The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 300: One Punch to Avoid a Hundred
Zurich.

International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Court, Small Hearing Room.

It was still quite cold in Switzerland at that time, and he found it even colder when he entered the hearing room.

The atmosphere was cold; no one spoke, no one smiled, everyone was busy with blank expressions, and the atmosphere in the air was like a century-old glacier frozen in the Alps.

The hearing room of the arbitration court is similarly set up to that of the court, with the judges' seats solemn and dignified, spanning three levels, and armed bailiffs standing on both sides.

The plaintiff's seat and the defendant's seat were located on opposite sides at the lower end, with a long table covered with dark red velvet placed between them.

Qian Jin didn't know what the long table was for, but it looked rather eerie, like a congealed river of blood lying between the plaintiff and the defendant.

Seeing him staring blankly at the table, Yang Shengzhang, who was standing next to him, felt a pang of anxiety and asked, "What's wrong?"

Qian Jin pointed to the table and voiced his question.

Yang Shengzhang breathed a sigh of relief: "Hey, I thought it was something serious. I guess they put a table across the table to prevent us from fighting on the spot."

Qian Jin asked, "What if we really start fighting today?"

Yang Shengzhang laughed: "Then the red cloth curtain on this table will be useful; it can be used to wipe the blood off the Japanese devils."

He held out his palm for Qian Jin to see, adding, "Even with my bare hands, I can make those Japanese bastards bleed two pounds!"

Qian Jin had no doubt about this.

Perhaps for the sake of secrecy, the windows on the north and south walls of the hearing room were covered with thick curtains.

The light from the crystal chandelier fell on the heavy, dark curtains, leaving only a somber, pale white.

Robert Hayes, dressed in a sharp suit, led the team into the stadium.

He was wearing a brand-new black suit, with his shirt collar buttoned up, and a pair of thin gold-rimmed glasses.

He looks very refined and cultured.

On the opposite side of the defendant's dock, Kawasaki Heavy Industries sent a large legal team, which included blond-haired, blue-eyed white lawyers as well as Japanese lawyers with small mustaches.

Qian Jin had done his homework on Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and he recognized that the legal team was led by Ichiro Sakuma, the chief legal officer of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

This person is very skilled in international business litigation.

After entering the courtroom, Sakuma Ichiro stood at the front of the defendant's dock. His face was ashen, his gray hair was neatly combed, and he occasionally glanced at Qian Jin, his narrowed eyes filled with coldness.

He stood in front of the dock, which was in the shadows behind him.

Nakamura Toshiro and Ono Masao were in the shadows, both of them completely consumed by boundless despair.

Unlike when they went to Haibin City to deliver equipment last time, the two no longer had any spirited demeanor; they were now just withered and emaciated.

Especially Nakamura Toshiro, who was completely ruined. In just one or two months, he went from a capable middle-aged man to skin and bones, which made Qian Jin quite curious about him.

How do you lose weight so well?
Is there some secret to it?

Masao Ono was in no better condition; his deep-set eyes were covered with dark circles, and although his suit was quite large, it couldn't hide the stiffness and slight trembling in his body.

Qian Jin nodded and smiled at the two men.

When Nakamura Toshiro noticed this, he immediately shivered.

He instinctively shrank into the large chair, as if trying to squeeze himself into the backrest.

Now he doesn't dare to look up at Qian Jin at all, and can only stare at the smooth, icy floor in front of him with empty, lifeless eyes.

The chief judge of the arbitration tribunal was a Swiss gentleman with neatly combed silver hair. When the hearing began, he led his team to the judge's seat in the oak woods.

Everyone in the room stood at attention.

There was an introduction of the judge before the court hearing.

The presiding judge in this trial was Hans Fischer, a typical old white German with a serious expression, a thin face, and sharp, hawk-like eyes behind his silver-rimmed glasses.

On his left and right were a serious-looking middle-aged female judge and a senior judge with thinning hair, both experts in the field of international trade disputes.

The gallery was packed with dozens of people.

Counselor Li and others were naturally present, while a group of reporters arranged by Song Jixiang occupied the front row seats.

According to court rules, journalists are not allowed to bring equipment into the courtroom in order to interfere with the judges' work.

So they didn't bring cameras; they all carried notebooks to prepare for sketching.

The procedures of international civil courts in the 1970s and 80s were simple and did not involve a series of redundant steps.

Presiding Judge Fisher clearly wasn't going to waste his time, and after the hearing began, he stated authoritatively:
"On behalf of the Swiss Confederation, the Seventh Division of the International Civil Court of Zurich, handling civil and economic disputes, is now holding a hearing for case number 1980-CIV-0018—"

"China Haibin Fertilizer Plant v. Fusokawa Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. International Trade Fraud Case. Plaintiff, please state your claims."

