This meeting is a gain for both sides. Matsk understood China's determination and was a little more pessimistic about Captain Cook's project. Feng Xiaochen, on the other hand, learned the attitude of European companies from Matsk's plan, and also felt that European companies were at the end of their strong crossbow and did not have much of a leading edge, so they would cherish themselves like this, for fear that the Chinese would learn technical know-how.

He recalled that he and Yang Haifan visited Prometheus nearly 20 years ago, when Heinzl, who served as their guide, was angry and threatened that they could take pictures at will, without the slightest fear that the Chinese would become his competitors. Today, on the one hand, Europeans covet the money in the pockets of the Chinese, and on the other hand, they cover the technology tightly and dare not let the Chinese come into contact, which can explain a lot.

Feng Xiaochen returned to Bonn with his attachés and informed Yan Leqin, Feng Hua and others about the talks with Matsk, and Yan Leqin was also full of emotion. Feng Shuyi was a little gloating, and said to Feng Xiaochen with a smile: "You deserve it, how much technology you have stolen from us in Europe over the years, and now we Europeans have also learned smartly, and we will not let you steal our technology." ”

Feng Hua felt that his wife's words were a bit excessive, and hurriedly reprimanded: "Shu Yi, how can you say that? Xiaochen They used to import technology from Europe, all of which were in line with the law, and it was a technology voluntarily transferred by European companies, how can it be called stealing?"

Of course, Feng Shuyi doesn't really have any opinions on China, as a German, she has some traditional Chinese female ideas of marrying chickens and chickens, and she regards herself as a Chinese daughter-in-law in her heart. She explained: "I'm talking about a point of view in European industry right now, where a lot of people think that the Chinese have stolen European technology and in turn have taken it and European companies to compete, which is the reason for Europe's decline." ”

Feng Xiaochen said: "Europeans are just finding a step for themselves. The principles of free trade were marketed to China by the Europeans, and technology transfer itself is part of free trade. We imported technology from Europe back then, and we paid for it. Europeans sell us the technology they have obsolete and charge high fees for technology transfer. The reason why we are able to compete with European companies today is to carry out independent innovation on the basis of digesting and absorbing European technology. Europeans obviously have technological advantages, but they don't pay attention to innovation, and we are catching up, how can you blame us?"

"Yes, other friends I know hold this view, and they believe that the root cause of Europe's decline is its own degeneration," Feng said. ”

Seeing that the two sides had reached an agreement, Feng Hua turned back to the topic and asked Feng Xiaochen, "Xiaochen, since you can't negotiate with Captain Cook, what are your plans?"

Feng Xiaochen said: "I have discussed with Mr. Wang and Mr. Yang, and we are going to build a research center in the Netherlands, attract European offshore oil experts to work in the center, and cooperate with domestic research institutions." By the way, Huang Ming is the director of our temporarily determined research center, and I will trouble you to support him more in his work in Europe in the future. ”

"Grandma Yan, I will hire you as the honorary director of our center, and you will guide me more in the future. Huang Ming said to Yan Leqin obediently.

Huang Ming is also an old man in the equipment company, but he has lacked an opportunity to be on his own all these years. This time, Feng Xiaochen said that he would build a research center for a sixth-generation drilling platform in Europe, and it was a large-scale research project with a domestic investment of 100 billion yuan, and Huang Ming couldn't help but be moved. It just so happened that Feng Xiaochen also had the idea of giving Huang Ming a chance, so after a brief exchange of opinions with several other leaders of the equipment company over the phone, Feng Xiaochen directly appointed Huang Ming as the director of the center, and there was the word "temporary" in front of it. If Huang Ming wants to erase these two words, he really has to hurry up and make some achievements.

Feng Hua said: "Xiaochen, I understand what you mean, but the Captain Cook project is participated in by several large European companies, and many offshore oil experts are either employees of these companies or have long-term cooperation with these enterprises, how can they come to work with you?"

Feng Xiaochen said: "It doesn't matter, my idea is that talking is better than nothing." There are always some experts and engineers in Europe who are outside of the big companies, and even if they are the experts who work with those companies, if the Captain Cook project is delayed, these companies can stop them from working with us first?"

"Your premise is that the Captain Cook project can't be launched, isn't that a bit too optimistic?" Feng Hua asked.

