Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies

303: Chapter 303 The EU’s Compromise10:00 AM, May 30th, International Conference Center.

Sunlight spilled through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows into the hall, casting golden light and shadows onto the red carpet.

In the largest banquet hall, the long tables were piled high with agreement texts. Each was three centimeters thick, with the flags of China and Europe and the Star emblem embossed on the covers. Ten signing desks were lined up, each holding two fountain pens—one Hero gold pen from China and one Montblanc from Germany—symbolizing equality and mutual respect between the two sides.

Ten major sectors, two hundred contracts, total value: 203.7 billion Euros.

This figure exceeded the combined annual GDP of Finland, Portugal, and Greece.

Robert Habeck, Germany’s Minister of Economy, stood at the signing desk holding an agreement. He was fifty-six, with graying hair and gold-rimmed glasses, a representative figure of the German Green Party. Three months ago, he had publicly criticized ”over-reliance on Chinese technology” on television. Today, he was here to sign in person.

Roland Lescure, France’s Minister of Industry, stood beside him. Fifty-three, slender, wearing a tailored dark blue suit, he was a close confidant of the President. The agreement in his hand concerned the hydrogen-powered aircraft cooperation project between Airbus and Star—12 billion Euros.

Adolfo Urso, Italy’s Minister of Economic Development, Maria Reyes, Spain’s Minister of Trade, and Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, stood at their respective desks in turn.

Opposite them, Su Chen stood at the central signing desk.

Behind him were thirty Chinese corporate CEOs.

The rotating chairman of Huawei, the chairman of SMIC, the president of BYD, the president of CATL, the vice general manager of the Aerospace Science and Technology Group... Every face wore the same expression—the gravity of witnessing history.

Habeck picked up his pen.

He looked at Su Chen: ”Mr. Su, this is the biggest agreement I have signed in my thirty-five-year political career.”

Su Chen smiled: ”Minister Habeck, this is the biggest agreement Star has signed since its inception. We are creating history together.”

Habeck nodded, and the pen nib touched the paper.

Signing.

Flashbulbs instantly drowned the hall—the clicking sound was as dense as a rainstorm hitting a tin roof.

Lescure signed.

Urso signed.

Reyes signed.

Adriaansens signed.

Finally, Su Chen picked up his pen and signed his name on the central framework agreement.

Su Chen.

Thunderous applause.

A champagne tower was pushed to the center of the hall. The ten-story crystal cup tower refracted colorful light under the illumination. Golden champagne flowed slowly from the top glass, layer by layer, filling every cup.

Ten champagne flutes were raised simultaneously.

The German Minister of Economy, the French Minister of Industry, the Italian Minister of Economic Development, the Spanish Minister of Trade, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, and Su Chen, the six of them stood in a row.

”To cooperation.”

”To win-win.”

The champagne glasses clinked, making a crisp sound.

Flashbulbs drowned the hall again.

At the same time, Brussels, European Union headquarters.

Margrethe Vestager stood in the empty council hall.

Twenty-seven chairs, twenty-seven national flags, twenty-seven nameplates. Three hours ago, this place was full of people, with arguments rising and falling. Now, only she remained.

On the big screen, the signing ceremony in Shenzhen was being broadcast live.

The champagne tower, flashbulbs, applause. Su Chen and the ministers’ smiling faces.

Vestager looked at those smiling faces, motionless.

Her assistant stood at the door, not daring to enter.

After a long while, Vestager spoke, her voice very soft: ”What are they laughing at?”

The assistant didn’t know how to answer.

Vestager continued: ”They think they are signing contracts. Actually, they are signing away Europe’s future.”

Her phone rang.

The screen displayed: John Davis.

She answered.

”Margrethe.” Davis’s voice was very tired, ”The White House is very disappointed.”

Vestager smiled bitterly: ”I am also very disappointed. But what can I do? Germany and France want to make their own decisions.”

”Does your European Union actually have a unified foreign policy?”

Vestager was silent for three seconds.

”Yes,” she said, ”but when Germany and France agree, that is the policy.”

Silence on the other end.

Vestager hung up the phone and turned off the big screen.

She turned and walked toward the door.

As she passed those empty chairs, she stopped.

