His tone was warm and somewhat deliberate, "I am McGowan, General Manager of Hong Kong Island and Far East of HSBC!
Haha! Of course, according to Hong Kong custom, everyone calls me by my Chinese name, Chen Bi.
Mr. Xiaolin! That's really sharp!
Today's "Asia Daily" is heard throughout Hong Kong Island, it is truly a legend in the newspaper industry!
We at HSBC have always recognized and respected heroes, and are absolutely optimistic about Mr. Lin’s future!
We want the best advertising space and long-term cooperation!
As for the price, you name it and we'll negotiate!
Everything is easy!
You’ll be satisfied! "
Chen Bi paused, his tone becoming more intimate, "Also, this weekend, I have a small private dinner in Repulse Bay. The guests are all big names in finance, shipping, and real estate. Let's make friends!"
Mr. Xiaolin, please do me the honor of coming?
I believe that with your knowledge, you and our friends at HSBC will have countless common topics!
HSBC Taipan!
A call from Shen Bi himself!
Advertising price like a blank check!
Invitation to a private dinner in Hong Kong Island’s top inner circle!
This signal is more naked and powerful than Standard Chartered's Hart.
Lin Huowang's fingers, which were originally casually placed on the smooth walnut table, curled up imperceptibly.
Behind the name Shen Bi lies the will of the entire HSBC Empire in the Far East.
"Mr. Shen Bi," Lin Huowang responded calmly and steadily, "Thanks to HSBC for your high regard, Asia Daily feels both humbled and deeply responsible.
Your sincerity in cooperation is evident. Gao Qiaohao will certainly contact your bank as soon as possible on behalf of the newspaper regarding advertising matters.
As for the weekend gathering..."
Lin Huowang's voice carried a hint of just the right amount of apology, "The newspaper has just been established, it's like a newborn baby. Everything needs to be done personally, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to split time between us.
I would like to ask Mr. Shen Bi to convey my respects to all the wise men of Hong Kong Island.
Once the Asia Daily's foundation is somewhat stable, Xiaolin will definitely prepare a small gift and visit Mr. Shen Bi to apologize and continue to listen to his teachings."
He drew the line again and declined the invitation to enter that inner circle.
HSBC’s favor is real, but the purpose behind it is definitely not just to make friends.
Moreover, Lin Huowang would not reveal his intentions so easily.
How can you just accept the olive branch offered by the other party? How cheap would that be?
He knew that these British companies were deliberately trying to make friends with him, and that it must be the instruction of Hong Kong Governor Murray MacLehose.
This also shows that Lin Huowang’s plans are gradually becoming a reality.
But we can't be impatient. Britain, this paper tiger, is best at using the opponent's strength to its advantage in the colonies, stirring up trouble, and then presenting itself as an impartial judge to uphold justice.
Lin Huowang now has to wait for the right price and not be easily lured away by British capital.
…
Shortly thereafter, a call came in from a senior executive of Jardine Matheson's Far East region. The tone was equally enthusiastic, with compliments and inquiries about cooperation. The price he offered was comparable to that of Standard Chartered and HSBC, and he also implicitly expressed the willingness to have "high-level dialogue and exchange on prospects for cooperation."
When the phone finally died down, Lin Huowang stretched and stood up.
Outside the window, the bright lights on both sides of Victoria Harbour light up one after another, and the neon lights are dazzling, outlining a huge picture of capital flow in this free port.
The brightly lit top floors of the skyscrapers in Central across the street are where the decision-making center for the giants who just called is located.
Lin Huowang slowly stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window again.
The wide glass reflected his calm and almost stern face, as well as the prosperous and brilliant scene outside the window that symbolized the pinnacle of British power.
The noise in the editorial office, Gao Qiaohao's shock, and the grand occasion of newspapers being sold out in the market all seemed to have become distant background noise.
The corners of his mouth finally moved slowly upwards, revealing a cold, almost invisible smile.
He knew that the sharks, smelling the blood, were already impatient.
Shen Bi, Hart, and Jardine Matheson executives... these powerful figures at the top of the Hong Kong Island capital pyramid have extremely keen senses of smell.
In their eyes, the explosive success of a newspaper on the first day is not only a huge advertising value and influence on public opinion, but also a rapidly rising new star that demonstrates a powerful "alchemy".
They wanted to cooperate, to test him, to pull him into their system, or at least to find out what this young man from Japan, "Kobayashi Tenwang", really wanted.
Good, very good.
That's exactly what he wanted.
He deliberately let the Asia Times appear in the wildest manner, just for this "attraction".
But, hold your composure.
Lin Huowang warned himself silently again.
The big net had just been opened a corner, and the fish only smelled the fishy smell of the bait and approached cautiously to test it.
Whether it is sky-high advertising fees or invitations to private dinners and golf courses, they are nothing more than sugar-coated bullets thrown by these experienced hunters. They are their usual means of weaving relationships and winning people's hearts.
He can't be impatient.
If we show even a hint of eagerness for deeper cooperation, or if these shrewd British bosses catch any real intention or target, they will immediately prick up their ears like frightened rabbits, sense the danger, and then retreat to the safety of their nests, and may even bare their fangs and retaliate without hesitation.
He still needs time.
The influence of Asia Daily needs to penetrate deeper and wider, like capillaries into every corner of the lives of Hong Kong residents, and build a solid dam from the perspective of public opinion.
He needed to make the conflict and struggle between himself and the Huo family enter a more intense stage.
We need to accumulate more chips to make this invisible but carefully woven "yellow bird net" more hidden and solid.
These predators who are used to looking down on everything need to get used to his existence and the seemingly false "friendship", and finally... step into the preset Jedi step by step.
Lin Huowang's gaze penetrated the lights of Victoria Harbour and was firmly fixed on the center of the most glorious area - that was Landmark Plaza, the symbol of power of the British Jardine Matheson & Co.
That is the ultimate goal of his setting up this huge chess game.
"Continue tomorrow. Proceed as planned..."
Lin Huowang's voice was low, as if he was just talking to himself, but it clearly penetrated the entire room.
He said this not only to Gao Qiaohao who had not yet left, but also to the entire editorial team of the Asia Daily who had just fired the first shot.
Asia Times is a daily newspaper, so it has to come up with something new every day.
A new day begins, a new battle begins.
The night wind blew in through the open window, carrying the unique salty and damp smell of Victoria Harbour, and blew into Lin Huo's nostrils.
But he smelled a hint of blood, because... his hunt for the land was about to begin!
…
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