My capital is quite large.

As the blind auditions progressed, the ratings for "The Voice of China," a revolutionary music variety show that prioritizes voice over appearance, skyrocketed.

It easily broke the historic 5% mark, crushing all other variety shows in the same period!

With the show's explosive popularity, those grassroots singers who were originally unknown at the bottom of society suddenly became incredibly valuable and became the focus of heated discussions across the internet.

Faced with this terrifying ability to create stars, major record companies and established management companies in the entertainment industry could no longer sit still.

At Haofeng Network's headquarters, the threshold of Lao Han's office, the director of the film and television department, is almost worn down by the constant stream of visitors.

"Mr. Han, we've known each other for a long time! Please take this two million. As long as you can secure a spot for our company's newcomer in the upcoming revival round, consider this money as a small token of appreciation for the production team!"

"Brother Han, I need a favor! Even if I don't advance, just getting the four mentors to turn around and give me a few comments, just to get some exposure, will do! Name your price!"

Various bribes, notes, and favors, both overt and covert, rained down on Old Han's desk like snowflakes.

However, when Lao Han took these enviable price lists to Li Feng for approval, he was met with a barrage of insults from Li Feng.

"Buying a spot? Guaranteed advancement?"

Inside the CEO's office, Li Feng threw the thick stack of price quotes into the trash can.

"Old Han, are you blinded by greed? Our Haofeng Network has an overseas revenue of over 100 million RMB every month. Do you think I need their few million to fill a gap in our pockets?!"

"Mr. Li, I didn't accept it! I just felt that if I didn't make this money, I might as well..." Old Han wiped away his cold sweat and quickly explained.

"If we make that money, our core base will be completely destroyed!"

Li Feng interrupted him coldly, "Why is 'The Voice of China' so popular? It's because of its absolute fairness! It gives all ordinary people a chance to change their destiny!"

"If viewers find out that you can buy your way into this show, then the blind auditions will become a complete joke! Once the show's credibility collapses, who will still go to Haofeng's Weibo to genuinely vote for these contestants?!"

"What I want is not for TV stations to pocket a few million more ill-gotten gains. What I want is for tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, of viewers across the internet to develop the habit of opening Weibo every day to vote for and interact with their idols!"

"As long as Weibo's daily active users and credibility remain, it's an invaluable treasure trove. Anyone who dares to sabotage my business at this critical juncture, I'll kick them out! I'll smash them all back to their knees!"

……

After being reprimanded by his boss, Lao Han sheepishly went to refuse all the bribes from record companies. Not only that, the program's review mechanism became even stricter, truly achieving impartiality.

After seeing Old Han off, Li Feng sat back in the large leather boss's chair and rubbed his temples.

"Boss, have some ginseng tea to soothe your throat."

Zhang Xinyu, dressed in a smart business suit, walked over with a cup of warm ginseng tea and handed Li Feng a financial statement that she had just prepared.

"Boss, the payments for the overseas Apple App Store this month have all arrived in your account."

Zhang Xinyu reported in a clear and methodical voice, "Angry Birds and Fishing Joy are still firmly in their positions as cash cows, and with the newly launched Subway Surfers achieving explosive growth, our overseas net profit this month reached 22 million US dollars!"

"After deducting the company's daily expenses, the expansion costs of the Weibo server, and the operating funds of the film and television production team, the company currently has about 930 million RMB in available cash in its corporate account."

With a cash pool of over 900 million, in this era, it's enough to support any crazy strategic move he makes.

"Xinyu, go and inform the finance department to allocate a separate joint account from the main account."

Li Feng tapped his fingers lightly on the table and gave the order, "Immediately transfer 200 million RMB as the start-up capital for the new mobile phone company that Lei Jun and I are jointly establishing."

"In addition, starting next month, a fixed amount of RMB 20 million will be deducted from our overseas revenue each month and deposited into this account on time as a continuous reserve fund for hardware R&D and supply chain integration."

Zhang Xinyu paused for a moment, her hand holding the pen slightly still.

"Boss, we're going to be throwing in 20 million every month? That's 240 million a year! Isn't that burning through cash too fast? And isn't CEO Lei going out to raise funds himself?"

"Making hardware is a bottomless pit; I don't even think this amount of money is enough."

Li Feng chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with a shrewd, strategic brilliance.

"Tell Lei Jun that I, Li Feng, will cover the entire angel round for this new mobile phone company! No need to look for any outside venture capital firms!"

"Wait a year or two, until they produce the first-generation prototype of the phone for me, and when it's time to start mass production and marketing, then we'll go to venture capital firms like Sequoia and IDG for Series A funding."

"However, please relay my exact words to Lei Jun—regardless of how the Series A or Series B funding rounds proceed, or how much the shares are diluted, his sole task as CEO is to safeguard my absolute 51% controlling stake!"

