88: Chapter 88 The Empire's Counterattack: A Glimmer of Hope in Despair

The Activation of the State Machine (4:00 PM - 7:00 PM)

Just as those within Spark were anxiously dealing with the situation, the response at the national level unfolded with astonishing speed and intensity.

At 4:00 PM, the heads of several ministries, including the MIIT, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the SASAC, were urgently convened. The atmosphere in the meeting room was solemn, and the large screen displayed a detailed analysis report on the sanctions imposed on Spark.

At 6:00 PM, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took the lead at a regular press conference to make a strong statement: "The US side, based on trumped-up charges, has abused national power to unreasonably suppress the Chinese high-tech enterprise Spark Technology. This is a typical act of technological bullying and economic coercion, which seriously violates market economy principles and international economic and trade rules. China expresses its strong indignation and firm opposition to this. We urge the US side to immediately correct its wrong practices and stop politicizing and weaponizing economic, trade, and technological issues. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises."

An hour later, the official website of the MIIT released a more specific announcement: "Notice on the Launch of the 'Emergency Action Plan for Semiconductor Industry Autonomy'." The announcement declared that the state would establish a special fund for semiconductor industry autonomy with a total scale of 300 billion rmb, to be used for supporting emergency technological breakthroughs and capacity building across the entire industrial chain, including chip design tools, manufacturing equipment, and key materials.

At the same time, Xu Jianguo, the director of the SASAC, personally called Su Chen to convey the clear instructions and specific support from the highest levels:

“Comrade Su Chen, the central government attaches great importance to your situation. The highest leadership has already issued an instruction: Mobilize the strength of the entire nation to support Spark Technology's autonomous breakthrough for the Spark chip.”

“First, the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund's commitment to increase its stake in Spark by 30 billion remains unchanged. Furthermore, an additional 20 billion in policy-based low-interest loans can be provided, specifically to deal with this crisis.”

“Second, we have urgently coordinated with major domestic foundry enterprises such as SMIC and Hua Hong Semiconductor, requiring them to prioritize Spark's chip manufacturing needs at all costs. The state level will assist in assessing and responding to relevant compliance risks.”

“Third, led by the Ministry of Science and Technology, top research institutes such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the Institute of Microelectronics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences will be organized to form a 'De-Americanized Chip Technology Breakthrough Consortium' with Spark. Talents, equipment, and data will be fully shared with only one goal: to open up an autonomous and controllable chip manufacturing chain as soon as possible.”

At the end of the call, Director Xu's voice was heavy yet full of expectation: “President Su, Spark is now not just a company, but the vanguard of this technological breakthrough battle. Whatever you need, as long as the state has it and it complies with regulations, we will provide full support. The state has only one requirement: you must succeed.”

Su Chen held the phone and took a deep breath: “Understood. Please tell the central government that all employees of Spark will do their utmost to live up to the nation's heavy trust. Spark is willing to be the vanguard.”

The Perseverance of the Shareholder Alliance (7:00 PM - 8:30 PM)

While the outside world speculated whether international capital would retreat one after another, Spark's strategic allies showed amazing composure.

At exactly 8:00 PM, Temasek Holdings released a brief official statement:

“Temasek's investment decision in Spark Technology was based on long-term value investment and strict commercial principles. We firmly believe that technological development should serve the well-being of all mankind and should not be hijacked by geopolitics. Temasek will strictly abide by the spirit of the contract, maintain its 20 billion rmb investment commitment to Spark Technology, and continue to monitor and support its long-term development.”

At almost the same time, through special channels, the intentions of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) were conveyed to Spark's top management: “PIF's investment decisions are independent and strategic. Saudi Arabia is a sovereign independent nation, not a vassal of any country. The 20 billion investment in Spark will proceed as planned. In addition, PIF has expressed strong interest in cooperating to build chip back-end packaging and testing factories within Saudi Arabia to build a safer and more diversified supply chain.”

Immediately after, President Ren, the founder of Huawei, personally called Su Chen's mobile phone. The old gentleman's voice was loud and firm:

“Su Chen, Huawei's 15 billion will not be a cent less, nor a day late! If they can treat Spark like this today, they can use the same methods against any Chinese enterprise tomorrow. At this time, we have no second path but to unite and save ourselves!”

He paused and said decisively: “Huawei has accumulated some things in EDA tools and chip architecture design. Our team, our laboratories, and our experience will all be open to Spark starting today! They want to choke us? Fine, then we will build the 'neck' ourselves, from EDA to architecture, from materials to equipment! Huawei and Spark will fight side by side!”

Shencheng Metro Group also quickly stated its position: “Supporting local core technology enterprises in resisting hegemonic suppression is the unshirkable responsibility of Shenzhen's state-owned assets. The 15 billion investment commitment remains steadfast.”

