America: My Time

Chapter 1415 Opportunity
Chapter 1405 Opportunity
John also had his own ideas about South Korea, but his methods were much gentler. This time, John's offer of 'cooperation' wasn't just a simple test; it was more of a strategic maneuver. Even though his plan had failed this time—the oil capital hadn't taken the bait—would they give up their interests in South Korea? John didn't believe these greedy guys would let go. They were just waiting for the right moment, and now that John had made his move, they couldn't wait any longer.

John had already acquired a considerable amount of assets from South Korea and had also established an energy 'cooperation' with them. Now, he's setting his sights on South Korea's home appliance and even electronics industries. Can those old guys like Rockefeller tolerate this? Is Oil Capital willing to see this happen?
This is naturally unacceptable. They don't want to see John's power continue to grow. John has already gained a lot from Japan, even if it's just an exchange of benefits. But the old guys like Rockefeller don't want to see that. If John gets the assets from South Korea again this time, things will get out of their control, which is not what the old guys like Rockefeller want to see. They are afraid that John will start his own business.

It seems that John has now incorporated those assets into Bell Labs, but this does not mean that John will truly give up the semiconductor chip industry. If John were to develop it in South Korea, it would inevitably have a significant impact on their plans, since John still holds absolute technological control.

John is currently only shrinking his assets in the United States, while expanding in Europe and Asia. Moreover, John does not lack semiconductor chip industry assets; he has such assets in Europe. However, it is hard to say whether these assets will be split up again!
No one knows what John will go to this time. Although many can see that John is transferring assets and moving behind the scenes, they worry that he might start his own business, given his capabilities. Until the very last moment, no one dares to be careless.

“Don’t feel pressured. Just tell them my conditions. This is a one-time opportunity. If they don’t accept it, someone else will take it. It’s up to them to decide!” John continued, not wanting to burden Lee Boo-jin with a heavy responsibility.

He was playing an open game, without needing too many tricks. The benefits were right there, and whether the Koreans accepted them or not was up to them. Even if the Koreans didn't accept them, he had plenty of other options. The Europeans were a good choice, not to mention the old guys in the US. This time, as long as he decisively sold these assets, there wouldn't be any problems.

"Fine, I'll tell them everything. How they choose is beyond my control!"

Upon hearing this, John smiled calmly and said, "You couldn't influence them from the beginning. Those guys only see you as someone to be used. Your influence in their eyes is minimal. Instead of helping these guys, you should focus your energy on the retail industry and the industries in South Korea. Take this time to think carefully about what you're going to do next. The industries in South Korea will also be restructured in this consolidation, but I haven't decided how to complete the restructuring yet!"

John wasn't lying. He genuinely hadn't yet decided how to integrate his assets in South Korea. The current situation made him hesitant, as the assets there differed from those in Japan and China; heavy industry was the core focus. John intended to consolidate them into a heavy industry conglomerate!
However, John doesn't have that much time right now. The Asian financial crisis is still ongoing, and hastily integrating would not be good for him. He could easily be outmaneuvered by those guys in the US and pay a heavy price. So John hasn't thought things through, which is why the situation in South Korea has been dragging on.

"May I ask about your plan?" Lee Boo-jin was also very interested in this matter. She knew how huge the Korean assets John currently controlled were. If they were integrated, they could be comparable to Samsung.

"There are several options. One is to fully integrate it into a conglomerate, but the cost of doing so is quite high. Not everyone can manage such a large and complex asset. The second option is to divide it up and reorganize it into several group companies. The last option is to directly split it up and merge it into other groups. This option is easier to implement, but it also has many problems. Those guys from South Korea will definitely cause trouble, which will affect the stable development of the company!"

John was right. If it were completely split up and merged into other groups, unnecessary trouble would inevitably arise, especially at this time. The Korean people have no goodwill towards the United States. Even with guys like Soros taking the fall, if he did this, he would be rejected by them. If someone secretly stirs things up, it would cause huge losses to his plans, which is an outcome John did not want to see.

“I think the second point is better and it’s easier to stabilize the situation in a short time. The first and last points are too troublesome.” In this matter, Lee Boo-jin restrained her ambition. She did not follow in Christie’s footsteps and did not make a foolish choice because of her own selfishness.

"Yes, the second point is easier to succeed and will minimize the impact. But you should understand that this requires more talent, which you can't manage alone. That's why I hope you think it through. The automobile, steel, shipbuilding, heavy industry, energy, and banking sectors will be combined to form a heavy industry group. Other assets will be incorporated into those group companies. If those guys in the home appliance and electronics sectors are willing to cooperate, they can form a group!"

"So, the heavy industry group is the core, but isn't the car company going to be merged into Bentley Motors or General Motors?" Lee Boo-jin instantly understood John's plan. If the heavy industry group were formed, its influence would be considerable, and it would also have Russian technology behind it, which would definitely lead to rapid progress.

“I did have that idea before, but things are different now. With the changes in the United States, I have to make adjustments. Initially, I wanted to integrate all of South Korea’s assets into an independent conglomerate, but now that’s almost impossible. South Korea’s situation doesn’t allow for that!”

