In an estate in Williamsburg, a suburb of northwest Washington.
This is April 26th.
Wednesday.
During breakfast time, Simon made an appointment with David Rubin, chairman of the Carlyle Group headquartered in the Special Administrative Region. The topic was still about the layout strategy in Southeast Asia. He mainly hoped that Carlyle, who is good at investing in related fields, would organize a group of heavy industry projects to move to Southeast Asia.
At the dining table.
David Rubin browsed through a list of intentions given by Simon involving steel, machinery, chemical industry, shipbuilding and other fields. He put down the folder and picked up the tableware again while saying: "Simon, because of your request, I have been doing a lot of work recently." I have been focusing on China for many years, and I can finally confirm that China is a market with great growth potential, and we can definitely continue to expand our presence in China. As for Southeast Asia, I have also done some research on it, because of the political system, religion, culture, etc. For other reasons, I think the trend of this region should eventually be similar to that of Latin America, and there is not too high investment value.”
Simon did not refute David Rubin's judgment. To be fair, he largely agreed. He took a sip from a cup of hot milk and said with a smile: "David, I had dinner with Mr. President yesterday. It happened to be We talked about one thing, and Bill and his colleagues have very consistent attitudes. Now I am not just a pure businessman. Therefore, many subsequent layouts of the Westeros system cannot be considered only from a purely commercial perspective."
"I understand, Simon," David Rubin also nodded: "In your current position, it is impossible to break away from politics. The problem is, if it is within the Federation, it is still reasonable. As for Southeast Asia, whether you intend to contain Japan or China, frankly, I don’t think it’s necessary.”
David Rubin hit the nail on the head, and Simon was not surprised. He said: "David, I have explained too much to many people recently, so I don't want to explain too much. I just need some advice from Carlyle." Cooperate, and you don’t need to consider other factors other than business at all. You only need to abide by your own duties and help contact various projects. In terms of funding, if Karen’s other investors are unwilling to participate, I will bear the responsibility. "
Miss A happened to bring a dish in person. David Rubin did not immediately respond to Simon's request. He stepped back slightly and asked the famous Miss A in Westeros to put down the plate, and then motioned to the other side: "Help too." I'll bring you a glass of milk and heat it up too, thank you."
Girl A nodded in agreement, but glanced at her boss on the other side with a strange look.
After Girl A left, David Rubin continued: "In this case, Simon, I promise you. However, I still think this is unwise. Although Carlyle has been working on various projects to relocate heavy industries, I still firmly believe that heavy industry is a major advantage for the Commonwealth and our allies. We can eliminate some unnecessary heavy industry projects to third world countries, but we should not do so proactively."
"So, here's the question," Simon said: "David, why do we keep eliminating various heavy industry projects?"
David Rubin was speechless for a moment.
Simon Gu Zi continued: "Because of some projects, we are gradually being overtaken or even replaced by countries that we looked down on in the past, and they have stronger cost advantages, right?"
David Rubin nodded: "That's why we have to maintain the advantages we still have as much as possible, right?"
"I think exactly the opposite of you," Simon said: "There is a very interesting philosophical concept in the East, which tells water to flow to lower places. I think that capital and industry are the same, and they will inevitably continue to flow to areas with lower costs. .For many industries in which we no longer have absolute advantages, we should proactively transfer them to lower-cost areas while still retaining certain advantages, so that we can continue to enjoy the benefits generated by these industries. On the contrary, if we don't do that, well, South Korea is an example."
Girl A came in again, and Simon paused for a moment.
David Rubin took the glass of warm milk that Girl A put down, thanked her again, brought it to his mouth and took a sip. He felt that it was slightly different from the aroma coming from the other side, but he didn’t go into it. He put down the glass and signaled to Simon. continue.
