dognovel Chapter 1686 Lu Bu Battles 3 Heroes
Chapter 1686 Lu Bu Battles 3 Heroes
Chapter 1686 Lü Bu Battles Three Heroes
"I don't understand what this old guy meant?"
As they left the Toyota factory, Gu Litong frowned and asked, "So, are they willing to talk, or unwilling?"
"Hmph, that depends on how you negotiate."
Clearly, Wang Xiansheng understood, and said with a snort, "Moreover, the other party in the negotiations is not satisfied with us."
"Looks like we gave them face."
Liu Yang has a somewhat ruthless temper. He squinted and said, "You can't force a deal. I think this negotiation is destined to be a waste of time."
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Gu Litong raised his chin, gesturing to Li Xuewu, who had been silent since getting on the bus, and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"Hmm—" Li Xuewu let out a long breath and explained, "I was thinking about the negotiations that just ended and reviewing the process."
"Hmm? Do you have any ideas?" Wang Xiansheng and the others all focused their attention on him, clearly having long regarded him as their leader.
"Toyota has big ambitions. I thought that by using the 'Motor City's magic weapon, they would take the bait, but I didn't expect—"
Li Xuewu paused here, and said helplessly, "If our car city project had already been launched, it wouldn't be in such a difficult situation as it is today."
"To put it bluntly, they just look down on us!"
Dong Qiaomu frowned and said, "That old devil, I knew he was going around in circles talking nonsense, so this is what he meant!"
"A poor man has little ambition, a thin horse has long hair; who can blame us for being inferior to others?"
Yang Aidong was an honest man, and he couldn't help but sigh, "Well, today wasn't a complete waste; I've learned something."
"You, Old Yang, just love to make sarcastic remarks!"
Gu Litong glared at him with displeasure and said, "You didn't speak up when we needed you, so who are you blaming now?"
He was speaking out for Li Xuewu, saying that it was acceptable to criticize Toyota, but Li Xuewu should not be blamed for incompetence.
Old Yang also realized what was happening and said with a wry smile, "Who can I blame? I'm incompetent but I still want to get by with the brothers. I'll do whatever they ask me to do."
He looked at Li Xuewu and gestured, "Don't take it to heart, I was just saying it casually, I didn't mean anything by it."
“It’s better not to explain,” Liu Yang glanced at him and said, “The more you explain, the more it seems true.”
"Hahaha—" The atmosphere in the carriage was actually revitalized by Lao Yang's embarrassment, and Li Xuewu also laughed.
"Actually, it's not a complete failure yet," he thought for a moment and said, "I've said it before, it would be best if we could take over Toyota, if not, then we'll go for Honda, and there's always Nissan to choose from, isn't there?"
"What's the plan?" Gu Litong asked, intrigued. "I knew you had a contingency plan and wouldn't suffer losses in this matter!"
"Do you think I'm a fortune teller?"
Li Xuewu shook his head with amusement, and said seriously, "Regardless of whether the negotiations with Toyota can continue or not, after you get out of the car, you must pretend to be confident and overjoyed."
He pointed with his finger, his gaze sweeping over the group as he emphasized, "We need to project an image of a very fruitful day, or even of full cooperation with Toyota."
"This is going to—" Gu Li and the others immediately understood, raised their eyebrows, and asked, "Is this method feasible?"
Liu Yang, however, expressed his doubts: "What we're saying won't work; we'll have to see how Toyota responds."
“That’s right!” Wang Xiansheng chimed in, “It takes two to tango.”
"That depends on what we say."
Li Xuewu said confidently, "We didn't say that we had signed a cooperation agreement. Between signing and not signing, we can say whatever we want."
He raised his eyebrows and said, "The more hopeful we sound, the more doubtful they'll have about whether they believe us or not."
"As for Toyota, how can they respond?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "Could they really emphasize that there's no possibility of cooperation? How would they explain that to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry?"
"Oh—that makes sense."
