Reinventing the Millennium

Wang Fengyi hadn't seen Mr. Fang for a long time. Since he had time back in Shanghai, he naturally had to eat and drink a lot.

But he didn't persuade Mr. Fang to drink, knowing that he would probably have something to do in the afternoon. He picked out some interesting recent investment stories while drinking, including his investigation of the shared bicycle project and the ofo bike that has been launched on campus in Beijing.

"Mr. Fang, it should be blamed on you YBAT. The money burning in mobile travel is too exaggerated!"

"Such money burning is simply artificially cultivating the domestic market!"

"From last year to this year, especially this year, many institutions have been talking about such an artificial outlet. With certain demand + capital investment, it can almost become hot instantly!"

Wang Fengyi was very emotional.

The money burning subsidies for mobile travel really opened the eyes of his peers. Two or three years ago, no one had heard of taxi travel. In just such a short period of time, many people have become familiar with it, and the travel scene has also changed.

This also inspired everyone to start looking for similar tracks.

Also, be careful. Not everyone benefits from the money-burning of mobile travel. In the end, only Alibaba and Yike are left, and the other camps are all eclipsed.

No matter how hot it is, no matter how everyone stands, the giants stand there, and the shadow will naturally follow.

Therefore, in the Internet sector, not only Wang Fengyi, but many people will give priority to YA's movements before investing, and then T. As for B, its influence has declined sharply this year.

"I saw the project of Jingcheng University, and I also met the founder Dai Wei." Wang Fengyi's expression was a little subtle when he said this.

Fang Zhuo asked in a flattering way: "How is it?"

"He started the bicycle project last year, and he has borrowed 3 million in just a few months. It seems that he borrowed several million before I came back this time." Wang Fengyi replied.

Fang Zhuo understood and nodded: "The family background is good."

Otherwise, he would not borrow money frequently at the beginning.

Wang Fengyi said with a smile: "I had a meal in Beijing and felt that this guy was a bit overconfident. I don't know if it's true or not."

"You can't talk nonsense as China's No. 1 investor. Otherwise, if you spread the word, you might ruin the investment that others have worked so hard to find." Fang Zhuo said with a smile.

"Who said it wasn't true? We were just chatting privately. I saw that he was very elite, and I heard that Alibaba was a little interested, so I came back to visit him." Wang Fengyi said his feelings.

Fang Zhuo took a sip of tea: "Wait a minute, discuss with Qi He and others, I'm busy recently."

Wang Fengyi rolled his eyes, ate and drank for a while, and finally asked at the end of the lunch: "Boss Fang, is Yike really going to do it?"

Fang Zhuo looked at Wang Fengyi again, there was no drunkenness in his eyes, and smiled and asked back: "What?"

"It's July, and Yike hasn't finalized a new wafer manufacturer." Wang Fengyi originally thought that there would be a transition, and Yike might sign a cooperation with manufacturers such as Taiji, Samsung, and Intel.

However, Yike has only been rumored so far, but no hammer has been dropped.

In addition, Wang Fengyi found that Boss Fang had actually kept silent to the outside world and had not accepted an interview. This made him doubtful. Although he was busy, he could respond to the outside world. Is this really going to happen?

"They don't want to, Brother Wang, what do you think I should do?" Fang Zhuo spread his hands.

Wang Fengyi probably verified the answer, but he still felt a lingering shock and worry in his heart. He pondered again and again, and drank a glass of wine by himself. After thinking about it, he had a lot of things to say but couldn't say them.

Finally, Wang Fengyi drank a glass of wine and sighed: "Don't call me brother, you are my brother!"

Fang Zhuo laughed.

However, this meal also gave him some new thoughts.

Even people like Wang Ge doubted Yi Ke's situation and choice, and the irrational emotions at that time would definitely be more serious than he imagined.

In the first week of July, with the return of Yi Ke's head, the company's internal integration and system optimization speed went further.

It is true that the crisis is imminent, but domestic competition requires not only Yi Ke's strength, but more of a central role.

This week, Zhang Xiaolong of Yixin, Wang Yan of Sina, Lei Jun of Mi Tuan, Fan Minggang of Douyin, Ni Boren of Kesheng Mobile, and others went to Yi Ke's headquarters in Shanghai for a meeting.

