Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 254 Raising the Investment Threshold Single-handedly (5000 words)
P.S.: Sorry, I had some things to take care of today, so this is the only update.

The single-seat version of the F-15 is called the J-8, and the two-seat version is called the J-8 Modified!

The original J-8 project was completely halted!

The original J-8 project was supposed to be finalized and put into service this year.

But now that we have the full suite of F-15 technologies, everyone from top to bottom feels that the old J-8 is no longer up to par.

The reason for using this name is to mislead the outside world.

That way, even if someone knows about this project, they won't suspect the F-15.

Even if someone has collected relevant information before, they will no longer pay attention.

The F-14 is also known as the J-9, which is also used to lull the outside world into a false sense of security.

If these two fighter jets were to make their debut, it would surely surprise the world!
Because once a project starts, many people will know about it.

If you give it a different name, it will easily attract the interest of other people!
Just like now, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation changed the F-15 project to the J-8, so others still think it's the original project.

The current development trend of fighter jets is high altitude and high speed.

The MiG-25 was the first twin-triple fighter jet, with a maximum speed of Mach 3.2 and a maximum flight altitude of over 37,000 meters.

There are three types of MiG-3 aircraft: the MiG-25, the Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, and the MiG-31.

The MiG-25 was leaked a couple of years ago, and only then did the outside world realize that it used a large amount of stainless steel.

The MiG-31 entered service in 1981.

Of course, decades later, drones will reach this standard.

This time, all of China's land, sea, and air equipment will be upgraded and replaced.

Because what Li Song brought was not only the technology related to fighter jets, but also the supporting ammunition!
The superiors instructed us to absorb and digest the information, first imitate it, and then upgrade and optimize it on that basis.

This is actually the development path of our country's military equipment.

Li Song was of course unaware of these plans on the mainland, and even if he had known, there was nothing he could do but take advantage of the early stages and release all the relevant information at once.

While releasing information piecemeal like toothpaste might increase one's influence, the longer the timeline is stretched, the more likely it is to reveal flaws!
Given the current level of public attention, it would be difficult to find a way to transport thousands of tons of supplies on a large scale again.

As for what to do with these good things on the mainland, Li Song doesn't need to worry about it at all.

These leaders are far wiser than I am.

The decision on how to proceed is naturally up to these leaders.

Li Song arrived at the small Western-style houses in Shanghai, which were somewhat old.

The exterior can be ignored, but the interior must be renovated later.

Li Song arrived at the small Western-style building and first looked at the newspapers from the mainland.

There's so much to see in the newspapers.

Li Song saw that the newspaper had devoted a large section to reporting on the Tour of Taihu Lake Motorcycle Cross-Country Race!

There are now over one hundred participating teams!
And the names of all the participating teams were written down.

America, Brazil, Italy, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, notebooks, etc.

The vast majority of these are racing teams from private clubs.

Amy's various names, such as Son of Rebellion, Son of Chaos, Los Angeles Independence, and Savage, are a jumbled mess.

There are also some international teams, such as Yamaha, Honda, Indiana, Ducati, etc.!

The newspapers said it was an international event.

Then Li Song also saw news about the movie "Jinling," which stated in the newspaper that it was a historical film.

There wasn't much description of what impact this film actually had.

Because it's pointless to say anything now; we'll only know how it is once it's filmed and released.

In addition, there is the animated film "Interstellar Mercenaries," produced by the Shanghai Film Animation Studio, which is a bestseller in Europe and America.

It is clearly stated that this animated film was commissioned by Hong Kong Wonderful Magazine and produced by the Film Animation Studio.

In addition, Phoenix TV in Hong Kong is co-producing a Three Kingdoms TV series with the mainland!

The newspapers gave these positive reviews.

"Mr. Li, I just received a message." Li Song was reading the newspaper in the living room when Section Chief Zhou came in from outside!
"What news?" Li Song knew from these words that the news was important.

"Ambassador San Dezi, on behalf of MTU, submitted a letter of protest to our country!"

