Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 480 Soft and Hard Separation, Each to Its Own Extreme

While Liu Shishi and Yu Chendong were chatting, the heavy solid wood door of the private room opened again, and Song Ci and Ren Zhengfei walked in side by side.

Upon seeing the two arrive, Liu Shishi immediately stood up and gracefully stepped forward to greet them.

She first gave her husband a gentle smile and naturally called him "husband".

She then turned to Ren Zhengfei, bowed gracefully, and said in a proper manner: "Hello, Mr. Ren, I have long admired your name. I am Liu Shishi."

Ren Zhengfei smiled kindly, looked at the radiant woman in front of him, and said loudly, "Hello, Madam Song, I apologize for disturbing you."

My youngest daughter is a huge fan of yours. Could you please sign an autograph for me today? I need to take it home and report back, otherwise she'll complain about me as her father.

Upon hearing this, a hint of curiosity flashed in Liu Shishi's eyes: "Mr. Ren, you're too kind. May I ask how old your daughter is this year?"

"Her name is Anna, and she's just turned 15. It's the perfect age for her to be a fan of celebrities." Ren Zhengfei's words were full of a father's doting affection. "This child is determined to become an actress and make her way in the entertainment industry. Perhaps in the future, we'll need Mrs. Song's help."

Liu Shishi smiled and readily agreed: "President Ren, you flatter me. If my sister Anna really intends to get involved in the film and television industry in the future, please feel free to ask me for help. I will do my best."

Yu Chendong, who was standing nearby, seized the opportunity to step forward and greeted them respectfully: "President Ren, President Song."

"Hello, Mr. Yu." Song Ci shook hands with him politely, and then greeted him, "Mr. Ren, Mr. Yu, please don't stand there, please take a seat."

After the guests were seated, Liu Shishi gave the manager, who was waiting quietly beside her, a wink. The manager understood and quietly withdrew to arrange for the dishes to be served.

The exquisite dishes were served quickly and orderly. Considering Ren Zhengfei's age and taste, the dishes were mostly light and refreshing. Although there was no luxurious plating, the dishes showed meticulous care in every aspect.

Ren Zhengfei tasted the steamed shad, nodded in satisfaction, and then changed the subject, remarking on Song Dynasty poetry:

"President Song's proposal on 'Internet Plus' at the conference today was insightful and visionary, and it caused quite a stir."

I saw many delegates and leaders nodding frequently; if this proposal can be implemented, it will greatly help boost the national economy.

Song Ci smiled modestly, raised his cup to toast with tea instead of wine, and said, "Mr. Ren, you flatter me. This is just an inevitable reflection under the tide of the times."

The internet, especially the mobile internet, will eventually become an infrastructure like water and electricity, and the value of '+' lies in integration and efficiency improvement.

After a brief pause, his tone became serious: "But all of this grand strategy is based on the explosive growth of mobile internet hardware and smart devices."

In the coming years, it will become commonplace for each person to own one or even multiple smart devices.

This business tycoon's sharp gaze slowly swept over Ren Zhengfei and Yu Chendong, who was listening intently, his voice steady and full of profound meaning.

"The chip is the 'heart' and 'brain' of all smart devices! It is the core foundation supporting the entire hardware ecosystem and can be called a national strategic asset."

Globally, Samsung leverages its advantages across the entire industry chain to develop and use its own Exynos chips.

Apple has further built an unshakeable ecosystem moat and product control by leveraging the deep synergy between its A-series chips and the iOS system.

At this point, Song Ci's tone became slightly stronger as he pointed out the key issue: "On the other hand, many domestic manufacturers are overly reliant on external chip suppliers such as Qualcomm."

Not only do we have to pay hefty patent licensing fees, driving up costs, but we also face the risk of being "strangled" should the supply chain change.

Hearing this, Yu Chendong was deeply moved.

Although it's hard to understand why the richest man suddenly mentioned chips, after all, Tenda Technology is known for its software ecosystem and has no direct commercial connection with hardware chips.

