Nanyang 1931: From piglets to giants

Chapter 237: Relocating Japan's entire automobile manufacturing industry to Singapore
Three days later,

In fact, the Allied Headquarters GHQ was in charge and temporarily set up a Japanese corporate "Trial Bureau" under it. It was mainly responsible for trying war crimes committed by major companies, especially military-industrial companies during the war. It is said that in serious cases, the specific persons in charge would be sent to the war court.

People who don’t understand may tremble and be terrified, but in fact, the real elites in Japan are all relieved by this.

After all, for prisoners, going to court is not a painful thing. On the contrary, those who have been detained but have not been tried for a long time, or even do not know when the trial will start, are the most anxious and difficult to endure.

It's actually a good thing to rebel quickly.

The same goes for these Japanese companies. The Allied Command imposed a comprehensive blockade on them. The media had to withstand the most stringent censorship and was basically not allowed to do anything. Industrial companies lost their import and export trade and could not start work at all. Service industry companies actually had no other service industries except serving the US military.

An industrial society that is locked up like this is like a high-speed machine that is suddenly forced to stop by inserting a large iron rod into its gears. The machine is about to be completely scrapped.

Now that the judgment has come, does it mean that you can be killed or cut into pieces without hesitation?
Those who should be killed should be killed, and those who should be cut into pieces should be cut into pieces. After killing and cutting, can we just turn the page on this matter?
Moreover, many well-informed people in the upper echelons already know that this trial is led by the Southern Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). If nothing unexpected happens, as long as there is no direct war crime, this chapter may indeed be turned over, and they may even be able to join the Southern Association for Regional Cooperation and be reborn.

Toyota Motor Corporation headquarters.

Under the escort of US military, Toyota Risaburo and Zheng Yi slowly drove into the factory gate, only to see countless workers crowded there, welcoming them warmly. When Toyota Risaburo got out of the car, all the employees burst into warm cheers.

"Third Young Master, please save us."

"Please save us, Third Young Master! We have no rice or noodles at home and we can't even afford to eat!"

This was originally the old residence of the Toyota family. It was not until just before the war that Toyota Risaburo separated from his family and moved out.

He was originally an ordinary engineer at Toyota. Because of his outstanding work and excellent performance, he was valued by the old president. Since he was an orphan, he was adopted as his son and the president also married his daughter to him.

Later, the old president died. In fact, he had always been the one maintaining Toyota's elite. Kiichiro Toyoda was obsessed with making cars and was not interested in Toyota's traditional textile business.

You know, researching car engines is very expensive, so since the old president died, the two brothers have been responsible for making money for Toyoda Risaburo and spending money for Toyoda Kiichiro.

The real boss of the company is of course Kiichiro Toyoda. After all, he is Toyoda's biological son. However, which of the real worries, troubles, and annoyances that the company has had over the years was not caused by him?
This is his home!
After being away from home for many years, I am finally back today.

As soon as he got off the car, Toyota Risaburo burst into tears, but Zheng Yi was still behind him, so it was not the time for him to reminisce with these old workers. After a lot of words, he finally just bowed deeply and ended the conversation.

Soon, allied forces stepped forward to block the crowded crowd. Zheng Yi got out of the car and entered the office building with Toyota Risaburo.

Kiichiro Toyota had been waiting for them here early. When Zheng Yi entered the room, he saw Kiichiro Toyota leading all the executives of Toyota kneeling on the ground and kowtowing to apologize.

Zheng Yi smiled and stepped forward to help the man up, saying, "It's been a few years since we last met, Mr. Toyota. Why do you feel so distant? We are old friends."

Toyota Risaburo also said with emotion: "Brother, I'm back, and the hard times are over. You asked me to dismantle Toyota and go to Penang. You were really far-sighted."

Kiichiro Toyoda was also crying. He first looked at Toyoda Risaburo and said, "It's good to be back. The factory has been closed for three months. Some workers and their families have even starved to death. No matter what, they are innocent. Please save them. I really don't have the money to pay the workers anymore."

Toyoda Risaburo: "I have it, and I still have it."

Kiichiro Toyota nodded, looked at Zheng Yi again, but suddenly gave a bitter smile.

"Mr. Zheng, you truly are a dragon among men. The outbreak, process, and outcome of the war are exactly as you predicted for me back when we were in Bincheng. I admire you so much. It's a pity that I was stubborn and betrayed Mr. Zheng's kindness. Toyota... was still dragged into the war, and now I am also a war criminal."