"We protest our use of infringing patents from Baisheng Company to produce construction machinery!"

"Our superiors replied to Ambassador Sandezi that we are strictly following international patent law, and Baisheng Company has already obtained the relevant patents for the engine," Section Chief Zhou said.

Li Song knew that this company was a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, and that the engine for the Leopard 2 tank was produced by this company.

"My superiors asked me to tell Mr. Li that there are absolutely no problems on our side in mainland China!"

"Mr. Li only needs to focus on overseas markets!"

“If Mr. Li needs our help, we in the mainland can also assist!” Section Chief Zhou added.
Li Song shook his head upon hearing this: "We can handle things abroad!"

"Hong Kong Island is now a Commonwealth country!"

"Brother Zhou, you know that nobody in Europe is willing to submit to anyone else."

"We have also made preparations with the court."

"Since our company is able to apply for international patents, we are confident that we can win the lawsuit."

"It's just that this company is a bit unreasonable!"

"I heard that the car company in San Dezi is going to form a joint venture with the mainland?" Li Song knew that the mainland had been negotiating with Volkswagen since 1978, and an agreement was not reached until 1984, which took a full six years.

"We've been talking about it since 2007 or 2008, but there hasn't been much progress!"

"Recently, their company agreed to our conditions, but we refused!"

"The main problem is the other party's conditions. Mr. Li, your conditions are far too demanding!"

"They want fifty percent of the shares!"

"Moreover, their technology licensing is not as complete as Mr. Li's!"

"But the other party is unwilling to take only 35% of the shares!"

"Moreover, the other party is quite demanding in terms of technology licensing."

"So it's hard to say how this matter will develop."

"Kyoto doesn't want to talk anymore, but the local authorities still want to talk."

"The bottom line for progress is 35%, and we also need full technology licensing!"

"If we continue with the previous 50% shareholding structure, I'm afraid there will be a lot of opposition!" Section Chief Zhou said in one breath.

Li Song chuckled upon hearing this.

I am a catfish!
He used his technology to invest in the shares of a joint venture with a mainland company.

If other foreign companies contribute only technology and equipment in the future, their shareholding in the joint venture cannot exceed that of the original foreign company.

Because if any of these officials talks about having more shares than they do, many people will try to make them lose face.

In the future, the only way for other foreign companies to gain more shares is to acquire not only technology, but also equipment and money!

In other words, Li Song single-handedly raised the bar for joint ventures.

Unlike in the past, many companies will no longer only know how to make money from the mainland.

The original plan was to exchange market access for technology, but after decades, they still haven't fully mastered the technology!
The main reason is that these foreign companies have cultivated certain interest groups in mainland China.

These interest groups are unwilling to develop their own technologies.

It is precisely because of the "market for technology" approach that our path in the field of internal combustion engines has become increasingly narrow!
Later, we had to develop in the field of new energy.

"We'll all invest and do our own thing!"

There's absolutely no need to compare it to my investments.

"I am Chinese after all, and they are foreigners after all," Li Song said with a smile, putting on a nice statement.

Section Chief Zhou chuckled upon hearing this: "Mr. Li, I will pass this on to my superiors!"

Section Chief Zhou also saw it very clearly: Li Song had made such a great contribution to the mainland, and the technology, including materials technology and various process technologies, was fully licensed, yet he only wanted 35% of the shares.

This is a benchmark, a threshold!
Anyone who doesn't follow these standards and thresholds from now on will be in trouble!

That's just making yourself uncomfortable.

"Our company can also license technologies, such as powertrain systems and chassis suspension!"

"Other car manufacturers will simply replace the shell at that time."

"Then we'll change the brand to another car manufacturer's logo!" Li Song was ready to stir things up.

Because decades later, most of these joint ventures were relying on the mainland market to survive.

Li Song's vision for the car factory was to dominate the domestic market.

All I need to do is secure the domestic market. As for the international market, we'll deal with that later!
"Thank you, Mr. Li. I will report this to my superiors." Section Chief Zhou knew, of course, that Li Song's automobile factory had more advanced technology than the technology licensed to us from abroad.

