Atlanta, which hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, is the largest city in the southern United States.

As a result, Americans often use Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, about 11 kilometers south of downtown Atlanta, as a transit point for long-distance domestic travel, making it one of the world's largest transit destinations.

With so many of the biggest names in the IT industry coming to Atlanta to watch the Super Bowl, the airport is home to a spectacular number of business jets. And many pilots are busy preparing to respond to the take-off request of their own boss, who attaches great importance to time.

However, these pilots are destined to be idle tonight. Guy, they received phone calls one after another, and they were instructed to leave Atlanta tomorrow.

At the same time, airlines have been notified of the cancellation of tickets.

The top circle of the global IT industry, which has collectively changed its itinerary, has moved to a conference room in Georgia Dome, and asked Louis Gerstner, chairman of the board of management of Zheru, John Chambers, CEO of Fangyuan, and Brad Swalberg, CEO of Zheru Software, what kind of intention the richest man said to the media before.

Tacitly, everyone's concern is whether Tang Huan really wants to weaken his huge influence in the IT industry by abandoning his martial arts.

If that were the case, that day would have changed!

John Chambers smiled wryly: "In retrospect, Tang did say this in exchange for the Department of Justice dropping the antitrust lawsuit against Zheru Software. ”

Everyone looked at Louis Gerstner and Brad Swalberg, but both of them shook their heads slightly, unwilling to say more.

As a result, the conference room, where the CEO was heavily gathered, fell silent.

Everyone is contemplating and thinking, if Tang Huan "withdraws from the rivers and lakes", it is equivalent to removing an unreachable mountain from his head, and then ushering in a new world of development.

Here's the secret.

Otherwise, there will be a CEO here at random, all of whom are princes, why would people willingly waste their time and wait here!

Soon after, Mr. The richest man finally walked in.

Looking around at people with different thoughts, Tang Huan spoke: "I'm sorry everyone, I just wanted to invite you to enjoy a wonderful game, and at the same time take this opportunity to exchange ideas about the development of the industry, but I didn't expect it to delay your precious time." ”

IBM CEO Peng Mingsheng said a few words about it matter, and then changed the conversation: "Tang, how did I hear that you told reporters that you want to retire?" ”

"That's true." Tang Huan nodded calmly, "The monopoly case of the United States of America v. Zheru Software Company has been going on until now, and under the anti-monopoly pressure of political ~ political correctness, Zheru Software Company really has no way out. In fact, even if you don't say it, you know in your heart what the crux of the problem is. I am willing to use my influence in the industry in exchange for the fact that Zheru Software Company will not be split. ”

Peng Mingsheng sighed in a cat and mouse cry, "Actually, just like IBM twenty years ago, try to wait as much as possible, the government ~ government has changed, and the turnaround may come!" ”

Tang Huan smiled open-mindedly, "It is a blessing that the industry has survived the 'millennium bug' safely, but for Zheru Software Company, it has also used up an excuse for delay. ”

"The delay in the monopoly case of the United States of America v. Zheru Software Inc. has invisibly allowed the Department of Justice to carefully collect more evidence."

"More importantly, the anti-monopoly fine issued by the EU has also left Zheru Software Company speechless."

"This time, the Department of Justice did not rush to reopen the monopoly case of the United States of America v. Zheru Software, Inc., but to a large extent waited until February 28 and February 29, the final time nodes for the possible outbreak of these two 'millennium bugs', and it is obvious that it will be completed."

"In this case, I can only use my own withdrawal to express most sincerely that Zheru Software Company does not want a monopoly in its heart, and hopes that the Ministry of Justice can look at the status quo of this natural monopoly with new eyes."

Seeing that Tang Huan said so brightly, all the CEOs on the scene sighed sadly like rabbits and dead foxes, what "government ~ government brutally interferes with the market freely ~ reason", "What happened to Zheru Software Company today foreshadows the ceiling of other companies tomorrow" Yunyun.

Tang Huan, who had all this in his eyes, knew that most of the people in front of him were secretly happy in their hearts, and he was glad that there was a big mountain missing from his head.

However, Tang Huan did not show the slightest displeasure on his face, but continued in a serious tone: "I will not participate in this year's Zheru Spring Developer Conference. ”

"It's just that I also want to tell you that the new century is coming, and the changes in the rules of the game caused by the vigorous development of the Internet are also profoundly changing the living environment, so I hope you will think twice before acting."

"Finally, I wish you all great things!"

In Tang Huan's fists and bows, the warm applause lasted for a long time, and the licensed cable news network recorded this historical moment.

