Chapter 1005: Consolidating the Hong Kong Stock Market!

“Knock, knock, knock…”

The sound from outside interrupted Li Yi and Yang Qian’s conversation.

“Come in!”

No sooner had Li Yi’s voice sounded than the office door swung open.

Immediately afterward, Li Futao, He Dongying, and Bao Chuanwang strode in.

Upon seeing the three of them, Li Yi immediately stood up and said with a smile, “Old Li, Old He, and Old Bao, what brings you here?”

Li Futiao smiled and said, “We signed the share transfer agreement yesterday, didn’t we? We’re here today to bring the money.”

“The company’s finance department could have handled that. Why did you have to come all the way here yourselves?” Li Yi asked with a smile.

“Hahaha, bringing the money is just a side note. The main reason is that we have some things we’d like to discuss with Brother Li Yi!” Li Futiao said.

“Heh, all right. Actually, I have something I’d like to discuss with all of you as well!”

With that, Li Yi immediately invited Li Futiao, He Dongying, and the others to take a seat.

Meanwhile, Yang Qian, standing nearby, promptly brewed tea and poured water for them. After taking care of everything, she tactfully excused herself and stepped out.

Once the office was left with just the four of them, Li Yi asked with a smile, “Old Li, if you have something to say, just go ahead!”

Li Futiao replied, “We’re here today mainly to seek your advice on three matters, Brother Li Yi. The first concerns the admission of new members. Although we approved the list of applicants some time ago, the sudden attack by Sangcai and his group caused a delay in the follow-up procedures.”

“Now that the matter has been resolved, and given that our Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s reputation has soared as a result of this incident, we’re thinking of bringing the new members into the Chamber right away. What do you think?”

“I have no objections. You guys can handle it however you see fit!” Li Yi said.

“Alright then, we’ll issue an announcement tomorrow!” Li Futao said.

“Alright!”

Then, Li Futiao added, “Secondly, we’ve come here to seek a partnership!”

“Cooperation?”

“That’s right. Starry Sky currently holds shares in our major companies to varying degrees, so you’re effectively a shareholder in all of them. Since we’re all on the same side, shouldn’t we strengthen our business cooperation?” Li Futiao said.

Bao Chuanwang immediately chimed in, “You now hold a 39% stake in Wharf Holdings, making you the company’s second-largest shareholder. But with Wharf’s current slump, shouldn’t you, as a shareholder, offer some guidance to the company?”

Li Yi smiled and said, “As a shareholder, it’s only natural to offer guidance on the company’s development. However, as I’ve mentioned before, neither I nor Starry Sky will be involved in the day-to-day management of these companies.”

“So, regarding the specific operations of each company, I can only offer some ideas; the rest is up to you!”

“Brother Li Yi, we know you’re busy. We’d like to collaborate with Starry Sky Company—what do you think?” asked Li Futao.

“No problem. You can discuss the details of the partnership directly with Lan Xinming, Pang Feiyan, and the others. I have no objections!” Li Yi replied.

“Hearing that puts our minds at ease!”

Li Futiao then continued, “The main reason we came here today is to discuss the future of Hong Kong’s business community with Brother Li Yi…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi laughed and said, “Old Li, that’s a pretty big topic, isn’t it?”

Li Futiao shook his head and said, “In the past, it would have been a bit presumptuous for people like us to discuss this topic, but now? I think we’ve earned the right to do so.”

“On the one hand, your Starry Sky Company is already the largest investment firm in Hong Kong in terms of assets. Your name appears on the shareholder lists of nearly every major listed company in Hong Kong. While it might be a bit of an exaggeration to say you control half of Hong Kong’s business world, it’s not far off.”

“On the other hand, your personal wealth, fame, and prestige are unmatched by others. And since you represent the central government, isn’t it only natural to discuss the future of Hong Kong’s business world?”

Li Yi paused briefly, then looked at Li Futao and said, “Old Li, Old He, Bao Lao, why have you suddenly come to talk to me about this?”

He Dongying sighed and said, “It’s all because of the sudden visit from Sang Chai and his group. Through this incident, we’ve come to deeply realize just how fragile the Hong Kong stock market—and indeed the entire business community—really is.”

“A mere handful of overseas financial groups could easily crash our stock market. If it weren’t for you turning the tide and blocking their attack, our families and companies would likely have fallen long ago. It’s terrifying to even think about!”

Bao Chuanwang added, “That’s right. Though Sang Chai and his crew are despicable, their actions have served as a wake-up call for us. This time, we narrowly escaped with our lives and dealt them a heavy blow, but we might not be so lucky next time!”

Li Futao added, “The Hong Kong stock market is simply too small, and our strength is far too fragmented. It’s manageable for minor skirmishes, but once we attract a true financial titan, we’ll be like small fish in front of a shark—we won’t even have a chance to fight back!”

Upon hearing this, Li Yi also fell into deep thought.

Indeed, the Hong Kong stock market’s resilience to risk was far too weak; it simply couldn’t withstand major turbulence.

Of course, this was inextricably linked to the situation where four stock exchanges coexisted on Hong Kong Island.

Due to early irregularities in financial management and historical factors, a situation arose where four companies—Far East, Gold & Silver, Kowloon, and Hong Kong Island Stock Exchanges—coexisted, a period the people of Hong Kong Island referred to as the “Era of the Four Exchanges.”

However, a series of events—including last year’s stock market crash and this year’s attack on the Far East Stock Exchange by Sangchai and others—fully exposed the various drawbacks of this four-exchange coexistence in Hong Kong’s securities market.

In short, power is too fragmented, making it easy for opponents to defeat them one by one.

“So what are your thoughts on this?” Li Yi asked.

“We’d like to ask you to take the lead and see if we can consolidate Hong Kong Island’s securities market—ideally by merging the four major exchanges into a single large exchange. What do you think?” Li Futao said, making a startling proposal.

At those words, Li Yi was completely taken aback.

He couldn’t help but recall the predecessor of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in his previous life—the Hong Kong and Islands Stock Exchange.

This exchange was a major securities exchange formally formed on March 27, 1986, through the merger of four exchanges.

However, at that time, it was the British Hong Kong government that had spearheaded the establishment of the United Exchange.

“Why should I be the one to lead this? Shouldn’t the British Hong Kong government be handling this? Can I really take the lead? Will the other three exchanges even be willing to merge?” Li Yi voiced the questions on his mind.

Li Futao immediately replied, “This matter should indeed be spearheaded by the British Hong Kong government. Unfortunately, their reputation is in tatters now. Even if they stepped forward, no one would be willing to listen to them!”

“On the other hand, Brother Li Yi, you not only have the support of our Chinese Chamber of Commerce, but you also have good relations with Dolsons and the British-owned conglomerates. You enjoy immense prestige among the general public. As long as you’re willing to step forward, this matter will certainly be a success!”

He Dongying, standing nearby, added, “Of course, the most important thing is your proven track record, Brother Li Yi. Over the past two years, you’ve shaken up the Hong Kong stock market and dominated the markets in New York and London—you’ve been unstoppable, sweeping all before you.”

“If you say you want to end the era of the Four Associations—whether it’s the Kowloon Association or the Gold and Silver Association—who would dare to oppose you?”

Hearing this, Li Yi couldn’t help but take the matter seriously.

Consolidating the Hong Kong stock market would indeed have a very positive impact on Hong Kong’s economic development.

On the one hand, it would break down the barriers between various stock exchanges, making it easier for listed companies to raise capital.

On the other hand, it would boost market vitality and enhance risk resilience.

After all, once the four major exchanges unite, the market’s scale will expand significantly. When others attempt to manipulate the entire market, both the capital required and the difficulty of such operations will increase exponentially.

With that in mind, Li Yi immediately said, “That’s certainly a good thing, but I’m about to head back to Beijing—I really don’t have time to handle this!”

Li Futiao replied immediately, “No problem. As long as Brother Li Yi steps forward to discuss this with the heads of the other three exchanges, we’ll handle the rest!”

“Alright, I’ll take this on!” Li Yi said.

“Good…”

Seeing the three men’s excited expressions, Li Yi smiled and said, “All right, let’s not talk about that anymore. I have something I’d like to discuss with you as well!”

“What is it?”

“I’m planning to host a cocktail party at my place tomorrow night. First, to celebrate this great victory, and second, because there are some matters I need to discuss with everyone. Please help me notify the members of the Chamber of Commerce!” Li Yi said.

“What time tomorrow night?” Li Fu asked.

“Six o’clock, I suppose.”

“Six o’clock tomorrow night, right? Leave it to me!” Li Futiao said.

“Alright…”

…………

“Ding-ding-ding!!!”

“Come in!”

As Yang Qian pushed the door open and walked in, Li Yi immediately pointed to the chair across from his desk and said, “Sit down!”

Once Yang Qian had sat down, Li Yi said, “Comrade Yang Qian, I’d like to ask you a few questions. Is that okay?”

Seeing that Li Yi had addressed her as “Comrade,” Yang Qian knew he was definitely inquiring about the situation back home—and likely even about matters concerning their organization.

She replied immediately, “Sure, but I can’t guarantee I’ll answer—you know why!”

Li Yi nodded, indicating he understood.

After all, people like Yang Qian, Zhang Ziqiang, and Zhou Wen had all undergone special training and possessed a strong sense of confidentiality and strict adherence to security protocols.

“I’d like to know the current situation at the State Administration of Foreign Exchange!” Li Yi said.

“Which aspect are you interested in—reserve funds or…”

“Reserves!” Zhou Yang said.

“As far as I know, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange shouldn’t have any foreign exchange reserves left. Those 800 million dollars were the country’s last remaining foreign exchange reserves. To help the company weather this crisis, Old Chen personally approved the transfer of that money to us,” Yang Qian said.

“If there are no foreign exchange reserves, how do we settle trade transactions?”

“Gold, and some are settled directly with commodities like oil, rare earths, and iron ore!” Yang Qian replied.

“If that’s the case, then once the proceeds from this deal are settled, we should send the money back to the mainland first!”

Li Yi then added, “There’s actually another promising opportunity next year. I was thinking that if the country can hold out, we could keep these 1.8 billion US dollars here and send them back together with any additional profits we make then.”

Yang Qian shook her head and said with a hint of resignation, “That’s too long. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange won’t be able to hold out that long!”

“Then forget it. We still have a few months left; we’ll discuss it then!” Li Yi said.

“Hmm, I heard they’ve already closed the net overseas. I wonder what our return on investment is this time?” Yang Qian asked eagerly.

“140%!”

Whoa!

“So that means we turned 800 million USD into 1.12 billion USD?”

“Not quite that much—we have to pay taxes. The net profit is just over 1 billion,” Li Yi said.

“That’s still a lot. Making such a profit in such a short time is nothing short of a miracle. I’m sure Old Chen and Director Xu will be thrilled!”

Before Li Yi could speak, Yang Qian suddenly changed her tone and sighed again, saying, “We earn it fast, but we spend it just as fast back home. Even if we sent all 1.8 billion back, it probably wouldn’t last very long. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange is a bottomless pit!”

