Baidu headquarters.
Li Yan held a high-level meeting again:
"Bad news, Wang Yi officially rejected our acquisition of Amap!"
"What! They paid a premium of 1.5 billion for the acquisition, and they are still not satisfied? Wang Yi's ambition is too great."
"That is, I am not willing to earn 1.5 billion for nothing in a few days. It seems that I want to fight with our Baidu to the end!"
Li Yan nodded: "The reason for Wang Yi's refusal is that he wants to focus on group buying and needs Amap! But I feel that this is just an excuse!"
"It must be an excuse. To put it bluntly, Wang Yi acquired Amap just to do Baidu. As for group buying, it was just a matter of course."
"That should be the case. We will still have to fight with Xingyi Technology in the future. Especially the Amap acquired by Xingyi Technology is 50% larger than Baidu Map, and it will definitely launch a dimensionality reduction attack on Baidu Map!"
Li Yan agreed very much: "This is not going to be easy to handle. Guess where Wang Yi will take action? In other words, how should we deal with it! We can't be so passive!"
"Yes, after these several impacts, Baidu's market value has evaporated by 95 billion, and has fallen below 200 billion. We must reverse the decline as soon as possible and let the market value rise back!"
"As for where Xingyi Technology will start? I guess it will be Amap's massive publicity, advertising, promotion, and even hiring spokespersons to increase its efforts to grab users."
"This is possible. Currently, Amap + Sogou Map has 33 million users and Baidu Map has 20 million users. We must not lose in marketing, otherwise we will only become more passive!"
"Yes, I suggest spending huge sums of money to increase promotion efforts. If AutoNavi Maps does online advertising, we will do TV ads. If AutoNavi does TV advertising, we will sponsor a variety show! If AutoNavi invites small stars to endorse, we will do it.
Big celebrity endorsement! In short, we will spare no effort to completely suppress Gaode!"
Li Yan nodded: "This is a good proposal. Next year, Baidu Maps marketing expenses will be increased by 200 million!"
“Also, I’m worried that Amap will cut prices!”
"Yes, Baidu Navigation is currently 30 yuan a month, and Amap is 50 yuan a month. New Year's Day will be here in a few days. In order to grab users, Wang Yi is likely to lower Amap to 30 yuan a month starting from New Year's Day, and Baidu
Compete at the same price point!”
"Frankly speaking, our Baidu Navigation is not as good as Amap Navigation. In the past, it was 20 yuan cheaper than Amap, and it could grab some users. But once the price is the same, it will be useless."
Li Yan nodded: "It makes sense. If Amap drops to 30 yuan a month next year, we will drop it to 20 yuan a month! Although we make less money, we still have to maintain the competitiveness of cost-effectiveness."
"The chairman is wise."
Li Yan changed the subject: "In terms of marketing, we can crush Amap and ensure an absolute advantage in price. Baidu Maps is very competitive. But now we have to find a new good gimmick and arrange a hot search to make Baidu's stock price tonight."
If the price goes back up. If it doesn’t go back up, the shareholders will be unable to sit still. Let’s all think about it. Do you have any good ideas?”
After a period of silence, a young senior executive spoke:
"Chairman, I suggest we work hard on AI and flex our muscles. Our current core business at Baidu is search, but search has already monopolized 70% of the market share, and there is not much growth. The core of subsequent development is AI, such as Baidu Map + AI
Smart driving!”
"Although AI intelligent driving requires many years of R&D investment before it can produce results, it does not affect our early publicity and hype!"
"What a great idea!" Li Yan's eyes lit up:
"AI intelligent driving is eye-catching enough, and when combined with Baidu Maps, it forms a perfect closed loop, and the future is promising. Using this propaganda, in terms of strategic layout, we will be ahead of Xingyi Technology and crush Amap! Our stock price will also immediately increase
Promote promotion! Let the public relations department do it immediately!"
"Yes!" Just as the subordinate was about to take action, Li Yan looked at his watch, but the conversation changed:
"No, inform the media we support and I will personally hold a media conference! Baidu has been silent for a long time, and its stock price has plummeted continuously. It is time to use AI hard power to crush Xingyi Technology and bring back the stock price!"