He turned to Hayes, indicating that he could begin.

Hayes stood up, gave a slight bow to the judges' bench, and then swiftly attacked in Sakuma Ichiro's direction:

"Your Honor, the core of this case lies in a meticulously planned and ruthless commercial fraud."

"My client, China Haibin Fertilizer Plant, with a sincere desire to develop a modern chemical industry, signed a critical equipment procurement contract worth millions of US dollars with the defendant, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., in 1979."

"The core subject of the contract is the brand-new MK-IV type urea synthesis tower main equipment provided by you and claimed to be fully compliant with the contract specifications."

His assistant immediately pulled out an enlarged black-and-white photograph from the documents in front of him and held it up.

The photos clearly show a huge metal cylinder, and below a specific inspection point, an area of ​​paint is obviously abnormal, revealing blurry but discernible traces of letters and numbers underneath.

"However, the truth is shocking and infuriating!"

Hayes's voice rose sharply as he pointed to the black-and-white photograph, his tone filled with a powerful accusation:
"On the outer shell of the pressure cylinder of the MK-IV core synthesis tower, which you claim is 'brand new,' below the inspection location clearly specified in the contract between both parties, we clearly found and recorded a physical imprint that was deliberately covered but could not be completely eliminated. This physical imprint is related to the old equipment model UF-II and serial number!"

A few suppressed gasps came from the audience.

Sakuma Ichiro's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, while the blond lawyer next to him quickly scribbled something in his notebook.

Hayes put down the photograph and picked up another document handed to him by his assistant, the cover of which prominently displayed the word "ASTM".

This is the standard of the International Society for Testing and Materials.

“This is just the beginning of the fraud!” He opened the file, his voice icy.

"We commissioned the Global Standards Certification Alliance to conduct independent non-destructive testing. The test results showed that in the area where the old model markings were deliberately concealed, and at the associated welds, there were structural defects that seriously violated the ASTM A515 Gr.70 pressure vessel plate welding specification!"

"The equipment has numerous problems, the weld penetration is severely insufficient, there are areas of incomplete fusion and dense porosity, and the strength of the core equipment is far below the design standards stipulated in the contract!"

"This is not a flaw, but a deadly hidden danger that could lead to a high-pressure hydrogen leak and a catastrophic explosion!"

He slammed the ASTM specification manual on the table with a loud thud, the sound echoing in the silent courtroom.

“Your Honor,” Hayes said, turning to the judge’s bench, his voice heavy with sorrow and firmness.

"This is not just a case of commercial fraud, but a blatant disregard for life!"

"The defendant, Chuanqi Heavy Industry, sold my client a UF-II machine that had long been obsolete and posed significant safety hazards, disguised as a brand-new MK-IV machine through clumsy refurbishment and deliberate concealment, in an attempt to obtain huge illegal profits, disregarding the lives and safety of Chinese workers!"

"We request the court to order the defendant to return the full amount of the equipment cost, compensate for all direct and indirect losses, and bear all litigation costs of this case! The plaintiff has finished speaking."

Hayes sat down, and Song Jixiang applauded silently.

The bailiff immediately looked over, his eyes filled with warning.

Song Jixiang gestured to him that he hadn't made a sound, so the bailiff had no choice but to turn back.

As a gangster boss who had attended countless court hearings, Song Jixiang naturally knew what he could and could not do in court.

The clerk tapped away on the typewriter.

All eyes were on the defendant's dock.

Sakuma Ichiro slowly stood up, his movements carrying a kind of rigid elegance.

He also bowed to the judge's bench first, then faced Hayes, his face expressionless, only a cold light flashing behind his glasses.

"Your Honor."

Sakuma Ichiro's English had a heavy Japanese accent, but his tone was steady and solemn:
"The plaintiff's lawyer's accusations are full of conjecture, misleading information and a crude interpretation of technical expertise."

"Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a leading global heavy industry manufacturer, and we value our reputation as much as our life."

“Every piece of equipment we deliver to any customer undergoes rigorous quality inspection and fully meets the standards stipulated in the contract.”

He picked up a Japanese document and showed it to the court:
"Regarding the so-called 'UF-II mark residue,' our technical experts have reached a clear conclusion: it is merely a temporary marking stamp used for internal tracking during the equipment manufacturing process. Due to process reasons, it was not completely covered during subsequent sandblasting, rust removal, and painting. It is by no means the 'traces of old equipment refurbishment' alleged by the plaintiff."

"The MK-IV equipment and the UF-II have generational differences in structural design and material specifications. Anyone with basic engineering common sense would not make such an absurd connection."

Then, he took out an ASTM report, glanced at it, slammed it on the table, and sneered:

"As for the so-called 'structural defect' inspection report presented by the plaintiff, we strongly question its objectivity and professionalism."

