Chapter 1561 Cutting
About an hour later.
Torch Laboratory, Chang Haonan's office.
The huge curved screen is divided into multiple windows: the end of the Lian Hai press conference replay, the real-time update page of the world's major financial media websites, and the pre-opening data of Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange.
Holding a cup of tea, he stared at the screen calmly, waiting for the expected market shock caused by the report exposing the "obstruction of industrialization".
In previous simulations, when the bubble of capital carnival was burst by this news, a plunge in the three major stock indexes after opening would be inevitable.
That would be a "double kill of bulls and bears" in the capital market.
At this moment, the red confidential phone on the table suddenly rang.
Chang Haonan raised his eyebrows slightly, put down his teacup and picked up the receiver.
"Academician Chang, this is Tong Yun." The voice of Tong Yun, director of the Industrial Construction Committee's News Center, came from the other end of the line, with a tone of unusual flustered confusion. "The situation has changed a bit, and the direction of public opinion is not quite the same as we expected."
Chang Haonan was slightly startled, "What exactly is going on?"
"It's the Wall Street Journal!" Tong Yun spoke faster, "What they released was not a simple news flash, but a complete, powerful commentary article! Now this report has been reprinted and quoted crazily by major media around the world, and almost all the attention has been diverted by it! The guiding report we prepared... the effect may be seriously weakened..."
Chang Haonan's heart trembled, and he immediately tapped a few times on the keyboard to call up the official website of the Wall Street Journal.
In the most eye-catching position on the homepage, the title of the freshly-published article caught the eye like a burning brand:
Who is hindering the arrival of a new energy revolution?
He quickly clicked on it, his eyes scanning the content of the article like lightning. The more he read, the more interesting the expression on his face became—from the initial solemnity and doubt, gradually changing to surprise, and finally even a hint of admiration.
The article begins by acknowledging the fact revealed by Academician Zhang Tao that "industrialization is hindered by patent disputes", but quickly changes its tone and points the finger at the three companies that have jumped out to cause trouble. It believes that they have suspicious backgrounds and weak strength, and are typical "patent assertion entities", commonly known as "patent trolls."
The article bluntly questioned that it is impossible for these three small companies to have the courage and ability to shake Candlelight Technology, which has the support of national scientific research strength and subversive technology.
Then, the article quoted the views of "several industry analysts who wish to remain anonymous", pointing out that this global patent litigation storm is so tightly organized, precise, and resourceful that it is not something that ordinary patent trolls can do. There must be "international giants with strong industry influence" secretly manipulating and funding it behind the scenes.
Although the article did not directly name any company, the allusions to "laboratory equipment giants" between the lines and the analysis of motivations such as "maintaining the monopoly of existing equipment" and "fear of emerging technologies disrupting the market structure" have almost accurately pointed the finger at FEI and other companies.
The article ends with a meaningful statement: “When the dawn of a revolution that could change the energy landscape of mankind begins to emerge, who is trying to draw the curtain in the shadows? The market is waiting for the answer, and the answer does not seem to be far away.”
It's simply heartbreaking.
Even though Chang Haonan was mentally strong, he couldn't help but take a deep breath and was even stunned.
He knew that the Western media might be very powerful, but he never thought it would be so strong.
In just one hour, the logic behind it was sorted out so clearly, and with some reasonable speculation, the truth was almost revealed.
The ability and efficiency of manipulating public opinion is truly shocking.
No wonder they say that cutting off someone’s financial resources is like killing their parents. In order to protect the market, the pens of Wall Street... are truly amazing.
Seeing that Chang Haonan didn't reply for a long time, Tong Yun finally asked, "Academician Chang, then...should we continue to push forward with the follow-up reporting plan?"
"Alas..." Chang Haonan sighed, "When it comes to playing with public opinion, we really can't beat them..."
Tong Yun on the other end of the phone remained silent, obviously having to accept this result.
"Forget it!" Chang Haonan quickly calmed down. "The bonus period of the U.S. stock market is probably unstoppable, but fortunately the domestic stock market has also benefited from it, so it's not a complete bargain for the other side..."
"Besides," he couldn't help but sigh at the importance of media warriors: "The Wall Street Journal article does not affect the ultimate goal, so we just need to continue reporting according to the previous arrangements..."
With the Wall Street Journal dominating the news, domestic media reports are actually no longer important.
Chang Haonan had just put down the red phone when his eyes once again swept over the words "Liming Technology" that he had highlighted with the mouse in the article in the Wall Street Journal, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
An extremely dangerous thought flashed through my mind.
The Wall Street Journal article directly pointed out several companies including Liming Technology. Now investors all over the world may regard Xiao Liming and others as thorns in their eyes.
I just wanted to throw them into jail, but I didn't expect that Wall Street on the other side of the ocean was ready to make these guys disappear forever...
He quickly picked up the phone again and called Zhou Zheng this time.
