Chapter 879
Zhang Zhongmou's Surprise
Before we knew it, it was January 29th.
Today is also the fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
Dallas, Texas, USA.
At this moment, Lin Haoran was wearing sunglasses and sitting in a private room of a restaurant in a local five-star hotel.
This city is home to the famous headquarters of Texas Instruments, and is also the third largest city in Texas and the eighth largest city in the United States.
The private dining room where Lin Haoran was located was in the Renaissance Building, the tallest building in Dallas!
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can overlook the entire city of Dallas.
The city is not large in area, and the urban area is also not large.
However, the fact that industry giants such as Texas Instruments, Kimberly-Clark, and McKesson have emerged from this place demonstrates its economic vitality and business foundation.
Lin Haoran picked up the black coffee on the table, took a small sip, and calmly scanned the city skyline outside the window through his sunglasses.
His thoughts, however, were not on the scenery before him.
He is waiting.
Wait for the third-in-command at Texas Instruments, that bigwig in the semiconductor industry—Zhang Zhongmou!
Cui Zilong arranged for him to meet Zhang Zhongmou at 5 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Lin Haoran arrived in Dallas at noon today. After resting at the hotel for a few hours, he arrived at the pre-arranged private room at 4:30 pm.
I checked the time; there were still a few minutes left until 5 p.m.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and then the door to the private room opened. Led by a waiter, Zhang Zhongmou walked in.
Although Lin Haoran had never met Zhang Zhongmou in this world, he had seen his photos in the news many times in his previous life. However, Zhang Zhongmou was already an old man in his eighties or nineties at that time.
Zhang Zhongmou, who walked in at that moment, was in his prime, only fifty-one years old.
He wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, a dark blue tie, and his signature gold-rimmed glasses. His hair was meticulously combed, and he walked with a steady gait. His face exuded a composure and shrewdness that combined the qualities of a scholar and a manager.
Despite the long journey, he was in high spirits and had sharp eyes.
The moment he entered the private room, his gaze fell on Lin Haoran, who had already stood up.
Zhang Zhongmou was clearly stunned when he saw Lin Haoran.
Wasn't it said that the president of Hongkong Land Group, Simon Murray, was coming to see him?
Why is this person here?
Although he had never met Lin Haoran, he was extremely familiar with him.
After all, during this period, Lin Haoran's influence in the United States was something that even many business tycoons could not match.
Therefore, Zhang Zhongmou naturally recognized him, even though Lin Haoran was wearing sunglasses at the moment.
Ma Shimin invited him to meet, and he agreed to the meeting, largely out of consideration for Lin Haoran.
After all, Lin Haoran can now be considered a source of pride for the Chinese people.
Zhang Zhongmou holds positions at several prestigious universities, so he naturally knows how much those students admire Lin Haoran.
Such a person has secretly appeared in Dallas, and judging from the situation, they came specifically to see him!
Countless thoughts raced through Zhang Zhongmou's mind in an instant, but he maintained his usual composure on the surface.
He stepped forward, extended his hand, and gave a perfectly timed smile: "Mr. Lin, I didn't expect to see you here. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Mr. Zhang, I have long admired your name. I apologize for the intrusion in inviting you. Please have a seat." Lin Haoran grasped Zhang Zhongmou's hand with just the right amount of strength, his smile sincere and infectious.
They were speaking Chinese, but the waiters next to them couldn't understand them.
The two sat down at a table by the window.
The waiter silently withdrew and closed the door to the private room.
January is a month with short days and long nights.
Outside the window, dusk was falling in Dallas, and the city lights were lighting up one after another like stars.
The private room was unusually quiet, with only faint background music playing.
“Mr. Lin, Mr. Ma invited me to meet, saying that he has important matters to discuss. I know that you want to invite me to join your semiconductor company, but I have already refused before, and my attitude should be very clear.”
Zhang Zhongmou didn't touch the hot tea in front of him. He got straight to the point, his tone calm but with a hint of detachment.