"As is well known, weld inspection results are greatly affected by operating techniques, equipment calibration, and environmental factors."

"We possess a complete pressure test and weld flaw detection report issued by the Fusō Maritime Association before the equipment left the factory. This report complies with international standards, and everything in the report is deemed合格 (qualified)!"

"The plaintiff's claim of 'catastrophic risks' is pure alarmism..."

Upon arriving here, Hayes immediately raised his hand.

Judge Fisher nodded to him: "The plaintiff is permitted to speak."

Hayes showed a document in his hand, displaying news of the synthesis tower explosion that occurred last year at the Johor Nanyang United Chemical Plant:

"We have sufficient evidence to prove that the synthesis tower where the safety accident occurred at the chemical plant was..."

"It was due to improper operation or insufficient technical ability on the other side that caused the major accident in the operation of the equipment!" Sakuma Ichiro quickly interrupted him.

Judge Fisher pointed at him sternly and said, "Defendant, this is your first warning!"

Hayes was allowed to continue speaking, and after he finished speaking, he also presented the evidence to the judge.

Sakuma Ichiro raised his hand and was also allowed to speak:
"Your Honor, all of this is due to the plaintiff's outdated technology and lack of understanding of the international development of related equipment. After discovering that the equipment failed to achieve the expected results, the plaintiff turned to malicious accusations and extortion against the equipment supplier!"

His voice began to quicken and become shrill:

"The plaintiff failed to provide any direct evidence to prove the so-called 'intentional fraud.' What was their motive for accusing Kawasaki Heavy Industries of deliberately selling used equipment? What evidence is there...?"

After making a series of unfounded accusations, he breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"Your Honor, I request the court to dismiss all of the plaintiff's claims!"

"The defendant has finished his statement."

He looked at Qian Jin with a gloomy face.

Qian Jin rested his chin on his left hand and made a counting money gesture with his right hand.

Sakuma Ichiro's cheeks twitched a few times.

He understood what Qian Jin meant:
Just wait to get paid; I'm ready to count the money.

At this point, both sides entered a bloody battle, and the battle horn had been sounded.

Hayes is having a great time.

Because the evidence is sufficient.

Sakuma Ichiro's legal team was a complete mess.

He personally went on a rampage after removing the mold, and made all sorts of false accusations and framing.

As Hayes presented more and more evidence, his legal team began to fight amongst themselves.

One of the blond, blue-eyed white lawyers, unable to contain himself any longer, snapped at him: "You deceived us! You knew this evidence existed, so why didn't you tell us beforehand?"

Lawyers will do anything for money, and they'll say anything for money.

but.

If they had known beforehand that this was a lawsuit that wouldn't generate profit, they wouldn't have taken it.

Sakuma Ichiro was in a difficult situation. He kept glaring at Hayes, but Hayes didn't even look him in the eye and just listed out evidence.

Upon seeing this, Qian Jin and Song Jixiang exchanged a smile.

Damn it.

They absolutely refused to believe that there wasn't some kind of underhanded dealing between these two rotten asses!

Qian Jin had predicted this long ago.

He estimated that Hayes would engage in a backdoor deal for money and Kawasaki Heavy Industries for fame.

In this era, international arbitration tribunals offer one appeal opportunity, which is equivalent to a first instance and a second instance.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries likely wants to win the first trial, and Hayes will then arrange an appeal for the second trial.

If he wins the second trial and ultimately helps Haibin Fertilizer Plant get compensation, it won't affect the final outcome.

This gives Kawasaki Heavy Industries a first-instance victory, which is enough to appease domestic and international public opinion.

In this way, the Chinese side received compensation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries did not suffer reputational damage, and Hayes received more money, which they considered a win-win-win situation.

But Qian Jin wasn't happy about it!

Go to hell!
He wanted to crush Chuanqi Heavy Industry into a pulp, to bring them back to life in one fell swoop, and to give them a taste of the iron fist of socialism.

He did this in order to implement the leader's international strategic plan: to strike once to avoid being struck a hundred times!

Finally, presiding judge Fisher adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping between the plaintiff and the defendant like the pointer of a scale:

"Shut up, everyone. I hope you remember that only gentlemen are allowed in the courtroom, not scoundrels."

"Now, the court will proceed with the examination of evidence. First, the plaintiff will present their evidence."

Hayes rose again, like a confident general beginning to deploy his troops:
"Your Honor, our first set of evidence: a sequence of photographs of the actual equipment, numbered Exhibit P-001 to P-015."

He gestured to his assistant to turn on the slide projector in the courtroom.

A beam of light was projected onto a screen hanging on the courtroom wall, revealing a close-up of the massive cylinder surface.

Hayes picked up a retractable pointer and pointed it: "Please have the court look at P-007 to P-009, focus on the areas where the marks remain. Zoom in... zoom in again..."