"yes!"
As the leader of BAT, Baidu is very efficient.
At 4:40 that afternoon, a press conference was organized.
Those attending the press conference are all Baidu's royal media. They usually receive a lot of money, so they are naturally on call.
As for other media, they cannot be invited.
If you ask Li Yan, what do you think of Baidu's stock price plummeting?
How do you view Baidu using its monopoly position to block and suppress Xingyi Video?
What do you think about iQiyi, a subsidiary of Baidu, being sued for infringing the copyright of Xingyi Video...
So how did Li Yan answer?
No answer!
Therefore, this press conference is all media supported by Baidu, and they are all our own people!
Even the questions asked by the media were arranged by Baidu in advance!
As for the time, it has already been arranged.
At 4:50, a piece of news became a hot search topic:
[At 5 p.m., Baidu Chairman Li Yan held a media conference! 】
For a time, reporters from the four major portals all wanted to scold me:
"Fuck, the Baidu press conference is held at five o'clock and the news is released at four fifty. We can't even rush there!"
That's right, the timing is such a coincidence, it's only ten minutes early.
They are all in the imperial capital and can't get there.
It is to prevent other media from arriving and asking questions that should not be asked.
Regarding this, Jian Ziyan was very speechless: "We held a media conference and did not allow the media to visit. Chairman, Baidu's operation is too saucy!"
Wang Yi burst into laughter: "Baidu's media conference is only for their own media, not all media."
"So that's it, then those present today are all Baidu-based trolls!" Jian Ziyan suddenly realized: "I'll make a note of it right now and won't let them come to the next press conference!"
"Whatever." Wang Yi was too lazy to care: "It seems that this time, Baidu will take some action to bring back the market value!"
"It seems so."
At five o'clock in the afternoon, Baidu media conference was officially held, and it was broadcast live simultaneously on Baidu's official website, Baidu Tieba and other platforms.
Li Yan faced the camera with a lively expression, and started talking rhetorically:
"Baidu search engine is the number one search engine in China, with a market share of more than 70%, and it is the number one Chinese search engine in the world. In the field of Chinese search, Baidu has an unshakable position and advantage. Based on this advantage, Baidu will continue to
Make great progress and continue to make outstanding contributions to global Chinese search..."
Wang Yi watched the live broadcast and said quietly: "Li Yan directly showed off his muscles and strength at the beginning. He really wanted to bring back the stock price."
At this time, a reporter at the scene suddenly asked:
"Director Li, Baidu search is powerful, but the emergence of new competitors cannot be underestimated. Will Baidu feel a sense of crisis?"
Li Yan smiled slightly and said confidently: "New competitor? Who are you talking about? In the field of Chinese search engines, Baidu is the absolute king and has no rivals!"
The reporter continued to ask: "Director Li, do you mean that even if Director Wang acquired Sogou Search, he is still not worthy of being Baidu's opponent?"
Li Yan chuckled and said meaningfully: "Baidu's search engine market share exceeds 70%, and Sogou only has 7%. Would a thirty-year-old adult regard a three-year-old child as a rival?"
"This..." the reporter was silent, and then said: "Baidu is indeed the absolute king!"
Looking at this scene, Wang Yi said nothing, but Jian Ziyan was furious:
"Chairman, Li Yan is so arrogant. He actually said that our Xingyi Technology is a three-year-old child! He is so crazy to bully and step on us like this!"
Wang Yi smiled lightly and was not angry:
"If God wants to destroy him, he must first make him mad. Look, a three-year-old child has endless potential, while a thirty-year-old adult is about to be optimized!"
How could Wang Yi not know that Baidu had arranged for this reporter to answer questions and answers just to show the dominance of Baidu search, and at the same time crazily belittle Sogou search, belittle Xingyi Technology, and even belittle Wang Yi?
But these are just for a short time and don't make much sense.
Compared with the killer move Wang Yi prepared for Baidu, it is really not worth mentioning!
