Chapter 993: The Governor’s Office Backed Down!

Cloud Peak No. 1. Living Room!

Seeing Li Yi push open the door and enter, the two immediately stopped talking, stood up, and greeted him.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Li Yi asked, “Brothers-in-law, Captain Yan, what brings you here?”

His brother-in-law replied immediately, “We received an urgent message from Director Zhou this afternoon. He said the authorities back home are aware of your funding shortage. After Director Zhou and his team made a request to higher-ups, they’ve secured 800 million US dollars. The money has already been sent to Guangzhou, and we were on our way to deliver it.”

“But we just found out on the way here that you’ve already successfully fought back. I’m afraid that money won’t be needed after all!”

A wave of warmth washed over Li Yi. Family, after all—they could be counted on in a pinch.

Given the situation back home, those 800 million US dollars were likely the maximum amount the State Administration of Foreign Exchange could mobilize.

“It’s true we won’t need it now, but if the State Administration of Foreign Exchange isn’t in a hurry to use the funds, they could bring them over first to invest in some short-term opportunities and earn a little extra cash!” Li Yi said.

“Alright, we’ll get in touch with Director Zhou right away. They should be more than happy to!”

Yang Wenguang continued, “By the way, the police department has backed down!”

“Oh? Weren’t they supposed to be pretty tough? They backed down that fast?” Li Yi said sarcastically.

Yang Wenguang nodded and said, “Lin Luolan came to our security company headquarters alone this afternoon. She conveyed a message from Police Commissioner Maxley. They apologized for what happened earlier and expressed a willingness to coexist peacefully with us in the future.”

“At the same time, they promised to severely punish the leaders and key members of gangs like the Tiger Gang and the Yamaguchi-gumi, and they just want us to stop having people block the entrance to the police station!”

“Is that all?”

Li Yi then said coldly, “Things have come to this, and these foreigners are still so arrogant. Does he think he’s doing us a favor?”

Yan Guangming immediately said, “We also think they have absolutely no sincerity. Earlier, they colluded with the Yamaguchi-gumi to raid the Wan Chai Ferry Pier, causing dozens of casualties among Old Huang’s men. Now they’re acting like everything’s fine, as if nothing ever happened. They can forget about it!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Tell them this on my behalf: if they want a truce, they need to show some sincerity. First, the police department must issue a public apology and compensate the families of the victims—it’s not much, just 500,000 Hong Kong dollars per person.”

“Second, severely punish the leaders and key members of those triads. The sentences must be harsh—especially for those leaders; they can’t get less than 20 years.”

“And finally, from now on, without our permission, not a single cop is allowed to set foot near Wan Chai Pier.”

Li Yi knew full well that Lin’s visit today was by no means just on his own behalf, or on behalf of the Commissioner of Police behind him; it was very likely the old bastard at the Governor’s Office who had sent him.

Glancing at the time, the timing this afternoon was dead on.

It was obvious that they’d only decided to back down after learning that Sangchai and the others were trapped in the stock market and had played their last trump card.

“You want to fight, you fight; you want to make peace, you make peace? There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”

If you make a mistake, you have to face the consequences. When you get hit, stand at attention. If you get slapped on the left cheek, you have to turn the other one over yourself.

You want to back down but still keep up your haughty act? What are you playing at?

“We’ll pass your message on to them!” Yang Wenguang said.

Li Yi nodded, then asked again, “How’s the takeover of those gangs’ territories going?”

“I was just about to report on that. We’ve basically taken control of those gangs’ territories and assets. We’ve already divested ourselves of the parts that weren’t suitable for our operations, and the profits from this operation have been tallied!”

Yang Wenguang continued, “From those syndicates, we’ve seized assets totaling 120 million Hong Kong dollars, 10.8 million US dollars, and 16.99 million British pounds, along with 867 catties of gold and two large crates of jewelry. On top of that, we’ve acquired over 300 properties and commercial spaces.”

“After processing, we currently have a total of 620 million Hong Kong dollars, 10.8 million US dollars, 16.99 million British pounds, and over a hundred properties and commercial spaces!”

