Chapter 939: Undercurrents!

Late at night!

Just as Li Yi and his wife were engaged in the most romantic of activities, undercurrents were swirling throughout the capital.

The details of his meeting with Bill and the others that evening had already been presented in full to the various bigwigs.

In the heart of the Forbidden City, two elderly men—one dressed in gray, the other in black—sat facing each other, with a middle-aged man standing before them, his expression anxious.

If Li Yi were here, he would certainly recognize this man as Deputy Director Han, who had accompanied him to the meeting with Bill and the others that evening.

After listening to Han Zhenqiang’s report, the elderly man in gray, speaking with a thick Sichuan-Chongqing accent, said, “Comrade Han, it must have been quite a hassle for you to accompany that young upstart to this meeting. Go home and get some rest early!”

“Yes, sir!”

With that, Han Zhenqiang turned and walked out.

Once he was gone, the gray-clad old man lit a cigarette and said to the black-clad old man, “Old Chen, it seems that kid was right after all—these Brits are really after the Chinese Chamber of Commerce!”

The man in black nodded and said, “They want that kid to dissolve the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. It seems they’re really desperate. Too bad their scheme was seen through long ago!”

The gray-clad old man remarked with a hint of admiration, “That young upstart has made a killing in the business world, building such a massive empire in just a few short years. His vision and ability are beyond reproach; it wasn’t hard for him to deduce their intentions.”

“But that brat’s defiant response today has really made me look at him with new respect. You must realize that most of his businesses are on their turf—reportedly worth tens of billions of dollars. Isn’t he afraid those people might, in desperation, resort to underhanded tactics against his businesses?”

The elderly man in black paused to reflect for a moment before saying, “That is precisely my concern. Those people are targeting him now—ostensibly to get at him, but in reality, they’re just testing the waters or sending a warning shot. They’re actually after us!”

“I’m worried that after that kid turns them down, those politicians on Downing Street will make an example of him—using him as the chicken to scare the monkeys!”

“Make an example of him?”

The old man in gray smiled and said, “No need to worry for now. Even if they do take action, it won’t be until after these negotiations are over!”

“Besides, that young upstart doesn’t seem to care at all. Perhaps he already has a plan in place!”

“But he’s up against an entire nation—and a long-standing power like the British Empire at that. It’s not something a single person can stand up to!” Old Chen said gravely.

“Heh, if it were anyone else, they certainly wouldn’t have the ability, but that little Japanese upstart might just have it. Don’t forget his unpredictable methods!” the gray-robed old man said.

Old Chen fell silent for a moment, then said, “After all, an individual’s capabilities are limited!”

“They won’t dare to go too far, and our strength in Hong Kong isn’t weak either. At a critical moment, they won’t stand idly by. At the very least, we can have the military move south to reinforce us!” said the gray-robed elder.

“That puts my mind at ease!”

“That kid is a real gem—we can’t let anyone push him around!” the gray-robed old man said with a smile.

Old Chen chuckled and said, “Under normal circumstances, that won’t happen. Don’t let his small stature fool you—that kid has a sharp eye. The moment the other side lifts their butt, he knows exactly what kind of crap they’re about to drop. Most people really can’t bully him!”

“Hahaha, Old Chen, your words are a bit harsh, but there’s truth in that rough talk. That little rascal really is a sharp one!”

The old man in black chuckled and said, “He’s more than just a sharp one—that kid’s a real prodigy. It’s just that he’s a bit of a slacker; he refuses to join the system no matter what. Even Old Jiang can’t do a thing about him!”

“Lazy?”

The gray-robed elder shook his head and said, “Old Chen, if you think that’s just being lazy, you’re dead wrong. That kid isn’t lazy—he just doesn’t want to play games with us.”

Thinking back to how Li Yi had actually fled in the dead of night just to avoid meeting him, Old Chen felt a bit helpless.

“I have no idea what that kid is thinking, refusing to become an official like that. Sigh!”

“He’s got all the money he needs now, commands thousands or even tens of thousands of people, and has plenty of power. Why would he want to join the system and be controlled by others?” the old man in gray said.

“You’re right!”

Then Old Chen spoke again: “Just now, Xiao Han mentioned that the kid told Bill and the others that woman is going to take a nasty fall here. What do you make of that?”

“Perhaps they’ll realize their objectives won’t be met. After all, we have no intention of making concessions—sovereignty is non-negotiable!” said the elderly man in gray.

“Exactly. We must make these foreigners, who refuse to wake up from their ‘Empire of the Sun Never Sets’ fantasy, realize that we are not the corrupt and incompetent late Qing government, and our negotiators are certainly not Li Hongzhang!”

Then Old Chen said with a touch of envy, “Old Jiang really is lucky to have found such a son-in-law. The Jiang family has a worthy successor!”

“That’s not something you can just envy your way into, but now that you’ve managed to lure this little rascal into the system, it’s a great blessing for the nation!” said the old man in gray.

“Then we’d better keep a close eye on this kid. He’s like a little donkey in front of a millstone—he won’t move unless you whip him, and if you whip him too hard, he’ll just back up!” Old Chen said.

