Piquing a Genius's Interest! (Please Keep Reading)

"Don't forget, if it weren't for Luo Yao, we wouldn't even have our own EDA Software."

"On this matter, I believe Luo Yao's original intentions weren't malicious. The leaders in the capital won't doubt him either—otherwise, they wouldn't have been in such a hurry to verify it."

Hearing Zheng Housheng say this, the others understood his stance as well.

Since even Zheng Housheng had chosen to trust Luo Yao, what else could they say?

"What we should be worried about now is Yu Bei's side."

Hearing the concern from someone beside him, Zheng Housheng smiled and waved a hand. "Have faith in our people. We've already taken the lead and signed an order with Sanhua Company. I believe that, when the time comes, other companies will also be willing to lend our domestic enterprises a hand."

"As long as the product quality is solid, there'll be a market for it!"

Following Zheng Housheng's instructions, Yu Bei, the president of the corporate products division, gathered Huaji's most capable salespeople and began promoting Sanhua Company's memory chips to digital product companies throughout Hua Nation.

Three days later, Yu Bei had found two companies willing to use Sanhua's products.

Yu Bei did not give up. He continued leading his people to negotiate with other companies, and after more than a month, he finally secured over a dozen companies willing to use Sanhua's products.

The orders Sanhua had lost had now been divided up among domestic manufacturers.

Meanwhile, the three EDA giants had long noticed that something was wrong.

"I came today to compare notes on the situation with Hua Nation's companies."

"We recently discovered something very strange. Our software has been opened far less frequently by companies in Hua Nation."

"It used to be opened around a hundred thousand times a week, but over the past few weeks, that number has dropped to less than a thousand." Anna from Cadence looked at the representatives from the other two companies. "How are things on your end?"

"Our software is being opened even less often—fewer than two hundred times. Have those people cut back production?" Joseph from Siemens said.

Joyce from Synopsys sneered and said slowly, "We noticed this phenomenon earlier. After sending people to investigate, can you guess what we found?"

"What was it?"

"They cut Shuijidian's orders."

They had all cut their orders?

"Then where are they getting their manufacturing done?" Anna asked in confusion. It was common knowledge that chip foundry work around the world went to Shuijidian.

"If we're right, they should be building their own production lines!"

After Joyce finished speaking, the other two burst out laughing.

"What are they going to use to build them? They don't even have EDA!"

"They really are stupid. They still want to struggle at a time like this!"

Joyce disagreed with them.

"No. When facing a group of lunatics like this, we cannot let our guard down. They rarely even open our software now, which means they've found a replacement."

"Couldn't it just be because their order volume has dropped? Without Shuijidian handling their manufacturing, we have no way of knowing their exact order volume," Anna suggested, thinking of another possibility.

"That is possible, but we can't let our guard down."

"They must have an EDA tool capable of meeting their current needs. So we need to pull the rug out from under them!"

Anna and Joseph guessed it almost simultaneously. "Cut off their lithography machines?"

Joyce's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"You're both right. We're going to cut off their lithography machines. Don't they want to manufacture in secret? Then we'll make sure they have no equipment to use."

"Once we restrict their use of lithography machines, their chip output will drop too. Those digital terminal device companies in Hua Nation will be left with no chips to use! Joyce, we can take this opportunity to raise chip prices and make a fortune off them!"

"And restrict the materials too! Let's see what they can build then!"

Joseph's suggestion pleased Joyce greatly. If they did not harvest them now, when would they?

"We'll need Comet's cooperation for this step too. Have them break some news about a chip factory catching fire or something. With both measures working together, do you think those entrepreneurs in Hua Nation will panic?"

"Joyce, you're brilliant. That's a great idea! It's almost New Year over there now... Hahaha, I can already imagine those people crying and begging us to sell them chips!"

"This time, we'll make them see who the true king of chips is!"

Growing more animated as they talked, the three even opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

After drinking, Joyce immediately contacted the Ugly Nation's commerce team.

Before long, an order was issued to companies such as AS, requiring them to stop supplying equipment, materials, software, and other chip-production necessities to companies in Hua Nation.

As soon as the news came out, all of Hua Nation erupted.

Director Lin of the Semiconductor Alliance went to find Fu Daobin at the Sci-Tech Innovation Center.

After careful consideration, Fu Daobin decided to convene a Semiconductor Alliance conference first.

"I told you something would happen! Well, there you have it! We've all been wiped out!"

"Do you think there's a traitor among us? Otherwise, how could they target us along with them? We haven't even done anything!"

