Great Power Reclamation

Ye Feng's gaze fell on the last line of the briefing—

"The Blackstone Energy Alliance, together with twelve traditional energy giants and unions, will launch a nationwide advertising campaign next week with the theme: 'Defend America's Energy Heart'."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. The storm had finally arrived.

The Warrior Group's new energy empire has expanded too quickly and too aggressively in North America.

From transforming shale gas fields acquired by Brother Capital into clean energy bases, to building large-scale ground power stations using the core photovoltaic technology of Warrior Group, and then to the popularization of Haitangguo Automobile and the fast charging network built by Brother New Energy.

Yip's Energy is reshaping the American energy landscape with unstoppable momentum.

This not only threatened the interests of oil and coal giants, but also stirred up political forces and powerful labor unions rooted in traditional energy states. They felt the pain acutely, and retaliation was inevitable.

“Emily,” Ye Feng’s voice was devoid of emotion:
"Initiating the first phase of 'Project Lighthouse.' Get Brother News' 'In-Depth Investigation' segment ready to broadcast the evidence we've been collecting for three years regarding the Blackstone Alliance's cover-up in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, data on drinking water contamination caused by their mining operations in the Appalachian Mountains, and a detailed report on the flow of their lobbying funds to specific members of Congress."

“Remember to present the facts objectively and let the angry public and conscientious experts have a voice.”

"Yes, boss. What about Representative Susie?"

"Give her the complete documentary footage of how the Warriors Group established a photovoltaic base in the Gobi Desert of Xinjiang, boosted local employment, and restored the ecology."

"Especially in those scenes where Uyghur workers and Han engineers work together, we should emphasize 'cooperation' and 'win-win'."

“Tell her that we support her ‘gradual transformation’ theory, and that the Warrior Group is willing to provide technology and funding to pilot a ‘worker retraining and green industry incubation’ program in hard-hit traditional energy states, which could serve as her ‘solution’ to the attack.”

Washington, D.C., Capitol Hill, Energy and Commerce Committee hearing room.

The atmosphere was as heavy as the sea before a storm. Under the enormous crystal chandelier, the two sides of the long table were clearly defined.

On one side were representatives of traditional energy companies, led by John Crawford, CEO of Blackstone Energy Alliance, dressed in suits with sharp eyes.

On the other side were Susie White and several lawmakers who supported new energy sources, as well as Ye Feng, a key witness.

Crawford launched the first attack, his voice loud and inflammatory:
"Fellow members of parliament, we are not against technological progress! We are against unfair competition! We are against subsidies from countries across the ocean, and against dumping!"

“Look at Warrior New Energy, at their solar farm in Texas, they’re selling electricity below cost, squeezing out our local businesses!”

"Behind this is the continuous influx of funds from the Chinese government! This is destroying America's energy independence and security!"

He waved a report: "What's even more worrying is that their equipment, especially the core inverters and control systems, may contain backdoors! How can data security and grid security be guaranteed?"

"Are we really going to hand over the nation's energy lifeline to a company with close ties to the Chinese military?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "military," pointing to the connection between the warrior group and China.

The spotlight flashed wildly, and the camera was pointed at Ye Feng.

He wore a perfectly tailored dark suit, his expression calm, even composed. When it was his turn to speak, he did not rush to refute Crawford's accusations.

“Mr. Crawford mentioned fair competition and national security, and I strongly agree with the importance of these two points.”

Ye Feng's voice, steady and powerful, resonated clearly throughout the venue via the microphone.

“First, regarding ‘subsidies’ and ‘dumping’,” he gestured to his assistant to show a set of data charts.

"All of Warrior New Energy's investments in North America strictly adhere to market rules. The price of our photovoltaic modules is based on the cost advantage and technological breakthroughs brought about by the world-leading high-efficiency chips provided by Junken Electromechanical."

"This is the result of research and development, a manifestation of economies of scale, not so-called national subsidies. In fact..."

Ye Feng changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the councilors present:
"Brother Capital's investments in the shale gas sector have yielded more than three times the total tax breaks and exploration subsidies from the U.S. federal and state governments over the past five years compared to all the policy support Warrior New Energy received for its North American photovoltaic projects. Is that considered 'fair'?"