Wang Xiansheng thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "So, we can use this to scam Honda?"
"It's not that easy—" Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Do you think Honda is stupid?"
"What else can we do?" Wang Xiansheng asked. "Things have come to this point, so what's the next step?"
“Create momentum,” Li Xuewu said with a burning gaze. “Mobilize all resources to create influence in negotiations and public opinion.”
“Explain yourself more clearly,” Gu Litong looked at him and said, “I don’t understand.”
"When we get back tonight, we'll each select three to five people to form a joint negotiation team. Tomorrow, Lao Dong will lead the team to continue negotiations with Toyota."
Li Xuewu pointed at Lao Dong and said, "When we get there, we don't need to say anything else. Just focus on one thing: we're not talking about the present, we're talking about the future."
"What are you talking about for the future?" Old Dong frowned slightly and said, "The things you said today?"
“Yes, let’s talk about the future of our automobile city, the future of the domestic automobile market,” Li Xuewu nodded slowly, “and also the future of market access and cooperation between manufacturing industries after the normalization of diplomatic relations.”
"Is that even possible?" Wang Xiansheng shifted his position, looking across the seat at him and asking, "Should we open the market to them?"
"It's bound to happen sooner or later, but we can talk about it sooner rather than later!"
Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes, his expression full of malice, and said, "You're not in charge of the economy and the market, so you can just ignore what you say."
"Damn it—" Wang Xiansheng felt a sharp pain in his lungs from those words, but he couldn't refute them.
"Old Dong will go tomorrow, and Old Yang will go the day after tomorrow."
Li Xuewu then pointed at Yang Aidong before instructing Gu Li and the others, "See those cars behind us? Those are media reporters from Tokyo."
“I don’t care what you’re busy with these days. As long as you see them, just keep bragging to me that Toyota is going to set up shop in the Steel City Auto City.”
"Holy crap!" Gu Litong was shocked by his terrible idea, his eyes wide as he asked, "Is this even possible?"
“Why not?” Li Xuewu looked at him and said, “You can say that Toyota contributes its equipment and technology as equity, and provides professional training and management personnel.”
“Tell me more truthfully,” he pointed at the group and emphasized, “If reporters ask about the signing of the contract, you should say that you are discussing the shareholding ratio, and you must imply that this is the decision of the higher-ups and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.”
"You better watch yourself—" Liu Yang from Nanjing Automobile thought he was bold enough, but he didn't expect Li Xuewu to be so lawless.
"Who cares about him? I know Director Han," Li Xuewu encouraged the group. "Flattery is useless; he only cares about actual results."
"No matter how nicely we speak, it's not as effective as slapping the contract on his desk. Don't you think that makes sense?"
Gu Li and the others exchanged glances, and then the carriage fell silent.
Li Xuewu, known for his sharp tongue, chuckled as he reminded them, "Some of you will have to write self-criticisms; opportunities to make amends are rare."
"I knew you weren't ready to pee!"
Dong Qiaomu said with a wry smile, "Tell me, you've sent us all out, what are you going to do?"
"Me? I have a lot to do."
Li Xuewu said calmly, "Anyway, it won't take up your time. It's just a matter of a day or two. We'll see the outcome on the last day."
"Are you trying to force the Commerce and Industry Department to the brink of collapse?"
Liu Yang immediately understood. He looked at Li Xuewu in surprise and asked, "So you mean the atmosphere has been built up, but Toyota isn't cooperating?"
"So you lot better put on a good show for me."
Li Xuewu looked at the group without any politeness and said, "Whether the car city project can bring you a wife depends on your acting skills."
"They're all veteran actors, and they're really terrible. Don't blame us for embarrassing you when we get back."
"This is fucking ridiculous—" Liu Yang couldn't help but complain, but then he found it funny when he met Li Xuewu's eyes.
"Are you so confident that you can force the Commerce and Industry Department to back down?" Gu Litong raised an eyebrow and asked, "Furthermore, you said you want to get involved with Honda, do you think they'll agree to that?"