“I appreciate Mr. Lin’s sincerity in coming in person this time, but some fundamental issues cannot be resolved simply by sincerity and money.”
He directly stated Lin Haoran's purpose and also made his position clear.
He had already explicitly declined the invitation previously extended by Ma Shimin through an intermediary.
This is both a statement of attitude and a test of Lin Haoran's determination and bottom line in personally taking action this time.
Lin Haoran was not surprised by Zhang Zhongmou's directness.
He took off his sunglasses, revealing young yet incredibly composed eyes.
Lin Haoran suddenly laughed and said, "Mr. Zhang, speaking of which, we can be considered fellow townsmen. I heard that you lived in Hong Kong for a long time?"
Zhang Zhongmou looked at the other person in surprise. He didn't expect that Lin Haoran even knew this.
Indeed, although Zhang Zhongmou was born in Zhejiang Province, he spent his childhood from age 6 to 11 in Hong Kong due to the war. He attended Pui Ying Primary School from the second to the fifth grade and Pui Ching Primary School in the sixth grade.
It can be said that Hong Kong is indeed his second hometown.
This experience is not widely known even within Texas Instruments.
The fact that Lin Haoran was able to find this shows how much effort he put into it.
However, Lin Haoran had not actually investigated the other party.
Everything he knew was something he had seen in his previous life.
After all, Zhang Zhongmou was already a global semiconductor tycoon at that time, and his life experiences had been repeatedly explored and made public by the media and biographers.
Lin Haoran merely relied on the information advantage from his previous life to do it casually, yet it produced unexpected results.
"Mr. Lin has indeed done a lot of homework." Zhang Zhongmou's tone softened a bit, the sense of distance fading away and replaced by a complex emotion.
“That’s right, Hong Kong is indeed a very important part of my childhood memories. Pui Ying Primary School, Pui Ching Primary School, West Kowloon, those stone-paved streets, the trams, the sea breeze of Victoria Harbour, I still remember them vividly.”
Familiar accents and shared memories are among the fastest ways to bridge the distance between people.
Lin Haoran's choice to approach the issue from this angle was not accidental.
“So, Mr. Zhang,” Lin Haoran’s voice became more sincere, “when I said I wanted to establish a world-class semiconductor company based in Hong Kong, it wasn’t just for business reasons.”
There lies our shared cultural heritage, a unique advantage connecting East and West, and a strong emotional connection for Chinese elites like yourself who have emerged from there and now stand at the forefront of global science and technology.
I hope that Oracle Semiconductor will not only become a great business achievement, but also a monument that embodies the wisdom of the Chinese people and gives back to Hong Kong and the entire Chinese world.
"Oracle Semiconductor?" Zhang Zhongmou repeated in confusion.
"Yes, Mr. Zhang, the semiconductor company I'm going to establish will be called Oracle Semiconductor."
Lin Haoran explained: "'Oracle bone script' symbolizes the wisdom, prophecy, and immortal inheritance of the ancient East, while also implying the core functions of recording and calculation."
I hope this company, like the ancient inscriptions of oracle bones, will embody our insights into the future and transform wisdom into a real force for changing the world.
Zhang Zhongmou pondered the name and nodded slightly: "The name is very meaningful and also very imposing."
He paused, then steered the conversation back on track: "But Mr. Lin, a good name and a bright vision are far from enough. How do you plan to solve the most practical problems?"
For example, where does the technology come from? Why would top engineers and scientists leave leading platforms like Texas Instruments and Intel to join a startup in Hong Kong? How do they survive in the early stages, without customers or products?
These questions remain as direct and realistic as ever.
But Lin Haoran knew that Zhang Zhongmou's willingness to ask these questions meant that he was seriously considering the possibility of cooperation.
Perhaps this is the result of him coming here in person!
However, Lin Haoran believed that as long as the other party was willing to listen, he would definitely be able to persuade them.
