"For HSBC, it's nothing more than transferring part of the billion-dollar debt owed to us by Jardine Matheson to an entity under Kobayashi Tenmo's name. It's simply a transfer of assets and debts within the group, from one hand to the other."
Newbigin's cloudy eyes suddenly widened! His heart felt like it had been struck by a sledgehammer! HSBC... was actually willing to personally intervene like this?! Shen Bi had never personally intervened in Chinese-owned enterprises before, not even with Li Ka-shing and Pao Yue-kong, the two Chinese tycoons with whom Shen Bi had the closest relationship.
"Moreover," Chen Bi's voice continued, like lighting a lamp for Newbigin's bleak future, "think about it, if Kobayashi Tenmo takes over the Hong Kong Land Group, what will this news mean to the market? It means that the hot potato of Hong Kong Land has been taken over by an outsider! It means HSBC's confidence in Hong Kong Land, in Kobayashi Tenmo, and perhaps in the financial backers behind him!"
"It also means..." Chen Bi's voice was filled with cold calculation, "The war between Xiaolin Tianwang and that old fox Huo Yingdong has just started will only burn more fiercely! It will definitely not be extinguished!"
Newbijian's spirits suddenly lifted! He instantly understood the ruthlessness of Shen Bi's plan to kill two birds with one stone! HSBC stepped in to provide financial support to Kobayashi Tenwang, who obtained funds to acquire shares and become a major shareholder of Hong Kong.
This has four direct effects:
First, the market panic was immediately dispelled. With the Hong Kong Land's equity crisis resolved, the share price was bound to stabilize. It might even rebound to a higher point thanks to the "financially savvy" and "hype-mongering" Kobayashi Tenmo taking over, along with the vague support of HSBC behind the scenes!
Second, HSBC landed safely: the billion-dollar loan owed by Jardine Matheson to HSBC was recovered, and the risk of bad debts was eliminated.
Third, the blame was shifted to someone else: the risk of "mainland China taking back Hong Kong Island" in the future would be borne by Kobayashi Tenmo! HSBC and Jardine Matheson successfully unloaded their biggest burden.
The fourth and most crucial factor in exacerbating the conflict was Fok Ying-tung! He had meticulously planned, using the conflict between his son and Xiaolin Tianwang as cover to scoop up the fat piece of Hong Kong's lucrative property. He could never have imagined that his biggest rival, HSBC, the British-owned core he thought had a sure win, would turn around and pass his carefully calculated target into the hands of Xiaolin Tianwang, the Fok family's mortal enemy!
And this was accomplished using the Hong Kong Land equity dispute instigated by his own family, with ammunition provided by HSBC itself! This was effectively putting Fok Ying-tung on the spot, forcing him into a head-to-head battle with Kobayashi Tenmo! A tug-of-war drama orchestrated by British capital, pitting two powerful Chinese factions, at least superficially hostile, against each other, was about to unfold!
"As for Jardine Matheson," Shen Bi's voice became earnest, like an old friend giving earnest advice. "Newbijian, wake up. Aren't you facing enough difficulties right now? The troubles in the Australian coal mines, the London silver futures, the quagmire of Southeast Asian investments, and the sluggish business in Europe and the United States. Which of these doesn't require huge amounts of capital to fill the holes and restructure?"
"Still clinging to Jardine Matheson, using this asset, knowing it has enormous future risks, to hold your own liquidity and future hostage? This isn't just clinging to your family legacy; it's courting your own destruction. This is sheer foolishness, a cowardly act that doesn't know how to let go! Leave yourself a way out!"
Shen Bi's last words burned like a red-hot iron, searing Newbyjian's heart. A coward? Courting his own destruction?
"Let go of Jardine Matheson!" Chen Bi's tone was firm. "This is a wise decision, a heroic act! Go talk to Kobayashi Tenmo! Go with HSBC's support! Talk about the price. Even if we provide financial support, the share transfer still has a price!"
"Around 70 to 80 Hong Kong dollars, or even higher? You can negotiate for that premium! With the transfer proceeds, use them to cleanly repay the billion-dollar debt owed to HSBC and completely rid yourself of that burden. Use the remaining funds to fill the gaps in your overseas business and rebuild your business."
"Focus your energy on what can truly bring stable returns and a future to Jardine Matheson. As for Hong Kong Land? Let it flourish in the hands of others, or rather... let it weather the storms it has to endure."
Shen Bi's blueprint was crystal clear...trade land for survival and capital, discard the heaviest shackles, and exchange them for the possibility of a future turnaround. Despite his immense reluctance and humiliation, Newbijian's mind raced, and he had to admit that this was the only visible path to survival.
It is still a hundred times better than the stock price collapsing tomorrow, banks forced to close their positions, Hong Kong Holdings being auctioned off, Jardine Matheson losing its reputation, and even potentially triggering a larger chain avalanche!
The study remained silent for more than ten seconds, the only sounds being the crackling of the wood in the fireplace and Newbigin's heavy breathing. Humiliation, resentment, pain, calculation, and weighing... countless emotions raged fiercely in his heart.
Finally, a long sigh, as if exhausted of all strength, came from the microphone, carrying with it fatigue and a sense of relief after the dust settled.
"Okay... Peter." Newbigin's voice was hoarse and dry, but he was no longer angry. Only resigned calmness remained. "You... have convinced me. Let's follow your... plan."
Each word seemed tinged with blood, but he finally spat it out. As the captain of the shabby ship Jardine Matheson, he had no choice but to sacrifice pawns to save the king. No, he had to sacrifice a luxurious lifeboat in exchange for the chance to stay on the main deck.
On the other end of the phone, Shen Bi showed a barely perceptible smile on his face and said, "Very good. Then, Sir, now is the time to show your 'sincerity'. Call as soon as possible. Time...is running out." He reminded the urgency of the transaction.
"I... understand." Newbigin hung up the phone, and the expensive receiver clunked as he gently placed it back on its cradle. The office fell silent again, leaving only the eternal river of light flowing through Victoria Harbour outside the window.
Gazing out the window at the bright yet cold lights, he felt for the first time his own age and powerlessness. Jardine Matheson, the once-powerful Far Eastern trading giant, seemed to be sliding towards an abyss he could no longer control.
He slowly stood up, walked to the wine cabinet, and poured himself half a glass of single malt whiskey with trembling fingers. The amber liquid swayed in the glass, reflecting his tired and gray face.
He took a deep breath, and the cold wine slid down his throat, bringing a stinging and brief stimulation. Then, as if he had made a huge decision, he reached out and slowly and heavily picked up the heavy receiver again.
His fingertips trembled slightly. He needed to dial that number, the number that led to Repulse Bay Number 3, to play the unprecedented and humiliating role of "salesman," to lower his British head, which had been noble for more than half a century, to the young Chinese man he despised the most but who now held the key to his own destiny.
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