“Hahaha, what a fine analogy—a little donkey that won’t move when you pull it and backs up when you hit it! Rest assured, having spent half my life as a political officer, I’m not afraid of anything more than training these troublemakers!” the gray-robed old man said with a laugh.

“You’re right. No matter how powerful the Monkey King is, he can’t escape the palm of the Buddha!”

With that, the two exchanged a knowing smile—no words were needed…

………

State Guest House. Presidential Wing!

After the banquet concluded, Bill also went to the Iron Lady’s suite to give the female prime minister a detailed report on the talks.

After listening to Bill’s report, the Iron Lady fell deep into thought.

“So, that young man’s background isn’t fabricated after all? He really does have deep connections here in China?”

Bill nodded and said, “That’s right. Although his tone was rather brash, and he lacks political savvy—speaking as if without regard for the consequences—it’s certain that he has deep connections within the government here!”

“If that’s the case, then this matter will be difficult to handle!” the Iron Lady said.

“What’s so difficult about it? We’ve already investigated. That Li’s assets are either here in the British Empire or in New York. If all else fails, we can target his businesses. Surely the mighty British Empire isn’t powerless against a mere young man?” Bill retorted angrily.

Before he could finish, the Iron Lady cut in: “If only it were that simple!”

“What’s the matter?”

“If we’d done this before the talks, the Chinese side wouldn’t have had anything to say.”

Then the Iron Lady continued, “But if we take action against that Li now, it would be a direct slap in the face to China, and it would inevitably have a negative impact on the upcoming negotiations.”

“Then… what should we do?” Bill asked.

“Don’t do anything for the time being. Let’s wait until the negotiations are over. In any case, no one can insult the British Empire without paying a heavy price!” the Iron Lady said coldly.

“Exactly, the British Empire must not be disgraced!”

“All right, go back and rest for now. We’ll discuss the rest once the formal talks are over in the next couple of days!”

“Yes…”

With that, Bill left the Iron Lady’s room.

At the same time, similar events were unfolding in the households of the Liang, Jiang, and Ye families, among other prominent clans.

In the blink of an eye, Li Yi’s name spread throughout the entire capital…

……….

Chapter 940 The Capital. Iron Lion Alley!

Li Yi paid little attention to the negotiations between the two countries and did not follow them closely.

After all, based on the course of history as he understood it, no matter how high-level these talks might be—even if the legendary Iron Lady herself were to pay a visit—it would be impossible to reach a consensus.

So, after confirming that Bill and the others wouldn’t be coming after him again, Li Yi made his way to the mainland branch office.

On one hand, he wanted to warn Li Futiao, Huang Lixing, and the others to be wary of the British Hong Kong government playing dirty tricks.

If those people were to suffer a setback in these negotiations, they might very well take their frustration out on him and, while they were at it, give the Chinese government a taste of their displeasure—this was a very real possibility.

At the same time, Li Yi also needed to remind the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to be on guard against British-owned conglomerates.

Although those Westerners had been behaving very obediently these past few months, acting all submissive and humble, practically groveling to the ground,

But a wolf is still a wolf; it doesn’t turn into a dog just by lowering its head and wagging its tail.

The moment London offers substantial incentives, coupled with the full cooperation of the British Hong Kong government, that bastard Dolsen will immediately bare his fangs.

After all, how could Li Yi possibly harbor any illusions about the loyalty of a man who would betray even his own family?

In short, when it comes to people like this, one must never harbor malicious intent, but one must always be on guard!

On the other hand, Li Yi had also come to assess the branch’s recent progress; after all, this was his stronghold, the safety net he’d secured for himself!

Although Li Yi wasn’t afraid of those Westerners—even if the politicians on Downing Street got personally involved, he wouldn’t bat an eye.

However, he has never been one to fight battles he isn’t certain of winning. Before entering the fray, he must secure an escape route for himself—and Li Yi’s escape route is the mainland branch of Star Investment Company.

Even if all his other businesses were frozen or even outright seized, as long as the mainland branch remained intact, he was confident he could make a comeback and achieve new heights of success.

Of course, that was on the condition that the mainland branch had a certain level of strength!

In the general manager’s office, Li Yi sipped his tea while listening to Lan Xinyi’s report.

After Lan Xinyi finished outlining the company’s basic situation, Li Yi paused briefly before saying, “So, as of now, the company’s domestic investments have reached 800 million yuan?”

“That’s correct, but 40% of that 800 million belongs to Vice President An’s project department; our side has less than 500 million!”

Lan Xinyi continued, “Fortunately, the factories we’ve acquired all have great potential and excellent market prospects.”

“It’s a bit slow,” Li Yi remarked coolly.

“Boss, I understand what you mean, but we’re currently short-staffed…”

Before she could finish, Li Yi’s deep voice cut in: “I’m not telling you all this to hear you complain about difficulties. If we’re short on staff, hire more. If we can’t find them domestically, transfer them from Hong Kong. If Hong Kong doesn’t have them, recruit from all over the world.”

“I don’t care what methods you use. Within three years, I want the company’s domestic investments to reach 5 billion yuan, and those key industries we identified earlier need to be developed as quickly as possible.”