Li Yi nodded and said, “Set aside half of the cash as bonuses to distribute among the brothers at the security company. As for how to allocate it, that’s up to you!”

“Half the cash amounts to over 300 million Hong Kong dollars—isn’t that a bit too much?” Yang Wenguang asked.

“Too much? Don’t forget that the guys did different jobs—it’s only fair they earn a bit more!” Li Yi replied.

“Got it. We’ll make the arrangements as soon as we get back!”

Li Yi nodded, then asked, “By the way, have those top-tier triad groups in the city made any moves?”

Yang Wenguang replied immediately, “As you instructed, we’ve ceded part of our territory to them and made it clear that we won’t get involved in underworld business, nor do we intend to disrupt the underground order on Hong Kong Island.”

“They were all satisfied with that and have shown us clear goodwill. Lately, our security firm has been getting a steady stream of orders, and a significant portion of them are from those top-tier syndicates.”

“That’s the spirit. The underworld isn’t about fighting and killing—it’s about human relations and social etiquette!”

Li Yi then added, “You must constantly remind the brothers that we’re not here to act like thugs fighting over turf in the streets. It’s fine to pick up a weapon occasionally to defend our rights, but we can’t make that our main business!”

“We won’t get involved in those shady businesses now, and we won’t in the future. Don’t lump us in with those thugs and hoodlums!”

“Understood!” Yang Wenguang and Yan Guangming said in unison.

Then, Li Yi changed the subject and turned to Yang Wenguang. “Brother-in-law, barring any surprises, things here should be wrapped up in about a month and a half. I’ll be heading back to Beijing then—would you like to come along and take a look?”

“Sure! I’ve been wanting to go back for ages!”

“Then start getting ready. I’ll let you know in advance before we leave!” Li Yi said.

“Got it!”

Yang Wenguang glanced at his watch and saw it was nearly seven o’clock. “It’s getting late,” he said. “We’ll head back for now. If anything comes up, we’ll come back and report to you!”

“Alright, I’ve had a long day too, so I won’t keep you any longer!” Li Yi said with a smile.

“Alright…”

After seeing off his sister’s husband and Yan Guangming, Li Yi slumped onto the sofa, looking slightly exhausted, as he pondered the situation ahead.

Now that they had crushed both the underworld and the authorities, and the Governor’s Office had backed down, the London politicians’ plan to eliminate the Chinese Merchants’ Association had completely fallen apart.

Moreover, after this battle, they would undoubtedly have a new appreciation for the Chinese Merchants’ Association’s strength and influence on Hong Kong Island. Unless they considered sending reinforcements to the island, those politicians likely wouldn’t—and wouldn’t dare—to provoke them again.

However, the final stretch is always the hardest; whether this battle ends in a perfect victory depends on the next moves.

As long as they successfully corner those conglomerates into a dead end, forcing them to voluntarily withdraw from the Hong Kong stock market, this battle will be considered a complete victory.

Li Yi was, however, vaguely concerned about that Dolsen fellow. As a third-party force in this major conflict, the British-funded conglomerate had also made a killing this time around.

Although it’s impossible to accurately estimate exactly how much they’ve made during this period, it’s likely in the range of tens of billions of Hong Kong dollars.

Combined with their existing capital, the funds under Dolsons’ control likely exceed 100 billion Hong Kong dollars.

If those overseas conglomerates were to transfer their shares to Dalson while cutting their losses and exiting the market, the situation would indeed become quite difficult to handle.

He could, of course, launch an attack on the British-owned conglomerate through the stock market to force them into submission.

But the Hong Kong stock market was already in a precarious state; Li Yi feared that launching a series of large-scale stock battles might cause the market to collapse entirely.

With that in mind, Li Yi felt it was necessary to have a talk with Dolsen.

Just as Li Yi was pondering how to bring this to a perfect conclusion, the London stock market was in turmoil, with a storm brewing…

………

Starlight Tower. Conference Room!