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "I'm already very grateful that you were able to send Toyota Textile to me. Risaburo has also helped me a lot over the years. You're my friend, so how can you be a war criminal?"

Kiichiro Toyoda: "That being said, we at Toyota did, after all, produce a large number of tanks and armored vehicles for the Japanese army. These tanks and armored vehicles did kill quite a few Chinese on the battlefield."

Hearing this, Zheng Yi smiled and glanced at the executives kneeling around him. He knew that this was a reassurance to Kiichiro Toyota.

After all, when it comes to war trials, no one knows what the specific standards will be. For executives like them, it is impossible for their families to starve to death at any time. However, if the trial is held and war criminals are interrogated, they may really end up in the dock and be shot.

After all, it is a military enterprise. Although they have not killed anyone directly, if we count the indirect killings, none of these people does not have a blood debt.

Those who are well-informed know that the highest leader of this new bureau under GHQ is actually Zheng Yi, and their lives and property now depend entirely on Zheng Yi's decision.

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "We're friends. I know you, and I know you at Toyota. You were originally a civilian company, producing textile machines and automobile engines. You even worked for peace between China and Japan. It was only after the war began, under the forced administrative orders of the Showa government, that you were forced to switch to tank production."

"Indirect war crimes certainly occurred, but ultimately, Toyota was not the culprit in inciting or promoting the war. It is somewhat different from those military-industrial enterprises that were truly guilty of original sin."

"Furthermore, to be honest, as a Japanese national enterprise, when the Japanese government launched a war, you produced some supplies for the Japanese front line. This is understandable. You can't really be compared with those militaristic beasts on the front line."

"The person who kills is the one who pulls the trigger, not the craftsman who makes the bullet."

As he spoke, Zheng Yi patted Kiichiro Toyota's shoulder to show his affection.

This is actually a kind of differentiation, which is to distinguish Toyota, Nissan, and other military-industrial enterprises that have been converted from civilian to military use from Mitsubishi and Kawasaki, which are real military-industrial enterprises, and treat them differently to prevent Japan's industrial sector from forming a group.

The meaning of Zheng Yi's words was very clear. Toyota's crime was not serious, but Mitsubishi and Kawasaki might not be.

In fact, for these companies, some really followed the army to act tyrannically in the occupied areas, doing business with swords. They said they were private businesses, but in fact they were more ruthless than real armies.

Especially those in mining and agriculture, a typical example is Sumitomo.

These people plundered minerals in the occupied areas, captured civilians to work, and even captured the owners of the land in places like the Northeast to make them slaves or simply sold them back to their country, and then sold the land at a discount to Japanese immigrants who came to reclaim the land.

They are called entrepreneurs, but the blood on their hands is not much less than that of soldiers. Perhaps even the military corps in most occupied areas have less blood on their hands than the blood of civilians.

These accounts must be settled. After Zheng Yi said this, it was obvious that the executives kneeling in a circle all breathed a sigh of relief. Some even went limp and collapsed to the ground, crying silently.

Zheng Yi ignored them and pulled Kiichiro Toyota into his office.

"Toyota, what's the situation now? I remember you used to make engines, right? Can you make complete vehicles now?"

Kiichiro Toyoda thought for a moment and said, "It shouldn't be a big problem. In the past few years... well, it's been a coincidence that we've built so many tanks. This has made up for many of our previous technical shortcomings."

Zheng Yi casually asked, "So, what's the approximate market value of this Toyota factory?"

Kiichiro Toyoda was a sensible man. He said, "How can it be worth anything? If we don't start production, the workers will starve to death. The price is too low. This is a mess for me now. If you can give the workers a way to survive, I can give Toyota to Mr. Zheng."

"Ah."

It was clear that Zheng Yi was interested in his Toyota, and at least his attitude was very good.

Zheng Yi: "You're saying it as if I'm taking advantage of you and stealing your family's inheritance for free. Let me estimate the value of Toyota Motors at $30 million. I'll pay you $ million for % of your shares."

"Singapore is currently building a large automotive industrial park. Singapore has a lot of work to do. Its strategic location is undeniable, but it lacks a pillar industry. I'm thinking of cars and their related supporting industries."

Zheng Yi offered Kiichiro Toyota a cigar and lit one for himself. He continued, "Three million US dollars is just the right amount for Toyota's relocation expenses. I'll grant you a piece of land there, and I'll guarantee you'll have complete water and electricity. The land is free, like a huge investment. The city government will use the land as equity in exchange for a 15% stake."