But every word the other party said precisely hit the nail on the head regarding his deepest thoughts, and coincided with his most desired strategy!

This perfectly aligns with his belief that Huawei's terminal business must master core chip technology in order to lead it to penetrate the high-end market.

Yu Chendong almost couldn't help but chime in, but after glancing at Ren Zhengfei, he held back and instead stared intently at the old man.

Ren Zhengfei remained calm, put down his chopsticks, and his eyes gleamed with deep thought.

He certainly understood the importance of chips, but it was an extremely expensive, difficult, and long-term path to return.

This matter concerns Huawei's future strategic resource allocation and its very survival; every step must be taken with extreme caution and careful consideration.

Now, hearing the richest man so clearly and urgently explain the strategic significance of chips, even elevating it to the level of national industrial security, my heart has once again been subtly tipped.

Those who were already inclined to support Yu Chendong's radical approach to promoting high-end chips now seem to have gained even more support on the other side of the scale.

After a moment's thought, Ren Zhengfei slowly spoke: "President Song has a visionary perspective, but the road to chip manufacturing is long and arduous. I wonder what insights Tengda has in this regard?"

The question was quite clever, and the atmosphere in the private room immediately became heavy. Everyone understood that the main event was about to begin.

Song Ci lightly wiped her lips with a napkin, her movements unhurried and deliberate, but the first sentence she uttered was like a thunderclap:

"To be honest, Mr. Ren, Tenda is developing a brand new mobile operating system called TenOS, which is currently in a critical stage."

"What?!" Even Ren Zhengfei, who had weathered many storms, had his pupils shrink upon hearing this, and subconsciously exchanged glances with Yu Chendong beside him.

Both of them could not hide their shock.

They knew that Tenda was ambitious and had a far-reaching presence in the software field, but they never expected that Songci would quietly enter the top battlefield of the global technology field, the mobile operating system!
This means that Tenda is going head-to-head with Apple's iOS and Google's Android, attempting to fundamentally reshape the global mobile ecosystem! Such boldness and ambition are truly awe-inspiring.

Song Ci paused briefly, seemingly giving the two time to process the news.

His gaze sharpened as he looked directly at Ren Zhengfei and stated the ultimate purpose of tonight's meeting: "President Ren, I sincerely hope that Tenda and Huawei can achieve an unprecedentedly deep strategic cooperation!"

Leaning slightly forward, his tone clear and firm, he outlined a grand vision he had long been developing: "In the future, Tenda will focus on the software ecosystem, concentrating on TenOS, WeChat, cloud computing, artificial intelligence..."

Huawei, on the other hand, focuses on core hardware, deeply cultivating high-end mobile phone design, communication technology, and most importantly, the chip field, to create world-class terminal equipment.

"By joining forces and integrating software and hardware, we have created an unprecedented synergy to build a new bipolar world order in the global technology field!"

The voice of Song Ci carries a strange power of persuasion: "Just like the 'Wintel' alliance formed by Microsoft and Intel in the PC era, which defined industry standards for decades!"
The 'HuaTeng Alliance' has the opportunity to replicate or even surpass this legend in the mobile internet era!

With a bright and passionate gaze, the richest man explained in detail: "Specifically, TenOS will perform deep optimizations for Huawei HiSilicon chips from the ground up, prioritizing smooth compatibility on Huawei phones and creating a barrier to entry in terms of user experience."

Conversely, the chips developed by Huawei will provide computing power support for Tenda's artificial intelligence research and cloud computing services, reducing its dependence on foreign chips.

Ren Zhengfei listened quietly, already understanding the strategic landscape of Song Ci poetry:
Tenda is pursuing the path of cutting-edge software, while Huawei is pursuing the path of cutting-edge hardware. The two are no longer simply in a supply and demand relationship, but are deeply bound together and a community of shared destiny that complements each other.

"Great! That's fantastic!" Yu Chendong was overwhelmed with excitement and could no longer contain his joy, so he cheered loudly.