After leaving the exchange, Li Yi didn’t return to Cloud Peak No. 1, but instead went to the company.

When he arrived, Pang Feiyan, Yang Qian, Zhao Xinlan, Lan Xinming, Liang He, and the others—who had returned ahead of him—were already waiting for him in the conference room.

After returning to the office, these employees had spread the word about Li Yi’s dramatic comeback and stunning turnaround. Now, every one of the thousands of employees at Star Investment knew of their boss’s heroic exploits—how he had dominated the stock market and soundly defeated those foreign financial conglomerates.

As a result, when Li Yi walked up from the lobby just moments ago, both male and female employees looked at him with eyes full of admiration.

And when they saw Li Yi push open the door, the group—who had been enthusiastically discussing the recent battle—suddenly broke into spontaneous applause.

“Clap, clap, clap…”

This applause was directed both at Li Yi, their big boss and commander-in-chief, and at themselves.

After all, when they learned they would be facing a joint assault by six major overseas conglomerates—backed by the Governor’s Office, the police, and London politicians—everyone in the company had been deeply concerned.

After all, the disparity in strength between the two sides was vast; let alone routing the enemy, it was uncertain whether they could even defend themselves.

But under the strategic planning of their boss, Li Yi, those overseas conglomerates—despite holding all the advantages—suddenly found themselves on the losing end.

Now, with their main forces trapped and suffering heavy losses, they have been utterly defeated!

Meanwhile, Starry Sky had pulled off a stunning upset victory, defeating a far stronger opponent. One word: exhilarating!

Li Yi understood how everyone was feeling at that moment. With a smile on his face, he walked to the head of the table, bowed to all the executives in the conference room, and then took his seat.

Then, clearing his throat, he said, “Everyone has worked hard during this period. I won’t shortchange any of you—bonuses are guaranteed.”

“However, the battle isn’t over yet, so it’s not time to hand out rewards just yet. Let’s get down to business first!”

Hearing this, the smiles immediately faded from everyone’s faces, and all eyes turned to Li Yi.

“Manager Zhao, how much is currently in the company’s accounts?”

Zhao Xinlan was clearly well-prepared and replied immediately, “Boss, the company currently has a total of 402.748 billion Hong Kong dollars in its accounts. This includes 47.6 billion in self-raised funds, 50 billion borrowed from the Chamber of Commerce, 96 billion in your personal funds, and 209.148 billion in profits from this operation!”

Hearing this, everyone in the conference room couldn’t help but gasp in astonishment.

Good grief, that’s over 200 billion Hong Kong dollars—equivalent to the total market capitalization of all the companies under the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Amidst the shock, everyone couldn’t help but observe a silent three-minute moment of mourning for those overseas conglomerates—after all, every single cent of this money had been wrested from them.

And that wasn’t even the full story. Aside from Star Investment, the other members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce had also made a killing.

If you added up all that money, it would likely amount to no less than three or four hundred billion Hong Kong dollars. Those people had really taken a massive hit this time.

Observing the expressions on everyone’s faces, Li Yi’s lips curled slightly upward, though he wasn’t as shocked as the others.

A profit of 209.1 billion was certainly substantial, but it was in Hong Kong dollars; converted to US dollars, it amounted to just over 20 billion—roughly equivalent to his previous earnings on the London futures market.

Not to mention, he had sacrificed Hang Seng Bank to secure this money—a loss that was no small matter either.

He tapped his desk lightly, signaling for everyone to quiet down.

Li Yi then turned his gaze to Pang Feiyan and asked, “Feiyan, how are things going on your end?”

“Reporting to the boss, our team has arrived at the designated location and has already completed the stock lending for those companies. However, due to the time difference, only the London market is about to open; we’ll have to wait for New York and Tokyo. And… and…”

“And what?” Li Yi asked urgently.

“And because the situation was unclear earlier, we didn’t mobilize the media yet. Even if we give the order now, it’ll probably take until tomorrow to see any results!” Pang Feiyan said.

