ryethenovel Chapter 143 Security is more powerful than technology
Chapter 143 Security is more powerful than technology
7 PM, Alien Corporation office.
Under the light, the financial statements were laid out in front of Ling Yun.
Sofia stood to the side, holding a calculator.
"Blizzard's cooperation intention deposit, an advance payment of two million US dollars."
"Snow Mountain Network acquired for $2.5 million."
"Epic's investment: 12 million US dollars."
"USB flash drive sample production and launch event preparation, one million US dollars."
"UHSB Standards Organization Affairs and Promotion, US$500,000."
She looked up: "A total of eighteen million US dollars. Including personnel travel, legal consultations, and other miscellaneous expenses, the actual expenditure over the past two weeks was approximately twenty million US dollars."
Ling Yun looked at another report. Icecloud Investment Company account balance: $1100 million.
"That's not enough." He closed the report. "Transfer one hundred million US dollars from the Singapore company account."
"We only have 300 million in cash reserves in our Singapore account," Sofia hesitated. "That's for margin calls on NDFs. If the Southeast Asian market fluctuates, we'll need to add more funds."
"Transfer 100 million first; that should be enough for the NDF margin for now." Ling Yun stood up and walked to the window. "If the Thai baht plummets, we'll have huge profits coming in, and we won't be short of cash. If the situation reverses..." He paused, "then it means my judgment was wrong, and we should admit defeat."
Sofia didn't say anything more and began preparing the transfer documents.
The transfer was completed at 9 PM. Icecloud account balance: $1.11 million.
Lingyun checked the Singapore account and found that $3 million in cash was reserved.
This money is the last line of defense. If Southeast Asian currencies depreciate less than expected, or if excessive government intervention causes a rebound in exchange rates, NDF contracts may require additional margin. Three hundred million US dollars should be enough to cope with a moderate fluctuation.
But he knew in his heart that if that situation really occurred, it meant that the entire judgment was wrong. At that time, it wouldn't just be a matter of money; his reputation and the confidence of his partners would also be damaged.
A lot of pressure.
But he couldn't show it.
My phone vibrated; it was Alex.
"Invitations to the UHSB press conference have been sent out. Dell, HP, Compaq, AMD, and Sun have all confirmed their participation. More than fifty media outlets are attending."
"What about Intel and Microsoft?"
"They weren't invited. But they'll definitely find out."
"it is good."
After hanging up the phone, Lingyun said to Sophia, "Get ready, I'm going to Washington next Wednesday."
"Whom are you going to see?"
"Several senators. I was invited to a hearing on technology standards and policies."
What materials do I need to prepare?
"UHSB's technological advantages, its role in promoting industry, and..." Ling Yun thought for a moment, "...emphasizing openness and opposing monopolies."
"clear."
Sophia left the office, and Zhao Hu brought her a cup of hot tea.
"Mr. Ling, please take a rest. You've only slept ten hours in three days."
"It's alright." Ling Yun took the tea.
At the same time, in Redmond, Washington, at Microsoft headquarters.
The lights were still on in Bill Gates' office.
Ballmer stood by the window, his face grim.
"UHSB's press conference is scheduled for April 15th. They've invited all the major hardware manufacturers, as well as the media. This is a public challenge."
Bill sat on the sofa, holding a technical assessment report in his hand.
Have you looked at the technical specifications of UHSB?
"I've seen it. It's ten times faster than USB 1.1, the interface is smaller, and it supports reversible insertion. It's very advanced." Ballmer turned around. "It's too advanced. If we don't fight back, they will seize control of the interface standard."
"How should we retaliate?" Bill put down the report. "Should we also release a faster standard?"
"Sure. Intel is already developing USB 2.0, and we can collaborate with them to release it ahead of schedule."
"And then?" Bill stood up. "A technology race? A race to the top? That's an engineer's mindset, Ballmer."
Ballmer frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"The competition between Microsoft and StarCraft has never been about technology." Bill walked to the whiteboard and wrote down a few words: technology, capital, politics, and public opinion.
"The more advanced StarCraft's technology, the faster it will die." Bill typed the word "technology" with his pen. "Why? Because it threatens not only Microsoft, but also Intel, the entire Wintel alliance, and the US government. The stronger it is, the more people want it to fall."
"But users will choose better technology..."
"Users don't have a choice," Bill interrupted him. "Users use Windows because all the software runs on Windows. Users use USB because all motherboards support USB. Standards are determined by the ecosystem, not by technical specifications."
Ballmer remained silent.
"We don't need to suppress him technologically," Bill continued. "What we need to do is keep the ecosystem away from him. Make hardware manufacturers hesitant to support UHSB, make software developers unwilling to adapt to the Stardust system, and make governments... wary of him."
"government?"
"A Chinese company is developing operating systems in the US, promoting its own hardware standards, and trying to build a gaming and software ecosystem." Bill looked at Ballmer. "What do you think those people in Washington will think?"
Ballmer understood.
"Security Question."
"Yes," Bill nodded. "Data security, technology security, industry security. These words are more powerful than any technical parameters."
"How exactly do we do it?"
"First, lobby hardware manufacturers. Tell them that supporting UHSB means offending Microsoft and Intel, and they will have to bear the consequences."
"Second, spreading rumors in the developer community: the Star System is unstable, the ecosystem is incomplete, and the development risks are high."
"Third," Bill paused, "we arranged for people to attend congressional technology hearings to remind them of the control foreign capital has over core technologies."
Ballmer made a note of it.
"These things will take time."
“We have time.” Bill sat back on the sofa. “StarCraft looks like it’s making a lot of progress right now, but it’s stretched too thin. Operating systems, browsers, hardware standards, the gaming ecosystem… How much money can it burn? How much energy can it afford to spread out?”
"But what if he actually succeeds?"
"Then he'll become everyone's enemy," Bill said. "The government won't allow a foreign company to control the underlying technology. Companies like Intel and Dell won't want to be led by the nose by him, and even his partners will betray him if their interests are harmed. If he falls, many people will benefit, including us."
Ballmer thought for a moment.
"So your strategy is... to let him develop, wait until he has made enough enemies, and then defeat him in one fell swoop?"
“It’s not about condoning it,” Bill corrected. “It’s about giving him enough rope to hang himself.”
The office quieted down.
Outside the window, the Microsoft campus was brightly lit. This is the world's most valuable technology company, with 40,000 employees and controlling more than 90% of the desktop operating system market.
Its stillness is a kind of power.
"What do we do about the UHSB press conference?" Ballmer asked.
"Send someone over," Bill said. "As an observer. Don't speak, don't express any opinions. Come back and write a report analyzing their technology and market reaction."
"and then?"
"Then, wait," Bill said, looking out the window. "Wait for him to make a mistake. Or, wait for someone else to make the move."
Silicon Valley, 11 p.m.
Ling Yun was still in his office, with a draft of his speech for next week's hearing on his desk.
He rubbed his temples.
The pressure is immense, but I have to persevere.
Microsoft will not stand idly by, and Intel will not remain indifferent.
He knew that the real battle had not yet begun.
Everything going smoothly now is just the calm before the storm.
He needs faster speed, more allies, and greater strength.
And even more luck.