Tang Huan waved his hand and left with a calm face.

……

In the turn of the day, major mainstream media rushed to report this sudden event.

The headline of the Wall Street Journal was atmospheric: "A New Era of IT After Don is Coming!" 》

The New York Times analyzed: In recent years, Lady Luck has stopped favoring Don. Don's IT kingdom is mired in the antitrust vortex; Even, Tang's family had an extremely heavy elder who died. Don, who was once known as the strongest man of the century, may be so discouraged that he can't even do it!

The San Francisco Independent, the largest Chinese newspaper in the United States, controlled by Fang's Newspapers, ran a mournful headline: "Heroes Have Twilight Times."

On the cover of the latest issue of Time magazine, two photos of Tang Huan in early 1999 and early 2000 are placed.

"Forty-five-year-old Tang, who has been through too much, is finally tired now!" Time magazine said sensationally.

The New York Post sarcastically compared: The Oakland Raiders won, but its boss lost.

The New York Daily News broke the news: The intelligence collected from many parties shows that Tang is indeed reducing his influence in the IT field by selling his shares in the IT company.

According to a Wall Street veteran, as early as a few months ago, Tang submitted relevant documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission and entrusted Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America to conduct transactions.

The reason why the capital market reacted meadowly and the media realized it afterwards is that the deal was limited to inter-institutional transactions, and the traditional large groups on the East Coast of the United States, including Citigroup and Morgan, became the main buyers.

As for the size of the transaction, it can only be described as staggering.

In an attempt to show that reducing his influence in the IT field is not an empty phrase, Don sold almost half of his net worth, roughly three times the $73.7 billion involved in the ExxonMobil merger approved by the European Union and the US Federal Trade Commission last year.

Specifically, in this huge and unimaginable transaction, Tang sold all of his shares in Fangyuan to signify the separation of himself and the personal computer industry; As for the shares of Zheru Software Company, he only has about five percent of the shares in his hands; As for the other shares, it is not clear for the time being.

In addition, after Tang himself confirmed, the hundreds of billions of dollars obtained from this transaction will not fall into his personal pocket, but an agreement was signed early and donated to the Shennong Foundation.

Seeing that the sworn enemy in the same city was so promising, the "New York Post", which was annoyed and angry, hurriedly concocted another article, "Farewell, Don whose position as the richest man is not guaranteed".

It seems that the rhetoric is still "false", and the "New York Post" continues to launch reports: Tang, who said goodbye to IT, another effort, California high-speed rail, has also fallen into business difficulties due to the power crisis in California, environmental protection and other reasons.

……

The news of Tang Huan's retirement occupied the entire month of February in the United States and even the global media, and it was not even enough time.

The reason is that without it, this really means that an era is coming to an end!

Removing Tang Huan, an insurmountable mountain, seems to have freed the entire IT industry from long-standing oppression, and then joyfully glowed with unprecedented vitality.

The NASDAQ index, which best represents the prosperity of the high-tech industry, has stepped over the 5,500-point scale line like a wild horse after stepping up the 5,000-point step, and rushed to 6,000 points amid the cheers of countless analysts.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is also in full swing, and it seems that the prediction of 36,000 points in the next few years has really been confirmed.

In this case, Tang Huan's retirement from the rivers and lakes has become a very happy thing.

……

At this time, Tang Huan, who is still enough to be called the richest man, is cultivating himself in "Chang'an City", and he is really washing his hands in a golden basin.

Of course, this is not the case, Tang Huan has been paying close attention to the changes in the current situation.

He is only forty-five years old this year, ninety-five, and he is at the peak of spring and autumn, how can he live idlely, it is nothing more than another starting point.

Tang Huan has just gotten the Shennong Foundation to allocate a billion dollars for environmental protection for the canal to be dug into the Kra Isthmus. Siam, the saddest protagonist in the Asian financial turmoil, completely knelt in front of the richest man!

The time has come to the middle of March, and according to the historical trajectory of the original time and space, the .COM bubble should have burst.

However, the current Nasdaq index not only still shows no signs of falling, but is also happily heading straight for 6,000 points.

Tang Huan, who was watching coldly, couldn't help frowning.

Is this because your "butterfly effect" is too strong, and the "positive energy" you bring is too great?

Since the bubble hasn't burst yet, what if it can't be broken?

Tang Huan's deep gaze fell on the report document on the table.

When February 28 and February 29, the last two possible outbreaks of the "millennium bug", passed uneventfully, the monopoly case of the United States of America v. Zheru Software was finally reopened.

