Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

53: Chapter 53: A Nation’s Trust, Taking Over the Red FlagMarch 31, 2017, a seemingly ordinary Friday afternoon. The sunlight of Shenzhen filtered through the clear sky, spilling onto the streamlined glass curtain wall of Spark Technology’s headquarters, reflecting a dazzling light. However, beneath this calm, a meeting that would profoundly change the landscape and destiny of Spark Technology was quietly brewing.

At exactly three o’clock in the afternoon, a motorcade consisting of three black domestic Red Flag H7s pulled up silently and precisely in front of the main entrance of the Spark Headquarters building. The car door opened, and a steady-looking elder with piercing eyes, dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit, stepped out surrounded by his entourage. He was the Director of SASAC, Gao Peng. His personal visit was an extraordinary signal in itself.

Su Chen and Lin Wan had been waiting in the first-floor lobby for some time. Without excessive pleasantries, the two sides shook hands; the atmosphere was solemn, carrying a hint of indescribable gravity. The group took a private elevator directly to the top-floor top-secret conference room.

The conference room door closed quietly, isolating everything from the outside world. After taking their seats, Director Gao Peng did not engage in any of the common pleasantries of business occasions. His deep gaze fell directly on Su Chen as he got straight to the point:

”Comrade Su Chen, today we won’t talk about empty formalities. We are here for a major matter concerning national industrial sentiment and the future.”

He didn’t wait for Su Chen’s response and signaled his staff to turn on the holographic projection equipment in the center of the conference room. A meticulously produced short film began to play—the footage started in the 1950s, with the first Red Flag CA72 sedan driving out of the factory amidst cheers. As the vehicle for national leaders, it had witnessed countless major historical moments. Its streamlined body and palace-lantern-style taillights carried the glory of a newborn republic’s industrial dream. The scene shifted to the solemn elegance of the Red Flag CA770, showcasing its infinite prestige as the ’National Car’ cruising down Chang’an Avenue.

However, the tone of the footage gradually turned somber over time. The narrator’s voice also became heavy, recounting how the Red Flag brand had repeatedly failed over the past twenty years amidst the waves of the market economy due to rigid mechanisms, slow technological iteration, and a detachment from market demand. Massive investments (totaling over 20 billion) were like stones dropped into the ocean; losses continued to expand, and market share kept shrinking. The brand that once symbolized supreme honor was now teetering in the wind and rain, reaching a critical juncture where its very existence needed to be reconsidered.

The short film ended, and the conference room fell into silence, save for the faint hum of the projection equipment. Director Gao Peng turned off the projector, folded his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and stared at Su Chen with burning eyes, his voice low and full of power:

”President Su, you’ve seen it all. Red Flag is not just a car brand; its name is etched into the industrial DNA of our Republic! It represents a period of history, a spirit, and a dignity that our nation cannot forget!” His tone carried an irrepressible sense of grief. ”We’ve tried everything, changed several heads, and invested enormous resources, but... the results have been minimal. It’s like a sleeping giant with a massive body but no power to wake it up.”

He paused for a moment, as if calming the waves in his heart, and then said clearly, word by word:

”Today, my colleagues and I are here on behalf of the state to formally and solemnly request you and Spark Technology—**please take action to save Red Flag!**”

This request, like a weight of a thousand tons, instantly pressed down on Su Chen’s shoulders. One could hear a pin drop in the conference room. Lin Wan and Shen Nanpeng both held their breath and looked at Su Chen.

Su Chen leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. His mind was racing. What did taking over Red Flag mean? It meant facing a massive system with deep-seated problems, dealing with complex historical issues, and investing incalculable human, material, and financial resources—it might even drag down the pace of Spark’s own high-speed development. This was a huge commercial risk and an even heavier historical responsibility. If he failed, not only would there be commercial damage, but he might also fail the country’s trust.

But on the other hand, the classic silhouette of the Red Flag CA770 flashed in his mind, along with its past glory from the short film. This wasn’t just a commercial brand; it was a national emotional totem. If he could revitalize it in his hands, its significance would far exceed building ten Spark Powers. It was also a silent ’pass,’ meaning Spark Technology had officially entered the vision of the national core strategy. Its stature and the resources it could mobilize would be incomparable.

Emotion and logic clashed fiercely. Ultimately, the sense of mission from deep within his bloodline and the ambition to push ’Made in China’ to the top of the world gained the upper hand. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze now incredibly firm. Looking at Director Gao Peng, he steadily uttered a few words:

”Director, Spark accepts this mission.”

A smile of relief and admiration instantly blossomed on Director Gao Peng’s face. He hadn’t misjudged this person; this young man had both courage and a sense of responsibility!

”Good! Excellent!” Director Gao Peng praised repeatedly. Then, he presented a specific plan representing the state’s sincerity and support.

