Chapter 44: Yellow Mud in the Pants

"Microsoft is the pioneer of the American computer era. Bill Gates created an era. No one can deny the contribution he has made to America and even the entire civilized world, even if there are slight flaws regarding the DOS that created the Microsoft empire!"

The *New York Times* opening article flattered Bill Gates and Microsoft. But anyone who had seen media reports knew that the more fiercely they blew at the beginning, the more miserable they would scold later. Only in this way could a strong contrast be formed. Otherwise, if they scolded from the beginning, how could they convince people?

Sure enough, after the flattery in the opening, the style of the report suddenly changed. "However, since the listing, too many changes have occurred with Microsoft and Bill Gates."

"We have reason to believe that a person's success will make them proud and complacent; this is human nature. But there is always a day of sobriety, but these cannot become reasons for doing 'evil'!"

"From the war between Microsoft and Lotus in 1983, Microsoft once made users choose between Microsoft and Lotus. In the end, Microsoft used bundling sales means to completely defeat this initially most powerful rival."

"After Lotus, IBM, Apple, Sun Microsystems, Oracle, and other companies successively had great battles with Microsoft in systems, office software, etc., but in the end, none could make Microsoft hurt its muscles or bones."

"After entering the hardware industry, Microsoft started competition with Logitech, German Cherry keyboards, and other companies."

"Over these years, Microsoft has never truly lost once, nor has it lost a lawsuit once. But has Microsoft really never had malicious competition, or even violated federal law?!"

The *New York Times* didn't directly convict Microsoft; after all, it was a major newspaper media and had to be responsible for what it said. If it directly convicted, it would be sued by Microsoft. But now it was just raising questions, and Microsoft couldn't sue, nor could it respond. Proving one's own innocence was the most difficult thing; after all, only those who wronged you knew how wronged you were. Moreover, Microsoft itself wasn't clean and had a pile of rotten yellow mud under its butt.

Although it didn't directly convict, the *New York Times* used a series of questions to raise a question to those who got the newspaper. These years, Microsoft hadn't lost a lawsuit, but could this prove it was a white lotus and hadn't committed a single mistake?

Once the seeds of suspicion were planted, they would constantly take root and sprout until they grew into towering trees.

Once the lead of the *New York Times* was out, subsequently, more media began to expose Microsoft's black materials. For example, Microsoft's strikes against rivals like Lotus usually had three axes: first, copycat—whatever product Lotus developed, Microsoft immediately copy-pasted; then, poaching—poaching the core technical personnel of the Lotus company; finally, if they still couldn't win, then bundling sales—bundling software with the Microsoft system and selling them together. If you want to buy the Microsoft system, you must buy Microsoft software!

Relying on these means, Microsoft was simply invincible, defeating one rival after another.

Starting from the *New York Times*, one media after another constantly exposed Microsoft's dark curtain. Various news, true or false, constantly appeared. At first, Microsoft didn't care, but after the CEO of Lotus, Mitchell, accepted a media interview, Microsoft felt something was wrong.

"For the encounter of the company that developed the mechanical Silver Mink mouse, I express sympathy, but I am not surprised at all!"

Facing the media, Mitchell said with a helpless tone and a bitter smile, "Back then, when we were competing with Microsoft, Microsoft wrote instructions into DOS, making users choose between DOS and Lotus software. Either Lotus wouldn't run, or DOS wouldn't start!"

"We finally solved that trouble, but the users were already gone!"

After Mitchell, more victims of Microsoft stood up. But at this moment, most of those who stood up were software companies, accusing Microsoft of plagiarism and copycatting, and even relying on being rich and imposing, directly poaching the technical personnel of the entire project team.

The person in charge of Microsoft's public relations department, Grant, also stood up to refute the rumors at this time. "I want to declare that the current public opinion about Microsoft is nothing but malicious remarks from rivals. Regarding the disputes with these companies, the federal court has already made a ruling: Microsoft is innocent!"

"Damn it, wipe your butts clean. Don't let me wipe the butts for your hardware department. Now the public opinion outside has already begun to affect Microsoft's stock price. By then, the one coming to talk to you won't be me. You explain it to the board of directors yourself!"

Grant angrily found Spencer. A broken mouse, earning only a few dollars for Microsoft a year, actually caused such big trouble. Every 1% drop in Microsoft's stock price was over 4 billion USD turned to ashes.

If it were because of Microsoft's hardware department that the stock price fell, then Microsoft's board of directors, Wall Street institutions, and all the large and small investors who bought Microsoft stock would have to find Spencer to settle accounts.

Spencer was also a bit embarrassed. He didn't expect that Li Dongling's interview could cause such a big ripple. He actually felt wronged. The rivals like Lotus weren't all provoked by the software department, but this time the account was calculated on the hardware department's head. Spencer felt he was even more wronged than Dou E. He didn't eat a bite of meat but was beaten up severely.

