Reborn since 1993

Chapter 1409 Better to die than not go crazy!
Upon seeing the gift box in Ed Frye's hand, Cornell, Wei Jiaxuan, and the others couldn't help but turn their gazes towards it.

They all knew that Microsoft had been cooperating with Dongling High-Tech on hardware. After all, Microsoft had previously made headlines with Dongling High-Tech and Nihon Sekke, with the three companies jointly investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the development of internet set-top boxes, claiming to be launching a new television revolution!

Besides the set-top box project, Microsoft also has many collaborative projects with Dongling High-Tech, and even acquired digital video recorders from Dongling High-Tech for a large sum of money. In addition, the most important hardware project between the two sides is the Microsoft game console...

Ed Frye didn't mince words and revealed the answer directly, saying to Li Dongling, "This is the first-generation Xbox game prototype developed by Microsoft Labs!"

"This prototype is a gift from Microsoft to you, Li. You are the first Xbox user in the world!"

Ed Frye was actually well aware that Dongling High-Tech was probably very clear about the progress of Microsoft's game console development.

After all, the core components of Microsoft's Xbox game console, including the chips, are all purchased from Dongke Group component suppliers. It would be ridiculous for Dongling Hi-Tech to know nothing about Xbox.

But sometimes the show has to go on. The Xbox game console project is nominally Microsoft's, and once the prototype is developed, it will definitely be sent to an ally for trial use.

"Xbox will be the world's top gaming console!"

When does Microsoft plan to launch and sell Xbox?

Li Dongling took the game console, praised it, and then asked Ed a question.

"The final review is still underway. In addition, the games that are compatible with the Xbox console launch have not yet been finalized. They are expected to be released in the second half of the year!"

Upon hearing Ed Frye's words, Wei Jiaxuan, Cornell, and the others around him couldn't help but make some calculations in their minds.

If Microsoft's Xbox game console is released, it will be a huge piece of news. It will be a catalyst for Microsoft's stock price and market value, stimulating Microsoft's stock price to continue to rise sharply, and may even have the opportunity to change Microsoft's embarrassing situation.

Microsoft's stock price and market value have continued to rise this year, making it one of the fastest-growing companies on the Nasdaq. Given Microsoft's size, it's like an elephant dancing.

However, Microsoft is also in an awkward position. The antitrust investigation launched by the American Department of Justice against Microsoft, triggered by Netscape's lawsuit, has left Microsoft struggling to breathe.

Netscape Navigator has been completely defeated by Microsoft's underhanded tactics of bundling Microsoft systems with Internet Explorer. Netscape Navigator's market share is now less than 20%. This browser war in America has already been decided.

However, the browser war may have ended, but that doesn't mean the long-standing feud between Netscape and Microsoft has ended. On the contrary, Netscape founder Clark continued the war with Microsoft in another way.

That is, the death of Netscape Navigator was used as a sacrifice to launch a decisive attack against Microsoft, inciting the Department of Justice to conduct an antitrust investigation against Microsoft.

Netscape founder Jim Clark is not like Microsoft's former rivals, such as Lotus and Sun, who only knew how to focus on technology. Jim Clark is one of the key figures in Silicon Valley.

In addition, he has close ties with the Democratic Party, and Jim Clark was one of the first to respond to the current president of the United States' push for the internet.

American Vice President Al Gore has publicly endorsed Netscape, without mentioning that Netscape was defeated by Microsoft because Microsoft actually used bundled systems for malicious competition.

Having been caught red-handed, Clark urged the Department of Justice to launch an antitrust investigation into Microsoft.

At first, Microsoft didn't take it seriously. There were plenty of people who had sued Microsoft before, so who was Netscape?

But now, with the federal Department of Justice and nineteen states suing Microsoft, what's even more upsetting for Microsoft is that Judge Jackson, who is presiding over the case, is taking a very tough stance against Microsoft.

When the Vice President of America, the Department of Justice, the nineteen states, and the judges presiding over the antitrust case all harbored murderous intent towards Microsoft, Microsoft truly felt the chill of being broken up.

The lawsuit is still ongoing, but the situation is not good for Microsoft. Internally, Microsoft has begun to treat the antitrust case as its top priority.

However, Microsoft couldn't openly announce that it might be broken up, otherwise its stock price would immediately plummet.

So Microsoft is currently tight internally but relaxed externally, spending a lot on public relations and lobbying, while externally it is trying to stabilize the stock price and even continue to push it up, creating an image of peace and prosperity.

Because the stock price is the lifeblood of Microsoft, once the stock price really collapses, everything will be over, creating a situation where everyone is beating a broken drum, and it will really be finished.

The launch of the Xbox game console is also a huge positive for Microsoft's stock price, as it can boost the company's stock price.

As long as the market value remains, even if Microsoft loses the lawsuit, it can file another lawsuit and drag the case on!

"I believe that the Xbox game console will become a milestone product in the history of global gaming devices."

Xbox will redefine what a game console truly is for the world!

Li Dashanren is enthusiastically praising the Microsoft Xbox game console. If you ask who is happiest about the mass production of the Microsoft game console, it's clear that...

Aside from console gamers, the only other option is probably Dongling High-Tech. Dongling High-Tech handles the core components and mass production of Microsoft's game consoles. Whether Microsoft made a profit selling Xbox is unknown to Li Keqiang, but he certainly won't skimp on the money owed to Dongling High-Tech!

