America: My Time

Chapter 1417 Unexpected Changes

Chapter 1407 Unexpected Changes

John's strategy was an open one; the benefits were laid bare. Anyone with greed would be drawn in. Did those Koreans have greed? Of course they did. The Asian financial crisis had caused them considerable losses, so they were naturally eager to recover. Now that John had offered such an opportunity, how could they not seize it?

Over the course of more than a decade, John has developed a remarkable grasp of human nature. Under his overt schemes, unless you have absolutely no greed, you will be outmaneuvered. And it's not that John forces them into the game; they enter it willingly.

"I'd better go back and deal with these things as soon as possible. Time waits for no one. Just thinking about how many things need to be dealt with makes me feel heavy-hearted!" Lee Boo-jin said with a sigh. She wanted to rest, but the current situation didn't give her any time. There were so many things to deal with, and she didn't have a moment to spare!

"Why are you in such a hurry? What's there to worry about? Don't feel pressured. Don't worry about gains and losses. This asset restructuring is for long-term considerations, not for short-term gains. So temporary gains and losses are not important. As long as the foundation is intact, that's enough. If you rush back now, it will only make those guys more arrogant and think they are indispensable. In fact, the world can continue to function without anyone. No one is irreplaceable."

As soon as John finished speaking, Lee Boo-jin sighed again. While the words were true, she understood that if the Koreans didn't act soon, the opportunity might slip away. Now that she knew John's scheme, waiting any longer would be beneath her dignity; after all, she was the eldest princess of Samsung! Completely severing Lee Boo-jin from the Lee family was impossible, so she still had some ideas!

"I understand, but if I do nothing, I won't be able to get past my own conscience. My position forces me to do this!"

"Fine, since you've made your decision, I won't say anything more. But it's hard to say what the outcome will be. After all, I'm almost completely withdrawing from this industry this time and won't be putting in any more effort to push it forward. So everything is out of my control. You should think carefully about whether you want the Lee family of Samsung to get involved!"

John didn't want this scheme to cause problems between him and Lee Boo-jin. Although he wanted to scheme against the Koreans and the Japanese, he didn't want to scheme against the women around him. He wasn't that ruthless.

Lee Boo-jin nodded and said, "I understand. Everything has risks. I will only tell them everything I know. As for their choices and actions, that's not something I can interfere with. I'll just do my best!"

"That's for the best. Sometimes good intentions don't guarantee good results, especially when it comes to matters of interest. There are many problems then. Nobody knows what will happen next, and people's hearts are unpredictable. Your good intentions may be seen as a conspiracy or a scheme by others. So, acting within your means is the most important thing!"

That's true, but who can truly do it? Can John do it? Can Lee Boo-jin do it? It's difficult, very difficult for both of them. If John could also let go of everything and not care about anyone, none of this would happen. Lee Boo-jin is the same; it seems there are huge profits in front of them, but whether they can grasp them depends on themselves. If those guys fall into greed and are blinded by profit, there will ultimately be no good outcome.

John's plan was an open scheme; the benefits were right in front of them. Whether they could seize those benefits at the right time depended on their own reactions and abilities. John had said what needed to be said, and he wouldn't offer any further advice, no matter what happened next. Everyone must bear the responsibility for their choices, especially since this was a scheme they themselves had orchestrated.

John had no intention of making South Korea the centerpiece of his business empire. After all, he knew exactly what would happen to South Korea in the future. Whether it was South Korea or Japan, they were just pawns in his game.

Of course, after saying all this, this is also a test for Lee Boo-jin. How she chooses to proceed is up to her. John has given her the opportunity, so now it depends on her ability and her character.

“I will do what I can. I’m just fulfilling my duty. No matter what, I come from the Lee family of Samsung. Regardless of what they think or how they see it, I will do my best. As for the final outcome, that’s beyond my control. It all depends on their own decision!” John was very satisfied with Lee Boo-jin’s words. At least she wasn’t blinded by money like Christie Turlington and couldn’t see things clearly.

"You understand, that's good. Just do everything your way, I have no problem with it!"

Although Lee Boo-jin's choice to cooperate with John's plan had a positive impact, he didn't want to see it happen and didn't want her to be involved in this grand scheme. However, things were beyond his control; Lee Boo-jin was determined to do it, and he couldn't stop her. So, it all depended on the fate of those Koreans—whether they could maintain their composure under the pressure of these interests and make the right choice. After receiving John's consent, Lee Boo-jin didn't want to stay any longer and immediately took action, returning directly to South Korea. She dared not use the phone to relay such an important message, fearing further complications. The best option was to personally return to South Korea and tell those Koreans everything.

After Lee Boo-jin left, John sighed. The allure of profit was strong; those Koreans would likely become increasingly entangled, and they might even do something more shocking. Knowing the Koreans as he did, John knew their greed was no less than that of the Japanese. Under the lure of such enormous profits, they would abandon their American 'partners'.