“It doesn’t matter whether he’s willing or not,” Li Xuewu said calmly. “If the conditions are right, the industrial sector will naturally satisfy them.”
"I don't believe anything else, but I'm sure Honda is also eyeing Toyota's market share."
He said confidently, "Remember, we have only one goal: to bring back the technology and equipment and sell the cars."
"Let me think about it, your line of thinking is a bit strange—"
Wang Xiansheng is a cunning old fox, usually full of underhanded tricks, but now he's saying his brain isn't working properly.
"Are you going to pull that compensation trade system of yours?"
Gu Litong had some understanding of Honggang's development history and seemed to understand what Li Xuewu wanted to do.
"If I were to say that, given the premise of future cooperation in the automotive industry and the gradual opening of the market, would the Ministry of Industry and Trade be willing to support their companies to take a step ahead and test cooperation with the domestic automotive integration industry?"
Li Xuewu raised his chin and said, "As for the content of the cooperation, their technology and equipment will enter the mainland, and through inter-enterprise cooperation, can the cars produced be returned to Japan?"
“Honda will definitely be willing!” Gu Litong understood and nodded, saying, “If they can really bring down production costs, they will absolutely fight Toyota to the death.”
"No need for too many tricks, just one: lower the price."
Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "Just like Sanhe Corporation, even Panasonic has to take them seriously."
"If this condition is available, why wouldn't Toyota agree to it?"
Wang Xiansheng frowned and said, "You've already shown this cooperative attitude, so what are they still hesitating about?"
"Big shops bully their customers, and big customers bully their shops."
Li Xuewu said dismissively, "The logic is the same. They don't want to talk to us scattered soldiers. They're still eyeing Yiqi, SAIC, or Beijing Automotive."
"Someone like Wang Youhan?" Wang Xiansheng said disdainfully, "He might as well talk to us."
“Don’t underestimate Wang Youhan. He’s really desperate this time. Otherwise, he would be someone to be reckoned with.” Gu Litong emphasized, “I’m not speaking up for him, but if you run into him in the future, be careful of this kid.”
"Why talk about him!" Liu Yang curled his lip and said, "From now on, we're not on the same page as them anymore, there's nothing more to say."
That's true. It was hard to say before, but once the automobile city is established, the steel city will be like a cow getting on a plane—it'll be awesome!
From motorcycles to heavy trucks, you can find almost any type of vehicle you can think of here, and they are all produced through integrated assembly.
The parts are produced, transported, and assembled locally. The workers are all in the same industrial park, and the technology, equipment, and management are all at the same level.
It's hard to say what level the national automobile production cost will reach once the automobile city starts operating.
But the data speaks for itself. Why would Gu Litong and others follow a young guy like Li Xuewu? It's all about making money.
These car manufacturers' branch factories in the steel city each have their own specializations, there is no fierce competition between them, and they can also enjoy the export convenience of Honggang Group.
The reason Toyota is hesitant to make a decisive bet on the Steel City Automobile City project is because of the complex domestic situation and the uncertainty surrounding the normalization of diplomatic relations.
Larger companies, especially those with high market share, tend to hesitate when betting on the future.
If you don't believe me, just look at how Japanese automakers made the wrong bet on new energy vehicles, and how difficult it was for Beijing Automotive and Factory No. 17 to transform their technology and industries.
Those who dare to bet on Honda are the kind of companies that are always at the bottom, no matter what. If they bet wrong, they have to start over. If they bet right, the deck is shuffled.
***
"Mr. Li, may I ask you a few questions?"
"Mr. Li!"
……
The media's driver was really daring; he was following them when they left, but when they arrived at the hotel, the media had already been waiting for them.
At Toyota headquarters, Li Xuewu and others did not give any interviews, but the reporters swarmed them like sharks smelling blood.
They certainly didn't get any results from Toyota; with the intervention of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Toyota tried its best to play the right role.
