"Hutchison Whampoa..." Li Jiacheng whispered the name, his eyes burning with unconcealable ambition. "That's the one I, Li, should really take down! I've been setting up this scheme for three years... and it's almost time to close it... but why is it so important now!"
He slammed his fist on the window frame, making a dull sound, and a look of hatred appeared on his face, "This damn troublemaker! Kobayashi Tenwang! Because of the trouble he made in the Jardine Matheson, all the British capital is now like frightened birds! See?!" He pointed outside suddenly.
Mo Yingji, a trusted confidant standing nearby, also frowned. "Mr. Li, look, at today's market opening, the share prices of Hutchison Whampoa, Wharf Holdings, HK Electric... all these major British companies are slowly rising. The market expects them to aggressively repurchase shares to consolidate their control, fearing they'll become another Hong Kong Land!"
"That's right!" Li Jiacheng untied his tie irritably. "That Kobayashi Tianwang has stirred up a hornet's nest! His actions have increased the difficulty and cost of acquiring Hutchison Whampoa by at least 30%! The British are now on high alert! Trying to use the same 'pretend to build a plank road, but secretly attack Chencang' tactic they used against Hong Kong Holdings? It's going to be even harder!"
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "What's even worse is... this guy loves to be in the spotlight! He's such a great sensation! Do you know why HSBC picked him to help them acquire Hutchison Whampoa? It's because he's so arrogant and eye-catching, he's got everyone staring at him! He's become a weapon HSBC and the British are using to target Chinese capital! A sitting duck! A target!"
His eyes became even more sinister. "This position was originally what I, Li, wanted! I got the benefits by cooperating with HSBC! Now, with him showing off his power, the British are focusing their attention on him, and all the benefits are temporarily flowing to him. Instead, my opportunities have been diluted! This ability to dance on the cusp of the storm and accurately attract the eyes of foreigners..."
Li Jiacheng paused, his tone filled with a complex emotion that he was unwilling to admit, "...This Xiaolin Tianwang is indeed very powerful."
Then, his expression grew even more grim. "But precisely because of this, we must put him down first! Only after he falls can the British reassess who is truly worthy of 'cooperation'! Give the order, and our people must also add fuel to the fire! Let this fire burn brighter!"
In the president's office on the top floor of the Landmark Building, the huge TV screen has been turned off, but the solemn atmosphere seems to be frozen in the air.
Gao Qiaohao's face was ashen, and beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He had never felt such heavy pressure before.
Ho Chun-ting's declaration was like an icy proclamation, and the faces of the shipping king, Cheng Yu-tung, Li Ka-shing and others flashed across the screen one by one. Those names that carried great weight in the industry and his words that were understated but contained murderous intent formed a huge, impenetrable net that instantly enveloped the Hutchison Whampoa Group, which had just changed hands and whose foundation was still unstable.
He turned sharply to the calm Lin Huowang sitting behind his large desk, his voice distorted with urgency: "Boss! Fok Chun-ting is moving too fast! Too ruthlessly! We haven't even finished the handover procedures, the personnel haven't gotten acquainted, and we haven't even had time for formal consolation and strategic meetings! They... they've already brought all the Chinese capital in Hong Kong to attack us! This... this is the counterattack we expected, but we definitely didn't expect... such an overwhelming and devastating net!" His throat felt dry. "They want to take advantage of our unstable footing and destroy Hong Kong's operations and confidence in one fell swoop! What should we do now?"
Lin Huowang's back was to Gao Qiaohao, his gaze fixed on the bustling yet icy Central scene outside the French window. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the cool glass tabletop, making a subtle tapping sound. His figure remained upright, yet it seemed to bear the weight and hostility of the entire city outside the window.
Before Gao Qiaohao finished his anxious question, the heavy wooden door of the office was knocked hurriedly almost at the same time.
"Come in." Lin Huowang's voice was calm.
The door was pushed open, and several executives in suits, looking panicked and anxious, almost squeezed in. They were the direct persons in charge of several key divisions under the country's land.
They had obviously rushed up directly after receiving urgent reports from their subordinates. Their ties were a little askew, and their faces lacked the calmness that usually showed them in control of the situation.
"Mr. Xiao Lin!" Mr. Zhang, the manager of the large-scale property management, said with a trembling voice, "We just received official letters from the Huo Group and two management companies under New World! They're demanding the immediate termination of the property management contracts for three Grade-A office buildings and a large shopping mall in Central that we entrusted them with! They're saying this is a new directive from the Huo Group's top management! They also stated...that they'll take all necessary measures to protect their own rights! This...this is effective almost immediately! We don't even have time to react!"
"Mr. Xiaolin, this is bad!" Mr. Li, the general manager of the building materials supply company, was pale. "The person in charge from Sun Hung Kai Properties just called! They've unilaterally announced the suspension of all building materials supply orders for the Causeway Bay redevelopment project, signed just last month! Cement, rebar...all of them! The reason is that the partner evaluation failed! The construction site...the construction site is going to shut down soon! Our inventory can only hold up for two days!"
"Mr. Xiaolin," said Mr. Zhou, the shipping and logistics manager, sweating profusely, his voice tense. "Both Bao's Shipping and Huoji Shipping have sent official notices! They've suspended all barge transportation and warehousing services for our dairy company, supermarkets, and ongoing projects! The reason... simply says 'indefinite suspension of services,' with no explanation! Our cargo has been refused and detained at some terminals! What should we do next?"
“And…” Manager Li, another manager in charge of security coordination, said with shock and anger, “Just now! In the three shopping malls under our management, Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, within less than half an hour, a large number of ‘renovators’ or ‘movers’ in vests appeared. They didn’t cause trouble, but gathered at key locations such as entrances and atriums, making loud noises, chatting, and even playing cards! Customers didn’t dare to go in at all! The security guards on the scene couldn’t drive them away! There were too many of them! The manager called the police, but as soon as the police arrived, they immediately dispersed and behaved themselves, and gathered again as soon as the police left! This is definitely the Huo family instructing those ‘alliance’ people to cause trouble!” The “alliance” he mentioned is a society indirectly controlled by the Huo family.
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