Feng Xiaochen said: "We went to the Captain Cook Project Committee this time, and as far as my feeling is concerned, I feel that this project is going to be yellow nine times out of ten. I told Matsk about this, and he didn't refute me, which shows that he didn't have a bottom in his heart. ”

"It's going to be hard. Feng Hua frowned, "If even the chairman of the committee is not confident, it is estimated that the enterprises will be even less likely to invest funds, at least they will be cautious until they see the hope of the success of the project." ”

Feng Xiaochen said with a smile: "And if most companies are cautious and unwilling to invest first, then how can this project have any hope of success?"

Feng Hua also smiled and said: "I think Matsk is probably going to be very busy during this time, and he has to try to persuade various companies to put the promised funds in place." ”

Feng Xiaochen said: "Originally, if Matsk could accept us and have China participate in this project, everyone would definitely have more confidence." If it were to be Matsk, even if I really didn't want us to participate, I should at least make a gesture of negotiation, and it would be better to publish some news in the media that China is interested in participating, so as to strengthen the confidence of shareholders. It's a pity ......"

"Xiaochen, is the Chinese government sure that it will not participate in the Captain Cook program?" asked Feng Shuyi.

Feng Xiaochen nodded and said, "It should be certain that we will not participate, unless the other party offers superior conditions that we can't refuse." This condition must be better than we had hoped for, otherwise we will not go back to eating grass. ”

"If that's the case, why don't you announce the news?" Feng Shuyi asked with a smile.

"What's the news?" Feng Xiaochen didn't react.

Feng Shuyi said: "It's the news that the Chinese government will not participate in the Captain Cook project." ”

"Why...... Well, that seems like a good idea. Feng Xiaochen was stunned for only half a second before he understood what his aunt meant. I have to say that Feng Shuyi, as a patent lawyer, is well versed in all kinds of intrigues. What Feng Xiaochen didn't expect as an authority, Feng Shuyi thought of it first.

"Auntie, can you help us get in touch with a few media outlets? It's better not to do this in our name, otherwise we will be discredited. Feng Xiaochen said.

Feng Shuyi grinned and said: "This is easy, we usually have to deal with reporters." I will leak this information to them and ask them to go to Matsk to find out. Once the media says that the Chinese refuse to cooperate with the Captain Cook project, and the Chinese government intends to spend a lot of money on independent research, I think their shareholders will make the right decision. ”

"They're going to keep their pockets tighter. Feng Xiaochen laughed and said the words for his aunt.

"You two, you really like to engage in conspiracy, I don't like it!" Yan Leqin looked at Feng Shuyi and Feng Xiaochen and feigned, when she said this, she still had smile lines on her face, letting people know that she was just talking casually. The old lady is indeed an upright person and does not like to engage in conspiracies, but these conspiracies carried out by her daughter-in-law and grandson are beneficial to the country, and the old lady will naturally not oppose them.

Feng Xiaochen and the others stayed in Europe for a few more days, and then flew back to China. Before leaving, he also gave a joint interview to several European media about the Captain Cook project and the Captain Zheng He program. Previously, Feng Xiaochen had instructed several media outlets to interview Matsk to verify the Chinese government's stake in Captain Cook's project, and Matsk repeatedly covered it up, but could not deny the result of the collapse of the two talks. After the interview with Matsk, it is logical for the reporters to ask Feng Xiaochen for verification, and people will not notice that the driving force behind this group of reports is the Chinese.

As Feng Shuyi and Feng Xiaochen expected, several media hyped up the matter of Captain Cook and Captain Zheng He, which attracted some attention in the European industry. The Chinese government's refusal to join the Captain Cook project means that the project's financing channels have narrowed by a few points, and China's separate launch of the Zheng He program poses a serious threat to the Captain Cook program. From an investor's point of view, with the addition of a competitor like China, the Captain Cook project is more risky, and even if it succeeds, its market value will be greatly reduced, because it has lost the Chinese market, which is the most valuable market nowadays.

Heinzl and others are firmly opposed to absorbing China into the Captain Cook project, but at the same time claim that their company cannot make additional investment, and that the promised investment must be paid in stages, with a so-so payment of 5% in the first stage. In fact, as far as Heinzl's own wishes are concerned, he hopes that the shareholder enterprises can increase investment, so as not to let the Chinese catch up.

But the problem is that he can't be the owner of the company at all, even if he is the CEO of the company, because the shareholders of the company smell something bad in the media, so they force the CEO to reconsider the investment in the Captain Cook project. The company's shareholders are not all industrial, a considerable number of them come from the financial industry, and in the eyes of these bankers, profit is the most important thing, and it does not matter whether the technology is in the hands of the Europeans or the Chinese. Some even went so far as to find Feng Hua's head and ask if they could invest in the Chinese Zheng He plan through Feng Hua's good nephew, who held power.