Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 173 The civet cat exchanges for the prince

Shenzhen, office of the general manager of Orange Technology.

The afternoon sun lazily shone on Chen Mo's large mahogany desk, and the air was filled with the fragrance of top-grade Longjing tea.

Taking a rare moment of leisure, Chen Mo held a small celadon cup and casually opened a portal website. The homepage was immediately filled with news about several business tycoons.

Liu Chuan's 2011 handover plan revealed: He will step down after Motorola's acquisition, and Yang Qingyuan will take over the reins of Fantasy.

The accompanying photo shows Liu Chuan shaking hands with a spirited and slightly nervous Yang Qingyuan, while the subtitle highlights the key words "second-generation succession" and "globalization transition".

"The Inside Story of AliMa's 'Zhifubao' Diversification: 400 Billion Yuan Compensation to Yahoo Sparks Controversy, Bold Statement 'Going Our Own Way'"

Ali Ma's iconic, slightly arrogant face takes center stage, with the subtitles directly pointing to "Wald Street Shakedown" and "License Game".

Wanda's headquarters officially relocates to Beijing! Wang Wanda accelerates its "asset-light" strategic layout.

Wang Wanda waves in front of the brand-new headquarters building in Beijing, with the silhouette of Liancheng in the background. The subtitle highlights the location upgrade logic of the "trillion-dollar giant".

"Heh, it seems everyone's quite adept at changing their tune!" Chen Mo sipped his tea, a slight smile playing on his lips.

The three-person news relay finally overshadowed his popularity as the "youngest director of the China Entrepreneurs Club".

For netizens, chasing trending topics is instinctive.

However, the halo that comes with the "director" status is real—it's like a bright halo hanging in the open, making it clear to those troublemakers: this kid is a prominent figure in the business world, don't mess with him!

This is much more direct and effective than his "golden light protection" which most people don't know about, and it's perfect for dealing with those ignorant little devils.

"Great, it's quiet now!" Chen Mo leaned back comfortably in his chair. The butterfly effect brought about by his rebirth did not seem to have shaken the basic trajectory of these giant ships, which gave him a sense of control over the overall situation.

Tuk-tuk-tuk!
"Go in!" Chen Mo responded.

The door was pushed open silently, and the secretary, Zhou Yumeng, walked in with light steps. She wore a well-tailored business suit that accentuated her tall and straight figure, and her smile was both gentle and capable.

"President Chen, we have the results of the Asmac bidding with Orange Technology. Director Feng just sent a summary report via fax, which I have already prepared." Her voice was clear as she respectfully placed a dark blue folder on Chen Mo's desk with both hands.

"Okay, put it down!" Chen Mo nodded.

Zhou Yumeng bowed slightly, her movements fluid and graceful. She took two steps back before turning and leaving, gently closing the door behind her. The whole process was silent and elegant.

Chen Mo looked at the closed door and smiled.

Those with a background in flight attendant training have a different foundation. Their etiquette and demeanor are impeccable. With a little training in secretarial skills, they would definitely have the air of a "chief secretary," making them a very prestigious person to take out.

This is probably why Gong Yun recommended her in the first place!

Chen Mo picked up the folder and opened the "Summary Report of Key Information for Orange Technology Bidding".

Feng Guofu, a veteran of state-owned enterprises, is very experienced in his work. He knows to report the "results" and "merits" clearly and concisely as soon as possible, so that the leaders can see them in a way that makes them feel comfortable.

Unlike Zhou Mingzhe and his group of tech geeks, who only know how to bury themselves in tackling key problems and accomplish earth-shattering feats, their reports might just be a few dry "It's done."

Although Chen Mo himself possesses cutting-edge technology, he cannot build a vast business empire without these capable ministers and generals, each with their own strengths.

The report is concise:
I. Bidding Background

Target Project: Procurement of the Alignment System, a Core Subsystem for ASML's Next-Generation EUV Lithography Machine

Bidding location: Eindhoven, Netherlands

Bidding period: April 27, 2011 (ASM officially announces the list of shortlisted vendors)

Main competitors: Chase (Germany), Honeywell (North America), Terez (France)
II. Technological Advantages

Core Product: CK-PAS 1.0 Precision Alignment System Performance Parameters: Static accuracy 0.000018°/h (40-50 times better than competitors)
Test results: Infinitely close to the magnitude of Earth's annual rotational drift (0.0001°), reaching the theoretical limit.
III. Pricing Strategy (Cost and Profit Target Pricing Method)

Round-based pricing:

The first round of funding is $860 million, covering R&D and a 450% gross profit margin (material costs of $25).
The second round of funding was $600 million, a price to reap the benefits of technological advancements.
The third round was $420 million, with a base price.

IV. Key Nodes in the Bidding Process

First round ratings: CK's technical score of 48.6 (out of 50) crushes the opponent, with a total score of 72.5, temporarily ranking second (Chase leads with 73.0 due to geographical advantage).
次轮逆转：报价降至600万美刀后，成本分提升至27（满分30），总分85.8，反超（蔡斯75.1/霍尼韦尓80.9）

V. Winning Bid Results

Final offer: US$600 million per unit

Significance of winning the bid: China becomes the first Chinese company to enter the core supply chain of lithography machines, breaking the monopoly of Zeiss/Honeywell in the field of precision alignment.

