Mozi's fingertips traced across the final‑version investment‑assessment report generated by the "Listening" system; beneath the cold sensation surged a searing resolve ready to erupt. The report's title was concise yet vast—*'Foundation' Plan: Feasibility Analysis and Strategic Planning for Investing in the Construction of Next‑Generation Ultra‑Large‑Scale Heterogeneous Computing‑Power Centers*. This voluminous document was more than a business plan; it resembled a manifesto toward the future, its core a single word: **computing power**.
He had ridden capital's torrential flows, stirring up storms in global financial markets, constructing a hidden yet formidable financial empire. He had directed capital's sharp edge toward high‑tech industries, providing an unceasing stream of ammunition for Xiuxiu's lithography‑machine long‑march and carbon‑based‑chip exploration. He had also elevated capital's vision to the stars and beyond, establishing the "Human Future Fund" to confront civilization‑level challenges. But now, he clearly realized that whether financial‑model iteration, cutting‑edge technology R&D, or simulation‑pushback addressing future uncertainties, all rested upon a more foundational, more core resource—**computing‑power capability**.
Computing power. It was no longer an expensive luxury of the mainframe era, nor an optional configuration for early‑stage internet startups. It had become, like electricity in the industrial age, fiber optics in the information age, a **foundational production factor** driving modern scientific research and industrial development, the blood flowing in digital‑civilization's veins, the flint sparking wisdom's flame. Without sufficient computing power, Yue'er's "information‑geometric field theory" attempting to unify mathematics and physics would forever remain confined to elegantly‑written formulas, for the complex computations involved far exceeded traditional supercomputers' limits. Without sufficient computing power, Xiuxiu's "Genesis" carbon‑based‑chip project—its material simulations, device designs, circuit verifications—the massive‑scale tasks would struggle arduously. Without sufficient computing power, the String‑Light Research Institute's numerous front‑line directions attempting leadership—from AI‑large‑model training to new‑drug‑development simulations, from global‑climate precision‑prediction to exploring cosmological riddles left by the "Oracle"—would all become water without source, trees without roots.
Computing power was the bedrock of the new era. Whoever mastered the most advanced computing power held the key to open the next‑era's door.
Mozi stood, walked to the floor‑to‑ceiling window overlooking most of the city's financial core area. Outside, capital resembled sleepless tides surging, colliding, growing among various‑shaped towers. He had been the top‑tier surfer amid these tides, yet now his gaze penetrated surface‑level numerical games, seeing the deeper structure supporting all this. Finance's essence was resource allocation; what he was about to make was perhaps the most bold, far‑sighted resource‑allocation decision of his career, maybe of this era.
He turned, pressed a specific key on internal communication. Soon, the core partners of String‑Light Fund, strategic‑investment‑committee members, and key leaders of the "String‑Light Cloud‑Brain" operational team gathered in that top‑floor conference room known for its calm and efficiency. Atmosphere differed from usual fierce debates over specific investment targets; it carried a nearly sacred gravity.
Mozi offered no extra pleasantries; he directly activated holographic projection, clearly displaying the "Foundation" plan's grand blueprint before every attendee.
"Colleagues," Mozi's voice steady, yet bearing an undeniable force, as if stating an established fact, "today, we are here not to discuss an investment project, but to decide the foundation of String‑Light's, even our entire ecosystem's future. I announce that String‑Light Fund will launch the 'Foundation' plan, allocating phase‑one strategic funds no less than 1.5 trillion RMB, to select a site and construct, based on our self‑developed 2‑nanometer carbon‑based/silicon‑based hybrid‑architecture chips, a next‑generation ultra‑large‑scale, ultra‑high‑performance, ultra‑high‑efficiency heterogeneous computing‑power center."
Although attendees more‑or‑less had heard rumors, when this astronomical figure and grand goal were so clearly presented by Mozi, the conference room still emitted suppressed low exclamations. 1.5 trillion! Far exceeding any previous single‑project investment, enough to create several large technology companies anew. The target aimed directly at computing‑power infrastructure's crown—supercomputing centers surpassing any publicly‑known existing level.
Mozi ignored attendees' shock, continued using his characteristic, calm yet logical language, expounding the "Foundation" plan's necessity and strategic significance. This more resembled a deep sermon about computing‑power's essence.
"We must fundamentally recognize that computing power has completed the paradigm shift from 'tool' to 'production factor.'" Mozi manipulated holographic images, displaying various data charts. "It is no longer auxiliary to scientific research, but itself the frontier battlefield of research. Chief Scientist Yue'er's mathematical theory, the high‑dimensional, strongly‑nonlinear partial‑differential‑equation systems needing solving, require sustained computing power at levels of a hundred‑billion‑billion operations per second (Exa‑scale) or even higher. Dean Xiuxiu's carbon‑based‑chip R&D—from molecular‑scale simulation of carbon‑nanotube growth dynamics, to full‑chip verification of circuits with tens‑of‑millions of transistors—its computational demand is a devouring behemoth. Not to mention the AI‑for‑Science, cosmological simulations, global‑high‑precision earth‑system‑model explorations we are engaging… None of these can be fully met by existing commercial cloud‑computing or national‑level supercomputing based on traditional architectures."
He paused, gaze sweeping over attendees. "We once invested in computing power to support our trading models, to empower portfolio companies. But now, the situation has changed. Computing power itself is the strategic high ground we must occupy. It determines the depth of our theoretical exploration, the speed of our technology R&D, and the strength of future industry definition."
