Chapter 641: Zero-Sum Game 1 (Part 1)

Time passed slowly, the mechanical clock on the wall creaked, and the gears twisted and turned with a very rhythmic sound.

Miris looked at the three empty bottles in front of him, looked up at the clock, it was already 11 o'clock.

The past prosperity of Brilliant Industry kept coming to Miris' mind. He still clearly remembered that his father took him to visit the factory's production workshop when he was a child. He still remembered the touch and joy.

Miris understood the truth that prosperity must decline. The most prosperous era of Brilliant Industry was decades ago. His father and Section 12 signed a contract to provide large reclamation machinery, but after completing the reclamation of the eastern agricultural base, they began to transform and make some small and medium-sized machinery, but the good times did not last long. In terms of technology manufacturing, they were not as mature as those big companies, and their products were not competitive in price. In order to win the contract for reclamation of the eastern grain base, they invested all their funds in researching large reclamation machinery.

Over the years, the company's scale has been shrinking, especially in the past year, the situation has become increasingly bad, because a large number of illegal products have poured into the three areas of home appliances, engineering machinery, and cooking machinery in the city. Miris appealed again and again, but the Operations Department asked them to produce evidence. These machines, which have not changed much from the usual machines, are far below the market price.

Because there is no need for production workshops, workers, or technical taxes, and most importantly, these illegal mechanical products flowing out from the upper level are technically better than those of the middle and lower-level companies. The science and technology required for the manufacturing of all parts of the machinery is shared in the city, and once these technologies are used to make profits, they need to pay high technical taxes. However, in the application of technology, large companies with more scientific and technological talents obviously have an advantage, and these illegal mechanical products all flow out from this layer of technicians.

In just a short period of time, more than half of the low-end and mid-end machinery market has been occupied by these guys. No matter how difficult it was, Miris's company, Brilliant Industry, was still able to occupy a certain market share in the fierce competition in the low-end and mid-end machinery market. However, several medium-sized enterprises like their company have all transformed, and they have transformed as early as a few years ago.

"Don't hold on, I think it's better for you to transform into making food or something as soon as possible, at least your company still has some foundation."

A boss next to him sighed, and Miris shook his head. A month ago, the person in charge of a chain restaurant came to the company. When Miris could no longer hold on, hope came. They needed 100 sets of kitchen cooking machinery. In the end, the price came to 3 million, and Miris also made the cooking machinery they needed according to the other party's requirements. The contract was originally to be signed a few days ago, and the factory could start work immediately and the employees' wages could be paid. At this juncture, the order flew.

Miris originally thought that he would have good luck. After learning that an agricultural base would be built in the Barrier Zone, the large-scale machinery technology of Brilliant Industry, which was already mature and field-tested, could be put to use. As long as he actively contacted Le Xiao, the secretary of Section 13, he would be able to get a part of it, and the company could return to its former glory. When some older employees left reluctantly, Miris also promised them that once the company got better, he would definitely hire them back and make up for some benefits.

Thinking of this, Miris wiped away the tears that overflowed, his eyes were red. There are many people like Misri, some of which are raw material processing companies, some are raw material purchasing companies, and there are also companies that produce micro-components, engineering companies, etc. More than 600 companies almost cover most of the middle and lower-level industries.

Seeing this, some people also started crying, and the crying began to spread, but no one cried loudly, just sobbing. Everyone present knew what those big companies had done. These few months were already difficult, but the big companies did not give them a way to survive. They began to suppress some industries, disrupt the supply chain, and their own business failures, as well as the deterioration of the overall market environment and the shrinking market size.

This is how capital works. It rolls around in the market and is willing to accept defeat. So many of their companies combined may not be as good as a large company at the top. When small capital is squeezed by large capital, there is nothing to do except crying helplessly.

Some people present have sued many large companies, but they may not wait until the materials are fully prepared to debate and rule in the Law Office.

Large companies can burn money to continuously squeeze the market and make these companies that are already suffering from economic problems explode. They only need to take over the market naturally after these companies are reduced to ruins.

Everyone present thought about how the Operations Department would help them. They would collect money to keep them alive temporarily, but the deteriorating market was like cancer, which would gradually kill all their companies.

Miris was unwilling to accept this. He even thought about what would happen next. The Operations Department had always had this attitude. If they had taken action earlier and found the source of the deterioration of the market, it would not have been so tragic, but they did nothing. He did not trust the Operations Department, but now he had to rely on it.

