Chapter 416: Lin Ran Is Everywhere
“General Manager Lin? General Manager Lin didn’t see me.”
Zhang Jianzhong’s words were like a basin of cold water poured over Chen Hongyi’s head. He quickly turned off the march, walked to Zhang Jianzhong’s side:
“No, what’s going on? Didn’t you go to Apollo Technology last week? Wasn’t it General Manager Lin who personally told you this good news?”
This made Chen Hongyi a bit panicked.
Zhang Jianzhong shook his head: “That day, it was Apollo Technology’s Secretary of the Board, General Manager Li, who received me. General Manager Lin seemed to have other matters, I didn’t get to see him. Except for the review day, I haven’t seen General Manager Lin afterward either.”
Chen Hongyi pondered inwardly. This was such an important project; once announced, it caused a huge shock in the capital market, from Lujiazui to Wall Street, shaking the world.
To put it simply, besides the A-share market surging and driving the sector up, foreign financial media and Wall Street investors were all asking: What company is Moore Threads? We want to invest in it!
English emails flooded their external reception mailbox. Foreign investors urgently wanted to come for research, to know why this company was favored by Lin from China.
What is influence? This is influence.
There has always been such a rumor overseas: Lin Ran, besides being a technology giant, also has super strong influence in Yanjing, more exaggerated than Jack Ma at his peak.
“But I indeed haven’t dealt with General Manager Lin either. From insider news, General Manager Lin really doesn’t manage the company’s daily affairs much.
After all, now it’s some preliminary processes and business negotiations; it’s normal that General Manager Lin wouldn’t get involved.
It’s just that he didn’t chat with you about the specific technology development direction; that’s still a bit strange.
Could it be that Apollo Technology internally has its own separate right brain chip project?”
Chen Hongyi suddenly realized: “General Manager Lin hanging out with General Manager Ma wouldn’t have learned bad habits, right? Like Tencent, playing some ‘raise gu’ tactics: one internal team makes chips, externally invest in another company, race between the two, whoever wins takes all?
If their internal team wins, then spin it off to establish a separate company.
If you win, then transfer the core employees responsible for this project to Moore Threads.
This is also the usual playbook of internet giants.
General Manager Ma is too cunning!”
The General Manager Ma here is naturally Apollo’s CEO Pony Ma.
Zhang Jianzhong thought about it after hearing this and felt it made a lot of sense.
Because AI companies developing chips isn’t rare; Musk’s XAI self-developed the inference chip codenamed X1, using TSMC’s 3nm process.
META is also testing its first self-developed AI inference chip.
Including Alibaba’s Damoyuan, which was researching AI chips as early as a few years ago.
After all, no one wants to see shovel makers getting rich while us gold diggers struggle.
“Like this: follow up by arranging more meetings with General Manager Li, try to bring questions to consult General Manager Lin.
You need to know, to this day, General Manager Lin still holds the identity of Jiaotong University professor and also mentors students.
He definitely enjoys teaching others. Every time you meet him, you must provide full emotional value; the questions you ask must have enough value. In short, pay attention to grasping this balance well.”
Zhang Jianzhong nodded thoughtfully, but still had some confusion inwardly.
“Old Chen, I understand what you mean.
But I’m worried that a big shot like General Manager Lin would think I’m deliberately currying favor?
Would he feel disgusted?”
“This is the key point I want to make,” Chen Hongyi picked up the teacup and took a gentle sip: “Currying favor and consulting differ by one word, but the difference is worlds apart.
Currying favor is pure flattery, taking without giving. Consulting comes with respect and thirst for knowledge.
For people like General Manager Lin, their life lacks nothing material; what they value most is being recognized and needed.
They hope their wisdom and experience can be inherited, can truly solve problems.
So, when you meet him, don’t talk about project progress or funding issues; those have dedicated contacts.
You need to chat with him about technology, the most cutting-edge difficult problems.
For example, what bottlenecks have you encountered in heterogeneous computing on the right brain chip? What confusions do you have in the underlying algorithms of spiking neural networks? Lay these real problems before him, let him feel that his knowledge and experience are indispensable.
This is more effective than any flattery.”
Chen Hongyi is an executive at Shenzhen Capital Group, doing cutting-edge tech investments year-round, and recently especially focused on whether his investment project Moore Threads could be selected, so related terms come naturally to him.
