America: My Time

Chapter 145 Three Merchants
Chapter 145 Three Merchants

While John was monitoring VCD's progress, Consul General Hu contacted John again to discuss his return to China. Just a few months later, the consulate staff witnessed the frenzied expansion of John's companies in the United States and were deeply impressed by their rapid development and growth.

John's influence in the United States today is terrifying. Even though he is currently working behind the scenes, Americans have not forgotten this "genius." Every move he makes has an astonishing impact. His acquisitions have stirred up storms and refreshed everyone's understanding of "genius," revealing his terrifying abilities!

"I'm so sorry to trouble Mr. John to make this trip at this time!"

After receiving a call from the Consulate General, John took the initiative to visit them without any airs. He had already made arrangements for his trip back to China, which he originally planned to save for last. However, the Consulate General's attention to him made John change his plans!
"That's to be expected. If all goes well, I will travel from Tokyo to China in late May. There are some urgent matters to attend to in Japan, which will take a little longer. If possible, I will also make some investment arrangements in advance!"

John is now under immense pressure. This series of expansions has long been unbearable for the old guard, who are doing everything they can to hinder his expansion and the development of his companies. Once the retail network is established, suppliers will become a major problem, and those old guards might deliver a fatal blow at any time.

"As long as Mr. John is willing to invest in China, everything will be fine. May I ask in which areas Mr. John would like to invest?" Consul General Hu wanted to confirm the investment issue, as it was no small matter!
"The wafer fab is something we agreed on long ago, so there are no problems with that. As for clothing and food processing, we need to study them before making a decision. Now that the Southern Company has completed the acquisition, I need to have my own supply capacity to prevent being held hostage by others. If there are other suitable projects, I am also willing to invest."

"Mr. John has acquired Bell Labs and Hong Kong Telecom, and has also established his own automotive group. Has he never considered investing in this area?" The Consul General couldn't help but ask when he heard that John was still making the same investment decisions as before.

"While Bell Labs has a solid foundation in communications, entering the industry won't be easy. Turning research into tangible products takes time. As for Hong Kong Telecom, the British are no saints; they have no credibility whatsoever. If Hong Kong Telecom were in their own hands, they might honor their agreements, but now that's unlikely. Who knows when those bastards will overturn their promises and issue new communications licenses? I just don't know when that day will come. I hope it's later, giving me more time to prepare!"

"Since Mr. John knew this would happen, why did he still choose to acquire Hong Kong Telecom? Isn't this just a waste of time and money? Knowing that the other party is dishonest, why did he still choose to acquire Hong Kong Telecom? This is hard to understand!"

Seeing the Consul General's puzzled look, John smiled calmly and said, "Many people think that acquiring Hong Kong Telecom is about controlling Hong Kong's communications and making more profits, but that's not my goal. Admittedly, Hong Kong Telecom can make money, but it's now integrated into Bell Labs and has become part of Bell Labs. For Bell Labs, turning research into tangible, profitable products requires small-scale experimental operations, and Hong Kong Telecom is the perfect choice. You know, many products are great in the lab and meet all the requirements, but that's not the case in actual operation!"

John was right. Making money wasn't the goal for Hong Kong Telecom; the reliability of the tested products was paramount. With successful precedents, there would inevitably be greater gains. Compared to the global market, Hong Kong was insignificant. That's why, even knowing the British would resort to underhanded tactics, he still chose to acquire Hong Kong Telecom.

"I wonder if there's any possibility of cooperation in the automotive field? What are Mr. John's thoughts on Volkswagen?"

"Cooperation between the two sides is naturally not a problem, but for both of us, there are many issues to resolve, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to reach a cooperation agreement in the short term. I also know a little about the cooperation between China and Volkswagen. If we just want to learn about Volkswagen's production management and its experience, that's certainly not a problem. But if we want to obtain technology from Volkswagen, that's very difficult. They value technology highly, and even if we cooperate, we can only learn some outdated technologies, not the most cutting-edge ones. The reason why Volkswagen is hesitant about cooperation is mainly due to the current harsh economic environment, which makes them fearful and worried that they cannot withstand the impact of the market. Volkswagen values ​​the future market in China, not the present."

