Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2689 The Iron Lady Who Destroyed Her Family to Help Her Friends (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
Will you agree to her request?

Hearing his wife's question, Li Yi'an did not answer immediately, but weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

Although the SEA is the most important member of the Commonwealth and plays an increasingly important role within it.

The establishment of the sterling zone, centered on the British pound, also boosted the British economy, preventing Britain's influence from plummeting as it had in another world.

However, in reality, no one was able to reverse Britain's decline.

This is not because the Labour Party has ruined the country, nor because the Conservative Party is incompetent.

Rather, it is objective reality. What is the most crucial factor?
It refers to the population.

The UK population is currently around 5620 million, and at this point, population growth is slow, with the aging trend beginning to emerge.

With a population of 5620 million, before World War II, Britain, with a population of 4800 million, was able to support industrialization and a complete industrial system.

However, in the second half of the 20th century, with the rise of automobiles, airplanes, and home appliances, it was impossible to achieve this without a total population of at least 100 million.

Many industrial sectors simply cannot be established, whether they want to or not; they simply don't have enough people to fill the production lines. As times progress, industrialization develops rapidly, expanding wider and wider, with increasingly specialized divisions of labor, and new industries constantly emerge, requiring an ever-growing number of workers.

At that time, a population of 5600 million was naturally insufficient to support its industrialization.

The so-called British economic recession is actually fundamentally due to population issues—there aren't enough people to fill the production lines!

The shortage of labor in the market is a real problem. The competition between the service and manufacturing sectors for labor is also an unavoidable issue.

The reason why Western European countries introduced immigrants was essentially due to a labor shortage.

However, immigration has brought a series of social problems. Although the last terrorist attack slowed down the pace of immigration to Britain, it could not stop the trend.

Let's leave that aside for now.

In short, from a demographic perspective, Britain's decline was inevitable because it had to choose between the service and manufacturing sectors.

This will not be changed by the will of the state; it is a natural selection of the market.

When a waiter's monthly income is the same as, or even slightly higher than, that of a factory worker tightening screws, it's all too clear what an ordinary person would choose.

After all, given a choice, no one would choose to tighten a screw.

Therefore, the eventual hollowing out of British industry was predictable, and even inevitable.

This is why Li Yi'an, who was somewhat "indignant" about Britain's post-World War II behavior many years ago, is now at peace with it. In fact, his indignation was not about anything else, but about the overall situation of the Cold War.

If Britain had been able to maintain its hegemonic position instead of dismantling its colonial empire, the Cold War would have unfolded differently, not only avoiding a unilateral dominance by the US and the USSR, but also benefiting the SEA through such competition.

After all, for many years, Chang'an had been relying on Britain's influence.

Using someone else's coattails to intimidate another is a completely different situation from borrowing someone else's power. After all, as Britain declines, its coattails will only become less and less effective.

Just like when the US and the Soviet Union were dealing with Britain, they would consider the SEA's position.

If Britain hadn't chosen to degenerate, the world would at least be a three-way power struggle, and the SEA would only need to stay behind them and let them fight. Why should it take the lead itself?

However, that's how things are; you can stop it for a while, but you can't change everything.

Since Britain's decline is inevitable, the remaining question is how to devour as much of the delicious food as possible during this whale's fall!

And this is precisely the opportunity that Thatcher brought.

Historically, during her second term, Thatcher initiated sweeping reforms of the British economy. Opponents criticized her for damaging Britain's industrial base. Thatcher's response was that only by radically changing the structure and pushing Britain into global competition could the viability of British industry and the quality of its products be improved.

In this process, Margaret Thatcher first sold the state-owned British Telecom company to private shareholders, thus beginning a large-scale privatization process. By the time she stepped down, she had successively privatized industries such as steel, shipbuilding, oil, hydropower, and natural gas. She also sold a large number of public housing units to individuals.

It was from that time onward that Britain essentially had no state-owned enterprises—after the British Industrial Revolution, a series of state-owned enterprises established by the British government at a cost of tens of billions of pounds were privatized.

Did her policy damage Britain's industrial base?

That's not important. What's important is that this is a real opportunity to buy up British stocks at rock-bottom prices. Over the past century, the British government has invested in so many companies, not just steel and shipbuilding, but also many leading companies in the industrial manufacturing sector, such as the famous Rolls-Royce, which, although a private company, has the government as its largest shareholder.

