42: Chapter 42 Seizure? Only 2500 Remaining?

Tanzania, Dar es Salaam government building.

Minister Mohammed's office had become a smoky wonderland. Thanks to the efforts of Bird's Africa General Manager, Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming, all of Transsion's stores had been sealed.

Bird had achieved a critical victory.

By all accounts, Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming should have been very relaxed, but now he was there constantly wiping cold sweat from his forehead because the area outside the window was filled with protesting crowds.

The employees from the sealed Transsion stores were holding signs, shouting in Swahili downstairs, "Give us back our jobs."

"Zhou, you should be satisfied with the current result, right?" Minister Mohammed flicked the ash from his finger, then continued to stare fixedly at Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming, with no sign of joy on his face.

Just half an hour ago, because of Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming's instigation, Minister Mohammed had made up his mind and sealed all of Transsion's stores.

However, after they swept through everything, they didn't obtain anything useful; instead, they ended up with a pile of shit on their pants.

"Mr. Minister, Transsion's stores have all been sealed, and their accounts have been frozen." Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming forced a smile onto his face. "Rest assured, the next step is when Bird gets to show its true capabilities. Don't worry, I will definitely deliver on what I promised you. As long as the land is leveled, we will immediately start factory construction. The first phase of investment is 80 million US dollars, with an annual output of 10 million mobile phones, directly becoming the largest mobile phone manufacturing base in East Africa."

Minister Mohammed leaned back in his leather chair, holding the blueprint in his hand.

An investment of 80 million US dollars, covering 1,000 mu, 3,000 jobs, tens of millions of US dollars in annual tax revenue... these figures made his heart race.

It was precisely because of this pie in the sky that he had made such... such an impulsive and excessive decision.

"General Manager Zhou, times have changed. Transsion's fission in Tanzania has been too fast. Although they haven't been in this market for long, they already have over 70 stores and more than 1,200 employees." Minister Mohammed stared at him intensely. "My reason for sealing them was tax issues, but this reason won't hold up for too long. If your Bird factory cannot be established as soon as possible..."

"Three months."

Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming also despised this greedy guy from the bottom of his heart, but before setting off, he had guaranteed to General Manager Li that this operation must only succeed and could not fail.

Therefore, he could only throw out an even bigger pie in the sky, trying hard to stall for time.

"Mr. Mohammed, as long as you secure the land and the permits, and guarantee that Transsion will not re-enter this market in the near future, I can guarantee that the factory will be topped out within three months and in production within six months. Please believe in our sincerity; we have even prepared the equipment list, and shipping it from China by sea will only take four weeks."

Minister Mohammed was silent for a while, then finally took a deep breath: "Alright, I will trust you one more time."

Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming also let out a slow breath; he had finally managed to brush this guy off.

As for building a factory, these barbarians were not worthy. If they really built a factory, Transsion's today would be Bird's tomorrow.

It must be said that on this issue, their plan was the same as Transsion's.

"No, Zhou."

Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming panicked instantly. What was this idiot trying to do now? Just as he was trying to figure out how to deal with it...

Minister Mohammed had already shown a smarter side: "It's not that I don't believe you, but this time we need to sign a valuation adjustment mechanism agreement. If the factory is not in production within one year, Bird will be fined 20 million US dollars. After all, I have already shouldered enough responsibility. Although I believe you, this money is to shut other people's mouths."

"No problem! Mr. Mohammed, this is only right. If we fail to complete it, we will accept all compensation."

Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming agreed offhandedly.

Half an hour later, Minister Mohammed looked at the document stamped with Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming's official seal and showed a satisfied smile.

...

What they didn't know was that at the same time, at Transsion's headquarters in Guangzhou.

Huang Tianya was in Shen Fei's office, looking at the scanned copy of the Tanzania government document that had just been transmitted in real-time, and sneered for a while.

"Suspected of violating foreign exchange management regulations? They could actually make up such an excuse?"

Shen Fei was tidying up his clothes; he was preparing to go pick up Zhang Mingzhu, so he said without raising his head: "Has the money been transferred out?"

"Everything was prepared long ago; it was transferred out through an offshore company three days ago. There is only 25,000 US dollars of operating funds left in the frozen accounts. Originally, we were going to leave them 250, but..."

As he spoke, Huang Tianya couldn't help but laugh. This money wasn't worth much, but it was extremely insulting. Although they didn't understand, Supply Chain Director Zhou Ming would definitely understand.

"As for those 70 stores, 40 of them are rented and 30 are purchased, but they were all previously mortgaged to local banks. If they want to seal them, let them seal them; the loss isn't significant."

"What about the employees? Are they busy?" Shen Fei straightened his collar again and said casually.

"As you instructed. All Tanzania employees will continue to receive their basic salary, and we will let them protest. As long as they don't stop, there will be additional subsidies later." Huang Tianya paused slightly to calm his excited mood.

"It is estimated that by now, on the streets of Dar es Salaam, protests have already started. As for Minister Mohammed's arch-rival, they have also begun to take action; at least the local media has started to question Minister Mohammed's decision."

Shen Fei picked up the perfume on the table, took a look at it, and then slowly put it back. However, his eyes kept darting back to that bottle of perfume, and in the end, he still... picked it up and sprayed it on himself twice.

Huang Tianya's gaze lingered on the perfume for a few seconds, then he hurriedly picked up the documents. The boss dressing up so meticulously was really... really uncommon.

Shen Fei saw all of his little movements, but he didn't say anything: "What about the gray market goods?"

"Currently, the employees in several countries near Tanzania are going crazy; they work during the day, and at night, they transport all the products from the stores to Tanzania."

Huang Tianya took out another report: "With our permission, within one week, we have sold 100,000 T1 units and 300,000 T80 series units. The T80 series is now priced 2 US dollars higher than the original official price. As for the T1, although the selling price is 80 US dollars, there is no tax to pay. Both our profits and the employees' profits are guaranteed. They are doing it with ease."

Not suitable! This plan is not suitable.

Shen Fei paused for a moment, then pointed at Huang Tianya and said: "Fire all of these people."

"General Manager Shen?" Huang Tianya said, frowning slightly. After all, they were still making contributions, and doing this kind of thing—killing the donkey after the grinding is done—wasn't right.

"This kind of behavior has a bad impact on us. How about this: you have them jointly establish a company, and then you invest in them. Let them have money to take out loans to buy goods, and then we will provide them with parts and after-sales support. Make it clear to them that this is a special plan for a special period; those who are willing to participate can participate, and those who are not willing can continue to be sales staff."

"Understood."

After a while, the phone rang again. This time, it was a QQ message from Zhang Mingzhu.

Shen Fei checked the time and said to Huang Tianya: "Keep a close eye on Africa. Minister Mohammed won't last long, and Bird won't last even longer. When they collapse..."

He paused for a moment, his tone carrying a hint of coldness: "I want the whole of Africa to know that we at Transsion are not little lambs, and what the consequences are for going against us."