Although there have been partners in the past, this level and frequency still make people feel that the situation is surging.

On the first day of the second week of July, Fang Zhuo rarely attended the high-level meeting of Yiguo, listened to the report of the management headed by Su Wei, and talked about the outstanding performance of competitors in the first half of the year and the pressure brought.

E-commerce and consumer electronics are the two fastest-growing industries in China in the past ten years.

Although Fang Zhuo hardly intervenes in the operation of Yiguo, the management knows who is behind Yiguo, and the company's heavy asset operation is the generous support of the big boss and his friends.

Although Yike has encountered some problems now, the adjustments and dynamics of some departments within Yiguo have made many senior executives aware of the new direction. The big boss seems to want to go to war with Alibaba in the C2C field.

Recently, the storage centers are planning a part of the transit warehouse. What does this mean?

If Yiguo wants to increase its competition with Alibaba, it must use its own advantages. Warehousing and logistics are a major feature of Yiguo. In the future, it is likely that it will enhance the color of the C2C platform and provide B2C services.

"I seldom come here because everyone is doing well."

"Sitting here now, especially seeing the empty chair opposite, I still have a lot of feelings."

Fang Zhuo spoke first after listening to the performance report of the management. The empty chair he was referring to was at the end of the conference table, which happened to correspond to the head end, and the setting of this chair was originally learned from Amazon.

This empty chair represents an invisible customer. Whenever the company hesitates about any decision, just imagine that there is a customer sitting on the empty chair and think about his attitude towards the company's decision.

In short, it is guided by the interests of customers.

The senior executives in the Yiguo meeting room are naturally aware of this.

"Yiguo has emphasized quality, user experience, and user interests since its inception. This is naturally excellent and a benchmark for domestic e-commerce." Fang Zhuo smiled, "But why can't we beat Alibaba?"

There was a little commotion in the meeting room.

"This problem may be the problem of the entire industry in the past ten years. It's not shameful to be unable to beat it."

"However, I watched Alibaba's 618 last month and saw that its promotional conditions are getting more and more fancy every year. I looked at the plans made by Yiguo in the second half of this year, and it is also moving in this direction. I feel... emm..."

Fang Zhuo shrugged: "I just feel that the consumer opposite may not be too happy."

He pointed to the empty chair opposite.

"Alibaba has been working hard on Tmall in the past two years. It has not only gathered domestic logistics, but also invested in warehousing, which has brought us more and more pressure."

"I have heard a lot of voices recently, saying that we should upgrade the industry and follow Alibaba's footsteps."

Fang Zhuo meant that this was a proposal from Yiguo.

"But President Su talked a lot with me. The chair opposite represents customers, but there are too many types of customers. Some are price-sensitive, some are quality-sensitive, and some are sensitive to the experience of the entire shopping process."

"Yiguo has enriched its product categories and improved its logistics and warehousing over the years. We are getting bigger and bigger. What should we do next?"

Fang Zhuo raised this question.

He waited until everyone was paying attention before giving his answer: "We should continue to grow, not shrink. Wherever the vast majority of customers are, we should be there."

Fang Zhuo's speech ended.

Along with his speech, a data survey from IDC was played in the conference room, involving multi-dimensional data such as domestic residents' income and e-commerce coverage.

Where are the vast majority of users?

How should Yiguo appear in front of them?

A simple answer brings many questions.

Yiguo CEO Su Wei made the second speech. Compared with the chairman's strategic direction, she talked more about Yiguo's future cooperation. The name of Douyin did not appear too unexpectedly, but the name of Mi Tuan was unexpected, as well as the cooperation with Yixin, which has always maintained restraint.

From social media to short videos to group buying, what role can Yiguo play in such a framework? This is a direction that must be explored in the future.

But this is undoubtedly the beginning of Yiguo's transformation.

The voices from the chairman and CEO destined Yiguo to make a correction in direction, which somewhat confused the senior executives who were following the established path. However, when they thought about the cooperation with platforms such as Yixin, Mi Tuan, and Douyin, excitement quickly replaced confusion.

This would be a good start.

After this meeting, a new meeting was confirmed, and there would be a high-level discussion with partners next week.

"Do you think Double Eleven is still too hasty?" Su Wei asked for feedback from other platforms in the evening.