Because what he brought was not just funding and vision, but a well-thought-out, almost flawless blueprint.
Lin Haoran smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang has asked about the core issue. First of all, regarding the source of our technology, we do not pursue being large and comprehensive, nor do we expect to compete head-on with Intel and Motorola in the most cutting-edge general-purpose processors from the very beginning."
We can choose a different path.
"Oh? Differentiation?" A hint of interest flashed in Zhang Zhongmou's eyes.
“Yes.” Lin Haoran nodded. “I’ve noticed that the semiconductor industry is undergoing some profound changes.”
On the one hand, Moore's Law continues to advance, and manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly refined;
On the other hand, as systems become increasingly complex, the demand for chips with specific functions, low power consumption, and high reliability is also growing explosively.
This gave us an opportunity.
He paused, then continued, "We can focus on several niche areas that have huge potential but are not yet completely monopolized by giants."
For example, communication chips. As Mr. Zhang knows, mobile phones have now been officially commercialized, and I believe that mobile communication will definitely explode in the future.
For example, there is huge demand for image sensors in consumer electronics and industrial applications;
For example, there are application-specific analog/mixed-signal chips and power devices.
In these areas, we can try to obtain licenses from research institutions or small design companies in the United States, Japan, or Europe that have unique technologies but lack industrialization resources, or even make strategic acquisitions.
At the same time, we will establish our own core R&D team and make intensive, focused investments in one or two key areas you have identified, striving to achieve world leadership in these niche fields.
Lin Haoran only had a superficial understanding of the semiconductor industry, but he spoke about it with remarkable confidence.
Zhang Zhongmou was visibly surprised after hearing Lin Haoran's words.
"Mr. Lin, I never imagined you had such profound and forward-thinking insights into the semiconductor industry!"
Zhang Zhongmou's tone was filled with obvious appreciation and surprise, and the previous sense of distance had almost completely disappeared.
"The mobile communication chips and image sensors you mentioned are indeed highly promising growth areas for the future."
Mobile communications, in particular, are still in their early stages, but their potential is limitless.
As for image sensors, the demand will continue to grow with the development of consumer electronics and automation, and it's quite remarkable that you've accurately grasped these trends.
Lin Haoran breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the entry point he had chosen based on his "prophetic" advantage had successfully resonated with this technical authority.
He smiled modestly: "I'm just making a superficial judgment from an outsider's perspective, based on some market trends."
The actual selection of the technical path and its specific implementation will depend on Mr. Zhang's keen insight and profound experience.
“However, Mr. Lin, to be honest, I really have no intention of going to Hong Kong. I am the global vice president at Texas Instruments, and I really can’t think of any reason for me to resign from this position and take a risk at a startup with an uncertain future,” Zhang Zhongmou said, changing the subject.
Although his tone remained calm, his words carried immense weight, directly addressing the core point of resistance.
"Texas Instruments gave me more than just a high salary and status; it gave me a mature platform that has been operating for decades, has resources all over the world, and plays a pivotal role in the industry."
As for Oracle Semiconductor, as you said, everything has to start from scratch. You should be more aware of the risks involved than I am.
Texas Instruments is undoubtedly the world's leading semiconductor company today. During this period, Texas Instruments held a leading position in terms of both technological strength and market share in the semiconductor field.
Since the 1950s, Texas Instruments has been the world's largest semiconductor company, achieving a series of groundbreaking innovations in the semiconductor field.
For example, in 1954, the world's first commercially available silicon transistor was produced, and in the same year, the first transistor radio was designed and manufactured.
He invented the world's first integrated circuit in 1958;
In 1970, they launched the first single-chip microcontroller, among other things.
These technological innovations have not only driven the development of the semiconductor industry, but also earned Texas Instruments widespread market recognition and reputation.
In contrast, Intel, which later became famous, is now at best a rising star, still in the stage of catching up.
