Chapter 474: Borrowing Foreign Power to Bolster Oneself

As a man who had mastered the art of office politics, Duan Yongji possessed a wealth of experience in struggle; in terms of methods and schemes, he was far superior to the latecomers.

With Lianxiang now stripped bare and its true colors exposed, there were only two paths left for it to take in terms of technology: one was to turn over a new leaf, strive for excellence, and start developing technology itself.

The other path was to persist in its errors to the end; regardless of the criticism from the outside, it would simply cover its face with its underwear and continue running wildly!

Moreover, would overseas software and hardware component suppliers like IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Toshiba, Samsung, Jin Shidun, and Maxtor really be willing to watch Lianxiang collapse and then lose the domestic computer market?

If Lianxiang truly fell this time, would any domestic computer brand dare to purchase components from these companies to assemble and sell machines in the future?

Supporting Lianxiang to become the hegemon of the domestic computer industry could, to a certain extent, suppress the development of domestic computer systems, software, and chip industries, thereby preserving Intel's market in the country!

This might look like a crisis, but if Lianxiang could obtain the full support of overseas computer software and component suppliers and become the representative of the foreign computer industry within the country, could it not go a step further and truly become the hegemon of the domestic computer industry?!

As long as Lianxiang could truly set aside its pride, overseas manufacturers like Microsoft and Intel would certainly support Lianxiang with all their might for the sake of the domestic market's immense potential and to avoid losing this market. They would never let it fall; once it fell, it would mean the defeat of overseas computer component companies within the country.

Whether reputation or money was more important was now a question placed before Liu Zong. Should he develop technology himself, or fully implement his former slogan of "Trade-Industry-Technology"? No, there should be no technology left; it would be purely an agency and assembly plant.

"Borrowing foreign power to bolster oneself"—this phrase popped into Liu Zong's mind. Domestic computers were just getting started, and core components like computer systems, software, chips, graphics cards, network cards, hard drives, RAM, and computer screens all relied on overseas imports.

If they lost the support of overseas computer manufacturers, the domestic computer industry would almost immediately collapse.

If manufacturers like Microsoft and Intel could truly express their support for Lianxiang, then it would not be difficult for Lianxiang to get through this hurdle; it could even go a step further and become the spokesperson for Microsoft, Intel, and others in the domestic computer industry, mastering the pricing power of the domestic computer industry!

But this step was not without its price. If they played this game quietly, their reputation could be preserved, but doing this while already stripped bare would mean Lianxiang's reputation would be completely destroyed.

"If it weren't for the final step, I, Liu... would not be willing to give up self-developed technology!"

After a moment, Liu Zong still spoke. At this moment, he still wanted his reputation and face. This method of borrowing foreign power to bolster oneself was certainly effective, but the price was also too high.

Duan Yongji, the Fanhai Lu Zong, and others looked at Liu Zong's attitude and shook their heads slightly. Liu Zong wanted both the substance and the appearance; he wanted to solve the trouble while also wanting praise and flattery from the outside world. Where in the world could one find such a cheap deal?

"However, the matter of Lianxiang in Xiangjiang can be manipulated!"

Bringing up the second matter, Liu Zong had no hesitation. He had always wanted to obtain more Lianxiang shares to make Lianxiang completely belong to the Liu family!

In Liu Zong's eyes, Lianxiang reaching its current stage was inseparable from his own hard work and great contributions. Not to mention those peer company bosses who were surrounded by female stars, young models, luxury cars, villas, and Mercedes-Benzes, at the very least, they were the final word in their respective companies, with no one daring to oppose them. Yet, within Lianxiang, he was still held in check by others.

Although the Chinese Academy of Sciences did not directly interfere with Lianxiang's management, back when Ni Guangnan was there, he had complained to the Chinese Academy of Sciences many times, which had caused Liu Zong no small amount of trouble.

Additionally, when Lianxiang went public in Xiangjiang years ago, Liu Zong had also wanted the management to obtain more shares, but it was ultimately stopped by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

If possible, who would want a nagging mother-in-law above them, pointing fingers at them? Duan Yongji's words had indeed reminded Liu Zong that this was an opportunity.

"Currently, the Lianxiang shares held by me, Yang Yuanqing, and other management members are 35%. Getting a controlling stake directly is probably not that easy!"

"This is indeed an opportunity. The stock price of Lianxiang's Xiangjiang company has fallen below 30 cents, just one step away from liquidation and delisting!"

Liu Zong said in a deep voice, "To avoid the delisting of the Lianxiang Xiangjiang company, I plan to package Yanjing Lianxiang into the Xiangjiang company to complete the control of Lianxiang Xiangjiang. This requires everyone's support!"

Lianxiang currently had two companies: one was Yanjing Lianxiang, and the other was Xiangjiang Lianxiang. Currently, Yanjing Lianxiang was the leader.

Liu Zong prepared to use a "cicada shedding its skin" tactic. Wasn't the controlling party of Yanjing Lianxiang the Chinese Academy of Sciences? Then, taking advantage of the low price of the Xiangjiang company, he would package the Yanjing company into the Xiangjiang company, making the Xiangjiang company an empty shell!

Mastering Xiangjiang Lianxiang was equivalent to mastering the actual control of Lianxiang. In the future, as long as he found another company to acquire a portion of the Yanjing company's shares from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and take away the controlling stake of Yanjing Lianxiang, he could make Lianxiang completely change its name and surname!

Moreover, from a legal standpoint, no faults could be found; after all, this was a necessary action to save the Xiangjiang Lianxiang company, not Liu Zong's selfish motive.

