The richest man started taking advantage of loopholes after joining Alibaba.

Hangzhou, Binjiang District. Alibaba Headquarters.

Six months later, Lin Che stepped into the park again.

This time, there was no employee badge, and no "beep" from the card reader.

Only two rows of security personnel in black suits respectfully set up the cordon.

A Toyota Coaster drove directly to the foot of Building 9.

That's Mr. Ma's private meeting room—Tai Chi Zen Garden.

The air was filled with the scent of sandalwood, mixed with a faint smell of ink.

"They're here."

Mr. Ma sat behind a mahogany tea table, wearing a white Chinese-style jacket.

He didn't get up, but just slightly raised his hand.

Sitting next to him was Alibaba's "invisible prime minister," Joseph Tsai.

Joseph Tsai pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes sharp.

"sit."

Lin Che sat down.

It wasn't the restraint of a subordinate reporting to their boss, but rather the composure of being on equal footing.

On the tea table lay a latest intelligence briefing.

The title consists of only two words: 【Meituan】.

"That kid Wang Xing is impossible to tame."

Mr. Ma twirled his prayer beads, speaking slowly, but every word carried a chilling sense of disappointment.

"They took money from Alibaba and used Alibaba's traffic."

"Now that they've grown up, they not only want to be independent, but they're also secretly flirting with Tencent behind our backs."

Snapped.

The prayer beads clattered on the table.

"He wants to be an independent third force."

"But he forgot that there can only be two poles on this table."

Tsai Chung-hsin took over the conversation and pushed a document in front of Lin Che.

Alibaba has decided to relaunch Koubei.com.

"We want to get involved in O2O ourselves."

"In addition, we are considering investing heavily in Ele.me."

This is Alibaba's Plan B.

Since the godson is disobedient, then support the rival, or even personally intervene to ruin the godson's livelihood.

Lin Che glanced at the document.

I didn't bother looking at those dry, boring data.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Mr. Ma, Mr. Cai."

"You have traffic, funds, and determination."

Lin Che put down his teacup.

My fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"But you're missing one thing."

"What?" Tsai Chung-hsin asked.

"leg."

Lin Che pointed out the window.

"The O2O war is not fought online."

"It's in the streets and alleys, at the entrance of every residential community, and under every office building."

"Meituan has hundreds of thousands of ground sales personnel, and Ele.me has Zhang Xuhao and his gang of fearless brothers."

What does Koubei.com offer?

Lin Che bluntly exposed Ali's weakness.

"You product managers are all just sitting in the office writing PowerPoint presentations."

There was silence in the room.

Mr. Ma paused for a moment.

This is a common problem for large companies. Their DNA dictates that they excel at air combat but are not good at urban warfare.

"so."

Lin Che leaned forward, his gaze intense.

"I'll be your legs."

He took out a copy of the "Weiguang Flash Delivery & Koubei.com Strategic Collaboration Plan" that he had prepared beforehand from his bag.

Push it over.

"Weiguang Flash Delivery now boasts the densest delivery network in all of Hangzhou."

"Our 'delivery + food delivery' reuse model costs only half as much as Meituan's."

"If Alibaba invests in Weiguang."

Lin Che held up one finger.

"First, Weiguang Flash Delivery will be the preferred delivery service provider for Koubei Takeaway."

"Secondly, at the system's underlying level, we prioritize and schedule orders from Alibaba."

"third……"

A playful smile appeared on Lin Che's lips.

"I can help you scare Wang Xing."

Mr. Ma squinted his eyes.

His gaze was like a scalpel, cutting back and forth across Lin Che's body.

This young man understands the rules of the game in this industry all too well.

He knew that what Ali hated most was betrayal, and what he needed most was checks and balances.

"frighten?"

Mr. Ma smiled.

The smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Scare tactics alone are not enough."

"I want to make him feel pain."

Joseph Tsai took the proposal and quickly flipped through it.

As a top investor, he immediately recognized the value of the plan.

Weiguang Flash Delivery is currently the only delivery platform on the market that can compete with Meituan.

If Alibaba doesn't invest in Weiguang, and Lin Che were to side with Tencent, then Alibaba would completely lose its foothold in the O2O battlefield.

Valuation.

Joseph Tsai closed the document and uttered two words.

"40 million US dollars."

Lin Che gave a number.

This is an increase of 30 billion compared to the 10 billion that Wang Xing gave him before.

"Leading the Series B funding round."

"I want $5 million in cash."