What's more, Wang Yidu shorted Baidu for 4 billion and increased leverage by 5 times.
How can Baidu rise back?
joke!
There is no way, Wang Yi recently spent too much money to acquire companies.
Baidu jumped out to block Xingyi Video again, so Wang Yi could only short Baidu and collect some interest!
As a country of etiquette, Wang Yi has always attached great importance to courtesy!
The press conference continued, and another reporter stood up:
"Director Li, Baidu has reached the pinnacle in search engines. It can be said that he will be at the top, and he will be able to see all the small mountains at a glance!"
Jian Ziyan was very angry: "It's shameless. This was also arranged by Baidu. You can see all the mountains and small mountains at a glance. Who am I to blame!"
Wang Yi burst into laughter and continued watching the live broadcast.
"Baidu's search engine is so successful, which area will Baidu focus on next? In other words, what is Baidu's next development direction?"
Li Yan smiled slightly: "Baidu search is the pinnacle that many companies cannot reach, but it is just the beginning of Baidu. Next, Baidu will focus on AI and use AI to make the world more exciting."
"For example, Baidu Maps is one of Baidu's next core businesses and key development directions."
Another reporter spoke up: "Director Li, are you saying that Baidu's next goal is to surpass Amap?"
"No, no, no, you underestimate Baidu!"
Li Yan waved his hand quickly: "Baidu has never regarded Amap as a competitor when it comes to making maps. Although Baidu and Amap are both making maps, they are making completely different maps."
"How do you say this?" Not only the reporters at the scene were full of doubts, but the people watching the live broadcast were also confused.
Even Jian Ziyan said angrily: "This guy didn't hold his shit in well!"
"Hahaha." Wang Yi was amused.
Sure enough, Li Yan changed the topic: "Amap makes maps, but it is just a pure map service. Baidu makes maps, but it is AI layout.
In addition to Baidu Maps, Baidu has also invested heavily in the development of AI intelligent driving.
The future is an era of intelligent driving and driverless driving!
Baidu Maps + AI intelligent driving are the maps made by Baidu. In this regard, Amap will never be able to match it."
The reporter continued: "Director Li, are you saying that AutoNavi can only do the most basic maps and cannot do high-end levels such as intelligent driving?"
Li Yan smiled slightly: "You can understand it this way. I don't think a company that started out as a surveying and mapping company can have any intelligent driving genes. In this regard, Amap and Baidu are not at the same level at all, so Baidu will not treat Amap as
As an opponent."
"Of course, this is not the fault of AutoNavi. In fact, if you look at the whole country, the only one that has the ability to do AI intelligent driving is Baidu! If you look at the world, there are no more than one person."
"It can be said that AutoNavi is at most just an excellent map software. But Baidu is an excellent map software + AI intelligent navigation, which is the future!"
"Choose Baidu Maps and let's witness the future of AI intelligent driving together!"
"Wow!"
Thunderous applause resounded throughout the audience, and reporters from the media stood up and applauded.
All the netizens watching the live broadcast became enthusiastic and excited.
AI!
Smart driving!
Who wouldn’t be confused after reading these things in 2011?
Even in 2021, everyone has to be confused.
Subsequently, news items that had been prepared for a long time became hot searches:
[Li Yan: The gap is ten times, Sogou is not worthy to be Baidu’s opponent! 】
[Amap is just a map, Baidu is a map + AI intelligent driving!]
[Baidu leads the way in AI intelligent driving and takes the lead in the era of driverless driving!]
[Choose Baidu to pursue your dream of driverless driving!]
[Baidu’s AI strategic ambitions, Xingyi Technology and Amap are not worthy opponents!]
Even the public opinion below has completely changed:
"It's amazing. When Amap was still making maps, Baidu started to make driverless cars. It's really amazing!"
"Yeah, I thought Gaode Niu was a good guy before, but looking at it now, it's obviously not on the same level."
"Nonsense, Amap is just a small business, while Baidu is the leader of BAT giants."
"Don't talk about Gaode, even Xingyi Technology is not enough in Baidu!"