“Look here, the tail of the letter 'U', here, the horizontal bar of the 'F', and the curve of this number '2'. This is definitely not a temporary mark in terms of depth and shape!”

"Our technical expert, Dr. Klaus Muller, a senior engineer at Sulzer Laboratories, can testify in subsequent proceedings to explain in detail the differences in physical characteristics of the markings between the old and new models and the methods used to conceal them."

Hayes switched the slides, and the screen changed to a series of photos of bound documents:

"The second set of evidence: the original and translation of the independent test reports issued by the Far East branch of the Global Standards Certification Alliance, numbered Exhibit P-016 to P-025."

"This report details the inspection location, methods, instrument models, and detailed data. The critical weld—specifically documented in document number W-07A—had a penetration depth of only 65% ​​of the specification requirement, a non-fusion zone length exceeding the allowable value by three times, and a porosity level of four, which is the highest defect level!"

Hayes sounded quite distressed as he spoke.

If I hadn't recently learned about this guy's character, I would have been incredibly moved.

Hayes opened the report and turned to the last page: "The report's conclusions are clear and concise."

"This defect will cause the fatigue life of the weld area to be shortened to less than 20% of the original design under normal design pressure, posing an extremely high risk of failure. The entire inspection process is recorded on video for future reference."

Sakuma Ichiro's face appeared somewhat gloomy in the flickering beam of the projector.

After Hayes paused briefly, he immediately gestured that he was about to speak:
"Your Honor, we strongly challenge the authenticity, relevance, and probative value of the plaintiff's evidence!"

He spoke at his usual rapid pace, attempting a counterattack:

"First of all, the so-called 'marks' shown in those photos are not clear enough or well-defined to support the accusation of 'refurbishing old equipment'."

"It could be any marking, or even an accidental scratch during transport or hoisting!"

Qian Jin wanted to curse when he heard this.

They've lost all shame.

These little devils have no shame whatsoever.

Even the presiding judge couldn't help but laugh when he heard this, and asked him in return, "Defendant, you're saying this might be an accidental scratch during transportation or hoisting?"

He pointed to the slides.

Hayes' assistant played the evidence at the opportune moment:

"Such perfectly shaped letter scratches?"

Sakuma Ichiro said calmly, "Your Honor, the world is too big, and there are too many coincidences. Anything can happen under the influence of coincidences."

"Furthermore, all of this is based on the test report provided by the plaintiff, which we believe is not credible!"

He picked up one of Kawasaki's own reports, "The test report we submitted, issued by the Fuso Maritime Association, shows that the welds at the same location are completely qualified!"

"This is sufficient to demonstrate that there are serious problems with the plaintiff's testing procedures or interpretation of standards. We request the court to appoint a completely neutral third-party organization to conduct a retest!"

Qian Jin understood that this was a tactic to stall for time, a common trick used in civil courts.

Hayes was prepared for this; he raised his hand to indicate that he was about to speak.

After receiving permission, he turned his gaze to the defendant's dock, his expression undisguisedly challenging: "Your Honor, I need to present another set of evidence."

"I have an original copy of the publicly available information from the 1970 Japanese Chemical Equipment Yearbook, numbered Exhibit·P-027."

The assistant began handing the documents to the judge, also displaying an enlarged photocopy:
"Please see, this clearly displays the advertisement and basic technical parameters of Chuanqi Heavy Industry's UF-II type urea synthesis tower."

"It clearly marks the location of the standard serial number printing area—precisely the location where we found the residual markings on the equipment!"

"According to its own user manual, the serial number printing location of the current MK-IV equipment of Chuanqi Heavy Industry has been moved to the top flange of the cylinder block. It can be seen that the location change record is clear!"

"Attorney for the defendant, how do you explain why your 'temporary mark' was precisely placed in the standard position of the serial number on the old UF-II equipment?"

Sakuma Ichiro stated firmly, "Regarding that 1970 yearbook, it merely states the existence of an older model of equipment and has absolutely nothing to do with whether the equipment in this case was refurbished!"

"The change in the serial number printing location is a normal technical update and cannot be used as evidence of fraud!"

The female judge couldn't help but shake her head upon hearing this.

That's just being unreasonable.

Thus, the two sides engaged in a protracted interrogation and rebuttal of every detail of every piece of evidence.

Hayes pressed on relentlessly, logically refuting every point of contention raised by Sakuma, especially sharply challenging the credibility of the Fuso Maritime Association report.

He pointed out that the Maritime Association, as a local classification society, suffers from "structural dependence" and "independence deficiency" in the quality inspection of exported equipment from large Japanese companies.

Sakuma, however, kept emphasizing the legitimacy of the proceedings and the "indirectness" of the opposing side's evidence, attempting to muddy the waters. The air in the courtroom was thick with tension, and the clerk's typewriter clicked away in almost unison.

