Celine Dion accompanied Du Wei to the room Schwarzenegger had prepared for her. Schwarzenegger personally took Li Mu to his room and introduced to him the configuration of the room very enthusiastically. The placement of items.
The room Schwarzenegger arranged for Li Mu was a very large suite. Outside the bedroom, there was a luxuriously decorated small living room.
Li Mu felt that Schwarzenegger might have something to say to him, so he invited Schwarzenegger to sit on the sofa in the living room and asked him with a smile: "Arnold, you are going to be the governor soon. How do you feel?"
Schwarzenegger crossed his arms, leaned forward with his elbows on his legs, and said seriously: "To be honest, I am very excited now, but also very nervous."
Li Mu asked him with a smile: "Why are you nervous?"
Schwarzenegger said: "California is so dazzling in the United States, and its development in various fields ranks among the best in the United States. However, only when you really get in-depth can you know how many problems it has internally. I am worried that I am not capable enough to make California more prosperous." Good development."
With that said, Schwarzenegger asked Li Mu: "Mr. Li, as an extremely successful businessman, do you have any good suggestions?"
Li Mu smiled and said: "I'm not very interested in politics, so I haven't done much research. However, there was a great thinker in China who proposed a concept of governing the country more than two thousand years ago, which is called governing by inaction. It means, try not to do anything. Intervene too much with the people and let them use their own creativity. Don’t try to lead them forward, but encourage them to go as far as possible within a reasonable and legal framework.”
After that, Li Mu added: "Actually, to put it bluntly, it is to give the people, especially entrepreneurs, the opportunity to let go and try. You have to be a shepherd dog to protect the sheep without disturbing the sheep too much. We will only intervene when individual flocks make mistakes. Don't try to be a leader. There are tens of millions of people in California, and you can't lead them."
Schwarzenegger didn't quite understand what Li Mu meant. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Mr. Li, can you give me some suggestions on a more specific level? For example, how should I reduce California's fiscal deficit and make California's fiscal deficit better?" The economy will develop faster and better.”
Li Mu smiled and said: "Arnold, I believe your staff have already given you countless suggestions on these issues. They are all more professional than me, so their suggestions are far superior in theory and practice." Better advice than I gave.”
After a pause, Li Mu continued: "So I can't give you a solution to the specific problem, but I can give you some more macro-level suggestions for your reference."
Schwarzenegger nodded hurriedly and said seriously: "Please speak."
Li Mu said: “First of all, the first suggestion is, don’t just think about solving California’s fiscal deficit by cutting expenditures. This is like a family, most of the energy should be focused on how to make money, rather than on how to make money. How to save money? If your staff is bent on using various methods to reduce expenditures and reduce the deficit, they will only get a bigger and stronger rebound in the future."
In Li Mu's impression, when Schwarzenegger came to power, he was complacent about cutting government spending. As a result, he was shrinking and failed to reduce the deficit. On the contrary, it increased a lot. This became what the public pointed at Schwarzenegger. A key element of Singer's incompetence.
Therefore, now that Schwarzenegger has been elected, there is really no need to rack his brains to reduce expenditures. It is better to free up and do other things.
Schwarzenegger was a little surprised when he heard this. The things that his staff were focusing on right now were the things that Li Mu told him not to do.
He said with some embarrassment: "Mr. Li, to tell you the truth, we are currently thinking about how to comprehensively reduce California government spending and reduce the government deficit... "
Li Mu smiled slightly and said: "Your staff are like aircraft manufacturers. They regard financial expenditure as the weight of the aircraft. They only want to make the aircraft lighter as much as possible while ensuring that the aircraft does not crash. Of course, lightweight Good, but it may not be suitable for your situation.”
Schwarzenegger nodded slightly and said, "I will definitely arrange time to communicate with my staff and congressmen on this point."
Li Mu hummed, and then said: "The second suggestion is to strengthen cooperation with China, both at the government level and at the private level."
"I give you this advice, not because I am Chinese, but because you must unswervingly believe that China will definitely become the world's second largest economy in the next ten years, surpassing the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan. So, for so many states in the United States, whoever runs the fastest will benefit the most."
Schwarzenegger looked at Li Mu intently, looking forward to his next words.
Li Mu said: "In fact, California is particularly suitable to take the lead in in-depth contact with China. California has a cultural aircraft carrier like Hollywood, and a large number of excellent cultural and literary works are not exported. China has the largest population and the most potential market in the world. Both parties are very happy." It is easy to find ways to cooperate deeply and achieve mutual benefit, but this requires you as the governor to promote it. Like a sheepdog, drive your sheep to the most fertile pastures. You don’t have to worry about the rest, they will take care of themselves. Will open his mouth and eat with all his strength."