The call was answered almost instantly.
"Zhou Jian! Act immediately! Capture Xiao Liming and the core personnel of Liming Technology! Quickly! As fast as possible!"
Chang Haonan's voice was steady, but it revealed an unquestionable urgency.
"Now?" Zhou Zheng on the other end of the phone was visibly stunned, and he obviously didn't catch up with the sudden change in instructions: "The U.S. stock market hasn't opened yet, and public opinion has just begun to ferment... Shouldn't we wait until the market reaction is the most intense and the pressure is the greatest..."
"I can't wait any longer!" Chang Haonan interrupted him, speaking very quickly, "The most important thing now is not to arrest anyone, but to save the lives of Xiao Liming and several other key figures!"
"..."
Zhou Zheng took a deep breath and instantly understood the seriousness of the situation and Chang Haonan's meaning.
The revenge of capital is sometimes faster and more ruthless than legal sanctions.
"I understand! Academician Chang! I will immediately coordinate the personnel and take action! Make sure the task is completed!" His voice also carried an unprecedented solemnity and urgency.
……
A little earlier.
The chairman's office of Liming Technology is luxuriously decorated but filled with a cold atmosphere.
Xiao Liming slumped in the large leather boss chair, his face ashen, his eyes staring blankly at the eye-catching report in the Wall Street Journal on the computer screen.
The light reflected from the screen made his face, which was distorted by fear, appear even paler.
“…Liming Technology…Patent assertion entity…Typical patent troll operation…Hindering the new energy revolution…”
Every word was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing into his heart.
His previous hope that if the worst came to pass he could just run away overseas with the money - was completely shattered at this moment.
He was all too aware of the power of this report.
Although it did not directly trigger the expected stock market crash, it successfully directed the disappointment and anger of global capital for not being able to fully reap the benefits of the "super lithium battery" to Xiao Liming and Liming Technology.
He became the culprit that everyone pointed fingers at! He became the "culprit" that blocked the world from moving towards a new energy future!
"It's over... It's all over..." Xiao Liming muttered to himself, his whole body shaking uncontrollably.
He seemed to have seen countless pairs of eyes that had turned blood red due to unfulfilled greed, staring at him from every corner of the world.
Not to mention escaping the country, he doesn't even dare to leave this office now!
He had no doubt that as long as he was exposed to the public, he might encounter an "accident" at any time!
The huge fear drowned Xiao Liming like a cold tide. He rushed to the bottom drawer of his desk and tremblingly took out an old Nokia feature phone -
This was the emergency contact channel originally given to him by Conversant, which was claimed to be "absolutely safe."
There is only one number stored in it.
As if grabbing the last piece of driftwood, he pressed the power button with trembling fingers, and then quickly dialed the only number.
The receiver emitted a "beep...beep..." sound, waiting to be connected, and each sound was like a heavy hammer hitting his tense nerves.
However, a few seconds later, what came from the receiver was not the other party's accented English, but a cold, mechanical, emotionless female voice prompt:
"Sorry, the number you dialed does not exist. Sorry, the number you dialed does not exist..."
"Empty number...empty number?!"
Xiao Liming was struck by lightning. He froze in place and his cell phone fell onto the carpet with a "click".
His last hope was ruthlessly extinguished by the cold electronic sound.
Obviously, he was abandoned!
Like a used rag, it was completely discarded!
Boundless despair instantly engulfed Xiao Liming's whole body.
He slumped in the chair, his eyes completely out of focus, leaving only a dead grayness.
Time seems to have frozen.
A few minutes, maybe a few seconds.
In extreme despair, an absurd yet extremely clear thought, like the only light in the darkness, suddenly pierced into his confused brain.
prison!
Only the Chinese prison is the only place that can shelter him and keep him alive!
There are high walls, electric fences and the protection of the state's violent machinery, so it is difficult for those evil hands that want to make him "accidentally disappear" to reach in.
Once this thought came into his mind, it was like a wildly growing vine, instantly occupying his entire mind.
The instinct to survive overwhelmed everything.
He jumped up from his chair, feeling dizzy from the sudden movement.
Without bothering to pick up the phone from the ground, he staggered back to his desk and hurriedly opened the browser.
A web page popped up, and he found the entrance to the website for reporting official crimes and a published reporting phone number.
Xiao Liming took a deep breath, as if he had used up all his strength, grabbed the landline phone on the table, and dialed the number with trembling but determination.
The call was connected.
A calm male voice came: "Hello? Hello..."
Xiao Liming swallowed his saliva, trying to make his voice sound clear and steady, with an almost pious urgency:
"I...I want to surrender myself! I am Xiao Liming, chairman of Liming Technology Co., Ltd.! I am reporting this! I am suspected of colluding with foreign forces to engage in illegal and criminal activities that endanger national economic security and undermine national interests..."