That was the German Chancellor’s seat.

The nameplate read: Germany.

Vestager looked at the empty chair and muttered: ”Merkel, you will regret this.”

No one answered.

She walked out of the hall.

The sound of leather shoes hitting the floor echoed in the empty corridor.

Outside the window, the sky over Brussels was overcast. A rainstorm was coming.

3:00 PM, a small meeting room next to the signing hall, temporarily converted into BMW’s exclusive signing area.

The room was small, only twenty square meters, but exquisitely arranged. Flags of BMW and Star hung on the wall, and fresh flowers were placed on the windowsill.

BMW Group CEO Oliver Zipse sat at the signing table. Fifty-eight, graying hair, wearing a dark blue suit, with BMW’s iconic blue and white checkered tie.

Opposite him was Spark Power president Gu Yanting.

Contract value: 30 billion Euros.

Over the next five years, Spark Power would supply BMW with enough batteries to assemble five million electric vehicles and jointly build a battery factory in Hungary. This was the largest single procurement contract in BMW’s history.

Zipse picked up the pen but didn’t rush to sign.

He looked at Gu Yanting and said: ”Three years ago, we still thought electrification could be done on our own. Munich has the best engineers in the world, Leipzig has the most advanced production lines. We thought that as long as we invested enough money, we could catch up with any technology.”

He paused.

”Now I understand, some technologies can only be achieved through cooperation.”

Gu Yanting nodded: ”Mr. Zipse, cooperation is not shameful. What is shameful is knowing that cooperation is needed but refusing it for the sake of face.”

Zipse laughed.

He lowered his head and signed his name on the contract.

Oliver Zipse.

Putting down the pen, he extended his hand.

The two shook hands.

Flashbulbs went off.

4:00 PM, Mercedes-Benz exclusive signing session.

In the next room, Mercedes-Benz’s exclusive signing was underway.

Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Källenius sat at the signing table. Fifty-three, Swedish, tall, with blond hair combed meticulously.

Opposite him was Spark Power president Gu Yanting—he had just come from the BMW session, his coffee not yet finished.

Contract value: 25 billion Euros.

Also a five-year long-term agreement, also joint factory construction—this time the location was chosen in Poland.

When Källenius signed, he suddenly asked a question: ”CEO Gu, how much did you sign with BMW?”

Gu Yanting laughed: ”Mr. Källenius, that is a trade secret.”

Källenius also laughed: ”Then I won’t ask.”

He signed his name and put down the pen.

”But I can tell you,” Gu Yanting said suddenly, ”BMW was 30 billion. You are 25 billion.”

Källenius was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

”Then next time, we must be the first to sign.”

The two shook hands.

Flashbulbs went off.

5:00 PM, Volkswagen exclusive signing session.

Volkswagen Group CEO Blume sat at the signing table. Fifty-five, German, wearing thin-rimmed glasses, looking like a university professor.

Opposite him was still Gu Yanting.

This was already his third exclusive signing of the day.

Contract value: 25 billion Euros.

Also a five-year long-term agreement, also joint factory construction—this time the location was chosen in Spain.

When Blume signed, he looked up: ”CEO Gu, did you sign 80 billion today?”

Gu Yanting laughed: ”About that.”

Blume shook his head: ”I’ve worked at Volkswagen for thirty years, and I’ve never seen such a big deal.”

Gu Yanting said: ”I’ve worked at Xinghuo for three years, and I haven’t either. We are witnessing history together.”

The two shook hands.

Flashbulbs went off.

A reporter from the German ”Handelsblatt” stood in the center of the hall, reporting live to the camera.

Behind him was the coming and going crowd—European entrepreneurs in suits, Chinese executives in a hurry, reporters from various countries carrying cameras.

”Today, the future of the German automotive industry has turned a new page in Shenzhen.” The reporter’s voice carried a hint of emotion, ”BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, the three giants signed 80 billion Euros in a single day. This is a day unprecedented in the history of German industry.”

He paused.

”Just a week ago, the United States was still sanctioning Star. A week later, Europe’s core countries collectively chose Star.”

”This is not just a turning point for business, but a turning point for history.”

After the signing ceremony concluded, Su Chen was surrounded by reporters.

