After arriving in Los Angeles, Zhang Ran immediately brought together the core members of the acquisition team and the Guan Gong team to discuss how to resolve the current crisis. This time there was a political risk, and Christopher Dude, the head of the PR team and former Democratic presidential candidate, was at the heart of the meeting.

Dude, who has been in the Senate for many years and has witnessed many cases of failed takeovers because of politics, looked at the crowd and said solemnly: "The 12 lawmakers have jointly asked the government to review it, and it will be very stressful for the government, and the Committee on Foreign Investment will definitely postpone the investigation of this acquisition to assess whether it will pose a potential threat to national security." If by March 23, CFIUS still does not agree on the acquisition of Century Peak, then 13 secret reports, including the US Department of Homeland Security, will be carried to the desk of the president, pending the president's ruling. We need to do our best to solve this problem by March 23, and we can't wait for the report to be submitted. ”

Everyone present nodded, knowing that the matter should not be troubled or not. Because the trouble itself shows that there are security problems in this acquisition, otherwise the CFIUS should have passed the review directly.

Du De looked at Zhang Ran and said, "In addition to our public relations team lobbying with all our might, you must stand up and clarify." You have achieved today's results from scratch, and after the acquisition of Blockbuster, the company has successfully transformed, keeping tens of thousands of jobs, and your image in the hearts of the American people is particularly good, and if you stand up and speak, you can get a lot of support from the people. On top of that, the Chinese government has to stand up for the takeover and put pressure on the U.S. government!"

Zhang Ran frowned and said, "There is no problem for me to stand up and speak out, but it may be difficult for the government to stand up and speak out for our acquisition and put pressure on the United States!"

Du De shook his head and said, "You don't need to convince the government departments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce have regular press conferences, and when the time comes, let the reporters ask questions and ask them what they say about this matter, and they will naturally speak for you!"

Zhang Ran's eyes lit up, this is a good way, let the reporter ask questions during the regular meeting, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce will definitely respond, Du De is worthy of being an old politician who has been in the Senate for many years, this hand is really beautiful!

Next, Dude explained how the entire PR team will conduct PR next, how to provide information to members of Congress and CFIUS, and how to emphasize the nature of Summit of the Century and the commercial motivation for the purchase.

After listening to Dude's description, Zhang Ran looked at the names of the 12 opposing congressmen and asked, "It's been a few years since Senator Ryan Luwyden of Oregon was elected, when is the next election?"

Dude said directly: "Next year!"

The U.S. Constitution stipulates that the Senate has a total of 100 seats, and each of the 50 states, regardless of size, has two senators, so as to reflect the equal status of each state in the Union. Senators serve six-year terms, renewable and are elected statewide, with one of three re-elected every two years in even-numbered years.

Zhang Ran suddenly smiled, knocked his finger on Ryan Lwyden's name, and said: "Find Ryan Lwyden and tell him that Blockbuster will build a large logistics center and two large logistics warehouses in Oregon within two years, which can bring thousands of jobs to the local area after completion, and thousands of temporary jobs will be added during the peak sales season." If he continues to work with us, then we will build the logistics center and the logistics warehouse in Washington State, build it in Seattle, and we will tell the people of Oregon that it is because of his acquisition that the pinnacle of the century that Blockbuster will build warehouses elsewhere, and he will cost Oregon residents thousands of jobs!"

Dude said in surprise: "Blockbuster is really planning to build a logistics center and warehouse in Oregon?"

Zhang Ran nodded: "Really, according to the plan, Blockbuster will build more than 200 large-scale warehouses and 7 large-scale logistics centers in North America in the next five years, so that Blockbuster's online delivery covers 98% of the population in North America, so that our film and television derivatives, clothing, and mobile phones can be delivered to users in the shortest possible time and at the fastest speed." Tens of thousands of jobs will be created when completed, and tens of thousands more temporary jobs will be added during peak periods. We're definitely going to build a big logistics center in the Northwest Territories, and Oregon and Washington are both places we're considering!"

The entire acquisition team smiled when they heard this, and since there were tens of thousands of jobs in hand, it was simple.

Dude also smiled: "Ryan Luwyden is not a problem! He will be elected next year, and he will definitely have to prepare for re-election this year." Now that the job economy is sluggish, unemployment is rampant, and if Oregon loses thousands of jobs because of him, voter saliva can drown him!" Dude added: "Among the people who oppose the joint opposition to us this time, there is Senator Ryan Luwyden in Oregon, and Rep. Goley Emory. Representatives are elected by voters in their constituencies, and they must be accountable to the voters in their constituencies. ”

Zhang Ran understood what Dude meant, the House of Representatives and Senators are different, the House of Representatives seats are allocated according to population, and the more seats you have in this state, the more seats you have, at least one seat, each seat has a constituency, and the members of the House of Representatives must be responsible for the constituencies; and the term of office of the House of Representatives is only two years, so they have almost just taken office and started to prepare for the next election. Salary positions are even more important to members of the House of Representatives. He couldn't help but ask, "Where is the Golly-Emory constituency?"