"Haven't done anything? If you're in Hua Nation's chip industry, then you're their competitor!"

"Ugly Nation has never played fair. Isn't that normal?"

Fu Daobin was leading Luo Yao and Rao Huiling toward the meeting room.

"Everyone is at a loss right now. If they come at you later, don't take it to heart."

Luo Yao said nothing. He could understand their emotional disappointment over damaged interests, but he could not understand why people would remain trapped in those emotions.

Ugly Nation's actions had gradually piqued Luo Yao's interest. Having lived in a small town, when had he ever personally encountered a situation with such hidden bloodshed?

He truly wanted to clash with Ugly Nation's people now.

"Oh, right. Let me tell you some good news. Of the lithography machine engineering blueprints Luo Yao provided, five system modules have now been verified, and none have had any problems. Next, we'll continue verifying the remaining modules."

"Luo Yao, thank you so much. Being able to provide such crucial technology in time has given us confidence that we can stand against Ugly Nation!"

It was the first time Luo Yao had heard an adult thank him so seriously. He paused for a moment, then awkwardly changed the subject. "If the verification shows no problems, when will the first prototype be ready?"

"At most, three months. I guarantee it'll be ready."

What did Hua Nation have the most of?

People.

When everyone put their backs into getting something done, building a lithography machine was child's play.

Three Gorges Dam.

Plateau Railway.

Karst Bridge.

To infrastructure maniacs, none of these were a big deal. Even if they were, they would only be troublesome for a moment before getting done.

As long as there was a way, Hua Nation's people were the most willing to endure hardship!

Now that they had the lithography machine technology in hand, if they did not go full throttle, they would not even be able to sleep!

"Three months?! That's wonderful!" Rao Huiling said in a lowered voice beside him.

"Yes, but we can't announce this news to the public for now."

"It's about time. We should go in." Fu Daobin led them into the meeting room after saying that.

When the people in the meeting room saw them, they all fell silent.

Fu Daobin did not care about the reaction of the people below. The moment he took the stage, he began speaking.

"We know everyone is panicking, but there's no need to panic."

"First, all of our lithography machines can still operate normally..."

"What if they break down? We can't even get lithography machines repaired now, and materials like photoresist are in even shorter supply!"

Fu Daobin looked up at the speaker and soothed him, "Old Li, don't worry. I'm getting to that."

"We stocked up on materials such as photoresist and masks long ago. There's enough for you to use for a year or two."

"If there's a problem with the lithography machines, we'll send people over to solve it for you."

"Then... what about wafer raw materials?"

"Don't worry. We have those too."

Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Fu Daobin knew what he had said was working, so he continued.

"Second, given everyone's special circumstances, the government will provide strong support and will not abandon any one of you."

Fu Daobin was not merely offering empty reassurance on this point.

Now that the lithography machine verification was nearly halfway successful, Luo Yao alone had saved the country hundreds of billions in funding. Naturally, the government had money to subsidize these companies.

These companies only needed to hold on until the lithography machines were ready.

"Third, everyone knows that we are currently in a slump, but it is also a period of development. If anyone wishes to expand, you can apply to the banks for loans at the lowest interest rates."

"Fourth, companies with technological R&D capabilities may continue their research. The Sci-Tech Innovation Center will assist with everything and act as a bridge."

"Fifth, as for export orders, if they remain normal, simply fulfill them as before. But if export orders are canceled, Huaji's marketing department can work with you to develop new markets."

"Those are the five temporary measures we will implement. If anyone has questions, you may raise them now."

The bosses seated below had initially thought Fu Daobin would ask them to state their needs first, then deliberate for several rounds before presenting a solution.

They had not expected the Sci-Tech Innovation Center to already have a response plan.

What they did not know was that the Sci-Tech Innovation Center had indeed made complete preparations long ago. After Luo Yao handed over the full set of lithography machine technology, it was undoubtedly like giving Hua Nation's top leadership a shot in the arm.

Of course the Sci-Tech Innovation Center had the confidence to implement this plan.

After all, it was not as if they had nothing!

"So all we need to do now is make our chips?"

"Right, you'll provide us with support, won't you?"

All they needed to do was make chips?

Luo Yao narrowed his eyes slightly, wondering whether these people had overlooked something important.

A chip price war was very likely on the way.

Would they really have to send him, a sixteen-year-old, into the fray again when the time came?

Finance was a blind spot in his knowledge!

P.S. I saw the news right after I finished writing today. I'm speechless. This little author is still begging for votes~