At the group headquarters, as soon as Zhang Hao arrived at the company, he convened a small meeting with all the middle and senior management. The meeting had only one theme, which was how to deal with the energy crisis.
Zhang Jiayi spoke first: "Our Haotian Group relies heavily on energy. Whether we are growing mushrooms or raising earthworms, we cannot do without heating.
Fortunately, summer is approaching, and the demand for coal has dropped a lot. Overall, risks are controllable, and even the worst case scenario can be dealt with.
The only uncertainty now is how long this energy crisis that has just begun will last?"
"Then prepare for the worst outcome."
Zhang Hao said without hesitation.
"Worst outcome? Can you give me a hint?"
Zhang Jiayi frowned.
"Ahem..." Zhang Hao cleared his throat and immediately replied: "The three-year armistice period... plus the seven or eight years of civil war, let's count it as ten years!"
"Ten years? Isn't that too exaggerated?"
Everyone at the scene started talking.
You know, the last civil war only lasted five years in total. The two camps were exhausted from the fight, ran out of ammunition and food, and finally had to choose to compromise.
Zhang Hao knocked on the table: "What I said is not an exaggeration at all. Don't forget the current special environment. This civil war can easily turn into a tug-of-war. I hope all of you can realize the seriousness of the matter."
"Director Zhang, we understand."
Gao Ce took the lead in expressing his stance.
This is the general manager of Huimin Mushroom Cultivation Company and a veteran of the group. His status is second only to Zhang Hao and Zhang Jiayi, and he is the third most powerful person.
Zhang Hao nodded with satisfaction: "Let me set a tone here. In the next few years, the group will not make any expansion. I only have one request for you, and that is stability."
"Is this too conservative?" Zhang Jiayi questioned on the spot, "Just this month, we have prepared a large project with the city to expand the scale of earthworm breeding tenfold. Can we make an exception for this?
"
"Big project? Have you signed a contract?"
Zhang Hao quickly asked.
Zhang Jiayi smoothed her hair and then reported: "There is no contract, at most we have reached a preliminary intention verbally, and I am preparing to report to you!"
Speaking of which, Mayor He first proposed this matter. He gave us a large piece of land in Luogang Economic Development Zone, almost 20,000 acres."
"The area is not small, but does the group have the money to invest? If I remember correctly, there shouldn't be much liquidity in Huizhong Company's account, right?"
"Uh, less than 300 million."
Zhang Jiayi replied helplessly.
The WFP keeps the purchase price of earthworms very low, and its annual profits are only three to four billion, ranking last among the three subsidiaries.
"Then where do you get the funds? Let me tell you first, don't count on me. I owe a lot of foreign debt now and I can't pay for it at all."
Zhang Hao got a vaccination in advance.
Zhang Jiayi smiled: "You don't have to worry about funds. Mayor He helped contact the bank. Huizhong Company's profits are very stable. If you are willing, it is not a problem to borrow tens of billions."
"Tens of billions? Where did you get the confidence to lend so much money?" Zhang Hao was shocked.
Zhang Jiayi waved her hands and quickly explained:
"You misunderstood. I'm just giving you an example. The new base does not require a complex factory building. It only costs a few dollars. A billion or so is enough."
"More than a billion? Twenty thousand acres? Are you serious?"
Zhang Hao expressed doubts.
Today's more than one billion is only equivalent to five or six billion two years ago. This amount of money is definitely not enough.
Zhang Jiayi smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, the city is asking for something from us this time, and I'm not stupid. Of course, I will try my best to strive for various preferential conditions."
"The city won't regret it, right?"
Zhang Hao said worriedly.
It is an open secret that official finances are tight.
"I don't think so. This is a promise made by Mayor He himself. Besides, if the city doesn't cooperate, the project will be cancelled. Anyway, we won't lose much."
Zhang Jiayi is very confident.
"What's going on with that piece of land? Is it given away for free by the city?" Zhang Hao asked immediately.
"How is that possible? It should be half sold and half given away!" Zhang Jiayi shook her head.
"Half sold and half given away? That's a lot of money. Where did you get the funds?" Zhang Hao asked doubtfully.
Zhang Jiayi took a sip of water calmly, and then gave the answer: "I didn't pay a dime in cash, but wrote an IOU to the city. Huizhong Company has to pay one-third of its profits every year."
Pay off the debt."
"How much is the total?" Zhang Hao asked impatiently.
"Not much, 500,000 per mu, and 20,000 acres is exactly 10 billion. I asked someone to estimate that the money to buy the land can be paid off in about ten years. The burden is not heavy."
"Five hundred thousand an acre, it's really half sold and half given away."
The price of land in Huicheng, especially the land near the east, is almost five or six times that of two years ago. No matter how you look at it, this transaction is not a loss.
Zhang Jiayi struck while the iron was hot: "What do you think of this project, Director Zhang? Do we agree?"
"I have no objection in principle." Zhang Hao thought for a while and replied, "However, let's talk ugly first. The energy crisis is coming soon. The city must be responsible for the energy supply of the new base."
"Of course. In fact, according to my observation, the WFP may be behind this matter. In a sense, they are more willing to see it happen than we are."
With the WFP protecting us, there will be absolutely no problems with the new base.
Zhang Hao suddenly realized: "Let me tell you, even if this new base is built, the city will not get much advantage. It turns out that the WFP is the mastermind."
"You are wrong. The city has also benefited a lot. The new base can provide at least 3,000 jobs. Mayor He is not blind. How could he be indifferent?"
"Okay, then this matter is settled."
Zhang Hao said with finality.
Zhang Jiayi finally showed a smile: "As long as you agree, seriously speaking, this energy crisis is a great opportunity for us.
As we all know, many star companies have completed their expansion in adversity. The most famous example is the economic crisis that occurs once every ten years. Every economic crisis is a process of survival of the fittest, with the big fish eating the small fish."
"This expansion is limited to Huizhong Company and the new base. I don't want to see other projects launched. Even if they are presented, I will not sign them."
Zhang Hao finally warned.
Because of the butterfly effect, his "foresight" became less and less useful. Coupled with the influence of his mental age, the whole person inevitably slipped towards conservatism.
Zhang Jiayi nodded solemnly: "I promise you, unless there is an emergency, the company will not launch another project in the next ten years."
Let me add here that the feed factory has merged with the vermiculture company. Faced with such abundant raw materials, expansion is a matter of time.
Next, Zhang Hao turned his attention to Huimin Company. The Eastern Academy of Sciences recently cultivated a new variety of shiitake mushrooms. Although the yield has not increased but decreased, its cold resistance has been greatly improved.
This information was gathered by the company's think tank.
"Mr. Gao, I hope you can introduce this kind of mushroom as soon as possible. The low output is acceptable."
"Yes, I will contact the Eastern Academy of Sciences later."
Gao Ce immediately agreed.
Zhang Hao thought for a while and added: "If you have the opportunity, you can try to cooperate with the Eastern Academy of Sciences. I think this kind of mushroom has great potential."
"Director Zhang, should we be the main partner in the cooperation? Or should the Eastern Academy of Sciences be the main partner?"
"It's best to let us take the lead. If it doesn't work, don't force it." Zhang Hao waved his hand and then ordered: "You still need to be hard-working, and our own scientific research strength cannot fall behind. We must hurry up."
"Don't worry, Director Zhang. In the past year, we have recruited many technical talents from overseas immigrants. I believe that as time goes by, soon..."
Zhang Hao interrupted directly: "Don't be anxious, take your time. After all, scientific research does not happen overnight. You must be able to endure loneliness and avoid being eager for quick success."