Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

For three whole days, those multinational tycoons who were used to drinking champagne in first class experienced firsthand what "Eastern etiquette" really meant in the city's cold wind.

They stayed in the most basic budget hotel (because the rooms in the luxury hotels were "just" booked by the Nangong Group), ate Chinese fast food that they were not used to, and went to the curb outside the Development and Reform Commission every day to report for duty, eagerly waiting for the security guard to call their number.

Arrogance was blown away by the cold wind, and self-esteem was crushed by reality.

When the young man, whom countless people regarded as a fierce tiger, finally "had time" to meet with them, these foreign gentlemen, who were usually domineering at the negotiating table, became extremely cautious as they entered the not-so-luxurious conference room.

……

The atmosphere in the meeting room was so oppressive that it made you want to escape.

Liu Ming sat at the end of the huge mahogany conference table. He wasn't wearing a suit today, just a sturdy black turtleneck sweater with a dark gray jacket over it, giving him a sharp, unsheathed look.

Opposite him sat twelve representatives from Western companies, led by Thomas from the M Group.

"Director Liu."

Thomas spoke first, and although he tried his best to hide it, his voice still carried a hint of long-standing superiority.

"We deeply regret your country's recent release of the Export Restriction List. This not only violates the WTO's principles of free trade, but also seriously disrupts the global supply chain."

He pulled out a thick document, trying to regain some ground in terms of momentum.

"On behalf of twelve multinational corporations, we hereby formally lodge a strong protest with your side. If you do not immediately lift these unreasonable restrictions, we will have no choice but to resort to the International Court of Justice. At the same time, the countries behind us will also reassess their bilateral trade relations with your country."

"I believe that Director Liu is also a smart man. Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both. As long as you resume the supply of materials, we are willing to make some 'appropriate' concessions on the previous chip agreement."

Threats and inducements—this has been their tried-and-true robber logic for dealing with developing countries for the past century: give them a beating, then a sweet treat, and they'll be grateful enough to continue serving as their cheap labor and raw material supplier.

If the person sitting opposite you were one of those old bureaucrats who used to be so anxious and indecisive, they might actually be intimidated by this rhetoric.

Unfortunately, they are facing Liu Ming today, a demon who never plays by the rules and who specializes in dealing with anyone who dares to defy them.

"Bang!"

Liu Ming didn't speak. He didn't even look at the documents Thomas handed him. He simply raised his hand and, extremely casually yet heavily, slammed it on the mahogany table.

A muffled thud made the teacups on the table jump.

The shock also made the hearts of the twelve foreigners opposite them clench sharply.

"Mr. Thomas."

Liu Ming leaned back in his chair, his gaze as cold as if he were looking at a pile of lifeless objects. He didn't speak Chinese, but rather in extremely fluent English, even carrying a hint of arrogance characteristic of those in power, and spoke slowly.

"Do you really think you can pull off something like you did a hundred years ago, with a few dilapidated ships and a few cannons, and force us to sign unequal treaties?"

"You just talked to me about 'free trade'?"

Liu Ming sneered, her fingers tapping out a chilling rhythm on the table.

"Where did your free trade principles go when you banded together to cut off our 'Longyuan' chips?"

"Where was your spirit of international law when you unreasonably detained our overseas executives and froze our legitimate assets abroad?"

With each question Liu Ming asked, her aura grew stronger.

"You've used trade as a weapon of sanctions and technology as a tool for extortion. Now that this weapon has been used against you, you're starting to talk to me about 'rules'?"

"You're so adept at using double standards, don't you find it disgusting? I'm ashamed for you!"

Thomas was so embarrassed that he opened his mouth to refute, but found that he couldn't find any words to refute this ironclad fact.

"These...these are two different things!"

A representative from another European optics giant stood up, his face flushed, and shouted, "Our blockade in the semiconductor field is for national security reasons! Your restrictions on raw material exports are purely malicious commercial retaliation!"

"National security?"

The mockery in Liu Ming's eyes deepened, and he suddenly turned on the projector behind him.

On the screen appeared a series of intricate equity structure diagrams and technology patent analysis reports.

"This is an analysis of the core profit sources of your twelve companies."

Liu Ming stood up, picked up the laser pointer, and pointed at the few glaring red curves on the screen.

"M Group, your latest generation of aero engines would see a 30% drop in thrust-to-weight ratio without our superconducting rare earth elements. How will you explain that to your Ministry of Defense?"

"And you, Leica Optics."

Liu Ming turned to the European representative who had spoken earlier, "Those deep ultraviolet lithography machines you're so proud of—without the special damping fluid we provide, the lens precision will suffer irreparable deviations. How many more days can your production line keep running?"

"Your so-called 'national security' is nothing but a paper tiger built on sucking our blood!"

"Now, this tiger is hungry and wants to bite someone."

"Do you think I, Liu Ming, would be stupid enough to offer my neck for you to bite?"

The entire conference room was deathly silent.

All the Western representatives slumped in their chairs. Their carefully prepared negotiating trump cards, their so-called "concessions" and "compromises," were ruthlessly torn apart and trampled upon like a joke in front of this Eastern man.

He not only understands politics and law, but he also understands their most fatal weakness!

"Director Liu... Director Liu..."

Thomas's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. He finally abandoned his arrogant attitude, and his voice revealed a deep sense of powerlessness.

"So... what exactly do you want? If you continue to cut off supplies, our company will really go bankrupt. This will also affect the global supply chain..."

"Global supply chains? That's not my problem. That's your problem."

Liu Ming walked back to her seat and took out a stack of documents that she had prepared in advance from the drawer.

He casually tossed the document aside, and it slid down with a "thud" in front of Thomas and the others.

"I'm a very fair person."

"Since we're all sitting at the same table, let's play according to my rules."

"This is the latest Comprehensive Technology and Resource Sharing Cooperation Agreement."

Liu Ming crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with a chilling light that sent shivers down one's spine.

"First, unconditionally lift all technological blockades on China, including but not limited to technological barriers in core areas such as chips, high-end machine tools, and aero engines."

"Second, in all your joint ventures in China, the Chinese party must hold no less than 51% of the shares and have absolute operational control."

"Third, open up your underlying code and basic patent pool to fully integrate with the 'Dragon Abyss' system."

"As long as this agreement is signed."

Liu Ming looked at the Western tycoons who were on the verge of fainting.

"Rare earth elements, damping fluid, pulse valves... I'll not only supply them freely, but I can even give you a 20% discount."

"But what if you don't sign?"

Liu Ming stood up, straightened her collar, and prepared to leave.

He left behind his last sentence, which was also his most fatal one.

"Then you'll just cling to your machines that are about to become scrap metal."

"Let's just wait to die slowly in the dead of winter."

The door closed, and in the conference room, twelve once-arrogant multinational CEOs stared at the unequal treaty before them, which could be described as a "contract of servitude," and fell into a silence more painful than death.