"Mr. Huang, as a token of our gratitude, my grandfather has agreed to a compromise. We can accept the vacuum high-speed train technology as part of a joint venture, granting us 30% equity in the company. However, in return, the Rothschild family's economic and networking influence must also be valued as 30% equity."
"The remaining 40%, if your company insists, will require a payment of 4 billion Euros for the company's initial operating expenses!" Albert Rothschild presented their latest terms.
"Are these terms considered a concession?" Huang He chuckled, "Previously, you disallowed our technology as equity, and I refused your networking as equity. Now you demand both technology and networking to be open for equity investment. How is that a concession on your part?"
"Moreover, while the Rothschild family is indeed highly respected, and their influence in Europe is evident, equating their networking to 30% of the shares, equivalent to the vacuum high-speed magnetic levitation train technology, is still difficult to accept!"
"Mr. Huang, our sincerity in cooperating with your company is genuine. And I assure you, while the Rothschild family's influence in Europe might not be remarkable, making it difficult for a large project to proceed smoothly is a rather simple matter," Albert said with a smile.
"What if the United States pushes for it?" Huang He suddenly countered, "Or, if Goldman Sachs were to push for it, would you still object?"
"Goldman Sachs?" Albert paused, then heard Huang He say, "We have an old saying in China: there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. If the interests are sufficient, even former enemies can reconcile."
"Of course, enemies remain enemies; once an enemy, there will always be a gap, preventing sincere cooperation. In comparison, I prefer to cooperate with eternal friends, don't you agree?" Huang He looked into Albert's eyes.
"Alright, I cannot out-argue you. How about this: this time, we sold these technology patents for a total of 500 million Euros. Let's inject this 500 million Euros into the new company as additional investment from the Rothschild family, what do you say?" Albert proposed.
"Not enough!" To Albert's surprise, Huang He shook his head, "This 500 million Euros is a windfall for the Rothschild family, and windfalls are usually not taken too seriously. Therefore, I hope the Rothschild family can also bring some substantial capital to the table. Not too much, just a total of 2 billion Euros to be injected into the new company."
"That is absolutely impossible, that's far too much Euros!" Albert refused without thinking.
"35%!" Huang He immediately stated, "I can cede 5% of the new company's shares to the 'ghost entity,' meaning Jiangnan Group will ultimately provide the technology and 4 billion Euros in funds, securing 65% of the new company's shares."
"While the Rothschild family will be responsible for resolving all obstacles and difficulties encountered by the new company in the European market, and an additional investment of 2 billion Euros, you will obtain 35% of the new company's shares!"
"The money is still too much!" Albert frowned, "How about 1 billion Euros? We can sign the deal now."
"Hahaha!" Huang He couldn't help but laugh, "Mr. Albert, why must we quibble over 1 billion Euros? Don't forget, since the project will be conducted in Europe, there will be a large number of related orders within the European continent. As shareholders of the company, it is only natural for these orders to ultimately fall into the hands of the Rothschild family's enterprises. The profits earned will be far more than 1 billion Euros!"
"If you insist on haggling over this 1 billion Euros, then all future projects in Europe will be subject to strict bidding. Whichever company's services and products are of good quality and at a reasonable price will be used, without any special favors. What do you say to that?"
"..." Albert rolled his eyes, "Mr. Huang, are you sure your surname isn't Grandet?"
"In my opinion, Mr. Grandet was a hero. He single-handedly built such a vast fortune, only to have it divided by his unfilial descendants at the end. It is truly regrettable and lamentable!" Huang He replied.
"Alright, I will report this to my grandfather. As for the final outcome, we can only wait for my grandfather's decision," Albert said helplessly.
Fortunately, Albert's grandfather soon agreed to the cooperation plan. Both parties signed a cooperation agreement that spanned over five hundred pages, densely packed with more than sixteen hundred different clauses, effectively covering all legal risks.
However, this did not mean the cooperation would begin immediately. According to the agreement, the Rothschild family had to witness the feasibility of the vacuum high-speed train before commencing the preparations for the new company.
Therefore, the most crucial next step was to await the completion and opening of the first vacuum high-speed railway in all of China… no, the world. That was the true starting point of the agreement.