The key issue is that foreign car manufacturers have not been able to fully license their technology like Li Song has. In the initial stages, they still rely on imported parts for assembly!
"Moreover, because of Mr. Li's reasons, McDonnell Douglas made huge concessions!"

"McDonnell Douglas is willing to transfer the technology of the DC-10 aircraft, as well as part of the production line!"

"The problem also lies in the failure to reach an agreement on the proportion of the joint venture!"

"They also want a 50% stake in the joint venture!"

"But their financial situation isn't good; they don't have enough funds!"

"So they are willing to use part of the production line as an investment."

"The higher authorities haven't made a decision yet, and the Aramco government hasn't commented on the deal either!" Section Chief Zhou added.

"In that case, McDonnell Douglas is quite sincere." Li Song knew that McDonnell Douglas's terms were so favorable because of his own reasons.

However, Li Song wasn't sure if the deal would go through, as the West sometimes pulled some unexpected tricks.

Because sometimes, even after cooperation agreements have been reached and signed, the Western governments will stop them for various reasons!

Sometimes, these companies coming to talk is actually part of a conspiracy.

Their main purpose in coming to talk was to probe which technologies the other party had the most urgent needs for!
In addition, they can use the pretext of negotiations to delay the R&D time in mainland China!
Li Song stood up and went to the window. Looking at the scenery outside, he said, "McDonnell Douglas has been grounded this year due to two major accidents."

"This has resulted in the loss of many orders!"

"Foreign countries have given this model of aircraft a nickname: the King of Air Disasters!"

"So their financial situation must not be very good."

"Their next step will probably be to develop a new commercial airliner."

"This will require another investment!"

"I believe McDonnell Douglas is very sincere, it's just that the Aramco government might have some issues."

“If the mainland is interested in cooperating with McDonnell Douglas, I suggest waiting a bit longer.”

"After my business jet from Chang'an Aircraft Manufacturing Plant takes its first test flight next year, their terms will be even more favorable."

Because Li Song knew the character of Westerners.

If you can't make it, if you don't have a technological breakthrough, then they'll impose all sorts of restrictions and then sell it to you at a high price.

Once you achieve a technological breakthrough, they will dump their products at low prices.

Because your technology has just made a breakthrough, it is definitely not as good as others in terms of cost and process!

They're dumping their products at rock-bottom prices to make your investment go down the drain.

Unless you grit your teeth and develop a new generation of technology, but the investment in the previous generation of technology has not been recovered.

So even if the Aramco government tries to obstruct things, as long as the mainland makes a breakthrough in this area, they will open up sales to the mainland!

"Next year, with our low prices, we should be able to assemble the civil aviation technology equipment!"

"At that time, we can also ask America to issue us an airworthiness certificate and flight permit!"

"Of course, as a Hong Kong-based company, obtaining European airworthiness certificates and flight permits should not be a problem for us!"

"It's just to provide another option and avoid being made things difficult for others," Li Song said.

Li Song, the founder of Aircraft Company, also targeted the mainland market.

However, to open international routes, you still need flight permits and airworthiness certificates!
"I will convey Mr. Li's suggestion to the higher authorities." Section Chief Zhou realized that Li Song and his group had calculated things very well!
McDonnell Douglas's three-engine aircraft are relatively low in cost-effectiveness as commercial passenger planes, but they are perfectly fine as cargo planes!

The cargo planes of the same model as the King of Air Disasters remained very active for decades afterward.

Li Song added, "But when negotiating with them, we need to be careful that they don't try to find out about our technology!"

"For example, with technologies like aircraft main beams, they will definitely ask where the main beams are manufactured. If we say they are manufactured in our country, then they will know that we already have the equipment to process these main beams!"

"Many foreign companies use the guise of negotiations to find out the level of other people's technology."

Upon hearing this, Section Chief Zhou asked in surprise, "Is that so?"

"Business is all-encompassing!"