"After the relocation is complete, we'll offer another 30% of our shares for public fundraising as start-up capital for the factory's revival. The Toyota family and the original shareholders will share the remaining 25%. Is that okay?"

Kiichiro Toyoda didn't hesitate and immediately nodded and said, "Okay, okay, of course, no problem at all."

Valuing Toyota at 1000 million US dollars does seem a bit like taking advantage of the situation, but that's how business is. If he doesn't take action, everyone in Toyota will starve to death. He only took % of Toyota's shares, which was actually a very light move.

Market value is meaningless when it comes to basic survival.

Zheng Yi: "You and I are old friends. Toyota Boshoku itself is a member of the SAARC, even an important one. I trust you. I came here today because I trust you and want you to help me plan how to build this industrial park."

"In addition to Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Kawasaki's automotive businesses will also need to be relocated here if nothing unexpected happens. Just having an entire vehicle factory isn't enough. My initial thought is that you should be the president of the SAARC Automobile Association."

Kiichiro Toyota: "Me??"

I was stunned for a moment.

How come he is still an official?
Objectively speaking, Zheng Yi's behavior was actually taking advantage of the situation. With Toyota's scale and technology, its market value should be at least several hundred million US dollars. Zheng Yi offered 1000 million without any hesitation, and the original shareholders only had 25% of the shares left.

Of course, there are many financial means that can be used, such as listing and delisting, relocation and transfer, and the Toyota family can also make a profit.

All we can say is that Zheng Yi gave them a way out for the sake of his old friend and didn't kill them.

But this blow was really not light!
The three million was not for him personally, but was used to make plate armor and build a new factory.

In fact, I still feel a little resentful. It’s not that I can’t accept it, but I do feel that Zheng Yi is somewhat unfriendly.

I didn't expect that I would be waiting for him here.

"What does the Automobile Association...do?"

Kiichiro Toyoda also knew that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was a non-state actor. Because Nanyang itself did not have an independent country so far, private power had always been filling public power. Throughout Nanyang, the presidents of various chambers of commerce had much greater power than associations in other countries.

Zheng Yi: "I don't understand cars, let alone your Japanese car industry chain. In fact, there are very few people in Southeast Asia who understand it. As for us Chinese in Southeast Asia, although we have made some money in recent years, our main source of income is the chemical industry."

"As for the chemical industry, the industrial chain isn't that long, and the number of workers employed isn't that large. It requires scale, not collaboration. To put it bluntly, the wealth that the Chinese in Southeast Asia have today is largely due to me."

"But cars are different. They are the jewel of the industrial world, the fruit that matures from the flower of industry. They have the most components of any consumer product, and they require a complete, mature, and integrated industrial system to support them. Only then can a car be made."

"Whether I come or not, I don't know anything about cars, and no one among the Chinese in Southeast Asia knows how to operate a car. I asked you to be the president of the Automobile Association so that you can guide and plan the development of the SAARC automobile industry. You need to know which companies and support are needed for the entire industry chain, and how to transfer the Japanese companies needed in this industry chain to Singapore."

"If you have any needs or any kind of support you want, as long as it can help the automotive industry in SAARC, you can tell me. I will definitely do whatever I can."

"Also, the automotive industry isn't limited to just passenger cars. I'm also interested in motorcycles, agricultural vehicles, tractors, and even all kinds of construction machinery. Of course, this isn't limited to Singapore. Any other places within SAARC's control that are suitable for producing related parts are welcome. If you have any plans, please feel free to tell me directly."

Kiichiro Toyota: "Ah... why me?"

Zheng Yi: "No one among us Chinese understands this, and there are only a few Japanese who do. I trust you the most, so who else can I use if not you?"

Just kidding, Kiichiro Toyoda is the founder of the world's largest automobile company in history and the creator of the "Toyota model". Zheng Yi has no doubt about his ability. In the field of automobiles, he is the invincible Dugu Qiubai in history.

The industry associations of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation will have greater power, but in essence they are still industry associations. Zheng Yi has always opposed outsiders leading insiders. The automobile industry chain is so long, and almost all of it has to be moved from Japan. Instead of getting a Chinese to consult these Japanese on everything, it is better to use a Japanese directly.

The factory has moved, the nationality has changed, and the controlling rights are in our hands. What is there to doubt?

Besides, the chairman of the automobile industry association essentially only has advisory rights. If there are any major issues, Zheng Yi will have to make the final decision.

Kiichiro Toyoda: "Okay, since Mr. Zheng trusts me so much, I will do my best to make Toyota and the South China Automobile Association bigger and stronger."

(End of this chapter)