Li Xuewu, as arrogant as ever, glanced at the reporters and strode through the security passage into the hall.
When it comes to creating news, no one knows better than Li Xuewu.
His pride only highlighted the joy on Gu Litong and the others' faces, and the reporters, seeing their expressions, immediately surrounded them.
"How are your negotiations with Toyota going?"
"With Beijing Automotive losing its eligibility for the first round of negotiations, what is your plan in appearing together at Toyota?"
What conditions did Toyota demand?
……
"Listen to me, the result was surprisingly good."
Gu Litong and his accomplices, who had made prior arrangements, each chose a direction to lure away dozens of reporters, and each took charge of a specific area.
Just as Li Xuewu said, they are all veteran actors, and their words, expressions, and actions all conveyed their inner excitement and joy.
Li Xuewu, this "great director," chose to retire after achieving his success, which increased the credibility of their words by more than one level.
If he didn't have this confidence in his success, how could the vice president of Honggang Group have dared to be so rude and ignore the media interviews!
Therefore, Gu Li and others all stated that today's negotiations with Toyota have achieved significant results, and have even reached the stage of negotiating the distribution of shares.
When reporters asked about the details of the cooperation, they remained tight-lipped, instead laughing and talking at length about the Steel City Automobile City project.
Anyone can draw a blueprint. If it's realized, it's called a blueprint; if it's not realized, it's called bragging. They're somewhere in between now.
They've practiced all that at drinking parties, so inflating the car city project into a giant balloon and sending it soaring into the sky is a piece of cake.
Besides, this project really exists, and construction has already begun. Anyone who goes to investigate in person will believe what they say is true.
"You mean Toyota is about to enter the mainland market?"
Yoshiko Oshima asked loudly, "Have you already reached an agreement with Toyota on this part?"
“The agreement we’ve reached isn’t final yet; it requires communication and approval from higher authorities and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.”
Wang Xiansheng said confidently, "Of course, we have high hopes for this and welcome the integration of Toyota's technology and equipment with the automobile city project."
"You mean this collaboration was authorized by your superiors, specifically the Ministry of International Trade and Industry? Is that correct?"
Yoshiko Oshima interpreted his ambiguous words, but Wang Xiansheng smiled and changed the subject, continuing to answer other people's questions.
The reporters at the scene had already drafted the headlines for today's interviews in their notebooks:
Shocking! Toyota Enters the Chinese Market!
Toyota is creating another legend, and is about to enter the mainland market!
With the rise of industry, Toyota is poised to become a pioneer in the inland regions!
……
Yoshiko Oshima's title, however, was somewhat unconventional: "Who will be the next Toyota, Nissan, or Honda?"
The excitement at the entrance quickly reached the visiting delegation inside the Plaza Hotel, and everyone rushed out to see what was happening.
Some people have already gone to these car companies to inquire about the inside story, and they are paying special attention to the cooperation between the car city and Toyota.
They are all industrial enterprises, all in the same system. If the murky waters of the auto city really attract a behemoth like Toyota, it will be shocking news for auto industry enterprises across the country.
With the addition of the world's third-largest automaker to the best domestic car manufacturing group with the most abundant resources, is there any domestic company that can compete?
At this time, everyone except Li Xuewu was busy, so they could only ask the staff of these six companies.
That's how rumors start. The five people in charge at the gate didn't boast as much as their subordinates.
The fact is 1. At the entrance, Gu Li and his team only dared to say 5, but the work team that had already entered the hotel dared to boast 100.
When Li Xuewu came down to the restaurant for lunch after finishing his meeting upstairs, he received countless words of congratulations and envious glances along the way.
Even Han Song was alarmed and arranged for his secretary to find Li Xuewu to inquire about the situation.
Li Xuewu only gave a four-word reply: "Wait and see."
As he said, leaders don't care how you do it; they only care about the results.
If they really care how you did it, they'll only care after you actually did it.
If you still haven't succeeded, and they find out your methods, they'll lower their opinion of you, or even hinder your willful actions.