Li Yi smiled and said, “What does the State Administration of Foreign Exchange have to do with this? The main issue is that we’re at a significant disadvantage in foreign trade—the trade deficit is just too huge.”

“That’s right. We import a lot and export very little, so the Foreign Exchange Administration has to cover the shortfall. Sigh!”

Li Yi spoke again, “Stop sighing. I have an idea. If it works out, it might just bring in a huge amount of foreign exchange for the country!”

Yang Qian didn’t ask what the idea was, but said curiously, “When you say ‘a large amount,’ how much are we talking about?”

“10 billion US dollars!” Li Yi said, his words sending shockwaves through the room.

“That… that much?”

Yang Qian stared at Li Yi in shock; she simply couldn’t imagine the amount being that high.

“Mm-hmm!”

Li Yi continued, “Get in touch with our people in Beijing for me and gather information on our country’s infrastructure development—specifically transportation, hotels, shopping malls, and so on. I’d like to have the details in my hands within three days. I need them!”

“Yes!”

“Alright, go get to work!”

“Okay…”

………..

At 5:30 p.m., with half an hour left before the end of the workday, the sound of “knock-knock-knock” rang out once more outside Li Yi’s office.

“Come in!”

As the door swung open, Li Yi saw Zhao Xinlan walk in carrying a stack of documents.

“Boss, we’ve roughly calculated the returns on this investment…”

Before she could finish, Li Yi frowned and said, “Roughly?”

It’s important to note that financial work demands extreme precision; often, data must be accurate to several decimal places. Words like “roughly,” “maybe,” “possibly,” or “approximately” are rarely heard from a qualified financial professional.

Zhao Xinlan naturally understood what Li Yi meant and hurriedly explained, “Boss, as you know, we still hold shares in several major companies, including 39% of Wharf Holdings, 27% of Ho Group, 33% of Hongniao Real Estate, and so on.”

“Originally, these shares were supposed to be part of our investment returns this time, and they account for a significant portion. However, since the stock prices of these companies are currently highly volatile, we are temporarily unable to estimate their actual value, so… so…”

Li Yi’s expression softened slightly, and he immediately said, “Don’t count those shares. Just count the cash returns!”

Zhao Xinlan immediately pulled a document from her briefcase and said, “From the recent stock market battle, we made a total profit of 230 billion Hong Kong dollars, which is equivalent to about 24 billion US dollars.”

“Yesterday, we spent 10 billion US dollars repurchasing shares in those companies, but when we sold our holdings, we recovered 13.7 billion US dollars. So our total profit from the Hong Kong stock market this time is roughly 27.8 billion US dollars.”

Her voice softened slightly as she continued, “In addition, we made a profit of 24.5 billion US dollars by shorting the parent companies of the six major conglomerates, bringing our total cash proceeds to 52.3 billion US dollars!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Have you calculated Hong Kong Island’s return on investment here?”

“We have!”

“How much?”

“Excluding the value of those stocks, the overall return on investment is 158.8%!” Zhao Xinlan replied.

“Alright, then repay the Chinese Chamber of Commerce based on that rate of return!” Li Yi said.

“Yes!”

As she replied, Zhao Xinlan couldn’t help but swallow hard.

That’s outrageous. Based on this rate of return, the 50 billion Hong Kong dollars lent to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce would have generated a profit of 79.4 billion on its own.

Borrowing 50 billion and repaying 129.4 billion—that’s even more profitable than a loan shark’s “borrow nine, repay thirteen” scheme.

“Boss, a significant portion of this profit comes from your and Mr. Huang’s private investments. Once the funds are recovered, should we transfer them to your personal accounts?” Zhao Xinlan asked again.

Li Yi thought for a moment and replied immediately, “Alright, transfer it in. But before you do, make sure to convert all the funds into Hong Kong dollars!”

“Convert it to Hong Kong dollars? Aren’t you worried the Hong Kong dollar will continue to depreciate?” Zhao Xinlan asked in surprise.

“It’s already at 9.6 to 1. How much lower can it go?” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Are you saying the Hong Kong dollar has already hit rock bottom and might appreciate in the future?” Zhao Xinlan asked, looking at Li Yi.

“No one can be 100% certain about that, but go ahead and convert all the funds in the company’s accounts into Hong Kong dollars!” Li Yi said.

Zhao Xinlan was no fool; she understood exactly what he meant the moment she heard it. “Yes, I’ll handle it as soon as the funds are available!” she replied.

“Good!”

The appreciation of the Hong Kong dollar was a certainty, because starting next year, the British Hong Kong government would introduce new regulations to implement the “linked exchange rate system.”

Put simply, the Linked Exchange Rate System meant that the Hong Kong dollar’s exchange rate and supply would float in tandem with the U.S. dollar.

After the linked exchange rate system was implemented on October 17, 1983, the Hong Kong dollar exchange rate remained stable for decades within the range of 7.75 to 7.85 Hong Kong dollars to the US dollar.

In other words, the Hong Kong dollar is set to appreciate!

Li Yi figured that since he was returning home this time and wouldn’t be coming back here anytime soon—and since he wouldn’t be using this money in the near future—he might as well exchange the US dollars in his account for Hong Kong dollars in advance.

After all, this was nearly a 20% windfall—why pass it up?

“Alright, go ahead and get back to work…”

Just as the two were speaking, the sound of knocking came from outside the office again…

…………

PS: I rushed as fast as I could, but I’m still late. Please forgive me!

The night passed without incident!

The next morning, Li Yi was fast asleep in his soft, plush bed when the phone by his bedside suddenly rang urgently.

Li Yi reached out from under the covers, fumbled for the receiver, and answered in a groggy voice, “Hello…”

“Boss, it’s me, Lan Xinming. Do you have time to come to the office today?”

Hearing Lan Xinming’s slightly hoarse voice, Li Yi’s mind cleared instantly, and he asked, “What’s going on?”

“No… no, Boss, you’ve misunderstood. We’ve received news from the teams in London and New York—there are some matters we need your guidance on!” Lan Xinming hurriedly explained.

“I see. Alright, I’ll swing by in a bit!”

“Yes…”

After hanging up, Li Yi immediately got dressed and got out of bed.

After a quick bite of breakfast, he headed straight for Star Tower under the protection of Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and the others.

By the time they arrived at the company, Lan Xinming and Zhao Xinlan were already waiting for him at the office door.

Seeing Li Yi approach, the two immediately came forward to greet him!

Once they arrived at Li Yi’s office and everyone had taken their seats—host and guests alike—Li Yi finally spoke up: “Manager Lan, you mentioned on the phone earlier that we’d heard from the teams in London and New York. What’s the situation?”

Lan Xinming replied immediately, “It’s not just London and New York. Just as you were on your way here, we received a telegram from the Tokyo team—they’ve completed their settlement as well.”

“Give me the results!” Li Yi said.

Lan Xinming replied immediately, “Boss, in London, we invested a total of 6 billion US dollars and made a profit of 8.7 billion. All the shares we borrowed have been successfully returned to the brokerage firms, and we expect the funds to be settled today.”

“8.7 billion US dollars—not bad. That’s a bit more than we anticipated!” Li Yi nodded in satisfaction.

“Yes,” Yang Qian explained. “After news of Sang Chai and his group withdrawing from the Hong Kong stock market reached London, the stock prices of the two major conglomerates, Xini and Nanfei, dropped another 10% or so, so our profits exceeded expectations!”

“What about New York?” Li Yi asked again.

“In New York, we invested 6 billion US dollars and made 8.8 billion in profits. In Tokyo, we invested 5.5 billion US dollars and made 8 billion in profits!”

Lan Xinming then summarized, “In this short-selling operation against the six major conglomerates, we deployed a total of 17.5 billion US dollars and made a profit of 24.5 billion, achieving a return on investment of 140%!”

As he spoke, Lan Xinming was inwardly stunned—he had been involved in every step of this investment operation.

After all, this operation—from the boss formulating the plan and dispatching the team to closing the deal—took no more than half a month. It was undoubtedly a short-term investment.

But he never imagined the return on investment would be this high—it completely shattered his expectations.

However, upon hearing this result, Li Yi wasn’t particularly surprised—it was exactly what he had anticipated.

The combined market capitalization of these six major conglomerates exceeded 100 billion US dollars. By slashing their stock prices in half, he had wiped out 50 to 60 billion US dollars in market value, so a profit of over 20 billion US dollars was entirely reasonable.

With that in mind, he nodded and said, “Very good. Have our team members finalize the settlement as soon as possible and withdraw to Hong Kong Island.”

“Yes!”

Then Lan Xinming suddenly asked, “Boss, there’s something I need your decision on!”

“What is it?”

“Before this major operation, we borrowed 50 billion Hong Kong dollars from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. At the time, Chairman Li and Mr. He stated that this was an interest-free loan. Now that most of our funds have been recovered and returned to our accounts, should we repay this sum to them…”

Before he could finish, Li Yi looked at him and said, “Are you asking me how we should repay this money?”

“Yes, after all, this matter involves your personal relationship with the Chamber of Commerce. We wouldn’t dare make a decision on our own!” Lan Xinming replied.

“You’re right. That money represents the goodwill of Old Li, Old Bao, and the others; we can’t simply return it in full.”

After a moment’s thought, Li Yi turned to Zhao Xinlan and asked, “Manager Zhao, has your finance department calculated how much profit our company made from the stock market battle in Hong Kong this time?”

“Not yet!”

Zhao Xinlan immediately explained, “As you know, we only transferred those shares to the Li family, the He family, and the Bao family yesterday. Although the contracts have been signed, the funds haven’t been transferred to our company’s account yet…”

Before she could finish, Li Yi cut in, “So when will you be able to finalize the figures?”

“It will take at least two days!” Zhao Xinlan replied.

“No, that’s too slow. I need the results before the end of the workday today!” Li Yi said.

“Yes!”

Li Yi nodded and continued, “Manager Lan, once the finance department calculates the return on investment for this deal, you’ll reimburse each family based on that rate.”

Hearing this, Lan Xinming and Zhao Xinlan couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Wow, that’s incredibly bold.

Although the company hadn’t yet calculated the return on investment for this major venture, as core members of the company, they had a rough idea—it should be no less than 200%.

That meant that for every 50 billion Hong Kong dollars borrowed, the boss would be repaying 150 billion.

That goes way beyond “generous”… Never mind, they didn’t even know how to describe it.

“Boss, isn’t that a bit too much to repay…”

Before Lan Xinming could finish, Li Yijiou cut him off and said, “They say one should repay even the smallest kindness with the greatest gratitude. When this powerful enemy attacked, Old Li, Old He, and all the members of the Chamber of Commerce not only didn’t distance themselves from me, but they actually put up their own money and even staked company shares to gamble alongside me. I have to repay this debt of gratitude.”

“Besides, when I took the money, I made it clear that this was an investment on their behalf. The only difference is that our company won’t take a commission this time. Whatever the outcome, they deserve every penny.”

“Boss, I understand!” Lan Xinming said.

Li Yi smiled and said, “There’s no end to making money, so don’t place too much importance on it. Don’t you think that, compared to all that money, having so many people trust and help you in a critical moment is a far happier thing than making money?”