After such a long delay, the evidence researched by the Ministry of Justice is more sufficient, and the accounts reviewed by Arthur Andersen that are believed to be the improper subsidy of hardware manufacturers by Zheru Software Company are filled with more than a dozen suitcases.

The Ministry of Justice, which adheres to the correct style of politics ~ governance, did not show the slightest sign of relenting on Zheru Software Company, and submitted all the materials in one go at the first court session in early March.

In the upcoming third trial, it will be up to the judge of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for the Federal Circuit, Thomas Panfield Jackson, to decide.

David Boyce, the chief lawyer of the legal team of Zheru Software Company, also confessed to Tang Huan, don't be lucky this time!

At the same time, media outlets like the New York Post, which has been professional for more than ten years, gloated and shouted: "Tang's wagging tail and begging for mercy are doomed to be useless!" ”

"Prosperous because of me, it should also decline because of me, just learn from Lei Feng again, poke the bubble, let everyone's dizzy head, sober up." Tang Huan, who was overwhelmed by the cold in the heights, patted the documents on the table and said to himself.

If you want to do it, Tang Huan immediately called Zhuang Menghua, Tang Wenmao and others, and commanded in a deep voice: "On March 17, the day when the judge of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Thomas Panfield Jackson, announced the verdict, creating a flashpoint for the concentrated selling of the shares of high-tech companies whose stock prices belong to the leader. ”

Zhuang Menghua asked, "What if Thomas Panfield Jackson announced a good result that the monopoly of a philosophical software company would not be established?" ”

Tang Huan waved his hand indifferently, "It doesn't matter anymore. ”

……

On Friday, March 17, 2000, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was besieged by reporters.

In the afternoon of the same day, Thomas Panfield Jackson announced the verdict in court: Zheru Software Company was established as a monopoly.

In response to questions from the media, Brad Swarberg, CEO of Zheru Software, said with a heavy face: "I feel very sorry for this result. As for Zheru Software, it will appeal to the Supreme Court. ”

On this day, the Nasdaq index originally rushed to 52 points, but due to this news, it finally closed at 62 points.

Market analysts have explained: Meaningless, this is just a correction in the stock market.

Everyone felt that it was reasonable, and then the media sighed: It seems that Tang's active regression did not bring a safe ending for Zheru Software Company.

In the midst of this bustle of singing and dancing, Saturday and Sunday quickly passed, and a new trading day arrived.

On Monday, March 20, 2000, the stock market suddenly changed, and the Nasdaq index plummeted by more than 800 points to below 5,000 points, closing the day at 4,879 points.

At the same time, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which once reached 12,000 points, and the S&P 500, which once reached 1,600 points, also fell to varying degrees.

What's going on?

Wall Street, which was originally shrouded in a joyful atmosphere, immediately let out a series of exclamations!

Not to mention, there are indeed talents, and they quickly found out the "reason" - this may be related to the annual and quarterly reports released by various Internet retailers.

Last year in the United States was a hot year for e-commerce. Otherwise, Time magazine would not have named Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, the "Man of the Year".

However, one fact displayed in various annual reports and quarterly reports is a bit unexpected.

During the 1999 Christmas season, almost all of the seemingly thriving Internet retailers underperformed.

.COM company has been burning money and grabbing traffic for so many years, in fact, it has been implementing the same development routine, that is, first "bigger" as fast as possible, and then thinking about how to become "excellent".

Of course, there are certainly exceptions to the many companies that are so numerous, such as Jeff Bezos's Amazon, which does the opposite.

Now, the conclusions of these annual reports and quarterly reports are the company's tried-and-true successful development experience over the years.

Investors, who were a little confused, immediately praised the results of this analysis as if they were grasping at a life-saving straw.

It's easy to find the reason!

The choice of development path is already controversial, and this reaction of the stock market may be a kind of stress self-adjustment.

On Tuesday, March 21, 2000, the Nasdaq index stabilized, falling just over 200 points.

Well, there are signs of stabilization!

On Wednesday, March 22, 2000, the NASDAQ index fell by less than 200 points.

Okay, it's really steady!

On Thursday, March 23, 2000, the NASDAQ fell by more than 100 points.

Okay, keep it steady!

On Friday, March 24, 2000, the Nasdaq index suddenly had another convulsion, plummeting more than 400 points to below 4,000 points.

People who were lucky found that the funds and institutions had already begun to liquidate and flee.

The elites of the Tiger Fund sat in the office at this time, looking at the computer screen, wiping cold sweat one by one.

Fortunately, it wasn't the last one to run.