Finally, Sakuma Ichiro became increasingly unreasonable, and Hayes couldn't help but curse him out.

He thought he was unreasonable and shameless enough.

Only now do I realize that there are always people better than you, mountains beyond mountains, and even bigger scoundrels above scoundrels.

"Call the plaintiff's expert witness: Dr. Howard Jensen, Chief Testing Officer of the Far East Region of the Global Standards Certification Alliance." Judge Fisher had to bang his gavel on the table.

Howard Jason, whom Qian Jin had met before, solemnly entered the stage.

He reached out and patted the Bible, saying, "I swear to my Lord Christ that everything I have said is true and without reservation."

Sakuma Ichiro launched an attack by pointing to the Bible.

However, the judges present were all devout Christians, and oaths made to the Bible in civil court can be accepted as evidence.

The female judge walked up to the witness stand and said, "Dr. Jensen, please explain your professional background to the court, especially your experience in pressure vessel inspection."

Howard Jensen solemnly stated, "I have been engaged in non-destructive testing of pressure vessels and heavy chemical equipment for 27 years. I hold a Level 3 certificate from the International Welding Engineer Association and the Institute for Nondestructive Testing (INF) and have served as an advisor to the European Pressure Equipment Directive Working Group."

The Level 3 certificate from the Society for Nondestructive Testing is the highest level, which is why Howard's voice was calm and confident.

Because I'm awesome!
"Doctor, did you personally participate in the testing of the cylinder body of the urea synthesis tower at Chuanji Heavy Industry involved in the case?"

"Yes, my team and I were responsible for the entire testing process."

"Please describe the specific location and morphological characteristics of the imprint residue you found."

Hayes' assistant busied himself operating the projector again, while Howard picked up his pointer and pointed to a close-up photograph frozen on the screen:
"The mark is located on the lower part of the cylinder block, near the back of the reinforcing ring of the manhole flange. This location is concealed and is usually not within the scope of routine visual inspection."

"The mark is about 0.3 mm deep, with slight curling and residual oxide layer at the edges, which are typical characteristics of old stamps. Newly stamped temporary marks are usually less than 0.1 mm deep, with sharp edges and no oxidation."

“More importantly,” he gestured to Hayes’ assistant to switch slides to show a partial comparison of the structural diagrams of the UF-II and MK-IV equipment, “this is the main weld area of ​​the UF-II model, while the MK-IV model does not have a main weld in this location, and its structure has been redesigned.”

"The location of the residual marks is exactly over the original heat-affected zone of the main weld of UF-II, which is irrefutable evidence of using new welds to cover the old weld area."

"The renovator tried to sand away the old marks, but not deep enough, and the new paint couldn't completely cover the outline!"

His testimony was clear, professional, and to the point.

During the cross-examination, Ichiro Sakuma began to appear agitated, repeatedly questioning the calibration records of the testing equipment and the influence of ambient temperature, trying to find technical loopholes.

But these were all too simplistic, and Howard, who was well-prepared, resolved them one by one with detailed data and standard regulations.

Sakuma Ichiro was truly at his wit's end. He even questioned me somewhat irrationally, "Doctor, are you under some kind of pressure to reach a conclusion that is favorable to the plaintiff?"

Judge Fisher couldn't help but want to bang on the table.

Howard simply looked coldly at Sakuma Ichiro: "Mr. Lawyer, I am only responsible for scientific test results and professional ethics."

"Your Honor, we request a ten-minute recess," Sakuma Ichiro said, his face ashen.

He panicked completely.

The ten-minute recess felt both very fast and very slow.

It was definitely quick for Qian Jin; they chatted for a while and the time passed quickly.

For Kawasaki Heavy Industries, time is of the essence.

They contacted Qian Jin privately and requested a face-to-face meeting.

Qian Jin laughed upon hearing this: "Originally, you could have just paid compensation and that would have been the end of it, but you insisted on taking it to court and making a fool of yourselves."

"What's wrong? Now you realize you're going to lose money and face, and you're coming to beg for mercy? Too late!"

The Japanese translator pleaded obsequiously, "Honorable Mr. Qian Jin, please do go and meet with our leader. We are willing to offer even higher compensation..."

"The premise is that I withdraw the lawsuit in court?" Qian Jin interrupted him.

The Japanese translator nodded with an awkward smile.

Qian Jin gave the other person an English word: "Want to Peach?"
It is indeed possible to withdraw a case in court. In fact, these days, international courts are more like mediation courts.

However, this kind of behavior is very off-putting.

Qian Jin wasn't that short-sighted.

The predetermined compensation amount is already high enough, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries is unlikely to raise the compensation amount to a qualitative difference such as 100 million US dollars.

