Governor's House, terrace.
The lights of Victoria Harbour were as bright as ever, reflected in Sir Murray MacLehose's deep eyes, but they could not arouse any of the calmness of the past.
Everything he just heard was completely beyond the expectations of Hong Kong Governor Murray MacLehose.
A second ago, he was still talking about how frustrated Kobayashi Tenmo was at TVB, and he guessed that this time he would have to suffer a lot for a while.
But no one would have thought that he would be so impulsive and would immediately think about acquiring a TV station to compete with TVB.
He slowly put down the ivory-white telephone receiver and rubbed his palms hard on his trousers, as if trying to erase the absurdity brought about by the previous call.
"What's the matter, dear?"
Mrs. Deng Liping, who was sitting in the rattan chair opposite, put down the English newspaper in her hand and keenly noticed her husband's unusual silence after he answered the phone.
After all, many big and small things have happened in these years since he took office as Governor of Hong Kong, and it is really rare for Teresa Teng to see her husband like this!
Murray MacLehose turned around, his blue eyes flashing with an indescribable complex emotion, a mixture of astonishment, a hint of contempt, and deeper confusion.
He slowly walked to the edge of the terrace, facing the dazzling night scene that symbolized the prosperity of his rule. His voice was calm despite being deliberately suppressed, yet one could still hear the ripples in it:
"That Kobayashi Tenou... he's simply... crazy!"
"Oh?" Deng Liping's interest was instantly piqued. It was no small matter to make her husband use the word "crazy".
"Just now, the general manager of Rediffusion Television called me personally." MacLehose took a deep breath of the salty night air before continuing, "They received an ultimatum-like acquisition offer from Mr. Xiao Lin. Just after the results of the TVB Miss Hong Kong pageant were announced, Mr. Xiao Lin wanted to acquire Rediffusion Television.
This wasn't a test; it was an ultimatum. The price was negotiable, but the deal needed to be done quickly. He even threatened that if Rediffusion's UK headquarters refused to sell, he would immediately turn to acquiring ATV, or... apply directly to the Governor's Office for a new television license!
Until this time, Governor Murray MacLehose still found all this incredible. Lin Tianwang had just acquired Hong Kong Holdings and was still working hard on the "Home Ownership Scheme". How could he be so idle that he wanted to set up a TV station?
Deng Liping's azure eyes widened instantly, a hint of surprise flashed across her face, and then an expression of interest emerged on her face:
"Buying a TV station? Just to get back at TVB for letting Liu Rumeng finish second? Is this... is this what you Chinese people often say—'a rage for a woman'?"
Murray MacLehose turned around suddenly, with an absurd look on his face that said, "How can you still laugh?"
He looked at the inappropriate spark of romance in his wife's eyes and sighed helplessly. The helplessness just now dissipated, and was replaced by a deep scrutiny that came from a politician's instinct.
"A rage for a beautiful woman?"
He repeated this ancient Chinese saying, then slowly shook his head, his eyes solemn as he said, "It counts, but it's definitely not just that. Delaney, you underestimate this young man. Or perhaps our previous judgment of him was too superficial."
Deng Liping's smile faded, and she spoke seriously, "Murray, you were just saying that Xiaolin Tianwang is a smart man. He knows the situation clearly and won't challenge the behemoth TVB out of impulse. He knows how to 'keep a respectful distance' and 'wisely' avoid the edge. How come a phone call has caused your attitude to change 180 degrees? Isn't Xiaolin Tianwang's behavior just impulsive?"
"This is the most confusing part, and it's also what makes us most wary of Kobayashi Tenbo.
If he was just acting on impulse and wanted to save face for a woman, it would be understandable that he spent money to make a movie to promote her, bought a whole page of newspaper to promote her, and even put direct pressure on TVB.
But to acquire a TV station for this purpose? And so eagerly that he even threatened to apply for a new license?
The cost is too high and the goal is too ambitious.
This is not a choice that a person blinded by anger would make.
From the first day he arrived in Hong Kong, everything he did—founding Dragon Jump, acquiring the Evening News to create Asia Daily, and taking over Hong Kong Land with lightning speed—was any of it purely impulsive? Beneath the surface motives, there must be deeper purposes and intentions.
It is obvious that Hong Kong government's Murray MacLehose did not completely let down his guard against Kobayashi Tenwang just because of Lam Huo-wang's superficial rapprochement and the cooperation in the proposed "Home Ownership Scheme". Instead, he has always been deeply wary of him. After all, although Kobayashi Tenwang has acquired Japanese citizenship, he is still a Chinese at heart.
Deng Liping said thoughtfully, "You mean... his so-called 'rage' this time isn't aimed at TVB's reputation at all, but... an opportunity to enter the television media industry?"
"Exactly! Exactly!"
MacLehose drummed his fingertips on the table, uttering a firm voice. "What he's eyeing is the television platform itself! This media giant, capable of reaching millions of households and with an influence far greater than that of newspapers! The Miss Hong Kong incident and Liu Rumeng's defeat are merely a way for him to break into this field. It's a perfect, unimpeachable 'legitimate' reason or excuse!"
At this point, Hong Kong Governor Murray MacLehose began to analyze the current situation of the three television stations in Hong Kong Island in detail, as if he was deducing something, and said:
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