Markets have black swan events, politics has sudden deaths; as long as a person is alive, there is always uncertainty.

Upon hearing this, Walid simply shrugged slightly and looked at Alwaleed, "Second Uncle, how do you manage risk when you invest in projects?"

Alwaleed hadn't expected his nephew to ask this so suddenly, and instinctively answered,
"Before investing, conduct thorough due diligence to uncover all potential risks."
For a successful investment, the wording design is key; it's the final safety net.
Post-investment management: dynamic management determines success or failure. Of course…

He added, "I will do everything I can to help the companies I invest in succeed. I will try my best to match them with whatever resources they lack until they succeed."

Walid nodded, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

His gaze swept over the elders present, finally settling on his second uncle's face. His voice was clear and calm:
"So, what does Muhammad lack now?"
What he lacked was for King Abdullah to die before Crown Prince Salman.

After saying that, he spread his hands and stared intently at Alwaleed.

"As my grandfather said, if Abdullah wants to maximize his gains, he will make sure he dies before old Salman."

If he doesn't want to, we'll help him.

These words, like an icicle, instantly pierced the slightly lively atmosphere in the restaurant that had been created by the clash of wits.

Alwaleed was stunned when he heard this.

He understood what Walid meant.

At the crucial moment, either Abdullah will end his own life, or Salman will eliminate him.

It's definitely risk-free.

He opened his mouth, but felt his throat was dry, and in the end, he just let out a gasp of cold air in silence.

A chill crept up his spine.

That kid... he's too ruthless and cruel!

This kind of "resource matching"...

Indeed, it's a one-time solution.

but……

He subconsciously picked up his water glass and took a sip, suppressing the shock in his heart, and finally only managed a bitter smile.

Ok……

I must admit, I only know how to do business.

Politics is better left to his ruthless nephew.

Walid, having convinced his second uncle, released his grip on his thigh from under the table.

It must be said that the differences between China and other countries are still too great.

Western history always repeats itself, while Chinese history spirals upwards.

These techniques are ubiquitous in Chinese historical novels, such as Er Yuehe's Dynasty series.

He continued, "At the same time, from my observation, Muhammad's greater acceptance of secularization is actually more in our interest."

Furthermore, given the bond between Muhammad and me, and the potential he has demonstrated, betting on him is far more profitable.

Of course, the key point is that the 'miracle of God' that I am experiencing right now allows us to help each other at this stage.

Alwaleed nodded. "I did underestimate this boy before. Yesterday, he remained calm and composed under pressure, and his command was skillful. He truly has the makings of a great leader."

"Hahaha! Alright! My dear grandson, continue."

Prince Talal laughed heartily, gave Walid a thumbs-up, and his eyes were filled with undisguised admiration.

"Fourth point,"

Walid pressed on, speaking steadily, "By eliminating Prince Bandar, a rival within the family, we have completely monopolized the vital source of wealth and power in the arms trade."

This point is self-evident and needs no further explanation; I believe everyone agrees on its necessity.

Everyone nodded in agreement. This was indeed one of the most direct and substantial spoils of yesterday's operation, and a cornerstone for consolidating the position of the Talal faction.

"Fifth point,"

Walid's tone carried a hint of frank helplessness, "It's also my most realistic consideration."

I was in a coma for seven years, my foundation as shallow as a castle built on sand.

Neither political resources, personal networks, nor personal prestige are sufficient to support the family in confronting any powerful opponent.

Under these circumstances, the optimal solution is to leverage the momentum of internal conflicts within the Sudri faction, the momentum of Mohammed, the future powerful leader, and the momentum of the Salman family's reciprocation.

Instead of trying to stop a chariot with one's own strength.

The five reasons are clearly presented and logically sound. They directly confront historical grievances, provide a cold analysis of the current political landscape, and include a precise calculation of future interests.

After Walid finished speaking, he breathed a slight sigh of relief and looked at his grandfather, Prince Talal, sitting in the main seat, awaiting his final judgment.

However, Prince Talal slowly shook his head.

His sharp, deep gaze fixed on Walid, and after a few seconds of silence, he spoke.
"My dear grandson, your five reasons are logically clear, well-considered, and perfect. But..."

Your logic is fundamentally flawed!

……

(End of this chapter)