“That’s true. When the six major conglomerates targeted us with massive capital, I was actually worried the company might not survive. But I never imagined that Chairman Li, Mr. He, ‘Ship King’ Bao, and the others would support us so strongly. Without their full backing, we probably wouldn’t have been able to defeat those bastards so easily this time!” Lan Xinming said.

“Hmm, so sometimes you shouldn’t be too fixated on your own gains and losses. Remember, there’s a silver lining in every setback!”

Li Yi then changed the subject and continued, “By the way, now that this stock market battle has ended and we’ve secured the final victory, it’s time to reward our company’s employees. Your office should come up with a list of employees and a reward plan as soon as possible!”

“Yes, sir!”

Lan Xinming then asked again, “Boss, how should we determine the criteria for rewarding the employees?”

Li Yi thought for a moment and said, “Here’s what we’ll do: regardless of how much profit we made this time, we’ll set aside 5% to reward the company’s employees.”

Hearing this, Lan Xinming and Zhao Xinlan both gasped in shock.

Setting aside the profits from Hong Kong for the moment, the combined profits from the three teams in London, New York, and Tokyo alone had reached 24.5 billion US dollars. Including the profits from Hong Kong, a conservative estimate put the total at 40 billion US dollars.

Five percent of that is 2 billion US dollars, which is nearly 20 billion Hong Kong dollars.

Yet their company had fewer than 2,000 employees in total—an average of 10 million per person.

For a moment, Lan Xinming was so stunned she forgot to respond.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Li Yi naturally understood their thoughts. He immediately smiled and said, “This 5% bonus isn’t meant for you to distribute entirely to the company’s employees. In addition to cash rewards, you can think of other incentive schemes.”

“For example, use this money to buy a plot of land and build a residential community for employees’ families. Anyone who signs a five-year employment contract can purchase a unit at half the market price; those who sign a ten-year contract can receive one for free; and the company can also gift a unit to employees who make significant contributions!”

“Or, for instance, use the funds to establish a hospital. That way, our employees and their families could receive medical care at our own hospital without having to pay a dime…”

Seeing Lan Xinming’s expression—partly in awe and partly deep in thought—Li Yi added, “Of course, I’m just offering a starting point. You should discuss among yourselves exactly how to structure the rewards!”

Lan Xinming immediately replied, “Yes, boss!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Alright, go back to work. And while you’re at it, please have Deputy Manager Yang come see me!”

“Yes…”

………

PS: Just one chapter today—don’t hold your breath!

My wound isn’t healing well, and it hurts like hell. I have to get IV fluids for over three hours every day—I’m in really bad shape!

The signing ceremony proceeded smoothly; this time, no “Chosen One” emerged to disrupt proceedings.

After the signing was completed, Zhao Xinlan, the financial representative from Star Investment, finalized the payment with Dolsons’ representatives, thereby bringing the share transfer agreement to a complete close.

Once everything was settled, Li Yi didn’t linger at the Emperor Hotel. After exchanging a few words with Dolsen, he left with Li Futao, Huang Lixing, and the others.

Upon leaving the Emperor Hotel, Li Yi and his party headed straight for the Li Family Estate, where all members of the Chinese Business Association were waiting for them.

In the estate’s grand conference room, everyone watched the entrance intently, looking as though they were eagerly awaiting someone’s arrival.

Suddenly, someone pointed out the window and exclaimed, “Cars… a motorcade!”

The crowd immediately rushed to the windows and indeed saw a long convoy of cars rolling into the Li family estate.

Upon seeing the lead vehicle, someone immediately shouted, “It’s the two Mr. Lis returning…”

Sure enough, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Li Yi, Li Futiao, and the others stepped out of the cars and strode purposefully toward the upper floor.

As Li Yi, Li Futao, Huang Lixing, and the others entered the conference room, everyone immediately surrounded them, bombarding them with questions.

Looking at the chaotic conference room, Li Futiao immediately shouted, “Quiet… quiet! Everyone back to your seats. This has turned into a marketplace—how are we supposed to discuss anything?”

At Li Futiao’s command, the crowd reluctantly returned to their seats, while Li Yi and Li Futiao made their way to the head of the table and took their seats.

Once seated, Li Futiao cleared his throat and said, “I know you’re all eager to hear the results. Now, please allow Brother Li Yi to announce them.”

There was no applause, no cheering; everyone stared intently at Li Yi, their eyes brimming with anticipation.

Li Yi didn’t beat around the bush. He stood up immediately and said, “I’ve fulfilled my mission. We’ve repurchased all the shares from every company, at a total cost of 10 billion US dollars.”

The conference room fell into a moment of dead silence, followed by a deafening roar of cheers and a burst of enthusiastic applause.

Deep down, everyone had been confident they could repurchase these shares. After all, the situation was clear: for every day those foreign conglomerates held on to them, the value of their shares would shrink further.

Now that someone was willing to take over these shares, they were certainly more than happy.

So, rather than whether the buyback would succeed, everyone was actually more concerned about the price at which these shares would be repurchased!

But what no one could have imagined was that Li Yi had acquired shares with a market value of 17 to 18 billion US dollars for a mere 10 billion US dollars—it was truly shocking.

Just as everyone was reeling from the shock, Li Yi spoke again: “All the company’s shares have now been repurchased. Let’s discuss how to allocate them.”

At these words, the conference room—which had been in an uproar just moments ago—fell silent once more, and everyone’s gaze fixed on Li Yi.

At that moment, Li Yi took a document from the briefcase he was carrying and said, “This outlines the shareholding details for each company following this buyback. I’ll read them out to you: Wharf Holdings 84%, Hongniao Real Estate 75%, Longheng Bank 66%, Hang Seng Bank 68%, Ho Group 76%…”

After listing the shareholdings for all companies, Li Yi continued, “All shares are now held by Starry Sky. To thank everyone for your trust and support during this process, Starry Sky will transfer back to you the shares you held prior to the crisis at the original repurchase price.”

“For example, the Bao family previously held 38% of Wharf Holdings, and now holds 6%. I will transfer that 32% back to the Bao family at the original price, while the remaining shares will be held by Star Investment. Does anyone have any objections?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Bao Chuanwang replied with a complex tone, “So, does that mean Star Investment will hold a controlling stake in Nine Dragons from now on?”

Li Yi currently held 84% of Wharf Holdings. After transferring 32% to the Bao family, he would retain 52%, which would meet the requirements for controlling interest.

Li Yi smiled and said, “Mr. Bao, there’s no need to worry. Star Investment has no intention of taking control of any of these companies.”

“To protect everyone’s interests, shareholders holding less than the controlling stake may submit a buyout request to Star Investment, though the price will not be calculated based on the repurchase price.”

Li Yi then explained further, “As you all know, the value of these shares far exceeds 10 billion US dollars. The reason we were able to acquire them at such a low price is that Star Investment and I paid a significant price to do so. I hope you all understand!”

Li Yi certainly intended to retain a portion of the shares in these Chinese-owned companies, but he did not need to hold a controlling stake in them.

After hearing Li Yi’s explanation, everyone present immediately understood.

Although Li Yi didn’t specify what that cost was, it was clearly substantial. If they had insisted on having the companies transfer their shares to them at the buyback price, it would not only have been unreasonable but also inconsiderate.

Besides, in this stock market battle, under Li Yi’s leadership, every one of them had made a fortune. Spending a little extra to buy back some shares was no big deal.

At that moment, Bao Chuanwang spoke up first: “Mr. Li, I agree with your proposal. Furthermore, the Bao family is willing to repurchase 13% of the shares in Wharf Holdings at twice the market price!”

“Agreed!”

“Mr. Li, the He family also accepts this proposal and will repurchase 17% of Ho Group shares at twice the market price!”

“Agreed!”

“Mr. Li, our Luo family also…”

Soon, the distribution of shares in these companies was finalized.

Although Li Yi’s shareholding had been significantly reduced, he had made a substantial profit.

Li Yi was extremely satisfied with this outcome.

Not only had they reaped substantial profits from this major deal, but they had also secured shares in nearly all of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s listed companies—a gain that meant far more to him than making a few billion dollars.

It wasn’t just because he knew that Hong Kong’s economy would fully recover in a few months; as the broader market rebounded, the market capitalization of these listed companies would rise accordingly.

More importantly, with these shares, he had become a shareholder in these Chinese-owned companies.

This not only strengthened his ties with others but also gave him leverage to influence them, thereby increasing his clout within the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

In short, the benefits were numerous…

But just as Li Yi and the others were busy dividing the spoils here, the outside world was in an uproar.

As the signing ceremony concluded, news of what had just happened at the BB Xi TR venue spread like wildfire.

“Six Major Conglomerates Suffer Total Defeat; Sangchai Fumes So Much He Coughs Up Blood!”

“Dawson Forced Out of the Sassoon Family, Publicly Announces He’s Striking Out on His Own in Hong Kong Island!”

“The Chinese Chamber of Commerce Regains Controlling Stake in the Company; Li Yi Emerges as the Biggest Winner!”

“Dawson Sacrifices 10 Billion Hong Kong Dollars for Friendship, Sharing a Bond of Mutual Admiration with Li Yicheng!”

With the Hong Kong media in full swing, one bombshell after another quickly spread across the entire island.

As these reports spread, they triggered a chain reaction.

First, the stock price of Huashang Company, which had been in a steady decline, suddenly stopped falling and began to rise slightly.

Second, as these reports crossed the oceans to reach London, Tokyo, and New York, they once again sent shockwaves through the stock prices of the six major conglomerates and other listed companies under the Sassoon family.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Li Yi immediately ordered his overseas investment team to close the deal…

………..

“Thump, thump, thump…”

Amid a rhythmic clatter of footsteps, a group of tall, imposing bodyguards entered the event hall.

The appearance of these uninvited guests immediately caught the attention of everyone at the event.

When the crowd got a clear look at the man flanked by the bodyguards, they were instantly stunned.

“It’s Li Yi from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. What is he doing here?”

“Mr. Li is here—could he be here to disrupt the event?”

“It’s unlikely he’s here to cause trouble—after all, this is a deal between Sangchai and Dolsen. Mr. Li is probably here to issue a challenge to Dolsen!”

“A battle of titans—this is going to be entertaining…”

Seeing this, the reporters quickly turned their cameras and rushed toward Li Yi.

But before they could get close, Zhang Ziqiang and his men blocked their path, while Li Yi, Li Futao, Huang Lixing, and the others made their way directly to the signing ceremony podium.

Sang Chai and his men also spotted Li Yi. Though they had no idea why he’d shown up at this moment, they stood tall, glaring defiantly at Li Yi and his entourage.

As Li Yi approached, Sang Chai glared at him fiercely and said, “What are you doing here? Did you come to laugh at us?”

The corners of Li Yi’s mouth turned up slightly, and he replied with disdain, “Watch you make fools of yourselves… Do you even deserve it?”

“Are you even worthy?”

These words were a blatant display of disregard and contempt toward Sangcai and his group, instantly setting Sangcai’s blood boiling.

But after the initial surge of anger, he quickly regained his composure and said smugly, “Li, if you’re here for those company shares, I’m afraid you’re in for a disappointment. We’ve already transferred all the shares to Dolsen. You’re too late.”

