231: Chapter 231 The "Tsunami" of Public Opinion from the Media Matrix

At 11 PM, the digital editions of major global media outlets updated one after another.

The Wall Street Journal front page:

"Spark Power Settles the Outcome in One Day: $86 billion in licensing fees + $650 billion in orders, restructuring the global energy order."

Subtitle: "America's sanctions become a laughingstock in the face of a trillion-dollar market; 30 car companies 'surrender' collectively, highlighting the power of technological hegemony."

Excerpt: "...While the White House was still discussing how to strengthen the technological blockade against China, Spark Power completed a 'peaceful evolution' of the global automotive industry with a single order list. The $86 billion in licensing fees isn't a procurement cost; it's a 'technology protection fee'—pay it, and you survive; don't pay it, and you're eliminated. This business model has never appeared in the history of technology..."

Financial Times front page:

"The Ultimate Form of Technological Hegemony: Why can Xinghuo lie down and collect money?"

Analysis: "The profits of traditional companies come from 'manufacturing price differentials'—cost 100, sell for 150, earn 50. Xinghuo's profits come from a 'technology tax'—I allow you to use my technology, and for every product you sell, I take a 10% cut. This is similar to the licensing model in the software industry, but it's happening in the hardware sector, making it even more powerful. Because hardware has physical barriers, software can be pirated, but batteries cannot be imitated..."

Huaxia Daily early morning special report:

"From Chaser to Definer: The Revelation of 'Huaxia Speed' by Spark Power."

Golden sentence widely spread: "When we master core technology, the world will change its rules for us. In the past, we complained about unfair international standards; today, we set the standards for others to follow. This is not hegemony, but the inevitability of civilizational progress—whoever walks at the forefront has the qualification to define the direction."

Japan's Sankei Shimbun pessimistic headline:

"Japan's battery industry falls collectively, status as an automotive powerhouse in jeopardy."

The text is full of crisis: "Panasonic got the B-level license, but the core semi-solid-state battery technology remains in the hands of Xinghuo. This means the heart (battery) of Japan's automotive industry is controlled by a Huaxia company. Even more terrifying is that Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are all on the cooperation list—Japanese car companies have collectively 'surrendered'."

Germany's Der Spiegel cover story:

"BMW's High-Stakes Gamble: Buying a Ticket to the Future for 12 Billion."

In-depth report on BMW's decision-making: "...There was intense debate within BMW: the 12 billion in licensing fees is equivalent to one year's R&D budget. But in the end, the board voted unanimously. Chairman Zipse said: 'This is not a cost, it's an investment. An investment to ensure BMW can still exist for the next fifty years.'"

America time 11:30 PM, The Tonight Show aired.

Host Jimmy Fallon opening: "Welcome to The Tonight Show. Today the White House said it would strengthen the new energy industry, and then Xinghuo said: 'Okay, here's the bill, please pay $86 billion.' The White House press secretary should be looking for a calculator right now to see if America's treasury still has that much spare cash."

Audience roars with laughter.

Camera cuts to Xinghuo battery shooting test clip, host: "Look, this is the effect of America's sanctions on Xinghuo—like this bullet, it gets embedded helplessly, and then... nothing happens. By the way, this test video should be sent to all members of Congress to let them know what they are fighting against: not a company, but the laws of physics."

The tougher part comes later.

The host takes out a toy electric car and a toy fuel car: "This is the world before Xinghuo batteries." He puts both cars at the start of the track, the electric car runs slowly, and the fuel car runs fast.

"This is the world after Xinghuo batteries." He puts a "Xinghuo Battery" (a golden sticker) on the electric car, and the electric car instantly leaves the fuel car behind.

"So the question now is: what is the use of fuel cars?" He thought for a moment, "Oh, they can be used to reminisce about the past. Just like vinyl records, very nostalgic, but no one actually uses them."

This video got over 50 million views on YouTube in 24 hours.

Washington time 12:00 PM (Beijing time midnight), an office of a lobbying firm on K Street.

Tom Wilson, 60 years old, a gold-medal lobbyist with Republican background, is taking two calls at the same time.

The phone in his left hand is from the representative of the car company alliance: "Tom, we must delay the sanctions bill! If Xinghuo batteries can't get in, the electric car factories of Ford and GM will have to shut down! What about employment in Michigan and Ohio?"

The phone in his right hand is from the representative of the oil company: "Tom, we must push for the 'New Energy Security Act'! If Xinghuo batteries are allowed to drive straight in, our refineries will have to close! What about jobs in Texas and Louisiana?"

Tom put down both phones and smiled bitterly at his assistant: "I now understand what 'torn' means. The automotive industry and the oil industry are both pillars of America's economy. But now, they have become enemies."

Assistant asked: "Then who are you helping?"

Tom was silent for a long time: "I hold stocks in oil companies, but my main client is the car company alliance." He sighed, "I will retire after finishing this job. Because I just realized—I am burying another investment of my own with my own hands."

At this moment, the office door was pushed open, and a young congressman hurried in.

"Tom, just received news." The congressman lowered his voice, "The union leaders in Michigan have issued a joint statement: if car companies stop work because of the sanctions, they will organize a protest of 100,000 people."

"100,000 people..." Tom muttered.

"Also," the congressman added, "oil workers in Texas are also gathering, demanding the protection of local industries."

Tom closed his eyes: "So now it is: auto workers vs. oil workers, Michigan vs. Texas, jobs vs. energy security."

He opened his eyes and made a decision: "Tell the car company alliance that I will do my best to push for the delay of the sanctions. But the condition—they must promise to increase investment in the US by $50 billion over the next five years and create 50,000 new jobs."

"And the oil companies..."

"Delay them," Tom said, "Tell them the bill is advancing, but it takes time. By the time the car factories are built and worker employment is stable, the oil industry... will just have to fend for itself."

This conversation was wiretapped and leaked online the next day.

Caption: "In the deep night of Washington, the scales of power are tilting. The choices of capital will eventually overwhelm political obsession."

Gu Yanting finally returned to the hotel.

He opened his computer, saw the reports from global media, saw the surge and plunge of stock prices, and saw the carnival on social media.

The assistant said excitedly: "CEO Gu, we succeeded! The whole world is talking about Xinghuo batteries!"

Gu Yanting shook his head: "No, this is just the beginning."

"But $86 billion in licensing fees, $739.8 billion in orders..."

"These numbers are beautiful, but also dangerous," Gu Yanting said calmly, "Overnight, we have become the public enemy of the global energy industry. Companies that haven't been licensed will fight back, governments will apply pressure, and competitors will use unscrupulous means."

He pulled up an encrypted email: "Look, this was received half an hour ago. An American congressman proposed banning all cars using Xinghuo batteries from government procurement lists on the grounds of 'national security'."

"Then what should we do?"

"Move forward," Gu Yanting said, "Crush all resistance with technological superiority. Tomorrow is the special event for Hongqi Automobile. We are going to release an electric car with a range of 1,200 kilometers, a 10-minute charge time, and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 3.5 seconds. Tell the world with products: resistance is meaningless, because the future has already arrived."

He closed the computer and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the lights of Shenzhen never go out at night.

In countless laboratories in this city, engineers are still working; in countless factories, production lines are still running; in countless offices, strategists are still planning.

And at the center of all this is Xinghuo.

It is the company that was unknown three years ago, but has changed the world today.

Gu Yanting remembered a sentence Su Chen often said: "Technology has no borders, but technology companies have nationalities. What we need to do is not to conquer the world, but to make the world need our technology."

Today, the world already needs it.

Tomorrow, the world will not be able to leave it.