Great Power Industry: You're a private company building an aircraft carrier?

The East, Shanghai.

"Since we started working with Samsung, we've been investing in the construction of the chip factory." Qin Chuan, along with Zhang Rujin and others, stood at the entrance of the production workshop, his heart filled with pride.

Good things come to those who wait. Although the chip industry has only now entered the field, it has caught the best opportunity!

"Following Samsung's process, we designed the production plant here as a four-story structure. The plant was only fully completed three days ago and has now passed inspection."

Zhang Rujin nodded: "Yes, that's right. The four-layer structure is the mainstream in chip factories nowadays. It can ensure that there is enough clean air, as well as enough balance and stability... What about the factory's employees?"

"Ahem, because South Korea stood us up, we haven't recruited any workers yet. Mr. Zhang, your arrival here has made you our pillar of strength. From now on, we'll be handling everything here!"

The chip factory is just starting out and hasn't started recruiting workers yet. Besides... Qin Chuan is waiting for Zhang Rujin! As long as he comes, is there any worry about the chip factory not having enough manpower?

Zhang Rujin nodded: "Over the years, I have brought many Chinese people here. After I finish inspecting the factories here, I will go back to the United States and visit places like Singapore, and try to bring more people back with me!"

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang. After they arrive, their salaries will be increased by 20%!" Qin Chuan naturally didn't care about spending money. Anyway, he could make a lot of money from this crisis in South Korea, enough to invest in ten chip factories!

"It's truly an honor for Shanghai to have Mr. Zhang here!" Jiang Zhou, an official from Shanghai who was accompanying him, said excitedly. "Our Zhangjiang Industrial Park finally has a real high-tech industry!"

The Shanghai government warmly welcomes Laiyang Group's expansion into Shanghai, especially its development of the semiconductor industry, which is definitely a future necessity and a growth engine for Shanghai's economy!

Qin Chuan smiled. The electronics industry in Shanghai really does hold up half the sky!

"President Qin, shouldn't we give our chip factory a new name?" Jiang Zhou continued.

Samsung has withdrawn its investment, so of course we can't use the old name anymore! What should we call it now?

Qin Chuan looked at Zhang Rujin: "Mr. Zhang, please give me a name!"

How about calling it SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation)?

Sure enough, Zhang Rujin already had this name in his heart!

"Of course, Mr. Zhang. From now on, you will be the CEO of SMIC, the top executive! Our group will allocate one billion US dollars to you first, and we will allocate more when you run out!"

"A billion in one go!" Jiang Zhou exclaimed from the side. "Laiyang Group is really rich!"

"Come on, let's go inside the workshop and take a look at the equipment!"

The production workshop has a four-layer structure: an upper technical mezzanine, a clean production layer, a clean lower technical mezzanine, and a non-clean lower technical mezzanine.

Simply put, it involves installing a supply air plenum at the top, generating clean air through an air filtration system, then delivering it to the factory through the floor, and finally returning it through a return air clamp to complete a cycle.

Before entering, everyone put on dustproof suits and had to pass through a dustproof workshop. Bringing in excess dust would cause the chips in production to be scrapped!

Zhang Rujin approached the equipment and examined the labels, instruction manual, and overall appearance of the equipment...

He looked at it very carefully, even gently stroking the equipment with his gloved hands. Finally, the development of the country's chip industry was about to begin, and his lifelong dream was about to come true!

At the same time, inside a government building in Puxi.

"Leader Hu, we protest!" A short man raised his fist: "Shanghai is clearly cooperating with NEC to build an eight-inch 0.35-micron production line. Now, why are they supporting a private enterprise?"

Leader Hu frowned and looked at the visitor: "Mr. Nanye, the electronics industry of Laiyang Group and our Huahong Microelectronics Company are not even in the same league. One is 0.35 micrometers and the other is 0.18 micrometers. They are not in competition at all. Your protest is completely unreasonable!"

Hidemasa Minamino's attitude remained firm: "On the surface, there is no competition, but... manufacturing chips requires a large amount of electricity. We have already calculated that the current power supply capacity of Shanghai is just enough for one of our chip factories. If Laiyang Group's chip factory starts production, then there will be a power shortage!"

"You don't need to worry about this. Since we support the construction of the factory, we will definitely provide sufficient power. Even if all the rural areas in the province lose power, we will give priority to ensuring the power needs of our chip industry."

The laser source inside a lithography machine is a huge power consumer. TSMC alone in Taiwan consumes one-eighth of the island's total electricity, which is quite abnormal.

Minamino Hidemasa's eyes darted around; clearly, he also knew that this argument was untenable.

“Chip factories need highly skilled workers. Once Laiyang Group’s chip factory starts production, it will inevitably recruit a large number of skilled workers, which will interfere with us!” Nan Ye Yingzheng said, “When Laiyang Group was promoting the large passenger aircraft industry, it poached a lot of people from the Shanghai Aircraft Factory!”

Leader Hu frowned. This was indeed a problem, but...

"People from the Shanghai aircraft factory were indeed poached, but that's because we have a market economy here, and workers have the freedom to choose!"

"This kind of poaching is impolite and abnormal!" Minamino Hidemasa said. "If you insist on going your own way, then we will consider withdrawing our investment!"

"If you withdraw your investment, it would be a breach of contract on your part. We can accept it as long as you pay the penalty stipulated in the contract."

What? You can accept this?

Previously, Dongfang was eager to ask for help, after all, even a 0.35-micron production line was advanced for Dongfang, but unexpectedly...

"Leader Hu, your side is not very familiar with chip manufacturing. I want to say that even if Laiyang Group's electronics factory has the equipment, it may not be able to start up. After all, the installation and debugging of equipment is very important, and you... simply do not have that capability!"

Hidemasa Minamino said, "Now, the best solution for you is for the government to step in and bring that factory under the control of Hua Hong Microelectronics. In that case, we Japanese can help install and debug the equipment. However, because this production line is too advanced, we will have to decide what to produce."

“Laiyang Group is a private enterprise, and our government has no right to interfere. Moreover, Laiyang Group has the ability to solve the installation and commissioning problems of the production line, so we don’t need to worry about it!”

Leader Hu finally understood the island nation's intentions: initially, they cooperated with Samsung and ignored it, but when Samsung withdrew its investment, they started to find fault, either to ruin the company or to acquire it.

Do you islanders deserve it?