For Mr. Swan, today is definitely the darkest day since he assumed the position of CEO of Intel.

No, not just for him, but for Intel as a whole, it was definitely the most desperate day in half a century.

Even when five Japanese semiconductor companies jointly established the VLSI Research Institute, the price of chips was reduced from $26 to $5, and the North American market was quickly occupied with cheap and reliable 64K chips, it would not make people feel so desperate.

At least, they had the strength to fight back then.

And now, the technology they are proud of, as well as those achievements in the field of carbon-based chips, are not worth mentioning in front of the wheel of the times.

Especially the old fox who sat across the table, with a pair of soybean-sized eyes full of cunning written in them, and he could no longer see a single pleasant color.

However, although the process was difficult, when he came out of the conference room, he felt like he had unloaded the burden of eight hundred pounds, and the whole person was relaxed.

In any case, the outcome of filing for bankruptcy protection was averted.

"How did it turn out?"

Seeing Swan coming out of the conference room, Mayberry, who had been pacing back and forth at the door, immediately greeted him impatiently.

The current situation does not allow him not to be in a hurry.

After all, it's about whether he can continue to work in the position of CTO.

There is no doubt that he is an out-and-out expert in the field of chips, and he can become the chief technology officer by virtue of his own strength.

However, when silicon-based chips are facing full replacement, this pitiful security and self-confidence are as fragile as a piece of paper......

“…… I don't want to discuss this topic right now. ”

Glancing blankly at Mayberry, Swan's Adam's apple moved, and he continued.

"I just want to find a place to be alone for a while."

"Then, drink something."

Looking at Swan's back as he walked towards the other end of the hallway, Mayberry stared in that direction for a moment.

It was the first time he had seen it.

Mr. Swan, who could make decisions calmly and calmly even under any circumstances, had such an exhausted expression......

……

There is nothing to be gained in letting Intel go out of business.

Even putting aside the political risks and the fact that the general environment for free trade has become difficult, this is by no means a good thing from the objective law of market development.

As long as the demand for chips in the United States remains, even if an Intel falls, new semiconductor companies will soon emerge to take its place in the North American market.

Although the battle was won, the management of Warwick was very clear-headed, and the innovation ability of the North American semiconductor industry was not weak, and it could even be said to be very strong.

Rather than create a new Intel and command a group of more creative minds to compete with them, it is better to keep the notorious toothpaste factory.

After all, if Intel does go out of business and let a Silicon Valley startup with hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and backed by MIT and Wall Street take over Intel's lab, the situation will become troublesome.

A bloated elephant suffering from the disease of a big business is far safer than a pack of hungry wolves with fresh blood and nimble movements. Even placing the elephant in this fragile ecosystem can help them suppress the living space of other beasts.

Of course, if the elephant still can't survive in the end, it will be bitten to death by a group of hungry wolves coveting its fat in the cruel market competition......

It doesn't really make much sense to talk about these things.

Riverside Hotel.

In this five-star hotel, which is said to have a small history of 100 years, a banquet is going on.

To be precise, it's a celebration feast.

In order to celebrate the success of the product launch conference and to celebrate a better tomorrow, Huawei chartered the entire hotel for three days, apparently planning to put the mid-year report summary together.

Sitting alone at a table, Wang Zhengfei, who was staggered and had a red face, said to Lu Zhou with a smile.

"Are you going to go back to Jinling tomorrow?"

Lu Zhou thought for a while and replied, "Probably the day after tomorrow, there is a meeting of the IMCRC at a high level, and I have to go around tomorrow." ”

Although he has been fishing for more than half a year, the "opportunity to exercise" has been thrown by him to his designated successor, Senior Brother Luo, to do it, but he is also holding the position of chairman of the board, and this kind of large-scale meeting does not even show his face, and the other participants will inevitably have some complaints.

After all, when the IMCRC was first established, the other participants in the international scientific research organization still complained about Huaguo's practice of directly appointing a chairman without voting through the committee.

If it weren't for the fact that only one country in the world was willing to pay and had the ability to build this collider on the moon, they would have turned their backs long ago.

"Is that the Lunar Hadron Collider?"

"Yes."

Seeing that Lu Zhou nodded, Wang Zhengfei couldn't help but say with emotion: "You young people still have energy, if I have so much work on me, I will not be able to bear it a long time ago." ”

Chief Designer of the Lunar Orbit Construction Committee, Chairman of IMCRC, second-in-command of a national key scientific research project, and first-in-command of an international scientific research cooperation project.

Not to mention that Jinling University also has a position on the side of the Institute for Advanced Study.

If this is a different person, let alone doing something else, I'm afraid that I will be so busy all day long that I don't even have time to eat.

"Actually, it's okay, I don't have to worry too much about things other than research, and I don't find it tiring to do what I like." After taking a sip of champagne, Lu Zhou, who suddenly remembered something, asked, "Speaking of which, have you talked to Intel?" ”

"After talking," Wang said, "as soon as the product launch was over, their CEO couldn't wait to come over." ”

In fact, not only Intel, but also Qualcomm, there are already five North American semiconductor companies that have been contacted privately.

Obviously, this so-called industry alliance is not as strong as it seems.

Lu Zhou: "It's convenient to reveal, is the negotiation completed?" ”

Hearing Lu Zhou's question, Wang Zhengfei smiled mysteriously and raised three fingers.

"Two guarantees one agreement."

Hearing this, Lu Zhou's eyebrows raised slightly with a look of interest.

After the advent of carbon-based chips, silicon-based chips have been declining, and those lithography machines that were originally banned are sold this time, and they may not be able to find buyers, after all, Huaguo no longer imports garbage.

But the cooperation between Warwick and Intel must be because Intel still has the bargaining chips in his hands to enter the eyes of Mr. Wang.

Although he was not interested in business matters, he was still a little curious about what this chip was.

"Exchange for what?"

"Change the North American market!"

Hearing this, Lu Zhou was slightly stunned, but soon a clear smile appeared on his face.

"Looks like we've won this time."

Hearing this, Wang Zhengfei laughed, his eyes narrowed into a crescent crescent.

"A big win? Sort of! ”

In a good mood, he raised the cup in his hand and handed it to Lu Zhou.

"Thanks to your Dragons! I have to salute you for this wine! ”

Lu Zhou touched his glass with him, smiled slightly and nodded.

"Our Dragon."