"In addition, I want Alipay's primary traffic entry point."

They're asking for an exorbitant amount.

$40 billion is practically robbery for a logistics company that has been established for less than a year.

But Lin Che knew that Ali would give it to him.

Because this is not just about buying a company.

This is buying a ticket to fight Meituan.

Mr. Ma and Mr. Cai Chongxin exchanged a glance.

The eye contact lasted for less than three seconds.

"make a deal."

Mr. Ma made the final decision.

He picked up the teapot and personally poured Lin Che a cup of tea.

"Since my godson is disobedient."

"Then raise a biological son and scare him."

"Lin Che".

Mr. Ma stared into Lin Che's eyes, his tone full of meaning.

"Alibaba has plenty of money."

"But you must remember."

"This knife must be in Ali's hands."

Lin Che took the teacup.

There was neither rebuttal nor expression of loyalty.

He just smiled faintly.

"Don't worry, Mr. Ma."

"A glimmer of light always stands on the side of maximizing value."

……

Half an hour later.

Lin Che walked out of Tai Chi Zen Garden.

The sunlight was blinding.

Shen Nan had been waiting by the car, and when he saw the boss come out, he hurriedly went to greet him.

"How's it going? Ali's side..."

Lin Che took out a copy of a check from his pocket.

That was the deposit that Joseph Tsai had just signed.

"nailed it."

"Series B funding round launched. Alibaba leads the investment, with a valuation of 40 billion."

Shen Nan's hand trembled slightly.

I almost dropped that thin piece of paper.

"40 billion... US dollars?"

"Boss, isn't this bubble blown a bit too big?"

"Besides, we took money from Alibaba, Wang Xing will definitely be furious! Half of our current orders are from Meituan!"

This is a classic case of "wanting to have your cake and eat it too".

They took money from Alibaba to deliver food to Meituan.

This kind of operation is like dancing on a knife's edge.

Lin Che opened the car door.

I got into the back seat.

The thrill of being in control made every pore on his body open up.

"Wang Xing dared not lose his temper."

Lin Che unbuttoned his collar and took a breath.

"Because he can no longer live without the power of Weiguang."

"Before he built his own delivery team, even knowing that I was Alibaba's 'own son,' he still had to hold his nose and use me."

"This is an open conspiracy."

The car started.

We drove out of the Alibaba campus.

Lin Che glanced back at the enormous glass building.

He did not become Ali's weapon.

in contrast.

He used Ali's fear to acquire $5 million worth of weapons.

With this money, he could extend the network of Flashlight Transmission throughout China.

Issue an announcement.

Lin Che took out his phone and edited a short message.

"Weiguang Flash Delivery has completed its Series B financing round. The round was led by Alibaba, with Sequoia Capital participating."

"in addition……"

He thought for a moment, then added another sentence.

"Announce the launch of the '100 Cities Plan'."

"We aim to install the 'Light Flash' technology in 100 cities across the country within a month."

……

Shanghai. Putuo District.

Ele.me headquarters.

Zhang Xuhao had just finished eating a completely cold boxed lunch.

"Smack."

The phone screen lights up.

A news pop-up, like a bullet, shattered his last glimmer of hope.

[Breaking News: Weiguang Flash Delivery secures $5 million in funding led by Alibaba, valuing the company at 40 billion! It will be fully integrated with Koubei Waimai!]

Zhang Xuhao suddenly stood up.

The chair was knocked over and fell to the ground.

"Damn it!"

He slammed his fist on the table.

Did Alibaba invest in Weiguang?

What about Ele.me?

A backup plan?

Or should we abandon them?

A deep sense of crisis overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

Ahead lies the formidable Meituan, and behind us is the sharp blade of Weiguang.

Now even the powerful figures they originally wanted to curry favor with have extended olive branches to others.

"We cannot sit idly by and wait to die."

Zhang Xuhao paced back and forth in his office.

It's like a bull trapped in a cage.

"Is Microlight planning a 100-city initiative?"

"Trying to crush me with efficiency?"

He stopped in his tracks.

His eyes revealed a gambler's madness.

"Then let's fight."

"I have money too."

Zhang Xuhao picked up the phone and dialed the CFO's number.

His voice was hoarse and had a bloody smell.

"Pass the word down."

"Initiate the 'Summer Campaign'."

Free delivery on all items.

"No matter the cost, we must win those users back!"

Since we can't compete on efficiency.

Then let's fight with all our might.