Simon originally planned to fly to South Korea on the afternoon of February 2 and stay in Seoul for a day, mainly for a secret meeting with South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who will take office on February 25. However, due to a sudden sandstorm in the Beijing area, the trip was temporarily canceled.
It wasn't until the morning of February 4, when the sandstorm subsided, that Simon finally set off and returned to North America.
In addition to Simon and his previous entourage, Chen Qing also went back with Simon this time, as well as some girls from the Guofeng Art Troupe.
After the Spring Festival Gala performance, the Guofeng Art Troupe became famous in China. It had received a large number of invitations to perform, but Chen Qing rejected them all. The girls themselves had no intention of accepting the invitations, because many of the invitations had really bad intentions.
These goblins are really eye-catching.
Inside the cabin of a Boeing 767.
After the plane stabilized, Simon and Chen Qing sat together in the office in the front cabin, summarizing the gains and losses of the trip and planning the next work.
Flicking through a piece of information about Yigrit China in his hand, Chen Qing asked: "Boss, it is expected that China's Internet Firewall will be activated in the middle of this month. Our localization strategy for China's Internet industry should also be stepped up next. Bar?"
The Internet firewall Chen Qing mentioned was exactly a certain 'wall' later on.
There were already rumors about this matter last year, and there is a reason why it was chosen to be activated in February, because March is a very important month for the nine major conferences.
The other is the localization strategy of China’s Internet investment.
In recent years, the Internet industry has been booming in the West. With Simon's forward-looking vision, he was a little careless about China's layout. This matter aroused Chen Qing's doubts very early on, and Simon did not hide it. He had not been aware of it from the beginning. It is planned to let Yigrit and the like directly grow bigger in China, but to support local giants as much as possible like later.
Let’s talk about China’s Internet environment. After several years of development, the number of Internet users in China finally increased to 10.78 million last year, covering about 30 million netizens, which is equivalent to the population of many small countries. Coupled with the fact that the Chinese government is about to carry out further large-scale layout in the Internet industry this year, the number of Internet access users in China will also lead to an explosion in 1998.
Therefore, it is indeed an opportunity to increase layout.
Simon thought about it, nodded, and said to Chen Qing: "Okay, in addition, do you know what is the most important thing when investing in China's Internet industry?"
"Strive for users," Chen Qing didn't need Simon to reveal the answer this time. She also has in-depth research on the Internet industry in the United States: "Boss, the main means for Yigrit to gather users is the Yigrit browser. This , it seems like we have no advantage here?”
"Yes or no," Simon said: "It is right to win over users. However, if you say that Yigrit's users come from browsers, it is not entirely correct. Yigrit's control over Internet traffic mainly relies on services. , if there is only a browser, users will definitely be taken away by other companies."
"I understand. In fact, what I consider is that domestically we can only rely on services...such as email, portals, instant messaging, etc. By the way, there is also our YiFubao. Boss, if e-commerce becomes more and more popular, I found that Yifubao will also become a powerful tool to gather users, just like many people need bank accounts in reality."
"Oh, since you have thought of it, I can't say much. The business model of the Internet has been developed in the United States and can be copied as much as China wants. Therefore, the problem is very simple. The key lies in people. Team, this requires casting a wide net, investing in ten or twenty projects, and if one or two are successful, it is enough. If all projects can cultivate one or two super giants, our layout will not be in vain. In addition, After spending money, don’t consider returns for investment projects in China within five to ten years.”
"I think we can think about it, boss, IPO, and then cash out?"
"Well, that's right," Simon did not refute, but said: "Speaking of which, last year the Internet bubble burst, I thought there would be an Internet winter of two to three years, but judging from the current trend, because of the Asian The financial turmoil and the Federal Reserve entering an interest rate hike cycle, as well as the economic deterioration in Asia and even Eastern Europe, will see a large amount of U.S. dollars return to North America this year. There are not many areas in which these funds can be invested. The new technology industry with the Internet as the core is an inevitable direction, so the Internet The industry will recover faster than many people think."
"Isn't this a good thing for us?"
