Almost at the same time as the Hong Kong stock market closed and discussions on the streets began to ferment, the president's office of the Xinhua News Agency's Hong Kong branch in Central also experienced a fierce emotional storm.
President Liang Weilin had just received a few urgent news dispatches from his subordinates, along with scanned copies of the front pages of several major newspapers due to be published tomorrow morning. When he saw the clear inscription, "Kobayashi Tenmo holds a 27.5% stake in the company, becoming the largest single shareholder," this usually calm and composed veteran, a veteran who had weathered countless storms, suddenly stood up from his large office chair and slammed his fist on the table!
"Good! Good! Good!" Liang Weilin could no longer suppress his inner ecstasy and excitement. In the empty office, facing the bright lights of Victoria Harbour outside the window, he shouted "Good" three times!
The voice was so resonant in the quiet night that the secretary on duty outside the door opened it in surprise and took a look. He saw President Liang's face flushed and his eyes flashing with unprecedented excitement.
Liang Weilin waved his secretary away and, with almost trembling hands, picked up the red internal telephone on his desk. His fingers deftly turned the dial, quickly connecting him to a special line directly to the mainland. The call was quickly transferred to a familiar office, equally busy even at night.
"Mr. Liao! It's me, Liang Weilin!" Liang Weilin's voice rose slightly with excitement, and he even forgot his usual strict communication protocol. "Great news! Just now, confirmed news, Hong Kong Land Group! Kobayashi Tenwang! He has acquired 27.5% of Hong Kong Land Group's shares! Complete control! Success! Jardine Matheson has completely lost control of Hong Kong Land!"
Mr. Liao on the other end of the line, upon hearing the news, felt as if struck by an invisible electric current. He didn't scream like Liang Weilin, but instead fell into a deathly, utterly shocked silence. The only sound on the receiver was his suddenly heavy breathing.
As Mr. Liao held the microphone, his mind flashed back to the young, confident, and piercing young man Lin Huowang in the secret private room of the Tingtao Pavilion in Repulse Bay two months ago. What had he said then?
"Within six months, I'm confident I'll completely swallow up at least one British-owned company rooted in Hong Kong Island... My tentative target is none other than the real estate giant that controls the heart of Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Land!"
Mr. Liao nodded outwardly, but inwardly he felt that the young man's ambition was excessive, perhaps even a bit frivolous. Hong Kong Land? That was the lifeblood of Jardine Matheson, the crown jewel of British capital. How could it be acquired in just six months? He felt it would take time, perhaps years, perhaps even longer.
But this Lin Huowang... He truly lived up to his "boast"! Not in half a year, but in less than three months! Not by acquiring marginal assets, but by directly taking control!
27.5%! At the critical juncture when the crisis erupted in Jardine Matheson and the Huo family launched an all-out attack, he quietly and unnoticed completed the fatal blow!
A strong shock washed over Mr. Liao's heart like waves.
After the huge shock, an even heavier question weighed on his heart like a rock. Mr. Liao knew Lin Huowang's hidden hand better than anyone else.
He knew the background of the identity arrangement of "Kobayashi Tenwang" and he also had a general understanding of Lin Tongchun's family background in Japan.
The comic magazine called "Dragon Jump" was indeed a huge hit in Japan and Hong Kong, generating incredible profits. However, it was only a magazine, newly launched, and even though it had accumulated considerable wealth, it was a pipe dream to swallow a behemoth like Hong Kong Land.
27.5% of Hong Kong's shares, based on the current market conservative estimate of HK$7 billion, represents an investment of nearly HK$2 billion! Even with Lin Tongchun's full support, it would be impossible to raise such a large amount of funds in such a short timeframe, independently pay for the expenses, and avoid alerting anyone!
"Weilin..." Mr. Liao's voice finally sounded, with a hint of hoarseness and solemnity that was suppressed but could still be captured by Liang Weilin, "The news... is it accurate?" He needed to confirm this earth-shattering fact again.
"It's absolutely true! Mr. Liao!" Liang Weilin said firmly, "The special editions of all the major newspapers in Hong Kong have already been published! The deal has been completed! The news from HSBC is also true, and the documents have been signed! This time, Jardine Matheson Newbigin has... lost miserably!"
There was another brief silence, and it was obvious that Mr. Liao was digesting this indisputable fact.
Then, his tone turned urgent: "So, what are the details? Xiaolin... Xiaolin Tianwang How did he do it? The process! I need to know what happened at every step of this 27.5 point equity battle?
Why would Jardine Matheson sell the property? Why would Newbigin sell it to him instead of the Huo family or anyone else? What role did HSBC play in this? Also, the Huo family had been secretly accumulating shares, so didn't they also hold close to 10%? Were they just going to sit there and watch?
Mr. Liao's questions were like a cannon of fire, each one poking at the intricate threads behind this remarkable transaction. He was eager to know all the details behind Lin Huowang's extraordinary courage and operation.
Liang Weilin could feel the invisible weight bearing down on him. He immediately recalled the extremely limited fragments of information in his mind—the fragments derived from mere snippets circulating in the market and brief statements in the financial pages. He subconsciously slowed his speech, carrying with him a strong sense of uncertainty and the sluggishness brought on by the huge information gap.
"Mr. Liao... the exact details of the process... the whole of Hong Kong is in a state of confusion right now!" Liang Weilin's voice was filled with confusion and shock. "The only public information is that Kobayashi Tianwang suddenly announced the successful acquisition of 27.5% of the core shares of Hong Kong Land! The transaction documents have been signed! Jardine Matheson was forced to issue a confirmation announcement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange! Control of Hong Kong Land has fallen into the hands of others! This is all over the front pages of major newspapers now!"
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