"Goodbye Amap, I want to return to Baidu Maps, embrace AI, and embrace driverless driving!"
"Baidu's efforts in AI have a bright future."
"Baidu is the future, Amap is just a map maker! We have misunderstood Director Li."
"As soon as Baidu AI concept came out, the stock price skyrocketed. Go and buy the bottom!"
"Damn, you are so smart, thank you!"
…
Looking at these public opinions, Li Yan smiled slightly:
"As soon as Baidu's AI concept came out, this wave has stabilized. Baidu's stock price will only skyrocket wildly tonight!"
"Yes, Chairman, as long as Vice President Qu wins NavInfo, Baidu will only advance rapidly. The AI ​​concept is Baidu's body armor. From now on, Xingyi Technology, Wang Yi, Sogou, and Amap will not be able to impact Baidu."
How many!"
Li Yan nodded: "That's right. Even if we have just scratched the surface of AI intelligent driving research, and even if it can only be produced after many years, it doesn't matter. It's enough to hype the concept and overturn Xingyi Technology."
"Whether it's stock investors or those idiots on Wall Street, what they like most is concepts!"
"And Baidu is hyping the concept of AI driverless driving and has the ability to develop AI driverless driving. Naturally, they will not doubt it. There is a high probability that they will increase their investment crazily. Just wait, Baidu's stock price is falling tonight, and there will be a V
Type bottoms out!”
"Chairman Yingming, shall I have someone prepare champagne to celebrate?"
Li Yan's eyes lit up: "Take out the Lafite that I have treasured for 20 years!"
"From 1982?" The subordinate couldn't help but ask, his eyes gleaming.
"Yes, that's the one!"
A total of about 180,000 Lafite bottles were produced in 1982, 85% of which were consumed that year, leaving only about 70,000 bottles in stock.
After the 1990s, the 1982 Lafite became famous and sold like crazy. The inventory of less than 30,000 pieces was even depleted.
At the moment, I'm afraid there isn't much inventory in the world. They're all in the hands of collectors, and the total adds up to less than a few hundred bottles.
But Xia Guo sells more than 3 million 82-year-old Lafite every year!
Well, it is more than ten times higher than the total output of Chateau Lafite in 1982...
All I can say is that 99% of them are fake!
But Li Yan’s one is real.
Li Yan bought it in 1991 when he was studying abroad at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
At that time, Lafite was just becoming popular in 1982. Li Yan heard the news and collected two of them.
One of them drank it to celebrate Baidu's successful listing.
And the other one remains till now!
Li Yan waved his hand and said boldly: "Celebrating the surge in Baidu's market value, it is worth opening the 1982 Lafite!"
“The chairman is wise!”
All the executives were very excited.
Completely opposite to Li Yan who was in a good mood, Jian Ziyan was furious:
"Chairman, Baidu's public relations campaign is so successful. It not only highlights Baidu's AI strategy, but also devalues ​​us as worthless. This..."
Wang Yi waved his hand, still not caring: "Li Yan's operation can be called a textbook crisis public relations, very successful. Even if there are some flaws, they can't be concealed."
Jian Ziyan frowned slightly: "Layout AI, Baidu Maps + driverless driving! The number of users of Baidu Maps will soar. Will Baidu's stock price rise tonight? By tens of billions?"
Wang Yi smiled: "It's not that simple. Li Yan's crisis public relations is very successful. But unfortunately, I won't let him succeed, and neither will Penguin! Just wait, how brilliant it is now, it will be miserable soon."
"
I have already shorted you, can you still make it rise again?
joke!
"Really? Then I'm looking forward to it!" Jian Ziyan walked behind Wang Yi, stretched out her delicate hands, and started massaging again.
She doesn't know what's going on recently, but whenever she feels good, she gives Wang Yi a massage!
Wang Yi was confused and could only enjoy it quietly.
NavInfo’s new headquarters.
Qu Xin has arrived at NavInfo for a while, but he has not seen NavInfo’s chairman Lin Tao.
Not even Vice President Zhou Feng was seen.
