svetikya Chapter 221 The Plot Against Lin Zhou 1
Chapter 221 The Plot Against Lin Zhou 1
Lin Zhou slammed the door to the reception room shut without hesitation. The heavy solid wood door blocked out the suppressed anger that was about to erupt inside, and also locked away the greed and resentment that filled the room.
After a full ten seconds of silence, the Hollywood giants, who had just been fawning over Lin Zhou and vying for his offer, remained silent.
All the politeness and pretense on his face vanished, replaced by an undisguised ruthlessness and ferocity.
MGM's chief representative in China, Anderson, was ashen-faced. His usually well-maintained features were slightly distorted with anger. He slammed his fist on the coffee table next to him, making the delicate porcelain cups clang loudly.
"Arrogant! Utterly arrogant!" Anderson hissed in a low voice, his golden eyebrows furrowed, his eyes filled with fury at being ignored.
"A yellow-skinned kid from Hong Kong dares to talk to Hollywood like that? Three million US dollars, that's giving him face, and he actually dares to say he won't sell!"
Jackson, Paramount's Asia-Pacific regional head, followed closely behind, his Black face contorted with anger.
He paced back and forth in the reception room, hands on his hips, his tone filled with disbelief:
"Five million US dollars plus permanent global revenue sharing—such terms would be enough to make any special effects company in Hollywood, let alone Hong Kong, immediately agree! He didn't even hesitate; he rejected it outright!"
"He doesn't not want to sell; he just wants to treat us all like ATMs!"
A representative from Warner Bros. spoke coldly, tapping his fingers forcefully on the table.
"They only provide special effects services, keeping all the technology tightly under their control. This means that if we want to make big productions in the future, we'll have to beg them to cooperate!"
When has Hollywood ever suffered such humiliation?
Immediately, the meeting room was filled with complaints. More than a dozen representatives from major European and American film companies spoke one after another, all expressing their dissatisfaction and threats against Lin Zhou.
They are used to dominating the global film market, used to crushing all competitors with capital, and used to firmly grasping all advanced technologies in their own hands.
In their minds, the East is nothing more than a synonym for backwardness, and a tiny place like Hong Kong could never have produced top-notch special effects technology that was years or even decades ahead of Hollywood.
But "Hurricane Hong Kong" slapped them in the face.
The incredibly realistic city explosions, the flawlessly smooth car chases, and the meticulously detailed physical destruction effects were a feat that even the most advanced special effects studios in Hollywood in 1982 could not achieve.
This is a dimensional reduction attack.
It is also a sword hanging over Hollywood's head.
Once Lin Zhou monopolizes this technology, the global blockbuster market will be firmly controlled by this Hong Konger, and these established film giants will only be reduced to vassals, dependent on him.
This is something they absolutely cannot tolerate.
"Calm down, everyone calm down! Let's leave here and find a place where we need to discuss what to do."
Anderson took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.
As MGM's chief representative, he possessed far more experience and shrewdness than others. Anger wouldn't solve the problem; the most crucial thing at the moment was to figure out how to control Lin Zhou.
They returned to a private estate and went up to a small conference room.
"There's no point in getting angry now. We need to find a way to get that yellow-skinned monkey named Lin Zhou to hand over the technology willingly!"
Anderson's gaze swept over everyone present, and he spoke first in a cold tone.
"Isn't he arrogant? Isn't he unwilling to sell? Then we'll beat him until he submits, force him to back down!"
Jackson stopped and looked at Anderson, saying:
"Mr. Anderson, what can you do? That bastard is completely unyielding, he won't listen to reason or threats, he doesn't care about the exorbitant price we offered, and ordinary methods are simply useless."
"If he doesn't care about money, doesn't he care about his company?"
Anderson's lips curled into a sinister smile, his eyes sharp as knives.
"Do you really think his Zhonghua Group is only surviving on the film and television business?"
Everyone was stunned by these words.
"Mr. Anderson, what do you mean?" someone quickly asked.
Anderson chuckled coldly and slowly revealed his findings: "Before I came to Hong Kong, I specifically had someone investigate the Zhonghua Group. This Lin Zhou is not some simple film businessman at all; his core business is Zhonghua Electronics!"
"Zhonghua Electronics?" someone repeated, a hint of doubt in their eyes. "Is that the game console and recorder brand that's recently seen a surge in sales in the European and American markets?"
"That's right."
Anderson nodded, his tone certain, "More than 90% of Zhonghua Group's cash flow comes from Zhonghua Electronics."
Their electronic products, thanks to their low prices and stable quality, quickly captured a significant market share in Europe and America.
This is also the source of Lin Zhou's confidence to be so assertive—he's not short of money, so our capital offer is insignificant to him.
A word to awaken the dreamer.
Everyone suddenly realized what was going on.
The reason why Lin Zhou could ignore the temptation of three or five million US dollars and remain calm in front of these Hollywood giants was simply because he was not short of money.
For him, the film and television industry is merely icing on the cake, while Zhonghua Electronics is his lifeline.
"Now that we've found his Achilles' heel, things are much easier." A ruthless glint flashed in Jackson's eyes. "Mr. Anderson, just tell us, what should we do?"
Anderson walked to the window of the reception room, looking down at the still festive street scene in Yuen Long, but his eyes were as cold as ice.
"It's very simple." He spoke slowly, each word carrying a chilling edge, "Cut off his source of income, choke him!"
"The vast majority of Zhonghua Electronics' products are exported to the European and American markets. If the customs of Western countries were to impose a complete ban on Zhonghua Electronics, prohibiting any of their products from entering the European and American markets, their cash flow would instantly dry up!"
"How long can a company without cash flow survive, no matter how advanced its special effects technology is?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up instantly.
This move is a classic example of cutting off the enemy's lifeline!
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" The Warner representative exclaimed, slapping the table in admiration, a smile of excitement spreading across his face.
"As soon as customs bans it, Zhonghua Electronics will immediately be forced to halt production, face inventory pileups, and a broken cash flow. At that point, forget about producing special effects; even paying salaries will be a problem!"
"No matter how tough Lin Zhou is, he has no choice but to bow his head when faced with the desperate situation of the group's bankruptcy!" Another representative from an independent film company echoed.
"When the time comes, we'll come knocking again. Forget about three million US dollars for the technology; even if we get him to sell Zhonghua Films to us for thirty million Hong Kong dollars, he'll have to obediently agree!"
"That's right, this is the most direct and effective method!" Anderson turned around and glanced at everyone.
"Backed by Hollywood giants, each of us here has a significant influence in the political and business circles of Europe and America."
"If we join forces to exert pressure, getting customs to issue a ban is just a matter of a word. A Hong Kong electronics factory isn't worth the Western governments offending the entire Hollywood for.