Simon continued: "For example, shipbuilding. South Korea's shipbuilding industry had already formed a very large scale before 1997, and this industry was not created with our support, but was made by the Koreans themselves. However, Relying on its own cost advantage, the Korean shipbuilding industry has had a strong impact on related fields in the Federation and Europe. If it were not for the crisis in 1997 that allowed us to strongly penetrate the Korean shipbuilding industry, the result would be that our shipbuilding industry would not only We will be further impacted by the lower-cost South Korean shipbuilding industry, and we will not be able to enjoy the benefits brought by the rise of South Korea's shipbuilding industry. Similarly, more profound lessons can be learned from Japan's automobiles and semiconductors."
Simon's words almost subverted some of David Rubin's past inertia of thinking, and immediately made him somewhat silent.
The rise of Japan's economy can be described as an eternal knot in the hearts of most American elites.
Who could have imagined it
Moreover, in the past, the American elite reflected more on the fact that the restrictive measures against Japan were not tough enough, which led to the breeding of tigers. Therefore, starting in the 1980s, they continued to exert a series of extreme pressure on Japan until a few years ago. It is also launching a trade war against Japanese cars.
Simon's words directly opened up another layer of thinking for David Rubin that he had ignored in the past.
Whether it is Japan or South Korea, the reason why they can catch up from behind is, in the final analysis, the biggest reason is actually very simple: cost!
If the federation wants to regain control of various fields, the only thing it must and can do is to pursue lower costs, and if it wants to pursue lower costs, it has to transfer industries.
After sorting it out for a while, David Rubin finally said: "Simon, I have to say that you helped me understand a fact that I have always ignored in the past. However, taking the initiative to transfer industry is not that simple. Have you considered it?" There is no possible response from the federal domestic industrial capital. If we move too much, they will definitely unite and put pressure on Washington?"
"One of the business principles I have always followed is that rather than being replaced by others, it is better to take the initiative to replace yourself," Simon said: "I have certainly considered this matter, but even if there is pressure, we still have to do it. However, You just limited yourself again, David, we don't need to just plucking the wool of the federal sheep, ha, this is a joke, okay, I mean, look beyond Europe, even Latin America, um, There are also Japan and South Korea. In short, we must take the initiative this time, and we must have a sufficient share of the profits."
David Rubin nodded and did not rush to discuss the details. Instead, he changed the subject: "I just heard recently that you lobbied the President to visit Vietnam in August for this plan, right?"
"That's right," Simon admitted, then smiled and asked, "What do you think of Vietnam?"
David Rubin thought for a while and said: "Putting aside the prejudice caused by historical reasons, I have to admit that Vietnam has the potential to grow into a mini-China."
Simon just smiled when he heard this and didn't comment too much.
History has changed. Simon is not sure what the future will be like for Vietnam. All he can decide is to do it.
The two then began to discuss some specific details and continued chatting for more than an hour.
At around eight o'clock, after seeing David Rubin off, Simon returned to the villa and was immediately greeted by Grace.
Simon stepped forward and hugged the woman and kissed her. He looked down at the silk scarf around Grace's neck and said with a smile: "It's so beautiful."
Grace rolled her eyes.
Some guy left a lot of marks on her neck last night, so she could only cover them up like this.
Simon seemed to be interested and came over again. Just as he was about to bite the woman on the chin in a playful way, a waitress came out of the corridor leading a little boy.
The two of Simon could only stop being intimate and let go of the woman. Simon smiled and stepped forward, picked up John Westeros who was already over two years old, turned to Grace, and said with a smile: "My son has grown so big. Oh, last time it was the little one in the cradle."
Grace looked at the interacting father and son with gentle eyes, but when the man said this, she wanted to roll her eyes again.
Last time it was in the cradle!
Is this human language
Simon ignored the woman's scolding and turned to the little guy in his arms: "Baby, call me daddy."
The little guy's beautiful blue eyes looked at the man holding him, then turned to his mother, and then back again, as if he was a little confused.
It doesn't matter, you must be patient with children.
Simon then continued: "Baby, call me daddy, daddy~ daddy~"
The little guy continued to look at the man next to him seriously, and then turned to his mother.