This idea perfectly aligns with his ambition in hardware technology and will garner full support from software ecosystem giants! His gaze towards Song Ci was filled with undisguised excitement and admiration.

Seeing Yu Chendong's almost "fanboy" demeanor in front of her husband, Liu Shishi couldn't help but smile. Song Ci, full of vigor and determination, declared her ultimate vision: "Huawei, shoulder the banner of China's hard technology!"
Tenda aspires to be a stepping stone for the software ecosystem, connecting applications and linking everything!

The future global technological landscape will inevitably be a bipolar world with the US and China as the two superpowers. The 'HuaTeng Alliance' has the potential to contend for one of those poles!

Ren Zhengfei remained silent for a long time, his expression shifting, before finally letting out a long, helpless yet resolute sigh:

"President Song, your words have really put this old man and Huawei in a corner."

He was well aware of the current situation: in the mobile phone chip field, Qualcomm was in a dominant position, making a fortune from patent fees; Samsung and Apple had already established their own chip development, creating high barriers to entry.

If Huawei does not become a major player in chip manufacturing, it may ultimately be unable to escape the fate of becoming a high-end assembly plant, with no other choice.

"Hua Teng Alliance! Hua Teng Alliance!" After repeatedly muttering these words to himself, the hesitation in his eyes was gradually replaced by determination.

A moment later, Ren Zhengfei slowly stood up, his expression extremely solemn, and extended his hand to Song Ci beside him:

"President Song, I see your blueprint. I receive your determination."

I, Ren Zhengfei, on behalf of Huawei, declare: No matter how difficult and arduous the path to chip development may be, or how many resources need to be invested, Huawei will fight to the bitter end and will never back down!

Song Ci immediately stood up, her face solemn and dignified, and firmly grasped Ren Zhengfei's outstretched hand.

This handshake transcends the boundaries between software and hardware;
This handshake embodies the ambitions of two tech giants;
This handshake marks the official achievement of the strategic vision of the "Hua Teng Alliance" on this night and in this place!
The soft lighting in the private room cast the silhouettes of the two men shaking hands onto the wall, creating a scene reminiscent of a new era.

With the strategic alliance established, Huawei and Tenda became close allies fighting side by side, and the atmosphere in the private room instantly became relaxed and harmonious.

The initial tentative steps and considerations have been replaced by a sense of trust in working together on a grand undertaking.

After they sat down again, Song Ci naturally presented his new ally with several substantial "gifts".

After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "President Ren, President Yu, since we're already family, I'll speak frankly about some of my thoughts."

To be frank, I've been closely following the global chip industry lately, and I have some preliminary thoughts I'd like to share and discuss with you both.

The richest man's self-deprecating words carried considerable weight. Ren Zhengfei and Yu Chendong straightened up, eager to hear his insightful opinions.

After organizing her thoughts, Song Ci spoke eloquently: "Mobile communication technology is developing rapidly, and the 4G era is just around the corner. This is not just about improving network speed, but about transforming the entire mobile ecosystem."

Ren Zhengfei nodded slightly. As the helmsman of the telecommunications giant, Huawei felt this most deeply and agreed with it the most.

"Therefore, if Huawei Terminal wants to gain a foothold and make a breakthrough in the high-end market, I suggest that the next generation of HiSilicon chips should prioritize the integration of self-developed 4G baseband."

At that time, WeChat will release a new version that is deeply optimized and fully utilizes the features of 4G networks as soon as possible.

We can use it as the preferred platform for testing network adaptability and stability, and work together to refine the optimal communication experience.

A glint flashed in Yu Chendong's eyes, and he immediately kept this highly actionable suggestion in mind, planning to gather his team to conduct technical demonstrations and planning as soon as he got back.

Song Ci then put forward a slightly ahead-of-its-time idea: "In addition, I wonder if you two have noticed that the cryptocurrency field has become increasingly popular in the past two years."

I have a feeling that a global "crypto mining" wave is coming, which will create a massive demand for specific computing chips.

“Cryptocurrency? Mining?” Yu Chendong frowned slightly.

