Reborn Tech Maniac

Chapter 662 Support whoever agrees with me
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The concept of the scale of the California high-speed rail is close to the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail in China decades later in the original time and space, but the length is still not as good as the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail.

According to the existing plan, the construction funds of California high-speed rail come from three sources - federal appropriation, California self-financing and private equity participation.

Among them, Tang Huan's confirmed investment has soared from the earliest US$2 million to the recent US$15 billion.And it contributed a large share of the start-up funds, making the preliminary work of the California high-speed rail project basically completed.

It can be seen that the richest man in the United States has full confidence in the California high-speed rail project, and it also shows his strength and rapid growth to some extent.

The so-called self-financing in California is nothing more than financing means such as issuing bonds.

Although the richest man in the United States serves as a benchmark, Californians are quite enthusiastic about the California high-speed rail, but California taxpayers are also very realistic. They have a conservative attitude towards this kind of infrastructure project with a long investment cycle and are unwilling to add to the burden.

After all, no matter how good the future is, it is also the future; the greatest enemy of a bright future is a lot of uncertainty.

In addition, the construction of the California high-speed rail also involves issues such as land, demolition, and environmental protection.

However, in Tang Huan's view, such difficulties are already easy to solve compared to decades in the original time and space; the real key is to let Californians realize the value of California's high-speed rail and pass the financing bill .

Fortunately, Tang Huan is very familiar with the tricks of building momentum and winning popularity.His extensive acquaintance these years is not in vain. Clowns like the New York Post jump up and down and spit at themselves, but in the end they can only be reduced to a joke to relieve boredom. It is the subtle influence of connections.

What's more, Tang Huan still holds the power of Hollywood in his hands, and it's time for stars from all walks of life to stand up and contribute their appeal.

"If the California High-Speed ​​Rail is built, it will definitely be very convenient for filmmakers traveling between Northern and Southern California." Spielberg vaguely revealed his attitude towards the California High-Speed ​​Rail project.

"However, the California High-Speed ​​Rail threatens the existing interests of the civil aviation industry and highway transportation." Tang Huan said leisurely: "The reason why these opponents are targeting me with all their firepower is simply to shoot people first, shoot horses first, and capture thieves first. Wang’s idea. What’s ridiculous is that in addition to finding specious bases in terms of financial burden, unemployment rate, etc., they also came up with a lame excuse to describe the California High-Speed ​​Rail as a tool for making huge profits for me alone. It’s really embarrassing for everyone. They are all fools who want to fool."

"If the rumor has been circulating for a long time, many people who don't know the truth will inevitably take it as true. It's better to clarify it." Spielberg suggested with concern.

"It really needs to be explained seriously." Tang Huan nodded, "It is gratifying that many people still understand me and support me."

Having said that, Tang Huan changed the subject and asked casually, "I heard that you accepted a movie from Warner Bros. and you need to shoot it in China?"

This is a manifestation of Tang Huan's brilliance. He has almost all the dynamics of important Hollywood filmmakers like Spielberg. In addition, there may be other requests, that is, the movie "Empire of the Sun" that Warner is preparing to shoot-"Empire of the Sun".

This project originated from the adaptation rights of the novel of the same name purchased by Warner. The author is the British novelist James Graham Ballard, who is considered a master of doomsday novels. This is a relatively traditional war novel, and it is well received, and it also has a semi-autobiographical nature.

Because James Graham Ballard was born in the International Settlement of Shanghai_Shanghai, China in 1930, and grew up there until the outbreak of the Pacific War, when Japan put these British people into concentration camps.

This tragic experience of "willing to do anything to fill his stomach" had a great influence on James Graham Ballard.In the novel "Empire of the Sun", the story of a little boy named Jim who was a prisoner of war in a concentration camp was inspired by this.

Just like the theme of "lost innocence" in "ET Aliens", Spielberg was very interested in this project, and finally participated in it halfway and became the director.

