Despite the challenges, Yi Anguo couldn't handle everything at once. He decided to establish the company first and set the other matters aside for later.

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it; a solution is bound to present itself.

He thought of Central International Company. Despite facing immense obstacles and pressure, and even though Zhang Jing was ultimately forced to leave, hadn't the company survived? In fact, it had only grown larger and stronger.

To demonstrate his sincerity and his determination to recruit top talent, Yi Anguo personally went to the airport to welcome Liang Song.

Afterward, the two had a face-to-face discussion. Yi Anguo spoke candidly, "I want to invest in the semiconductor industry not to make a fortune, but simply to do my part for our country's technological development.

"I personally don't know the first thing about high-tech, so I'll only be responsible for the investment. As for the company's operations, development, and R&D—if you're willing to join, Mr. Liang, I will entrust all of it to you.

"I know you are a man of great ambition. I guarantee that if you come on board, you can pursue your vision and showcase your talents without any restrictions. You will have the final say in everything."

A surprised Liang Song responded, "Why do you trust me so much? With an investment of over a billion US dollars, aren't you afraid it will all go down the drain in my hands?"

"Use those you trust, and trust those you use. I have faith in your character, Mr. Liang, and I'm certain you won't disappoint me," Yi Anguo said with conviction. "As long as you're willing to join, the position of CEO is yours."

"It seems Mr. Yi is a straightforward man! In that case, I won't be coy. Here's to our future success together," Liang Song replied.

The two then discussed the detailed articles of incorporation for the new company. It would be named Huaxin Semiconductor Limited and registered in the Cayman Islands. This was a necessary move, as the United States and other Western nations had imposed technology embargoes on China. Registering in the Cayman Islands could help circumvent some of these restrictions. It was the same strategy Central International Company had employed.

After registering the company, the next step was to negotiate with the relevant departments in Shenzhen City to purchase land for a factory. The Shenzhen officials were highly interested in this project. It wasn't just about the investment of over a billion US dollars; more importantly, it was a high-tech semiconductor enterprise on par with Central International. Since Shenzhen's future industrial development was centered on high-tech, this was a perfect fit. Furthermore, the incoming CEO, Liang Song, was no unknown figure; he was a senior executive from a renowned integrated circuit firm on Treasure Island.

Even so, the fine details of the negotiations couldn't be settled overnight. Yi Anguo dispatched his personal assistant to help handle the various investment procedures. As a company registered in the Cayman Islands and wholly owned by Hong Kong Hualong Investment Company, Huaxin qualified as a foreign-invested enterprise. This status granted it various preferential treatments and tax incentives. Given that this was exactly the kind of project Shenzhen was eager to attract, the city's relevant departments gave it special priority.

As 2007 dawned, on the eve of the Spring Festival, Ding Jing gave birth to a baby girl for Yi Anguo at a Harbor Island hospital. They named her Yi Meifeng. Yi Anguo had first suggested the name Yi Jinfeng, but Ding Jing vehemently rejected it, thinking it sounded tacky and unpleasant. So, they changed it to Yi Meifeng. Yi Anguo had planned to return to his hometown for the New Year, but with Ding Jing having just given birth, leaving her and their newborn daughter behind didn't feel right. He decided he would have to make the trip later.

Meanwhile, the Shenzhen government granted Huaxin Company 500 acres of industrial land for its factory facilities. In addition, an adjacent plot of land was allocated for the construction of the Huaxin School. This was a last-minute condition added by Yi Anguo. Since the Shanghai municipal government had offered the same to Central International Company, it wasn't an unreasonable request. If Shenzhen's government couldn't meet the conditions, Huaxin wasn't obligated to invest there. After all, cities like Yangcheng, Dongguan, and the capital would surely welcome Huaxin International with open arms.

Liang Song and his team returned to Treasure Island for the New Year. Although the land had been allocated, construction on the factory would not begin until after the Spring Festival. However, Huaxin Company's $1.5 billion in funding had already been deposited into its account.

At this point, Yi Anguo's personal international crude oil futures account still held over $160 million. He had made a significant profit over the past two months when the price of crude oil futures dropped from $77 to $56 a barrel. His initial 30,000 short positions had earned him $630 million. When the price dropped to $72 a barrel, he shorted another 20,000 contracts, earning an additional $320 million. As the price fell further to $68, he added 30,000 more short contracts, making another $360 million. Finally, when the price bottomed out at $56 a barrel, he reversed his position and went long on 50,000 contracts, which ultimately netted him another $300 million.

However, after the price fell to $56 a barrel, it rebounded to $61. This proved to be only a minor retracement, and the price began fluctuating between $56 and $61 a barrel. After transferring the $1.5 billion to the company, Yi Anguo's account was left with just over $160 million.

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