253: Chapter 253 Morris Chang: Let me see your 22nm production line

This was effectively the third time he had come to the rescue; a company had truly appeared in the world that could surpass TSMC in foundry process technology.

Especially their 28nm process, which made Morris Chang feel afraid; after all, this company had brought this technology to market a year and a half before them.

"How is Professor Liang doing here?" Morris Chang said with a smile that hid a dagger.

He had two main purposes for this visit: first, to pitch their 28nm process to Transsion, and second, to scout out the situation with Liang Mengsong to see if they could get a head start on targeting him.

"Professor Liang is currently studying and is not involved in frontline work."

Shen Fei certainly knew what this old geezer across from him was planning; after all, in his previous life, the other party had certainly not held back in dealing fatal blows.

In the scenario where they had not poached Liang Mengsong, in order to suppress Huaxin International, the other party had taken away quite a few shares.

Of course, Huaxin International was also weak; you could say their route was truly just plagiarism.

The two of them probed each other for a while with small talk, and the atmosphere in the conference room grew tense, so Morris Chang hurriedly began to explain.

"I am not here to fish for secrets. I just want to confirm one thing: is Transsion's technology independently developed, or does it come from other sources?"

"Independently developed." Shen Fei answered crisply.

Morris Chang stared at him for several seconds, his eyes still filled with disbelief; after all, he knew the state of China's semiconductor industry very well.

It was not exactly a barren desert where nothing grew, but it was just about as bad as a saline-alkali plot. (The kind with 99% salinity.)

That such a place could bloom the most vibrant flower in the world was something he found hard to believe.

"Entirely."

"Entirely."

"Mr. Shen, do you know what this means?"

Morris Chang thought for a long time and still could not believe it.

"I do." Shen Fei said with a smile, stabbing a knife into his chest: "It means that in advanced semiconductor technology, Transsion has already surpassed TSMC.

As far as I know, your company has only just broken through with 28nm, right?"

Morris Chang did not deny it, but he shook his head to indicate his disbelief.

"Mr. Shen, there is no need to beat around the bush with me.

You know full well that if this were true, it would mean all the blockades are a joke, but that is clearly impossible.

Your technology..."

"Hey!" Hearing his own people never question his technology, but having outsiders constantly questioning it, Shen Fei's temper flared up immediately.

He did not care about respecting his elders and immediately interrupted Morris Chang.

"Old Man Chang, if our technology is not independently developed, could it be that we stole it from aliens?

When our 28nm was ready for mass production, your 28nm process had probably just broken through, with a pitifully low yield rate.

To be honest, the equipment we use is entirely domestic."

Semiconductor equipment? Domestic?

Morris Chang felt his worldview being reshaped. After all, the only Lithography Machine seen in advanced semiconductors in recent years had been from ASML, and as for the others...

They had long since been killed off by them in collusion with ASML and the United States. After all, advanced technology could only avoid leaking to China if it remained in the hands of a few.

But at this moment, all their blockades were like a joke in the face of this reality.

Of course, besides fearing being surpassed, he was also a shrewd businessman, so he hurriedly ended the topic.

After all, there would be other opportunities to scout for information.

"TSMC's 28nm capacity is the largest in the world.

If Transsion is willing, you can hand over part of your chip manufacturing to TSMC.

The price is negotiable, and priority for capacity is guaranteed."

Shen Fei took the document, flipped through a few pages, and placed it on the table.

The cost per chip was more than four times that of Transsion's own foundry level.

"Mr. Chang, thank you for your kind offer."

Shen Fei picked up the teacup on the table and took a light sip. This kind of good tea should be drunk at critical moments.

However, Morris Chang across from him was in no mood for that; he was worried about whether his 28nm process would sell and whether TSMC's financial report would look good this year.

Of course, he was also a bit confident about his sales pitch.

As far as he knew, Transsion did indeed have its own 28nm chip production line, and the security level was very high.

But they had a fatal problem: the Lithography Machine must have been smuggled in, and the production line surely could not operate normally.

After learning of this, the United States had strengthened its technology blockade. They had already spoken: that was Transsion's only advanced production line, and also its last.

As long as TSMC broke through the 22nm process, Transsion's advantage would be nothing in front of them.

But his self-consolation had no effect; soon, he heard news that could be described as a bolt from the blue.

"Transsion has its own rhythm for chip manufacturing."

"What rhythm? Mr. Shen, you aren't going to tell me you've already conquered 22nm, are you?

But you only have one production line; shutting down for upgrades takes a long time. By the time it's finished, the opportunity will have passed."

Shen Fei put down his teacup and looked at him with a smile.

"That's impossible, right? 22nm is a critical node; it's not that easy to break through." Morris Chang was starting to panic now.

Why did he have to be a jinx and say such things?

"From 0 to 28nm, we only used a few short years. From 28 to 22, we plan to use only a year and a half.

Mr. Chang, do you think we should have broken through by now?"

Morris Chang's face turned pale instantly. Could it be... was it really happening?

"Mr. Shen, that is impossible. 28nm is not that easy."

As if to console himself, he picked up his teacup, but with the cup at his lips, he hesitated and could not drink.

"We have already taped out."

Morris Chang froze, all the strength drained from his body instantly, and even the cup in his hand fell to the floor with a thud.

"What?"

"The Taishan 910 version. We just succeeded in taping out; performance increased by 30%, and power consumption decreased by 28%."

Morris Chang slumped in his chair, unable to make a sound for a long time.

He had been in the semiconductor industry for 40 years and had seen countless companies. But never had a company been able to pull out a 28nm process in such a short time, and then jump from 28 to 22.

Unless they had been approaching on two lines simultaneously from the very beginning. And they had two production lines.

If this were true, his plans would fall through.

"Mr. Shen, you... were prepared all along."

Shen Fei still smiled, but this smile made Morris Chang feel an infinite chill.

Morris Chang suddenly thought of 30 years ago when he founded TSMC in Hsinchu.

At that time, everyone was saying that Chinese people could not make semiconductors, and even his teacher did not quite believe it.

But later, facts proved his foresight.

Now, a completely independently controllable Chinese company was continuously running ahead of TSMC in chip process technology.

"Mr. Shen, I have a request."

"Old Man Chang, you have also made huge contributions to the Chinese semiconductor industry. If you have anything to say, just say it directly."

"Let me see your 22nm production line."