Obviously, this film has a hurdle that cannot be bypassed, and that is to go to Shanghai, China to shoot scenes.

So Warner contacted relevant parties in the mainland, but the progress of the negotiations was very slow, which seriously slowed down the progress of the project.

Seeing this situation, Warner boss Steve Ross couldn't sit still--"Empire of the Sun" has a shooting budget as high as 3500 million U.S. dollars, and every day of delay means an extra loss.

No way, let's find a way.In this way, Warner naturally thought of Tang Huan's faction.

You know, the "Phantom of the Tomb" series, which is famous for its novelty and grandeur, was shot in mainland China. The effect not only made the film itself of excellent quality, but also fascinated the curious American audience.

In China, people feel like a fish in water, but Warner is in vain, so it can only show that it is a matter of ability.

However, Warner boss Steve Ross was unwilling to come to Tang Huan in person. Although the two had stopped fighting, the price Steve Ross paid was the controlling stake in Atari and Warner Records, which had suffered heavy losses. It’s hard to eliminate!
Spielberg, who muddle-headedly sold the video game adaptation rights to the movie "ET" to Warner Bros. for an unprecedented $3000 million, was certainly aware of the dispute between the two parties. I would like to suffer, but it is absolutely true that I have cheated the other party too hard, so I inevitably feel a little guilty.

In this way, Spielberg volunteered, "I'll go and talk to Don about it."

Of course, Steve Ross couldn't wait for it, so he hurriedly let Spielberg take full responsibility.

It's just that Spielberg didn't expect that Tang Huan was suddenly annoyed enough by the troubles of the California high-speed rail, and it was really hard to find an opportunity to speak.

Now that Tang Huan took the initiative to ask about this matter, Spielberg felt so comfortable that he quickly replied: "Yes, I need to recreate Shanghai occupied by Japan in the 1940s as much as possible, which will involve some closure. Due to issues such as neighborhoods and hiring a large number of extras, it is estimated that the filming time will be at least three weeks.”

Speaking of this, Spielberg smiled bitterly, "But the problem is that the communication between Warner and the local area has always been difficult, and even the progress of the project has been affected. I wonder if Don can mediate from it?"

"No problem." Tang Huan nodded happily and agreed, and finally said: "I happen to have a big-budget movie in mainland China called "Mulan", starring Lin Qingxia. If you have time, you might as well Give me some advice in the past."

"I have heard Kathleen Kennedy talk about this project a long time ago and have participated in discussions." Spielberg laughed. "I estimate that this movie will first be favored by feminists."

……

Not long after Spielberg left, the conflicts caused by the construction of the California high-speed rail suddenly intensified, and even affected the east coast of the United States. Meet and discuss.

Jerry Brown served as governor of California from 1975 to 1983, making him the youngest governor of California in history.His first term was the current US President Reagan, and the previous term was Jerry Brown's father, Pat Brown.

So it can be said that Jerry Brown was born in a political family in California and is a star figure.

During Jerry Brown's tenure, he pursued a conservative fiscal policy.He even personally refused many privileges and benefits that the governor deserves, such as the governor's mansion of more than 20000 square feet, luxury cars, etc.

At the end of his term in 1983, the small-time governor left California with the largest financial balance in history-$50 billion.

Jerry Brown's biggest crisis as governor came in 1981, when the San Francisco Bay Area was invaded by the Mediterranean fruit fly, a fruit pest. Acting on the advice of agricultural experts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, he ordered spraying to combat the disease. Insecticides less toxic to humans********.

However, out of environmental protection considerations, Jerry Brown only used ground spraying.

Unfortunately, the medflies reproduced faster than expected.More than a month later, millions of dollars of crops were reimbursed, and billions of dollars of production value were seriously threatened.

Seeing this, Jerry Brown began to use helicopters to carry out large-scale aerial spraying, and at the same time asked the California National Guard to set up road checkpoints to prevent the spread of local infected fruits.

