129. tycoon politician
There are two ways to contact Francis.
The first method is through the secretary’s office as the representative of Dell Korea, and the other method is to directly contact them by direct phone number.
Not surprisingly, few people know Francis’ direct contact information.
Especially in Korea, the number is even smaller.
No, only one person.
And, of course, that one person is Hoyoung.
– Are you Hoyoung?
“yes. Francis. How have you been?”
So, Francis answered the call to the direct number in Korea and, of course, called Ho-yeong.
– sure. Did the computer I installed the other day have any problems?
“ah! no. no. You write really well. I am grateful.”
– That’s good. So what did you contact me about?
“I contacted you about ADSL’s advance into the US.”
– Aha. That’s what you’re talking about. How did you contact me at such a timely manner?
Francis said happily.
“okay?”
– We haven’t contacted you yet, so we’ll get back to you when we’re a little more certain.
“As long as there are good things, let’s go.”
Francis did not answer right away.
Hoyoung felt that there was some good news.
– It is said that an offer came from the Texas state government yesterday during the business approval process.
“What is your suggestion?”
– It is a proposal to select the ADSL business as a state government business, not simply a telecommunications business license.
“A government project? Why in Texas suddenly?”
– Let’s meet and discuss the details. Do you have a good time right now?
“yes. it’s okay. Would you like to come this way?”
– All right. I’m leaving right now, so please wait a moment.
Francis hurriedly hung up the phone.
It seemed that he wanted to come see Hoyeong as soon as possible.
Hoyoung wanted to hear Francis’ story as quickly as possible.
‘Why on earth in the Texas government?’
In Korea, government projects have a great meaning, but in particular, projects conducted by state governments in the United States are even more meaningful.
‘If it is really selected as a government project, the labor cost required to build a base station could be close to zero.’
Hoyoung looked at his watch.
The current time is 5:30 PM.
It takes less than 10 minutes by car from Del Korea to here, so Francis will arrive soon.
But 10 minutes is a longer time than you think.
He watched the hands of the clock turn and waited for Francis with a childlike joy.
.
Contrary to Hoyoung’s expectations, it took about 40 minutes for Francis to arrive at Hoyoung’s office.
As soon as Francis arrived at Hoyeong’s office, he put his hands together and apologized.
“Hoyoung! I’m really sorry. If I had known it would take this long, I would have told you in advance!”
“no. I am okay. Except I was a little worried that something might have happened. Did something happen?”
“Nothing special happened. Just in case, I called Dell in the US to ask if there was any change in the progress, but the words got too long.”
“You talk to Dell almost every day, do you have a lot to say about that?”
“Iknow, right. Sometimes when I think about it, I think I talk more than my wife.”
Hoyeong and Francis laughed at Francis’ joke.
After laughing for a while, Hoyoung changed the topic.
“I was curious and couldn’t stand it. What the hell is the provincial government proposing? Wouldn’t that mean setting up a public corporation by any chance?”
There was only one thing Hoyoung was worried about.
Sometimes it’s called a government project, and a big company asks for help in setting up a public company by stealing technology in a new field it’s trying to enter.
At that time, companies had no choice but to ignore the government, so if they were going to continue their business in that state, they had no choice but to help the government by crying and eating mustard.
“haha. Not such an outrageous proposition. If it had been that kind of proposal, we would have cut it.”
Francis said leisurely.
It was the confidence that a Dell computer could withstand threats from the state government, even from the federal government.
“Then what is your suggestion? I am dying of curiosity.”
“Ha ha, I see. I’ll tell you now. First, the things the state of Texas can do for us. First, we will support the construction workers needed to build the base station.”
Hoyoung nodded.
Because this was expected enough.
National projects are a good excuse to give welfare benefits to poor workers.
“Second, free lease of the site where the base station will be built and permission to use the telephone line.”
“Is the telephone business in Texas a government business?”
“no. As for the telephone business itself, the privatization transition was completed decades ago. However, the management of telephone lines is managed by the government by receiving management fees from telecommunication companies.”
“Then, when we start the ADSL business, we will have to pay the management fee.”
“yes. In the case of the phone business, I understand that 3% of sales are taken as a lump sum.”
Hoyoung nodded.
I thought that was a reasonable enough number.
“Is there anything else Texas can do for you?”
“yes. Finally, there’s the third and most important one. what is it?”
“The government says they will promote ADSL. So, it means that it is authorized as the official PC communication of the state of Texas.”
Hoyoung’s eyes widened slightly.
Because I didn’t think Texas would put up with these conditions.
However, Hoyoung did not like it all.
“Then there must be a corresponding condition, right?”
“haha. You know me well.”
“Because nothing is free in this world.”
Francis showed a slightly admiring face at the Korean proverb (?) and opened his mouth.
“The first is, of course, money. They are asking for 10% of sales from the telecom business.”
“Is it 10%? Hmm···. Let’s listen to the next condition first.”
“Second, we want to start service in all areas of Texas simultaneously.”
“Simultaneous service?”
Hoyoung let out a slightly absurd laugh.
The state of Texas was about 700,000 square kilometers, seven times the area of Korea.
