Rebirth: Starting from Lighting Up the Tech Tree

Chapter 125 The Mastermind

After the software solution was successfully tested, Fang Ze compiled a list of three general-purpose chips, all readily available on the market, ready to be shipped upon order. Shen Yiming integrated the new communication protocol into the technical framework and ran a round of simulation tests, with results even better than expected.

Zuo Cheng did not relax.

Having a working solution is one thing; whether the supply chain has truly been resolved is another. The components for Sky Dome Phase IV are not limited to chips; signal conditioning, power management, and packaging/testing—if these processes continue to be hampered, the project's progress will still be affected.

He called Han Lu to his office.

"How far has Tianxing Capital's investigation gone?"

Han Lu opened her laptop and pulled out the documents she had compiled over the past few days. It was a thick stack, showing that she had put in a lot of effort.

"Tianxing Capital was established in 2015, registered in Shenzhen, and is 85% owned by Zhao Tianxing, the actual controller. On the surface, it engages in financial investment, but a clear pattern emerges when its investment portfolio is analyzed."

The screen displays a chart, with Tianxing Capital's investment targets marked by dots, and lines indicating shareholding percentages and investment dates. The entire chart has a clear fan-shaped structure, with the chip industry chain at its core.

"Since 2024, Tianxing Capital has successively invested in seventeen semiconductor companies," Han Lu pointed to the nodes on the map, "three in packaging and testing, two in chip design, one in wafer foundry, four in component distribution, three in signal processing, two in power management, and two in PCB manufacturing. In two years, we've almost covered the entire midstream and downstream of China's chip industry chain."

Zuo Cheng didn't speak, but his brows furrowed slightly.

"Seventeen companies." Han Lu emphasized, "This isn't just ordinary investment; it's a systematic industrial chain holding company."

Why did Zhao Tianxing do this?

"This is the part that interests me the most." Han Lu switched pages. "Zhao Tianxing is a very low-profile person, and there isn't much publicly available information about him. But I've uncovered some crucial information."

She pulled out a photo, a screenshot of Zhao Tianxing's speech at an industry forum. He was dressed in a suit and tie, with gray hair, looked to be in his fifties, and had a serious expression.

"Zhao Tianxing graduated from the Department of Electronic Engineering at Huaxia University of Technology in 1992. That same year, he joined the supply chain management department of CEFC China Energy, where he worked for fifteen years before leaving in 2007 to start his own business," Han Lu said. "Lin Jianhua graduated in the same year and joined CEFC in the same year, pursuing a career in technology research and development. The two were not only university classmates but also joined the same company in the same year."

Zuo Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Zhao Tianxing worked in the supply chain at CEFC for fifteen years and had an intimate understanding of the industry's upstream and downstream sectors. After leaving, he founded Tianxing Capital, using capital to build his own supply chain empire," Han Lu said.

"Do you have direct business dealings with Lin Jianhua?" Zuo Cheng asked.

"On the surface, there's no such thing. Lin Jianhua isn't on Tianxing Capital's publicly disclosed investor list, nor is Tianxing Capital listed in Huaxin's external investment records. But I found a related party."

Han Lu pulled out a business registration document.

"Tianxing Capital has a wholly-owned overseas subsidiary called Tianxing Zhilian, which mainly engages in technology consulting. The legal representative is Qian Jin, who briefly served as a consultant for CEFC's supply chain management department in 2018."

"A middleman," Zuo Cheng said.

"Yes. The existence of this middleman indicates that the cooperation between Lin Jianhua and Zhao Tianxing was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a long-term arrangement."

Zuo Cheng leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.

"There's one more thing," Han Lu's tone changed, "Tianxing Capital has recently been in contact with Xingchen Technology."

Zuo Cheng's gaze immediately returned.

"What do you mean?"

Last month, Tianxing Capital submitted a letter of intent to Xingchen Technology for strategic cooperation in the chip industry chain. It is unclear whether Xingchen Technology has responded, but it is evident that Zhao Tianxing and Xingchen Technology have established contact.

Star Technology.

The name flashed through Zuo Cheng's mind. In his previous life, Star Technology was a rising industry giant that had become a global leader in brain-computer interfaces and neuromorphic chips.

"How did you find out about Xingchen Technology?" Zuo Cheng asked.

"Industry sources say this is uncertain. But if Tianxing Capital has indeed contacted Xingchen Technology, it indicates that Zhao Tianxing's ambitions extend beyond the Ka-402 supply chain, encompassing the entire satellite communication and AI chip sectors."

Zuo Cheng stood up and walked to the window.

The sky outside the window had darkened, and the lights in the office building were turning on one by one. He went through all the information again.

Zhao Tianxing, with 15 years of industry experience and a background in CEFC's supply chain, controlled 17 semiconductor companies through capital means. Lin Jianhua, CEFC's CTO, lost to 402 twice in the review meeting. He and Zhao Tianxing were college classmates and former colleagues. One managed technology, and the other managed the supply chain; they worked together to put pressure on 402 from two directions simultaneously.

This isn't simple business competition; it's a meticulously planned encirclement. And on a larger scale than he imagined. If Xingchen Technology and Tianxing Capital truly cooperate, 402 will be facing a three-way alliance.

This situation cannot be solved by technology alone.

He turned around and looked at Han Lu.

"That's all for now. Encrypt and store the information; don't let anyone know we're investigating Tianxing Capital. Don't tell anyone about Tianxing Capital and Xingchen Technology for now, including Shen Yiming and Fang Ze."

Han Lu nodded, packed up her laptop, and left.

Zuo Cheng stood alone in the office.

He needed to make a decision. 402 wasn't strong enough to directly confront Tianxing Capital and Lin Jianhua. But he had a bargaining chip: the technology for Tianqiong Phase IV was globally leading, and Lanwan Communications couldn't function without 402. Zhou Henian was practical; if he could persuade him to provide support in the supply chain, many things would be much easier.

Moreover, he has an even more ambitious plan.

Starry Sky Technology. His memories from his previous life told him that Starry Sky Technology's core technology far surpassed current industry understanding. If some kind of connection could be established, the technological ceiling of 402 would be completely broken.

He recalled that Zhou Henian had mentioned before that Star Technology was interested in satellite communication and edge AI. And 402 happened to have core technologies in both of these areas.

A line slowly became clear in his mind.

He picked up his phone, found Zhou Henian's number, hesitated for two seconds, and then dialed it.

I answered the phone after it rang four times.

"Zuo Cheng? Is something wrong that you're calling at this hour?"

"Mr. Zhou, I'd like to meet someone. Someone from Star Technology."

There was a three-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Are you sure?" Zhou Henian's tone changed, becoming more cautious.

"Sure."

There was a few more seconds of silence.

"Okay, I'll help you make the connection. But Star Technology isn't someone you can just meet with. Whether you can close the deal depends on you."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhou."

"Don't thank me, just make sure the development of Sky Dome Phase IV isn't delayed."

"Won't."

After hanging up the phone, Zuo Cheng watched as his phone screen slowly went dark.

Star Technology. This time, our contact began much earlier than in the previous life. I wonder if the outcome will be different.