My capital is quite large.

Li Feng pulled up a swivel chair and sat down, his gaze sweeping over Bilibili's core team with a deep look.

"Buying official Japanese anime to drive traffic to you for free is just the first step. Haofeng Network doesn't keep pigs that only take in and never give out."

"Xu Yi, Bilibili can't retain these young people's hearts just by buying the rights to broadcast anime. You need to understand what this generation of young people, who grew up with the internet, craves most."

"It's about the desire to express oneself! It's a platform to showcase oneself!"

Li Feng walked to the whiteboard and wrote down the words "UP Master Incentive Program" and "The Era of Self-Media" in large characters.

"Starting tomorrow, we'll be launching the 'UP Master' concept across the entire Bilibili platform! We'll encourage all users to edit videos, create parodies, sing covers, and commentate on games!"

"Don't be afraid of them infringing on your copyrights. We have the largest film and animation copyright library on the entire internet. Let them create whatever they want!"

"As long as their videos get high views and lots of interactive comments, the platform will give them real cash rewards! They'll also help them get commercial orders! Turning video making into a profession that can support a family and even make them rich!"

Paying netizens to post videos on the website?!

In 2009, this was an unprecedented money-burning act on the Chinese Internet!

But Li Feng saw it very clearly: on the eve of the widespread adoption of smartphones, the golden age of text and images would soon be over, and what followed would be the golden age of the rampant growth of short videos and self-media!

By using cash to keep the most creative young people in China on Bilibili in advance, they are essentially cutting off the lifeline of Douyin, Kuaishou, and Xigua Video in the future!

"It's not just pre-recorded videos."

Li Feng then changed the subject and dropped another bombshell that could revolutionize the era.

"Have the tech department allocate a dedicated bandwidth line. I want you to embed a brand new feature section—[Live Streaming]—into the Bilibili PC platform and the upcoming mobile app!"

"Live stream? Mr. Li, do you mean a room like YY Voice where you can sing and chat?" Xu Yi was taken aback.

"It's more intuitive and more interactive than that!"

Li Feng's eyes sharpened. "We'll open livestreaming rooms for those skilled gamers and girls who can sing and dance! If viewers enjoy the show, they can recharge and buy virtual gifts to tip the streamer, and the platform will take a cut!"

Although we are still several years away from the live streaming boom of the "thousand-platform war," and computer broadband and mobile internet speeds have not yet reached the point where everyone can watch live streams anytime, anywhere.

But Li Feng wanted to secure his spot in advance!

First, cultivate a loyal audience through hardcore single-player games and PC game live streaming. Once 4G networks become widespread, Bilibili's live streaming ecosystem can instantly complete its closed loop, nipping Douyu and Huya in the bud!

"Understood! We'll immediately launch projects to tackle the UP (content creator) ecosystem and live streaming sector!" Xu Yi was trembling with excitement, as if he could see a vast pan-entertainment empire belonging to young people taking shape in his hands.

......

After inspecting Bilibili's operations, Li Feng took Lao Chen back to the president's office on the top floor.

Video streaming, social media platforms, film and television copyrights, self-media ecosystem...

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling Shenzhen Science Park, Li Feng mentally reconstructed Haofeng Network's current business closed loop.

"All the content moats have been dug."

"But our biggest monetization base—the gaming industry—is still a bit crippled."

Li Feng turned around and looked at Lao Chen, the technical director.

"Old Chen, the localization of League of Legends in China will take another two years. Currently, the PC game market in China is still dominated by Tencent. They are making money hand over fist thanks to QQ's huge distribution channel."

"If we have to wait for League of Legends to be released before going head-to-head with Tencent, the two-year gap is too long."

Old Chen nodded in deep agreement: "Mr. Li, you're right. Tencent is already showing signs of monopolizing the distribution of PC games in China. Whether it's our own single-player games or imported online games, as long as you don't pay Tencent protection money, you can't get any traffic recommendations."

"Since Tencent has monopolized the domestic distribution channels..."

"Then let's move the world's largest PC game distribution platform to China!"

Old Chen was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened as if he had been electrocuted: "Mr. Li! You...you mean...?"

"Valve! Steam Platform!"

Li Feng uttered the name slowly and deliberately, his eyes gleaming with a determined light.

At this point in 2009, although Steam had gradually begun to emerge overseas and attracted a group of die-hard fans with blockbusters such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike, it was far from growing into the behemoth that would later dominate the global PC single-player and online game market!

More importantly, Gabe Newell and Valve were at a loss and didn't know where to start with the Chinese market, which was rife with piracy and had complex policies.

"Tencent's greatest confidence comes from its control of the social media gateway for domestic gamers."

"But what if we officially and legally bring Steam to China! And obtain the exclusive, full-service distribution rights for Steam throughout Greater China!"

"We're going to force Steam China accounts to be linked to Haofeng's Weibo account! We'll use Alibaba to break down payment barriers! We not only want to bring the world's top AAA games to China, but we also want to make Steam the only gathering place for all hardcore gamers in China!"

"At that point, Tencent's game lobby, which relies on elementary school students buying QQ coins, will be nothing but a pile of low-grade electronic garbage compared to Steam, which gathers the world's top games!"

This is the sharpest sword that Li Feng is preparing to use to pierce the heart of the Tencent Games empire!

In its previous life, Perfect World didn't realize this until many years later, barely managing to secure a stripped-down version of the Steam platform's distribution rights.

Now, Li Feng wants to take advantage of Gabe Newell's lack of preparedness for the Chinese market and use the most aggressive capital to bring this world's largest gaming treasury back to Shenzhen!

"Old Chen! Immediately assemble a top-notch multinational business negotiation team!"

Li Feng waved his hand, issuing the final order with a murderous aura:

"Have the finance department prepare a letter of intent to authorize $100 million in cash!"

"Tomorrow, flying to Seattle, USA! To see Gabe Newell!"

"Tell him that Haofeng Networks not only wants to secure the exclusive distribution rights for Steam in China, but I also want to acquire at least 15% of Valve's strategic shares at a premium!"

"If he disagrees, tell him that Haofeng controls the largest social platform in China with 30 million daily active users. We can create our own Steam! It's either take this multi-million dollar pie and cooperate with us, or watch the door to the Chinese market remain permanently closed to Valve..."

"Let him choose for himself!"