Dude flipped through the information in his hand and said with a smile: "It's in Portland!"

Zhang Ran also smiled when he heard Portland: "Since you are in Portland, things are simple." If Goley Emery drops the charges against us and supports our acquisition, then we will build the logistics center in Portland. As I said earlier, Blockbuster will not only build logistics centers and warehouses in Oregon, but also in every major city. We told these members of the House who were against us that if they didn't object to us buying Motorola, then we would build logistics warehouses in their districts. If they continue to oppose us, then we will build in their opponent's constituencies and tell the voters in their constituencies that he has cost them thousands of jobs!"

Dude asked, "Can you give us a more detailed plan?" It would be more convincing if we had a detailed plan. ”

Zhang Ran thought about it, even if Blockbuster's plan was exposed, it didn't matter, so he said, "Yes!"

Du De said with satisfaction: "With the plan in hand, we can easily take down these twelve councilors!"

After the meeting, Cassidy Corporation, led by Dude, and five local lobbying firms, began lobbying in Congress, as well as in state legislatures in various states, to make the final PR push for the acquisition of the pinnacle of the century. Zhang Ran also contacted the "Wall Street Journal" as soon as possible, and accepted an interview with the "Wall Street Journal" to counter the "security threat theory" put forward by 12 congressmen.

In the interview, Zhang Ran said: "A few years ago, when Century Summit acquired Netflix, some lawmakers jumped out and said that we would carry out political propaganda after the acquisition, and now everyone can see that this accusation is completely nonsense." Instead of propaganda, we saved tens of thousands of jobs. Now that we are buying Motorola, some people have come out and accused us of endangering the national security of the United States, which makes me feel very chilled. The acquisition of Motorola by Century Summit is a good thing, it can help Motorola recover the Chinese market, let Motorola get out of trouble, and at the same time can also integrate with Netflix and Blockbuster Online, and then get better development, which is a good thing for both parties, why would anyone oppose it?"

Zhang Ran added: "When I met with President *** last month, I said that many Chinese companies want to develop their business in the United States, and the United States also wants to absorb more foreign investment, increase jobs, and get out of the economic crisis." However, when Chinese companies enter the United States, politicians often make inexplicable accusations, saying that Chinese companies endanger US security and that Chinese companies are spies. Many Chinese companies do not want to be angry and turn around and invest in Canada or Europe. These politicians have made political capital, but is it good for the American people and the American economy? Is political consciousness more important than people's jobs?"

When Zhang Ran's interview appeared in the newspaper, the public relations team of Century Summit also began to make full efforts in the media, creating public opinion through the media and TV stations.

Staff writer Bill Powell published an article in the online edition of the Los Angeles Times criticizing the political bias of politicians: "Now that the United States is in a recession, it should have close economic ties with China, and should not set up obstacles for Chinese companies to invest in the United States, let alone start a trade war with China." Chinese investment in the U.S. can create jobs in the U.S., not take them away, as some have claimed. ”

Martin Hawkins, a reporter for The Washington Post, noted: "Pick up your iPhone, pick up your Samsung, HTC phone, and you'll find that these phones are all made in China. If the acquisition of Motorola by Century Summit will threaten national security, then will the use of Apple's mobile phones made in China also endanger national security? In fact, mobile phones are no longer high-tech, and there are no secrets to speak of. ”

In addition, TV programs such as "The Daily Show" are frantically complaining about these politicians, and even invited a politician who believes that the acquisition of Motorola by Summit of the Century will threaten the national security of the United States and an expert who supports the acquisition of Summit of the Century to debate, and the politician is dumbfounded. According to a CNN survey, 83% of the American people believe that the acquisition of Motorola by Century Summit will not endanger US national security.

On the morning of the next day, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at a regular news conference held on the same day that the acquisition of Motorola by Century Summit is a normal business activity between enterprises and a very normal economic and trade exchange between China and the United States, and should not be affected by political factors.

At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Commerce, the spokesperson also responded: "The Ministry of Commerce has taken note of the relevant reports, and China is concerned about this. Security screening of investments in sensitive areas is a legitimate right of a country, but it should not be used as a tool to promote protectionism. The acquisition of foreign companies by Chinese enterprises abroad is a market behavior in which enterprises make their own decisions. It is hoped that the relevant countries will take an objective and fair view of the overseas acquisitions of Chinese enterprises, treat such normal business practices fairly, create a reasonable and transparent business environment for them, and avoid affecting investor confidence. ”

At 1:50 p.m. that day, Zhang Ran pushed open the brown glass door of the Four Seasons Hotel's café. At this time, there are only three or four customers in the café, and it seems to be very quiet. Zhang Ran found a place to sit in the corner by the window, and looked at the time again, it was already 1:53, and Schmidt would come over soon.