It's nothing new for the . Federal Government to sanction others.
They sanction people at the drop of a hat—frequently sanctioning disobedient countries or companies they can't control, which the whole world has become accustomed to.
Those sanctioned are, of course, miserable, but onlookers have grown used to it.
If it weren't for the fact that this time they were "preparing" to sanction Dream Building, which is currently riding high and has just launched an incredible product, the onlookers and netizens wouldn't be paying so much attention.
Based on past experience, everyone feels that Dream Building is going to suffer a heavy blow.
After all, no matter what, the . is the only superpower in the world today, although the two parties have been messing around in recent years, giving off the impression that its "decline is fully evident."
But a starving camel is still bigger than a horse, and even if it's riddled with disease, a single punch can still cripple other countries.
Not to mention just a company.
But Xu Meng's reaction greatly exceeded everyone's expectations—
Xu Meng has been ignoring this iron hammer that is about to fall, making global media anxious.
It's always been sovereign nations sanctioning companies, how can a company sanction a nation?
Not to mention sanctioning a superpower!
Everyone felt that: the gap between the two sides was too great to have an equal dialogue!
But some media outlets, not afraid of things getting lively, came up with more eye-catching claims in order to grab traffic—
[A company sanctioning a great power is just a joke. But the Digital Emperor versus the Federal President is a match in strength!]
This statement was initially just intended to attract attention and generate traffic.
Unexpectedly, after it spread, it gained high recognition from a large number of netizens!
One person told ten, ten told a hundred, and the content gradually became exaggerated and outrageous.
In the end, it almost turned into "[Digital Emperor] is preparing to declare war on the . President!"
But in fact, all the media and netizens who patiently read the translated content of this "sanctions statement" were very clear—in reality, it wasn't that serious at all.
Dream Building's document has a bit of a clickbait feel to it.
—Rather than calling it a "sanctions statement," it's more like a "non-cooperation statement."
Dream Building has not withdrawn from the . market.
It has neither stopped hardware sales nor interrupted game operations.
It has only refused all cooperation from the Federal Government.
Obviously, the title is very fierce, but the content is just a light slap, far from being as exaggerated as a "declaration of war."
But the problem is—
This light slap landed on the face of the Federal Government and the . President!
This is a big problem.
Doesn't the president need to save face?
What's even more amusing is that the way this document was spread online is a one-to-one replica of the Federal Government's sanctions order!
Both were "accidentally leaked."
Both are "awaiting signature and seal, not yet in effect."
The targeted meaning is too obvious!
The intensification of the conflict is almost unavoidable.
……
Outside the White House, a large number of reporters and news trucks quickly gathered!
Dream Building also received a large number of interview requests.
Everyone is waiting for the President's response.
But the presidential team has not come out to speak.
—This kind of "mutual sanctions" gameplay has stumped them.
They really haven't seen this kind of operation.
After regaining his senses, the President was very angry, took out the sanctions order and signed his name with a flourish, and even had the White House photographer take a picture of him signing it.
Subsequently, the sanctions order and the photo were released together, announcing the official entry into force of the sanctions order.
The long-awaited media quickly spread the news around the world.
The pressure returned to Dream Building!
And this time, Dream Building responded in just five minutes—
Dream Building's official account also released an announcement, publishing Xu Meng's signed and stamped sanctions statement.
Moreover, Xu Meng also asked his assistant to take a photo of himself.
From his signing action, expression, to the camera's shooting angle…
Everything was a one-to-one replica of the scene when the Federal President signed!
This photo was also released along with the sanctions statement.
The media in Xia Country, like their overseas counterparts, frantically reported on Xu Meng's response.
Especially this photo, which was definitely the headline of major news websites.
When netizens saw Xu Meng's response, they were very surprised at first, but soon burst into laughter:
"Clearly a serious world-class event, how did Xu Meng make it like a primary school student arguing??"
"You pretend to sanction me? I also pretend to sanction you! You really signed it? Then I'll sign it too! You take a photo? I want to take a photo too!"