"I want this mobile phone company to forever bear the DNA of Haofeng Networks!"

In Li Feng's view, this is not doing charity.

Hardware is the only super gateway to the future mobile internet.

Controlling the hardware is equivalent to having a get-out-of-jail-free card for the next ten years.

Using billions to create a Lei Jun and Xiaomi is definitely the most cost-effective deal in the world!

"Understood, boss. I'll go arrange the financial handover right away." Zhang Xinyu carefully noted down her boss's instructions.

Just then, the internal phone on the table suddenly rang.

"Mr. Li, I'm sorry to bother you." The receptionist's voice came through, tinged with a hint of helplessness. "That Mr. Jia from LeTV is here again. The security guards tried to stop him, but he insisted that he wasn't here to discuss copyright sharing this time. He said he heard you're going to enter the mobile phone hardware market and that he has a disruptive strategy he wants to discuss with you in person."

Is Accountant Jia here again?

Li Feng raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but chuckle.

This Mr. Jia's nose is even more sensitive than a dog's! He had just finalized a cooperation agreement with Lei Jun in Beijing, and the news reached his ears the moment it arrived.

"Alright, let him in. I want to see what kind of empty promises he can come up with this time." Li Feng waved his hand, signaling Zhang Xinyu to open the door.

Two minutes later, Mr. Jia, dressed in a suit and tie, walked into the president's office with a beaming smile.

"Mr. Li! Great minds think alike! Absolutely great minds think alike!"

As soon as Boss Jia entered, he clapped his hands excitedly. Unlike last time, he didn't take out a PPT. Instead, he quickly walked to Li Feng's desk.

"Mr. Li, I heard that you personally funded a trip to Zhongguancun to meet with Lei Jun, preparing to enter the smartphone market yourself?!"

Li Feng leaned back in his chair, looking at him with a half-smile: "President Jia, you're quite well-informed. What, you're also an expert in hardware?"

"Mr. Li, you're at the forefront of the times! But you're only halfway there!"

Boss Jia took a deep breath and began his "suffocating for dreams" speech.

"Lei Jun is a software developer; what does he know about the hardware supply chain? He's just an assembly plant manager at best!"

"Mr. Li, since you're going to make mobile phones, why don't we at LeEco and your Haofeng Network join forces? Let's create a truly 'ecosystem phone' together!"

As Mr. Jia spoke, he became increasingly excited, as if he could already see the future: "My philosophy is—free hardware, paid content! We'll drive the price of the phone's hardware down to below cost, or even give it away to users for free! Then we'll package up your Haofeng's movie library and our LeTV resources and stuff them all into the phone!"

"Once users buy our phones, they must subscribe to our ecosystem membership! We'll use this ecosystem synergy to completely disrupt the profit models of Apple and other traditional phone manufacturers!"

"Mr. Li, if you allow me to invest, or if we engage in cross-shareholding, I, Jia Yueting, guarantee you that within three years, our super phone will absolutely dominate China!"

Listening to Boss Jia's passionate and eloquent speech, Zhang Xinyu, who was standing to the side, was somewhat shocked.

Free hardware, paid content? It sounds like a brilliant business that's guaranteed to make money!

However, looking at Boss Jia, who was spitting as he spoke, Li Feng felt only a sense of absurdity and ridiculousness.

Did LeEco really propose the "free hardware, paid ecosystem" concept for its Superphones back in 2009? Boss Jia's thinking was indeed several years ahead of its time.

However, the painful lessons of the past have already proven that without solid hardware R&D foundation and strong supply chain control, relying solely on PPTs and concepts to make mobile phones will only lead to a broken capital chain and a complete mess!

The hardware is built brick by brick, not just by talking!

Although Lei Jun is now ridiculed as an "assembly plant", he is at least a down-to-earth pragmatist who goes to factories, tightens screws, and discusses supply chains.

Partnering with you, Accountant Jia? Then my billions of dollars will eventually be siphoned off by you and used to build cars in America!

"President Jia's ideas are indeed as advanced as ever."

Li Feng smiled and interrupted Boss Jia's grand plan, then picked up the ginseng tea on the table and took a sip.

"However, I'm sorry, but I'm a rather materialistic person and a thoroughly traditional businessman. I don't understand what ecological synergy is. I only believe in one principle: making mobile phones is making products, and making products requires making a profit."

Amidst Boss Jia's increasingly stiff smile, Li Feng gave his final answer:

"Your model is too high-end. Haofeng Network can't afford to play it, nor can we afford to burn that spare money to give away free mobile phones to all Chinese netizens."

"We have different paths, so we cannot work together."

"Secretary Zhang, see the guest out."

The third time, Boss Jia came with great enthusiasm, only to be ruthlessly rejected by Li Feng.

Watching Boss Jia leave looking dejected, Li Feng shook his head dismissively.

"Those who play the capital game will ultimately lose to those who play the technology game."