"Why must we self‑develop chips? Why must it be 2‑nanometer?" Mozi asked‑self‑answered, switching holographic views to comparison chart between performance parameters of Xiuxiu's team's 2‑nanometer chips and existing mainstream supercomputing chips. "Because of **energy‑efficiency ratio**! Traditional supercomputing centers' one‑of‑the‑largest costs and operational bottlenecks is energy consumption and heat dissipation. Our self‑developed 2‑nanometer chips, especially after carbon‑based technology pathway exploration matures, theoretically will have energy‑efficiency ratios an order‑of‑magnitude higher than existing 7‑nanometer or even 5‑nanometer chips. This means, under identical power‑consumption budgets, we can provide several‑fold, even tens‑fold computational capability. Or, when delivering equivalent computing power, our operational costs and carbon emissions will be significantly reduced. This is not merely an economic calculation, but a necessity for sustainability, part of fulfilling our social responsibility."
"Why a **heterogeneous architecture**?" Mozi continued deeper, displaying design sketches of future computing‑power center's architecture. "Because future computing tasks are extremely diversified. There are scalar computations suitable for CPUs; large‑scale parallel computations suitable for GPUs/TPUs; specific‑algorithm acceleration suitable for FPGAs; even possibly requiring custom‑dedicated acceleration units (ASICs) for certain special mathematical operations in Yue'er's theory. The 'Foundation' center will not be a single, colossal machine, but a **'computing‑power pool'** integrating multiple types of computing units, dynamically reconfigurable, intelligently scheduled. We need to provide the most appropriate 'computational weapon' for different tasks."
He detailed the "Foundation" center's key technical indicators: peak computational performance aimed at levels of one‑hundred‑trillion‑billion operations per second (10 Zetta‑scale); storage system employing hybrid all‑flash‑array architecture with novel non‑volatile memory (NVM), achieving ultra‑high‑speed, massive‑scale data throughput; network interconnect using independent, controllable optical‑communication technology, ensuring low‑latency, high‑bandwidth; software stack deeply integrating intelligent scheduling and resource‑management capabilities of the "String‑Light Cloud‑Brain," with underlying optimization targeting Yue'er's "information‑geometric field theory" and other specific‑domain languages (DSLs).
This was not merely a computing center; it more resembled a gigantic digital laboratory and thought‑accelerator tailored for exploring the unknown.
After elaborating the grand technological blueprint, Mozi's tone relaxed slightly, yet strength in his eyes undiminished. "I know—this decision means massive capital tie‑up, high technical risk, needing top‑tier talent investment and a multi‑year construction cycle. From a purely financial‑return perspective, it might not be as immediately rewarding as investing in a soon‑to‑IPO AI unicorn."
He pivoted, voice infused with deep emotion—something rarely revealed when discussing pure financial transactions. "But, colleagues, our String‑Light Fund, having come this far, has long transcended purely pursuing financial returns. Our mission is 'to aid innovation with capital, and to shape the future with innovation.'"
His gaze seemed to penetrate walls, seeing Yue'er buried in formulas at the research institute, Xiuxiu fighting amidst carbon‑based materials in cleanrooms. "Yue'er needs computing power to touch the universe's code; Xiuxiu needs computing power to forge the carriers of information. From their respective peaks, they are launching assaults toward the limits of human cognition and technology. They represent the two poles—'theory' and 'technology.' And capital—the capital in our hands—its highest‑order form should not merely be a profit‑making tool, but the **foundation** connecting and supporting these two poles, the **fuel** igniting them, enabling them to burst forth with the most dazzling sparks!"
"Building the 'Foundation' computing‑power center is the most direct, powerful, and fundamental support we at String‑Light Fund can give them." Mozi's voice carried a solemn sense of completion. "This will thoroughly complete the 'capital‑technology‑theory' closed‑loop we have striven to construct. Capital provides momentum and support for technology and theory; technology and theory in turn guide capital toward most valuable directions, creating an unending stream of genuine, long‑term value. The 'Foundation' center is the physical embodiment of these three elements' fusion, the final, most solid puzzle piece of the closed‑loop."
He surveyed the room, seeing even those most astute financial elites' eyes gleaming with a light transcending numbers. They followed Mozi not only for his golden‑touch investment ability, but for the grand picture transcending money he depicted.
"This will be one of the most important legacies we leave for the future." Mozi finally said, tone calm yet heavy as tons. "Not merely a server‑filled machine room, but a fertile ground capable of continuously nurturing breakthrough ideas, catalyzing disruptive technologies. When future scientists rely on the 'Foundation' to unravel a cosmic riddle; when engineers design world‑changing products powered by the 'Foundation'—then all we invest will have gained significance transcending time and space."
The meeting concluded in an atmosphere akin to a sense of mission. Opposing voices dissipated before Mozi's clear strategic exposition and strong willpower, replaced by excitement and sense of responsibility participating in creation of history.
Subsequent processes launched with astonishing efficiency. Site‑selection surveys, technology‑plan deepening, recruitment of internationally‑top‑tier talent, demand‑alignment meetings with Xiuxiu's and Yue'er's teams… massive funds began flowing like blood to this soon‑to‑be‑born "computing‑power heart."
Mozi stood alone before his office window; night had fallen. City lights resembled dense stars; in his heart, a future picture brighter than all lights combined was slowly rising. It was the steady hum of the "Foundation" computing‑power center operating stably; trajectories of countless research tasks computing rapidly atop it; the moment of epiphany when Yue'er's theory is verified; the joyous moment when Xiuxiu's new‑material simulations succeed. He felt an unprecedented fullness and peace. Capital's power, at this moment, had finally found its most lofty, most solid destination—to become the **foundation** supporting humanity's wisdom exploring the unknown, creating the future. He knew that when the "Foundation" lights up, a wholly new era will truly open its curtain.