It's a new year again (1992).

On this day, Lin Zhichao, accompanied by Lin Ruijiang, inspected the Hong Kong headquarters of the ninth city, Haifu Center (Admiralty).

Ninth City, which is now a well-known name in the world gaming industry, has developed games such as "Hong Kong Cubes", "Space Wars", "Pac-Man", "Contra", "Street Fighter", and developed computer games such as "Imitation City" (stand-alone version).

In terms of profit, it has been around $150 million for seven consecutive years, becoming an out-and-out cash cow company.

At the same time, Ninth City has branches in the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, employing more than 1,000 employees; The Hong Kong headquarters employs as many as 500 people, almost all of whom are graduates of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which Lin Zhichao supported, has become the best talent reserve base for the Lin family.

"Chairman, at present, the ninth city is divided into two major business departments, namely the console game and PC game department. In the 90s, we increased our investment in the PC game division, and this year, President Lin led us to develop three PC game projects, namely Resident Evil, Age of Empires, and The Sims. These three PC game projects are jointly developed through four R&D areas." Li Xiaoji, president of the ninth city, introduced Lin Zhichao.

Of course, in fact, many of the game outlines of the ninth city were made by Lin Zhichao, and then handed over to Lin Ruijiang, and then set up a research and development project department in the company.

Lin Zhichao is not a professional computer technician, but he must be a good game planner.

"Resident Evil" is a highly influential representative work of anti-biological weapons and anti-bioterrorism, as well as horror, thriller, survival, puzzle-solving, adventure, action, shooting and other elements of the game;

"Age of Empires" is an enduring game, which has gone through three stages: PC, online, and mobile games, and has always been a very famous game theme - dividing the world into 12 civilizations, each of which has different attributes, such as different technologies that can be developed, different units that can be used, etc. The basic gameplay requires the player to take control of a civilization that has grown from the hunter-gatherer era to a sprawling Iron Age empire. To ensure victory, players must gather as many resources as possible to produce new units, buildings, and research more advanced technologies.

The Sims is the second installment in the simulation series, the first SimCity is a Sega console game developed by Ninth City in 1986 and built on DOS and Windows versions after 1987. The Sims starts with the character of the citizen, who must be gendered and basically shaped, as in many games, and must determine many of the personality traits of the citizen, such as neatness, spending, mobility, sense of humor, and how kind he is. Don't forget to help the citizens find a comfortable home, this is the real beginning of the game.

Why didn't Lin Zhichao choose masterpieces like "World of Warcraft" and "StarCraft", after all, he is more familiar with games, and Europe and the United States are not without studios and branches.

This is because he intends to let Sega find a suitable opportunity to acquire Blizzard Entertainment in the future.

Anyway, they are all from the same family, and whoever is the most suitable, Lin Zhichao will assign it to whomever it is.

During the inspection, Lin Zhichao asked: "What is the current situation of the development of Hong Kong's game industry?" ”

"At present, Hong Kong's game industry accounts for nearly ninety percent of the exports of our ninth city, but with the increasing prospects of this industry and the improvement of talent training, the development prospects of Hong Kong's game industry are very good," said Lee. Last year, we also represented a best-selling game from other companies, which sold more than 1 million people."

At present, the world's largest game platform, of course, is still Sega's 'red and white machine', and the six major game manufacturers under Atari (software) have almost all made annual profits of about 100 million US dollars; as for Atari, the annual software profit has exceeded more than 300 million US dollars. As for the red and white machine itself, the profit on hardware is only more than 200 million US dollars.

Lin Zhichao nodded and said: "The success of an enterprise is not really successful, if it can drive the success of Hong Kong's industry, then it is called success." That's why I've always asked you not to be oppressive and harsh on your peers and employees. ”

He looks at things from God's point of view, has the outline of a classic game in his hand, and does not worry about someone in Hong Kong threatening his position. Just like the comics industry, at present, 'Hong Kong comics' were brought out by the Oriental Publishing House, and Hong Kong comics are still occupied by the Oriental Publishing House with more than seventy percent of the share, of course, the overall base is many times larger, and even overwhelms Japanese comics overseas.

Lee Hyo-gi admired the personality charm of his boss, and then said, "Well, I understand! ”

Games, comics, and Hong Kong culture will all be gifts that Lin Zhichao brings to Hong Kong, and of course they will also become one of the industrial chains of the Lin family.

As for the technology industry, this one is full of unknowns and difficulties, so you can only do your best.

Meeting room at Hutchison Building.

Lin Zhichao sat in the chairman's position and said decisively: "The telecommunications industry has invested too much, and the British CT2 has not responded satisfactorily, with only 10,000 customers, less than one-fifth of the expected. Moreover, we will continue to spend money in the follow-up, and we need at least 6 billion Hong Kong dollars to build a telecommunications network. For this kind of high-tech project that has not been recognized by the market, it is no longer suitable for Hutchison, so I decided to cut off the CT2 business in the whole line, including the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Bangladesh and other regions." Last time, he also said that he asked Ma Shimin not to invest heavily in CT2, but he didn't expect Ma Shimin to promise well and still 'do his own thing'. I knew that I shouldn't have tried CT2 (second-generation mobile phone) in the first place.