Industry impact: The breakthrough achieved by China in the field of ultra-high precision manufacturing has caused a global sensation in the technology media.

成交订单：两套样品以600万美刀/套标价出售，后续2012~2013订单15套，累计金额9000万美刀（6.4亿元），定金30%，3000万美刀已到账！
VI. Subsequent Impacts

Technology window of opportunity: Expected to maintain an intergenerational advantage for 2-3 years. Strategic value: Laying the foundation for the company's expansion into the precision manufacturing field.
(End of report)

"Well done!" Chen Mo couldn't help but tap the table with his finger, his eyes gleaming.

The Orange Technology bidding team not only won the order, but also made a name for themselves in the world's top precision manufacturing field, establishing a prestigious brand for Orange Technology!
Looking at the incredible precision figure "0.000018°/h" repeatedly emphasized in the report, a thought flashed into Chen Mo's mind like lightning: "Wait a minute. Isn't the core of this CK-PAS 1.0 the MYT-3.0 gyroscope? If it can outperform international giants in alignment systems, then isn't our MYT-3.0 already at the pinnacle of the world?!"

He suddenly remembered a news report he had glimpsed some time ago: China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System is being accelerated, and the aerospace group seems to have been tricked by the European Galileo project and is now desperately searching the world for high-precision atomic clock and high-precision gyroscope technologies!
This is a golden opportunity, like a piece of fat meat being delivered right to our doorstep!
Chen Mo immediately grabbed his phone from the table, ready to call Feng Guofu and ask him to quickly bring Chengke's "treasure of the factory," the MYT-3.0, to their doorstep to "promote" it!
Almost at the moment Chen Mo's finger was about to press the dial button, in Beijing, at a core research institute of an aerospace group.

The conference room was filled with the stifling atmosphere of someone who had just returned defeated from negotiations with the United States. Old Zhang, the person in charge, had a livid face, but his eyes burned with a fierce resentment. Suddenly, the conference room door was flung open, and a young researcher's voice trembled with excitement: "Mr. Zhang! We found it! We found it! 'CK Group'! It's in Chongqing! Its full name is 'Chengke Micro Motor Co., Ltd.'!"

The projection screen lit up instantly, clearly displaying a "Technical Evaluation Report on the MYT Series Gyroscopes of CK Micro Motor Co., Ltd."

The focus is on the MYT-3.0, with its astonishing product specifications.

"MYT-3.0 static accuracy... Is this data even real?" An elderly expert with gray hair adjusted his reading glasses, his voice trembling with disbelief: "A private company that makes micro motors... How could this be?!"

"The logic makes sense!" Another middle-aged technical expert slammed his hand on the table, his eyes gleaming. "Only a gyroscope of this caliber could possibly create a CK-PAS 1.0 that crushes Zeiss and Honeywell! ASMI's test results are irrefutable proof! The one they use in their lithography machines will only be better than what's published!"

An overwhelming surprise struck Lao Zhang like an electric current.

He stood up abruptly and said decisively, "Immediately! Compile a top-secret report and submit it to the National Defense Science and Technology Department! The core points are twofold: First, the MYT-3.0 technology concerns national strategic security, and its military value is immeasurable! Second, the risk level of technology proliferation is: lethal! Export must be immediately and completely prohibited! Not a single piece of this national treasure can leave the country!"

North America, a top-secret underground laboratory in Honeywell.

Under the cold white light, the dust-free workbench gleamed with a metallic sheen.

A set of OrangeTech CK-PAS 1.0 system, obtained through "special channels," is being carefully dissected by a group of top engineers using the most sophisticated tools.

When the last piece of protective outer shell was removed, revealing the internal core structure, the entire laboratory fell silent.

Four MYT-3.0 gyroscope modules, entirely black with a unique and biomechanically aesthetic design, are like sleeping black spirits, embedded in a precision shock-absorbing base.

Beneath the cold metallic luster lies a sophisticated structure that transcends contemporary understanding.

"My God, this is simply the perfect fusion of mechanics and bionics. Art!" the chief engineer murmured, his finger hovering almost reverently above the module, his eyes filled with both awe and a greedy green glint.

“Mr. President!” He connected the line, his voice tinged with helplessness and frustration: “We can roughly reverse engineer the structure, and we can also imitate the copper alloy processing. However, the core difficulty lies in the self-cleaning and reinforcing coating. Without the formula and process of this coating, the material strength and long-term stability of our imitations simply cannot reach the level of the original.”

On the other end of the phone, Honeywell CEO John Dewey's breathing became heavier.

The Wall Street vultures, driven by Asma's failed bid, relentlessly attacked Honeywell, bringing the company's stock price and nerves to the brink of collapse.

Right now, the North American Air Force is about to tender for Northrop Grumman's (NOG) $1339 billion Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile refurbishment project, and one of the most core and valuable components is the new generation of high-precision gyroscopes!