The numbers on the chart were stark and clear. Crawford's expression changed slightly. Ye Feng had precisely hit the nail on the head regarding the fact that traditional energy also relies on government support.

"As for the accusation of 'selling below cost'," Ye Feng continued, his tone tinged with sarcasm:
"This precisely proves the advanced nature of Warrior's new energy technology. Our levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is already far lower than that of traditional fossil fuels, and it continues to decline."

"This is not dumping; it is the benefit of the technological revolution, and ultimately, American consumers and businesses will benefit."

He showed the prices of long-term power supply agreements signed with several large Texas companies and municipal agencies, which were indeed lower than the market average.

"Regarding national security and data security," Ye Feng's tone became serious:

“This is a red line that cannot be crossed. Warrior Group, including its North American subsidiary Brother New Energy, is an independent company registered in Delaware and operating in strict compliance with U.S. law.”

“Our data centers are located in the United States and managed by an American team. All data storage and processing comply with the most stringent federal standards (FISMA).

"The source code of the core equipment, especially the critical parts related to power grid security, has been reviewed by a third-party agency authorized by the Ministry of Defense and is subject to ongoing monitoring."

“Any speculation about a ‘backdoor’ or ‘military background’ is an irresponsible slander and an insult to the professionalism and loyalty of our thousands of American employees.”

He paused for a moment, looking directly at Crawford:
"On the contrary, many companies under the Blackstone Energy Alliance have been penalized hundreds of times in the past decade for violating environmental regulations and safety production rules."

"Mr. Crawford, does your so-called 'national security' also include protecting our air, water, and land from the irresponsible exploitation by your alliance?"

Ye Feng timely revealed some of the "juicy scoop" that Brothers News was about to broadcast.

A commotion broke out in the meeting room. Representative Susie immediately followed up:
"Mr. Ye, thank you for your clear explanation. The committee does need to focus on a level playing field, but it needs to base its decisions on facts and evidence even more."

"I believe the 'Worker Retraining and Green Industry Incubation' plan proposed by the Warrior Group is a pragmatic solution to address the pains of transition and achieve true energy security and job protection. I recommend that the committee conduct a special review of this plan." The hearing turned into a fierce battle of wits. Ye Feng firmly held his ground with irrefutable data, skillful application of US law, and precise attacks on his opponent's weaknesses.

That same evening, Brothers News Corporation published a report titled "New Energy Leader Faces Doubts Head-on, Data Debunks False Accusations," spreading Ye Feng's testimony and the Warrior Group's data advantages to counter the negative advertising from Blackstone Alliance.

However, the iron fist of politics did not stop.

A few days later, under strong pressure from some hawkish lawmakers, a draft bill entitled "Foreign Investment in Critical Infrastructure Enhanced Review Act" (FICIERA) was expedited and submitted.

Its core provisions are extremely stringent: any foreign investment (especially companies from countries defined as “countries of concern” such as China) involving the national grid, core communication networks, or next-generation energy facilities (specifically large photovoltaic/wind farms and supporting energy storage) must undergo a “mandatory national security review” by an inter-ministerial committee (CFIUS PLUS) composed of multiple departments, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Finance.

The review period can be extended indefinitely, and the president has a veto power based on “vague national security concerns.”

This sword points directly at Warrior New Energy's numerous large-scale photovoltaic and energy storage projects across the United States, as well as Brothers Capital's acquisitions of several key grid technology companies. If approved, Warrior Group's expansion in North America will face significant challenges.

Manhattan, Brothers Group headquarters, strategic crisis room.

The huge screen displayed key clauses of the draft bill and information about its main proponents. The atmosphere was heavy.

The fourth person (Senator Ye Yujie) had his video call window lit up, and his brow was furrowed.

"They're determined this time, and the traditional energy and military-industrial complexes behind them have spent a fortune lobbying them. Moderates can't stop this momentum."

FICIERA has been approved by the program committee and is likely to proceed to full house debate next week.

Ye Feng stood in front of the screen, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as a cold pool.

He anticipated a retaliation from his opponent, but he didn't expect them to resort to such an administrative barrier, almost a "nuclear option." This went beyond the realm of business competition; it was a blatant political blockade.

"Uncle, within the Republican Party, can you find enough power to at least include a 'Grandfather Clause' in the bill to protect our approved and ongoing projects?"