Whether Microsoft loses $10 billion or $20 billion selling game consoles is none of Dongling High-Tech's business. In any case, Dongling High-Tech has to make all the money it's supposed to earn from the Xbox game console. At least a quarter of the money Microsoft spends has to end up in Dongling High-Tech's pocket.

Upon arriving at a suite at the horse racing club, Khalid stopped in his tracks. Although he wanted to stay, he knew it wasn't the right time yet.

"I wonder how things are between Mr. Bill Gates and Microsoft now?" Li Dongling asked Ed Frye after sitting down.

Ed Frye understood that Li Dongling wasn't asking about Bill Gates' health, but rather about Microsoft's current situation.

"We have encountered some troubles, but the media reports are all just baseless rumors!"

"Microsoft is being targeted by a mad dog now, but it's just a 'minor' problem. Whether in the past or now, Microsoft will always be the one to win in the end!"

Ed Frye's face radiated powerful confidence, as if what was happening to Microsoft was nothing more than a minor ailment.

Li Dongling nodded, not refuting Ed Frye's words.

Li Dashan really cares about Microsoft, his ally, and genuinely doesn't want Microsoft to be broken up. If Microsoft is broken up, who will pay for Dongling High-Tech's hardware product development in the future? Is it so easy to find such a good successor?
At least in the short term, the existence of Microsoft as an ally is beneficial to Dongling Hi-Tech. It can provide Dongling Hi-Tech with R&D funding and also act as a guide, becoming one of Dongling Hi-Tech's representatives in America.

As for how long this alliance can last, no one knows, but as long as there is profit to be made, the "alliance" between Dongke and Microsoft can continue.

Once there is no profit to be made, or even if they become direct competitors, then allies naturally become rivals. The world is bustling with people coming and going for profit, and this principle will never be outdated.

"Everyone has taken time out of their busy schedules to come here today for only one thing: Ruyan Company!"

Li Dongling looked at Zhang Xiaocheng, Lin Xianhui, Wu Yaoguo, Cao Zongyan, Ed, Cornell and others sitting in the room and said.

Wei Jiaxuan and Cornell also looked intently at Li Dashanren.

Wall Street institutions have long coveted the lucrative market of e-cigarettes, given the immense potential for speculation surrounding the e-cigarette concept.

The mere claim that e-cigarettes will replace traditional tobacco in the future is enough to drive a bunch of Wall Street institutions crazy.

Of course, everyone knows that expecting e-cigarettes to replace traditional tobacco is basically a pipe dream, and we won't see that hope for at least one or two decades, or even half a century.

But so what? Stock trading is all about expectations, hype, and empty promises. If those promises actually come true, nobody will be interested anymore.

As long as the gimmick of e-cigarettes replacing traditional tobacco exists, Wall Street institutions can manipulate the market to their heart's content, driving up the stock price of e-cigarettes like Ruyan, and then letting retail investors buy in, making a fortune in the process.

Once the stock is sold off, they'll short it again, repeatedly crushing retail investors. As long as e-cigarette stocks are hyped up, Wall Street can keep fleecing retail investors!

Do you really think that Wall Street institutions will obediently wait for Ruyan e-cigarettes to outperform tobacco giants like Morris, Reynolds, and British Tobacco?

You might not even be able to wait until the flowers wither, but you can certainly drive up the stock price. They don't care about the consequences once they've harvested the韭菜 (leeks), because every few years a new crop of韭菜 will grow in the leek field.

"Ruyan e-cigarettes will be undergoing a new round of financing this time, and I hope that Ruyan e-cigarettes can obtain a valuation commensurate with its worth!"

Li Dongling spoke up. While Wei Jiaxuan and Cornell were still deep in thought, Cao Zongyan unconsciously wiggled his buttocks, as if he were being pricked by needles.

Cao Zongyan has now figured out Li Dashan's style of doing things. Li Dashan's courage and methods are completely different from those of the wealthy families in Hong Kong.

Upon hearing this, Cao Zongyan could easily imagine just how outrageous Li Dashanren's valuation of Ruyan e-cigarettes would be.

"This is a survey of the global e-cigarette market conducted by Peregrine in conjunction with a third-party research institution."

Since the emergence of Ruyan e-cigarettes, there are now more than fifty e-cigarette brands worldwide, and the e-cigarette market is growing at a rate of over 50% every quarter.

"Ruyan e-cigarettes are currently the most accepted e-cigarette product among global users. Therefore, within ten years, the global e-cigarette market will reach tens of billions of US dollars!"

By presenting an industry analysis report fabricated by a Peregrine analyst, Li Dashan (Li the Philanthropist) was exaggerating—no, he was stating the facts—about the potential of Ruyan e-cigarettes.

"Therefore, I believe that Ruyan e-cigarettes should complete its listing on the NYSE with a valuation of over ten billion US dollars!"

Upon hearing this, the suite fell silent. Even Zhang Xiaocheng, Wu Yaoguo, and Lin Xianhui, who were "one of their own," stared at Li the Philanthropist in astonishment.

No, is this something they can hear, something they should hear? Are they really just exploiting people without any regard for others?
(End of this chapter)