“Disappointed… I’m afraid you’re the one who’s disappointed.”

Li Yi continued, “We did come here today for those shares, but we never intended to acquire them from you.”

“So you’re saying you intend to launch a takeover bid against Dolsons?” Sang Chai said, his face darkening.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Hah, it’s possible, but you’d better ask Dolsen first if he’ll agree,” Sangchai said coldly.

He didn’t believe Dolsen would transfer those company shares to Li Yi. After all, only by controlling the shares of these companies would he have a chance to defeat the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, complete his family’s trial, and become the true heir.

Becoming the family heir and eventually the clan leader was not only Dolsen’s goal but also the long-standing objective of their branch of the family. Sangchai didn’t believe Dolsen would pass up such a golden opportunity.

Just then, Li Yi turned his gaze to Dorson and asked loudly, “Mr. Dorson, I’d like to buy back the shares you hold at a 10% premium. Would you be willing to part with them?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, everyone’s gaze fixed on Dolsen, waiting for his response.

A strange smile played at the corners of Dolsen’s mouth, and under everyone’s gaze, he uttered three words: “I’m not willing…”

As soon as he spoke, Sang Chai burst out laughing, “Did you hear that? He said he’s not willing… not willing!”

“Li, although you defeated us using those three despicable and shameless tactics, those Chinese-owned companies are destined never to return to your hands. Compared to us outsiders, Dolsen and his British-funded group have more than enough capability to take over those companies. In the end, you still can’t beat the Sassoon family…”

However, before he could finish, Dolsen suddenly interrupted him from the side: “Sangchai, I haven’t finished speaking yet. What’s the rush?”

Sangchai was taken aback for a moment, then said, “I was getting ahead of myself. Go on!”

Dawson ignored him, instead fixing his gaze on Li Yi and declaring loudly, “Mr. Li Yi, I believe a 10% premium is a desecration and an insult to our friendship. I am willing to transfer all shares of the Huashang companies to you at the original price!”

Hearing this, the corners of Li Yi’s mouth turned up slightly, and he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

When Dolsen had said “I’m not willing” a moment ago, Li Yi had been a bit worried, truly believing the man had changed his mind.

He never expected the man to be waiting for him right here!

As he breathed a sigh of relief, Li Yi’s regard for Dolsen grew even more. By doing this, the man not only solidified the depth of their friendship but also increased the debt of gratitude Li Yi owed him.

The benefits he gained from this far outweighed the $1 billion thank-you fee.

“Whoosh…”

Dawson’s words hit everyone like a depth charge.

“What did we just hear? Dolsen is transferring his shares in BB Xi TR at face value?”

“That’s not the point. Didn’t you hear Dolsen say that a premium would be an insult to his friendship with Mr. Li? Does that mean their personal bond is actually quite deep?”

“So it turns out Dolsen isn’t willing to sell at a premium—he wants to sell at face value. That really took me by surprise…”

………

Sangcai and the others were also stunned by this turn of events. The situation had completely spiraled out of their control. Monroe, Michiko, and the others all turned their gaze toward Sangcai, their eyes filled with anger and concern.

“Dawson, do you know what you’re saying?” Sangchai roared angrily.

“Of course I do. I intend to transfer my shares to Mr. Li Yi at the original price. What’s the matter? Do you have a problem with that?” Dolsen asked coldly.

“How dare you? He is our family’s number one enemy in the East. Doing this is aiding the enemy—it’s a betrayal of the family. Have you considered the consequences of your actions?” Sangchai shouted.

“What consequences… Does that mean stripping the heir of his rights or expelling him from the family?”

Before Sangchai could answer, Dolsen spoke again: “Sangchai, even if I don’t transfer these shares to Mr. Li Yi, the family won’t let me become the heir to the clan leader. Those old fools would never hand over the family’s power to our branch.”

“Don’t even bother arguing. Don’t think I’m unaware of the underhanded schemes you’ve been pulling. Not only am I transferring my shares to Mr. Li Yi, but I’m also formally announcing that I, Dorson, am withdrawing from the Sassoon family effective immediately and establishing the Dorson family on Hong Kong Island.”

“Go back and tell those old fools on the Elders’ Council that times have changed. Let them sit on their meager savings and watch from the sidelines. Even without their support, I, Dolsen, will build an immortal family!”

“You… how dare you…”

As he spoke through gritted teeth, Sangchai’s face flushed crimson.

Finally, at a certain moment, his body suddenly lurched backward, and with a “gurgle,” he spat out a large mouthful of blood.

Immediately afterward, his entire body went limp like a deflated balloon, and he fell backward, stiff as a board.

Seeing this, Sangchai’s younger brother and his subordinates immediately fell into a panic, lifting Sangchai and rushing toward the elevator.

Monroe, Michiko, and the others—who had always looked to Sangchai for guidance—did not follow him this time.

They were all smart people; they knew that Sangchai had suffered a complete defeat this time. Not only had he failed to eliminate the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, but he had also suffered heavy losses and even driven Dolsen to turn against him.

Even as the deputy general manager of the Sini Group and a direct descendant of the Sassoon family, he would likely face severe repercussions upon his return.

In short, Sangchai was finished…

Li Yi and Dolsen paid no heed to Sangchai’s fate; to them, he was nothing more than a nobody.

For them, the most important matter was the share transfer.

At that moment, Dolsen waved his hand, and staff who had been standing by immediately stepped forward. They took down the banner in the event hall and replaced it with a brand-new one reading “Signing Ceremony for the Strategic Partnership Between Star Investment Company and the British Capital Group”—clearly, this had been planned in advance.

Subsequently, representatives from both sides took their places, and the signing ceremony resumed.

However, this time, the main protagonists of the signing had changed…

……….

The Next Day!

Early in the morning, the Hong Kong business world was rocked by shocking news: the six major overseas consortiums that had made a high-profile entry into the Hong Kong stock market a month and a half ago—the very organizations that had already secured controlling stakes in all companies under the Chinese Chamber of Commerce—had unexpectedly announced their withdrawal from the Hong Kong stock market.

At the same time, they announced that all shares held by the consortium would be transferred to a British-owned group before their withdrawal from Hong Kong, and they also disclosed the time and location where the agreement between the two parties would be signed.

The news caused an immediate uproar.

When these overseas consortiums first entered the Hong Kong stock market, their entrance was nothing short of high-profile and brazen.

Back then, leveraging their financial advantage, they forced Starry Sky Company and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce into a series of retreats. In less than a month, they had stripped the Chamber members of controlling stakes in all their companies—they were truly formidable, full of vigor, and at the height of their power.

However, their current predicament is as dire as their former arrogance was extreme.

No one could have imagined that these six major conglomerates would collapse in the Hong Kong stock market in less than two months—and would even be forced to withdraw from the market.

It’s as if we’ve witnessed them build their towers, host their banquets, and then watch their towers crumble!

In truth, most investors had already anticipated these overseas conglomerates’ withdrawal from the Hong Kong stock market; after all, everyone could see the current state of the market.

As the stock prices of those Chinese-owned companies plummet day by day, the value of the shares held by these foreign conglomerates continues to shrink.

If they had sufficient manpower and capital, they could have taken over and managed these companies themselves, gradually boosting share prices through strong performance.

But the reality is that the parent companies of these overseas conglomerates are struggling to keep their own heads above water—they simply don’t have the time or energy to deal with these messes in Hong Kong.

Under these circumstances, cutting their losses and exiting the market is practically the only option.

What is regrettable to the people of Hong Kong, however, is that these overseas conglomerates would transfer these shares to British-owned groups rather than the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

While this is not hard to understand, the thought that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce fought so hard for so long only to ultimately benefit British-owned groups is still somewhat frustrating and regrettable.

At the same time, many are worried about the future of the Hong Kong stock market.

Clearly, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce will not let this matter rest. Their relentless efforts to drive down the stock prices of these companies are clearly aimed at acquiring their shares at a bargain price.

Now that the British-owned group has thrown a wrench into the works, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce certainly won’t give up so easily; a larger-scale stock market battle seems to be brewing.

But after enduring these recent battles, can the Hong Kong stock market withstand such turmoil?

Amid investors’ concerns, the signing ceremony for the share transfer agreement between the overseas consortium and the British-owned group officially began…

……….

Emperor Grand Hotel. Business Lounge!

At that moment, an exceptionally lively business event was underway.

This was the venue where the Xini and Nanfei conglomerates were signing a share transfer agreement with the British-owned group. To ensure everyone on Hong Kong Island knew that the British-owned group would be taking over controlling stakes in the dozens of listed companies under the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Sang Chai had already leaked the news in advance and invited numerous Hong Kong Island socialites to attend the event.

Consequently, even before the ceremony began, a large crowd had already gathered, including reporters from various media outlets and radio stations.

At 10:00 a.m., amid a flurry of commotion, Sangchai and his entourage arrived at the BB Xi TR event venue, surrounded by bodyguards.

Seeing this, all the media on site immediately rushed forward, hoping to interview them.

They had assumed these figures would decline interviews, but to their surprise, Sangchai did not evade the reporters. Instead, he stepped forward and even politely asked the journalists to maintain order to prevent a stampede.

“Mr. Sangchai, I’m a reporter from the Nan Hua Evening News. There are reports that your company plans to withdraw from the Hong Kong stock market. Is this true?”

“It is true. Once these share transfer agreements are signed, our six major consortiums will wind down all operations in Hong Kong and permanently withdraw from the Hong Kong market!” Sangchai said solemnly.

“Mr. Sangchai, is your withdrawal from the Hong Kong market due to recent massive losses?” another reporter asked.

“That is part of the reason, but more importantly, the Hong Kong stock market is a shitty market. It’s riddled with regulatory loopholes, leaving investors feeling dissatisfied and frustrated,” Sangchai said sharply.

“Mr. Sangchai, I’m a reporter from Hong Kong’s TVB. What is your basis for describing the Hong Kong stock market in such terms?”

Upon hearing this question, Sangchai’s tone suddenly turned furious, and he shouted, “Basis? Everything we’ve experienced here is the best basis… no, it’s the best evidence!”

“Do you know that in this stock market, we experience incomprehensible things every single day? Whenever we finish building our positions, massive sell-offs hit the market, forcing us to engage in high-frequency intraday trading just to balance our costs.”

“Although our costs seem to go down after multiple trades, massive sell-offs follow immediately. It feels like there’s an endless supply of shares in the market. In extreme cases, shareholders of listed companies here even exploit regulatory loopholes to sell their entire companies to us—it’s absolute bullshit…”

Thinking back on all the frustrating incidents he’d endured over the past month and a half, Sangchai—who had originally intended to maintain a so-called gentlemanly demeanor—completely lost his composure, resorting to emotional language to vent his frustration in front of so many people.

Sangchai’s outburst thrilled the media reporters—this was major news.

Instantly, the reporters swarmed him like sharks smelling blood, bombarding Sang Chai with a barrage of tricky and controversial questions.

“Mr. Sangchai, what is your assessment of Mr. Li Yi from Star Investment?”

“He is a shameless clown with not a shred of chivalry. He resorts to underhanded tactics, and dealing with him is an embarrassment to me!”