Therefore, Qian Jin was unwilling to give up an opportunity to challenge international capital for a little extra compensation.

He didn't talk to the Japanese at all, nor did he want to humiliate them. He didn't want to cause trouble; he just wanted to get the results smoothly.

The Japanese were in a hurry, so they requested an additional ten minutes of recess and went to talk to Director Wang and Yang Dagang.

Of the two, Director Wang Zhenbang held a high position and was ranked third in the leadership team of Haibin City.

However, he was a traditional, old-fashioned cadre with little education. He was very afraid after going abroad and was extremely law-abiding.

When the Japanese invited him to talk privately, he refused no matter what, practically glued to the chair.

As for Yang Dagang?
He hated Kawasaki Heavy Industries so much that his only response was: "Pah!"

After the court reopened, Ichiro Sakuma had no choice but to request that his own expert witness, Hiroshi Tanaka, a senior engineer at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, be summoned.

Tanaka Hiroshi's testimony mainly focused on the authority of the Maritime Association report and the "non-mainstream" nature of the Global Standards Certification Alliance's testing methods, insisting that the weld quality was up to standard and that the markings were a "misunderstanding."

However, under Hayes's sharp cross-examination, when asked how he specifically explained the precise match between the imprint location and the structural diagram of the old UF-II equipment, and why Kawasaki's current MK-IV equipment does not have a main weld in the same location, he was deeply moved.

Tanaka's answers became vague and full of loopholes, and in the end he could only repeatedly emphasize "trusting the company's procedures" and "respecting the maritime association's report."

This caused Sakuma Ichiro to immediately break down his defenses and repeatedly yell at him.

Faced with professional and irrefutable physical evidence and expert testimony, the scales of justice in the court tipped irreversibly.

During the final statement, Hayes stood up again.

He didn't dwell on the technical details, but instead turned his gaze to the judge's bench and said:
"Your Honor, the fog of technical details has been cleared. The chain of evidence is clear, complete, and irrefutable, proving that Kawasaki Heavy Industries committed fraud."

"They disguised a UF-II piece of equipment, which was known to have major safety hazards and had long been phased out of the market, as a brand-new MK-IV piece of equipment by deliberately concealing its markings and crudely welding it. They were passing off inferior goods as superior ones and old goods as new ones, disregarding the contract, business ethics, and the life-threatening dangers that countless workers at the location where the equipment was used—the Haibin City Fertilizer Plant in China—could face!"

"Such behavior tramples on the cornerstone of international trade integrity! It is a contempt for the dignity of the law!"

"The court should and must uphold justice, punish fraud, and ensure that victims receive the compensation they deserve with the clearest possible judgment!"

Sakuma Ichiro's final statement was pale and empty, consisting only of repeated emphasis on procedural flaws and a weak defense of the "indirectness" of the plaintiff's evidence.

Judge Fisher listened to both sides' arguments expressionlessly, his gaze sweeping across the entire courtroom before finally settling on the documents the court clerk had just prepared.

He adjourned the court again, and the three judges left the courtroom and went to the lounge.

When they returned, everyone's hearts were in their throats.

The time has come to announce the ending.

Judge Fisher cleared his throat, and the courtroom fell silent instantly.

"This court now pronounces its verdict."

He picked up the verdict, his voice calm, clear, and devoid of any emotion:

"Based on a comprehensive review and careful assessment of all the evidence submitted in this case, the arguments of both parties, and the testimonies of expert witnesses, this court finds the following facts to be clear and to meet the standard of proof of a high degree of probability:"
First, the main pressure-bearing cylinder of the urea synthesis tower delivered by the defendant, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., to the plaintiff, China Haibin Fertilizer Plant, was not the brand-new MK-IV type equipment as stipulated in the contract.
Second, the cylinder system was refurbished from an older UF-II model, and the defendant engaged in fraudulent activities by deliberately concealing the true model and condition of the equipment during the transaction.

Third, the critical weld areas of the refurbished equipment have serious structural defects that do not meet the requirements of the ASTM A515 Gr.70 specification stipulated in the contract, posing a significant risk to the safe operation of the equipment.

The defendant's conduct constitutes a material breach of contract and fraud as defined in Article 15 of the International Law of Debts, Article 28 of the International Commercial Law, and the core principles of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.

Based on the above, this court renders the following judgment:
1. The urea synthesis tower equipment purchase contract signed between the plaintiff and the defendant is hereby revoked;
2. The defendant, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., shall, within thirty days from the date this judgment becomes effective, return to the plaintiff, China Haibin Fertilizer Plant, the full amount of equipment purchase payment and breach of contract compensation totaling US$10,917,000.
Third, the defendant shall compensate the plaintiff for the direct economic losses suffered as a result of this fraudulent act. The specific amount shall be determined in a supplementary judgment after being verified by an independent auditing institution commissioned by this court.

