The sea breeze from Victoria Harbour was salty, humid and sultry, but it could not blow away the heavy atmosphere that permeated the seaside box of Tingtao Pavilion.
The exquisite bone china teacup was placed on the mahogany table, but the tea inside had already gone cold.
Lin Huowang sat upright, looking through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, seemingly admiring the busy ships in the harbor, but in fact his focus was on nothingness, his mind racing.
Opposite him is Ho Ying-tung, the "red businessman" who has experienced many ups and downs in the Hong Kong business world for decades.
At this moment, he also put aside his usual dignity, with deep thought between his brows, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the smooth table.
"Mr. Lin, you know that since the founding of Hong Kong Island, it has always been the British financial groups that have been calling the shots.
We Chinese investors have always been able to only get scraps, and it has always been the British financial groups that have seized and swallowed up Chinese companies.
For example, the tragedy of the Dairy Farm Company, Hang Seng Bank, etc.
These are all excellent companies founded by Chinese people with untold hardships, but eventually fell into the hands of British financial groups.
And now you want to snatch food from the mouth of Jardine Matheson, which is something even I dare not think about.
Young people! Your strategies and perspectives are different.
Tell me! On a specific operational level, what do you need our Huo family to do for you? "
"Mr. Huo."
Upon hearing this, Lin Huowang also withdrew his gaze.
He smiled slightly, and said in a low and clear voice, with a calmness rarely seen in young people, "What I need is not the Huo family's open alliance and public support.
That would only expose my true identity prematurely, allowing the Hong Kong government to label my new face as pro-China.
Huo Yingdong nodded slightly, his eyes sharp: "Mr. Lin, I understand your concerns.
The Hong Kong government is now on edge, and British financial groups are also eyeing it covetously. My "pro-China" brand can indeed easily affect others.
I understand what you mean. You want our Huo family to help you secretly.
But since it is done in secret, we cannot use many of the Huo family’s overt relationships and resources.
It can be said that the strength our Huo family can exert in secret is less than 30%."
Lin Huowang leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and spoke a little faster, "It's not just about helping you secretly, Mr. Huo.
It would be best if we could openly let outsiders see that our two families are as entangled as water and fire."
"Like water and fire?"
Huo Yingdong stopped tapping his knuckles, raised his eyebrows, and showed some doubt.
"right!"
Lin Huowang said categorically, “The Hong Kong government is eager to see the Chinese people divided, and the British financial groups are happy to see us fighting among ourselves.
If the outside world were to believe that Kobayashi Tenwang, a newly emerging capital force of Chinese descent in Japan, was irreconcilable with the deeply rooted Huo family, and even engaged in fierce competition in certain areas, then my situation would be delicate enough.
For example, at some point, I will disrupt the cooperation between you and the mainland, or even cooperate with the mainland first with more favorable conditions.
The purpose is not to be pro-China, but purely to destroy your relationship with the mainland.
So...
The Hong Kong government would be happy to see the emergence of a "spoiler", an "upstart" who is not affiliated with any existing Chinese forces, believing that this can divide the Chinese capital power.
British financial groups will also relax their vigilance towards me and regard me as someone who can be approached and exploited.
As you said before, the rise of Chinese capital has made the Hong Kong government and British financial groups feel a crisis.
They probably also urgently need to find a character like me..."
When Huo Yingdong heard Lin Huowang's analysis, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.
He suddenly realized, "You mean... taking advantage of the conflict with our Huo family, pretending to contact and cooperate with the mainland on the surface, to sow discord between us and the mainland, while at the same time collaborating closely with British financial groups and the Hong Kong government to create an image of having it both ways?"
"That's exactly what I mean!"
Lin Huowang raised a faint smile and said, "I appeared as 'Xiao Lin Tianwang', with an erratic stance, opposing the 'pro-China' Huo family.
Even if there are business plans to cooperate with the mainland, the Hong Kong government sees it as just an attempt to sabotage your Huo family's cooperation.
In the eyes of the foreigners, this is a sign of "obedience" or at least "knowing the times", which can be exchanged for their paralysis and a certain degree of acquiescence in my background check in the short term.
For the British financial group, a newcomer who dares to challenge the authority of the Huo family is exactly what they want to win over and fight against local Chinese businessmen.
In this way, I can make room and resources for what I really want to do in the cracks.
Mr. Huo only needs to provide the necessary, unknown resources and support at critical points."
Huo Yingdong chewed over Lin Huowang's words carefully. A look of realization first appeared on his face, followed by undisguised admiration. He said repeatedly:
"Great! What a great plan! 'Openly repairing the plank road, secretly marching through Chencang'!"
This is a great plan!
Playing with those in power in the palm of your hands!
Mr. Lin, at your age, you already have such vision and courage. The Yangtze River's new generation pushes the old generation forward. I, Huo, am convinced! "
Huo Yingdong praised Lin Huowang highly in his words, but in fact he was more deeply shocked.
He secretly thought that this boy's understanding of current affairs, human nature, and insight into the rules of power operation far exceeded his age.
Lin Huowang was also very concerned in his heart. Hong Kong Island was the Far East bridgehead of the British government and also the place where the ideological confrontation between the East and the West was the most intense.
Not only the British intelligence agencies, but also the spies and spies from the United States, the Soviet Union, Japan, Frog Island, etc., are no less numerous than during World War II.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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