“Mr. Sangchai, as far as I know, you and Mr. Dolsen of the Yingzi Group come from the same family. Does this share transfer agreement mean that Mr. Dolsen will continue to represent your Sassoon family in the battle with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for influence in Hong Kong’s financial sector?”

“Yes, Dolsen and I do indeed both hail from the great Sassoon family. As for what Dolsen will do after taking over these shares, I’m not entirely sure, but I trust he will make the right choice!”

“Mr. Sangchai…”

While Sangchai was being interviewed, Monroe, Michiko, and the others standing nearby were not idle either; they were also being interviewed by the reporters.

Like Sangchai, Monroe, Michiko, and the others made no attempt to hide their distaste for Li Yi and Starry Sky Company. A steady stream of negative remarks poured from their mouths, which the reporters lapped up like manna from heaven.

It wasn’t that the reporters enjoyed hearing such filth; rather, the remarks these individuals were making were highly sensational.

To them, this was news—a hot topic.

Just as the interview was in full swing, a commotion broke out nearby.

Immediately, more than a dozen middle-aged men in suits, flanked by a large entourage of bodyguards, entered the hall. Leading the group was none other than Dolsen, the head of the British-owned conglomerate.

Upon seeing Dolsen’s arrival, the reporters rushed over, eager to interview this young king who was currently at the height of his fame.

However, much to the reporters’ disappointment, Dolsen flatly refused their requests for interviews.

He did, however, agree to grant individual interviews to each media outlet after the signing ceremony concluded.

After saying this, Dolsen, the Jazz, and the others took their seats at the podium.

Sangchai and his team quickly wrapped up their interviews with the press and walked up to the signing table.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the lawyers for both sides reviewed the contract terms once more, checking for any unfair clauses or contractual pitfalls.

Once everything was confirmed, the hostess placed the two copies of the contract in front of Sangchai and Dolsen, thoughtfully handing them each a pen.

Without hesitation, Sangchai and Dolsen quickly signed their names on the documents and returned them to the other party.

Once both documents were signed, each party affixed their company seal, and the share transfer agreement was successfully finalized.

However, just as the reporters were frantically snapping photos to capture the moment, a commotion erupted behind them once again.

When the crowd at the event turned to look at the commotion, they saw a familiar group of figures striding confidently into the event hall…

…………

Hong Kong. Cloudtop No. 1!

Sitting on the sofa in the living room, Li Yi was flipping through the share transfer agreement that Dolsen had personally delivered, feeling quite pleased.

Just moments ago, Dolsen had paid a surprise visit, stating that he had already met with Sang Chai and the others. They had discussed the transfer of shares in those Chinese-owned companies and even drafted an agreement.

However, since he had acquired these shares on Li Yi’s behalf, the price still required Li Yi’s approval.

As Li Yi looked over the agreement, the corners of his mouth had already begun to turn up slightly.

He had anticipated that Sangchai and his group would back down and withdraw from the Hong Kong stock market—and that they would even transfer all their shares in those companies to Dolsen before leaving. The only thing Li Yi hadn’t expected was that they would cave in so quickly.

He had assumed these guys would hold out for at least another week or two—at the very least, they would only withdraw from the Hong Kong stock market once the parent companies of the six major conglomerates were on the verge of collapse.

But now, the moment he reached a cooperation agreement with Dolsen, these guys transferred their shares to Dolsen—it was lightning-fast, and their coordination was flawless.

More importantly, the price they offered was incredibly attractive.

Seeing Li Yi turn to the last page of the agreement, Dolsen immediately sat up straight and asked, “Li, are you satisfied with this price for BB Xi TR?”

“I’m satisfied!”

Li Yi placed the share transfer agreement on the coffee table in front of him and said with interest, “Shares worth 20 billion US dollars, and Mr. Dolsen slashed it to 10 billion—that’s a 50% cut. What’s there not to be satisfied with?”

Li Yi was indeed very satisfied with this price.

After all, the shares held by Sangchai and the others were worth at least 17 billion US dollars even before the war began.

Not to mention that they had spent over 40 billion US dollars to acquire these shares. Selling them for 10 billion isn’t just a discount—it’s practically breaking their own backs.

If Sangchai and the others ultimately sold all their shares in Huashang Company at this price, they would suffer a direct loss of at least 30 billion US dollars—it would be like carrying in a gold brick and running out with a bucket!

Seeing that Li Yi approved of the price, Dolsen immediately said, “Since Mr. Li is satisfied, I’ll sign the agreement with them tomorrow and subsequently transfer these shares to your name at the original price.”

“Alright, but there’s no need to stick to the original price—you can raise it by 10%,” Li Yi said.

“No need…”

Li Yi knew what Dolsen was worried about, so he immediately continued, “My offer to you still stands. You can count on my help whenever you need it. As for this 10% premium, it’s simply a token of appreciation for your assistance!”

A $1 billion “gratuity”—that was certainly generous!

Hearing Li Yi’s assurance, Dolsen had no further reservations and immediately said with delight, “Li, working with you is truly wonderful. I finally understand why those Chinese businessmen admire you so much—and why they’re even willing to stake their fortunes and lives on you!”

“Oh, I wonder what you’ve figured out?” Li Yi said with a smile.

Dawson replied, “Li, the reason you attract so many people to your side isn’t just because you possess top-tier investment acumen and the sharpest mind—more importantly, you possess a quality that the vast majority of investors lack!”

“What quality?”

“The noble quality of never letting a friend get the short end of the stick!”

Dorson continued, “In Europe and the Americas, I’ve met countless outstanding investors. Whether in the stock market or in real business, they’ve demonstrated astonishing skills and talent, but I’ve never found them particularly intimidating. I’ve always had absolute confidence that I could beat them.”

“Because I know these people all share one common flaw: an extreme pursuit of profit. This is the driving force behind their success, but it’s also a deeply ingrained human weakness that’s hard to eradicate. As long as you exploit this weakness, you can defeat them.”

At this point, Dolsen’s gaze once again fixed on Li Yi.

Changing the subject, he continued, “But when it comes to you, I feel a sense of despair. I have absolutely no confidence that I can defeat you. Although I see in you the ruthless, bloodthirsty competitive spirit unique to top-tier investors, and I see your hunger for profit, you are able to restrain your inner greed and overcome your own desires.”

“You’re willing to share your profits with your allies, truly putting win-win cooperation into practice. You make everyone want to be your ally rather than your enemy. That is the fundamental reason why your Chinese Chamber of Commerce has been able to grow so rapidly in such a short time. You’re a guy who drives all your opponents to despair!”

Li Yi smiled and said, “Dawson, we have an old saying in China: ‘The benevolent are invincible.’ You might want to look into it.”

“The benevolent are invincible?”

“Yes. As a businessman, there’s nothing inherently wrong with pursuing profit, but the world is too vast and there’s too much money—you can never earn it all.”

Li Yi continued, “If you keep your eyes fixed on that string of cold, lifeless numbers in your bank account, you’ll only turn yourself into a cold, soulless money-making machine—devoid of friends, family, and joy.”

Dawson could tell that Li Yi’s words weren’t just empty platitudes meant to placate him, but came from a genuine place.

Though he didn’t know what this young man—who was clearly a few years his junior—had gone through to gain such profound insight into money and desire at such a young age, it only deepened his admiration for Li Yi.

Then, changing the subject, he said, “Li, once this deal is done, I want to have a heart-to-heart with the family. I’m going to strike out on my own!”

“How do you want me to help you?” Li Yi asked bluntly.

“I want you to publicly endorse me. I’d even like to invite your Starry Sky Company to take a stake in the Dolsons’ core company—though it wouldn’t be a large share, no more than 10%!”

Li Yi didn’t rush to agree. Instead, he looked at him and said, “Dawson, you know this kind of thing isn’t difficult for me.”

“But have you considered this: once you confront your family, they’ll likely discover you’ve been secretly betraying their interests all along. They’ll probably pin this failure in Hong Kong on you—and you might even face their furious retaliation. Are you prepared for that?”

Dawson replied firmly, “I’ve considered everything you’ve mentioned, but right now, this is the best opportunity for me.”

“Your operations in Hong Kong and London have not only dealt a severe blow to the family-controlled Sini and Nanfei conglomerates, but due to the impact on these two groups, other companies under the family’s name have also suffered heavy losses. It’s safe to say the family is currently at its weakest point in the past half-century. Even if they wanted to retaliate against me, they might not have the capacity to do so.”

“Besides, even if I don’t confront them now, they’ve already suspected me. They’re already investigating me behind the scenes. Rather than waiting for them to strike suddenly, I’d rather take the initiative and confront them head-on. I don’t want to be too passive!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll agree to it. When the Dolsons’ family is established, I’ll personally deliver a congratulatory gift!”

“Furthermore, our Star Investment Company will also take a stake in your family’s business. I’m sure that will serve as a deterrent to quite a few people.”

“Li, thank you for your help!”

“Hahaha, you’re welcome. As you said, mutual benefit and cooperation are the shared values of us Chinese businesspeople!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Right, mutual benefit…”

………..

PS: An unexpected incident happened yesterday—I had to undergo surgery. Although it wasn’t serious, it has affected my writing progress. However, Old Cang will do his best to keep up with updates.

Downtown. Castle Manor!

After hanging up the phone, a cold smile spread across Dolsen’s face, causing the Duke standing beside him to frown unconsciously.

“Dawson, are you really going to take over the shares held by Sangchai and the others?”

“Yes!”

The Duke immediately said, “Dawson, you know this isn’t a good idea.”

“Never mind that the value of these shares is still hard to determine—none of us can predict how much they’ll plummet later. More importantly, once we take over these shares, it’ll be like declaring war on that terrifying guy Li Yi all over again…”

Dawson replied with a half-smile, “So be it. Don’t you have faith in me, Uncle Jazz?”

“Well… I really don’t!” the Jazz replied decisively.

Jazz had personally experienced just how formidable this young man, Li Yi, was.

He had thought Li Yi’s tactics were already terrifying back then, but after witnessing the entire exchange between him and Sangchai and the others this time, Jazz was once again stunned by Li Yi’s methods.

Although Dolsen’s abilities were top-notch, he still paled in comparison to that monster.

Upon hearing the Jazz’s words, Dolsen didn’t get angry; instead, he smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t dig my own grave by provoking that guy!”

“Then what is this…”

“I met with Li Yi a couple of days ago. He asked me to help him acquire these shares from Sangchai and the others!” Dolsen explained.

“So you’re saying that once you get these shares, you’ll transfer them directly to Li Yi?” Jazz frowned.

“Exactly!”

“That’s not a very good idea. Have you considered how the family will view you once all these shares end up in Li Yi’s hands?” Jazz said gravely.

“What do you think they’ll think? They’ll think I’m unreliable—or even that I’ve betrayed the family!” Dolsen said calmly.

“Since you know that, why are you doing this anyway?”

“Why?”

Dorson then said coldly, “Even if we didn’t do this, would the family really approve of us?”

“No, they wouldn’t. That bastard Sang Chai dared to investigate me the moment he arrived here, and he even sent people to bribe our men. You must know what that means, Uncle Jazz.”