"The cold winter period is more suitable for giants like us to conquer the city. Once it recovers, everyone will rush forward. If they want to compete for interests again, the price they need to pay will be very high. In addition, other capitals will even turn to us in order to gain more space. Giants such as Yigrit launched attacks, after all, Yigrit’s monopolistic tendency is too obvious.”
Chen Qing thought about it and said with a smile: "Then I have to speed up the layout in China."
“There is no limit to the funds, invest whatever you want.”
"Yeah," Chen Qing nodded, and turned to talk about another thing: "Over in South Korea, boss, it's a pity that you couldn't go there this time."
"There is nothing to regret. In fact, when I think about it, I will come to Asia again when the peach blossoms bloom in April. It will be better to meet with Kim Dae-jung then, because the South Korean president should be very anxious by then and urgently need our help."
The Asian financial crisis is definitely not over.
Just recently, international hot money has begun to move towards some Asian countries again.
In addition, what is more important is the subsequent impact of last year's financial crisis.
For example, in South Korea, which Simon is keeping a close eye on, even if the Korean won stabilizes, the impact of the financial turmoil on South Korea's real economy will only begin to show up this year and next. Basically, it will be a scene where all industries are in decline.
When Chen Qing heard what Simon said, there was an evil flame in her bright eyes: "Boss, are you going to provide help to South Korea?"
"Of course, I am such a person who is willing to help others," Simon said and smiled, returning to seriousness: "We have won the core electronics industry in South Korea. This has actually completed a very important step. The other operations will follow. Whether it succeeds or fails, it has nothing to do with the overall situation.”
"Boss, I think the electronics industry is really that important?"
"How should I put it?" Simon thought for a moment and said, "South Korea is actually very small, there is no doubt about it."
"Um?"
"Since it is a small country, it is destined that the country's industrial structure cannot be too diversified. I mean the pillar industries that can play a vital role in the economy. In this regard, South Korea has only two core industries, automobiles and electronics. I don't want the former. Let’s talk more. Regarding electronics, the rapid development of the Internet industry and the continued advancement of Moore’s Law of semiconductors will eventually bring mankind into an era of interconnection of everything. The Internet is the foundation, and the electronics industry will definitely rely on the Internet as a basic platform. To achieve an explosion that lasts at least twenty years, therefore, in my opinion, the next twenty years will be dominated by the two major industries of information and electronics."
"I probably understand, but boss, the question is, if we control South Korea's electronics industry, can we control South Korea?"
"Do you know what was an important reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union?"
"Which one?"
“In 1986, the international crude oil price plummeted to US$10 per barrel, a drop of 75% from the peak of US$39 per barrel in 1981. Subsequently, the Soviet Union’s economy deteriorated sharply, which largely led to the collapse of this old empire, because The economic structure of the former Soviet Union is also very thin, and the foreign exchange brought by energy exports is crucial to making up for the financial loopholes in this old empire." After Simon said this, without waiting for Chen Qing to respond, he continued: "Similarly, When the electronics industry completely surpasses automobiles and becomes South Korea's only economic lifeline, and this lifeline is controlled by us, it is equivalent to us controlling all aspects of South Korea's economy."
Why was Samsung so powerful in the past? The entire Samsung Group accounted for 20% of South Korea's GDP. Even South Korea was called the Republic of Samsung
The key is not the Samsung Group as a whole, but Samsung Electronics.
Because they were betting on the right industry direction, the Samsung Lee family used a large amount of profits earned through Samsung Electronics to support Samsung Group's investments in insurance, hotels, construction, machinery, shipbuilding and other aspects in a way similar to transfer payments, and ultimately supported the The entire Samsung Republic.
In comparison, due to the decline of the automobile industry, even after the 1997 financial crisis, Hyundai Motor's annexation of Kia allowed Hyundai Motor to occupy a terrifying 70% of the Korean automobile industry, and continued to expand outwards. In the end, it was further and further left behind by Samsung.
It is still important to choose the right direction.
Unlike in the past, Western capital, which actually controls the Samsung Group absolutely, allows the Samsung Lee family to serve as the stewards of Samsung Electronics, and even implements transfer payments to support the entire Samsung Republic.
