142: 142. New battery technology leaked?

Juli Energy Company Headquarters, Chairman's Office.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a bustling city skyline. The interior decoration was understated yet luxurious. Chairman Lord Han put down his custom-made fountain pen, listening to his subordinate's report, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Chairman Han, they rejected our acquisition proposal." On the other end of the phone, the executive in charge of negotiations sounded a little uneasy and helpless.

"Rejected?"

Lord Han’s voice was deep: "Didn’t I make it clear that money isn’t an issue? Even if we have to offer a high premium far exceeding their valuation, we must acquire it!"

"Chairman, we have tried our best to express our sincerity. The premium is already astonishingly high, but the other party’s attitude is extremely firm. They flatly rejected both technology transfer and a complete acquisition. I... I didn’t even manage to meet Yu Tianxiong himself; I only spoke a few words with his deputy before being politely turned down."

Lord Han’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing through them: "There are always some people who don’t know their place, thinking that with a small technical breakthrough in their hands, they can look down on others and play hard to get..."

He was silent for a few seconds, then his tone suddenly became firm and ruthless: "Since we can’t negotiate nicely, then let’s use the most direct methods of the business world to force them into submission."

"First, use all our influence to restrict their upstream supply chain and key raw materials. Cut off what can be cut off, and create trouble for what cannot be cut off. Second, poach their core R&D team at high prices, especially Qin Tian, no matter the cost..."

"Third, have our own R&D department put aside secondary projects and concentrate all elite forces to fully break through this solid-state battery technology! I don't care how much it costs; within two months, I want to see substantive results!"

As a leading new energy technology company in Xia, Juli Energy has always been at the forefront globally, boasting over 20,000 researchers and countless patent barriers.

It is no exaggeration to say that the profits from its battery business alone far exceed those of many new energy vehicle manufacturers.

A company accustomed to dominating the industry's discourse could not overlook the prospects of Tingfeng Energy's new solid-state battery. Such cutting-edge technology must be firmly held in its own hands!

On the office sofa, Lord Han’s son, Han Mingli, listened to his father’s murderous commands, a look of anxiety and disapproval on his face.

He couldn't help but speak: "Father, please be cautious! Although Tingfeng Energy is not large, Tingfeng Capital behind it has a mysterious background, and it has recently become closely associated with Xu's Group. If we directly resort to extraordinary measures like this, won't it..."

Lord Han suddenly turned his head, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. It was the powerful aura honed over years of navigating the turbulent business world. Just one look made Han Mingli close his mouth.

"Mingli."

Lord Han’s voice was cold: "I’ve always thought you were a qualified son, but not a qualified businessman, and... an heir—indecisive and lacking in boldness."

He stood up, walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the city below: "I know you’ve always disliked such aggressive, even dark, tactics. But you must remember, the marketplace is a battlefield! Market competition is about the big fish eating the small fish, and the small fish eating the shrimp. It’s the law of the jungle, and that’s an unchanging iron rule worldwide!"

"Do you think that after this technology was announced, only we were eyeing it? Who knows how many pairs of eyes and how many hands have already reached out in the shadows!"

"This is a strategic weapon that can completely overturn the market structure and reshuffle the cards! If we let it develop unchecked, once a generation gap forms, all of Juli Energy’s advantages will be wiped out! So, whether they are willing or not, this technology must fall under my control! Only then can I sleep soundly!"

"As for Tingfeng Capital you mentioned?"

A sneer of contempt curled Lord Han’s lips, "Hmph, they’re not even worth a glance!"

Even with Xu's Group joining them, compared to the Juli empire he built, they were not on the same level at all.

This was the source of his absolute confidence.

Han Mingli, sitting below, opened his mouth as if to say something, but finally sighed and silently felt pity for Tingfeng Energy.

Suddenly, as if he remembered something, he said: "Father, when we were negotiating cooperation with Golden Triangle and supplier Tengfei Mining before, the other party mentioned this company. I didn’t expect it to come true in just a few days. Perhaps they understand the details better than us. I suggest we investigate first..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the office door was suddenly knocked open.

A secretary walked in with some documents.

"Chairman, Vice President, the finance department discovered an anomaly in the capital chain of supplier Tengfei Mining. After initiating an investigation, it was found that they misappropriated the project cooperation deposit."

The secretary's words stunned Han Mingli, who found it hard to believe.

"According to the investigation, they invested in a mine that blew up some time ago, and now they are desperately looking for money to fill the hole."

Lord Han listened, showing no anger, and calmly said: "Immediately terminate the cooperation with them according to the contract and demand huge compensation. If they don't have money, take shares as collateral."

"Yes, Chairman!" The secretary quickly left.

Han Mingli frowned and said, "Father, I’ll call Li Fang to reconfirm the situation."

Lord Han nodded noncommittally.

Han Mingli picked up his phone and dialed Li Fang's private number. After connecting, Li Fang's hoarse voice came through: "Hello..."

Han Mingli's voice was steady as he said, "Mr. Li, I have always had trust in your company. It is very disappointing that you would do such a thing."

The figure on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Mr. Han... what... what do you mean by this?"

Han Mingli's tone turned cold, "Do you think you can hide the fact that you misappropriated the project deposit? Our group's audit department is not just for show!"

"Mr. Han, since things have come to this, I won't hide it from you. Yes, I temporarily used the money, and I ran into some trouble."

Li Fang cursed his luck inwardly. The recent mining incident had him overwhelmed, and he had just managed to stabilize the situation a bit. He couldn't let Juli Group stir up trouble again now.

Han Mingli said coldly, "Temporarily? Mr. Li, that's not an excuse. According to the contract, Juli Group has the right to..."

Li Fang thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and interrupted: "Mr. Han! We don't have the money right now, but I can use something else as collateral! Its value absolutely far exceeds that deposit!"

"What is it?" Han Mingli frowned. What valuable things did Tengfei Mining still have now?

Li Fang said unwillingly, "It's technical data! The technical data for Tingfeng Energy's new battery! I have a copy in my hands! It's absolutely authentic and reliable! With it, Juli Energy can immediately master this disruptive technology! Its value far exceeds those hundreds of millions in deposits!"

If it weren't for the difficulty of crossing industries, he would have wanted to do it himself. Now, he could only use it for emergency cash.

"What?!"

The Han family father and son in the office simultaneously exclaimed in shock, abruptly standing up from their seats, unable to believe it!

Han Mingli trembled as he pressed, "Tingfeng Energy's technical data? How did you get it?! How is this possible?!"

With things having come to this, Li Fang, in order to save himself, no longer cared about so much and simply explained how they had placed Chu Man and how they had stolen the data.

Only then did Han Mingli realize that the espionage incident... was actually orchestrated by him! Combined with their mortal enemy relationship, the credibility of this matter seemed extremely high!

Lord Han’s eyes were already gleaming with extreme greed and excitement.

The very thing Juli Energy had longed for, delivered right to their doorstep in such a way!?

However, Han Mingli always felt that something was amiss. All of this... seemed too coincidental? Too smooth... as if an invisible hand was precisely pushing everything from behind.

But he looked at his father’s determined expression, knowing that anything he said now would be useless, so he said in a deep voice: "Send the data over immediately! If it’s real, the debt will be written off!"