"Japan has six major conglomerates: Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Fuji, Sanwa, and Dai-Ichi Kangyo. They control over 60% of Japan's total assets and 50% of its workforce. Calling them zaibatsu isn't an exaggeration; they evolved from zaibatsu. Zaibatsu sounds bad, but conglomerate carries a neutral connotation and sounds much better."

Fang Shunli spoke slowly, showing no lack of business acumen.

"They control the financial, manufacturing, mining, and distribution industries, making it virtually impossible for other small and medium-sized enterprises to get involved.

Mitsubishi, in particular, controls almost 60% of Japan's heavy industry. They can use shares to restrict the development and revenue of their subsidiaries. Their unique annual merit system allows them to continue exploiting their employees… treating them like animals… In their home country, this is called corporate slavery."

Fang Shunli's smile was somewhat sinister, and in truth, it was pretty much true.

Lin Xiao picked up the conversation, "Speaking of their conglomerate model, let's take Japanese conglomerates as an example. They need to control the entire textile industry chain to ensure their dominance. This includes the production of raw materials such as cotton, cashmere, wool, silk, chemical fibers, and down feathers, as well as textile manufacturing of cotton fabrics, chemical fibers, hemp, silk, thread, and dyeing. Then they integrate the downstream industry chain: apparel, home textiles, and industrial textiles. In terms of the overall industry prospects and output value, the best choice is the apparel industry, especially the sportswear industry. This is currently the most promising sector. You can benchmark against Shenzhou..." "Internationally, this is the most profitable company in the entire textile industry."

*Click*

Zhao An continued smoking, nodding. "Not bad, keep going."

"Sanjin, Liucui, Huolan, and other companies are all leaders in the textile industry. Some are in sportswear, some in clothing, and some in cotton textiles. Each field is dominated by top performers. They can easily maintain their position in the industry and then slowly expand into other sectors, seeking steady progress. Clothing design, fashion magazines. Competing with the West for the right to speak in clothing design," Lin Xiao continued.

"There's one thing here: they don't oppose monopolies, but we can't. We can't have monopolies."

Fang Shunli reminded him, afraid that this guy didn't understand what the iron fist of anti-monopoly meant.

If the policy changes, the business might not even break even and would be forced to shut down.

Businessmen still have to do business according to regulations and laws.

After all, the most profitable methods are written in the criminal law.

*Phew!* Zhao An exhaled smoke and downed a glass of red wine.

"What do you think of the current state of the HaoTuan platform?"

The young men from the provincial capital exchanged awkward glances, unsure what to say.

Bai Qingyang and his two companions, however, were deep in thought, puzzled by Zhao An's motives.

"Its reputation is tarnished, its commission rates are too high, it's profiting from others' misfortunes, and its management is ineffective—these are all its shortcomings. Therefore, the platform's traffic has drastically decreased; the dragon-slaying hero has become the dragon himself."

Zhao An chuckled; he had anticipated this situation.

The investment in creating the platform had already been recouped, with a small profit made.

Selling the platform was also a statement, a significant achievement.

"What are your thoughts, Young Master An? Come, let me toast you."

Fang Shunli proactively offered Zhao An a toast. He could endure anything for the sake of profit.

He could sacrifice the interests of his subordinates without hesitation; such a person was truly pragmatic.

"The companies the Huang Group has recently established are quite interesting. Foreign capital holds 40% of the shares and a third of the say. And the businesses they're involved in are all focused on people's livelihoods, including their current plans to expand into lending. These are all financial businesses, industries with inherent instability. Interest compounded, money making money, it's easy for them to collapse."

Zhao An finished speaking and then fell silent, looking at the three men with a half-smile.

"You want us to take him down?"

Lin Xiao's expression also turned serious. It wasn't impossible.

But they had also invested, and they needed to recoup their losses.

Unless their gains exceeded their losses, they absolutely wouldn't do it.

Hearing this, even Fang Shunli's expression changed. Was he trying to pull them into a big heist?

"Hahaha!"

Zhao An laughed loudly, a hint of disdain in his smile.

"You're overthinking it. I don't have time for that. What I'm talking about is their business model. I'm not interested in finance. Finance can certainly make money, a lot of money. But I don't have that idea. I'm saying you can continue to increase your investment. Although the financial industry is in a downturn, you can definitely make a lot of money."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Bai Qingyang had become interested, but after being put down, he quickly understood and continued to play along.

It was obvious that Fang Shunli and Lin Xiao were two idiots. They hadn't even paid enough, yet they wanted benefits from others. Wasn't that just digging a huge pit for them?

The previous talk about Japanese conglomerates and Korean chaebols was all nonsense; this was the main event.

Originally, he had also become interested in finance, but then he thought about it and realized that this stuff might not be reliable at all.

Fang Shunli and Lin Xiao were indeed somewhat foolish. It wasn't wrong of them to come and talk to them.

But to repair a relationship, at least some sincerity is needed.

They either send women, or they send money and real estate; they always have to give something in return.

They expect to get Zhao An's advice and guidance without spending a penny?

Isn't that a joke?

Perhaps they think that just being able to speak to Zhao An is a favor.

They're trying to get something for nothing, then using this favor as an opportunity for Zhao An.

Although they keep calling him "Young Master An,"

their inherent arrogance is unchangeable.

It's a kind of spiritual contempt, a contempt that can't be concealed from the bone!

Zhao An, of course, knows that if these two sent a celebrity, he might be somewhat interested in cooperating with them.

But that would only be interest, not necessarily cooperation.

But now, he doesn't think that way. These two fools actually dare to try to get something for nothing from him; they're simply courting death.

Have they not learned their lesson enough, so they don't know the meaning of respect?

If we don't teach them a lesson, they won't know what's what!

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