Rolls-Royce, a major manufacturer of aircraft engines, marine propulsion systems, and nuclear power plants, is one of the world's four largest aircraft engine manufacturers. Its technology in these fields is beyond question. Many of BMW's engine technologies originate from Rolls-Royce.

If we can take advantage of the privatization opportunity to acquire British companies, including Rolls-Royce, that would be a real bargain!
"If we can achieve a full acquisition, it would be equivalent to taking over the essence of Britain's two-hundred-year industrial revolution!"

Just a moment's thought made Li Yi'an restless, for the reason that such opportunities are extremely rare in history.

Why do many late-developing industrial countries always have various shortcomings? Ultimately, it's because of their lagging basic science, which is precisely Britain's strongest point. Even the United States cannot compare with it, after all, Britain is the birthplace of modern science and industry.

You can mock the Royal Navy for having only a pitiful few ships left, but their technology in gas turbines and many other components is something that outsiders can only envy and covet.

"In other words, no matter what, that lady has to be brought to the stage..."

Yes, in British history, no prime minister has ever been able to push through privatization policies so stubbornly despite widespread opposition, ultimately selling out Britain like the "Iron Lady"!

Although she inherited a truly disastrous situation, Britain was essentially paralyzed by the existing welfare system. Industry, controlled by the state, lacked vitality. Income tax was a staggering 83%, while inflation reached 22%. Her radical reforms revitalized Britain's stagnant economy. Extensive privatization of industry revitalized the economy. A vigorous crackdown on and weakening of labor unions reduced the cost of layoffs for businesses, lowered taxes, and ultimately rebuilt British industry and the middle class.

However, no one can change the fact that Britain's centuries of accumulated achievements in the Industrial Revolution were also lost.

From then on, Britain revitalized its economy, but a comprehensive industrial decline was inevitable. By the 21st century, it couldn't even manufacture rifles anymore.

Therefore, she was extremely hated, and even after her death, some people still celebrated her passing.

"The Iron Lady..."

With the nickname taunting him, Li Yi'an began to plan ahead, deciding that he should prepare the funds before Thatcher's massive fire sale.

First, I need to call Stana and Kirsty over. Buying at rock-bottom prices requires skill. Although SEA is a member of the Commonwealth and I have a good relationship with Elizabeth, if I buy everything, the British will definitely be unhappy.

After all, the British were simply privatizing; they weren't stupid. In fact, the word "stupid" has nothing to do with them.

"In other words, it needs to be done in a decentralized manner."

The woman on the other end of the phone is the richest woman in Britain—yes, Stana is not just the "supermarket queen" anymore, but also the richest woman in Britain.

"From the company's perspective, ports and some railways should be suitable for the company. Hmm, and maybe water and electricity too. These basic utilities are indispensable to the lives of ordinary people..."

As a successful business queen, after decades of experience in the business world, Stana has long had her own insights into business management.

Li Yi'an listened quietly to her ideas. Her perspective was based on Carrefour's own business operations; the company needed to import goods through ports and transport goods by rail. As for water and electricity, these were basic necessities that could generate a steady stream of profits.

That's a good choice.

In fact, Li Yi'an himself is not interested in these things. After all, he has long passed the stage of "making money". Compared with making money itself, he prefers to buy up British technology at bargain prices - technology-based industrial enterprises and pilot laboratories, which are what SEA needs.

As for telephone companies, they are not important at all, because the UK's largest mobile phone company and internet company are controlled by themselves. As for those wired telephone companies, their future elimination is inevitable.

"Well, although most of those companies have the problem of being overstaffed, it is undeniable that they are high-quality assets. The only question is—will Downing Street sell those companies?"

Faced with Stana's question, Li Yi'an pondered for a moment, then said:

"They will, even if not now, they will in the future, so you need to prepare your ammunition."

"This could cost billions of pounds."

Stana was silent for a moment, then said:

“There is absolutely no problem with that. I can raise £50 billion in the next six months, and maybe £100 billion in about a year. Any more than that might affect the company’s operations. But if you come across such a good opportunity in the future, remember to call me. However, there must actually be such an opportunity.”

Li Yi'an didn't speak until the richest woman hung up the phone.

"Such a great opportunity to buy at the bottom is rare."

(End of this chapter)