John paused slightly at this point, then continued, "As for the feasibility of our cooperation, it won't be very smooth. This isn't me intentionally making excuses, but the truth. Bentley Motors targets the high-end market, focusing on high-quality, luxury goods, and catering to the wealthy. Our business philosophies are inherently incompatible. As you know, Bentley Motors doesn't have any production facilities in the United States, and the United Auto Workers has targeted Bentley Motors several times." "Does Volkswagen value the future market in China? Doesn't Mr. John value the Chinese market?"

"Of course Bentley values ​​a market as large as China! If possible, I would also be willing to cooperate with China, and even provide some technology to establish our own industrial park in China if we could build a wholly-owned factory. Bentley Motors Group also has plans to launch mid-to-low-end car brands, but the group has only been established for a short time and needs time to integrate itself. Expanding rashly without solving its own problems would cause considerable trouble!"

John knew all too well how amazing China's future car market would be, and he was certainly envious. However, he truly lacked the capability, at least not now. The thought of those bastards from the Auto Workers Union filled John with rage, not to mention the old guys lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce and tear him apart at the slightest opening!

An American car company not building factories in the US inevitably gives the United Auto Workers (UAW) and those shameless scoundrels an excuse. Employment has always been a major concern for them. These bastards will only focus on the fact that Bentley hasn't created jobs for workers in the US, and will only think Bentley is at fault! Until these problems are resolved, we need to be cautious and not give the enemy any opportunity to attack; we must eliminate all potential threats.

Bentley Motors' development plan includes establishing an Asian automotive base, which requires time and planning, and must avoid attacks from the United Auto Workers. From parts to complete vehicle assembly, these are all issues the Bentley Group needs to address. For high-end cars, cost isn't a major concern, but cost control is crucial for mid-to-low-end brands, and it's not something that can be done just anywhere. Asia is the most suitable location to build a factory!

If possible, John would still prefer to build the factory in China, but there are many problems that need to be solved. Until they are solved, this idea can only be put aside for the time being. He does not yet have the ability to ignore all the rules, and he also needs to guard against the dark forces of his enemies, lest he be ambushed and his car group fall into a predicament from which it cannot extricate itself.

Bentley Motors needs time to develop; given enough time, it will overcome its difficulties. John, representing the United Auto Workers, also needs a plan, but with Bentley not yet fully integrated, it's too early to discuss anything. John understands perfectly well that the automotive group needs time, not frantic expansion, but it's clear the enemy won't give him ample time to prepare; wave after wave of undercurrents are constantly brewing.

In this situation, Maryra came up with an idea: to acquire a car manufacturing plant in the United States, focus on the high-end brand, and get rid of those bastards' entanglement. Bentley's design department was already working on product design, and the acquisition target had been identified. Polaris Industries, Inc. in Minnesota was one of Bentley's targets. This would be Bentley's shield for production in the United States; as long as this manufacturing plant existed, those bastards would be unable to continue to criticize the Bentley Motors Group.

Of course, the so-called high-end brand manufacturing is actually handmade, and talking about production volume is a joke, but it is enough to shut up the car wash workers' union and prevent them from continuing to impact Bentley Motors.

However, this is not an ordinary car company; it produces snowmobiles and American cruiser motorcycles. They haven't developed an all-terrain vehicle yet, so John thinks the idea is acceptable. It's a great asset, and acquiring it before the all-terrain vehicle is successful would yield good returns.

Having understood John's thoughts and concerns, all this information was quickly relayed back to China. The meeting ended pleasantly, with both sides generally satisfied and reaching a consensus and tacit understanding. John also took care of his itinerary in China, no longer needing to pay attention to it himself. He could now focus on Legendary Entertainment's expansion and even the suppression of Disney. John hated Disney with a passion because the shadows of those old guys were already behind it.

(End of this chapter)