97: Photolithography machine smuggling plan

"Can you tell me in detail?" Li Xiuwu and Foxis returned to the office. Lin Qian poured water for both of them and sat down not far behind Foxis.

Although they had just parted ways and the interval wasn't long, Foxis's attitude toward Li Xiuwu had already become very enthusiastic.

"Boss, the world situation is complex. Regarding the Lithography Machine we need, there are complicated relationships entangled within it."

Foxis spoke about internal problems in the West.

"First, among global factors, the commercial demands of the Netherlands and the security demands of the United States are in conflict. The Wassenaar Arrangement directly affects the Netherlands' commercial interests."

"Secondly, research companies like ASML also have their own interests. The investment required to develop a piece of equipment is huge, but because the Wassenaar Arrangement restricts exports, it effectively limits ASML's profits. If the company's performance is poor, the managers cannot answer to the board of directors."

"So there are many points we can exploit." Foxis stated the background conditions before beginning to explain his plan.

"Motorola's factory located in Japan will also be sold, but Old York will purchase a set of new equipment under the guise of increasing the factory's value. This is a very common business tactic and will definitely pass."

"ASML will cooperate by using the excuse that the Lithography Machine provided to us is a prototype, has already been installed, and includes part of the framework, so it cannot be air-freighted and must be shipped by sea."

"Old York will have the fleet under the management of Duke Krumen transport it. The fleet was once managed by Old York, and his confidants are in the fleet."

Foxis looked at Li Xiuwu, his pair of light blue eyes shining as he finished explaining the entire plan.

The most difficult part of the entire plan was where to swap out the Lithography Machine.

Swapping it in the South China Sea was something he had lied to Li Xiuwu about; it was simply impossible. If word got out that the equipment had an accident in the South China Sea, the United States would definitely come to salvage it with great fanfare, triggering more issues.

Li Xiuwu was also considering this matter; it was indeed a problem.

"Will the fleet stop in Singapore?" Lin Qian, who had been behind Foxis the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

"Are you saying we should complete the swap in Singapore?" Li Xiuwu looked at Lin Qian.

"The crew will have been sailing at sea for a month or two, and they will definitely want to go ashore to relax. As long as we give them some money, they will probably end up drunk in the red-light district." Lin Qian smiled lightly. Any man who had been a sailor would know this; otherwise, the sheep wouldn't have turned into a succubus.

"Will the port leave behind lifting records?" Li Xiuwu was still worried that the existence of records would cause unnecessary trouble.

If this thing could be kept hidden, he didn't even want people domestically to know about it.

He had no intention of putting the 12-inch immersion Lithography Machine into use for the time being. Instead, he wanted to place it in a research institute to study it and reverse-engineer the technology, thereby laying the foundation for developing more advanced Lithography Machines.

"Boss, where there is management, there will be loopholes." Foxis suddenly spoke up at this moment.

"Things cannot always be perfect," Lin Qian also said.

"Good." Li Xiuwu laughed. He seemed to have been thinking too much; it would be a stroke of luck if it could succeed.

"Foxis, I leave this matter to you. If you need any help, just ask."

"I will try my best, but I cannot guarantee success," Foxis said.

"That's fine." Li Xiuwu had a smile on his face.

"As long as you have tried your best, even if it doesn't succeed, there is nothing to regret." He was saying this to Foxis, and at the same time, to himself.

Such were the times, and he was already trying his best.

"Boss, Old York is asking for 40 million US dollars." Foxis remembered the price.

The current market price for a 12-inch immersion Lithography Machine is 30 million US dollars. Old York is asking for 10 million US dollars more.

"I will allocate 50 million US dollars to you. I don't care how the money is spent. If you can bring back the Lithography Machine, the two million US dollars in the contract will be your year-end bonus." Li Xiuwu stood up and patted his shoulder.

"Boss." Foxis was somewhat shocked upon hearing this, and then his eyes welled up with moisture.

This feeling of being trusted made him excited. He quickly stood up and patted his chest: "Boss, I can get the equipment back by only spending a 5 million deposit."

He explained.

"Old York wants to screw over Duke Krumen, so he needs to go through the company's public accounts. If we take the Lithography Machine back midway, without a transaction to protect him, and we don't pay him the final payment, he won't be able to do anything, and he won't dare to make a scene."

Lin Qian looked at Foxis in astonishment. Had he been swindled into a limp by the boss?