Fourth, the defendant shall bear all litigation costs and auditing fees designated by the court.

This judgment is final. Court adjourned!

The gavel fell with a crisp, long "thud," like a heavy pause.

Yang Dagang couldn't understand a single word.

But he saw the reactions of Counselor Li and others.

Their side was applauding, and Song Jixiang even stood up and gestured towards the defendant's seat as if to fire a gun, firing wildly.

Needless to say.

They won!

Yang Dagang clenched his fist tightly, turned his head to look at Qian Jin, and his eyes instantly turned red.

Despite Qian Jin's repeated assurances that they were destined to win.

Although he himself knew that the probability of his side losing was not high.

But this isn't a domestic lawsuit; it's an international one, and our country isn't well-regarded internationally.

As a seasoned soldier, he was well aware that there was no such thing as justice in the world; justice only came into being when one side had the upper hand.

Therefore, in the past, he was still worried that his side would lose.

It's not about losing to legal provisions and justice.

Rather, it was a defeat to reality.

Fortunately.

The reality is that justice will prevail.

After two months of pent-up frustration, anger, and anxiety, they finally found an outlet.

He opened his mouth and let out a long, silent sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

Qian Jin was also very excited and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Song Jixiang.

Song Jixiang pointed outside and laughed, "Get ready to strike a pose, Brother Qian, your time to show off will come!"

The judge adjourned the courtroom, and the reporters' assistants immediately brought in their cameras.

At this point, neither the defendant nor the plaintiff had left the courtroom.

The bearded reporter from The Wall Street Journal quickly pressed the shutter button, and the crisp click of the Nikon F2 captured the pale, defeated face of Sakuma Ichiro in the dock.

More and more cameras are being extended.

Sakuma Ichiro's heart sank.

what happened?

Why are there so many reporters here?

Before he could catch his breath from the devastating blow he had just suffered, a deeper fear washed over him like an icy tide.

The other party is very vicious!
They left them absolutely no way to survive!

The other party has likely hired media outlets from various countries to report on this matter!
However, he couldn't recognize the reporters, so he quickly sought help from the European legal team he had brought in.

As a result, the blond-haired, blue-eyed white people stormed out in a huff...

Sakuma Ichiro had no choice but to take off his suit jacket to cover his face.

This attracted more cameras.

Hayes looked at him with pity and said, "The old gentleman may be highly experienced and capable in the legal field, but he clearly lacks experience in dealing with the media."

"He shouldn't have acted so pathetically, because the pathetic state of a loser is a traditional source of entertainment for the media!"

Qian Jincai didn't care.

He is the winner.

Winners should hold their heads high, otherwise they've won for nothing.
We can't be like He Yingqin, that precious thing, who actually bowed to the Japanese during the surrender ceremony on August 815th!
The reporters didn't really pay him any attention.

Because they have no interest in China, their target is the Japanese, specifically the representative of Japanese industry, Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Japan's industrial products are now so powerful that they have left traditional manufacturing giants in Europe and America in ruins.

Now that they have the opportunity to retaliate, they will naturally not hold back.

Media professionals also have a sense of patriotism, and more importantly, they are well aware of how interested domestic readers are in their competitors' scandals!
The day after the arbitration ruling was announced, the doorbell rang at Qian Jin's hotel room.

The money went in and the door opened.

Nakamura Toshiro and Ono Masao were standing at the door.

Just one day later, Nakamura Toshiro seemed to have aged ten years. He was already skin and bones, but now his hair was dry and messy, his lips were dry and bluish, his eyes were sunken like a skull, and he had almost no vitality.

Masao Ono's situation is similar.

His expensive suit hung loosely on his emaciated body, like a body bag.

Upon seeing Qian Jin open the door, Nakamura Toshiro let out a muffled sob and knelt down on the thick carpet in the hotel corridor with a thud.

Qian Jin was very worried about this.

I didn't prepare any red envelopes myself.

During the Lunar New Year, this little Japanese guy is so polite and has such a strong sense of ceremony.

Not to be outdone, Masao Ono slammed his knees down hard, his body lunging forward, his forehead slamming into the tip of Qian Jin's shoe, completing a full-blown dogeza (a deep, prostration position).

Nakamura Toshiro roared with all his might, "Mr. Qian, Director Qian! Spare Kawasaki! Please! Show mercy!"

It has to be said, the Japanese are really good at creating childish and immature content.

His voice was distorted and his face was instantly covered in snot and tears, which was very sympathetic.

Masao Ono, cooperating by extending his trembling hand, tried to grab Qian Jin's trouser leg, like a drowning person grasping at a last straw:
"Please, you must suppress this report!"

"We can provide your factory with a brand new synthesis tower production line. Please be sure to protect our reputation! This is the reputation of Kawasaki over the past century!"

