"Mr. Gao, I personally think we should go somewhere else!"
As Gao Feng had predicted, Zhang Youwei chose to avoid the situation.
“Tell me your reasons.”
Gao Ang did not immediately agree, but wanted to see what Zhang Youwei thought and whether he shared the same opinion.
"To put it bluntly, it's best not to cooperate with people who believe in nonsense like water as fuel. They might not be bad people at heart, but... you know. If we want to launch our new car within a month, our partners must be wise and enlightened, not fools. What do you think?"
"Agreed. Do you have a goal?"
"Hey, your hometown, Xudu! Their leaders are very welcoming, I've met them, we just had dinner, that's why I'm calling you."
Xudu... has convenient transportation, is not far from the provincial capital, and belongs to the core area of the Central Plains urban agglomeration.
"Get it done. Go arrange it, as soon as possible. I need to ensure quality and quantity, you understand?"
"OK, no problem!"
After hanging up with Zhang Youwei, Gao Ang called Xiaoming again.
"Boss, aren't you going to do anything about those guys who use the guise of high technology to swindle money?"
"For example?"
"Take that Youngman Automobile for example! Good heavens, they can even spout nonsense like using water as fuel. Do they think government officials are rice buckets or the minds of consumers are toilets? And this film has an enormous appetite, 10 billion! My goodness, that's taxpayers' money..."
Upon hearing the words "Youngman Automobile," Xiaoming knew what was going on.
"We're paying attention, but... we lack some solid evidence, and there are various complications that we can't easily intervene in. To put it bluntly, we don't have direct evidence to prove they're scammers, so we can only watch them deceive people, understand?"
"Is that even a possibility? Does that mean your Social Intelligence Bureau can just pack up and disband?"
Good heavens, they're already suspects, why don't we execute them on the spot instead of letting them live through the New Year?
"Their procedures are legal and their documents are complete. What grounds do you expect us to use to sue them?"
"Using water as fuel? You actually believe that kind of nonsense?"
"I don't believe it, you don't believe it, and the common people don't believe it either. The problem is that they have patents, and even international patents afterward. So tell me, who do you believe?"
Xiao Ming also had a headache and continued, "We're still verifying the patent issue, but the country where this guy applied for the patent is a small country, the kind we don't trade with at all, and we don't have any trade agreements with. So verifying it will be quite troublesome..."
"Isn't this exactly what he planned? He'll take advantage of the gap while you're verifying things, ask for 10 billion from you, give me 1 billion, and I'll make a fortune. There are so many of these tricks online, aren't there?"
"Sigh, I understand what you're saying, but we must uphold the principle of strict enforcement of the law. There are some things that I know exactly what's going on, but there's nothing I can do about it."
For the first time, Gao Ang could hear the helplessness in Xiao Ming's tone. He was a law student, and what Xiao Ming said was actually true.
They were playing a time lag game, taking advantage of some people's eagerness for quick success and instant benefits, and openly setting up a trap.
In other words, it's like Jiang Taigong fishing—those who are willing will take the bait.
"Alright, if you guys can't handle it, I'll deal with him!"
"What are you going to do? Don't do anything reckless!"
Xiao Ming got nervous when he heard that Gao Ang was going to mess with someone.
He was aware of the dispute between Youngman Automobile and Gao Ang, and this could very well be another act of retaliation.
The person who suffered the most vengeful treatment last time has vanished without a trace...
That was in a foreign country, and they turned a blind eye to it, but this time it's in China, so he definitely has to stop it.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing and won't do anything reckless."
After hanging up with Xiaoming, Gao Ang began planning how to ruin the reputation of this young car company.
He wasn't one to meddle, but if he didn't expose this blatant scam, he felt like the big idiot who believed water could start a car.
Theoretically speaking, water can be used as fuel, since it consists of both a combustible material and an oxidizer.
The problem is that water is decomposed by electrolysis and then burned... Is that crazy?
Why not just connect it to electricity?
"Your Majesty, pay to buy a trending topic! The trending topic title will be: Water can be used as fuel? There are too many idiots and not enough liars! While you're at it, get a clear picture of Pang Qingnian's entire resume. This time, I'm going to crush this guy!"
"OK, article is being generated... Generation complete, trending keywords received, trending ranking is rising..."
A few minutes later, Gao Ang glanced at the trending topics list and felt it wasn't enough. "Buy a few more, I want to dominate half of the trending topics!"
“Um, sir, aren’t you basically telling people that we paid for this? They might then turn around and accuse us of framing them… How embarrassing would that be?”
Chisui offered a friendly reminder.
"What's there to be afraid of? We're just stating the facts, without any personal speculation. As for the false accusations... let's make a bet: whoever does will be permanently banned from the automotive industry in a month!"
