Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 199 A Higher Starting Point

Shenzhen, Wan Mingji's top-floor office.

Wan Mingji sat behind a large desk, with local news displayed on the screen, including news of the cracking down on illegal activities by the "Lian Sheng Financial Holdings Group".

Among them, 44 people were involved in illegal possession of firearms, usury, violent debt collection, and illegal detention.
A group of people who illegally approved small loans and laundered funds for them were taken away.

The report concluded by mentioning that Shenzhen is coordinating with Hong Kong to investigate the Hong Kong-based Lien Sheng Group and related individuals involved in the case, and is preparing to transfer them to mainland judicial authorities for processing.

"laugh!"

Wan Mingji couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"That fool Ah Wei, who doesn't know the times, thinks he can fly just because those uncles and elders flattered him? Daring to play this trick in the mainland, now the officers are going to invite him over for some lotus seed soup!"

His tone carried a hint of disdain and the sarcasm he had anticipated.

At this moment, Wan Mingji's most trusted confidant, the senior vice president of Shunfeng Group known as "Ali," knocked lightly on the door and walked in with a solemn expression.

"Brother Ji Ming!"

Ali reported in a low voice.

"The trust that Xu Zai left behind has been activated with the final injection of funds! The trust left by Mr. Gong is now officially in effect! The 42% stake in Liansheng Group that was held by the trust has been transferred to Ms. Gong, Xu Zai's guardian!"

Wan Mingji, who always presented himself as a composed businessman, suddenly changed his expression and subconsciously clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking slightly.

He couldn't understand what that woman was trying to do.
Does she really think that by relying on the diluted and hollowed-out shares in Mr. Gong's trust, she can snatch food from the tiger's mouth, snatch chestnuts from the fire, and fish out something from the bottomless murky waters of the Liansheng Group?

Seeing Wan Mingji's reaction, Ali cautiously asked, "Brother Mingji, should we help Miss Gong? After all, she's the boss."

Wan Mingji abruptly waved his hand, interrupting him, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Help? We finally made it ashore and turned Shunfeng into a legitimate business! Why would we jump back into that quagmire for a mere woman?"

He turned to look at the nine gilded Buddha statues enshrined on one side of the office, his expression complex.

Wan Mingji stepped forward and respectfully offered three sticks of incense. As the smoke curled upwards, his expression hardened.

Then, he actually reached out and took down the largest and most central Buddha statue, and smashed it hard on the ground!
"Crack!" The sound of porcelain shattering was ear-piercing.

Among the fragments, a short stick, jet black and shiny, seemingly ordinary yet exuding an unusual aura, was revealed.

Wan Mingji picked up the "dragon head stick" and handed it to Ali, his voice completely calm: "Take it and give it to Fei Ji. He knows what to do!"

Ali took the stick; it felt cold and heavy.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, turned around, and walked away quickly.

In the third conference room of Shenzhen National Security Bureau, the atmosphere was heavy and filled with smoke.

Team Leader Zhou spread out the case files on the table and began a brainstorming session with his team members to analyze the situation together.

"On October 15, 2010, Wan Mingji transferred 50 million yuan to Feiji."

"On October 18, 2010, Feiji transferred 100 million yuan to Chengzi Company through its shell company."

"In March 2011, Gongyun's 65 million yuan (including its own funds and investment from Orange Company) was transferred to a special account. The source of the funds was clear and the proof was complete."

"In June 2011, Gangcheng Honest Trust Company completed the anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance review of the funds, which complied with Gangcheng's Trust Law and financial regulatory requirements."

"In September 2011, Gong Yun, as Gong Xu's guardian, completed all legal procedures and officially took over approximately 42% of the shares of Liansheng Group on his behalf."

A young team member suddenly looked up: "This Gong Yun is Gong Xu's older sister! Before Gong Xu came of age, she wanted to control the Liansheng Group through nominee shareholding!"

"No, it's not that simple!"

Team Leader Zhou then presented another equity structure analysis: "Look closely, of the 42% of shares she holds on behalf of others, Orange Company holds 33.4% through investment, while Gong Xu's own trust only holds 8.6%!"

Gong Yun invested 5000 million yuan but ultimately only received 8.6% of the shares in the trust, while Cheng Zi invested 1500 million yuan but received 33.4% of the shares.
The young team member immediately became alert: "Something's not right! This is very wrong! Team leader, this Gong Yun might be looking for a 'protector'! She's trying to drag Chengzi and Chen Mo down with her!"

Team Leader Zhou frowned, exhaling a puff of smoke with a complicated expression: "Alright, there are some things you wouldn't understand. That 'Mr. Gong' has a very special identity."

"I remember that Chen Mo from Orange Company was someone that Captain Li from Beijing specifically asked to take care of. You should contact him first and find out whether this is Orange Company's idea or just Miss Gong's own audacity!"

If Orange Company were an ordinary enterprise, Team Leader Zhou wouldn't have gone through all this trouble; he could have simply frozen the relevant shares and accounts.

However, Chen Mo is ostensibly a director of the China Entrepreneurs Club, but secretly has close ties with the national security system. He must handle this carefully and strive to resolve internal issues internally.

