173: Chapter 173 Resolute Counterattack, Fight to the End

Yangcheng, Provincial Government.

Executive Vice Governor Zhang Shiqing was presiding over a meeting.

"You have all seen the matter regarding Motorola. It is an act of banditry, pure hegemony. This is our enterprise, and we must protect it."

The Director of the Department of Commerce was one of Commissioner Li's people. His leader was also the person most likely to succeed Zhang Shiqing.

A single transfer order had directly shattered his dreams, and the two often clashed, as the other party had cut off his path to promotion.

An outsider snatching his position—ultimately, he suffered from having no background.

As the Director of the Department of Commerce, he naturally knew who Transsion's background was.

So, he said very sanctimoniously: "This should be a probe by the United States to see Transsion's reaction. But Executive Vice Governor, this matter is not easy to handle. They are using the reason of national security; we have no way to directly refute it. Once the conflict escalates, we simply… cannot handle it! I say we should still bide our time; it's just an empty shell, so if it gets kicked out, let it be kicked out, right?"

Although the words of the Department of Commerce director were a bit spineless, they still made quite a few people nod subconsciously.

There is logic in that!

"Bullshit national security; this is purely them maliciously slandering us. If we don't strike back forcefully the first time, they will only treat you like a soft persimmon to be squeezed."

Zhang Shiqing even slapped the table.

Seeing him act so protective, the others finally began to take it seriously. Various plans were brought forward.

"How about we refute it using international rules? Does their investigation have substantial evidence? Did they follow legal procedures?"

"Let's strive for an opportunity to plead our case."

Zhang Shiqing finally nodded: "Assemble a legal team immediately, led by the Department of Commerce, with the province footing the bill. Now is a good opportunity to expand trade; we must let them know that our Chinese enterprises are not to be bullied. We don't look for trouble, but we also cannot let others treat us like a soft persimmon to be squeezed at will."

...

Yangcheng, Transsion headquarters.

Shen Fei was also holding a meeting, and Huang Tianya briefly reported the latest situation.

"General Manager Shen, news just came from Sequoia; the United States is playing for real. The Department of Commerce has initiated an investigation, but under the joint monitoring of the FBI and CIA, they cannot intervene easily. Results might come out within three months."

Shen Fei nodded: "Understood, which means we can still sell for another three months. Immediately increase advertising investment and strive to push the sales of this product in the United States to over 10 million units."

Huang Tianya was somewhat surprised to see him so calm, even able to arrange follow-up work.

"General Manager Shen, aren't you worried? The profits in the United States market are much higher than in the domestic market."

Shen Fei laughed: "Why be anxious? I had already anticipated this. Do you remember why I wanted to sell Motorola at the beginning? It was because of the European market; we can enter at any time, even without this brand. In the United States market, even if we are wrapped in Motorola's shell, they will still view us as a thorn in their side. After all, we are following a path of independent research and development, which the United States does not allow."

"No matter what shell we use, they won't let us make money in peace."

He stood up and looked toward the United States; it had never been a commercial holy land, but rather a market for capitalist revelry.

He had wanted to make money properly under the rules, but some people just didn't want him to do so. Then he would just have to "plant these people in the ground."

"In later generations…" Shen Fei almost slipped up, "In the future, they will be even more ruthless. Confiscating assets, freezing accounts, arresting people. They will use any means necessary. And the reason is still national security?"

Someone in the conference room whispered: "So shameless."

Zhang Mingzhu also said with an angry expression: "Is this the world's number one power? How does it feel like a hooligan?"

Shen Fei smiled: "That word is really not a wrong description; international meetings are essentially hooligans in suits and leather shoes holding a meeting. And this is just the beginning; there are still many more shameless things they will do."

He looked at everyone present: "So we must prepare in advance, walk on multiple legs, layout in multiple markets, and cannot put all our eggs in one basket."

He looked at Huang Tianya again: "Your action team should not send anyone to the United States recently, especially you. All operations should be conducted online, and additionally, transfer the money from Motorola's account as soon as possible."

