Chapter 707

These big bosses all act with great tacit understanding, having competed against each other for so many years and knowing each other well.

In fact, all these strategies were planned by Jack Ma to counter the Principal, solely to wait for Lao Wang Zong to arrive, since he had battled the Principal alone for so many years without gaining any real advantage.

With Lao Wang Zong here, Tony Ma also felt threatened, and now all three parties have converged.

This opportunity doesn't come around often.

The Principal's revenue streams are limited—gaming is the main one, and right now is the peak moment to strike; his income will inevitably suffer, especially this year, as he's spending heavily on multiple fronts: first, ten billion to support film and television, and recently, he seems to be acquiring a foreign company for promotion and operation.

If we target copyright and rent, it'll be enough to keep the Principal occupied." Jack Ma added.

"What you say makes sense, but this can only restrain the Principal—it doesn't seem enough to crush him," Lao Wang Zong said.

"You're thinking too much. How could you possibly crush a company like that unless it makes a huge mistake and its cash flow stays intact? The Principal hasn't raised much capital; even if he's overwhelmed, he can just go raise funds."

With Chang'e Yutu's current scale, tens of billions in funding are easily attainable.

Crushing a company is hard—the Principal can't crush your Wanda Cinema Line either; all he can do is make you lose money and feel miserable." Jack Ma thought Lao Wang Zong was overthinking.

The Principal managed to handle Huayi because Huayi itself had problems—it overextended and accumulated massive debt.

He managed to handle Bona Film because Bona's equity was too dispersed—in plain terms, it was just broke.

It's very hard for the Principal to crush any company; without a specific opportunity, it's nearly impossible, and he can't go around inspecting your fire safety every day.

"That's true!" Lao Wang Zong nodded.

Even the Tu Ying Conference only made the Principal suffer—it didn't inflict real damage.

Even during the worst year of the Black Swan Event, when three thousand cinemas were lost, Wanda Cinema Line still suffered heavy losses but managed to survive.

But the Principal's actions have severely damaged his entire film and cinema ecosystem layout—that's the most lethal blow.

"Our goal isn't to crush him—it's to snipe him, forcing him to focus on one front while neglecting the other. If he can't handle both, we can slowly erode and gradually dismantle his power."

"You have the cinema chain, I have Taopiao—dismantling the Principal's power and taking over his influence is as simple as that."

Jack Ma's thinking was still clear: once the Principal couldn't focus on film and television, they could integrate that sector.

For all these years, they couldn't integrate it because the Principal stood like a mountain blocking the entire film industry.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept fighting the Principal all this time.

Just as the two were plotting against Fang Hong, the Tu Ying Conference officially ended, and 90% of film companies sided with the Principal.

No other reason—because the Principal offered something too tempting; Wanda wasn't a necessary choice.

Of course, some refused to join, like Enlight Media! When asked why he didn't join, Wang Changtian said: "I truly admire the Principal's boldness, but I'm on Alibaba's side—I really can't get involved."

That made things difficult—many film companies had already taken sides, and most were funded by Alibaba.

For example, Huayi—but those two brothers had to side with the Principal just to survive; Ma Baba couldn't reach them for now.

But Alibaba's invested film companies hadn't yet built up a substantial film library.

Whether they joined or not was their own business—he couldn't control it, and Fang Hong didn't care; he couldn't just attack them for refusing to join.

Whether they boarded the ship was their freedom; if they didn't, he wouldn't ostracize them—that would be too violent.

After the meeting, news spread quickly in the industry that Fang Hong was cutting off Wanda's film supply—everyone who attended or didn't attend had heard about it.

Among them, Fang Long asked: "Will our movie Lost in White really not be shown on Wanda Cinema Line?"

"Better not. Huayi isn't showing it either—in this circle, offending Lao Wang Zong is still manageable, but offending the Principal is trouble." Fan Xiaopang said.

She was an investor in this film, one of its lead actresses, and a shareholder of the main production company.

The Principal controls the resources of several top-tier film companies—just like her movie, I Am Not Pan Golden Lotus Awards, which is from Huayi.

In short, one word from the Principal would cut her off from the top-tier resources entirely.

If you don't align with Lao Wang Zong, actors like her are still actors—he doesn't control film production; each side has its own circle.

But the Principal has broken through those circles—he has directly touched their core interests.

"Alright then, you decide." Fang Long didn't care—he was just getting paid to act, helping out.

This situation was common—nearly every major film company with a name had abandoned plans to release on Wanda Cinema Line and notified Zeng Maojun.

