Li He's impression of the former KGB agent in front of him mostly came from the media. In front of the camera, he always liked to show off his strong physique, riding a horse bare-chested, flying a plane, and driving a snowmobile. Everyone knew he was a hardliner.
The media always portrayed him as an unbridled strongman and narcissist who liked to argue with others and sometimes flew into a rage.
Jiang Baojian pointed to the nameplate in front of the man. "Chairman of the St. Petersburg International Liaison Committee, Vladimir, is in charge of the city government's foreign economic relations. It is said that he is Mayor Sobchak's right-hand man."
"I see." Li He nodded. This also explained why Old Pu was here. The Bedeleev Research Institute had always been under the jurisdiction of the city of St. Petersburg.
Moreover, Old Pu had always been Sobchak's follower. When Sobchak won the election and became the mayor of St. Petersburg, he also ran for the election. However, his inexperienced political skills weren't enough, and his first election for deputy mayor ended in failure.
He was probably still depressed right now.
After the lengthy speeches of the China delegation and the mayor of St. Petersburg, Pan Youlin went on stage to sign on behalf of Delta Bank and the Bedeleev Research Institute. The applause continued.
Ambassador Liu Qing introduced Sobchak and other city government leaders to Li He.
Li He stepped forward and shook hands politely, but in fact, his eyes never left Old Pu behind Sobchak.
When it was his turn to shake hands with him, Li He had the opportunity to observe him up close. He was not tall, dressed in simple clothes, and his hair was still lush. He did not go bald later on.
"Nice hairstyle."
"Thank you." Old Pu was a little confused by this greeting.
Li He did not have the opportunity to talk to him more.
Sobchak kept dragging him to talk about the investment again, hoping that he could increase the investment in St. Petersburg.
Li He was vague and did not agree. He was going to give this opportunity to Old Pu. Even the mayor could not do it, but the chairman of the International Liaison Committee, Comrade Vladimir, did it. Didn't this give him enough opportunity to perform?
Therefore, Li He did not care about the disappointment on Sobchak's face, but he still had to give him some hope. He placed the carrot on the table first and hung it slowly.
Sure enough, on the second day of the signing ceremony, Old Pu, who was in charge of foreign economic affairs, found Li He's hotel.
Li He gave him a warm reception. "It's a pleasure to see you again, comrade Vladimir."
"Hello." Old Pu also responded enthusiastically in English. His English was fluent, but with a distinct Russian accent. He emphasized every word, and his face was obviously nervous. He did not expect Li He to remember his name. In front of many big capitalists, he had suffered a lot of unnecessary discrimination. Who could remember such a small character?
Yes, at least for now, he was a nobody, a nobody who couldn't even run for deputy mayor.
"Please sit down and have a cup of tea." Li He didn't ask for his permission and directly made him a cup of tea.
Jiang Baojian looked at them with a strange expression. There were not many people who could make Li He use a purple clay teapot to serve guests.
Li He smiled and asked, "Comrade Vladimir, may I ask why you came to see me?"
Li He looked at him and thought it was funny. The person in front of him, whether it was the way he spoke or the way he did things, looked very unnatural and awkward. It was a far cry from the confident and powerful image he showed later.
Old Pu said, "I hope we can have the opportunity to cooperate and work together. St. Petersburg will always welcome your investment."
Li He twisted his fingers, and Jiang Baojian passed the cigarette over.
Li He took one out and handed it to Old Pu. "Do you smoke?"
"No, thank you."
Li He said, "I am very optimistic about the future of Russia. There are great hardworking people here, outstanding scientists, and a world-class industrial system. Although it seems difficult at the moment, it is only a temporarily sleeping lion."
"Thank you, I think so too. So, Mr. Li, do you have any suggestions?"
Li He said, "You and I know that the current privatization in Russia lacks a legal basis. If I invest, how can I guarantee the safety of my property?"
Old Pu said seriously, "Mr. Sobchak is a member of the Presidential Council. He is the authority of the Constitution. I believe he can guarantee the sanctity of your private property."
"You have to know that the property in the hands of some people was obtained or acquired illegally. If these properties are legalized one day in the future, then Russia's transformation and development into a country ruled by law will become an almost insurmountable obstacle to the country's citizens' legal awareness." Li He didn't understand Old Pu's current state of mind, but history had proven that Old Pu had made these economic oligarchs miserable.
"Sir, I admit that there are many greedy people. This is the shame of Russia's reform. They are a group of despicable parasites, and they will be nailed to the pillar of shame in Russian history."
"Of course, it is not only the Russians who are doing this. There are many imperialists, Americans, British, French, and Germans. They are all thinking of ways to hollow out Russia."
Li He noticed that Old Pu had clenched his fists. To put it bluntly, in the current political structure, most of the people were pro-Western. The person in front of him was still a loser. He had no money and no power. No matter how dissatisfied he was with the West, it was useless.