"Hahahaha, so funny, he even imitated the signing appearance, even the expression is exactly the same haha!"
"Is the next step to replicate the President's speech? Looking forward to a speech in Mansheng Metropolitan Center Square!"
"No one understands how to make things fun more than Xu Meng!"
……
Two photos with completely consistent composition were quickly pieced together and spread around the world.
Various funny pictures and videos quickly emerged on social networks.
The attention group of this incident has also evolved into two completely different atmospheres—
Some people are frantically playing with memes, throwing themselves into the tide of internet fun.
Others are very worried, closely following the subsequent development of this matter.
Especially whether Xu Meng's public taunting will lead to further escalation of the conflict between the two sides!
……
……
Contrary to everyone's expectations:
The most ⊥ New ⊥ Small ⊥ Said ⊥ is ⊥ in ⊥ Six ⊥ 9 ⊥ ⊥ Book ⊥ ⊥ Bar ⊥ ⊥ First ⊥ Hair!
This powder keg that seemed about to explode was not ignited.
Even the Federal President, who has always been known for being tough and vengeful, was taunted by Xu Meng, but he did not immediately issue a stronger speech, nor did he take further action.
The situation was deadlocked!
Making the media and netizens who were paying attention to this matter neither up nor down.
In Dream Building Company, assistant Chen Mengling was also a little anxious: "Boss, is it really okay like this?"
"It's okay, no big problem."
Xu Meng was very calm, and didn't even pay much attention to the media's noise.
"That sanctions order is all based on the [Great Firewall] project that hasn't even started yet, and it has no impact on our current business."
"What if the firewall is built?" The assistant was still very worried.
Xu Meng looked at her with an amused expression and said: "Do you really think this thing can be built?"
The assistant was a little confused: "Can't it?"
"Of course not!"
Xu Meng couldn't help but laugh.
"The . internet is dominated by private enterprises and tech giants, and the government has little centralized control."
"Moreover, the . network architecture is distributed, and 90% of websites use encryption by default, making traffic monitoring and interception incredibly difficult."
"Not to mention that their domestic large multinational companies are extremely dependent on the openness and smooth flow of the internet, and cannot tolerate the existence of such a large firewall at all."
"Finally, this national-level firewall is fundamentally unconstitutional!"
"Unconstitutional???" Chen Mengling couldn't believe it, "The President of the country is unconstitutional???"
She couldn't imagine that the president of a country would take the lead in violating his own country's constitution.
Xu Meng nodded calmly: "That's right, any large-scale online censorship would violate the First Amendment of the . Constitution."
Seeing that her junior sister was still a little confused, Xu Meng explained more directly:
"The fundamental purpose of this sanctions order is not to sanction us, but to coerce us into compromise through sanctions."
"And the purpose of doing so is mostly for the Dream Maker."
"So this sanctions order is only threatening before it is signed."
"After it is signed and cannot be done, it will become a joke."
"Unless he can ignore the interests of domestic military enterprises, internet giants, and a large number of investment institutions and shareholders, then it can cause a major blow to our current business."
After Xu Meng said this, the assistant finally put her heart back in her stomach and went to work with peace of mind.
—
Xu Meng's guess was soon confirmed.
On the second day after the sanctions order was signed, the first wave of backlash appeared—
The opposition party publicly declared: The [Great Firewall] project is unconstitutional!
Starting from this point, internet groups with damaged interests took action to protect their interests.
The media once again had a topic, and rushed to continue tracking and reporting.
The . large-scale political variety show started a new episode of the plot!
……
Everyone knows that this matter will not end here.
Now it's just a short halftime break.
The Federal President needs to suppress dissenting opinions and unite forces.
And once he succeeds, what awaits Dream Building will no longer be "deterrence," but most likely a substantial "blow!"
At the same time, Xu Meng was not idle.
During this "halftime break," the large research and development team for the photonic topological server array was finally completed.
The research and development of the project has officially begun!