Upon hearing this, the Duke fell instantly silent.

Thinking of everything Sangchai and the Sanchez brothers had done to them recently, the Jazz could only sigh.

He could see that the old guard in the family had never intended for Dolsen to succeed as head of the family.

If it weren’t for the threat posed by Li Yi and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, they might have already taken action against Dolsen. It was only natural that Dolsen would want to fight back.

After a brief pause, Uncle Jazz said, “As long as you don’t make it so obvious, the family would think twice before moving against you…”

Before he could finish, Dolsen shook his head and said, “Uncle Jazz, you’re wrong. They’ve held the family’s reins for too long—so long that they’ve forgotten our branch even exists.”

“To cling to their power and to avoid retaliation from our branch, they’ll only go further and further, until they strip me of my inheritance rights. So there’s no room for reconciliation between us, and besides…”

“And what’s more?” the Earl asked instinctively.

Dawson replied calmly, “Besides, that so-called clan leader’s seat holds no appeal for me anymore.”

“Why?”

“Hah. While the clan leader holds considerable power, in the vast majority of cases, he still has to answer to the Council of Elders. Even if I spent decades successfully becoming the clan leader of the Sassoon family, I’d be nothing more than a puppet controlled by others!”

Dawson continued, “If that’s the case, what significance does the position of clan chief hold for me? And what meaning would my decades of struggle have?”

“But only by becoming clan chief can our branch rise again and reclaim what we’ve lost!” the Duke said.

“That was then. Now we have another option!” Dolsen said.

“What choice?”

“To rebuild the Sassoon family… no, the Dalson family!” Dalson declared, his words sending shockwaves through the room.

“You… you want to break away from the family and go it alone?” the Earl asked, looking utterly shocked.

“Uncle Jazz, the family has become corrupt. For all these years, those parasites in the old castle have been living off our ancestors’ legacy, completely oblivious to the fact that times have changed. If we don’t make changes now, we’ll eventually be left behind by the times!”

Dawson continued, “Besides, even if we were to return to the castle and take control, we wouldn’t be greeted with flowers and applause, but with constant backstabbing and infighting.”

“Now we have money and manpower, and with the help of a powerful patron, we can completely rebuild a family that belongs to our branch.”

“Are you referring to Li Yi when you say ‘influential figure’?”

“Yes! He promised that as long as I secure those shares in the Chinese business companies for him, he’ll support me in breaking away from the family and standing on my own—and…”

“And what?”

“And if any investment opportunities come up in the future, he’ll bring me along too!”

As he spoke, a faint smile crossed Dolsen’s face.

The Duke thought for a moment and said, “It’s a good idea, but if you actually do this, your family will inevitably view you as a traitor. At that point, they’ll stop at nothing to eliminate you…”

“Haha, they won’t get that chance!”

Dawson continued, “After this clash, the Sini and Nanfei conglomerates will be severely weakened. The family’s influence in East and Southeast Asia will be a shadow of its former self. The Goering and James families certainly won’t miss such a golden opportunity. Those old fools in the castle won’t have a moment to spare for us.”

“Besides, Uncle Sir, haven’t you seen the situation in Hong Kong clearly yet? Downing Street, the Governor’s Mansion—they’re nothing in the face of Li Yi. With Li Yi’s backing, would those from the family dare to come here and cause trouble?”

Jazz nodded instinctively. Whether it was his overt influence or the hidden power he wielded behind the scenes, Li Yi had already established an overwhelming dominance over everyone else.

With him backing them up, there was indeed no need to worry about retaliation from the family.

But when he thought of how he’d spent all these years fighting for the family’s future, only to end up betraying them, Uncle Jazz still felt a pang of unease.

Dawson clearly sensed his hesitation and immediately said, “Uncle Jazz, there’s one more thing you might not have considered: breaking away from the family to stand on our own might actually be exactly what those old fools in the castle want!”

“What do you mean… are you saying those old fools on the family council want us to go our own way?” the Duke asked, looking surprised.

“It’s not that they want us to, but if we actually did it, they probably wouldn’t stop us. Most likely, they’d go with the flow and tacitly approve of our actions!” said Dolsen.

“And why is that?”

Dawson replied calmly, “The global situation is growing increasingly complex. Previously, the family followed the lead of the US and UK, only to suffer a series of severe setbacks. Given the cunning of those old fools on the Elders’ Council, they certainly haven’t left themselves without a backup plan.”

“And what the Jewish people excel at most is hedging our bets—that’s the only way to ensure the clan’s long-term survival. So when it comes to us siding with Li Yi and China, they’ll likely turn a blind eye!”

The爵士 was once again stunned by Dolsen’s analysis; he had never considered the matter from this perspective before.

But upon closer reflection, he found it made a fair amount of sense.

For a moment, he was completely dumbfounded.

Dawson, however, did not continue. Instead, he smoothed out his clothes and then left the castle estate with a few bodyguards.

Since that bastard Sang Chai had handed over those company shares on a silver platter, he certainly wouldn’t refuse—and this time, he intended to make those bastards bleed profusely…

………

Hong Kong. The Victoria Hotel!

In a luxurious suite on the top floor, Sangchai, Monroe, Michiko, and the others were all gathered together, seemingly discussing something.

However, unlike their previous high spirits, everyone’s expressions were now grave, even bordering on a sense of deep sorrow.

Recently, the stock markets in Hong Kong, London, Tokyo, and New York had been in turmoil, and all six major conglomerates had suffered severe blows. This placed immense pressure on Sangchai and his team, who were far away in Hong Kong carrying out their elimination mission.

Especially after the heads of the major conglomerates learned that the recent crises facing their companies were all the result of Li Yi’s retaliation, they reacted with shock, anger, and regret, immediately devising new countermeasures.

Seated at the head of the table, Sangchai, his face grim, cleared his throat and said, “Gentlemen, I’m sure you’ve all heard about Li Yi’s recent acts of retaliation!”

“To avoid fighting on two fronts and to minimize losses, headquarters has issued me a final order: I must liquidate my shares as soon as possible and withdraw from the Hong Kong stock market!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Monroe sighed and said, “It’s the same here. That bastard Li has been hounding our group like a mad dog over in London. In less than a week, our company’s stock price has plummeted by more than half.”

“To ensure the safety of the parent company, headquarters has also ordered me to withdraw from the Hong Kong stock market as soon as possible. They’ve given me only three days—no matter what, I must sell off my shares within that time!”

Michiko chimed in with a grim expression, “You guys are still better off. Our company is in a real mess—after news broke about our broken cash flow and overdue debts, our stock price plummeted by two-thirds.”

“And just as this was happening, our company’s shares were targeted by a hostile takeover. Our situation is extremely dire—it’s quite possible that in the near future, the Ocean Group will have a new owner.”

Sangchai immediately asked, “Do you know who’s trying to take over your group?”

“On the surface, it’s our old rival, the Yamashita Group, but after our investigation, we discovered that the real mastermind behind it all is that Li Yi!” Michiko said, her voice a mix of anger and resignation.

A look of “I knew it” instantly appeared on Sangchai’s face, while the others looked utterly horrified.

By now, the name “Li Yi” had cast a psychological shadow over them.

They had thought it shocking enough that this man had made a bold, decisive move—trapping their hundreds of billions of dollars in capital by seizing controlling stakes in dozens of companies.

But they never imagined that his methods would be far more terrifying than they had ever anticipated.

After trapping them, he rapidly dumped shares, causing stock prices to plummet and the value of their holdings to shrink rapidly.

At the same time, he shifted his focus to the stock exchange where their parent company was listed, engaging in massive short-selling of the parent company’s shares and raking in a fortune.

Moreover, after the company’s stock price plummeted, the other party attempted to acquire large quantities of their shares, clearly intending to turn the tables on them.

You must understand: once the other party secures a controlling stake in the parent company, their shares here on Hong Kong Island will become a joke.

“Since your parent company is already mine, these Chinese-owned companies are mine as well…”

Collecting his thoughts, Sang Chai sighed and said, “It’s come to this. We’ve lost, and there’s no point dwelling on it. Let’s focus on how to get out of this mess!”

Monroe nodded and said, “Given the current situation, it’s impossible to extricate ourselves through the stock market. We might even have to turn to those Chinese businessmen for help.”

At these words, the room fell silent.

No one asked why; the situation was obvious.

In the current Hong Kong stock market, the confidence of ordinary investors had been severely shaken. With the stock prices of all Chinese business companies plummeting, no one dared to take on those shares at this time.

Secondly, there was the issue of financial strength. Aside from the members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, no one else had the capacity to absorb shares worth tens of billions of dollars!

“Are we really going to have to beg those Chinese businessmen?” Michiko said, frowning.

Thinking back on how she had previously belittled and mocked Li Yi, the thought of having to beg him now made Michiko feel a burning sensation on her cheeks.

“I’m worried that even if we beg them, they might not be willing to settle with us. After all, every day we delay puts our parent company in greater danger,” Monroe said with a sigh.

“Then what should we do?” Michiko asked, frowning.

Just then, Sangchai suddenly spoke up, “We might have other options!”

“What options?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Sangchai, waiting for his answer.

“Dawson, the British-owned group!”

“Mr. Sangchai, do you mean we should transfer our shares to Dolsons’ British-owned group?” Monroe asked, somewhat surprised.

“Well, judging by this operation, Dolsen clearly knows Li Yi better than we do. That’s why we’re stuck holding these shares at a loss, while Dolsen has raked in tens of billions of Hong Kong dollars.”

Sangchai continued, “Right now, aside from Li Yi and those Chinese businessmen, only Dolsen and the British-funded group he controls have the capacity to take over the shares we hold.”

“But is Dolsen willing to take over our shares in these companies?” Monroe asked, frowning.

Over the past few days, they had heard Sangchai say more than once that Dolsen was unreliable, and all signs pointed to the fact that Dolsen was indeed not on their side.

Given that, would he really be willing to help them?

“He will!”

Sangchai continued, “Although Dowson isn’t on our side, he isn’t exactly friends with those Chinese businessmen either. Over the past two years, he and the British-funded group have been crushed by that Li Yi—they couldn’t even hold their heads up—and at one point, they lost tens of billions of Hong Kong dollars.”

“More importantly, defeating Li Yi and his Star Investment Company, and eliminating the Chinese Merchants’ Association, is Dolsen’s trial mission. If he wants to secure his family’s inheritance and become the next family head, he must complete this mission.”

“And acquiring those Chinese-owned companies at a reasonable price is his only chance to defeat them. Knowing him as I do, he won’t let this opportunity slip by!”

After hearing Sangchai’s analysis, everyone instinctively nodded in agreement.

Just then, Monroe suddenly asked, “Mr. Sangchai, as far as I know, your relationship with Dolsen seems to be quite strained. Why are you helping him?”

“Who said I’m helping him?”

Sangchai then said coldly, “That traitor Dolsen betrayed the family long ago. How could I possibly help him? Do you think that man surnamed Li has been chasing our parent company like a mad dog for no reason? Ultimately, he’s after these shares.”

“Right now, these shares are like bait with a peculiar scent. No matter whose hands they fall into, they’ll be met with a frenzied attack from those Chinese merchants.”