Old Pu said, "But you know, in this transitional period, we first used the income from oil and gas exports to supplement the budget. But we are also thinking of ways to make tax regulations stricter. We have canceled the subsidies for loss-making enterprises, and we are thinking of all possible ways to attract foreign investors and promote the development of the individual economy. Mr. Li, compared to those greedy imperialist entrepreneurs, we need legitimate entrepreneurs like you more. As far as I know, the amount of money you paid for the acquisition in Russia has exceeded the value of the enterprise itself. I am deeply touched by your behavior. "
"I was born in a poor family, and I can understand the feelings of being poor. So every time I acquire a company, I will not let the workers of the company fall into a dilemma. They will all have different arrangements. This is not the spirit of freedom, nor is it the spirit of socialism. It is a person's instinct and conscience." Li He said it emotionally, but in his heart, he wanted to roll his eyes at him. If it wasn't for you, would I be so honest?!
In Russia, he had done a lot of bribery. But compared to many western countries and Russian economic oligarchs, at least the price he gave to each company was considered fair. And most importantly, before he emptied the factory, he had made arrangements for the workers. Most of the workers were doing demolition and transportation work for the Chinese.
Moreover, he had recently spent 130 million USD to buy the Baltic Shipping Company. It had caused a lot of discussion in Russia because the shipping company was not worth the money. Some said that Li He was a sucker, while others said that Li He was honest and kind.
Old Pu said, "Then please believe in our magnanimity. An entrepreneur like you will definitely win our respect."
"If I want to invest, it will not be a small amount. I want to ensure that my investment will not disappear for no reason, but the current situation in Russia worries me." Li He sighed on purpose.
"You really want to invest?" Old Pu, who had been quiet, could not sit still anymore.
Li He nodded affirmatively. He lit another cigarette and asked, "Do you have any good suggestions?"
"I promise that an entrepreneur like you will receive fair treatment."
"You promise?"
"I …" Old Pu looked embarrassed. He was just the chairman of the Liaison Committee. What right did he have to promise?
However, Li He's next words sent him flying from hell to heaven.
"My friend, you have won my friendship with your honesty. I will invest 500 million USD."
"Thank you, thank you." Old Pu could not believe it. He shook Li He's hand excitedly and said, "Then I thank you on behalf of the people of St. Petersburg!"
Li He smiled and said, "No, I think you misunderstood. I never know how to reject a friend's request. Since you promised me, this investment is for you. This fund will move with you. As long as you are in St. Petersburg, this fund will be in St. Petersburg. In the future, when you come to Moscow, this fund will naturally belong to Moscow. Do you understand? "
Old Pu was extremely excited. "Thank you so much!"
He did not reject it. He naturally faced his own financial difficulties. The difference between him and other politicians was financial support. With this financial support, he would be successful in every endeavor.
Li He patted his shoulder. "Delta Bank and Commercial Bank will be your staunch supporters! If there's anything, you can look for Mr. Abalkin at any time. "
Abalkin was a famous economic theorist. He was the former Soviet Academy of Sciences' corresponding academician. He was the former Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of the National Economic Policy Committee of the Council of Ministers. He was a staunch opponent of Russia's current monetary policy. Naturally, he was not welcomed by the Russian government and ended up homeless.
Pan Youlin would leave Russia with Li He sooner or later. Therefore, after asking for Li He's opinion, he hired Abalkin as the Chief Economist of the Commercial Bank and the General Manager of the Commercial Bank's Russian branch. At the same time, he was also the Chairman of Delta Bank.
This arrangement was impeccable.
"Thank you." Old Pu finally believed that love at first sight existed in this world.
Li He personally sent him out. Old Pu was still a little reluctant. He was afraid that the pie in the sky was not reliable. Li He had to promise again and again that their friendship was unbreakable. This kind of friendship could not be exchanged for anything. It was higher than the mountains, deeper than the sea, and sweeter than honey.
Iron Ear returned from Latvia. He brought the good news that he had acquired Dartz Automobile Company for 20 million USD.
Li He was very happy. He then requested the City of St. Petersburg to acquire Russia's Kombat Automobile Factory. The City of St. Petersburg did not hesitate at all. But they wanted Li He to bear a debt of up to 10 million USD.
Li He did not object. The combination of Kombat and Dartz was the real Kombat Warshield military vehicle. But he made a request. He wanted to buy the trademark of Kombat together. Kombat's logo was a combination of a running horse and the letters Kombat. He wanted to use it on the BMW that was being built in Yang Yong.
This plan made him proud for a long time.
Next, he merged the Gorky Engine Factory, St. Petersburg Tire Factory, Kombat Automobile Factory, and Dartz Automobile Company together. The name was Delta Motors. It was mainly producing SUVs and two-axle and three-axle tractors.