”The state will not let an outstanding enterprise give for nothing. Based on a comprehensive assessment of Spark Technology’s current value and development potential,” he gestured to Shen Nanpeng nearby, his tone solemn, ”we recognize the overall valuation of Spark Group at **1 trillion rmb**!”

A trillion-yuan valuation! This was an unprecedented height, the highest affirmation of Spark Technology’s miraculous development over the past few years!

”On this basis,” Director Gao Peng continued, ”SASAC will invest 50 billion in cash to acquire a 5% stake in Spark Group.”

Shen Nanpeng immediately performed mental calculations and quickly ran the numbers on his tablet, then showed them to Su Chen and Director Gao Peng:

”Pre-financing, based on a 1 trillion valuation, the original shareholders’ stake is worth 1 trillion.”

”An investment of 50 billion for a 5% stake means the post-financing total valuation is **1.05 trillion**.”

”After financing, the shareholding ratios of each shareholder are adjusted as follows:”

Su Chen: 71.25% / 1.05 * 100% ≈ 67.88%

Xinghuo Trust: 9.5% / 1.05 * 100% ≈ 9.05%

Huawei Investment: 2% / 1.05 * 100% ≈ 1.90%

Shenzhen Metro: 3% / 1.05 * 100% ≈ 2.86%

SASAC: 5.00%

Publicly Traded Shares: 14.25% / 1.05 * 100% ≈ 13.57%

This meant that Su Chen still maintained absolute control over Spark Group, while the state, as a strategic investor, became a major shareholder in the group.

This wasn’t all. Director Gao Peng added: ”At the same time, to support your technological transformation, capacity expansion, and market promotion after taking over Red Flag, the China Development Bank has specially approved a **50 billion** rmb five-year low-interest loan. It uses the most favorable ’interest first, principal later’ method, specifically for technological transformation, capacity expansion, and market promotion after Spark takes over Red Flag. The funds can be activated at any time.”

An injection of 50 billion in cash plus another 50 billion in low-interest loans! This total of a hundred-billion-level funding and support was like equipping an expeditionary army with the most abundant rations and the finest gear. The state’s determination and intensity were evident.

Facing this heavy trust and unprecedented support, Su Chen slowly stood up. He didn’t look at the equity calculation sheet but instead looked directly at Director Gao Peng with a calm gaze, his voice steady and powerful, as if issuing a military pledge:

”Director Gao, thank you for the country’s trust and favor toward Spark Technology! This trust is worth more than ten thousand bars of gold!” His words echoed in the conference room. ”The Red Flag brand is the eldest son of the Republic’s industry. It was once glorious and has also been lost. But in its veins flows the unyielding backbone of our nation! Its revival is not just a commercial task; it is an inescapable historical responsibility for our generation of technology workers and those who serve the country through industry!”

He paused, his tone becoming even more resolute: ”Spark Technology hereby solemnly promises that by taking over Red Flag, we will give our all. We will not only make it survive but also transform it completely! We will unreservedly inject all of Spark’s accumulation in fields like new energy, intelligent driving, chips, and materials into Red Flag! The future Red Flag must represent China’s highest manufacturing standards and most cutting-edge technological strength. It must not only become the pride of China again but also stand tall among the world’s top luxury cars, competing on the same stage as those century-old brands and emerging victorious!”

”Good! Such ambition! That’s exactly what I wanted to hear!” Director Gao Peng slammed the table excitedly and stood up as well, extending his hand to Su Chen.

The two hands gripped each other tightly, symbolizing the historic intersection of a private technology giant and the nation’s heavy industrial heritage.

After seeing off Director Gao Peng and his party, Su Chen immediately turned around and gave instructions to Lin Wan and Shen Nanpeng: ”Act immediately! Lin Wan, you take the lead personally, and President Shen will assist. Draw the most elite forces from the group and each subsidiary to form the ’Red Flag Project Working Group’! Formally elevate the revival of Red Flag to be Spark Group’s most prioritized **Project Number One** with the highest resource allocation for the next three years! I want to see a detailed integration and revival plan in the shortest possible time!”

”Understood!” Lin Wan and Shen Nanpeng responded in unison, their eyes filled with a sense of mission and fighting spirit.

Night fell, and the lights came on. Su Chen and Lin Wan once again stood side by side in front of the office’s floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the vibrant, shimmering city below. Unlike before, at this moment, a grander and deeper emotion surged in both their hearts.

”I feel like the burden on our shoulders has suddenly become much heavier,” Lin Wan said softly, her tone not one of fear, but of determination.

Su Chen put his arm around her shoulder, his gaze piercing through the city lights as if seeing a more distant future. He said slowly: ”Yes. But from now on, every single thing we do, every market we open, and every technology we conquer is no longer just for Spark’s own survival and development, but for the land beneath our feet and for this unending nation. Red Flag is the first answer sheet we are handing to the state. Success is the only option; failure is not permitted.”

On this day, Spark Technology’s stature was elevated to an unprecedented national height. A path to revival, full of challenges but also containing infinite glory, unfolded beneath their feet.