Qian Sui shrugged, and as his eyes flickered, another trending topic appeared: Pang Qingnian, let's make a bet, the car will be delivered in a month!
Within less than half an hour, multiple trending topics were linked to Youngman Automobile, and netizens immediately added fuel to the fire:
"Goodness, finally someone's going to take action against Youngman Auto?"
"Damn it, I knew something was wrong. Water as gasoline? I didn't believe your nonsense!"
"That old geezer... no, that disheveled young man, he's really bad. Back in our hometown, he got involved in that Lotus car project, but he only completed half of the five-phase project before running away, leaving behind a bunch of unfinished buildings!"
"What the person upstairs said is true. I was an employee there. I worked there for a month and received half a year's salary, and then the boss ran away..."
"No, you're all criticizing Youngman Auto, but why don't you think about why it's trending on social media? Isn't this a frame-up by their competitors? What's wrong with water? Thousands of years ago, could humans use dark, murky oil as fuel? Technology is meant to break conventions..."
"Well said! Water can indeed be used as fuel. (This is a 50-cent comment, please delete it.)"
Hey upstairs, let's join a group chat, I want to get rich too!
...
"Is this your plan: to use public pressure to force local authorities to concede or cancel the signing?"
Gao Ang received a message from Xiao Ming.
"It's just the beginning, keep watching!"
After the first wave of attacks lasted for an hour, Youngman Automobile issued an official statement and a lawyer's letter:
"Regarding all kinds of defamatory and slanderous remarks about our company online... our company will take legal action to protect its legitimate rights and interests... We would like to warn certain malicious individuals that just because you cannot do it does not mean that others cannot..."
Throughout the entire story, he claimed that others had framed him and that he was going to sue them.
"The problem is, this announcement says nothing at all, and it doesn't even say that it's the person who can use water as fuel, does it?"
"Yeah, if you're so confident, why not just admit it openly!"
"Goodness, there are so many idiots that even scammers have the nerve to spout nonsense with such conviction! I've learned something new!"
Following the announcement from Youngman Automobile, a powerful second wave of offensive has begun:
Academician Lin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences: I saw a news report today where someone said that water can be used as fuel for cars. I'll say it again: if someone tries to fool you like this, you should call the police!
Tesla's East China head: I heard someone has built a car that runs on water? I was so scared I immediately submitted my resignation! Is it too late to cling to a powerful company now?
Zhang Youwei of Dongxing Power: Our batteries are garbage! Everyone should just add water! No pollution, no harm, inexhaustible supply! Okay, I can't go on like this…
Whether they are researchers or people in the automotive industry, they all deeply abhor Youngman's tactics of using gimmicks to scam subsidies.
It is these bad apples that have wasted so many resources, causing many ambitious people who want to seriously build cars to struggle to find investment.
There's nothing we can do. You say your car has a range of 800 kilometers, and someone else just charges it for 8 minutes and gives it a range of 1500 kilometers; you say your battery is the best, and someone else just adds water and it runs...
How can we fight this? It's a complete dimensional reduction attack!
The number of netizens watching the drama online is increasing, and they are getting more and more excited:
"Goodness, they've all entered the fray: the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tesla, and Dongxing Power... who else?"
"This is going to kill Pang Qingnian!"
"He deserved to be hammered to death. He's inhuman and only thinks about scamming money all day long!"
"This kind of trick worked a few years ago, but these days we've all become more sophisticated. Trying to fool people with these old tricks won't work anymore!"
...
After two days of continuous trending topics, Youngman Automobile has become a pariah.
Even some places that were previously willing to sign contracts with them are starting to back out.
If it hadn't been exposed, everyone would have made money peacefully, secretly signed the contract, and everyone would have been happy.
But now, all projects related to Youngman Automobile have been thoroughly investigated and exposed by netizens.
Let alone investments exceeding 100 million yuan, even investments of a few hundred thousand yuan have been listed under trending topics.
No leader would feel comfortable seeing their region on that extremely embarrassing list.
"The contract hasn't been signed yet, has it? Tear it up!"
"More trouble than he's worth. Who exactly did this young man, Pang, offend?"
"Seal off all accounts related to Youngman Automobile, and do not allow a single penny of our funds to flow out! If even a penny is missing, you are all criminals against the people!"
...
The matter was settled. Xiaoming and Gao Ang discussed the matter and learned that Pang Qingnian had been listed as a dishonest person subject to enforcement due to personal credit issues.
"Boss Gao, you've gone a bit too far! Don't you think you're using public opinion to retaliate against your competitors?"