While Jiangnan Group and the Rothschild family were having a pleasant discussion, Goldman Sachs was becoming somewhat restless. Initially, Goldman Sachs had anticipated that once they held a significant number of related technology patents, Jiangnan Group would proactively seek them out for negotiations. They then planned to extract benefits from the latter and force them to sign unfavorable agreements.
However, Jiangnan Group never initiated contact. That was one thing, but Jiangnan Group also had no plans to arrange for the production of PT component parts and equipment. As one of the senior executives, Hao Jianguo could still access a large amount of confidential information, daily operational data, and production schedules. The schedules completely lacked any production plans for PT phone component parts. Instead, the entire processing department appeared very leisurely, with no overtime plans for two consecutive months.
Helplessly, Hao Jianguo had to approach Mr. Huang again to inquire why the production of PT had not yet begun, as Apple was already preparing for its launch and press conference.
"Jianguo, there's nothing that can be done. You have no idea how distressed I am. Our crucial magnetic levitation train technology was snatched away by Goldman Sachs. I can neither eat nor sleep, how could I possibly have the mood to manage anything related to PT?"
"Forget it, let it be. Let Apple be the first. I don't care anymore!" Huang He sighed and lamented for a long time, leaving Hao Jianguo dazed and bewildered before he cheerfully hung up the phone.
Hao Jianguo felt his head spinning. He once again approached the elder and reported the situation in detail.
"You still haven't figured it out? Huang He is making a direct confrontation with us!" After hearing Hao Jianguo's report, the elder glared at Hao Jianguo fiercely and said with great helplessness.
"Confrontation?" Fear flickered in Hao Jianguo's eyes. The elder continued, "Naturally, it means you are our spy, and the fact that we have secretly controlled Android!"
"Actually, from the moment you were taken by the people Huang He arranged in the United States to witness that sensational spectacle, I knew Huang He had discovered your issue. The reason he kept you within the company afterward was likely to use you as a pawn."
"If that is the case, then it is natural for Jiangnan Group to discover the problem with Android. After all, the entire matter of the Android company was handled by you. Once you yourself arouse suspicion, all the business you have managed will naturally be scrutinized."
"And if Jiangnan Group were to investigate the specific staff members of the reorganized Android company and discover that all these individuals have backgrounds with Goldman Sachs, they would immediately understand that the newly established Android company has also been brought under our control by Goldman Sachs."
"Combined with you, this fool, repeatedly demanding him to accelerate Android's production over the past few months, clearly indicates you are signaling to him that Android has problems and you intend to use Android to set a trap for him. It would be a miracle if he acted according to our plan!"
"Moreover, this time, he uses such a blatant excuse to fob you off. Who would abandon a business worth billions of dollars that could change the future of the entire mobile phone market simply because their patent technology was acquired by someone else, and they are in a bad mood? There is no logical reason for this!"
"This clearly signals to me that he has seen through all our plans. He doesn't even want to play along anymore and is directly confronting us." The elder sighed, "This fellow is indeed extremely cunning, worthy of being the most troublesome opponent in history."
"Then sir, what should we do? Should I leave Jiangnan Group immediately?" Hao Jianguo's legs were starting to tremble.
"What's the rush? If Huang He wanted to get rid of you earlier, you would have been reduced to ashes by now, let alone standing here talking to me," the elder snorted. "Don't worry, since he is confronting us so openly instead of continuing the charade, it means he also has something he needs from us and wants to negotiate and exchange benefits."
"Furthermore, I think he spoke a truth, that the acquisition of the magnetic levitation train patents has indeed thrown him into disarray. Jiangnan Group has two most important business lines for future development: one is PT, and the other is magnetic levitation trains. We hold the most critical aspects of both these business lines. Therefore, it should be Huang He who is begging us to show leniency, rather than him toying with us!"
"Are you implying that Huang He wants to use Android as leverage to force us to sell him the magnetic levitation train patents?" Hao Jianguo guessed.
"Most likely!" The elder nodded. "So be it. Since we are all being transparent, let's proceed openly. You call Huang He now, and I will talk to him personally!"