"Why are you crying? Now is not the time for you to cry. Lift your heads."

A slightly majestic voice sounded, and the businessmen at the venue all raised their heads. Looking at Locke who walked in directly, many people looked a little panicked and hurriedly wiped the tears from their faces.

"Your Excellency, may I ask a question?"

Milis stood up, looking drunk. The person next to him hurriedly pulled him, but Milis shook off the two hands holding him.

boom

"The problem has been there for a long time. I have reported it to your business department many times about illegal drugs, but you just let it go. Isn't this all caused by your business department?"

Milis could no longer hold back the anger in his heart. He wanted to say everything he wanted to say. Locke did not answer, but just stared at Milis with a frown.

"Evidence! You always tell me, do you want me to provide evidence? Every item of our company's products must be taxed. The sum of these taxes paid is enough for us to survive this crisis. Evidence? Now we Isn’t everything we have suffered evidence? Sir, tell me, even if you give us money to temporarily fill some loopholes, what will happen next? My father is still in the hospital? , he was already exhausted mentally and physically and could never come back, and our company laid off nearly half of its old employees, many of whom are already in their twilight years. What should I do with the rest of their lives? Please answer me, Mr. Manager, this is not me. It’s a human problem, but a doubt in the minds of all of us in the 600+ companies present!”

Milis stared at Locke on the stage with his eyes wide open. At this moment, Locke relaxed his frown. He stood up straight and bowed. For a moment, everyone was a little shocked. Locke laughed and shook his head.

"First of all, I would like to offer my most sincere apologies for the pain you have experienced during this period, just..."

Locke put his hands on the table, and the smile on his face disappeared for a moment.

"What do you think of this problem? The market environment is constantly changing with the development of the city. There are the best times and the worst times. The 120 districts in the city also determine the size of the market. First of all, Leaving aside the failure of your business strategies, the black industry has indeed had an impact on you, but have you ever thought about who is the victim in this zero-sum game? "

The meaning of Locke's words was unclear, and Milis smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Some people gain, and naturally some people lose, and now we are the losers, and those with vested interests are probably having a celebration party. Answer my question, Your Excellency, what do you see?"

Locke did not answer, but sat down, clasped his hands and stared calmly at the businessmen present.

"If we want to catch the black industry, most of you here, I am afraid, have been contaminated. In this zero-sum game without a winner, everyone is a victim. It is not just you today. Have you ever had any I thought I would have this day. Big fish will eat small fish, and bigger fish will continue to eat fish smaller than themselves. One day, only the strongest and biggest fish will be left in a pond, and it will naturally be hungry. Damn it, I don’t want to elaborate any more, is there something wrong with the way our business department has been doing it?”

As soon as Locke's words came out, there were a lot of voices.

boom

Locke slapped the table and the venue fell silent.

"You are all vested interests in this system, the winners in this zero-sum game, and those are the losers."

Locke pointed out the window, paused and said.

"In the barrier area! Let me ask you, when your situation is good, on the one hand, you are enjoying the good market brought by the regulation of the business department, and on the other hand, you are criticizing the business department. When we do something right, no one will remember it, and when we do it right, no one will remember it. We have done something wrong, and no one will forget it. You only remember your own pain, and you only know that you have been harmed by this impact, and your interests have been harmed, but what about us? What have our 14 business departments done? Everything, we have paid blood and sweat for the development of the city over the years, you can choose to ignore all of this, because this is what it should be, because of a bunch of damn tax figures, so you should feel that we should solve everything for you The road has been paved, and you can always walk on this flowery road. But when we need you to do something for this city, what are you doing? The situation at the bottom has not changed for so many years. Why? Because you have never thought even a little bit about building a good market cornerstone for the bottom layer, but only think about profits, profits."

Locke stood up excitedly, glanced at everyone present angrily, and pointed at them with one hand.

"I came here today to discuss solving the problem with you, because next we will come up with a reasonable and effective solution, and you can all participate and work together to solve the problem. We could have ignored you and waited for you tomorrow. Submit your bankruptcy application yourself. If anyone still wants to question you, or even has a distrustful and uncooperative attitude, please get out immediately. The chief of Section 8 is already waiting outside, and he can accept your bankruptcy application now. "

Locke said, his expression softened a lot, and he sat down quietly.