"Xiao Ming, your awareness isn't high enough. I'm just legally using my civic rights to expose and report misconduct, preventing taxpayers' money from being wasted. How did that become retaliation against an opponent in your eyes? Besides, I have a car in hand. Even if I am retaliating, at least my intentions are good, right? And I haven't broken any laws or regulations, don't you think?"
With his phone on the table, Gao Ang was busy with his own things while talking to Xiao Ming on the phone.
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. But if I had to interject, are your new energy vehicles really reliable?"
"Of course it's reliable. Didn't I show you the test drive video?"
Gao Ang glanced at his phone, wondering what this guy meant.
"If it's reliable, then I'm really relieved. To be honest, I'm afraid that after we just got rid of one car-making company with a PPT presentation, another one will come along with a car-making company with a video presentation... These days, the new energy vehicle sector has become a hotbed for fraudulently obtaining subsidies."
Xiao Ming was also deeply moved; he knew far too much about the intricacies of the situation.
If it weren't for the long time he had dealt with Gao Ang, he really wouldn't have dared to take out the Social Intelligence Bureau's internal funds.
"From what you're saying, it sounds like you know something?"
"I know a little bit about it. Let me put it this way: electric vehicles are probably our only chance to overtake others in the automotive industry, just like e-commerce and mobile payments. After all, the Western world opened up earlier than us, and it's too difficult for us to catch up in many industries. So, the higher-ups had some ideas: in each field, we need to find some points of opportunity that align with future trends. Unfortunately, the plan was beautiful, but reality is cruel. Back then, there was an LS Group, and everyone was very optimistic about them, pinning their hopes for overtaking others on them. Who would have thought that these guys didn't do anything productive, just talked big and drew PowerPoint presentations all day long. In the end, not only did they not build any cars, but they also missed the opportunity."
Hearing this, Gao Ang finally understood what was going on:
"So, Zhen Feitian's LS Group is among the first batch of new energy projects to receive support?"
"Yes. In order to support them, the subsidies should not be too much. If they want land, they should be given land; if they want loans, they should be given loans. In the end, it will all be a mess."
"Let me sort this out. It's like this: that bastard Zhen Feitian got the best resources and was burdened with the hopes of everyone, even the entire country, for a certain sector. But instead of doing anything, he was thinking about using novel ideas to scam investors... And these ideas don't actually belong to him, but to those other people... Isn't it also possible that the patents he holds aren't his?"
"His ass! He's trying to get something for nothing. What does a lousy accountant like him know?"
It's clear that Xiaoming doesn't have a good impression of Zhen Feitian either. He, who never swears, even used foul language, though he didn't use any profanities.
"But wasn't it Musk who invested in electric vehicles first?"
If I remember correctly, Musk invested in Tesla in the early 2000s, while Zhen Feitian's car company was several years later.
"He invested first, but foreigners aren't buying it because he's taking away from the established car manufacturers' profits. Would they be willing to accept that? The bigger problem is, if you're using new energy sources, who will they sell their oil and shale gas to? Have you forgotten that the United States is the largest exporter of shale gas?"
"So, Musk was destined to fail in the mountain country... In other words, if Zhen Feitian had persisted in his work, he might have even succeeded before Musk, right?"
"That's pretty much the idea. If Zhen Feitian had done his job properly back then, there wouldn't be Tesla and Musk today! Alas, one wrong step can lead to eternal regret!"
If that's the case, Gao Ang even thinks that Zhen Feitian truly deserved to die.
Such a great opportunity, such a huge market, so much money.
If Zhen Feitian had actually built the car, it could be said to be the world's first electric car brand.
How many people are in the Mountain Kingdom? How many are in the Eastern Kingdom?
The two markets are incomparable. Moreover, Dongguo has a stronger ability to accept new things after reform and opening up. Most importantly, the country supports new energy vehicles more, which is an opportunity to overtake others.
"If Zhen Feitian had built the car back then, its market value today would be at least 600 billion gold, which is close to 4 trillion in Dongguo currency... 4 trillion!"
Xiao Ming's hoarse voice came through the microphone, making Gao Dang wrinkle his nose. Goodness, he's drunk.
"Alright, alright, it's come to this, let's accept reality. But then again, I don't think we've really lost. Leave the rest to me. We'll take back the market they stole from us!"
Gao Feng wasn't just bragging; he had a cheat code.
If he weren't afraid of being too shocking, he would have messed with everything that runs on the ground and flies in the sky.
After ending the call with Xiaoming, Gao Ang planned to inquire about the progress of the super factory in Xudu.
Before the call could be made, it was interrupted by a noise from the mountain country.
"What's wrong with him?"
"She's not breathing!"
"What's going on?"
"I don't know, I just woke up too, and he's like this now!"
Gao Ang narrowed his eyes. "Why would anyone want his life at this time?"
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