On the first day the storm hit, all five strategic investors chose to stand firm. This was not just financial support, but the cornerstone of confidence, a declaration to the global market: Spark is not fighting alone.

Su Chen's National Television Address (9:00 PM)

At 9:00 PM, the CCTV News Channel temporarily interrupted its original programming to cut to a brightly lit chip laboratory at Xinghuo Headquarters. Su Chen stood in front of a display case with complex circuit diagrams and precision-packaged chips in the background, wearing an ordinary Spark work uniform. His face showed obvious signs of fatigue, but his eyes burned like fire.

“Fellow countrymen, friends who care about Spark Technology,” his opening remarks were calm and powerful, “at dawn today, we received a 'gift' from across the ocean—a ban they thought could bring us to our knees.”

The camera zoomed in, and a close-up of Su Chen's face appeared on screens in thousands of households.

“They thought that by cutting off the EDA software we bought with money, our engineers wouldn't know how to draw circuit diagrams anymore; they thought that by cutting off those sky-high priced lithography machines, we wouldn't be able to carve a single transistor on our silicon wafers; they thought that by cutting off engineers and materials from America, we Chinese would never be able to build our own high-end chips.”

His tone shifted from calm to impassioned: “But I want to tell everyone, and also tell those who made this decision: Spark Technology, from an ST company on the verge of bankruptcy and despised by others three years ago to where it is today, has not relied on anyone's charity or grace! It relied on a group of Chinese engineers and scientists who didn't believe in fate or evil, using line after line of code, sheet after sheet of design drawings, night after night of sleepless sweat, and the unyielding spirit of getting back up after falling, to fight for it inch by inch!”

The screen timely switched to the other side of the laboratory: several young engineers were intensely operating the EDA software interface of Empyrean on a domestic high-performance server cluster. On the screen, complex circuit wiring was being generated.

“This road has been blocked by them with an iron curtain.” Su Chen pointed to the diagram behind him symbolizing the blockade, “That means there is only one road left before us—a steeper, more dangerous road that no one has ever walked.”

He faced the camera, each word powerful and resonant:

“I hereby officially announce: The Spark chip 'flint plan' is fully upgraded starting today!”

“Our goal remains unchanged—to achieve autonomous control of the entire 14nm process industrial chain within three years! The only difference is: from today on, every line of code, every piece of equipment, and every gram of material on this road will rely on the wisdom and hands of our own Chinese people to create!”

As the speech neared its end, just when everyone thought it was about to conclude, the laboratory door was gently pushed open.

Zhang Wei walked in.

He had changed into a brand-new Spark work uniform, with a "Chief Architect" badge pinned to his chest. He walked steadily to Su Chen's side, faced the camera, and took a document from his pocket—a photocopy of the "Receipt for Acceptance of Application to Renounce American Citizenship" issued by the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles.

His voice was steady and clear, spreading across the country through the microphone:

“I am Zhang Wei, Chief Architect of Spark Technology's chips. One hour ago, I officially submitted an application to renounce my American citizenship to our Consulate General in Los Angeles.”

He paused, his eyes shining with a complex yet firm light: “My doctoral supervisor, a highly respected Academician of the American Academy of Sciences, once told me: 'Science has no borders, but scientists have a motherland.' Over the years, I have been thinking about this sentence. Today, I think I have the answer.”

He turned to Su Chen, then looked at the camera again: “The chip process has physical limits, but the ambition of a nation to be self-reliant and break through blockades has no limits. I am willing to spend the rest of my life, together with my colleagues, to verify this answer.”

Su Chen reached out and shook Zhang Wei's hand firmly. The figures of the two men, under the bright lights of the laboratory, formed a picture full of power.

The screen froze and then cut back to the studio. The host summarized in a slightly excited voice: “This is the backbone of Chinese enterprises; this is the character of Chinese technology workers. Violent storms can only make the pines and cypresses stand taller.”

Late at night, on the top floor of Xinghuo Headquarters.

Su Chen stood alone in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the city below where traffic still flowed like water. His phone screen was lit up, showing Director Xu Jianguo's message saying "must succeed" and his own reply, "Spark is willing to be the vanguard."

Outside the window was the boundless dark night.

But Su Chen knew that under this deep night, in countless laboratories, offices, and factory workshops, the lights were burning bright all night long. The state machine had started, the allies' flags were still held high, and the team's backbone had never bent.

From the first line of autonomous code in EDA software to the first autonomous polishing of a lithography machine lens; from the first furnace of domestic material for silicon wafer smelting to the first completely 'de-Americanized' test chip on the production line... an epically difficult technological long march, destined to be recorded in history, quietly began its most tragic and heroic prelude on this night that seemed to be pushed into a desperate situation.

The storm has arrived, and the giant ship faces the wind.

The course is only forward.