Chen Hongyi paused, then added: “The balance of emotional value is also important. Don’t over-praise; express your admiration sincerely from the heart.
When talking about a technical point, you can say, ‘General Manager Lin, that idea you mentioned last time, we studied it repeatedly after returning and found it was the finishing touch, instantly opening up our thinking.’
Such words show your respect and let General Manager Lin feel his wisdom is truly applied and recognized.”
Zhang Jianzhong listened attentively. To reach where he is today, he surely understands these things; it’s just that Chen Hongyi summarized it very well.
“I understand, Old Chen,” Zhang Jianzhong nodded solemnly, “I’ll keep your words in mind; I’ll definitely grasp it well.”
Chen Hongyi smiled slightly and patted his shoulder: “Old Zhang, to thrive in Apollo Technology’s ecosystem, the most important thing is your relationship with General Manager Lin.
From General Manager Lin arranging for his father to take over as deputy director of Jiaotong University’s Frontier Technology Center, it shows that for him, closeness of relationship matters more than ability.
Of course, I believe you’ll take it seriously; after all, Moore Threads is your brainchild, and your shareholding is much larger than ours.
I still need to remind you: winning now is just temporary; don’t get complacent. Don’t think Cambricon, Biren Technology, and others will give up.
They’re eyeing your position covetously.”
“A Ran, Longi sent an invitation, inviting you to their new generation product press conference.” Li Xiaoman asked.
Lin Ran looked up: “Their next-generation photovoltaic module has gone into production?”
Li Xiaoman nodded: “Yes, their next-generation product has gone into production and will be officially launched to the market after this press conference.”
The structure given by Lin Ran bypasses the Shockley-Queisser limit. With the assistance of Chinese scientists, they completed the exploration of laboratory production and industrial production for this photovoltaic module.
And handed over the process and technology to every domestic photovoltaic giant via technology licensing.
The technology fee method is a tiered fixed rate based on production capacity.
Roughly as follows: to cover R&D costs and ensure licensing sincerity, there will be a one-time entry fee of 100 million RMB.
Then the baseline authorization fee, based on the LR photovoltaic structure developed by Lin Ran, 50 million RMB per GW of production capacity.
The higher the production capacity, for the first 5 GW production capacity, 50 million RMB/GW
5-10 GW production capacity: 40 million RMB/GW
Over 10 GW production capacity: 30 million RMB/GW
Longi Green Energy took over a year to achieve large-scale implementation.
“You represent me and go.” Lin Ran said.
Such press conferences are mostly business mutual praise.
He doesn’t need such business mutual praise.
Li Xiaoman replied: “Okay.”
She inwardly sighed: What is influence? This is influence.
In the past, Longi’s product press conferences were either in Chang’an, their headquarters there, or in Hangcheng, to target the Yangtze River Delta market.
At most, a sub-venue in Shanghai in previous years.
This year, to invite Lin Ran and make it convenient for him to attend, they specially moved it to Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Center.
“General Manager Li, your attendance is a great honor.” Longi’s CEO Zhong Baosheng felt a bit disappointed inwardly because it wasn’t Lin Ran who came.
“General Manager Zhong, you’re too polite. How could we miss such a grand event?” Li Xiaoman smiled in response.
“General Manager Li, everything today is inseparable from your company’s hard work.” Zhong Baosheng’s words were full of sincerity.
“General Manager Zhong, you’re too polite. It’s your foresight and boldness that gave this technology a real stage.” Li Xiaoman said: “We’re good at 0-to-1 theoretical breakthroughs, while Longi excels at 1-to-100 industrialization and scaling. Without Longi, we wouldn’t see this technology land either.”
Every noteworthy company in China has invested heavily in the new generation photovoltaic module.
Because this is the next-generation photovoltaic technology with the highest certainty.
During negotiations back then, these photovoltaic giants even took turns bidding high prices, hoping to exclusively own this technology.
The highest even shouted 10 billion RMB to buy it out, and continue paying technology authorization fees based on production capacity afterward.
So Li Xiaoman’s reply was pure humility.
The press conference began; lights dimmed suddenly, the screen flashing grand images and inspiring music.