"Please rest assured, we will pay the full amount of compensation immediately! Not a penny less! We can even offer double the compensation privately!"

"Please! Mr. Qian, please tell the newspaper not to publish it! If they publish it, we're finished! I'll be crushed! Please, Mr. Qian!"

His voice was heart-wrenching, echoing with a chilling despair in the empty corridor.

Qian Jin remained silent for a few seconds, letting the two men's pleas echo in his ears.

Then, he slowly opened his mouth and solemnly said:

"Mr. Nakamura, Mr. Ono, it's normal that you can't speak Chinese, but you should at least learn some English, right?"

"Now you come to my door speaking Japanese, but I can't understand a word you're saying!"

"You two, Sayonara, I need to catch up on my sleep. If we finish this matter ahead of schedule, we also need to clear the way for Emmaus!"

After saying that, he stopped looking at the human figure on the ground, coldly took a step back, and slammed the door shut.

The hotel room doors are heavy and sturdy.

To be fair, Swiss hotels use high-quality materials, befitting a developed country; the soundproofing of this door is excellent.

The door closed, instantly shutting out the hellish cries and pleas from outside, leaving only the carpet in the corridor to absorb the last futile echoes.

When Qian Jin and his group were about to board the plane and leave, Song Jixiang prepared a pile of fax paper for them.

All of them were newspaper faxes sent by his friends in Europe and America.

Of course, it mainly refers to newspapers from the American empire:

The Chicago Tribune's front-page headline:
"Steel fraud! Japanese giant Kawasaki scandal shocks international trade; Chinese buyers meticulously orchestrate a massive scam!"
The subtitle below:
New York-based law firm Palmer Stone leads a perfect prosecution, exposing a Japanese company's fraudulent use of old scrap metal against its clients! A contractual trap becomes a deadly noose!

Photo: Exterior view of the Zurich Arbitration Tribunal.

The New York Times front page prominent position:
"Rule Awakening! China Achieves a Major Victory in a Multi-Million Dollar Fertilizer Equipment Fraud Case: Precise Contracts and Top Western Legal Teams Forge an Ironclad Case"

Qian Jin continued reading, where there were further in-depth analysis paragraphs:
"...This case became a landmark turning point for Chinese enterprises to participate in international competition in the early stages of reform and opening up. It demonstrated an astonishing understanding and control of international business rules, and with the help of the top-level Western legal 'tomahawk,' it completely shattered the arrogance and fraud of the 'Asian technology leader.'"

"The prosecution partnership of Seaside City official Qian Jin and senior partner Robert Hayes of Palmer Stone is exemplary in its professionalism and composure."

"This battle will profoundly impact international rules governing industrial goods trade, especially for buyers in emerging markets..."

Qian Jin was very satisfied with the accompanying pictures.

Above, Qian Jin and Hayes shook hands solemnly. Yang Dagang, Counselor Li, Director Wang, and others were also on camera, applauding.

Director Wang was delighted after seeing the faxed newspaper and specifically asked Qian Jin, "Could you ask Chief Song to buy us a few original copies? I need to show the leaders of the city government and even the provincial government how we've made an appearance."

It's simple.

Upon hearing this, Song Jixiang smiled and said, "The newspapers may have returned to China even earlier than yours. I have already arranged for someone to send them to the airport and send them directly via international air freight."

Director Wang was very pleased.

The Financial Times of England also featured the story in its featured news section:
"A bombshell hits global manufacturing! Kawasaki Heavy Industries' market value could evaporate by nearly half within days; historic record-breaking compensation destroys the foundation of its credibility."

"...Behind the international court's absolute award of tens of millions of dollars is the buyer team's almost surgical application of complex supplementary clauses."

"China's mature performance in risk control and the application of international rules far exceeded expectations..."

The accompanying image was a chart showing the sharp drop in Kawasaki's stock price on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's electronic display screen.

Director Wang and Yang Dagang didn't understand, but Qian Jin clearly understood the Financial Times' intentions.

They are working on Kukawa Heavy Industries.

As expected of a financial publication, these international speculative funds, like hyenas, have already bared their fangs at Chuanji Heavy Industry's plump chrysanthemum.

The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun also reported on this incident.

The front page was urgently bordered and given a huge headline:
"A national disgrace! Kawasaki Heavy Industries is embroiled in a shocking fraud scandal! They have been exposed globally for deceiving Chinese customers with scrapped old machines and are facing massive claims!"

Qian Jin couldn't understand this; all he could see in the accompanying picture was someone being surrounded by reporters, looking pale and helpless.

Song Jixiang provided an explanation: "This is your long-time benefactor, President Kawasaki, Hisanobu Oshima!"

The two looked at each other.

Then laugh.

The result is great.

Switzerland has beautiful scenery!

(End of this chapter)