Suddenly, Zeng Maojun received dozens of calls and messages, such as from Bona Film's So I Married My Hater, stating they wouldn't release on Wanda Cinema Line.

Also, Tianma's The Bounty Hunters, Emperor's Lies Sicily, and dozens of other films canceled their requests to screen on Wanda.

This affected the entire two-month summer season—meaning Wanda had almost no films to screen for the whole summer, leaving Zeng Maojun overwhelmed and unsure how to handle it.

He hadn't expected the Principal's influence to be this strong—that so many would follow him.

With no other option, he could only consult Lao Wang Zong.

At this moment, Lao Wang Zong was still drinking with Jack Ma, having regained confidence after Jack Ma laid out his strategies and resolved to launch a major strike against the Principal.

In truth, even alone, he couldn't match the Principal—Jack Ma wasn't even a match. After all, a real estate man fighting a content and internet content platform operator was inherently mismatched.

Aside from occasional overlap in cinema and content production, they had almost no other connections—unlike his son, whose platforms relied entirely on the Principal's ecosystem.

"Ding ding ding!" Suddenly, the phone rang.

Lao Wang Zong pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and signaled to Jack Ma across from him, indicating he'd take the call.

Jack Ma nodded, lifted his teacup, leaned back in his chair—though his frame was small, his confident, composed aura radiated undeniable authority.

"Hello, Xiao Zeng!" Lao Wang Zong answered.

"Lao Wang Zong, I must report this to you," Zeng Maojun said, his tone serious and anxious.

"What is it? Speak!" Lao Wang Zong said.

"I just received word—the Principal has cut off our film supply for two months. Aside from a few Hollywood movies and scattered small films, there's almost nothing coming to our cinema chain." Zeng Maojun said.

What had to come had come. Lao Wang Zong sighed. "I understand."

"Lao Wang Zong, what should we do?" Zeng Maojun wanted Lao Wang Zong to decide.

"For now, just leave it. Don't rush." Lao Wang Zong's tone was calm and steady.

He had to stay composed to give confidence to those beneath him.

Of course, he himself had no plan—what plan could he have? He couldn't possibly beg the distributors and filmmakers!

They're all born to suffer, following the Principal to the bitter end.

He hung up the call directly. Jack Ma put down his water cup and said, "Has the Principal moved?"

"Yes, the Principal has cut off nearly all the film sources for the entire summer season," Lao Wang Zong said.

"There's no way around it. The Principal has been deeply entrenched in film and entertainment for years, always focused on this sector. You're building cinemas; he's building a content system. I'm running e-commerce; he's still building a content system," Jack Ma said.

They all have their own core businesses, but the Principal's core business has always been content—whether it's Chang'e or the Jade Rabbit, all serve content.

"The Principal is truly arrogant. If we don't teach him a lesson, I can't sleep at night," Lao Wang Zong patted his chest.

Jack Ma smiled. How could he himself feel at ease?

In early July, the films The Bounty Hunter, The Magic Wheel, and Cold War 2 were released in succession.

Wanda Cinema Line theaters stood empty; the once bustling crowds had dwindled to just a few scattered patrons, eerily quiet.

Someone posted on Weibo: "Why can't I see any good movies at Wanda Cinemas? Can you see them?"

"I can't. If I want to see Tang Yan, I have to go to other theaters."

"I can't see Cold War 2 either. What's going on?"

"You don't have to watch at Wanda Cinema Line—other theaters work fine too!"

"I heard the Principal and Lao Wang Zong are at war!"

"True or false? What's the situation? Anyone with insider info care to explain?"

"It's still about Liu Tianxian. Didn't Xiao Wang insult Tianxian a few months ago? The Principal targeted Xiao Wang, Xiao Wang went home crying, so Lao Wang Zong went after the Principal."

"Is Xiao Wang really that pathetic? He's calling his parents!"

"Xiao Wang is just an idiot!"

Audiences were buzzing online about why Wanda Cinema Line had no movies; some Wangyi were insiders who knew the behind-the-scenes.

If you pay attention, you can figure this out easily!

This caused a cliff-like drop in foot traffic at Wanda's theaters nationwide, while other cinemas saw queues and rising occupancy rates—only Wanda remained dead quiet.

Content truly is the soul of cinemas. Without content, audiences won't come—even some are canceling their memberships.

Xiao Wang saw the online criticism of him and was furious, but he could only endure it—he was overwhelmed with problems.

Because Panda Live was already collapsing, unable to hold on; if he showed his face now, he'd just be a clown, mocked by all.

Just as audiences were confused, another major event exploded online: on July 8, Panda Live posted a Weibo.