"To open live broadcasts there, they must first be tested internally, and rules must be set, and then they can open sales, which also requires internal testing. It would be good to catch up with Double Eleven and give a sign." Fang Zhuo replied, "If the entire framework is not built, Douyin may have to fight to the death to advise."

Su Wei thought about it, yes, this is a step taken by Douyin, and there are still pursuers behind it.

"Give it a hint, the proportion must be controlled in the early stage, and everyone should explore it." Fang Zhuo said when he saw a call from Qiu Ciyun on his mobile phone.

Su Wei poured him a cup of tea before leaving the office.

The call Fang Zhuo received was good news.

"Mr. Fang, Linde has discussed a condition with me, which must be beyond your expectation." Qiu Ciyun came up quite excited, and the German Linde mentioned was an electronic gas manufacturer that was not optimistic.

"Mr. Qiu, please speak quickly." Fang Zhuo rarely heard Mr. Qiu's tone recently.

"Linde Group is in preliminary negotiations with Praxair in the United States on cooperation." Qiu Ciyun said the latest news.

Linde and Praxair are two of the world's four largest gas manufacturers, and the four of them occupy 70% of the global market.

Fang Zhuo was a little confused when he heard this and heard about their cooperation. What does this have to do with Bingxin?

Qiu Ciyun continued: "Linde hopes to get a guarantee, and hopes you will not obstruct Linde's acquisition of Praxair!"

Fang Zhuo: "..."

He understood it instantly, and connected it...

It's an acquisition, not a cooperation!

The world's two largest industrial gas giants are going to merge!

The new company will undoubtedly become the world's number one!

The reason for informing Mr. Qiu is that this merger will inevitably involve monopoly supervision, and the business scale of the two companies in China needs to be approved before the acquisition can be successfully acquired.

Otherwise, Qualcomm's acquisition of Broadcom is a lesson for us.

But what does "I hope you don't obstruct Linde's acquisition of Praxair" mean!

Did I have any hostility towards Linde in the past? Did I compete with it? Why can I obstruct it?

Fang Zhuo couldn't help laughing and said, "You bastard, who do you think I am!"

It's totally unrelated!

Do you really think the official seal is in the office of Yike 23!

"Yes, Mr. Fang, I was shocked when I heard it. They actually wanted this kind of promise." Qiu Ciyun also laughed, "So, do you agree?"

Fang Zhuo didn't know if he had scolded Mr. Qiu just now.

He said helplessly, "What does this have to do with me? However, acquisitions and mergers must be in accordance with laws and regulations, and monopolies cannot be established. Otherwise, although it has nothing to do with Bingxin, it will definitely not be approved. You still have to talk about something related to Bingxin, such as the joint venture factory in Luzhou."

"Mr. Fang, you can speak more clearly. I'm old, my ears can't hear clearly, and my brain reacts slowly." Qiu Ciyun said seriously.

Fang Zhuo simply replied, "I am willing to agree."

Then he added, "I am willing to help Linde Group mediate. After all, Linde is our supplier and has been cooperating with us for mutual benefit."

Mutual benefit, help mediate.

"Okay, I will talk to Linde first. You need to give more advice on domestic policies. This is a rare opportunity." Qiu Ciyun said excitedly.

I thought Air Liquide would be a more interested target, but I didn't expect Linde to have such an acquisition demand, and they obviously considered the risks fully.

Linde and Praxair are both companies with a market value of tens of billions. The acquisition of both will inevitably last for a long time, but the former is working hard to clear all kinds of obstacles.

Ice core is not an obstacle.

But Mr. Fang is a powerful bomb.

Qiu Ciyun has never been so grateful for Mr. Fang's reputation as now.

Qualcomm and Yike fought a patent war, Qualcomm's acquisition of Broadcom was rejected, Qualcomm's acquisition of Avago was usurped, and the Qualcomm case became a case in the "Compilation of Cases of the Supreme Court of the United States"...

With all these, some operations are undoubtedly impressive.

Qiu Ciyun had to praise the professionalism of Linde Group again. They were keenly aware of the risks, made professional judgments, and correctly weighed Mr. Fang...

Only by running in both directions can everyone truly consider the other party and make the best exchange of interests.