Although he had heard of concepts like Bitcoin, he always felt that its financial speculative attributes far outweighed its technological value, and he couldn't immediately figure out how it was related to Huawei's main business.

Song Ci explained: "That's right, especially Bitcoin, whose mining process essentially involves a large number of hash calculations, which requires a huge amount of specialized chips."

This is not only a huge short-term market opportunity, but it also allows Huawei to quickly accumulate experience in high-density computing chip design, while revitalizing and driving its own chip design and manufacturing supply chain.

Then, a cooperation plan was proposed: "If you two think it is feasible, Huawei and Tenda can jointly establish a company overseas that focuses on the research and development and production of mining machines."

Huawei was responsible for designing the core dedicated mining chips, while Tenda provided financial support and utilized cloud services to build and operate large-scale mining pools.

Although Ren Zhengfei held reservations about cryptocurrency itself, he firmly believed in Song Ci's business acumen, and pondered:
"Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Song. We haven't paid much attention to this area. But since you brought it up, there must be a reason for it. We will immediately organize a team to conduct in-depth research."

Seeing that the two had listened to her words, Song Ci felt somewhat relieved.

In its previous life, Nvidia soared to new heights thanks to the cryptocurrency mining boom, accumulating enormous capital and technological iteration capabilities. In this life, the "HuaTeng Alliance" must seize this opportunity.

After speaking for several paragraphs, Song Ci felt thirsty and picked up her teacup to take a big gulp to moisten her throat.

After setting down his teacup, his expression became even more serious and earnest: "Mr. Ren, the last and most important point is that I hope Huawei and Tenda will jointly develop a neural network processor."

"Okay!" To Song Ci's surprise, Ren Zhengfei blurted out almost without thinking as soon as he finished speaking, promising on the spot without the slightest hesitation!

"Huawei will take this on! HiSilicon will immediately allocate its elite resources to establish a dedicated NPU team!"

Ren Zhengfei's decisiveness and vision in technological research and development are on full display at this moment.

He may not fully understand cryptocurrency, but he has a deep understanding of the strategic importance of core technologies, and Song Ci's suggestion hit the mark in terms of future planning.

Song Ci was taken aback at first, then smiled broadly, admiring the old entrepreneur's boldness: "Don't worry, Mr. Ren, since it's a strategic cooperation, Tengda will show the utmost sincerity."

I will open up Tenda's top AI algorithm team to collaborate deeply with HiSilicon engineers to jointly optimize chip architecture design.

Our core algorithms, such as image recognition and natural language processing, will provide the most direct application scenarios and optimization directions for NPU design.

Yu Chendong, who was standing nearby, excitedly interjected, "That's great! President Song, I've long admired Tengda's AI technology!"

At this moment, the pressure on his shoulders was greatly reduced, and he felt extremely relaxed. He had already begun to imagine the future scenario of Huawei mobile phones equipped with intelligent voice assistants driven by Tenda AI and Huawei NPU.

Seeing that the men were engrossed in the technical blueprints again, Liu Shishi took the opportunity to lighten the mood and gently advised:
"Honey, Mr. Ren, Mr. Yu, business is important, but let's not get too caught up in talking. The food is getting cold. Let's eat and chat at the same time."

"Haha, okay, I'll listen to Shishi. Mr. Ren, try this, it's the Four Seasons Hotel's signature dish." Song Ci picked up her chopsticks again.

The atmosphere lightened again. As allies, the conversation became more in-depth.

While dining, the two sides took the opportunity to discuss the possibility of complementing and sharing Tenda's accumulated patents in the communications field with Huawei's strong baseband patents, in order to further enhance the technological foundation of both parties.

The meal was a great success, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.

As the dinner was drawing to a close, and the waiter had just served everyone freshly brewed hot tea, Song Ci revealed a mysterious smile and spoke again:
"Mr. Ren, today the 'HuaTeng Alliance' is officially established. To show Tengda's sincerity and determination, I also have a special gift to give to Huawei."

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(End of this chapter)