In addition, the population was about 25 million, which was smaller than that of Korea.
In the end, more repeaters had to be installed for fewer users than in Korea.
“ha ha ha. Is it over?”
“There are also three conditions. There is one more thing.”
“okay. Listen to the end.”
“They say the monthly fee should not exceed $30 per month.”
Here, Hoyoung nodded.
The monthly usage fee of 30 dollars was exactly what Hoyeong had in mind.
Hoyoung was worried about whether he should break the board if he asked for a usage fee of about 20 dollars, but fortunately that didn’t happen.
“If yes, when will the business start?”
“Dell said he asked that too.”
“Did you get an answer?”
“yes. The state government says they answered with just four letters.”
Hoyeong seemed to know what those four letters were.
“ASAP?”
“Exactly.”
As Soon As Possible.
It meant as soon as possible.
“Then what if I decline this offer?”
“…Then, we just have to do our own business. Buy a phone line license, build a base station… It will go slowly.”
Hoyoung could sense a sense of incongruity in Francis’ attitude.
“Wait. Francis. I have a question.”
“Tell me.”
“Why is the state government in such a hurry?”
“yes?”
Hoyoung narrowed her eyes and said.
“I feel like the state government is chasing something right now?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about…?”
Francis tried to put on a nonchalant expression, but he couldn’t stop a drop of cold sweat from dripping down his forehead.
“ha ha ha!”
Then out of nowhere, Hoyoung burst into laughter.
“Ho, Hoyoung?”
Francis called out to Hoyoung with a puzzled expression, but he laughed for a while longer before opening his mouth.
“That’s right, Francis. Are you sure you can’t lie?”
“yes?”
Hoyoung smiled.
Francis knew the meaning of that laugh.
Hoyoung laughs right before he says something startling.
“Let me ask you one thing. Do Dell’s political leanings align with the current governor of Texas? Or are you supporting the current state government because you think it will benefit your business?”
“radish···. What are you talking about?”
“Francis. If you can’t answer straight away, our contract will be over. If the contract is canceled, even if I do not enter the US market, I will not be able to see ADSL’s original technology.”
Francis’ face was colored with astonishment, and his pupils visibly twitched.
“how···?”
“Could you answer my question?”
Hoyeong asked softly, but it sounded like this was the last time for Francis.
“Because there will be business gains.”
“As expected.”
Francis sighed and said.
“All right. I don’t know how you found out, but I’ll tell you the truth.”
“May I speak first?”
“What do you mean?”
“Through some channel, I don’t know, but Dell must have had a relationship with the governor of Texas. And I would have entered into a business partnership with him. And maybe the Texas gubernatorial election isn’t far off. The current governor of Texas is hoping for a second term. In order to be reappointed, great visible achievements are required, but it is difficult to create any achievements right away. So, he creates a communication revolution with ‘my’ ADSL and promotes the revolution to citizens as a government project to improve his image. I was thinking of a scenario called How are you?”
Francis couldn’t answer Hoyeong’s words.
I couldn’t close my gaping mouth, so I just kept it open.
Seeing that expression, Hoyoung felt certain that he was right.
“Shall we talk more? Even if ADSL technology is spread, it will be useless if PCs are not spread in each house. That’s why Dell and the governor must have made an agreement. The state government will start a campaign to supply PCs to homes, and the computer that goes into the movement is a Dell computer. Since Dell has adjusted the settings of low-cost and high-performance computers that are sold in Korea anyway, it must have been calculated that it would be possible to manufacture and sell them as they are. If this happens, we are good for the ADSL business to successfully enter the US, Dell is good for increasing sales by that much, and the governor successfully leads the spread of PCs and the Internet to attract support and succeed in reappointment. It’s a three-killer operation like this.”
Like Sherlock from the future British drama ‘Sherlock’, Hoyoung poured out every word.
And most importantly, the statement was very close to the truth.
“Francis?”
“yes. yes!”
“Is that correct?”
“where···. Didn’t you install a wiretapping device?”
When an affirmative answer came out of Francis’ mouth, Hoyoung’s expression became more serious.
“Opening of gradual expansion by county at a fee of 5%.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Please tell me to change the two conditions of this 10% and simultaneous opening to this extent. What if this is not the case? Tell them that we would rather not enter the United States, no, Texas.”
“egg···. I will.”
Francis could only nod his head.
This was the guts of a person who secured the original technology.
“haha. The state government will definitely accept it. If what I said is true, the most urgent thing right now is the governor.”
“yes. I will tell you that.”
“thanks.”
Hoyoung’s hardened expression softened again.
Seeing Hoyeong’s changed expression, Francis felt something relieved.
“By the way, who the hell is the current governor of Texas?”
Francis finally regained his expression, which had been fascinated by Hoyeong’s question, and returned to his original thorough expression.
“yes. The current Governor of Texas is George W. Bush of the Republican Party.”
“George Bush?!”
“yes. He is the eldest son of former US President George HW Bush, whose term ended a while ago.”
It was a question that Hoyoung asked lightly, but Francis gave a startling answer.
George W. Bush.
He is currently the governor of Texas and in 2001 was a big politician who was elected as the 43rd president of the United States.