Chapter 776: Bill Gates rejected it?

'Paul Allen? I've heard of you. You are a genius engineer. It's a pleasure to meet you. We are from a capital company. My name is Xia Yu, and these are my subordinates.'

Xia Yu stopped his subordinates from stepping forward and took a step forward, extending his hand with a smile and saying to Paul Allen:

Xia Yu knew Paul Allen very well. As a co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen in the afterlife had assets of more than 20 billion US dollars, but because he lost the battle against illness, he left all his assets to his sister in the end.

In the past life, Microsoft was branded with Bill Gates's mark, and the public didn't know much about Paul Allen, except that he was a co-founder of Microsoft.

However, if it wasn't for Paul Allen persuading Bill Gates to drop out of school, Microsoft might have appeared, but it definitely would not have been the Microsoft of the previous life.

And in Microsoft, Paul Allen's talent is stronger than Bill Gates'. In terms of technology, Paul Allen is the main person, and he is a mentor and friend to Bill Gates.

It can be said that Paul Allen is to Microsoft as Steve Wozniak is to Apple.

Both are the real unsung heroes of the company's technological foundation, but their limelight has almost been stolen by Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, who are in the front line responsible for business affairs.

Therefore, for Microsoft at this time, Xia Yu values Paul Allen more than the future richest man in the world.

Without Paul Allen, there would be no current achievements of Microsoft, and without him, there would be no future Microsoft DOS system. After all, this system was still found and bought by Paul Allen.

'Capital Corporation?'

Although Xia Yu did not say the name of the company, just the words 'Capital Corporation' made Paul Allen's heart throb, and his heartbeat gradually accelerated.

As a software company, he was eager to be valued by capital, and then use the power of capital to accelerate the company's rise.

Unfortunately, Microsoft had been developing for five years, and no capital company had come knocking before that.

Now that one has suddenly appeared, could it be...

Fortunately, Paul Allen could still tell the difference between the right time and the wrong time. He interrupted his endless reverie in his head, immediately warmly welcomed Xia Yu and the others into the meeting room, and immediately notified Bill Gates, who was in the studio, while he was getting a glass.

Therefore, Xia Yu had just sat down for less than a minute when he saw the 24-year-old Bill Gates enter with Paul Allen, warmly and confidently greeting Xia Yu and the others.

'Hello, Mr Xia, welcome. I'm Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft.'

'Hello, Mr Gates.'

After all, Bill Gates was the son of a lawyer and business elite, and his background was much higher than Paul Allen's. He had also seen the world, and although he was three years younger than Paul Allen and not as technically capable as Paul Allen,

he was much better at business networking than Paul Allen.

So after a while of small talk, Bill Gates smiled and asked Xia Yu, 'Mr. Xia, what is the reason for your visit to our company?'

Xia Yu looked at him, smiled, and nodded, saying, 'Don't worry about that for now. Before that, can you tell us a little about your company?'

'Of course, why don't we finish this coffee first? Shall we talk about something else?' Bill Gates was looking forward to it, but he was able to remain calm. He knew that the more critical the situation, the more he must not lose his composure, lest he suffer later. So he glanced at the coffee that had just been served on the table, and asked with a smile.

Xia Yu couldn't help but look up to him, smiling faintly and nodding slightly. 'Yes, I would also like to learn about your company's past.'

'Okay, how about I start with the founding of the company?'

'Sure, go ahead!'

...

As soon as Xia Yu finished speaking, Bill Gates gave a slight smile and began to talk about the past of Microsoft. Halfway through, he thought of something interesting and chimed in with Paul Allen, telling the story of Microsoft's past in humorous words.

At this time, Microsoft had not yet transformed, it was just a small company, and the benefits were not too great. The relationship between Bill Gates and Paul Allen was still very harmonious.

Looking at the tacit understanding between the two, Xia Yu felt a strange feeling rise in his heart, especially when he saw Bill Gates' seemingly sincere appearance and Paul Allen's straightforward personality. He couldn't help but lament for Paul Allen.

Bill Gates, who grew up in an elite family of business and law, naturally placed a higher value on interests than Paul Allen.

It is clear that in the early days of Microsoft, Paul Allen contributed more than Bill Gates, but when the shares were officially divided later, Bill Gates took 60% of the shares. Bill Gates even went further and further, repeatedly trying to re-divide the shares or issue additional shares to dilute Paul Allen's shareholding.

Engineers are engineers, and they have shortcomings in terms of calculation and gains and losses.

Before they knew it, the coffee was almost gone, and Bill Gates and Paul Allen had also finished introducing the basic situation of Microsoft. Xia Yu then suggested that they take a closer look at Microsoft's specific business level.

Subsequently, Bill Gates and Paul Allen took Xia Yu on a tour of Microsoft, focusing on the workrooms, where Paul Allen introduced to Xia Yu and the others Microsoft's achievements in the BASIC interpreter.

Xia Yu kept smiling throughout the whole process, and occasionally exchanged a few words with Paul Allen. When a lot of technical terms came out of Xia Yu's mouth, Paul Allen and Bill Gates' faces changed, realising that Xia Yu was also a professional. They couldn't fool him, so they became more cautious when introducing him, afraid of making false introductions that would be revealed and cause embarrassment.

After walking around for a while, Xia Yu had a comprehensive understanding of Microsoft at this time.

There was no doubt that Microsoft was indeed a small software company at the time, with a total of just over twenty employees.

The only thing they could show for themselves was their achievement in the field of BASIC interpreters.

When everyone returned to the office again, Xia Yu looked at Bill Gates and Paul Allen, who had slightly expectant and apprehensive expressions in their eyes. He smiled inwardly, and indeed they were just two young people, one only 27 years old and the other only 24 years old. No matter how they pretended to be composed, when it came to the crucial moment, they would inevitably reveal their true thoughts.

Xia Yu had no intention of dragging things out with them either. He straightened his face and said directly, 'Mr Allen, Mr Gates, I have just gained an understanding of the situation at Microsoft. Now it is time to talk formally.'

Paul Allen's face was solemn, and he nodded, saying, 'Yes, Mr Xia, please go on!'

Xia Yu's gaze swept over the faces of the two men, and he said slowly, 'Microsoft has a certain value because you have made some achievements in the BASIC interpreter market, but the value is also limited. After all, the capacity of the BASIC interpreter market is fixed there, and the ceiling of the market determines the upper limit of your company's business growth today.'

Bill Gates and Paul Allen's hearts sank, but they had to admit that Xia Yu was telling the truth.

Now Xia Yu is saying this, he is just trying to lower the price.

Xia Yu continued, 'But during the tour just now, I saw something different, and that is your attitude towards technology. There is no doubt that you are outstanding technical elites. Therefore, compared to Microsoft's achievements in the BASIC interpreter market, I value you technical talents more.'

'Therefore, I have decided to fully acquire Microsoft,'

As soon as these words were spoken, Bill Gates and Paul Allen immediately turned pale, and it looked as if Bill Gates was about to veto.

Xia Yu raised his voice and said again, 'But I will inject capital into the company and offer 20% of the options, which will be awarded to you in the future based on your contributions to the company. I believe that with your two abilities, you will be able to get a lot of equity.'

Bill Gates and Paul Allen glanced at each other. Bill Gates looked determined, and Paul Allen pondered for a moment before slightly nodding his head and conceding.

Then Bill Gates said firmly to Xia Yu, 'I'm sorry, Mr Xia, Microsoft carries our dreams, we won't sell it, we only accept venture capital.'