In the end, Jerry Brown won the biological war, but because of his slow action and the possibility of environmental pollution caused by spraying pesticides in a large area, Jerry Brown caused controversy and became the favorite of political opponents. attack point.

At this stage, in California, there is no bill that restricts the governor from being re-elected for more than two terms.However, Jerry Brown, who had performed well in office, did not seek a third term. Instead, he focused on the vacant seat in the Federal Senate and ran for the Senate. As a result, he encountered a strong opponent-the Communist Party. and the party's Pete Wilson.

This person is an old-fashioned politician. He served as a member of the California House of Representatives for two terms totaling four years, and as the mayor of San Diego for three terms totaling 12 years.

Outside commentators believe that Jerry Brown, who was on the spot, has ended his political career.

In fact, Jerry Brown himself was really hit hard, and actually went to Japan to follow Hugo Egong-LS.

The unusual thing about this Jesuit German pastor is that he is also a disciple of Koun Yamada, a Japanese Zen master, trying to make some academic achievements in the relationship between Zen Buddhism and God.

During this period, Jerry Brown went to Calcutta, India, to do volunteer work with Mother Teresa.

From the fact that he was approved to be canonized by Pope Francis 30 years later in the original time and space, we can see the extraordinaryness of this 1979 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Moreover, getting a taste of the fairy spirit of Mother Teresa is also a fashionable move for many Americans at present.For example, John Kennedy Jr. also traveled to Calcutta, India during his studies.

Probably more than a year later, Tang Huan persuaded Jerry Brown, who was wandering around, to come back - after all, the political capital you can accumulate from such travels is limited, so you should seize the time to do something serious.

Jerry Brown was very interested in the California high-speed rail project when he was in office. After all, since the Japanese Shinkansen was put into operation, this technology has attracted worldwide attention, but it costs a lot of money and there are many obstacles to promote it.

At that time, Tang Huan took out the start-up funds and suggested to Jerry Brown that a special agency such as the California High Speed ​​Rail Authority should be established first, and the preliminary work should be in place.

Today, the pockets of the richest man are getting bigger and bigger, and the time to push the California high-speed rail project further is almost ripe.

The most important source of motivation for Tang Huan's enthusiasm for the California high-speed rail project is the need for personal merit.

Amasa Leland Stanford, a famous industrialist and politician in the history of the United States, who served as the governor of California and a member of the U.S. Senate, founded the Central Pacific Railroad Company. And under every sleeper of the Trans-Midwest Railway that he participated in the construction of, there was the dead body of a Chinese laborer.

In memory of Leland Stanford Jr., his only son who died of typhoid fever in Florence, Italy, when he was less than 16 years old, Amasa Leland Stanford donated money to found Stanford University. It has developed into a top university famous in the United States and even the world. It gave birth to the cradle of high technology - Silicon Valley.

In contrast to the two, would people wandering in the beautiful scenery of Stanford University think that there might be huge profits paved with flesh and blood in the initial donation?
Among the old families in Xiangjiang, there are those who started their fortunes by selling opium, but after several generations, they have almost whitewashed.

Tang Huan has no black history that needs to be cleaned up, but as long as a long line like the California High Speed ​​Rail is drawn on the map of the western United States, his family will survive for several generations.

In the same way, the California High-Speed ​​Rail also has extraordinary meritorious significance for Jerry Brown, who has "one job, two governors". Once he invests in it, he will give his best, not to mention that his upward path in politics has been blocked. If you are stuck, you must find something valuable to do to reverse the passive situation.

As soon as we met, Jerry Brown said directly with concern: "California high-speed rail has become a bargaining chip between the Democrats and Republicans in this year's mid-term elections. The situation is not usually complicated."

Tang Huan put down his glass and said lightly: "It's actually very simple. I will support whoever approves of the California high-speed rail!"

(End of this chapter)