So whether you're doing a job or building a career, don't treat your boss as a partner, because they are not trustworthy.
-
"Boss, Kenichi Nishida, the president of Sanhe Co., Ltd., would like to see you."
Qi Yan became Li Xuewu's temporary secretary, and so far, he has done a good job, proving himself to be multi-talented.
Li Xuewu had been pondering his next task since returning from the restaurant. Upon hearing his report, he looked up at the time on the wall and asked, "Now?"
"They're already waiting downstairs."
Qi Yan nodded and explained, "When I received the call, they were already downstairs, accompanied by two other partners."
"Looks like it's time for a showdown." Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly, thought for a moment, and then looked at Qi Yan and asked, "Has President Gao returned?"
"There's been a result from Matsushita's side; she won't be back until tomorrow afternoon."
Qi Yan reported, "I haven't had a chance to inform you about the message Liu Bin received tonight."
“Okay, I understand.” Li Xuewu stood up and tidied himself up, saying, “Matsushita’s concern is not whether we can do it or not, but whether this visit is actually feasible.”
Qi Yan's most prominent characteristic compared to Ma Baosen is that he speaks very little.
He speaks only what is useful and avoids what is not. He is usually serious and doesn't smile much, giving him a more dignified aura than Li Xuewu.
However, he lacks a certain presence; a leader doesn't maintain authority solely by having a stern face.
"Let's go down and meet them."
Li Xuewu put down the comb, looked at his lightning-struck 3/7 parted hair in the mirror, and turned to walk towards the door.
Qi Yan turned off the light before following them out.
As for hairstyles, there are only a few special styles in this era, and even when he came to Japan, he could only see a few of them.
The "Shamate" style or "foil perm" that emerged in later generations had not yet become popular on men's heads.
Of course, having long hair is rare in China, but not uncommon in Japan, where it's usually tied up in a bun on top of the head.
He looks like a Taoist priest, but they have absolutely no relation to each other.
Coincidentally, when they arrived at the coffee shop downstairs, the secretary of Sanhe Co., Ltd., who was waiting at the door, had the same hairstyle.
Qi Yan glanced at him a few more times, which made the other man raise an eyebrow.
"Cough-cough-"
Li Xuewu coughed lightly, thus rescuing Qi Yan from his predicament. Seeing Qi Yan's puzzled expression, he decided it was best not to explain.
I don't know if he's been "given" to Japan yet, but he definitely has in Japan; that place is quite eerie.
Of course, nothing is more bizarre than America, which can come up with over a hundred genders. Even Walmart plastic bags can be gendered. Isn't that bizarre enough?
"Ah, Mr. Li!" Nakamura Hideji was as enthusiastic as ever. When he saw them come in, he stood up from his seat with a smile and came to greet them from a distance.
Li Xuewu shook hands with him with great pleasure and greeted him with a smile, "It's been a long time. How have you been, Mr. Nakamura?"
"Good, it's truly good when everyone is doing well."
Hideji Nakamura replied with a smile, "Seeing your hello makes me feel better."
"I simply cannot refuse Mr. Nakamura's friendship,"
Li Xuewu smiled and patted the back of his hand, then said to Ninomiya Kazunari and Nishida Kenichi who were walking over, "We always have such a pleasant time together."
When it comes to the art of language, everyone here is an artist.
Kenichi Nishida glanced at him, smiled and nodded, saying, "I'm so sorry to bother you so late."
"It's okay, I haven't rested yet."
Li Xuewu shook hands with both of them, then gestured to the direction of their seats and said, "Let's sit down and talk."
"Let me order you some coffee," Nakamura Hideji asked proactively. "What would you like to drink?"
"No, it's already this late."
Li Xuewu pointed to the watch on his wrist and said, "We've been busy these past few days. We try to go to bed as early as possible because we're afraid we won't have enough energy the next day."
He smiled and waved to the waiter, saying, "Just pour me a glass of water."