Ye Feng asked. This is the bottom line; otherwise, the initial investment of tens of billions could be completely lost.

The fourth brother shook his head: "It's difficult. They won't agree. Their goal is to block your future path. The only breakthrough now might be to use the 'vague review standards' to try to add some procedural clauses that limit the president's veto power during the committee review stage, or to raise the threshold for initiating a review."

But this requires the support of key Democratic votes, especially…” He looked at Susie White in another video window.

Susie's expression was serious: "Ye Feng, the intention of this bill is too obvious, it is too targeted, and it violates the principles of the free market."

“I will fight back with all my might in the debate. But the reality is that traditional energy state legislators and those worried about the ‘Chinese threat’ have formed a strong alliance. We need stronger bargaining chips to win over swing voters.”

Chips? Ye Feng's fingers tapped unconsciously on the table. A direct threat (like cutting off the chip supply) was a last resort; using it lightly would completely sever ties, damage the Warrior Group's global reputation, and could even trigger Western sanctions, impacting the domestic situation. He needed a "soft knife"—a tool that could exert strong pressure while simultaneously allowing for behind-the-scenes exchanges of benefits.

His gaze swept over another message on the screen: "The customized high-performance autonomous driving chip provided by Junken Electromechanical for GM's next-generation all-electric pickup trucks and SUVs has entered the final testing phase."

"GM has high hopes for this, regarding it as a trump card in the competition with Tesla for the market. Production plans have been scheduled, and global orders are overflowing."

A plan instantly took shape in Ye Feng's mind.

“Emily, connect me to the private line of GM CEO Mary Barra. With the highest level of encryption.”

Ye Feng gave the order, then turned to his fourth brother and Susie: "Fourth Uncle, Susie, please use all your connections to postpone the debate in the entire academy, at least for two weeks."

"At the same time, they spread rumors that the bill is too stringent and could trigger unpredictable supply chain risks, especially in the high-value-added, high-tech product sector."

Then, he looked at the person in charge of Brothers Capital:
"Suspend negotiations with JPMorgan Chase regarding the issuance of that $50 billion renewable energy bond. Tell Jamie Dimon that the market environment has become uncertain due to 'potential policy risks,' and we need to wait and see."

Finally, he said to the head of Brothers News:
"Prepare an in-depth analysis report on the topic of 'The Double-Edged Sword of National Security Review: How Over-Protectionism Is Killing America’s Leadership in the Next Generation of the Automotive Industry.'"

"The focus of the interviews was on automakers and parts suppliers, especially... manufacturers that are highly dependent on specific overseas chips."

A silent yet deadly "circuit breaker" operation has begun.

The day after receiving Ye Feng's call, General Motors CEO Mary Barra made an emergency flight to Washington.

No one knows what she and Ye Feng discussed, but subsequently, General Motors issued a rare, carefully worded but clearly stated statement:
"General Motors is committed to providing American consumers with world-leading electric vehicles. We pay close attention to legislative developments that could impact the stability of the supply chain for critical components, such as high-performance chips. A stable and predictable business environment is crucial to maintaining the competitiveness of American manufacturing."

This statement has been interpreted as a veiled warning about the FICIERA draft.

Immediately afterwards, unsettling news began circulating in Detroit's automotive supplier circles.

The certification testing of a core chip (pointing to Junken Electromechanical) that will power GM's new electric vehicle has encountered "unexpected technical challenges," potentially delaying mass production. GM's stock price fell in response.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon, while having lunch with several prominent lawmakers at a private club, "inadvertently" expressed concern that FICIERA might scare away international capital, especially investment in the high-tech sector.

"Wall Street needs certainty, gentlemen. Uncertainty is the biggest enemy of investing."

His words caused a stir in the financial world.

Brother News' timely report interviewed several anonymous automotive industry executives and suppliers, who expressed their deep concern that if the United States loses certain "irreplaceable" chip supplies, it will "instantly fall behind" in the fiercely competitive electric vehicle race, leading to factory shutdowns and worker layoffs.

In fact, everyone knows that China not only has the powerful tool of chips, but also car engines. Today, the engine has become the dominant force in the automotive industry.

The report cleverly links chip supply to the FICIERA bill, currently under consideration for investment in new energy, suggesting that the "chilling effect" of the bill is beginning to spread to a wider range of industries. (End of Chapter)