Everyone instantly understood: Sangchai intended to use these company shares to provoke a war between Dolsen and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

No matter who emerged victorious in the end, it would be good news for them.

If the two sides could fight each other to a standstill, they might even reap the benefits and make a comeback.

“Mr. Sangchai, are you suggesting we go talk to Dolsen?” Monroe asked.

“I plan to speak with Dolsen about this tonight. But knowing Dolsen as I do, that bastard will surely use this opportunity to drive the price down as much as he can. You’d better be prepared for that,” Sangchai said.

“Understood… Given the current situation, we no longer have any leverage to bargain. As long as Durson doesn’t go too far, we’ll just have to put up with it!” Monroe said.

Michiko chimed in, “Mr. Monroe is right. At this point, we just need someone willing to take our shares—as long as the price is reasonable…”

“In that case, I’ll contact Dolsen tonight!” Sangchai said.

“Alright…”

However, what they didn’t know was that Li Yi had long anticipated their underhanded tactics and, in collaboration with Dolsen, had set a trap, waiting for them to walk right into it…

…………

London Stock Exchange!

When the Hong Kong market closed, it was exactly 8:00 a.m. in London, just before the market opened.

Investors, accustomed to unwinding before the market opened, once again made their way to their familiar café.

They then expertly ordered a cup of coffee, a doughnut, and a copy of The Times.

In investment circles, reading the newspaper or watching the news is an essential skill for any professional investor.

Unlike the information explosion that would occur decades later, the ways of accessing information in those days were relatively limited; newspapers and television were among the few channels through which the general public could learn about national policies and other news.

Perhaps an unassuming story tucked away in a corner of a newspaper, or a brief news item on television, could help investors spot a business opportunity and make a fortune.

Similarly, it could also allow investors to detect potential problems early on and avoid significant losses.

In short, most investors have the habit of reading newspapers and watching TV news—both for daily life and for survival.

However, when they picked up today’s newspaper, they were immediately drawn in by the headline on the front page: “Shocking: The Truth Behind Six Major Conglomerates Sweeping the Hong Kong Stock Market!”

The eye-catching headline immediately grabbed the attention of a large number of investors, and everyone immediately began reading the report intently.

It wasn’t until they read it that they were genuinely startled by the explosive content.

According to the report, there is more to the story behind the news that has recently spread worldwide about six major conglomerates joining forces to sweep through the Hong Kong stock market. Previous reports claimed that six Southeast Asian conglomerates had defeated the investment giant Starry Company and the Commercial Alliance Chinese Chamber of Commerce, seizing controlling stakes in all listed companies under the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

As a result, the stock prices of these conglomerates soared yesterday, their market capitalizations skyrocketed, and they basked in the limelight.

However, the truth is quite different. According to an investigation by a Times reporter, while the six conglomerates did indeed secure controlling stakes in those companies, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce has not collapsed.

The companies affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce voluntarily relinquished control, choosing to cash out at peak prices—effectively trapping the six conglomerates’ massive investment of over $40 billion in Hong Kong’s sluggish stock market.

More importantly, on the previous trading day, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce collectively dumped their shares, causing the artificially inflated stock prices to plummet by half. The six major conglomerates lost 20 billion US dollars in a single day—a defeat of unprecedented proportions…

After reading this report, everyone was stunned.

However, what was even more shocking was yet to come.

Right below this report was another similar piece, though it offered a different perspective.

This report was by renowned financial expert Howard, offering an in-depth analysis specifically targeting the movements of the three major stock markets—London, Tokyo, and New York—from the previous day.

He began by analyzing the London stock market, focusing on the stock price fluctuations of the two major conglomerates, Xini and Nanfei. He believed that the stock prices of these two companies were highly abnormal.

Given such significant positive news, the upward trajectory of the stock prices appeared highly peculiar.

Although, overall, the stock prices of these two conglomerates did indeed rise, large volumes of short positions were sold off at every critical juncture, clearly indicating that someone was shorting these two companies.

Subsequently, Howard analyzed the stock price fluctuations of the other four major conglomerates listed on the Tokyo and New York stock exchanges and discovered that their price movements were nearly identical to those of Xini and Nanfei.

Combined with the information he obtained from within these companies, it was clear that these major conglomerates, realizing they were trapped in the Hong Kong stock market with no hope of breaking even, had deliberately released positive news and then quietly dumped large quantities of shares to avoid heavy losses in the event of a stock price crash.

After reading these reports, investors were naturally furious.

It was too underhanded—these major conglomerates were simply inhuman. They were clearly exploiting information asymmetry to deliberately shift their own losses onto other investors.

Fortunately, the truth of this matter has been exposed. Since those guys are bound by stock market regulations, the major players likely haven’t managed to escape yet.

If the truth had been exposed even a little later, those despicable scoundrels would very likely have used every trick in the book to drag even more investors down with them.

For a time, investors cursed the ancestors of the heads of the Xini and Nanfei conglomerates to the nth degree.

And amidst this endless stream of profanity, the bell signaling the opening of the London Stock Exchange rang.

As expected, the Xini and Nanfei conglomerates—which had emerged as dark horses the previous day—were abandoned by investors. The market saw a flood of short positions, yet few stepped in to buy.

As a result, the upward trend in stock prices stalled and began to decline slowly.

Meanwhile, a portion of investors remained on the sidelines.

After all, news in the papers these days isn’t always reliable—it might be deliberately distorted by someone—so some self-proclaimed savvy retail investors and brokerage firms weren’t in a hurry to make a decision.

But they soon realized something was amiss, as even lower-priced short positions began appearing in the market. Some even recognized that the traders placing these orders were members of the in-house teams for the Xini and Nanfei conglomerates.

This discovery was tantamount to concrete proof that the two conglomerates were dumping their own company’s shares.

From that moment on, the stock prices of these two conglomerates plummeted.

In just a single day, not only were the 30% gains from the previous day completely wiped out, but the shares fell another 30%.

By the close of trading, the Sini Group’s stock had fallen to £24 per share, and the Nanfei Group’s to £17 per share, dealing a severe blow to both conglomerates…

Just like with the Xini and Nanfei conglomerates, the same drama was unfolding with intense drama on the Tokyo and New York stock exchanges.

First, the media broke the news that the six major conglomerates were trapped at high prices in the Hong Kong stock market and had suffered massive losses; immediately afterward, the stock prices of these conglomerates took a devastating hit.

After all, the losses this time weren’t just a few hundred million or a few billion—they amounted to a full $100 billion.

Even though these conglomerates were financially robust, with a combined market capitalization exceeding $150 billion, such massive losses were deeply damaging and directly undermined investor confidence in them.

Faced with this situation, the conglomerates naturally refused to sit idly by. To restore investor confidence in their companies, they pulled out all the stops, each employing their own unique strategies.

First, the major conglomerates stepped forward to “debunk rumors” and offered various explanations regarding their investments in Hong Kong Island.

In plain terms, they were telling investors that their investments in Hong Kong Island were not trapped and that everything was under control.

Next, they continued to release a barrage of positive news—some true, some false—to stimulate the stock market, hoping to halt the decline and stabilize share prices.

But in Li Yi’s eyes, these self-rescue tactics were nothing but child’s play.

As a veteran who has weathered all manner of propaganda and information wars in the modern world, debunking rumors and spreading false information felt utterly unoriginal to him.

Facing these companies’ various tricks, Li Yi had his people constantly leak news about Hong Kong Island while simultaneously digging deep into the financial conditions of the major conglomerates.

Regardless of whether the information was true or false, anything that cast a negative light on the major conglomerates was released without discrimination.

False?

It didn’t matter. As long as someone believed it was true, then the information was true.

Just like how, decades ago, people believed that eating MSG caused cancer—even though Lotus MSG exhausted every possible means to refute it, they still couldn’t clear the air, nearly driving the company—which held the top market share nationwide—into bankruptcy.

The situation now is no different. Faced with a deluge of negative news, the PR departments of those major conglomerates are simply too weak to make any real difference.

Moreover, these unfavorable reports aren’t entirely groundless; there’s evidence to back up many of them.

Under these circumstances, over the next few days, the stock prices of the six conglomerates targeting the Chinese Chamber of Commerce plummeted, their market capitalization evaporated, and their credit ratings were downgraded—all facing an unprecedented crisis.

However, the executives of conglomerates like Xini and Nanfei weren’t fools; they realized that someone was undoubtedly pulling the strings behind the scenes.

After a thorough investigation, they finally uncovered some clues.

When all the evidence pointed to that young man surnamed Li on Hong Kong Island, they realized with horror that, at some point, that terrifying young man had already stolen their very homes…

……….

Downtown. Peninsula Club!

In the luxurious reception room on the top floor, soothing piano music was playing.

Near the window, Li Yi and Dolsen sat across from each other at a small round glass table, with two steaming cups of coffee placed on it.

Dawson stirred his coffee with a spoon while looking at Li Yi across from him, his expression complex.

“Mr. Dolsen, why are you looking at me like that?” Li Yi asked casually.

“Li, I knew those fools weren’t a match for you, but I never imagined they’d lose so badly,” Dolsen said with a sigh.

“Haha, we’ve already lost controlling stakes in all our companies. Sang Chai and his crew not only successfully seized control of our various companies but also forced quite a few members to voluntarily withdraw from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. It seems a bit premature to say they’ve lost!” Li Yi said with a half-smile.

Dawson glanced at Li Yi and said, “Li, we both know that Sangchai and his crew are already trapped. As you Chinese say, they’re like fish on a cutting board—helpless and at the mercy of others.”

“Besides, I’ve read today’s newspapers. With all that negative news out there, the stock prices are bound to plummet. It’s unlikely that Sangchai and his group will be able to walk away unscathed this time.”

When the stock market took a sudden turn yesterday afternoon, Dolsen realized Li Yi was about to crash the market. Knowing Li Yi as he did—a man highly skilled at leveraging public opinion—he was certain today’s newspapers and magazines would carry stories unfavorable to Sang Chai and his associates.

So, first thing this morning, he personally visited a newsstand near his residence to get a sense of the situation.

The results were exactly as he had anticipated: nearly every newspaper and magazine was reporting on the matter.

Some claimed that major companies under the Chinese Chamber of Commerce had fallen victim to hostile takeovers, with the founders and controlling families voluntarily stepping down.

Others claimed that overseas consortiums had attempted to take control of major listed companies on Hong Kong Island, only to be outmaneuvered by the Chinese businessmen and left stuck holding the bag at inflated prices.

Still others claimed that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was preparing to cut off the supply at the source by removing the entire management team, leaving Sangchai and his associates with a mess to clean up…

Although these media outlets and magazines approached the story from different angles, Dolsen could see clearly that all their reports were aimed squarely at Sangchai and his associates.

After all, none of the above news was good for Sangchai, who had just acquired a controlling stake in the Chinese-owned company. Li Yi simply wanted to warn the people of Hong Kong Island that these companies were facing major upheavals and that they must be extremely cautious when investing.

As expected, today’s stock market would undoubtedly be a scene of widespread despair, with prices plummeting across the board!

Even if the stock price were to drop by just 10%, Sangchai and his associates would lose tens of billions of Hong Kong dollars.