Of course, if you cut it off at this time, the loss will be about 1 billion Hong Kong dollars, and you should buy a lesson.

This also shows one thing, Ma Shimin's rights are too great, so much so that it has affected Lin Zhichao's decision-making.

Ma Shimin also used Husky to buy a Canadian natural gas company, but did not ask for management rights, which also made Lin Zhichao quite annoyed. There is no right to manage, that is, to give those foreign devils loopholes and slaughter them as fat sheep.

In this way, Hutchison Whampoa's overseas business since 1984 has been almost completely wiped out, and only the Japanese real estate industry has made a lot of profits.

Of course, this is only an outsider's opinion, in fact, although Husky lost money, the value of assets increased by three times; Although telecommunications failed in one business, it has actually gained a foothold in many countries; In terms of ports, it won the largest container port in the United Kingdom, and took the first step to go overseas.

However, this year it is time to change direction and go to the mainland for development.

Ma Shimin immediately had a different opinion: "Sir Lin, CT2 has a great future, and it is too early to draw conclusions. Like your investment in oil and gas, it's a long-term investment. ”

Seeing the chairman and president-for-tat, everyone was silent and waited for one side to compromise.

Of course, it must be Ma Shimin who compromises.

Lin Zhichao said directly: "The CT2 business must be completely stopped, including the CT2 business in Hong Kong, and the investment must be gradually reduced. ”

Ma Shimin glanced at Lin Zhichao and knew that there was no room for maneuver in this matter, so he could only remain silent.

Subsequently, Lin Zhichao arranged for the person in charge of telecommunications to carry it out.

Afterwards.

Lin Zhichao called Ma Shimin to the office again and said: "We are all in business, and there is not much benefit to participating in politics, we will miss a lot of information, and our attitude towards doing business will also be affected!" ”

Ma Shimin knew that Lam Chi-chiu was related to his participation in the election of members of the Legislative Council.

At the end of last year, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council will be elected by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Among the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, there are pro-China and pro-British; The pro-China reserve MP Cheng Mingxun was on a par with the pro-British reserve MP Mak Li-k-kyo, but Ma Shimin joined him, that is, he voted for Mak Li-k-kw on behalf of Hutchison Whampoa.

This kind of thing also made Lin Zhi super annoyed!

"Sir Lam, I have no intention of spending more time in politics!" Ma Shimin hesitated and said.

Lin Zhichao nodded, he didn't want to interfere too much with Ma Shimin, so he didn't continue to entangle, but said: "This year, we Hutchison Whampoa will invest heavily in the mainland, and overseas investment will be tightened across the board, you have to be ready!" ”

Ma Shimin was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Invest in the mainland across the board? Sir Lam, I will not stop you from investing in the Mainland, but overseas investment should not stop! You are a world businessman, and you have many successful experiences in overseas investment, and Hutchison Whampoa gave up overseas investment, and it was not intended to be a wrong decision, not to mention that the attitude of the mainland's reform is unclear, so it is not appropriate to invest on a large scale. ”

Lin Zhichao said: "Overseas and mainland investment does not have the idea of 'politics', it is a strategy I have made according to the situation, and maybe overseas will be the focus of investment in the future, but not yet." As for your unclear attitude towards reform in the hinterland, I'll tell you the truth. Therefore, I believe that soon the mainland will become a paradise for investment."

It's not that you don't want to invest overseas, but you need to invest money in the mainland at the moment, so overseas investment just doesn't add new projects. The existing projects are sufficient – Husky, Hutchison Telecom, Watsons are all developing overseas in an orderly manner.

Ma Shimin knew that he was once again decided by Lin Zhichao's 'Yiyantang'!

"I see"

"Well, when we invest in the mainland this year and next, we will turn around and invest in Europe and the United States, and there are opportunities."

"Okay"

Ma Shimin still left the chairman's office with a heavy heart, and he suddenly found that the boss already had a lot of 'ideas' about him. He knew that the boss had always attached great importance to Huo Jianning's influence in Hutchison Whampoa, which could be regarded as cultivating his successor.

And Lin Zhichao looked at the back of Ma Shimin leaving, and couldn't help shaking his head - sure enough, the skin color is different, but the heart is different!

In fact, Ma Shimin is also a white-skinned and yellow-hearted, he has worked in Hong Kong for more than 20 years, his son also works in a Hong Kong securities company, and he also married a Chinese wife. But even that didn't stop him from thinking about it.

For example, in last year's election of parliamentarians, Su Haiwen, the eldest son-in-law of Bao Yugang, supported the Chinese Zheng Mingxun, but Ma Shimin led people to support Mak Lijue; In this way, Lin Zhichao is very embarrassed, after all, Hutchison Whampoa is his industry, and his subordinates take the lead in supporting the British, like what.