Instead, there was only one manager to greet him!
Such specifications made Qu Xin furious.
'I am the dignified vice president of Baidu Group. I come to deliver money to my door, but NavInfo only arranges for a small manager to receive me. What do you mean? Look down on me?'
Qu Xin got angrier as he thought about it, and finally couldn't sit still: "Where's Director Lin? Baidu has an important cooperation, please discuss it with Director Lin."
Manager Qian's expression changed slightly, and he said sheepishly: "Mr. Qu, I'm so sorry. Our chairman is meeting an important guest at this moment, and he really has no time to be around."
There is no other way. The chairman is meeting with the vice president of Penguin. They have been talking for two days and they are almost at an end. How can Baidu be free?
"Important guest?" Qu Xin was very unhappy, muttering in his mind, 'What guest? So important? More important than me, the vice president of Baidu...?'
‘Made, I’m so angry. I’m still waiting to invest in NavInfo, so I can go back and drink Lafite from 1982 to celebrate Baidu’s turnaround!’
Qu Xin was furious: "What about your vice president Zhou Feng? I'll talk to him first."
"Sorry, President Zhou is also meeting an important guest."
Well, I've been meeting with the Vice President of Alibaba for two days, but I still don't have time to see you.
Qu Xin's mouth twitched: "..."
Mad, you are going too far!
No, I want to see who is more important than me!
Let the chairman and vice president of NavInfo put me behind!
After reading this, Qu Xin couldn't sit still anymore, stood up directly, and walked to the vice president's office.
The last time Baidu and NavInfo discussed licensing cooperation for underlying map data, it was he and Zhou Feng who discussed it, so he naturally remembered where Zhou Feng's office was.
Seeing this, Manager Qian's expression changed drastically and he wanted to stop him, but Qu Xin was determined to go and couldn't stop him at all.
After all, Qu Xin is the vice president of Baidu. He is a small manager who speaks softly and dare not offend him.
As for calling security, that's even more of a joke.
He could only follow Qu Xin upstairs.
When Qu Xin arrived at the floor where the vice president's office was located, before he could walk over, he happened to see a familiar figure walking out with a sullen face.
It is the vice president of Alibaba!
"Why are Ali's people here? Still looking like they are mourning for their heirs?"
Qu Xin was full of curiosity, and then his expression changed drastically, and he suddenly had a bad feeling:
"Is it possible that the important guest Zhou Feng met before was the vice president of Alibaba?"
"Alibaba also wants to invest in NavInfo? It will move faster than us!"
"But with such an ugly face, I'm afraid I'll be rejected, hahaha."
Qu Xin breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately quickened his pace, heading straight to the vice president's office, but then he saw another person walking out of the chairman's office not far away with a happy face.
He is a vice president of Tencent.
It's just that the high-spirited look is completely different from Ali's.
"Tencent's people are here too! Come out of the chairman's office!"
Qu Xin broke into a cold sweat and thought of the worst outcome for a moment:
"Could it be that the important guest that Director Lin is meeting is the Vice President of Tencent?"
"Could it be that Tencent is also new here because of 4D Graphics?"
"With such arrogance, could it be that NavInfo has been taken over by Tencent?"
"If this is the case, and 4D Map becomes the Penguin series, and Gaode belongs to Wang Yi, then Baidu Maps will be finished!"
"No way?"
"No way!"
Qu Xin's face turned pale and his whole body felt bad.
In the field of maps, Baidu has invested heavily, which is considered the second pillar industry at the moment!
The current Baidu search engine market share has basically reached its peak, and iQiyi is not doing well.
Baidu can only develop Baidu Maps as its second core industry!
Once Baidu Maps becomes bigger and stronger and overtakes Amap and Kaili De, it will be able to monopolize the domestic market and its future will be unlimited.
Baidu Navigation’s monthly subscription is 30 yuan, which is 360 yuan for one user per year!
If there are 10 million annual paying users, that’s 3.6 billion a year!
If there are 50 million annual paying users, that’s 18 billion a year!
The future is bright!