"Now the New York Manhattan Court has just accepted Dongling High-Tech's lawsuit. We need time to fight this lawsuit. Unless we admit defeat directly now and settle out of court with Dongling High-Tech to pay compensation, otherwise this lawsuit can't end right now!"

Spencer also said helplessly, "You want Microsoft to admit defeat to that company from the tech desert region?!"

Grant was also asked to the point of being unable to speak. He couldn't possibly let Microsoft really admit defeat to Dongling High-Tech. Where would Microsoft's old face be placed? With Bill Gates's personality, after knowing this matter, he would definitely settle accounts with them.

"You handle this matter!"

Grant finally could only throw a sentence at Spencer and then left with a flick of his hand. Now Microsoft was in an awkward situation, both with the lawsuit with Dongling High-Tech and with those public opinions.

The lawsuit had just entered the federal court process, and it would take at least a month for the fastest court hearing. To terminate the trial, either Microsoft admitted defeat, or Dongling High-Tech withdrew the lawsuit. But with the attitude Li Dongling showed, how could he withdraw the lawsuit and admit defeat? Even if Dongling High-Tech went bankrupt, it had to disgust Microsoft.

As for public opinion, if Microsoft didn't explain, those media would paint it blacker and blacker. If they explained, they would be counter-attacked. Since you are innocent, why explain? Explaining is being guilty...

In an open-air garden restaurant of a hotel in New York, Yao Luoying lay under a sun umbrella, holding a fashion magazine, but her mind was not on it. Her gaze occasionally aimed at Li Dongling, who was sitting with Larson.

"Two million USD has already been smashed out, and I even paid over 400,000 USD out of my own pocket!"

Larson devoured the steak, not caring about his image. He had been flying all over America for the past few days, spending money everywhere to do public relations with the media, only then making it look like Microsoft was being attacked everywhere in the media.

"If we can win, the money you spent can be earned back dozens of times!"

Li Dongling said to Larson, then asked the most critical question. "How about the follow-up media and the Federal Department of Justice?!"

It looked like the media was attacking Microsoft, but in reality, it was just a warm-up and couldn't pose much threat to Microsoft.

According to the strategy of Li Dongling and Larson, the current public opinion was just an appetizer. What followed was the key to diverting the disaster and borrowing a knife to kill!

"The *Chicago Daily News* will make the next report. It depends on whether companies like HP, Dell, Apple, and Intel take the bait!"

"As long as these companies take the bait, the supervisor of the California Federal Department of Justice I contacted will accept a media interview to express dissatisfaction with Microsoft, but he will only accept one interview."

After eating the last bite of steak, Larson drank a full glass of red wine. "Li, what can be done, we have already done!"

Li Dongling stood by the glass window of the open-air garden, looking at the New York City under his feet. This war with Microsoft, the war between ants and elephants, whether they won or lost, basically could be decided this week!

"How far is Microsoft from ruling the computer industry?!"

The *Daily News*, which had the top 20 circulation among all American newspapers, suddenly published on the front page: "The profit of mice is not high, but Microsoft's tough attitude on mouse products has let us see Microsoft's determination in hardware products!"

"Microsoft has almost ruled the computer system and software industry. Over 80% of computer systems have been occupied by Microsoft."

"Microsoft has currently launched computer peripheral accessory products such as mice, keyboards, and screens. If Microsoft launches chips next, then Microsoft can launch its own brand of computers!"

"Microsoft's system, plus Microsoft's own brand of computers, and even continuing the 'past' sales method, then Microsoft will become the most powerful empire in the tech industry in history, bar none!"

What was called the "past" sales method? Wasn't that bundling sales? This was also what Microsoft was best at.

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional. The report of the *Daily News* made people see Microsoft's huge advantage in the computer industry. It was indeed only missing the most core chips, and Microsoft would have gathered all the parts of the computer hardware. If they launched Microsoft-branded computers and bundled system and office software sales, then which computer brand, including parts manufacturers like Intel, could be Microsoft's rival?!

Originally, Microsoft and computer hardware manufacturers were already estranged. Major computer brand manufacturers had been guarding against Microsoft entering their territory. Once this report came out, it made people unable to distinguish whether this was someone deliberately blacking Microsoft or Microsoft testing the outside world's reaction. If the opposition wasn't loud, it was really possible they would launch their own products.

The direct consequence of this was that the news of Microsoft wanting to launch its own brand of computers was suddenly reprinted by various media. There were even TV stations reporting and analyzing on the finance channel. On that day, the stocks of a host of computer sectors, from computer brands to parts manufacturers, all saw their stock prices plummet! ===== CHAPTER 45 =====

Larson first scolded the receptionist, then reached out to Li Dongling, looking sincere and righteous. "Rest assured, my friend. You coming here means all troubles have left you. You can always believe in Larson. No matter when or where, Larson is willing to serve you!" ===== CHAPTER 42 =====