Of course, Cheng Mingxun is actually an American, with American citizenship, working for American companies for a long time, and in 1987, he became the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, becoming the first Chinese president of the chamber.

Anyway, Lin Zhichao doesn't want Ma Shimin to participate in politics at the best!

Of course, on the other hand, Ma Shimin's work is also very appreciated by Lin Zhichao.

In terms of the influence of Hutchison Whampoa, Ma Shimin can be compared with Lin Zhichao, mainly because Ma Shimin works very hard, and all kinds of large and small meetings at the end of the day are unbearable for ordinary people, but he can cope with it freely, which is the embodiment of his work strength; In terms of life, Ma Shimin is also very 'stingy and smiling' to his subordinates, treats people well, is good at listening to the opinions of his subordinates, even if he criticizes his subordinates, he is also very gentle, not like Lin Zhichao who is good at scolding.

Lin Zhichao's influence on his subordinates is that he is generally silent, so that people don't know what they think, and always waits for his subordinates to say something about the same before expressing their opinions; And if his subordinates do the wrong thing, scolding is also very powerful.

Because of this, the two of them are two styles inside Hutchison Whampoa!

Therefore, even if Ma Shimin has many shortcomings - he likes political ideas, advocates relocation, and has failed in investment, Lin Zhichao still hopes that such talents will be used by him.

However, Lin Zhichao also understands that talents like Ma Shimin may not be retained!

Thinking of this, he called a British senior Pitt who was in charge of personnel and said: "Pete, Hutchison Whampoa is about to go to the mainland for great development, and I hope that Hutchison Whampoa is now recruiting talents, only considering local talents, so that he is more familiar with the investment in the mainland and Hong Kong." ”

Pete paused for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll tell you what you want!" ”

Lin Zhichao added: "Well, I'll communicate with everyone later." ”

The implication is that I will continue to grasp this matter, don't be careful.

Of course, a high-level Hutchison like Pete has been domesticated by Lin Zhichao all these years!

They are here to seek wealth, unlike the Hutchison Big Three back then, who still want to wrestle with Lin Zhichao; Now, even Ma Shimin must be obedient in Lin Zhichao's hands.

January 20th.

In the office of Cheung Kong Group, Lin Ruihuan took his third brother Lin Ruihai to Lin Zhichao's office together. One of the two is the president of Cheung Kong Group, and the other is the president of Wharf Group, and now they are gathered in Lin Zhichao's office, obviously there is something.

After Lin Zhichao sat the two down, he spoke: "According to the people of Asia TV, it has been determined that the person is in Shenzhen, and many people in Shenzhen have seen it with their own eyes, and it has been confirmed by the officials over there. ”

Asia Television is now Hong Kong's No. 1 TV station, and it has an advantage over TVB in terms of ratings and history. Therefore, ATV's people called the Propaganda Department of Shenzhen to confirm the news, and the other side would not deliberately hide it, after all, the masses had seen it.

Lin Ruihuan said: "I also saw this major news today! Now many people in Hong Kong, and even people overseas, are concerned about this issue. ”

Lin Zhichao said: "Then do you know what this means? ”

Lin Ruihuan asked his younger brother Lin Ruihai to say, and Lin Ruihai immediately said: "This means that Huaxia still insists on reform and opening up!" Since the collapse of the Soviet Union last year, the situation in the interior has become a bit confusing; Originally, three years ago, there was already a phenomenon of regression, so the abnormal changes in the international environment last year made many people worry about how the mainland would go! ”

Lin Ruihuan nodded and added: "Now that the old man is in Shenzhen, it is a signal that the reform of the mainland will not change!" ”

The Lin family has already invested a lot in the mainland, and if the policy is willing, it will lose a lot. Not to mention the political insurance of more than 2 billion yuan, that is, the investment in manufacturing, science and technology, and infrastructure is already quite huge.

Lin Zhichao said: "You are still too conservative, I believe that the mainland will be more open!" Therefore, I already plan to let Cheung Kong Group and Wharf Group enter the mainland in a big way, of course, only after the formal documents are formed. ”

The brothers nodded, they were also very much looking forward to the huge market in the mainland.

Subsequently, Lin Zhichao asked the two brothers to pay more attention to the news in the mainland.

"It is expected that as long as you invite me to Beijing, it will be the time to really open up, so you should be ready!"

"Yes, Father!"

The two brothers couldn't help but admire their father's calculations and self-confidence, and if the mainland wanted to transmit information, it would inevitably go through Hong Kong. And who is the 'boss' in Hong Kong, not the current governor of Hong Kong, after all, he is a British, but Lin Zhichao, the 'Chinese governor of Hong Kong'.

Therefore, the mainland officials will definitely invite Lin Zhichao to go to the mainland, which is expected to be in March.

After the news was delivered, Lin Zhichao arranged for his two sons to go to the mainland to inspect specific projects, and strive to get more projects this year. After all, the sooner you start, the more profitable it will be.

To invest in the inner body, of course, there will also be land hoarding, and it is a large amount of land hoarding. (End of chapter)