"In addition, California also has Silicon Valley, the world's IT center. So many high-tech companies need a larger market, cheaper labor, and lower costs. Believe me, at this stage, there is no place more suitable than China. , The traditional manufacturing industry in the United States has already begun to develop towards China, but the high-tech industry has moved much slower. You can think of ways to promote it."
Schwarzenegger thought for a moment, nodded slightly, and asked Li Mu: "Mr. Li, if I want to strengthen economic cooperation between California and China, can you provide me with some help?"
"Of course." Li Mu said with a smile: "I can help California entrepreneurs introduce Chinese private entrepreneurs, and help American companies connect with Chinese companies, so that everyone can find more cooperation opportunities."
As he spoke, Li Mu had an idea and said: "I think it would be better to do this. After you take office, I will come forward to organize a Sino-US entrepreneur forum with the California state government. We will delineate several industries and first discuss the differences between the two sides in this industry." Gather all the entrepreneurs and sit them down in a banquet hall. We don’t have to worry about the rest, and they can create countless sparks by themselves.”
"If the first Entrepreneur Forum is successful, then for the second forum we can consider adding several new industries, expanding the scale of participating entrepreneurs, and then branding this forum to a higher level."
"At that time, the California government can take the lead, join forces with banks and large companies, and jointly establish a venture capital fund with the same name to invest in outstanding projects in the forum. It will not only support American companies to develop in China, but also support Chinese companies to come to the United States. Test the waters, and as long as companies have needs, they can submit applications, which will not only improve the reputation of the California government, but also increase the revenue of the California government."
Schwarzenegger's eyes lit up and he blurted out: "Is this what you call treating by doing nothing?"
Li Mu said with a smile: "That's more or less. Be a good shepherd dog, drive the sheep that need to grow meat to the best pastures, and drive the sheep that need to mate to the best members of the opposite sex."
Schwarzenegger immediately became excited.
If we can really organize an entrepreneur forum for American companies and Chinese companies, as Li Mu said, this will not only help the economic development of both parties, but also a major achievement of his governance in California.
Li Mu looked at Schwarzenegger, smiled lightly, and said, "Having said so much, let's talk about some selfish things."
Schwarzenegger also sat upright, nodded and said, "Mr. Li, please speak."
Li Mu said: "I hope you will strengthen cooperation between California and China. Not only because I firmly believe that China will soon become the world's second economy, but also because I am a Chinese and I also hope to contribute to China's economic development." .”
"So, as long as you are friendly to China and seek common development with Chinese enterprises during your term, then I will definitely support you to better govern California in the next four or eight years. I can invest one billion US dollars." Or even more, to support this venture capital fund for cooperation between Chinese and American enterprises."
"Not only that, I will also increase my investment in California in the future and provide more tax revenue and jobs to California. However, as your partner and ally, I may also need you to provide me with certain conveniences in the future. .”
Schwarzenegger was very excited when he heard this. If nothing else, just the entrepreneur forum Li Mu mentioned, once it is successfully held, he will receive a lot of praise for himself. After all, there are few states in the United States that can make such a big splash. not much.
For him, it would be a better situation if he could really set up a venture capital fund to add icing on the cake.
As for what Li Mu said, he needs to provide certain conveniences in the future. This kind of thing is actually very common in the United States, and can even be said to be routine.
Whether it is a governor's election or a presidential election, it is inseparable from the support of consortiums, businesses, and families. When they invest a lot of money to help candidates run, they have already negotiated various bargaining chips with each other.
Yes, it's for a position. Both the President of the United States and the governors of the United States have the right to appoint their own people to take charge of some special positions. For example, the director of the CIA, the secretary of state, the justice, and other positions are recognized and appointed by the president. Once a new president or governor takes office, the new appointees will be appointed. The person in charge is likely to be a member of a family who supports his candidacy.
Also, it requires resources. For example, arms dealers in the United States often invest huge amounts of campaign funds in presidential candidates in order to sell more guns to more ordinary people through the direct help of political policies after successful election in the future. , or let the government and military purchase more of their own products. In short, it is all for money.
Schwarzenegger naturally understood that Li Mu helped him campaign and consolidate public opinion. He should also have personal interests for himself.
If Li Mu only helped him but never mentioned his own demands, Schwarzenegger would not dare to cooperate with him. But when he found out that Li Mu had such demands, Schwarzenegger was relieved.
The adult world prefers transactions rather than simple requests. After all, everyone getting what they need is the best cooperation model.
(End of chapter)