Therefore, Zhang Zhongmou does indeed have things he can be proud of.
A normal person would make the choice he suggested: to hold firmly to the side of the giant ship that is Texas Instruments, rather than jumping onto a small boat that is still on the drawing board and going to challenge the unknown stormy seas.
Lin Haoran was well aware of how difficult it would be to persuade someone to give up their current position and join a completely unknown startup.
However, since Lin Haoran had come, he was naturally well-prepared and had absolute confidence.
He was not discouraged by Zhang Zhongmou's blunt rejection; instead, he revealed a more confident and composed smile.
Lin Haoran knew that Zhang Zhongmou's answer was not what it seemed, but rather a mixture of his true feelings and his true intentions.
Even if he doesn't come, the other party will eventually resign from Texas Instruments on their own.
The reason is simple: he has no chance of promotion at Texas Instruments!
Although he is the global vice president, there are still presidents and chairmen ahead of him!
Moreover, for a Chinese person, Texas Instruments, as a US giant with a deep-rooted tradition, has a top management position that is almost an invisible but indestructible ceiling.
Zhang Zhongmou's talent and ambition had reached their limit within the Texas Instruments system.
Most importantly, he is now 51 years old.
This age is an extremely delicate and crucial juncture for an ambitious technology leader and outstanding manager.
At 51, he was at the peak of his experience, network, reputation, and energy.
But he has also clearly realized that the golden window of his career may only last for the last ten to twenty years.
Is it better to continue "maintaining the status quo" in a mature system where the ceiling can already be seen, and spend the rest of one's career in comfort, or to seize the last opportunity to fight for a chance to fully realize one's ambitions and create a greater historical mark?
The scales in Zhang Zhongmou's heart had already been quietly tipping.
Lin Haoran's memories from his previous life told him that it was this "glass ceiling anxiety" and desire for greater autonomy that led Zhang Zhongmou to leave Texas Instruments a year later.
Now, what Lin Haoran needs to do is to provide an "exit" that is more attractive and appears earlier than the original historical trajectory, namely General Instruments and even later Taiwan, and to depict this "exit" as glorious enough to make him make his final decision.
It was indeed quite difficult, but when he decided to come to the United States in person, he was already quite confident.
This confidence stems not only from his foresight regarding Zhang Zhongmou's future trajectory, but also from his absolute confidence in the conditions he can provide, as well as his profound insight into human nature and the inner desires of top talents.
Faced with Zhang Zhongmou's renewed arguments about "risk" and "platform superiority," Lin Haoran did not rush to refute them, but instead nodded in deep agreement.
"Mr. Zhang, you are absolutely right. Texas Instruments has a stable platform, abundant resources, and extremely low risk."
For the vast majority of people, and even for most people of your stature, staying is the most rational and safest choice.
Lin Haoran's tone was full of understanding and empathy, which made Zhang Zhongmou slightly take aback and relax a little from his mindset of preparing for a heated debate.
For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
Although Lin Haoran, the big boss, personally traveled all the way from Hong Kong to Dallas, Texas to secretly meet him, his sincerity was undeniable. The conditions he had proposed through an intermediary were also quite generous, and even his insight into his inner thoughts startled him.
However, for Zhang Zhongmou, Hong Kong was merely a technological desert, a "cultural homeland" from his childhood memories, rather than a mature technological industry center.
The area lacks top-tier research institutions, a complete high-tech industrial chain, and a mature pool of semiconductor talent.
In the early 80s, the core and most of the top resources of the global semiconductor industry were undoubtedly concentrated in Silicon Valley and Texas in the United States, as well as in the rising Japan.
Hong Kong is almost a blank slate on today's technological landscape.
To Zhang Zhongmou, building a world-class semiconductor company in Hong Kong is like trying to build a skyscraper in the desert; the difficulty and risks are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.
This is not just a matter of funding and technology, but also a matter of ecology and soil. (End of Chapter)