Chapter 306: Convincing the Governor and Acquiring Oil Tankers
"500,000 units?" Yang Wendong thought for a moment and asked, "What screen sizes can this production line produce?"
Wang Zhiqun replied, "Any size, really. It's essentially an assembly line. If we want to switch sizes, we just need to swap out a few fixtures—doesn't impact production much."
Yang Wendong nodded. "That's acceptable. The number may be a bit large, but demand for black-and-white TVs is still strong—especially in Asia. We can build our own sales channels slowly."
Even now in the early 1960s—and well into the late 1970s—black-and-white televisions were in high demand throughout Asia. Samsung had earned its first pot of gold from this very market before rising to dominance in the electronics sector.
Wang Zhiqun said, "Building our own channel is doable. But there's one major problem—RCA refuses to sell us the CRT technology or production line. They're only willing to sell the assembly line."
"So I buy their line, but still have to get CRTs from them?" Yang Wendong immediately grasped their intent and flatly rejected it. "If we don't have CRT production capability, there's no deal."
The cathode ray tube (CRT) was more critical to a TV than a compressor to an air conditioner. It was the heart of the device.
Without the ability to produce CRTs, they'd just be doing the heavy lifting for someone else.
Wang Zhiqun replied, "That's exactly what I told them. They said they could relocate their CRT plant to Taiwan. We'd then purchase from there—labor is cheap enough to keep costs down."
"Taiwan? RCA plans to invest there?" Yang Wendong asked.
In the original historical timeline, RCA did just that—establishing a major TV manufacturing base in Taiwan. At its peak, it was the largest foreign company on the island, its biggest exporter, and biggest private employer.
But the reason Yang Wendong remembered RCA in the 21st century wasn't for its success—but its notoriety. In the 1970s–80s, RCA dumped toxic waste deep into groundwater in Taiwan, causing one of the worst environmental disasters in Asian industrial history.
"There's word about that, yes," Wang Zhiqun said.
"Doesn't matter. Even if they move production to Taiwan, it's still a no," Yang Wendong shook his head. "We don't need the latest CRT tech, but we must have our own capability. Otherwise, we'll always be at their mercy."
Right now, many in Hong Kong and Asia still didn't own TVs. Imported sets were too expensive.
So even a slightly lower-quality picture would be acceptable. As long as it was cheap, the market was huge.
The CRT was the core. It had to be under their control.
"Understood, I'll continue negotiating with RCA," Wang Zhiqun said.
"Good. They probably see us as fat sheep. Keep communication open with other manufacturers too. If someone else has something viable, we'll consider it. For our first TV model, I'd rather accept some shortcomings than be stuck relying on others for CRTs."
For general-purpose components—say, motors for fans—it was fine to outsource. There were many suppliers, and you still had options even without your own tech.
But CRTs were tied specifically to the rest of the TV's design. Switching suppliers was a hassle. That's why this part had to be under their control.
"I understand," Wang Zhiqun nodded.
Yang Wendong then asked, "How's the magnetron R&D for the microwave ovens going?"
Wang Zhiqun smiled awkwardly. "We've made some progress, but we're still far from miniaturization."
"Alright. We'll wait. Some tech just takes time," Yang Wendong said.
With no blueprint to follow, R&D was always slow.
By now, most of Changxing Group's business lines were running smoothly. Yang Wendong, as the boss, didn't need to oversee everything directly anymore.
Over the next month, he focused on rest and spending time with his family.
Soon, December arrived.
Hong Kong's temperature dropped slightly. It still hadn't rained, but it was cooler—more comfortable. That meant a slight decrease in water demand. A small relief.
At the same time, Changxing Group's water delivery capacity continued to grow. Their steady acquisition of second-hand cargo and oil tankers hadn't stopped. Although they weren't buying in bulk, a new ship would enter service every few weeks.
December 13, at Changxing Tower, Zheng Yuhua arrived to report on Changxing Shipping's latest progress.
"We're now transporting 1.5 million tons of water per month?" Yang Wendong asked, pleasantly surprised.
"Yes," said Zheng Yuhua. "We currently have 6 oil tankers and 21 cargo ships running routes to various parts of eastern China. On average, each ship makes three round trips per month, depending on the distance. Combined, that gives us about 1.5 million tons per month."
"Very good." Yang Wendong nodded. "Hong Kong's annual normal water consumption is around 100 million tons. That means we're handling nearly 20% of the city's needs ourselves."
"Exactly," said Zheng Yuhua. "But many other water sources have problems. A lot of areas are still dealing with serious shortages—especially factories. Their water consumption is massive."
"Has the government raised water prices?" Yang Wendong asked.
"No. Water is a public utility. Even if the government wanted to raise rates, the process is long and complex. And right now, doing so would trigger a media storm. So instead, they just intermittently cut supply or reduce allocations," said Zheng Yuhua.
"Makes sense," Yang Wendong agreed.
Raising prices for industrial users might help ease shortages—but there were political risks.
After all, water shortages could be blamed on the weather. But price hikes? That could cause riots.
Zheng Yuhua then asked, "Mr. Yang, should we keep buying more second-hand ships? We already have quite a few."
Yang Wendong smiled. "Keep going—but focus on cargo ships now. No more oil tankers. And don't buy anything too old—make sure they can last at least 8 to 10 years."