The report was quickly sent to the higher-ups at the National Security Bureau.

After learning about the situation, the higher authorities immediately contacted the Zhonghua Tourism Group.
On the other hand, a phone call went directly to Chen Mo.

As for why we should contact the China Tourism Group?

This is because Zhonghua Tourism Group has a subsidiary called Gangcheng Weijing Tourism Group, which strategically holds shares in several dynamic social teams in Gangcheng that are undergoing transformation and is responsible for maintaining stability and coordinating efforts.

Look! These port cities have vibrant social groups that mainly operate restaurants, nightclubs, bathhouses, etc., which are basically tourism projects.

Don't ask why, it's all due to historical reasons. Back then, when Hong Kong entrepreneurs returned to the mainland, it was always the tourism projects arranged by Weijing Tourism.

Conference room at the Shenzhen Hotel Center.

Chen Mo was discussing the details of establishing the "Smart Orange Unified Procurement Standard Company" with Cook, Masike, Shen Yiwei and others, and the atmosphere was lively.

Just then, Xiao Zheng strode in and whispered a few words in Chen Mo's ear.

Chen Mo's smile froze slightly, and he then gave everyone present an apologetic look.

"Everyone, I'm so sorry, but I suddenly have a very urgent matter that requires my immediate attention. Please excuse me for a moment!"

He hurriedly left the conference room amidst the curious gazes of the crowd.

Outside the door, Xiao Zheng succinctly informed Chen Mo about Gong Yun's situation and the turmoil surrounding the Liansheng Group.

After hearing this, Chen Mo was stunned for a long time, and his heart was almost broken.

I rely on!

Isn't Sister Gong just a local Shenzhen resident who escaped domestic violence and lives a leisurely life by collecting rent?
How did she suddenly become the daughter of a Hong Kong tycoon?

And how did Orange get inexplicably dragged into this mess because of that 1500 million investment?
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and looked sharply at Xiao Zheng.

"What's Captain Li's opinion?"

Xiao Zheng shook his head, his expression solemn: "President Chen, you need to make the decision yourself; we can't offer you advice!" "But there's only one requirement: if you decide to get involved or even take over Liansheng Group, you must take responsibility and cooperate with us to ensure all 'stability' is maintained; there can't be any problems!"

Chen Mo couldn't help but cover his forehead.

I'm just a small business owner in North China making mobile phones. What are you guys trying to do?

Why are all these capable subordinates so troublesome?

He originally thought that dealing with the unpredictable Zhao Tiezhu was troublesome enough, but who would have thought that even the most reliable Gong Yun, who managed all the affairs of Orange Company, would cause him such a big problem without him even noticing!
The pros and cons were rapidly weighed in Chen Mo's mind.
Retreating might mean giving up Gongyun and that investment, but it could bring temporary stability.

Intervening would mean instantly stepping into a completely unfamiliar and dangerous field, but perhaps it would also be a huge opportunity?

Considering Gong Yun's abilities and their past relationship, the resources that could potentially be integrated, and the deeper meaning behind Xiao Zheng's demand for "stability,"
After a moment, Chen Mo's eyes narrowed, and he made a decision: "Alright! Then please ask Captain Li to help coordinate!"

"If possible, Orange is willing to try to take control of Liansheng Group. I promise that I will actively cooperate with all the work of the National Security Bureau to ensure a smooth transition!"

Xiao Zheng nodded: "Understood, I will report your intentions immediately!"

Chen Mo watched as Xiao Zheng walked aside to make a call using an encrypted phone, let out a long breath, composed himself, and pushed open the conference room door again.

His calm and composed smile returned: "Everyone! That was a minor hiccup, but it's been resolved. Let's get back to business. My idea regarding this unified procurement alliance is..."

The subsequent negotiations among the four focused primarily on the specific structure of "Zhicheng Centralized Procurement Standard Company".

Chen Mo explained his philosophy:
This is similar to the sharing of patents, technologies and standards among alliances. It adopts the "open source of the previous generation of basic technologies + high-end solution licensing" model, which reduces costs and spreads R&D costs by centrally procuring components from alliance partners.

After the company makes money, it sets up an industrial investment fund to invest in the upstream industrial chain to ensure the security of the members' supply chain and resist fluctuations in material prices.

Equity is tied to procurement quotas:
Members agreed that each member must complete a procurement amount of US$1000 million by the end of 2012. If the amount is insufficient, the member must make up the difference in cash. Otherwise, the member will be considered to have automatically withdrawn. The specific procurement amount for each year will be decided by a majority vote of the members.

Decision-making power is allocated based on "technical contribution + shareholding ratio" to avoid monopoly.

Chen Mo was confident that, with Orange's future technological output, the dominant position would remain with them.

With the added support of Shen Yiwei's Bubu Ointment, the foundation for domestic brands' influence has been solidified.

As a businessman, Cook recognized the potential of this centralized procurement company and was particularly concerned about the issue of equity distribution.

Chen Mo, on the other hand, directly proposed his own well-developed allocation plan.