The follow-up Baidu map + AI intelligent driving will be even more terrifying.
Alibaba's current main development direction is big data and cloud computing.
The main development direction of Baidu is Baidu Maps + intelligent driving!
But without the underlying map data, the future of Baidu Maps is over!
If there is a problem even with Baidu Maps, how will the intelligent driving behind it be fixed?
It’s over, it’s really over!
Qu Xin broke out in a cold sweat and felt bad all over.
We can only hope that the situation has not reached this serious level yet and that there will be a turn for the better.
But the Vice President of Tencent across from him also recognized him and came up to him with a smile: "Vice President Qu, you are a step too late! Hahaha!"
Watching the vice president of Tencent leave with a smile, Qu Xin felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and the only glimmer of hope he had was completely shattered.
At this time, Lin Tao also walked out and looked at Qu Xin in front of him, feeling a little embarrassed: "President Qu, you are here, please come in!"
Qu Xin made no move, but said in a deep voice: "Director Lin, Tencent has invested in NavInfo?"
"Yes! Tencent has become NavInfo's second largest shareholder."
Qu Xin's face turned pale: "..."
What are you afraid of, what come!
Tencent really invested in NavInfo!
Not only that, he is also the second largest shareholder!
It can be said that NavInfo will be Tencent-based from now on!
Don't even think about the cooperation between Baidu Maps and NavInfo.
BAT will not let its underlying map data provider serve its archenemy!
Absolutely not.
Otherwise, Tencent's money will be wasted.
But Qu Xin didn't want to give up and still asked: "What about the cooperation between Baidu Maps and NavInfo..."
Lin Tao waved his hand: "Mr. Qu, please rest assured that NavInfo's authorized cooperation with Baidu Maps will not expire until next year. It will be performed as usual before the expiration, and there will be no problems."
"What about after it expires?" Qu Xin couldn't help but ask.
Lin Tao sighed and fell into silence.
Sometimes, silence is the best rejection.
"I understand." Qu Xin's expression became even more lonely. Sure enough, after Tencent took a stake, Baidu was out of the game!
"Feel sorry!"
"It's not your fault, it's because I came late." Qu Xin sighed: "Can you tell me the price?"
"1.5 billion, 10%!"
In order to invest in NavInfo, Tencent and Alibaba competed to increase the price, from 1 billion to 1.4 billion!
In the end, Tencent spent 1.5 billion, and Alibaba gave up the additional amount.
Tencent paid a 50% premium and took 10% of the shares, becoming the second largest shareholder!
"This price is high enough! Congratulations."
Qu Xin gave a bitter smile and turned to leave, but his expression became even gloomier.
NavInfo has become a Tencent-based company and does not authorize the underlying data of Baidu Maps.
Gaode became Wang Yi's, and it was even more impossible to authorize the underlying data of Baidu Maps.
Without even the underlying map data, how can Baidu Maps develop? How can it be operated?
It can be said that Baidu Maps is completely finished!
AI intelligent driving is over!
Everything is so over!
Baidu headquarters.
There was feasting and feasting, and the celebration banquet was all prepared.
Not only are there luxury champagne, but also the 82-year-old Lafite that Li Yan has collected for 20 years!
Seeing Qu Xin come back, Li Yan was happy and said: "Old Qu, come quickly, you are the only one missing from the celebration party!"
"Look, Baidu's stock price has gone up!"
“It went up as soon as the market opened!”
"Now it has increased by 20 billion, hahaha, it is still rising!"
"We have lost 95 billion these days, and today we can get at least 50 billion back!"
"Quickly, drive Lafite and celebrate!"
"Hahaha!"
Li Yan was in a good mood, so he opened Lafite 1982, poured a glass and handed it to Qu Xin.
Qu Xin's face became even more ugly, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he didn't know what to say.
Along the way, he was thinking about this issue and how to tell Li Yan the bad news more tactfully!
After all, this has a huge impact on Baidu!
It's really too big!
This is equivalent to destroying Baidu’s current strategic layout!
It can be called devastating!
()
Chapter completed!