Plans are not static; they must be adapted to changes in the broader environment. Just like the situation in the United States, John is making changes little by little. It seems that Bell Labs has taken a big step forward, but this is only the beginning. What the final outcome will be depends on the changes after the Asian financial crisis!
"Is this the same in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan? Will China do the same?" Lee Boo-jin didn't make a decision immediately, but instead inquired about John's plans for other regions.

“It’s different. Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and China are different from South Korea, especially China. Their assets are enormous. Trying to integrate them would cause huge chaos. They need stable development and can’t afford any mistakes. The same goes for Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan.” Hearing John’s words, Lee Boo-jin understood. South Korea’s situation was indeed different because of their arrogance and the many ideas their people had. So, a swift and decisive approach was the best choice.

"No need to think about it anymore, I choose Heavy Industry Group!" Lee Boo-jin made her decision quickly. Although she could choose other companies, her influence would be affected. Moreover, she was worried that if she didn't dare to participate in the integration of Heavy Industry Group, she might never have another chance in the future.

This was a golden opportunity, one that wouldn't come again. Faced with this situation, she had no choice but to take a gamble, even if it meant giving up everything she had in retail, or even everything in entertainment and media. She didn't want her children to lose this top-tier heavy industry group in the future.

"Are you sure? This is no joke. If you make this decision, there's no going back. The integration of the heavy industry group will begin with you as the main person in charge. You should be aware of how many problems there are and how much pressure you'll face. I can only guarantee financial and technical support; everything else will be up to you."

John wasn't surprised by Lee Boo-jin's decision; it was exactly what he expected. After all, Lee Boo-jin wasn't Christie Turlington, nor was she any other woman. Her abilities were recognized by him!
"I've made up my mind, and I won't let you down, but I need time!" Lee Boo-jin said without hesitation, her eyes full of confidence. At this moment, she couldn't back down even a little, because she knew that as long as she had this idea, she would never get John's approval. She could only grit her teeth and persevere on such an important matter.

"Okay, I'll give you this opportunity. Funding is not a problem; the bank will provide you with satisfactory support. Technology is also not a problem; the old Russians will hand over their technology to those companies. All you have to do is integrate them into a heavy industry group without harming the companies themselves. As for Asian energy, you don't need to worry. I will arrange to separate the assets from the Korean side, giving you enough confidence."

Although John understood the considerable risks involved, he neither wanted to nor could back down. This plan wasn't just aimed at South Korea; it was also a warning to those old-timers in the US. If South Korea's heavy industry consolidation could be completed, those old-timers in the US would definitely get nervous.

"You really believe in me and want to give me this power?" Lee Boo-jin could hardly believe her ears. Although it wasn't the first time she had received John's approval or taken over John's assets in South Korea, this time was different. This was the vast majority of John's assets in South Korea, and this single asset was comparable to some of the conglomerates in South Korea.

“What do you have to worry about? Don’t you think I should trust you? Put aside your concerns and don’t have any worries. If you want it, I can give you everything.” John replied calmly. If he wanted to have more power to fight against those old guys like Rockefeller and against oil capital, this was the decision he had to make. Only by doing so could he be free from those guys’ ‘threat’ and have more freedom!

Before Lee Boo-jin could speak, John continued, "This is just the beginning. If you can't complete the integration and restructuring of the heavy industry group, it will eventually have to be split up and merged into other groups!"

“I understand, I won’t let you down. But do you really want a company in the home appliance and electronics sector? Do you want to transfer those projects in the US to South Korea?” Lee Boo-jin asked John, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"There is such a plan, but it's not absolutely necessary. Everything depends on the decision of those Koreans. Whether they accept it or not is not important. I've given them the opportunity; the outcome is up to their choice. I won't give up on electronics and semiconductor chips. I don't want you to hold me back, affecting companies in Taiwan and causing problems with their investments in China. What do you think the Koreans will choose? Is it possible for them to accept my 'goodwill'?"

"Difficult, almost impossible. Samsung will not agree; they are afraid of my involvement. Other conglomerates will not agree either. After all, there is considerable potential in this area, and no one will give up such a promising company. Even if the assets you offer are enough to entice them, it is unlikely."

Lee Boo-jin had a deep understanding of the South Korean conglomerates and was not optimistic about John's 'cooperation' plan. In her opinion, no matter how good the assets John offered, these guys would not let go unless John could completely control them and force them to compromise with absolute power. But now it seemed that this was impossible; those people would not give John such an opportunity.

“Let them be. I’ve given them the opportunity. The outcome is up to them. If they’re reluctant, I can make a deal with Europe. But you have a point. Those Koreans don’t have the same determination as the Japanese. They can’t do what the Japanese do. They’re too focused on immediate gains and don’t think long-term. In that respect, they’re far inferior to the Japanese!” John sighed, shook his head, and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes. He looked down on the Koreans; they were too arrogant and self-righteous.

(End of this chapter)