These guys in Japan had already made contact with those old fogies in the US, and had even been plotting this all along. Now that John was offering such a huge benefit, their arrogance would inevitably lead them to make a crazy and foolish decision. However, all of this was irrelevant to John. He wouldn't stop it, nor would he push it further. Smart people, the more sophisticated their schemes, didn't need to do much, because those greedy guys would perfect everything themselves!
Human greed knows no bounds. When faced with absolute profit, any sense of kinship can be abandoned, let alone the Samsung Lee family, who have no kinship to speak of. Unless they remain unmoved and refuse to get involved, once they do, the Koreans will take action, and someone will approach them to discuss "cooperation." However, whether they can meet their demands is another matter.

Just as John was pondering his next move and considering whether the Asian financial crisis had any issues with his plans, a pair of delicate hands began massaging his head. The more critical the moment, the greater the pressure John had to bear. Although everything seemed to be under control, there were always risks involved, especially with such a major event. The pressure John faced was immense, and a slight misstep could result in heavy losses!
"Have you been involved in the business operations?" John's voice rang out, and the pair of jade-like hands on his head paused for a moment!
"I think I'd better pass. I don't have that kind of talent!" Faced with such a tempting offer, Zeng Li still refused. It wasn't that she wasn't interested, but that she was self-aware and knew her own limitations.

"No special talent is required. It's just about taking over some unimportant assets. In this asset restructuring, many unimportant assets will be spun off, and many other assets will also undergo changes. Think about it!"

"No, I don't have such big ambitions!"

John sighed when he heard Zeng Li's answer. She was too laid-back. If it were someone else, they probably wouldn't have given such an answer. After all, interests are powerful, and even a small portion of assets can generate astonishing profits.

“Alright, I respect your choice!” John originally planned to spin off the food processing assets in China, but now he has to give up. He had been thinking of restructuring the assets, but now he has to abandon that idea and focus his energy on the Asian financial crisis and the fight against those old guys like Rockefeller.

John originally thought the Koreans would need some time to consider, as he had a very bad impression of them. However, the outcome this time exceeded his expectations. Just as John was preparing to make some more arrangements, the phone rang. The Koreans had given their results. John didn't know how Lee Boo-jin had spoken to them, but they made the decision so quickly!
"Are you sure they want to trade electricity and energy with me, instead of electronics and home appliance companies?" John frowned after hearing Lee Boo-jin's words on the phone. The decision those Koreans made was completely different from what he had expected. It was as if they were deliberately targeting his plans, preventing him from developing in the electronics and home appliance sectors. Did they really think electronics and home appliances were that important?

"I'm certain that the decision has been made on this side, and they're willing to offer some power plants as assets in exchange!"

"It seems they can't hold on much longer. Is there a problem with the supply of resources to the Koreans? Otherwise, why would these guys make such a decision?" John quickly realized the crux of the problem. Although he had reached an agreement with the Koreans, given their current situation, they couldn't hold out for long. After all, they didn't have enough foreign exchange. Even if he was willing to provide them with resources, foreign exchange was still essential. Russia wasn't doing well either, so the Koreans had to spend real money to buy resources. That's why these guys made such a decision!
Could he accept the deal with South Korea? John was pondering the many issues behind it. This was no small matter. If he accepted, it would mean that his influence in South Korea's energy market would increase, and the profits he could gain would also increase. However, he would have to pay a considerable price in the short term. After all, South Korea did not have enough foreign exchange, and he could not cut off the supply to these power plants. There were many things to deal with in this situation!
Lee Boo-jin wasn't surprised that John could see through the reason behind it so quickly. She said, "The energy supply here is indeed in serious trouble. It can't last much longer. If it continues, there may be a power outage. That's why everyone decided to trade these assets with you."

Lee Boo-jin didn't intend to hide anything about this matter. After all, it was impossible to hide such a big thing. South Korea's current situation was what it was, and they were not like Japan. They didn't have an undersea transport pipeline, and relying solely on shipping would take a lot of time. Moreover, they were indeed out of funds.

“Alright, I agree to their terms. You can let Asia Energy take over the details. They will talk to these guys. If you have the time and energy, you can also get involved!” John agreed to the terms of the exchange without hesitation. If he could expand his control over South Korea’s energy resources, it would mean that he could supply South Korea with his resources from Russia. With major customers like South Korea and Japan, energy development on Sakhalin Island would no longer be a problem!
However, this condition from South Korea also has some impact on John's plan, requiring some adjustments. If South Korea's resource problems are serious, they will inevitably offer a considerable number of power plants, which would present John with a good opportunity to control South Korea's electricity. Faced with such a 'good thing,' John naturally wants to seize the time to complete everything.

As for whether those Koreans had other ideas, that wasn't John's concern. As long as this matter was in his favor, that was enough for him; he didn't care about anything else. Opportunity knocks but once; how could he possibly miss such a chance to control Korea's electrical energy?

Those guys in South Korea face considerable pressure and numerous shocks, but none of that applies to John. Asian Energy's control of these power plants will allow John to further improve his operations in South Korea and provide greater assurance in heavy industry. Electricity supply is crucial for industrial giants, which is why South Korea made such a request and why he is facing this situation.

Although he had some concerns, John still agreed. Given the circumstances, John had no choice. If he didn't make a decision, he would inevitably be greatly affected and suffer a huge blow!
(End of this chapter)