Kobayashi Tenmo's 7.5% stake was not only an astronomical amount of selling pressure, but also a fatal fuse, completely igniting the market's panic mine! Even if the Huo family tried their best to buy at low prices, they could only absorb a small portion of the surging mud and sand like a sponge soaking up water. Jardine Matheson's pitiful 330 million? It wouldn't even be enough to fill a gap in their teeth! Forget about the pallet. Once thrown in, it would be instantly shredded by the relentless selling pressure, becoming the latest laughing stock in the capital market before the public's eyes, and even delaying Australia's life-saving funds.
The market has proven that any attempt to support the market is futile. The entire market is like a Pandora's box that has been opened, and despair is spreading at an exponential rate.
what to do?
James looked at Newbigin, his eyes full of fear and confusion.
Where's Mr. Shen Bi? Where's HSBC? Didn't they say it would be resolved? Why hasn't anything happened yet?
Niubijian buried his face in his palms. The icy cold of his palms couldn't lessen the searing pain in his head. He felt like he was drowning in the raging sea. The phone on the table was close at hand, like a lifeline. Call Shen Bi? Ask him what to do? Urge him to fulfill his promise? The thought was overwhelming.
However, Shen Bi's extremely clear words from last night rang out again: "Just wait for my news."
Shen Bi didn't need his urging, let alone guidance over the phone. Hong Kong's financial "emperor" would only issue his unchangeable orders when he saw fit. All he could do was wait patiently.
At this moment, in the office that was as silent as a graveyard, the phone suddenly rang! Sharp, rapid, and with the power to penetrate the soul!
Newbigin's head shot up as if struck by lightning, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the red intercom. Fear, hope, bewilderment, resignation... a myriad of emotions crisscrossed his face. He reached out, his fingertips trembling slightly from the exertion, but as he was about to touch the receiver, the extreme tension strangely relaxed. A sense of settled calm replaced the previous storm.
It's finally here.
He took a deep breath, picked up the phone, and his voice was surprisingly calm, "Boss Shen Bi?"
From the other end of the line came Shen Bi's always low and calm voice, concise to the point of being almost cold: "It's me. Niu Bijian, come to my office immediately. This concerns the share price of the Hong Kong Land Group and your... Get out of here unscathed!"
"Okay." Newbigin only answered with one word.
No questions, no explanations, no bargaining. He knew that whatever agreement Shen Bi and Xiaolin Tianwang had reached, whatever the fate of the land, whether good or bad for him and Jardine Matheson, it was all a foregone conclusion. Shen Bi's word was the final word.
The worst-case scenario? He'd already rehearsed it countless times yesterday—Kobayashi Tenmoku would simply snatch up that 20% stake at a rock-bottom price, becoming the new owner of Hutchison Whampoa and leaving Jardines humiliated. But compared to the entire Hutchison Whampoa, along with HSBC's 20%, collapsing and being destroyed, this was the "best" outcome he could imagine.
After hanging up the phone, Newbigin stood up. He even had time to straighten the front of his suit, which was slightly wrinkled from the night's torment. He said to the bewildered James, "You stay here. I'm going to see Mr. Shen Bi." His tone was as calm as if he was just going to a normal meeting.
At the same time, on the top floor of Huo’s Building.
Standing in front of the French windows, Huo Zhenting was practically dancing with excitement. The latest price chart on the wall showed the startling crimson waterfall of Hong Kong Land Development. But at this moment, the eyes glued to the screen were gleaming with ecstasy.
"Daddy! Our share has exceeded 10%! Look! Another 1% is bought in! Oh my God, retail investors are selling like crazy! All at low prices! All at dirt cheap prices! The average price is less than 65 yuan! We have reached 12%! Daddy!" He turned around and looked at his father Huo Yingdong with excitement.
Fok Ying-tung stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the screen with a deep expression. Hong Kong's share price fluctuated wildly around HK$60. The Fok family's buying was the only source of support, but it was as fragile as a candle in a gust of wind. Just as that candle was about to be completely snuffed out, another force crashed down with the force of a landslide or tsunami.
"Daddy! Look! Huge orders! Massive orders are pouring in! All at 60!" Huo Zhenting was stunned for a moment, then burst into even louder laughter. "Haha! It's that Xiaolin Tianwang! It's him! He threw out all his 7.5%! He sold his shares at 60! Hahaha! This guy gave in! He's lost a lot, right? He was kicked out of his position as a director of Hong Kong Land Group after only one day! How embarrassing!"
Thinking of Xiaolin Tianwang's embarrassment, Huo Zhenting felt a surge of pleasure.
"Daddy! This is our chance! Let's take over his 7.5%! Eat it up! Then, immediately spread the news to all the major newspapers: 'Kobayashi Tenmo admits defeat and is out, clearing out his holdings in Jardine Matheson Holdings!' Then, have someone write a few analysis articles saying that his Longteng Newspaper Group has run out of cash flow and has been forced to liquidate its holdings to survive! I bet that once this news comes out, Jardine Matheson Holdings' stock price will drop by at least another 10%! Then we can look for cheaper stocks! Once he sells out his holdings, we'll..."
"Don't move! Victory is already decided!"
Huo Yingdong's deep shout was like cold water, instantly extinguishing Huo Zhenting's enthusiasm. He swept his sharp eyes over his son: "Now is not the time to act rashly! And certainly not the time to completely destroy the market! Do you really want to destroy the market?"
The smile on Huo Zhenting's face froze.
Huo Yingdong took a few steps closer and pointed at the pile of sell orders at the 60 mark. "Look carefully! Why are we buying all the shares now? To keep the stock price stable at 60! To force that old fox Shen Bi to show up! To force him to release his 20% stake! Xiaolin Tianwang's 'heroic self-sacrifice' is in our favor! He used his own money to help us keep the price at 60! You buying up his stocks may superficially increase our bargaining chips, but it's actually helping him to bear the burden! Let him leave completely! More importantly, once you eat up his 7.5%, how much money will we have left to deal with HSBC's 20%?"
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