Huang Tianya nodded; at the center of the storm, there was no need to go to the United States. And it wasn't just Motorola; assets in the stock market also needed to be transferred. Converting them into mineral resources would do!

"As for the legal side, prepare to respond to the lawsuit. We cannot just accept this loss; I, Shen Fei, have never suffered such a big loss. As long as they make a move, no matter how much money it costs, this breath must be vented."

...

After the internal meeting ended, Shen Fei drove to the provincial government. With the things rewarded by the system last time, he had plenty of confidence.

On the way there, he thought about it carefully; the things were all good, but putting them together was too shocking, and taking them all out at once was not a good thing.

Before going upstairs, he put some complete technical blueprints from the document bag back into the system space, leaving only some basic shell materials, such as carbon fiber and aluminum alloy materials.

Essentially, these materials were for the mobile phone and automotive industries. But unfortunately, his luck value was maxed out, and heaven was feeding him, so he accidentally researched a shell suitable for aerospace.

After testing, it was discovered that the technology was too advanced, so he had to come to Zhang Shiqing to ask how to resolve the technology.

...

Zhang Shiqing looked at him with a suspicious gaze, while Shen Fei just kept whistling there, looking like he didn't care whether he believed it or not.

But this material immediately attracted Zhang Shiqing's attention, and he hurriedly found a friend to send the report over.

"Help me look at the data; the situation is very urgent."

"Don't worry about where I got it; can it be used?"

"This awesome?"

"Good… good, understood. I will have the relevant department send the materials over immediately."

Zhang Shiqing looked at Shen Fei with confusion again, but he didn't ask any more questions.

After all, the material was too astonishing; according to his friend at the Academy of Social Sciences, these materials could be perfectly applied to engine casings, engine blades, and even the engine as a whole.

...

On August 10th, after careful research, the Guangnan Province Provincial Government officially issued a public announcement:

"Motorola is a United States enterprise registered according to the law, and Huaxin Investment acquired it according to the law. Their operations in the United States are legal. Guangnan Province firmly supports the right of enterprises to legally go overseas and opposes any groundless suppression under the pretext of national security. We will take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the enterprise."

Once the announcement was made, domestic public opinion was full of applause.

"This is what we should be like."

"Awesome! This time they aren't just condemning, they are directly fighting back."

"The American Empire wants to bully people? No way."

...

United States. Obama looked at this announcement and also hesitated. How did the other side dare to do this?

The person next to him asked: "Mr. President, should we continue?"

Obama thought for a moment: "Pause."

"Pause?"

"Yes. Observe first. See the reaction from China, and see how Transsion will respond. It's only 10 million mobile phones, and it's only grabbing Apple's market. We cannot let our economic recovery be damaged because of one enterprise."

"This matter is not urgent."

...

The matter of Motorola being investigated did not last too long. September 1st, originally a busy day for the start of school, became the starting point of the most violent war in the history of China's internet. The war between Penguin and 360 officially started today.

360 launched a privacy protector, claiming it could detect whether QQ was scanning user privacy.

A blogger directly said that Penguin QQ had long been silently scanning user hard drives in the background, stealing private files, and monitoring chat records.

360 caught onto this point, which is why they updated this feature. Less than a day after the feature was updated, it immediately hit the trending searches.

"QQ stealing user privacy?"

"Does that mean the photos and documents I saved have all been seen?"

"This is the problem of a monopoly; Penguin is too disgusting."

360's official Weibo, Zhou Hongyi's personal Weibo, posted 7 long articles in a row, every word sharp, every word piercing the heart.

"A certain chat software is not just a chat tool; it is a surveillance camera installed in your computer."

"A certain security manager uses the name of security to commit acts of peeping."

"User privacy is not Penguin's traffic fodder."

Penguin launched an emergency counterattack that same day, posting three consecutive announcements on their official Weibo, with a lot of anger and very tough wording.

"360 is maliciously slandering, fabricating rumors, smearing Penguin, and disrupting market order? Our company will immediately file a lawsuit and hold 360 fully legally responsible."

"All of QQ's actions are legal and compliant; 360 is using unscrupulous means to snatch the security market."