Rebirth 76: Industrial Internet Empire

Yang Mo nodded and said no more.

"No...no! Zhiyuan Group is tantamount to being an enemy of the entire non-ferrous metal industry. Rare metals involve many high-precision and cutting-edge fields such as semiconductors, aerospace, and military equipment. Western countries will also join forces to put pressure on us..." Chen Jinhe reminded hurriedly.

"Then just watch these strategic mineral resources being sold at cabbage prices?" Yang Mo asked rhetorically.

"Looking at these precious mineral resources being given to Western countries almost for nothing, I often think of Mr. Yang's words when he scolded me!" Chang Yonggui, who had been silent, suddenly said.

"Mr. Yang scolded you to wake you up?" Chen Jinhe asked in surprise.

"I don't feel bad for selling my son! This is a precious resource that we can leave to future generations!" Chang Yonggui vaguely appeared in front of his eyes. The confident and domineering young man back then, these words almost completely changed the trajectory of his life!

Yang Mo smiled bitterly and said: "Mr. Chang, why are you raising this issue? Weren't you young and ignorant back then?"

After Chen Jinhe was silent for a long time, he suddenly said: "Mr. Yang, this matter must not be done in the name of Zhiyuan Group! If there is a collective counterattack by Western countries, the consequences will be disastrous!"

"What do you think? How should it be done?" Yang Mo asked.

"You can try to imitate the methods commonly used in Western countries when conveying benefits..." Chen Jinhe said thoughtfully.

Yang Mo's eyes lit up and he almost blurted out: "Establish an independent closed foundation? And then use this foundation to control a rare earth trading company?"

Chen Jinhe nodded: "The ownership structure of a closed foundation is difficult to trace. Benefits can also be transferred through the foundation, and it can do many things that are inconvenient for the Zhiyuan Group! Many large foreign multinational consortiums, and even the government, have several self-controlled Foundations, these foundations are very powerful. Anti-government forces in some African countries accept their funding, and they can even influence the outcome of a local proxy war..."

"So powerful?" Chang Yonggui asked in surprise.

Yang Mo chuckled and said: "Mr. Chang, their actions are far beyond your imagination! A senior reporter from our San Siro Mercury newspaper was severely punished for breaking the news that the CIA was funding an anti-government armed force and raising funds for war through drug trafficking. To retaliate, if I had not fled abroad, I would have died in an accident by now..."

"Is this the freedom of speech they advertise?" Chang Yonggui said angrily.

Yang Mo smiled bitterly and said: "Western-style freedom of speech has preconditions! You must say things that are in line with their values ​​and whitewash all their shameful deeds!"

"Then we still follow the original plan to discuss cooperation with major mines?" Chang Yonggui asked.

"It doesn't matter, normal contact, normal signing of the contract that should be signed, the worst we can do is to resell it to a third-party company. The most important thing is to keep it confidential, especially not letting Rhodia and AMR notice it!" Yang Mo continued.

Under Chen Jinhe's reminder, a more careful plan gradually took shape in Yang Mo's mind.

Metallurgical Bureau Guest House.

Chang Yonggui, who was not used to the heating in the northern room, put on his clothes and went downstairs, lit a cigarette outside the guest house foyer and enjoyed the night view of Yanjing.

"Brother Chang! Didn't you go to Chile? Why did you come to attend the industry meeting in person?" A voice rang in his ears.

Chang Yonggui squinted his eyes and looked carefully for a while, then asked hesitantly: "Are you Xiao Zhao from Lucheng Iron and Steel Plant?"

Zhao Hengbo smiled bitterly and said: "It's Old Zhao now! Brother Chang, when I went to the south for a business trip a few years ago, I made a special detour to Hongdu to see you. It's a pity that you are not in the country. I haven't seen you for so many years. Your body seems to be still intact." Very tough!"

Chang Yonggui chuckled and said, "Look at your sideburns starting to turn white. You really have become Lao Zhao. I haven't seen you in ten years!"

Zhao Hengbo said emotionally: "Brother Chang! It's been 12 years! If it hadn't been for your help back then, I probably wouldn't have been able to pass that test!"

Chang Yonggui waved his hand and said: "Who has never encountered difficulties? The triangular debt caused by local protectionism in that era dragged down many companies. Some companies even had to go bankrupt because of the triangular debt!"

"Yes! It was my first year as the sales section chief of Lucheng Iron and Steel Plant. I couldn't collect the payment for the goods. Thousands of workers needed to support their families. The factory was waiting for me to get the money back to start investment. I went to seven or eight places. , I just asked for a bunch of white notes, and I wanted to die at that time. If Brother Chang hadn’t helped me, the consequences would have been disastrous..." Zhao Hengbo said with emotion.

"I'm serious, I don't care about trivial matters! What? Are you transferred to the non-ferrous metal industry now?" Chang Yonggui asked.

Zhao Hengbo took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Chang Yonggui respectfully...

"Ouch! How disrespectful! Are you already the chairman of a listed company?" Chang Yonggui took the business card and said in surprise after taking a look at it.

Zhao Hengbo explained with a smile: "It was also a coincidence. A few years ago, our steel plant merged with Lucheng Rare Earth Plant No. [-] and sent me to be the director of Rare Earth Plant No. [-]. It happened to catch up with the rise in rare metal prices in those years, so I followed suit. The situation is on the market..."

Chang Yonggui joked with a serious look: "Then I will call you Chairman Zhao from now on! It's not appropriate to call me Xiao Zhao anymore!"

"What kind of chairman is not the chairman? In front of Brother Chang, it is always Xiao Zhao. Brother Chang, why don't you go sit in my room for a while? There happens to be a bottle of red wine collected by a friend. Let's drink and chat..."

Chang Yonggui was not a reserved person by nature and readily agreed.

"Brother Chang, I heard from friends in the circle that you have retired? This time you come to Yanjing..." Zhao Hengbo asked curiously after pouring the wine.

After Chang Yonggui took a sip of wine, he said with a wry smile: "I am a hard-working person! I originally enjoyed peace and quiet at home, but after hearing what Lao Chen said, Zhiyuan Mining Group was planning to invest heavily in the country and get involved in rare earth finishing. I can’t sit still anymore and want to use my remaining energy..."

"Is Zhiyuan Mining Group planning to get involved in rare earth finishing?" Zhao Hengbo asked hurriedly with a stern look on his face.

Zhao Hengbo couldn't help but feel calm. Looking at the entire domestic rare earth industry, Lucheng Rare Earth No. [-] Plant was able to successfully go public in just a few years and become a leading company in the rare earth industry. The most critical reason is that it has enough support from Lucheng Iron and Steel Company. Funded mergers and acquisitions of mines, and invested a lot of R&D funds to develop rare earth purification processes!

Chang Yonggui nodded: "Yes! In recent years, Zhiyuan Mining Group has been busy with the merger and acquisition of overseas mining resources, and has almost given up on the smelting and purification of rare metals. Although many rare earth associated mines have been discovered overseas, most of them have been through simple processes. After rough processing, it is shipped back and sold to domestic rare earth companies for smelting and purification. We are preparing to get involved in the fine processing of rare earths. We are also following the trend to improve our own industrial chain!"