"And even if a contract is signed with a Western company, they have countless ways to terminate it!"

"When dealing with people from the West, unexpected things can happen before you even get your goods!"

"So I personally think we shouldn't talk to McDonnell Douglas for the time being. They are very likely trying to find out what level our aircraft manufacturing technology has reached."

"After all, our company, Baisheng, has applied for a patent for a civil aircraft. Western companies are not sure if mainland China can manufacture such an aircraft!"

Section Chief Zhou nodded upon hearing this: "I didn't expect there to be so many twists and turns in a technical negotiation!"

Li Song turned around, picked up his teacup, and took a sip of tea: "In business, all sorts of methods are used."

"Sometimes they even frame me!"

Li Song knows too many cases; this is the same practice within the West.

"Brother Zhou, go report to your work. Contact me immediately if you have any news!" Li Song said after seeing that Section Chief Zhou had nothing else to do.
"Okay!" Section Chief Zhou quickly went back to write the report.

In the afternoon, Zhu Ling returned, and her expression was strange when she saw Li Song!

"Sister Lin, what's with that expression?" Li Song asked.

"Someone recommended me to audition for the Three Kingdoms TV series. Did you ask someone to help you?" Zhu Ling asked Li Song with her big eyes.

"No, last time I offered to help you out, you said you'd finish filming the movie first!"

"Actually, you didn't have many scenes in the movie. You could have gone to the TV series set after filming!" Li Song guessed it was an arrangement made by higher-ups!
"You still say it wasn't you who helped? Today the announcement came out that my scenes only need to be filmed for half a month!"

"And for the Three Kingdoms TV series production team, my scenes are scheduled for a month later!"

"Thank you!" Zhu Ling said, hugging Li Song after hearing him say that.

"I really didn't ask anyone for help with this; it must have been the higher-ups!"

"Which role did you play in the Three Kingdoms?" Li Song asked curiously.

"My character is Sun Shangxiang!"

“I haven’t seen the script yet!” Zhu Ling replied.

Li Song nodded. Actually, there weren't many female characters in the Three Kingdoms period.

The characters with the most screen time in the Three Kingdoms period are Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Yuan Shao, Dong Zhuo, and Lü Bu!

Because Romance of the Three Kingdoms is originally a historical war film.

This time, Li Song requested that it be a TV series, filmed in as much detail as possible, and with a longer shooting time.

Moreover, Romance of the Three Kingdoms is only suitable for television adaptations because it has too many storylines!
"Now many people want to join the cast of the Three Kingdoms TV series."

"Because they give out so much money!"

"The actors' salaries are paid according to the standards for actors in Hong Kong."

“That will cost you a lot more money!” Zhu Ling said.

"If the pay is different, then the person who gets paid more in the crew will think that it is more important."

"Those who receive less money will feel it's unfair, so we simply try to treat everyone equally. However, actors from Hong Kong Island receive an additional subsidy!"

"Generally speaking, actors on Hong Kong Island earn more!"

Zhu Ling nodded upon hearing this: "The actors from Hong Kong Island are dressed more fashionably than those from the mainland."

"The actresses are very beautiful!"

When Li Song saw that Zhu Ling was still looking at him as she said this, he explained, "The magazine and the TV station's affairs are not my responsibility!"

"I'm in charge of BMW motorcycles, and other factories as well."

"So I don't know which artists and staff Phoenix TV sent for the Three Kingdoms TV series."

"With such a large investment in a TV station, how can you not keep an eye on things to prevent problems?" Zhu Ling found it somewhat unbelievable.

"Companies have their own rules and regulations."

"As long as the rules and regulations are followed, no one can pocket a single penny of the company's money."

"I also control the major directions!"

"If I were to manage everything, even if I had three heads and six arms, it wouldn't be enough!"

"When you're a boss, all you have to do is assign tasks; leave the rest to your subordinates!"

Zhu Ling nodded: "Mm!"

Let's cook!

"Eat your meal and get some rest!"

"You're up to no good again!"

"I like doing bad things!"

(End of this chapter)