Iron Ear, this young man in his early twenties, became the new CEO of the joint venture company. He immediately became a winner in life. But Li He gave him one year's time. If he did not get the approval of the board of directors hired by Pan Youlin, he would step down.
Li He was about to leave. He needed to make arrangements for many of the people in his hands. Most of them were helping him to look after his businesses in the former Soviet Union. Those that could be moved had already been moved. Those that could not be moved naturally had to continue operating in the local area.
As the newly appointed CEO of a shipping company, Martich was very ambitious. He had already shown Li He his huge plan. He wanted to monopolize the oil transportation business in the Far East region.
Li He dampened his enthusiasm. "Do you know how many shipping companies in Russia have gone bankrupt? 15 of them! "
Martich said, "Sir, this is exactly our opportunity. With the collapse of the Kansas Shipping Company and the Hasa Shipping Company, there is only one Far East Shipping Company in the entire Far East region that is the most powerful. However, they mainly transport timber, which does not conflict with our business."
"My requirement is not to lose money." Li He did not have much hope for him at the moment.
Ivanov wanted to take Bafra back to Belarus. He had large pieces of land and ancillary resources in his hands. After careful calculation, there were 153 properties. His plan was to live by collecting rent.
Li He scolded him for being useless. "Mr. Ivanov, I hope you can become the largest real estate developer in Eastern Europe. Learn well."
After the main personnel were arranged, the rest were arranged by Pan Song.
More than 400 people seemed to be a lot, but in fact, many key positions were still facing a lack of personnel.
Li He's Kaibahe was also sent back to Hong Kong by plane. He also wanted to tow it back to China, but he was afraid that if it broke in China, he would not be able to find a place to repair it. It was more convenient in Hong Kong.
Pan Song encountered a problem. "Brother Li, we bought three small passenger planes to transport cargo. If we sell them again, we won't be able to find a buyer in a short time. But if we keep them here, the maintenance fees for a year will not be cheap."
"What do you think?" Li He looked at Pan Song's confident attitude. He estimated that Pan Song should have a plan in his heart.
Pan Song smiled and said, "Two of my Russian brothers have been with me for two years. They used to be Soviet Air Force pilots. I arranged for them to go to the Volga Mold Factory, but they were not very happy. They want to continue flying planes. They think that with three planes, they can open a route. "
Li He was happy. "You want to open an airline?"
Pan Song nodded. "I also think it's a bit ridiculous, but they are very serious. They have talked to me about it five or six times. So I asked for your opinion. "
Li He hesitated for a moment. The risk of opening an airline was too big. It was not because of the risk of losses, but he was worried that something like Malaysia Airlines could happen at any time in this area.
"You call those two people over. I will talk to them."
The two Russians that Pan Song brought over were not tall. They looked to be in their thirties, but they both had thick beards.
The man named Gerhard said proudly, "Mr. Li, both of us are Tu-26 pilots. We have up to 800 hours of flight time. Whether in terms of experience or qualifications, we are excellent pilots."
Li He interrupted him. "But you are talking about opening an airline. Running a company and flying a plane are two completely different concepts."
Beresev, who was older, said, "Sir, there are two most important things for an airline. One is profit, and the other is safety. We know how to fly planes, so you can rest assured in terms of safety. As for profit, we also have a plan. As you can see, big companies fly main lines, mostly between the capitals of various countries. They don't pay attention to the development of branch lines. The branch market is very promising. "
Gerhard added, "Beresev's uncle works at Sheremetyevo Airport. We asked him about a lot of things, and he can help us. There are a lot of unemployed people at the moment. We can recruit many of our colleagues from the Air Force at any time. They are perfect for ground handling, maintenance, and communications work. If there is a need, we can even buy more planes at a lower price. "
The more Li He chatted with them, the more he understood them. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "I agree. I will add another 10 million USD as capital."
There were many private airlines in the world. If they had the guts, why didn't he, the Second Brother Li, have the guts?
Besides, he had planned to spend money on this trip to the Soviet Union, but in reality, he did not spend much. The money he gave to Old Pu was part of his plan, and only a few million had been transferred to his account.
So it did not matter if he spent a little more before leaving.
"Really?" Gerhard did not seem to think it would be so easy.
Li He nodded. "But there is only one requirement, and that is to put safety first! If you do well, I will continue to give you opportunities.
If you fail, you will not have any more chances. "
"Thank you, thank you." The two of them hugged each other and cried.
At this point, Li He had another airline called Delta Air Lines under his name. There were only three dilapidated passenger planes.
On the day Li He returned to the country, Liu Baoyong, Yuan Ming, and the others were with him.
The mayor of Moscow, the mayor of St. Petersburg, the chairman of the Russian National Security Council, and the deputy prime minister all came to the airport to send him off. They were quite disappointed that Money Bag had left.
The moment Li He boarded the plane, he saw Old Pu behind the crowd.
He smiled and waved at Old Pu. Old Pu pouted and waved back.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