The tender requires an accuracy of 0.0002°/h to 0.0001°/h, with a base price of US$600 million per unit!

His next-generation flagship, the HGX-9000 fiber optic gyroscope, which he has poured countless efforts and $19.7 billion into and which uses cutting-edge quantum entangled photon interference technology, is still struggling to be developed in the laboratory!
The HGX-9000 fiber optic gyroscope has a theoretical design accuracy of 0.00001°/h and a zero-bias stability of only 0.0001°/h. It is far from being a finished product. The engineer told him that at least another 60 billion US dollars would be needed!

Even more critically, their arch-rival Kaerfott has already produced the KF1389 laser gyroscope (zero bias stability 0.00015°/h)!

"Fuck CK! Fuck KF!" President Gao Dewei slammed his fist hard on the expensive mahogany table, sending expensive cigar ash flying all over the floor.

The company's stock price plummeted, and the bloodthirsty Wall Street vultures attacked the stock price while openly clamoring "if you can't do a good job, we'll replace you." The heavy pressure made Honeywell's president, John Dewey, work until his eyes were bloodshot.

As he stared at the four disassembled MYT-3.0s, gleaming with a cold, eerie light, on the lab monitor screen, a crazy and audacious plan began to take shape amidst his despair.

The accuracy fully meets, and even far exceeds, the requirements of the Norgo tender!
cost?

Buying a full alignment system (containing four lenses) from ASMI costs only $640 million, with each lens costing only $160 million. Reselling it to Nogo, however, allows them to sell each lens for $600 million at the base price, resulting in a profit margin of over $400 million per lens.
Honeywell no longer needs to invest another $60 billion in R&D for its next generation of products. It can simply act as a middleman, easily making a 275% profit by reselling the product!
His eyes gleamed with a gambler's madness: "CK dares to use this level of precision commercially, which means they have even better ones. They definitely won't impose an embargo. I can't worry about anything else. I have to secure the military orders, stabilize Wall Street, and keep my position!"

Top-secret instructions were issued.

A meticulously planned "substitution" unfolds deep within the laboratory.

The small "CK" laser etching on the MYT-3.0 casing was carefully and seamlessly polished away.

The brand-new, custom-designed shell of the "HGX-9000 Ultima Gyro" model, gleaming with the Honeywell logo and exuding an imposing presence, was seamlessly covered.

Meanwhile, huge, anonymous consulting fees and donations flowed like an undercurrent to key figures at Novo Nordisk responsible for bidding, as well as to powerful figures on Capitol Hill who could influence defense procurement decisions.

Planting flowers, a top-secret command center of the National Security Bureau.

An intelligence document marked "Sealing wax/Top Secret/Source Mole" was quickly decoded and presented for review.

The content is shocking: Honeywell's acquisition of CK-PAS 1.0, the dismantling process, details of MYT-3.0 being transformed into "HGX-9000 Ultima", and its eventual integration into the guidance and navigation core system of North American "Minuteman III" intercontinental ballistic missile!
"Hiss!" The national security officer in charge of the liaison gasped, then his eyes flashed with a sharp, hawk-like light: "Using our 'eyes' to 'guide' them with their most lethal weapon? Good! Good, Honeywell! Good, 'Ultima'! This is simply a 'gift' from heaven!"

Almost simultaneously, an urgent official letter from the National Defense Science and Technology Industry Corporation, with strong wording demanding an "immediate and complete ban on the export of Orange Technology's MYT-3.0 high-precision gyroscope," was also placed on the desks of relevant decision-makers.

A silent strategic game is unfolding at the highest levels.

Defense Science and Technology Industry: "There is no time to lose! This technology involves the nation's core strategic security! Once it proliferates, the consequences will be unimaginable! All export channels must be sealed off immediately!"

National Security: "An embargo is like stirring up trouble! It's self-destructive! This is a once-in-a-lifetime 'hidden card,' which can be used to 'direct attacks in different directions' at crucial moments. Its value is immeasurable. We should tacitly allow its 'normal' circulation and wait for the right opportunity!"

The debate did not last long.

A directive from above was concise, clear, and powerful.

"Immovable as a mountain, drawing the ball but not releasing it, this card is hidden, but its benefits are long-term. The National Security Department should immediately contact Chen Mo, explain the advantages and disadvantages, ensure the safety of core technologies and personnel, and implement first-level close protection."

Shenzhen, Orange Technology, General Manager's Office.

Just as Chen Mo hung up the phone to call Feng Guofu, asking him to proactively "deliver the goods" to the Aerospace Group, the internal phone on the table rang urgently.

"President Chen!" Zhou Yumeng's voice came through the receiver, carrying an unusual seriousness: "There are two gentlemen at the front desk, one surnamed Li and the other surnamed Zheng. They say they are old friends of yours, but Sister Gong doesn't recognize them. They said they have something extremely important and urgent that they must discuss with you in person. I've temporarily arranged for them to stay in meeting room number 2!"

(End of this chapter)