Reborn in 2014: A One-Man Tycoon

Few people truly know the formidable foundation of ASML.

As the absolute leader in the global lithography machine field, it is currently the only company capable of producing extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) systems.

It has long maintained a 100% market share and firmly controlled the industry's discourse power.

Whether it's Intel, Samsung, TSMC, or SMIC.

These industry giants are all its loyal customers.

Once removed from ASML's lithography machines, the entire chip manufacturing chain will come to a standstill.

Since 2018, the United States has been escalating its export controls on chips to China.

TSMC was the first to respond to the ban by cutting off supplies.

Subsequently, ASML was also forced to stop shipping to China.

Even worse, the US ordered the Dutch company ASML to revoke the licenses for the lithography machines it had already sold.

And it will cease providing repair services for lithography machines already sold to China.

This has left Chinese companies in a predicament where their equipment is "broken and there's nowhere to repair it."

This technological blockade triggered a prolonged chip shortage in the country.

It even led to a shortage of automotive chips at one point.

The prices of used cars and used mobile phones have skyrocketed – chips from discarded electronic products are being reused, becoming a "lifeline" for the market.

In fact, ASML is not unwilling to cooperate with China—this huge market accounts for nearly half of its revenue.

However, US capital, such as BlackRock, firmly controls the company's equity and core patents.

This forced Asmay to become a political tool.

As for Japanese companies like Canon and Nikon, they too are under the shadow of American capital and blindly obey the ban.

My life has always been like a dog raised by the US.

When the master gives an order, how can the dog disobey?

Therefore, when Meng Chuan learned that BlackRock was ASML's largest shareholder, and Canon and Nikon were the second largest shareholders combined, he had the idea of ​​taking over ASML.

Meng Chuan's first targets were Canon and Nikon.

As for BlackRock, acquiring its shares will not be easy.

Because this is a company with global total assets exceeding three trillion US dollars.

This three trillion yuan figure is only what's publicly known.

For a company that is not short of money, getting it to obediently hand over its shares is definitely not an easy task.

Therefore, before a sound strategy is in place, Meng Chuan must not alert the enemy.

Moreover, Meng Chuan must completely acquire Asmai Company before 2018.

Otherwise, it will be too late once the ban takes effect.

By then, taking down Asmay will be an impossible task.

Over the next two days, at Meng Chuan's behest, Whale Capital began aggressively buying into the non-ferrous metals sector.

This included a series of illegal operations such as spreading rumors and manipulating stock prices to quickly increase market attention.

Wash trading is a form of self-dealing, where major players or market makers use multiple accounts to conduct transactions with each other at a pre-agreed time, price, and method.

This creates the illusion of active stock trading, inducing other investors to follow suit.

This behavior is definitely illegal.

It depends on whether the relevant departments investigate or not.

It is very difficult for ordinary people or organizations to discover.

But Meng Chuan believes that with his current "achievements," even if he is investigated, it shouldn't be a big problem.

After all, this was something that Meng Chuan and Elder Huang had agreed upon long ago.

Huang was responsible for "locking up" the funds of Canon and Nikon, and then Meng Chuan would then pump them up.

In just two days, aluminum prices soared to 25 yuan, and gold prices broke through 32 yuan.

Canon and Nikon are deeply mired in the crisis, with paper losses reaching as high as 1500 billion yuan.

Despite the huge sums of money invested by Meng Chuan, these were merely "necessary costs" compared to the strategic value of controlling ASML.

On the morning of the third day, just as Meng Chuan got out of bed, Ying Die barged into the room with a serious expression:

“Meng Chuan, we caught two assassins at home and one at the county’s No. 1 High School, but we didn’t alert Mom and Dad or Liu Qian.”

Yingdie had long been used to calling Meng Chuan's parents "Mom and Dad".

Although Meng Chuan's parents knew nothing about Ying Die, their "daughter".

Meng Chuan's pupils contracted slightly upon hearing this:

"What did they find out?"

Once someone falls into the hands of the Green Gang, no matter how stubborn they are, the Green Gang can pry them open.

Meng Chuan firmly believed this!

"They were all suicide squad members; if they were captured, they would commit suicide by poison."

Yingdie shook her head, then added:

"Deadpool's whereabouts have also been spotted in Shanghai. Fifth Master caught one, but he also failed to capture him alive."

Meng Chuan's face darkened—all of the Goman family's assassins had entered the country.

Although the other party had located him in Shanghai, they did not know where he was staying.

After all, not many people knew that Meng Chuan had moved away from the school and was living in Haihu Manor.

Even if those Deadpools found out, they still couldn't break into the impregnable Yihai Lake Manor.

But if left unchecked, family members will inevitably become targets of attack.

"I have to show up."

Meng Chuan said in a deep voice.

Meng Chuan couldn't stay cooped up here and let his family suffer the danger.

Yingdie hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

She knew that once Meng Chuan showed up, he would face a deadly attack from Deadpool.

Yingdie wasn't surprised that these people were fearless, unscrupulous, and even committed suicide bombings.

But she knew Meng Chuan's character better; he couldn't possibly stand idly by and let his family suffer danger.

"Let's go find Prince Fu. He promised to teach me the Hundred-Step Piercing Hand technique. It's time to practice."

Meng Chuan quickly got dressed.

Meng Chuan greatly admired Prince Fu's unparalleled archery skills.

However, Meng Chuan needed to keep a close eye on the stock market during this period, which is why he didn't go to practice with Prince Fu.

It's the perfect time to show up and go find Prince Fu.

Besides, it wouldn't hurt to make use of Prince Fu's powerful bodyguards.

"Let's have breakfast first."

Yingdie said with some concern.

"Just go to Fifth Master's place for a free meal."

As Meng Chuan spoke, he straightened his clothes and strode out, saying:

"Yingdie, look around and see if there's a spacious, empty area where you can practice the Hundred-Step Piercing Hand technique."

Yingdie nodded. These kinds of places are easy to find; there are plenty in the suburbs!

Soon, Meng Chuan and Ying Die arrived at the Black Comic Bar.

Fifth Master was leisurely enjoying his breakfast.

Meng Chuan grabbed a fried dough stick and stuffed it into his mouth, completely ignoring Fifth Master's furrowed brows.

"Hey kid, are you out of your mind?"

Fifth Master slapped away Meng Chuan's outstretched hand:

"With so many eyes watching you now, do you still dare to run around?"

Fifth Master was never used to dining with others.

Therefore, the breakfast that Afu prepared for him was all for one person.

If Meng Chuan takes any more, he won't have enough to eat.

"You can choke to death while eating! Does that mean we should never eat again?"

Meng Chuan mumbled incoherently, stretching his neck to swallow the last bite of the fried dough stick:

"Uncle Fu, lend me your things for a few days. You can find someone else to take care of you later."

Without waiting for Fifth Master's reply, Meng Chuan respectfully addressed the Prince of Fu behind Fifth Master:

"Uncle Fu, what's the point of serving an old man every day? Come on, starting today I'll take you out to eat and drink well..."

Fifth Master flew into a rage and slammed the bowl he was holding onto the table, upside down.

"You've gone too far, Afu! Throw him out!"