A dozen microphones were thrust in front of him, and the flashbulbs were blinding.

”CEO Su, some people within the European Union criticize this as ’technological colonialism,’ what is your view?”

Su Chen stopped.

He looked at the reporter asking the question—a young Chinese girl, wearing a ponytail, with light in her eyes.

”Technological colonialism?” He smiled, ”Colonialism is using guns and cannons to snatch your resources. We are providing technology, building factories, training engineers, and creating jobs. This is called common development.”

He paused.

”Ms. Margrethe said Europe needs ’technological sovereignty.’ I completely agree.”

His voice became serious.

”But sovereignty is not about closing doors to create cars; it is having the ability to choose the best partners. Today, Europe chose Star. Tomorrow, Star will also choose Europe. This is what true sovereignty is.”

The reporters recorded quickly.

Su Chen turned and left.

His back disappeared into the elevator.

8:00 PM, Robert Hawke stood by the window, watching the lights of the Washington Monument.

An assistant stood behind him, holding a stack of documents.

”Sir, the data has been summarized.”

”Read it.”

”The five EU countries signed 203.7 billion Euros with China. Among them, the three German automotive giants signed 80 billion alone. In addition, Siemens, BASF, ASML, Airbus... thirty top European companies have all signed cooperation agreements.”

Hawke did not turn around.

The assistant continued: ”Our sanctions... do not seem to have had the intended effect.”

Hawke raised his hand to interrupt him.

Silence.

After a long while, he spoke: ”Call Merkel.”

The assistant was stunned: ”Now?”

”Now.”

The assistant dialed the number and handed the phone to Hawke.

The call connected.

”Angela.” Hawke’s voice was very calm.

”Robert.” Merkel’s voice was also very calm.

”You made a big decision today.”

”Yes.”

”Do you know the consequences?”

Merkel was silent for three seconds.

”Robert, I have a question for you.”

”Please speak.”

”When the United States sanctioned Huawei, European companies lost tens of billions. When the United States passed the ’Inflation Reduction Act’, European companies were excluded from subsidies. When the United States sanctioned Star, European companies were asked to sacrifice their own rice bowls.”

Her voice became cold and hard.

”Tell me, what has the United States done for Europe?”

Hawke was silent.

”You have no answer,” Merkel said, ”So I made the choice for Europe.”

The phone hung up.

Hawke held the phone, motionless.

After a long while, he handed the phone to the assistant.

”Notify the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emergency meeting tomorrow at nine in the morning.”

The assistant was stunned: ”Sir, this is...”

”I said, notify them.”

The assistant hurried away.

Hawke turned around and looked at the world map on the wall.

The European part was circled in red by him.

Not the blue of an ally, nor the red of an enemy.

It was some uncertain color.

He muttered: ”Can’t beat them in business, can’t beat them in finance, can’t beat them in diplomacy... only one option left.”

Outside the window, the night in Washington was as deep as the sea.

9:00 PM, Su Chen stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the lights of Shenzhen Bay.

Lin Wan walked in and handed over a tablet.

”Recording of Hawke’s speech. ’Only one option left’.”

Su Chen took the tablet and listened to it once.

Then he smiled.

He handed the tablet back to Lin Wan.

”Let them choose.”

He turned around and looked at the night outside the window.

”Can’t beat us in business, can’t beat us in finance, can’t beat us in diplomacy. Now want to use military?”

He shook his head.

”What can the military do? Bomb our factories? Then what about the European orders? What about the agreements with Russia? What about the global supply chain?”

He paused.

”They won’t. They are just bluffing.”

Lin Wan asked: ”What if?”

Su Chen was silent for three seconds.

”What if?”

He looked out the window, the lights of Shenzhen Bay extending to the horizon.

”Then let them come. Today’s China is no longer what it was 65 years ago, not the era of millet and rifles. We dare to say no to all imperialism.”

His voice was very calm.

As calm as if he were talking about what to have for dinner.

Lin Wan did not ask again.

She stood half a step behind him, looking at his reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window.

Twenty-eight years old, while his peers were still struggling with startups, he had already made Europe’s core countries collectively choose Star. In the future, he would be one of the most influential people on this planet.