The Weibo read: "Panda Live's Wandering Project, Phase One, is now open. Engineers, gradually disconnect from the mother planet. Note: ensure all connected services remain operational!"

The accompanying image showed a cartoon Panda, facing away, waving goodbye.

Soon after, a Weibo blogger declared: "Xiao Wang's entertainment livestreaming platform, Panda Live, is dead!"

As Panda Live announced its closure, female streamers wept in their live rooms, bidding farewell; some more artistic streamers used dancing, cosplay, and other methods to cling to fans on their final day.

Star Show's gorgeous female streamers pulled out all the stops—lace sheer outfits, nonstop hot dancing—all funneling traffic to various group chats and Weibo.

Even on their last day, they couldn't help but flirt with the edge.

But since they were shutting down anyway, even if someone tried to intervene, it would be pointless.

Reports claimed: "Numerous streamers went to Panda Live's headquarters in Beijing demanding their wages!"

It's easy to imagine: Panda Live had run out of money—even paying streamers' salaries was impossible.

Wangyi joked: "Failed startup? Just go home and inherit your family's tens of billions."

Yet noteworthy is that during this time, investors fled and withdrew funding, but Xiao Wang never pulled out—he held on until the very end.

He was at least somewhat responsible. That's all.

Although Panda Live was liquidated, its debts still existed—and they had priority order.

Employee wages and taxes must be settled first; only then come creditors' and shareholders' claims. This is corporate debt, unrelated to Xiao Wang.

If liquidated, the 2-billion-yuan debt might be settled for about 1 billion—this is the limit.

Wanda will not pay off Panda Live's debts!

But Xiao Wang's personal debt of 150 million, and Pusi Capital's debt of 200 million, were transferred to Fang Hong.

He bought Panda Live's debts at a discount and transferred them over.

The 400 million in compensation and hundreds of millions in copyright debts were directly swapped with investors for their 350 million in Xiao Wang's personal debt and Pusi's debt.

Panda Live could settle about 1 billion in debt; they didn't lose—just go seize Panda Live's assets.

As Xiao Wang was cleaning up the wreckage of his Panda Live empire, he received legal documents.

They showed his equity in Pusi Capital had been frozen!

"Fucking hell, Principal!" Xiao Wang exploded. The Principal was truly leaving him nothing.

Pusi was his last escape, his final asset—if this vanished, he'd truly become a idle heir living off his family's wealth.

This company was 100% owned by him—the legendary 500-million-yuan startup capital Lao Wang Zong gave him had all been poured here.

Now Pusi was in trouble too: the Panda Live investment failed, returned nothing—meaning Pusi's hundreds of millions were gone, and it now faced joint liability from its bet, needing to repay.

Pusi had little money left; many of its investments hadn't broken even—this loss cut deep.

Not to mention repaying the Principal—he couldn't pay at all.

"Xiao Wang has been listed as an executed person!" This news exploded online.

Wangyi were all laughing at the National Husband's downfall.

"Proof that with a rich dad, anyone can mess around!"

"Even rich second-generation heirs fail at startups—I thought only ordinary people like us failed."

"This is what happens when you anger the Principal—see how you're laughing now!"

Xiao Wang now let the Wangyi mock him without a word—he'd been silent for a long time, as if he'd aged years overnight.

Such a crushing blow must bring growth—he was now cut off from the entertainment circle and the livestreaming industry alike.

He had seen the warmth and coldness of human nature clear through.

In the past, people only hung out with him because of his father; now that there was someone fighting his father to the death, of course they looked out for themselves first.

And now his equity stake had been frozen — he couldn't do anything with it, couldn't transfer it, couldn't sell it, couldn't pledge it, meaning no equity or property could be touched.

It didn't affect daily operations, but major decisions were not allowed — he could only keep the basics running.

Investing in other companies was out of the question too; who knew if you were siphoning off assets, so this was very hard on Xiao Wang.

While the outside world kept up its constant squabbling, Fang Hong was swamped every day, but still made time to be with his family.

After all, it was the baby's full-month celebration, and many relatives had come.

Maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, young aunt, uncle, and a whole crowd of relatives crowded around the crib, watching the baby inside blink its bewildered big eyes, stick out its tongue, and kick its little legs about — a very cute sight.

"Look at him, he's smiling!"

The young aunt poked the baby's cheek repeatedly with her finger, teasing: "What are you laughing at, what's so funny!"

"Waaah!" The baby immediately started crying, quite loudly at that.

"See, you poked him with your finger!"

Grandmother swatted her daughter, then picked the baby up and soothed: "There, there, grandma's here, I'll beat her up for you!"

(End of chapter)