Return to Hong Kong Island for a Century

Chapter 338 Protection (First Update!)

“Mr. Ma, 50,000 orders are too many. BMW Motorcycle Factory will have a hard time completing the task in a short time. I would like to transfer part of the order out. I hope the higher authorities can lend a hand.” Li Song spoke in a very humble manner.

"Mr. Li, with an order for 50,000 vehicles, BMW's factory won't be able to produce them for long, maybe only a year or two?" Ma Shengli asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Mr. Ma, with the recent inflation, the longer it drags on, the more I will lose. In addition, the aircraft manufacturers on Amazon are also secretly colluding to make it safer to deliver sooner.” Li Song made up an excuse, because these were probably one-off deals, and all that would happen afterward was to provide maintenance parts to the crowdfunding club.

While theoretically, one-piece die-casting has higher repair costs, that applies to automobiles.

The airplane would cease to exist, because if an airplane were to crash, regardless of whether it was a one-piece cast structure or not, the outcome would be similar, since the speed and altitude at which an airplane crashes are different from those of a car.

When a plane crashes, it will most likely be damaged.

So it's pretty much the same whether it needs repair or not.

"What does Mr. Li plan to do?" Ma Shengli asked.

"I hope to complete the order by the end of the year," Li Song said.

"That means at least 6000 aircraft need to be delivered per month?"

"Including preparation time, at least eight or nine thousand aircraft per month?" Ma Shengli was somewhat stunned; these were airplanes, after all.

Eight or nine thousand, even tens of thousands of planes a month...

Although this is the most basic type of airplane, it is still an airplane.

"Hmm." Li Song didn't say anything else. The people who make this kind of aircraft could also make flying motorcycles, the kind of small planes with a small engine at the tail, used to consume enemy anti-aircraft munitions.

Further down the line, it can be used to manufacture model airplanes, drones, and so on.

"I'll report right away." Ma Shengli nodded.

Li Song watched Ma Shengli leave and breathed a sigh of relief. Doing this kind of thing in mainland China is a piece of cake; this is a super business involving five hundred million US dollars.

How much could you buy with 500 million US dollars in the international community?
Although China has developed large-scale chemical engineering technology, as well as textile technology, it lags behind established foreign companies in terms of manufacturing speed and cost.

Therefore, some things still need to be imported.

Of course, the price difference between someone who has mastered the technology and someone who doesn't is much larger.

Moreover, because of the financial crisis, there are more opportunities to purchase these devices at this time.

When Li Song was in Guangzhou, staff from Ame's relevant departments were reviewing a report, the contents of which made them somewhat unhappy.

"Tony, are you sure there are no problems with the appraisal report for the Starship aircraft?" The staff member immediately gave the relevant report to the supervisor, who then picked up the phone after reviewing it.

"Of course," the person on the other end of the phone nodded in response.

"Are you sure Dongfang has mastered the technology for a 10,000-ton hydraulic press, and it's very likely that it's for 50,000 tons?" the supervisor asked again.

“That’s right. The landing gear shown in the photo was made by a hydraulic press with a capacity of at least 50,000 tons, unless there’s something wrong with the photo.” Tony understood, of course, and said again.

That means unless there's a problem with the photos you provided.

“Damn it, Tony, I need you to go to London and see the Starshine aircraft for yourself. I need to confirm it again,” the supervisor said upon hearing this.

“Of course, I’m also very curious to see how the East mastered this technology,” Tony said on the phone.

"I will communicate with the London side." The supervisor also felt frustrated.

A series of recent problems have put Amer International Group's relevant departments in a very passive position.

Since last year, some technologies that have emerged in mainland China have made the Paris Agreement a joke.

The root of all this is that damned Parkson Corporation.

This company is run by a young man who is under twenty years old, or more accurately, eighteen. He owns nearly 100,000 patents, covering industries such as aviation, automobiles, machinery, electrical engineering, and chemicals.

Moreover, this young man is from mainland China.

Over the past year, Ame has conducted a comprehensive investigation and assessment of relevant companies, such as those producing large-tonnage aluminum alloy hot casting presses and those specializing in diesel engine technology.

We've ruled out the possibility of technology spillover from developed countries, but these technologies aren't available in mainland China either.

Of course, it could be some classified department in mainland China. After all, if they don't want you to know something, then you shouldn't know it either.

"Minister!" The supervisor personally reported to the minister, still holding the documents.

The minister looked at the document, picked up the phone, and dialed directly to London.

“Henry, I need help…” The minister called the relevant department head in London directly.

“Karl, I’m sorry, we cannot cooperate on this matter.” To the minister’s surprise, London refused.

"Why?" Minister Karl of the relevant department of America was a little confused for a moment.