Treating a former boss so badly—isn't he afraid of having no friends?

Li Xiuwu also felt surprised. It seemed the Loyalty Aura was still effective; he was actually screwing over his old boss this much.

"You must pay him." Li Xiuwu calmed his emotions.

"Our reputation is more important than 50 million US dollars. Perhaps one day we will need to do the same thing again. If we don't have a reputation, it will be impossible to achieve."

Having been told this by Li Xiuwu, Foxis immediately understood Li Xiuwu's meaning, and at the same time, admired this young Eastern boss.

He was so young, yet he could see things so clearly and was willing to invest so much capital.

More than 50 million US dollars, if converted to RMB, would be 300 million. This amount of money could allow a person to live a prosperous life, yet he could give it away so easily.

"I understand, Boss. I will definitely complete this transaction and bring the Lithography Machine back." Foxis made a promise once again.

"I look forward to your good news."

After the discussion was finished, Foxis carried his personal belongings downstairs. The news of his appointment at the factory would not be announced publicly for the time being.

Arriving downstairs at the administration building, the driver picking him up had already arrived. He stood in front of the car and looked up at the building.

He seemed to see the Boss standing upstairs, looking at him with expectant eyes.

"Boss, I will definitely complete the mission and return to this building with glory." He said to himself, then sat in the car.

In the conference room, Li Xiuwu met with several main heads of the factory.

Everyone looked at Li Xiuwu with nervous feelings. As the saying goes, "a new emperor brings new courtiers." They didn't know how the new boss would arrange these management personnel.

Li Xiuwu looked at everyone with a warm smile on his face: "For a Chip factory, I am an outsider. The burden of management rests on your shoulders."

"Sharing the Boss's burdens is what we should do." Du Yanbo and the others spoke up immediately, feeling slightly relieved. It was good news that he didn't make personnel adjustments right away.

"This person, everyone is not unfamiliar with." Li Xiuwu pointed at Qiu Wanjun.

Everyone's gaze turned to Qiu Wanjun; they knew of him, but couldn't say they were familiar with him.

"For the next period of time, he will temporarily serve as the General Manager. During this period, he is the General Manager and possesses all the authority of the factory." Li Xiuwu pointed at Qiu Wanjun.

Everyone looked at Qiu Wanjun upon hearing this.

"Chief Qiu, say a few words to everyone." Li Xiuwu signaled to Qiu Wanjun.

"Thanks to the Boss's high regard, I have been appointed to temporarily act as General Manager. I hope everyone can cooperate with my work." He stood up with a smile on his face.

"If you have any opinions or suggestions, you can come and report to me after the meeting, but if anyone makes things difficult for me in their work, I will also make things difficult for them." His expression turned serious.

Qiu Wanjun said this in front of Li Xiuwu, and Li Xiuwu did not object, which meant that for the next period of time, the power of life and death over the factory's personnel was entirely in Qiu Wanjun's hands.

Everyone subconsciously showed a friendly smile to Qiu Wanjun.

"This is Xu Jing. She will serve as the company's financial officer and be responsible for the company's financial issues. Everyone, please give her a round of applause." Qiu Wanjun appointed the financial officer in front of everyone.

Everyone looked at Li Xiuwu. Li Xiuwu clapped, and everyone applauded enthusiastically.

"Next, Xu Jing and Lin Qian will conduct an audit of all the factory's accounts. If you have any questions regarding the accounts, please provide feedback in a timely manner. The accounts from the Motorola period will be sealed after the audit, which will not affect your work, but if any financial problems are discovered after the accounts are sealed..."

Qiu Wanjun's eyes swept coldly over everyone. He didn't finish, but the warning was very obvious.

At the meeting, Li Xiuwu only appointed Qiu Wanjun, and the subsequent work was all handed over to Qiu Wanjun.

At the same time, he left Lin Qian behind to audit the accounts. The original financial officer was a person from the Motorola company. After the overall handover of accounts was completed, he needed to check them carefully; there couldn't be any hidden dangers.

With the Loyalty Aura at the Bear Chip Factory, Qiu Wanjun managing it, and Xu Jing handling the finances, Li Xiuwu was basically at ease.

At the end of the meeting, Li Xiuwu clapped his hands: "New people, new atmosphere. The factory has a new boss, so I have decided to give everyone a red envelope of 500 yuan. Let's all be happy together."

500 yuan was quite a lot in this era, equivalent to half a month's salary for an ordinary worker.