Lan Xinyi understood Li Yi’s temperament; she knew he didn’t like his subordinates bringing up difficulties or making demands. In most cases, he only set the goals—how to achieve them was up to the employees.

With that in mind, Lan Xinyi immediately replied, “Yes, Boss. I will fully implement your instructions and ensure the company’s scale reaches 5 billion yuan within three years!”

“Very good. In a little while, I’ll transfer key personnel like Lin Xueyi, Ding Can, and Zhao Xinlan over here to assist you!” Li Yi said.

“Boss, Xueyi and Xinlan are both core leaders at headquarters. Won’t transferring them affect the headquarters’ development?” Lan Xinyi asked with some concern.

“No, it won’t. The headquarters has recently trained quite a few new mid-level managers, so transferring a few people over here won’t affect headquarters’ operations!” Li Yi replied.

“That’s good to hear!”

Lan Xinyi then added, “By the way, Boss, trading in Jianing Group’s stock has been suspended!”

Upon hearing this, Li Yi was taken aback for a moment, then said, “So soon?”

His response startled Lan Xinyi once more. She could tell that the boss had anticipated this development, though he hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

Indeed, Li Yi had long known that Jianing Group’s stock would be suspended from trading; it was just a matter of timing.

In his previous life, Jianing Group would have just been exposed for cash flow problems and poor financial performance at this point, and the actual trading ban wouldn’t take effect until January 3rd of the following year.

He hadn’t expected that in this life, due to his intervention, the company would collapse so quickly. He just didn’t know if Cheng Qingsong would end up confessing and facing justice, just like the protagonist Cheng Yiyan in the movie *Goldfinger*.

After a long silence, Lan Xinyi glanced at Li Yi and said again, “Boss, Vice President Huang asked me to tell you that if you have time, he’d like you to come back to Hong Kong!”

“Did he say what it was about?” Li Yi asked immediately.

“He didn’t go into detail, but it’s probably related to money!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “I understand. Please call Old Huang back for me and tell him I’ll make a trip over around October.”

“Yes…”

And just as Li Yi was devoting himself entirely to company affairs, a high-profile negotiation was unfolding at the heart of Huaguo’s power center…

………..

On September 23, representatives from Huaguo and the British Empire formally began talks on the recent issue.

These talks carried immense significance and attracted global attention from the very beginning.

On one hand, as the lease terms for certain regions neared expiration, international investors began adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward Hong Kong Island, which undoubtedly had a massive impact on this international hub for finance, trade, and logistics.

On the other hand, this matter also set a precedent for the future status of several other territories; after all, aside from Hong Kong, China still had several other regions yet to be reclaimed.

In fact, regarding the Hong Kong issue, the pressure on 10 Downing Street was clearly greater.

The reason lies in the severe economic downturn on Hong Kong Island over the past two years, which has severely impacted the profits London could extract from the island. This has further strained the government, already severely weakened by the war.

Without a steady flow of funds, the pressure on any sitting prime minister is undeniable.

Consequently, from March 1979 to April 1982, in an effort to gauge China’s stance, London dispatched the Governor of Hong Kong, the Foreign Secretary, the Lord Chancellor, and a former Prime Minister to visit China.

However, the Chinese government remained resolute, offering the same response to every visitor: “The issue of sovereignty is not up for discussion!”

It was precisely for this reason that the Iron Lady was compelled to make the visit herself.

Her choice of September was also deeply calculated.

Just a few months earlier, they had emerged victorious in the Falklands War against Argentina.

Her plan was to leverage the momentum of that victory to negotiate with China, hoping to keep those unequal treaties in effect.

But China was no longer the corrupt Qing government of a century ago. The Chinese people, who had stood tall in the face of cannon fire and bayonets, would not—and could not—succumb to their former aggressors.

Consequently, the talks reached an impasse from the very beginning.

The talks on the 23rd yielded no progress, and the two sides parted on bad terms.

After gauging Huaguo’s bottom line, on the 24th, the British chief representative, the Iron Lady, held high-level talks with Huaguo’s Grand Elder.

This time, the two sides engaged in an even more intense exchange.

Faced with the aggressive Iron Lady, the Huaguo delegation remained steadfast in their stance, showing not the slightest wavering, and the talks once again ended in acrimony.

However, immediately after the talks concluded, a minor incident caused quite a stir—the Iron Lady had fallen!

Here’s what happened: After the talks concluded, as the female prime minister emerged from the venue, her face was grave and her mind heavy with worry, leaving her somewhat dazed.

Just as she was descending the steps, her legs gave way, and she suddenly stumbled and fell.

Although she was unharmed in the fall, the impact was significant.

That very day, this highly symbolic photograph made the front-page headlines of authoritative newspapers around the world.

Many believed that this dramatic image served as the ultimate testament to the complete decline of the former British Empire.

But unlike the general public, many insiders who knew about the meeting between Li Yi and Bill were completely stunned upon hearing the news of the Iron Lady’s fall.

She… she really fell…

Everyone’s first reaction was: Was this a coincidence?

……….