Thanks to his early preparations, Hong Kong's drought wasn't as severe as in the original timeline. But no individual—or even a corporation—could fight nature. Not even governments could.
All he could do was ensure that Hong Kong residents had enough for basic survival. Many of the remaining problems weren't about supply—but about distribution.
And distribution—that was the hardest part. For thousands of years, wars and collapsed dynasties hadn't been caused by a lack of resources. It was always about how they were distributed.
"Understood," Zheng Yuhua said. "By the way, Mr. Yang, I went to Japan last month and visited several shipbuilders and banks. They're very interested in your next ship order and have invited you to visit."
"Alright, I'll go next week," Yang Wendong said with a nod.
A single large oil tanker cost several million U.S. dollars. A few ships could run upwards of 20 to 30 million. With that much capital involved, he needed to inspect and negotiate personally.
Zheng Yuhua handed over a folder. "Here are the profiles of each shipyard, including photos and specs of vessels they've previously built. You can get familiar in advance."
"Thank you," said Yang Wendong, flipping through the documents.
The brochures were well-made, printed in Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and English. At this time, Hong Kong was one of the biggest clients of Japanese shipyards.
"I'll take my leave now," Zheng Yuhua said.
"Go ahead," Yang Wendong replied.
After he left, Yang Wendong summoned an assistant. "Make an appointment—I want to visit the Governor's Office."
"Yes, sir," the assistant replied.
December 16, Governor's Office.
"Governor, good to see you," Yang Wendong greeted with a smile.
"Mr. Yang, likewise. Please, have a seat," said Governor Robert Black, clearly in a good mood.
"Thank you."
After a bit of small talk, the two moved on to the water crisis—by now one of the government's top priorities.
"Governor, I've come today with a request," Yang Wendong said.
"Please go ahead," replied Governor Black.
"While the water we're bringing in from the mainland isn't enough to restore full market operation, it does cover basic survival and essential needs.
However, the water allocated to residents is still too limited. For instance, even at my charity's water stations, we're constantly on the edge of shortage. I'm hoping the government can adjust the distribution slightly."
Governor Black nodded. "I'm aware of the situation. But Mr. Yang, the total water supply is still very limited. We have to impose some controls.
If, say, your factories under Changxing Industrial had to shut down due to water shortages, the losses wouldn't just be financial—it would impact the livelihoods of thousands of workers.
Hong Kong has many smaller factories, and while they may not be as big as yours, together, they're substantial."
"I understand," said Yang Wendong. "But we can't have people left without even drinking water. When I committed to bringing in water via ship, it was to ensure that the millions of people in Hong Kong at least had the bare minimum for survival."
Governor Black understood what Yang Wendong meant and said, "Alright, I hear your concerns. I'll speak with the Water Department and try to divert more supply toward squatter settlements."
"Thank you, Governor," Yang Wendong said. "Actually, there's another way to ease the situation."
"What's that? Are you planning to add more ships?" Governor Black asked.
"Ship numbers are limited. We can't scale up further in the short term," Yang Wendong shook his head. "But we can improve efficiency—by increasing ship speed."
Ships, like cars, had an optimal fuel-efficiency speed. But when cargo value was high, it made sense to burn more fuel for faster trips. Of course, that also added wear and tear to the engines and systems.
"That would raise operational costs," said Governor Black. "And the government doesn't have the budget to cover it."
"Fuel prices aren't too bad right now," Yang Wendong explained. "If we speed up deliveries, the cost increase is manageable.
Besides, more water means less disruption. People won't have to waste time hunting for water. That benefits the economy too. It's not just about the direct cost."
"You're right," Governor Black admitted. "But adjusting the budget is still a bureaucratic nightmare."
"If funding is tight, the government could organize a citywide charity drive," Yang Wendong suggested. "If it's led by the administration, I'm sure many wealthy donors and everyday citizens would contribute."
"I'll consider that," said Governor Black. "It's actually a pretty good idea."
"I just hope we can ensure the basic water needs of Hong Kong's industries and its three million residents," Yang Wendong added.
This wasn't just self-interest. From a business perspective, a functioning society was good for him too.
Changxing Group employed nearly 20,000 people. Including suppliers and support staff, they represented a sizable share of Hong Kong's population.
A business empire needed thousands to keep running. But if society at large was paralyzed by water shortages, even Changxing wouldn't be spared.
If his suppliers were affected, if truck drivers' families had no water—it would all snowball.
His proposal was simply aimed at keeping the city running and ensuring better conditions for people in squatter areas.
Everything else would have to wait—for Dongjiang water to arrive.
December 23, Yang Wendong visited Japan once more. His first stop: Osaka Mitsubishi Shipyard, with whom he had worked before.
"Mr. Yang, welcome!" said shipyard president Takao Yagyu, bowing with his team.
"President Yagyu, thank you for receiving me," Yang Wendong replied.
Both sides had interpreters present to avoid miscommunication.
Takao Yagyu said, "Mr. Yang, please follow me to tour the yard. We're currently building a 120,000-ton oil tanker. You can see it up close."
Since such a major client had come in person, the shipyard already knew what he was here for—they'd been in contact for months.
"Sounds good," said Yang Wendong with a nod.
This trip to Japan had one goal: to purchase oil tankers.
Oil was the lifeblood of the global economy, and after the outbreak of the Middle East crisis, oil tankers had become one of the most profitable businesses in the world.
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