"Actually, drinking a little bit of red wine before bed is good too," Nakamura Hideji said with a smile, as if speaking to an old friend. "I've heard it's very good for blood vessels."
"Was that what the wine seller said?"
Li Xuewu laughed and said, "In traditional Chinese medicine health preservation theory, any drink that makes the liver work hard is not good for the body."
From the moment they met, they were exchanging veiled insults. If language could take form, the scene would surely be filled with flying swords.
Qi Yan found a nearby spot to sit down and observed his surroundings. He knew his leader's cautious nature; even if he asked for hot water, he wouldn't drink it.
"It's alright, we won't take up too much of your rest time."
Nakamura Hideji glanced at his two partners and explained to Li Xuewu with a smile, "I'm bothering you so late because I was afraid you wouldn't have time these days."
“That’s true,” Li Xuewu interrupted him with a bitter face, gesturing to Nishida Kenichi to say, “You should know how busy we are.”
Kenichi Nishida's lips twitched. He would never admit that he had been monitoring the movements of the Honggang Group.
He pretended not to understand Li Xuewu's implied meaning.
"I just returned from Osaka the day before yesterday, and immediately I was in communication and negotiation with precision manufacturing and automobile manufacturing companies."
He spread his hands and said helplessly, "We can't hold a meeting in the morning, so we'll have to use the evening."
"I was telling our General Manager Li the day before yesterday that this business trip is more tiring than going to work, and I have absolutely no time for myself."
“That’s right, that’s right.” Nakamura Hideji tried his best to play the role of mediator.
He then looked at Kenichi Nishida, signaling him to hurry up and lay his cards on the table; if he kept going on like this, Li Xuewu could keep spouting nonsense until tomorrow morning.
Kenichi Nishida knew what he had to do, so he cleared his throat and said, "We heard that you went to Osaka. We didn't expect that Honggang Group would be able to cooperate with Panasonic."
Is there anything surprising about that?
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and countered, "Any two industrial companies in the world could potentially establish a cooperative relationship, right?"
“What I mean is, the electronics industry.” Kenjiro Nishida looked at him, not wanting him to pretend he didn’t understand. “Honggang Group shouldn’t need Panasonic.”
"Your point of view is quite interesting."
Li Xuewu smiled and said, "Let's not talk about who Honggang Group needs or doesn't need, or whether it requires your opinion."
"To be frank, we know exactly what we need."
He stared intently at Kenichi Nishida and said, "The essence of cooperation is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation."
"Honggang Group has always adhered to this principle, and I believe it has been reflected in our past cooperation."
“Of course, of course.” Seeing that the talks were about to fall apart, Nakamura Hideji couldn’t help but explain, “Mr. Nishida is also considering Honggang’s interests.”
"Thank you so much." Li Xuewu smiled, then turned to him and asked, "Will the cooperation between Honggang Group and Panasonic affect our cooperation?"
“Of course!” Nakamura Hideji glanced at Nishida Kenichi and said with a dry laugh, “The friendship between our two sides is unbreakable.”
"Yes, that's what I think too."
Li Xuewu nodded and looked at Kenichi Nishida, saying, "In the process of normalizing diplomatic relations, the economies and industries of both sides are moving in the same direction, which is a result that the people of both countries hope to see."
"As a part of the industry, we should contribute our share to the tide of the times."
He paused here, glanced at the three people, and then continued, "I have always believed that Honggang Group and Sanhe Co., Ltd. are a typical example of friendly cooperation in the context of the great era."
“Of course we think so too,” Kenichi Nishida said again. “Moreover, we have invested a lot of manpower and resources in our cooperation, and even staked our future.”
“I believe that, because I also witnessed this collaboration.” Li Xuewu nodded in confirmation. “Do you have any doubts?”
"Of course, regarding Panasonic."
Kenjiro Nishida nodded and said earnestly, "I have concerns about your cooperation with Panasonic and our cooperation."
"In particular, the cooperation in technology and product development has had a negative impact on the research systems that both sides have already established."