Orange Technology (Initiator, Core Technology, Team): 40%
Pingguo (Global Leader, Market): 30%
Step-by-Step Cream (Design, Supply Chain): 20%
Tesla (Emerging fields, specific needs): 10%
Based on their respective strengths and contributions, the proposal was accepted by Cook, who wanted to gain more, but Orange had the technological advantage.

Maesker doesn't care about the shareholding; what it cares about is whether Svolt Battery can be included in the basic license.

Chen Mo readily agreed and tentatively suggested that Tesla's self-developed BMS system, which would be phased out in the future, be added to the alliance. Maske remained noncommittal, clearly indicating that he had no intention of sharing the technology at present.

Actually, of Tesla's three core electrical components (power supply, motor, and electronic control), only the BMS (Battery Management System) is self-developed.
The four parties finalized the cooperation framework, and the Zhicheng Unified Procurement Standard Company was officially established.

Meanwhile, in the conference room of Liansheng Group in Gangcheng.

Acting CEO Awei (Huang Juwei) sat casually in the main seat, behaving arrogantly towards the uncles and shareholders.

"Holding a board meeting behind my back? Trying to elect a new leader, huh? Since I, Awei, have been in this position, have I ever shortchanged you all in terms of dividends? Today I just acquired Xinchuang Bank, making things much easier for everyone from now on. Please patronize my business!"

The conference room door was pushed open, and a black-clad bodyguard led the way. A young man (Gong Xu) and Gong Yun, who had changed out of her simple attire and exuded a powerful aura, walked in.

Everyone was shocked.

Veteran Uncle Bo stood up and challenged, "Awei! Lian Sheng is Mr. Gong's life's work! Now that Xu Zai is back with shares, it's only right and proper that you step down!"

Ah Wei slammed his fist on the table and cursed angrily, naturally refusing to acknowledge the debt and only agreeing to distribute the profits according to the book.

At this moment, Fei Ji, accompanied by Ah Hu and Ah Bao, entered the conference room, each holding a black dragon-headed staff.

"Awei! You don't acknowledge the shares, but do you acknowledge the gang rules and oaths?"

Seeing this, Awei became hysterical and ordered his henchmen to attempt violence.

But the next second, officers from the West Kowloon Police Station rushed in and quickly subdued Ah Wai and his gang.

A police officer in white presented an arrest warrant: "Huang Juwei, according to the newly revised Criminal Legal Assistance Ordinance in Hong Kong, your cross-border fund transfer records in Shenzhen are sufficient to initiate the transfer procedure!"

There is no death penalty in Hong Kong, but there is in mainland China!

"Fall back!" the police officer in white ordered.

Ah Wai was dragged away by the police, his face ashen.

Then, the police officer in white said gently to Gong Yun and her brother, "Don't rush off after you've finished your business. Your aunt made some soup tonight, it's delicious, come and have some!"

Gong Yun remained noncommittal, but Gong Xu smiled and agreed!

With the police officer gone, only the shareholders of Lian Sheng remained in the meeting room. After Ah Wei's downfall, some of the scheming uncles still wanted to sideline Gong Yun.

At this moment, a shareholder representative of Gangcheng Weijing Tourism Group suddenly appeared and clearly expressed support for Orange Company's actual control of Liansheng Group.

All discontent vanished instantly.
Nobody wants to be invited by Weijing to travel to the mainland and eat "lotus seed soup" just for a little benefit!
In September 2011, almost coinciding with the "September Storm" that Orange encountered the previous year, the situation took a dramatic turn.

The Shenzhen Special Zone Daily gave a low-key report on the establishment of "Zhicheng Unified Procurement Standard Company", praising it as "a new paradigm for the overseas expansion of the domestic smartphone and new energy industry chain" and highly affirming the efforts of Chengzi and Bubu Gao in actively participating in the construction of international industry standards.

This is basically the official stance.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong media bombarded the market with their usual exaggerated headlines.

"Mainland China's Supernova Raptors Cross the River, a Snake Swallows an Elephant: A Winning Streak Group"

Tech tycoon Chen Mo secretly takes over Lian Sheng, changing the landscape of the tech world!

Chen Mo, who was considered a promising business star last year, suddenly lost the word "potential" and was dubbed by the public as the "leading figure of the third generation of Chinese businessmen," becoming an overnight sensation.

As his popularity soared, netizens began to uncover the connections between Orange Group and other related companies.

Yuancheng New Energy's valuation has been inflated to 500 billion yuan.

Orange Treasure Input Method, App Store, Orange Treasure Run, Orange Treasure Racing and other games, Shancheng Orange Technology Micro Motor
Gradually, the topic veered off course. The landmark "Half Orange Building" and its night view of "Half Orange Reflecting the River" in the mountain city became popular online, even more so than the topic of Chen Mo, unexpectedly boosting local tourism.

However, at least Chen Mo's name, and his vast business empire spanning the internet, hardware, new energy, precision manufacturing, and even the vaguely emerging port city background, have completely entered the public eye, and he is no longer a "nobody".

After another storm, Chen Mo stands at a higher starting point and will face an even more chaotic and complex situation.

(End of this chapter)