“Because this is a company based in Hong Kong, you understand?” Henry, the person in charge in London, replied.

“Henry, the Starshine aircraft is manufactured by some countries in the East!” Karl stood up and explained.

“Carl, Parkson is a company we need to protect. The company’s performance is growing very fast. As of February, more than 2 motorcycles have been transferred from Hong Kong Island for export.”

"According to our forecast, the number of motorcycles transported on Hong Kong Island in 1981 may exceed two million."

"An order for another 50,000 Panda aircraft will also be transferred from Hong Kong Island."

“Also, don’t forget, the owner of Parkson is a famous author whose single book has sold over thirty million copies, so we shouldn’t even think about causing trouble,” Henry explained. “Damn it, these things are from certain Eastern countries, don’t you understand?” Carl was getting annoyed.

“This cannot be measured in money,” Carl continued.

"So what? The councilors only see the GDP and tax revenue contributed by Yum! Brands."

"60% of the 160,000 motorcycles were traded in the form of goods trade. Do you know how many more air routes that will be added?"

"And I don't want to provoke the councilors," Henry continued to explain.

"Besides, I don't want to go against a billionaire. And so what if it's Parkson? Parkson is just a puppet company used by the mainland for import and export trade."

“They could form ten or even a hundred Yum! Companies,” Henry continued to explain.

Henry also had something else he didn't say: the biggest trade threat to London wasn't the interior, but Aramco.

After all, America is our neighbor, while some countries in the East are too far away.

The trade war between America and London has never stopped.

Besides, London's industry is already in ruins. The car industry has been losing money for years, and many brands are facing bankruptcy. And what about the motorcycle industry?

There is none.

There is no market for single-engine fixed-wing aircraft either.

The jet airliner industry? We do have our own, but it's through partnerships.

And who holds the largest share of the passenger aircraft market?
Although London holds a stake in Airbus, it's only a stake. Who's the most anxious?
Of course it's Amei!

With another company entering the fray and causing trouble, who is most anxious?

Moreover, these products are all transshipped from Hong Kong Island, and the meat that passes through their hands is always juicy and oily.

What about the Paris Agreement?

"Henry, this is a serious violation of the Paris Agreement!" Karl was furious.

“You can communicate with our government departments, it has nothing to do with me.” Henry chuckled inwardly when he heard Carl getting anxious.

Henry also knew that his department had been thoroughly infiltrated by Amy and Fat Bear.

In fact, this was something Henry did intentionally, mainly to avoid the two sides escalating the conflict.

Because the biggest fear during the Cold War was a lack of transparency, who would suffer the consequences?

Of course, it's in Europe in the middle.

Carl was speechless, but Henry was right.

“Henry, don’t forget that the 99-year lease is about to expire,” Carl said through gritted teeth.

"I was already retired by then!" Henry said, as stubborn as a mule.

Karl said irritably, "Where is the glory of your Daiying?"

“Karl, this is just a job, and don’t forget, your government is also improving relations with some countries in the East. I think you should consider more things before you do anything.”

"Furthermore, from a legal perspective, the Star Shine aircraft is a product of our company, Dai Ying, and it is only manufactured in mainland China on our behalf."

"So legally speaking, we need to protect our company from external interference." Henry knew, of course, that even if he refused Carl, the other party could still obtain the data on the Starship.

But this is different. If I agree to cooperate, then if something goes wrong, it will be my responsibility.

If the other party obtains the data secretly, it has nothing to do with me.

Carl asked, "Are you planning to issue flight permits and airworthiness certificates to the Starship?"

"That's not my responsibility," Henry refused to answer directly.

"And what about medium- and long-range passenger aircraft?" Karl continued to ask.

"Sorry, this isn't my responsibility!" Henry said, as always.

Snapped!
Carl hung up the phone immediately and yelled, "Fuck!"

Back in London, Henry, hearing the call being disconnected, grumbled, "Rude barbarians, nouveau riche!"

Henry knew perfectly well why Parliament would protect Yum! – because there was no other way!

On the one hand, Yum! Brands continues to contribute to GDP.

On the other hand, the technology patents and the like all belong to Li Song personally, so even if they are targeted at Baisheng Company, it won't make a difference.

Unless Li Song's personal patent is not recognized.

But if that were the case, the entire Western trade system would be finished.

Besides, Parkson doesn't pose much of a threat to London. There are plenty of people who are anxious. Motorcycles are taking over the market from small notebooks, and airplanes are taking over the market from Aramco.

London has always been dissatisfied with America, even though America used to be a London colony!

Now that they've turned the tables and become the big brother, who's convinced? Neighboring Paris isn't convinced either, since half of America's land was once Paris's colony.

(End of this chapter)