"I understand what you mean."
Li Xuewu nodded slowly and said, "It seems that Mr. Nishida regards Honggang Group and Gangcheng Electronics as branches of Sanhe Corporation?"
"Mr. Li, please don't misunderstand."
Hideji Nakamura waved his hand and explained, "We never meant that."
"Then we should realize that Honggang Group's investment in the development of the electronics industry is not limited to the home appliance industry."
Li Xuewu frowned slightly and emphasized, "I also want to say that Gangcheng Electronics operates several brands, each with its own sales area. We should only communicate about the part of the cooperation plan."
"If the cooperation between Honggang Group and Panasonic interferes with our cooperation, then that's what you should be worried about."
"But it's bound to happen, isn't it?"
Kazunari Ninomiya suddenly spoke up: "Panasonic is a competitor of Sanhe in the United States, Southeast Asia, and even Japan."
"As a production supplier for Sanhe Electric, we have reason to have concerns about the cooperation between Honggang Group and Panasonic."
"Just because of market competition?"
Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Er Gong, saying, "Honggang Group has distributors all over the world. Aren't you in a competitive relationship?"
"Don't simply categorize business cooperation and competition in black and white. Even if you have factories in the local area, do you rely entirely on self-produced parts?"
He said calmly, "I don't believe that the screws you use are any different from those used by Panasonic, or that they are from two different suppliers."
"These are two different concepts, aren't they?"
Kenichi Nishida began by saying, "Our concern is not about the supply of parts, but about future cooperation."
He looked at Li Xuewu and said frankly, "We cherish our cooperation and friendship very much and do not want to see a day when we go our separate ways."
“I’m glad you said that,” Li Xuewu said, staring into his eyes. “I won’t make hypothetical analyses about things that Honggang Group hasn’t done.”
"But could you please provide an explanation for the friction that occurred during our cooperation some time ago?"
He tapped the table with his finger and demanded, "Who exactly is going against the grain in this cooperation, Mr. Nishida? Shouldn't you say something?"
“Mr. Li, I think Sanhe and Honggang Group have already reached a consensus on this matter,” Nakamura Hideji said. “Past events should not become a stumbling block to our future cooperation.”
"If we don't bring up the past, then we're going to use hypothetical, non-existent events to judge us?" Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked, "What kind of logic is that?"
“So I said I was worried, not blaming,” Kenichi Nishida emphasized. “That’s also one of the reasons we chose to see you tonight.”
"What kind of answer do you want to hear from me?"
Li Xuewu shrugged and asked in return, "Are you going to give any guarantees? But even if I did, would you believe me?"
He kept staring at Kenichi Nishida and said, "So far, Mr. Nishida has not given a formal apology or guarantee."
“I apologize for the friction that caused between our two sides in the past,” Kenichi Nishida suddenly said. “I hope to gain your forgiveness.”
"I also guarantee here that there will be no further intentions or actions that would damage our relationship and friendship in the future cooperation."
He looked Li Xuewu in the eye as he spoke, and after he finished, he kept staring at Li Xuewu, as if to say, "It is impolite not to reciprocate."
Li Xuewu put him in a difficult position, but he countered by putting Li Xuewu in a difficult position in return.
"I really wish you could send this message to Honggang Group in the form of an official letter, instead of coming to me to say this in the middle of the night."
Li Xuewu was unimpressed. He nodded slowly and said to Nakamura Hideji, who seemed hesitant to speak, "I have only one response to Mr. Nishida: cooperation is not easy, so let's cherish it together."
"Similarly, I cannot explain the details of the cooperation between Honggang Group and Panasonic Electric Works due to the principle of protection for commercial cooperation."
He then looked at Kenichi Nishida and said, "I also hope that you will not be too sensitive about this matter. Let me reiterate, this is just normal cooperation."
"May I ask, what is the final limit of your cooperation with Panasonic?" Kazunari Ninomiya, the president in charge of sales, asked, "Will you also do OEM production and resell overseas, like we have?"