But given the current situation, forget a 10% drop—even if Sangchai and his associates managed to break even with the stock price halved, they’d still be laughing all the way to the bank.

Li Yi didn’t deny Dolsen’s speculation; instead, he said calmly, “Let’s not dwell on that. I asked you out today mainly to ask for a favor.”

“You want me to step in and help you acquire the shares held by Sang Chai and his group?” Dolsen asked, looking at Li Yi.

Li Yi nodded. “Exactly. If things go as expected, once Sang Chai and his group can’t hold on any longer, they’ll hand over those Huashang shares to you!”

“That way, they’d not only successfully break even but also stir up conflict between us, allowing them to sit back and watch the two of us fight it out. I’m sure you don’t want that to happen, do you?”

Dawson looked at Li Yi and said, “Li, asking for my help today is just a pretext. You’re actually worried that once our British Capital Group takes over those company shares, we’ll control them and turn against you, aren’t you?”

Li Yi’s lips curled slightly upward, and he replied with a half-smile, “Work against you… would you dare?”

Dawson shook his head with a wry smile. “No, I wouldn’t.”

To be honest, at that moment, Dolsen had no intention of opposing Li Yi or the Chinese Chamber of Commerce—nor would he dare.

Several confrontations had already made him fully aware of Li Yi’s formidable strength.

Take this recent battle, for instance, when Sang Chai and his men launched a full-scale assault on Li Yi and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Not only did Sang Chai and his group possess far greater financial resources than Li Yi, but they also had the backing of the Governor’s Office and London. It could be said they held every advantage—timing, location, and manpower.

Dawson believed that if he were in Li Yi’s shoes, he could at best minimize losses, but he could never achieve what Li Yi had.

So, realizing he was no match for Li Yi, Dowson warned himself never to cross this terrifying man.

“So, will you do me this favor?” Li Yi asked again.

“What’s in it for me if I help you?” Dolsen asked, looking at Li Yi.

“I’ll owe you a favor, or maybe I can take you along next time I have the chance!” Li Yi said.

Hearing this, Dolsen’s eyes lit up instantly, and he immediately said, “Alright, I’ll do it!”

“Good…”

After that, the two began discussing the steps and details of buying back those company shares…

……….

Far East Stock Exchange!

Just as Li Yi and Dolsen met at the Peninsula Club, the stock market opened.

Influenced by related reports in the morning newspapers and magazines, the stock prices of the former Huashang Group companies plummeted in unison right after the market opened.

Everyone knew these companies had suffered a major upheaval, making a drop in stock prices almost inevitable.

Compounded by the fact that current stock prices were clearly overvalued, retail investors, speculative capital, brokerage firms, and even figures like Sangchai were all looking to cash out as quickly as possible to cut their losses.

As is well known, when everyone wants to run, it’s easiest for a stampede to occur.

The stock market is no different. With so many people looking to cash out, it would be fine if there were buyers to take the other side of the trade.

But with a crash clearly imminent, only a fool would choose to step in and buy at this moment. Consequently, the market is currently flooded with sell orders, yet there are no buyers.

Under these circumstances, the only option is to keep lowering prices, hoping to attract investors at rock-bottom levels.

Consequently, in just a single morning, the stock prices of various companies plummeted like a runaway train, with declines exceeding 20% across the board.

And this was only the beginning. Although at noon, Sangchai and his associates asked the Governor to step in and deliver a speech, stating that the government would not allow so many companies to run into trouble and would assist the Sini Group, the Nanfei Group, and other companies in stabilizing the situation if necessary.

Sangchai and his associates had originally intended to use the Governor to calm public sentiment and stabilize stock prices, but he had clearly overestimated the Governor’s standing among the general public.

As a result, when the market reopened in the afternoon, the situation showed no signs of improvement, and stock prices continued their downward slide.

By the close of trading that afternoon, the stock prices of most of these companies had fallen by about half, and the market capitalization of some had even evaporated by 60%.

This catastrophic outcome was not entirely due to the negative news; more importantly, the stock prices of these companies were already abnormal to begin with.

After all, the current high stock prices were not the result of improved corporate performance driving natural growth; rather, they had been artificially inflated by Sangchai and others using their “financial clout.” Without actual performance to back them up, these stock prices were nothing more than castles in the air.

Now that these companies are facing turmoil, their stock prices are naturally falling and will eventually return to relatively reasonable levels.

With the sharp plunge in stock prices, Sangchai and his associates have naturally suffered massive losses.

In just a single day, the stocks they held—which were originally worth over 400 billion Hong Kong dollars—are now worth less than 200 billion.

Moreover, given the current situation, the stock price is expected to fall further tomorrow.

Sangchai and his associates realized the gravity of the situation and immediately gathered to discuss a response.

However, before they could even work out the details, bad news arrived from their parent company…

………..

Western Hemisphere. London!

Early in the morning, the London Stock Exchange at 10 Pall Mall in the city center was already teeming with people.

Ever since the London Stock Exchange merged with exchanges in Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Dublin nine years ago, its status had grown increasingly prominent, attracting more and more companies to list here and, in turn, drawing a large number of investors seeking to strike it rich.

Unlike the scattered exchanges on Hong Kong Island, the London Stock Exchange—one of the world’s four major stock exchanges—is far beyond comparison with those small exchanges on Hong Kong Island in terms of both scale and international reach.

It is the exchange with the highest number of companies listed from other countries worldwide and operates the most international stock market on the planet—a distinction even the “City of Freedom,” New York, cannot match.

Since there is still some time before the market opens, investors gather in the cafes next to the exchange, either leisurely sipping coffee or ordering a dessert for breakfast.

Others sit down with a few friends in a quiet corner to chat.

But just then, a news bulletin suddenly flashed across the café’s TV screen: the Xini Consortium and the Nanfei Consortium had issued an announcement stating that, after nearly a month of fierce competition, they had successfully secured controlling stakes in 96 listed companies under the Hong Kong Island Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Based on current market valuations, the combined market capitalization of the two companies had increased by at least 50%…

Upon hearing this news, the investors in the café could no longer sit still; they rushed one after another to the trading floor…

At nine o’clock, as the opening bell rang, the London Stock Exchange began its busy day.

Because the announcements from those two major companies were so shocking, their stock prices soared immediately upon the opening.

In just over ten minutes, the Sini Consortium’s share price soared from £36 to £39, while the Nanfei Consortium’s share price rose from £28 to £31, with both seeing gains of over 10%.

Spurred by this news, trading volume for both stocks surged.

However, investors failed to notice that as the share prices rose, orders exceeding 5,000 lots were continuously being sold off.

It was precisely because of these orders that, whenever the stock price began to rise more rapidly, these sell orders would appear in large numbers, directly affecting the pace at which the two companies’ stock prices rose.

Even so, these two conglomerates were considered today’s dark horses.

This trend continued until the market closed today, by which time the Xini Group’s share price had risen to 48 pounds, a gain of over 30%.

Meanwhile, the Nanfei Consortium’s stock price had climbed to 38 pounds, also up by more than 30%.

Even as the market was about to close, a series of large orders—each involving tens of thousands of shares—appeared, pushing the share prices down significantly.

Otherwise, judging by the market’s performance at the opening, the shares would likely have surged by more than 50%.

By the time the London Stock Exchange closed, the New York Stock Exchange had already opened.

Just as had happened here, Bayang and Felida had also released similar positive announcements prior to the opening bell.

As a result, the stock prices of these two companies shot up like rockets.

Similarly, as share prices continued to rise, a large volume of orders were placed.

On this day, these companies were undoubtedly the stars of both the London and New York stock exchanges.

However, just as these companies’ stocks were surging to unprecedented heights, undercurrents were already swirling beneath the surface, and a storm was brewing…

………

The next morning!

Li Yi was fast asleep when the phone by his bed began to ring urgently.

It rang several times before Li Yi finally opened his eyes and picked up the receiver.

“Who is this?”

“Boss, it’s me, Lan Xinming!”

Hearing the familiar voice on the line, Li Yi immediately asked, “What’s the matter, Manager Lan? Is something wrong that you’re calling me this early?”

“Mr. Li, we’ve received urgent news from London and New York. Xini, Nanfei, Bayang, and Feilida have all released positive news one after another, causing their stock prices to skyrocket. We shorted these companies yesterday and have lost over 2 billion US dollars!” Lan Xinming said.

Li Yi was taken aback for a moment, then asked, “What about the trading volume and turnover rate for those companies?”

“They’re performing exceptionally well. Trading volume for all of them has hit new highs, though the turnover rates haven’t changed much,” Lan Xinming replied.

Li Yi, on the other end of the line, immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Don’t worry about them. They’re just cashing out at the peak. We don’t need to pay attention to that. Just keep proceeding with our original plan.”

Li Yi was certain that these conglomerates had sensed the danger and were trying to push the stock prices up before the storm hit, so they could cash out a portion of their holdings.

This way, the company would secure operating capital while minimizing its own losses.

This approach was actually quite similar to the strategy he was employing this time!

Unfortunately, both the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange impose strict controls on major shareholders looking to cash out.

Furthermore, the shareholdings of these conglomerates are relatively concentrated, unlike those of companies on Hong Kong Island, where ownership is highly dispersed. Therefore, even if they wanted to cash out, they wouldn’t be able to offload much—unless they engaged in illegal activities.

But if they actually dared to do so, the massive fines alone would be enough to give them a real headache.

Lan Xinming immediately acknowledged the order, then added, “Boss, according to our plan, tens of millions of copies of newspapers and magazines have been fully distributed, and the TV interviews have already been recorded and will air shortly. Stock prices are bound to plummet in the market soon—would you like to take a look?”

“No need. Knowing those bastards, no matter how much the stock price drops, they won’t back down until they’re backed into a corner. For now, we just need to make sure no fools step in to catch their falling stock!” Li Yi said indifferently.

“Yes, sir!”

Lan Xinming continued, “Mr. Li, I just received a call from Mr. Huang. He said he has a sum of funds to transfer into the company’s investment fund and asked Manager Zhao and me to handle the paperwork. What do you think about this…”

“How much?”

“Eight hundred million dollars!”

Li Yi immediately realized that this must be the funds from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

With that in mind, he said at once, “Go ahead then. Set up a separate account for this money. Aside from taxes, we won’t charge any management fees or take a profit share.”

“Yes, sir!”

Lan Xinming assumed the boss was deliberately showing favor to Vice President Huang and didn’t think much of it.

After exchanging a few more words, they hung up.

After hanging up, Li Yi leaned back on the bed to catch his breath, then let out a soft sigh, threw on a robe, and headed to the bathroom.

He had originally planned to sleep in today, but Lan Xinming’s call had completely robbed him of his sleepiness.

Since he couldn’t sleep, he decided not to. After a quick shower, Li Yi changed into loose-fitting casual clothes and went downstairs.

He then called Dolsen himself to ask him out for a meeting.

Faced with Li Yi’s invitation, Dolsen naturally didn’t refuse and agreed immediately.

After agreeing on a time and place to meet, Li Yi left Cloudtop No. 1 under the protection of Zhang Ziqiang, Zhou Wen, and the others…

………..