Ye Zhengxiong gripped the red telephone, the receiver pressed tightly to his ear, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the smooth mahogany table, producing a dull, rhythmic sound. Only his slightly deep, yet undeniably powerful voice filled the study.
"Old friend, it's me, Masao."
A calm voice came from the other end of the phone, tinged with barely perceptible surprise: "Oh? Comrade Zhengxiong, is something urgent coming up so late?"
“It is indeed very important.” Ye Zhengxiong skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point. His speech was slow, but every word seemed to have been carefully considered and carried weight. “I’ll keep it short. My… a young man who is very important to my daughter, Lin Fan, the founder of Qihang Technology, you should have heard of him.”
"Qihang Technology? That company that makes chips? Hmm, I vaguely remember them, they've been making waves lately." The person on the other end of the phone was clearly familiar with the name.
“Yes. He’s currently in Singapore, detained by Tang Zhong of the Sihaitong Group, a local port and logistics tycoon, through irregular means.” Ye Zhengxiong’s voice turned colder. “It started with a business dispute. A batch of equipment shipped by Qihang Technology to Singapore for the construction of its Southeast Asia R&D center was forcibly seized by Sihaitong. Tang Zhong used this to blackmail them, demanding exclusive cooperation rights for future logistics transportation and asking for an exorbitant price three times the market price.”
"Oh? A commercial dispute has escalated to the point of detaining someone? This Tang Zhong has some nerve." The person on the other end of the phone also became serious.
"Tang Zhong is a local tyrant in Singapore, with deep-rooted influence and a history of domineering behavior. Lin Fan went there in person to negotiate, but then lost contact. According to the scattered information sent back from Qihang, he was taken to a so-called 'VIP room' at the headquarters of Sihaitong, which is actually illegal detention."
Ye Zhengxiong paused, then emphasized, "Old man, this matter, on the surface, is a commercial dispute, but its nature has changed. You know better than I what Lin Fan and his Qihang Technology mean for our country's chip strategy that we are vigorously promoting. You should have also seen the relevant reports on the performance of the 'Qimingxing' series chips."
"Yes, I know, it's a good piece of steel."
"Now, this talented individual, in a key strategic area of our country, has been detained by local forces using such underhanded tactics. This is not just targeting him personally, but also a provocation and obstruction against our country's high-tech enterprises going global!" Ye Zhengxiong's voice carried a hint of anger. "If even the basic personal safety of our top scientific and technological talents expanding their business overseas cannot be guaranteed, who will dare to go abroad in the future? How much negative impact will this have on the internationalization process of our entire chip industry? This door must not be opened!"
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, as if someone was quickly processing the information and assessing its severity.
"Zhengxiong, you're right. This matter is very serious and has a very bad impact." The other party's voice rang out again, with a sense of determination. "We are well aware of the importance of Qihang Technology. I've also heard a little about Lin Fan; he's a rare talent. His personal safety must be guaranteed."
“I need your help, Old K,” Ye Zhengxiong said in a deep voice. “I know this involves diplomatic matters and the procedures will be very complicated, but I can’t wait. Every day Lin Fan is detained increases the danger. Moreover, Qihang Technology is also on the verge of collapse. Without a leader, the impact is too great.”
“I understand what you mean. Don’t worry, I will report this matter immediately and keep a close eye on it personally. We will take diplomatic channels as quickly as possible to lodge a formal protest with the Singaporean authorities, demanding that they immediately verify the situation and ensure the personal safety and legitimate rights of our citizens.”
"Thank you, Old K." Ye Zhengxiong breathed a slight sigh of relief.
“However, Zhengxiong,” the person on the other end of the phone changed the subject, “as you know, the situation in Singapore is rather special. Tang Zhong has been operating there for many years and has a complex network of relationships, so it may not go so smoothly. Diplomatic pressure takes time, and the effect… is hard to say. You need to be mentally prepared to deal with a complex situation. We will do our best, but what we can do openly must be within the framework of the rules.”
“I understand.” Ye Zhengxiong’s eyes were sharp. “Rules are made for those who abide by them. Dealing with someone like Tang Zhong, relying solely on official channels is probably not enough.”
"Well, you know what you're doing. If you need any support from us, just let us know. But be careful not to give anyone a handle to use against you, especially internationally."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Ye Zhengxiong replied in a deep voice. "I will use my own methods to cooperate with your actions."
"Okay, that's settled then. I'll make the arrangements right away. Keep me informed as soon as there's any progress."
Please.
After hanging up the phone, silence returned to the study. Ye Yuyan, who had just looked anxious and helpless, now stared blankly at her father. She didn't quite understand the complex terminology and considerations, but she could feel the determination and strength in her father's words, as well as the solemn promise coming from the other end of the line.
"Dad..." Her voice was still trembling slightly.
Ye Zhengxiong turned around and looked at his daughter's pale face and swollen eyes. His heart softened, but his expression remained serious. He walked to his daughter's side and gently patted her shoulder.
“Yuyan, Dad has made arrangements. The national level will intervene, which is the most formal and powerful approach.” He paused, then added, “But as I said on the phone, Tang Zhong is not someone to be trifled with. Relying solely on official pressure may take time and may not be able to get him to release her immediately. Therefore, we need to prepare for both possibilities.”
He walked back to his desk, picked up another internal phone, and dialed a number.
"Xiao Li, it's me." Ye Zhengxiong's voice regained its usual authority. "Immediately mobilize all resources to collect all information on Xingzhou Sihaitong Group and its chairman, Tang Zhong, the more detailed the better. His rise to power, main businesses, political and business connections, personal preferences, enemies, weaknesses... any potentially useful information must be gathered. I need to see a complete report in the shortest possible time."
"Yes, sir!" came the crisp reply from the other end of the phone.
After hanging up the phone, Ye Zhengxiong's gaze was as deep as the sea. He needed to exert pressure on the surface, but also find a way to control Tang Zhong behind the scenes. Having navigated the complexities of the political landscape for many years, he was well-versed in strategies for dealing with different adversaries. Sometimes, unofficial methods were more direct and effective in dealing with local bullies like Tang Zhong.
His network of connections spans all walks of life, with deep roots both domestically and internationally. At this moment, this invisible net is quietly being cast from the Ye family mansion in Kyoto towards distant Singapore.
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