When Zhong Baosheng stepped onto the stage, the audience erupted in thunderous applause.
The market had waited long; investors even longer.
He didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the core theme.
“We have broken through the physical limits of the photovoltaic industry, ushering in a new era for human energy!” Zhong Baosheng’s voice was resounding, echoing through the venue.
He began detailing the product’s technical core: “quantum multi-state leap”, “non-equilibrium quantum mechanics”, “multi-exciton yield”.
“Today, we stand here to announce to the world the arrival of an era.
And the starting point of all this relies on one person, an outstanding scientist, Professor Lin Ran.
It was Professor Lin and his team who, with their wisdom and perseverance, unlocked the ultimate code to photovoltaic efficiency in the deepest quantum world.
They didn’t stop at surface material iterations but started from the most fundamental physical principles, building that revolutionary quantum multi-body model.
This model is like the hand of God, pointing the way for us.
We at Longi are honored to collaborate with Professor Lin, turning his theory from cold equations into modules that light up the world.
It can be said that without Professor Lin’s theoretical breakthrough, there would be no product today.
It is his model that gave us the possibility to surpass physical limits, taking the photovoltaic industry from quantitative accumulation to qualitative leap.
Here, on behalf of Longi Green Energy, I offer the highest respect to Professor Lin Ran and his team.
They not only provided us with technology but gave us a blueprint to change the world.
Their names will forever be engraved on the milestone of photovoltaic development.”
In the audience, all companies related to Lin Ran; Zhang Jianzhong also received an invitation and needed to attend such an occasion.
As the new hot stock in the capital market, he was arranged in the first row.
Sitting next to him was precisely Chen Hongyi.
Chen Hongyi sighed: “See that? This is General Manager Lin’s influence. He didn’t even show up, but even a giant like Longi has to flatter him.”
What a top scientist.
Zhang Jianzhong said: “I feel General Manager Lin’s status in the photovoltaic industry is somewhat like Edison’s in the electric light industry.”
When that stunning set of parameters appeared on the screen, the audience below let out uncontrollable gasps of surprise: Longi’s latest mass-produced model would reach an astonishing 40% rated efficiency.
Past mass-produced photovoltaic modules had photoelectric conversion efficiency around 20%.
Now this number was directly doubled.
“Everyone here knows that one of the biggest challenges in photovoltaic power generation is its ‘reliance on heaven’s mood’. On cloudy days, early morning, dusk, or even blocked by a leaf, power generation drops sharply. This makes investment returns for photovoltaic power stations full of uncertainty and troubles household users.”
He stepped down from the podium to a glass display panel in the center of the stage. Behind the panel was Longi Green Energy’s new photovoltaic module.
“We not only fundamentally improved photoelectric conversion efficiency but also achieved a breakthrough in another overlooked dimension.
This all benefits from another key technology from Professor Lin Ran’s team: extreme optimization of non-equilibrium quantum multi-body transport processes.”
He gestured, and the lights above the display panel went out, leaving only a faint LED light source mimicking cloudy illumination.
That beam of light was so weak that the naked eye could hardly detect any change on the module.
However, on the nearby real-time power generation data display screen, the originally zeroed numbers began to tick up slowly.
“Everyone, please look: under such weak illumination, traditional photovoltaic modules can hardly produce effective electric current.
But our quantum photovoltaic module can still generate power steadily.
This is precisely because we precisely controlled the transport path of electrons and holes.
Through the unique design of materials, every excited electron and hole can be quickly and efficiently collected, rather than futilely lost or recombined in the lattice.”
Pride filled Zhong Baosheng’s eyes: “This technology completely solves the weak light pain point of photovoltaic power generation.
It means our modules can continuously generate power on cloudy days; in early morning and dusk, generation time extends by hours compared to traditional modules; even if your roof is partially shaded, the module’s generation efficiency won’t plummet like before.
This is a revolutionary progress. It will make investment returns for photovoltaic power stations more stable and predictable, allowing every household user to maximize every ray of sunlight.
From today, photovoltaic power generation is no longer just a privilege of sunny days.”
The entire audience erupted in even more enthusiastic applause.
This applause was not only for the astonishing efficiency but also for the huge commercial value and social significance brought by this technology.
It means photovoltaics will truly become an all-weather, highly reliable clean energy.