Grace almost laughed, she couldn't help but stretched out her hand, took her son from the man's arms, and imitated the man's tone: "Baby, call mommy."
The little boy immediately said: "Mom."
Simon: “…”
Something feels wrong.
Um.
Don't stop me, I'm going to deal with this shady boy.
Grace finally laughed, hugged her son to dodge Simon's outstretched hand, laughed a lot, and finally said to the boy in her arms: "Baby, this is daddy, no pranks allowed."
The little guy was poked by Grace and glanced at someone subconsciously, then buried his head on his mother's shoulder.
It's obvious that he still doesn't like his father very much.
Simon didn't force it either. There were so many children and his personal energy was really limited. It would be strange if they were all very close to him.
Even in the future, Simon does not expect a kind father and a filial son. As long as each of the little guys can become talents and support themselves as the heirs of the Westeros family, they will not become the devil incarnate as he once predicted. , that's enough.
Speaking of which, although fathers are unreliable, all the mothers Simon consciously chose were obviously very conscientious and none of them pampered their children in a playboy direction.
After chatting for a few more words, Girl A led a team of maids to pack their luggage and come out. Everyone left the villa and flew to New York.
Over in New York, in the next few days, in addition to work on Daenerys' TV business, there will also be some matters related to the layout of Southeast Asia.
For example, when it comes to industrial transfers to Southeast Asia, Simon will not just place his hope on Carlyle. Westeros Corporation Headquarters, Cersei Capital Systems, and Wall Street investment banks with good relationships such as Goldman Sachs and First Boston will gradually participate.
Of course, things unfolded quickly and resolutely, but Simon was not impatient.
For example, regarding Vietnam, in addition to the meeting with a Vietnamese deputy prime minister in Kuala Lumpur a few days ago, Vietnam, from the authorities to enterprises, are in close contact with this side these days. However, Simon will not act rashly until Clinton visits Vietnam in August to finalize a series of economic and trade agreements.
Overall, this is a long-term plan that will take ten or twenty years to implement.
In addition, it has to be said that Simon's series of actions also aroused feedback from China. Needless to say, Chen Qing and Lin Su, who was concentrating on her two little ones in Hangzhou, were entrusted with the task of listening to Simon's mouth. , Simon knew that Chen Qing was able to cope with it, but it was difficult to say for Lin Su, so he did not say it explicitly to avoid embarrassment for the woman.
Women are not stupid. Even if Simon doesn't reveal much, he can probably guess some. However, since Simon doesn't make it clear, she can actually explain it easily.
This is a very simple thing.
Simon has never said that the Westeros system will only bet on China in Asia and invest in Southeast Asia. To put it bluntly, there is no need to explain anything to China at all.
Moreover, in the final analysis, Simon is only considering the future interests of the Westeros system.
Feng shui takes turns, thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west of the river. What Simon has to do is to try his best to ensure that no matter whether the feng shui is east of the river or west of the river, it will not fundamentally damage the interests of the Westeros system.
Speaking of which, it’s not just Asia.
After constant thinking and worries about the future, even in Europe, Simon's attitude became more serious. During this time, he began to re-plan some things in a targeted manner.
Such as the euro.
As the only global competitor of the US dollar in the next two decades, Simon was still watching the excitement of the federal government's series of blows against the euro last year. Now I find that this is not a lively event, but is closely related to the Westeros system.
If the US dollar really declines in the future, it will be difficult for the Westeros system to survive alone. Once the US dollar declines, the euro may be the most powerful substitute.
In this case, of course we cannot just sit idly by and ignore it.
Furthermore, in addition to the Euro, there is also Eastern Europe.
Simon had previously seen that Eastern Europe, after its disintegration in the early 1990s, was not only a potential commodity market for Western Europe, but also a source of large amounts of cheap labor.
Now that we have seen it, of course we cannot remain indifferent.
The next thing the Westeros system needs to do is to unite relevant capital and compete for this part of the population and market dividends in Eastern Europe as much as possible. It cannot be left to Western Europe to digest them all.