"Liu Zong, rest assured, everyone will naturally stand together against the enemy and provide full support!"

The Fanhai Lu Zong and others all said with a smile. Knowing the inside information about the acquisition of the Xiangjiang Lianxiang company, as long as the members of the Taishan Industry Research Association bought Xiangjiang Lianxiang's stock and made a big profit, wouldn't it be a matter of course!?

Having a way to solve the trouble, Liu Zong also breathed a sigh of relief, but he was still hesitant about the operation of the first matter.

"I still hope everyone can provide full support, mobilize your connections, and help Lianxiang plead for mercy, so that various departments know our difficulties. We cannot let Shenzhou Storage destroy the domestic computer brand!"

Liu Zong said to Duan Yongji, the Fanhai Lu Zong, Kehai, the Shi Laoban, and others. If they could get the Industry and Commerce, Electronics, and Science and Education Committee to suppress Shenzhou Storage and withdraw the lawsuit, then naturally everyone would be happy, and it would count as getting through the difficulty.

If they couldn't get through the difficulty, Liu Zong was prepared to retreat to advance: admit defeat in the lawsuit, compensate Shenzhou Storage with a sum of money, but lean towards Intel, Microsoft, and Nvidia, relying on the support of overseas computer component manufacturers to completely occupy the domestic computer market.

If it really came to that step, a ruthless look flashed in Liu Zong's eyes. Even if his reputation was ruined, he would not let Shenzhou Storage and its parent company, Dongling Gao Ke, have an easy time.

He couldn't fight Dongling Gao Ke, but could Dongling Gao Ke fight that group of overseas manufacturers like Intel, Samsung, Jin Shidun, and Sharp?

By then, don't even think about selling a single piece of computer screens from Dongfang Photoelectric or chips from Dongxin Semiconductor under Dongling Gao Ke in the country!

"The patent infringement lawsuit filed by Shenzhou Storage against Lianxiang and other companies regarding U-disk patents is currently ongoing. Affected by the unfavorable news, the stock price of Lianxiang's Xiangjiang company has continued to fall, facing the risk of liquidation and delisting!"

"Various departments including the Hanxi Provincial Industry and Commerce Bureau have stated that due to the Shenzhou Storage patent lawsuit, U-disks of various brands including Aiguozhe, Lianxiang, Xingzhidao, Acer, and Luwen Yipan have been suspended from sales within Hanxi Province!"

"The State Administration for Industry and Commerce and other departments have called on domestic brand companies to set aside disputes and cooperate fully..."

"Computer industry distributors have claimed that due to the recent impact of the lawsuit, sales of Lianxiang brand computers have declined significantly. Statistics from the largest electronic product market in Yanjing show that within the month, sales of multiple Lianxiang brand computers have declined by more than 30%!"

On the news of the central media television station, they finally began to report on the patent lawsuit between Shenzhou Storage and Lianxiang, which had caused such a stir.

And judging from the news coming out, Lianxiang was clearly in a disadvantageous position. After being stripped bare and letting the outside world see what kind of goods the so-called "big brother" of domestic computers was, some users clearly avoided Lianxiang when buying computers.

"It seems Lianxiang wants to let Industry and Commerce and others intervene to pressure Shenzhou Storage!"

Seeing the news breaking on TV, in the Li Dongling conference room where everyone was gathered, someone immediately said. Lianxiang's actions were too obvious; one could basically guess what kind of game they were playing.

Seeing that the overseas lawsuit was a lost cause and domestic sales were plummeting, for Lianxiang, they couldn't win by fighting and couldn't win by scolding. At this time, besides asking people to mediate, the only path left was to admit defeat.

"If Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Electronics Industry, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences plead for mercy to withdraw the lawsuit, what should we do?"

The one who spoke was Xie Zhichang, the general manager of Shenzhou Storage. He came from the Dongling Gao Ke Technical Department; when the technical department was developing the U-disk, he was the one who helped Chen Tao develop it.

After the U-disk project became independent from Dongling Gao Ke, Xie Zhichang logically became the general manager of Shenzhou Storage.

Besides Xie Zhichang, Dongling Gao Ke General Manager Ren Yuefeng, Hu Zixian, Legal Manager Gao Zhiyuan, and others were also in Li Dongling's office.

Hearing Xie Zhichang's words, Ren Yuefeng, Gao Zhiyuan, and others all looked towards Li Dongling. Currently, the war against that group of companies infringing on U-disk patents, or rather, against Lianxiang, was basically proceeding according to the previous plan.

"No matter who comes to plead for mercy, in this lawsuit, Lianxiang must admit to infringing on Shenzhou U-disk patents and must publicly apologize. Otherwise, we will keep fighting!"

Li Dongling said. Since they had already started, how could they give up halfway? This wave, even if they couldn't finish off Lianxiang, they would make its reputation rot in the streets, letting the world know what kind of company this was. In other words, it could continue to make dirty money, but don't even think about having a good reputation.

"Li Zong!"

Li Dongling's assistant, Su Chicheng, knocked on the door and entered. "News came from the Pingyang Municipal Government that Yanjing Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Electronics, and other units have sent a notice. They want to come to Shenzhou Storage and Dongling Gao Ke for an inspection and hope to meet with you!"

Yanjing Industry and Commerce and other departments did not directly find Dongling Gao Ke but went through the Pingyang Municipal Government, clearly wanting to let the Pingyang Municipal Government act as a middleman to help plead for mercy.

"There is one more thing. A reporting team from the central media's economic channel wants to interview you, Li Zong. Do you want to accept this interview?" ===== CHAPTER 475 =====