“I’ve already said I won’t respond to things that haven’t happened yet,” Li Xuewu looked at him and said, “Now I’m asking you, what are the technical standards that Sanhe Corporation provides? Will it provide the latest electronic industry technology like Panasonic? Can you answer me?”
Kenichi Nishida frowned slightly. He seemed to have understood the meaning behind Li Xuewu's words, and his worries deepened.
Panasonic went to great lengths to shut down this bull that was running rampant in the market, even offering to provide Honggang Group with its latest technology.
This has always been a key means for Sanwa Corporation to control the electronics industry of Honggang Group.
Panasonic should now have grasped the situation and, striking at the heart of the matter, has precisely and accurately targeted the point of conflict in the cooperation between Honggang Group and Sanhe Corporation.
Honggang Group craves new and cutting-edge technologies, while Sanhe, in order to control their cooperation, opted for a piecemeal approach to technology supply.
Suddenly, competitor Panasonic came along and disrupted the business, supplying Sanhe with its latest technology. What else could this be but cutting off Sanhe's lifeline?
This is far more serious than Steel City Electronics manufacturing for Panasonic; it severs the cooperative relationship between the two parties at its root.
It won't be long before Gangcheng Electronics masters the latest technology, and it will definitely leave Sanhe behind, leveraging its production capacity advantage to dominate the domestic market, while also providing support for Panasonic in the international market.
Sanhe started out relying on Hongxing Electronics, so how could it not know the power of Hongxing Electronics' production capacity?
With superior labor costs, coupled with modern corporate management thinking and Panasonic's technology, they realized that Sanhe's electrical empire was about to collapse.
The technical difficulty in the electronics industry lies not in production, but in research and development. Therefore, it won't be long before Honggang Group masters these technologies.
With the current skills of the workers at Hongxing Electronics Factory, Panasonic's international production capacity could potentially double in just six months.
Panasonic is already unstoppable, and with this added advantage of cooperating with Honggang Group, they don't know what else to do.
This isn't a matter of betting on the wrong horse; even if they hadn't abandoned their domestic production operations, they wouldn't be able to compete with the current situation.
Looking at the international landscape, their reach is limited to countries with production environments comparable to those in mainland China; the world is now extremely polarized.
“Sanhe’s sincerity is definitely stronger than Panasonic’s.” Kenichi Nishida felt powerless inside, but his words remained firm, “especially in terms of technological investment.”
"Yes, I believe you." Li Xuewu was clearly starting to brush him off, and didn't even bother to argue about how slow the technical output speed was.
If it weren't for the problems that have arisen in the past two years, Sanhe wouldn't be willing to bring out its best products, and would instead have to squeeze them out little by little.
Li Xuewu couldn't wait to follow their pace; he had to take advantage of this visit and exchange opportunity to thoroughly suppress Sanhe.
Of course, he wouldn't abandon Sanhe now. Even with the cooperation of Panasonic, it wouldn't be an unconditional technology transfer as he claimed.
But he lied, and the three founders of Sanhe dared not disbelieve him. If they waited until things got out of control and tried to fix things, it would be too late.
“We can provide a timeline.”
Kenichi Nishida thought for a moment before finally speaking: "Sanhe's existing technology will be fully open to Honggang Group."
"No need to wait, I can issue the following orders as soon as I get back tonight."
He looked at Li Xuewu and said, "This is the best sincerity we can offer at this stage."
"Yes, if that's the case."
Li Xuewu thought about it carefully and said, "Then I'll wait and see."
He knew what these three wanted to hear, but he wouldn't keep quiet, because saying it would make it all disappear.
At this point, Li Xuewu would absolutely not make any guarantees to the other party; in fact, he would never make any guarantees to his partners under any circumstances.
Just think about it, none of his "connections" got his promises, but these bastards can get them with just a few words?
Do it first, then talk about it; it's useless to just talk without doing anything.