This time, the Westeros system directly controlled Samsung Electronics. Not only that, it also took over the entire electronics department of Hyundai Group including the semiconductor business, as well as SK, and, next, the Daewoo chaebol, currently ranked second in South Korea. The semiconductor business, the LG Group that has not yet surrendered, etc., Simon will not let go.
After gradually achieving absolute control, Simon will not allow South Korean chaebols to transfer payments for their own benefit.
Of course, in order to control South Korea, transfer payments are inevitable, but they must be transfer payments under the control of the Westeros system. Whichever company Simon wants to flourish will be able to get funds to develop. On the contrary, if it lacks funds, it will even face suppression, and the outcome is predictable.
The final result is simple, Shunchang is destroyed.
Simon and Chen Qing chatted about various things. A few hours passed before they knew it. When it was meal time, they went to the largest restaurant in the cabin.
This place is already full of warblers and swallows.
After saying hello to the goblins, Simon sat down at the large dining table. He remembered something and called Chen Xingwei, who was participating in the Spring Festival Gala this time, to sit next to him. He waited for the waitress to bring lunch and picked up the tableware before speaking to him. She said: "There is a role in a recent project. Do you want to try it?"
The other goblins were all listening to what Simon was going to say to Chen Xingwei. When his boss said this, Ouyang Shuli, who was closer to Simon, immediately said: "Boss, I think, I think."
The girls all laughed.
Su Fengnian, who was next to Ouyang Shuili, reached out and grabbed a handful of her: "I'm so hungry and thirsty, so drink some water to quench my thirst."
So the two girls started fighting.
She and Li Youhu were once classified as a couple. They were both from the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe. As a result, Li Youhu became an international actress and starred in two blockbusters: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Hero". However, he has always stayed in the Guofeng Art Troupe. Chen Xingwei felt quite disappointed in his heart and always wanted to catch up.
At this time, Chen Xingwei heard his boss suddenly talk about it. He ignored the two girls playing opposite him, concealed his inner palpitations, and looked at Simon: "Boss, what role are you playing?"
"In a zombie movie, you play a Chinese female agent, a very powerful one."
What Simon was talking about was, of course, "Resident Evil" which was left to Zack Snyder to prepare.
After several considerations, Simon finally decided to roughly adopt the Milla Jovovich version of the "Resident Evil" movie model in order to separate it from the game version of the plot. Of course, this time it will not be a complete magic change, but it will be equivalent to opening up another story line under the same background, and there will be corresponding intersections with the game version.
Experience in his previous life taught Simon that it would be very difficult to successfully adapt a game based entirely on the plot of a game. Instead, magically modified series such as "Resident Evil" have unexpectedly developed a very strong long-term success.
In this case, of course we cannot repeat the same mistakes.
At the same time, Simon does not plan to completely change the magic, but still needs to be related to the background of the game.
All in all, the core of this movie version is still Alice.
Because Simon really likes that line: My Name Is Alice!.
On the other hand, for the "Resident Evil" game series, Simon's most impressive and favorite character is undoubtedly Ada Wong.
Before coming to China, Simon had been considering the role of this character and had listed many alternatives.
For example, Da Bingbing played this role in the movie version.
Too bad Simon didn't like it.
The faces are similar, but unfortunately the image is not very good, the neck is too short, and there is a bit of a hunchback.
Then he thought of Dame Li who they had played golf with in a Mexican hacienda, but they were still eliminated.
Dame Li's image and temperament are great. The problem is that if Simon wants to continue the entire series, Dame Li, who is already very famous in Hong Kong, is unlikely to follow up. After all, this series will last for at least ten years. Yes, by then, age will also be an issue.
Moreover, Simon needs a real female star.
It is not easy to find a star, but there are groups of dancing fairies around you. With a little physical training, you will be suitable to be a star.
Then start selecting people.
Li Youhu, who was already famous, was eliminated mainly because his image and temperament did not fit the bill.
Ada Wang is a goddess level higher than Yu Jie, and her temperament is much stronger. Li Youhu's personal character is quite unruly and strong, but his screen image is hard to say.
Then there is Jiang Anqi, who has studied Tsing Yi and practiced Dao Ma Dan. She has perfect body condition, but unfortunately her appearance and temperament are completely defeated.
After picking and choosing, it finally fell on Chen Xingwei.