“No rush. Have them go all out to short the stock prices of those six companies. I’ll have people coordinate with them!” Li Yi said in a deep voice.

“Yes!”

That’s right—this was Li Yi’s counterattack against those major overseas financial conglomerates.

If those guys could travel thousands of miles to Hong Kong to hunt him down, Li Yi certainly couldn’t just sit back and take the blows. He had to take the initiative and strike at the heart of their operations.

When one’s strength is insufficient, one can bide one’s time and conserve energy.

But now that he had trapped all of their main capital and had cashed out a massive amount of his own funds, he was fully armed and well-supplied—so he was ready to strike back.

To paraphrase a famous saying by Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che: “From now on, the roles of attacker and defender have reversed; if the enemy can come to us, we can go to them.”

Before finalizing the plan to close the net, Li Yi dispatched several elite teams to London, New York, and Tokyo—he intended to short-sell these six major conglomerates.

The reason for targeting these three locations is that the Xini and Nanfei conglomerates are listed in London, while Bayang and Feilida are listed in New York; Donglian and Dayang, meanwhile, are based in South Korea.

Li Yi believed that as long as his side trapped the capital of these major conglomerates and prevented them from breaking even, it would inevitably affect the operations of their parent companies.

At that point, all he would need to do is leverage the local media to stir up a minor public outcry, which would inevitably cause these companies’ stock prices to plummet in a short period of time.

By positioning himself in advance and shorting these conglomerates’ stocks, he was sure to make a fortune.

Of course, Li Yi’s move was not merely about making money; more importantly, it was to force those major conglomerates to comply.

Once their parent companies come under attack—with stock prices plummeting, market capitalization evaporating, and even control of the companies at risk—they will naturally have no time to spare for Hong Kong Island.

At the same time, to protect their parent companies, they would likely be forced to cut their losses and sell off shares to bail out their parent companies.

In military strategy, this is known as attacking where the enemy must come to the rescue!

But across the entire Hong Kong Island region, the only entity capable of absorbing such a massive stake in their companies was the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

At that point, how to handle them would be entirely up to Li Yi.

This is precisely why Li Yi forbade Chamber members from making private contact with those individuals.

As for Li Yi’s arrangements, Pang Feiyan and the others naturally had no objections. Li Yi’s prowess in investment was plain for all to see; who would dare question his decisions? That would be like showing off a sword in front of Guan Yu.

Seeing that no one objected, Li Yi proceeded to outline the company’s strategic layout and key considerations before leaving the office with a satisfied air.

However, as soon as Li Yi returned home, he saw his older sister’s husband, Yang Wenguang, and Yan Guangming sitting in the living room, seemingly waiting for him…

……….

While Sangchai and his group were in a panic in VIP Room No. 3, a completely different scene was unfolding in VIP Room No. 9 diagonally across from them.

With the exception of a few members who had played along with Sangchai and his crew, the entire Chinese Chamber of Commerce was present. At that moment, every member was cheering loudly, as joyful as if it were New Year’s.

Just moments ago, following Li Yi’s public apology in the trading hall, the stock prices of the over ninety listed companies affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce had plummeted at a staggering rate.

“Brother Li Yi, the stock prices have fallen—we’ve won!”

“Mr. Li, we’ve won. Congratulations!”

“Mr. Li, thank you for saving the Guo family. Thank you…”

“Mr. Li…”

Listening to the endless stream of thanks and congratulations, Li Yi was deeply moved.

After planning for so long, he had finally closed the net.

Although those bastards across the way hadn’t yet fallen to their knees begging for mercy, their defeat was a foregone conclusion—not even a god could save them now.

The current stock price drop is just the beginning. If things go as expected, in the coming days, these companies’ stock prices will plummet in a spectacular “three-thousand-foot cascade.”

As for the hundreds of billions those bastards have poured in, they’d be lucky to salvage even a third of it.

You must understand that for any publicly listed company, corporate interests are deeply intertwined with those of the founder or the powerful family behind them.

Often, even the slightest stir involving the founder or their family can have a massive impact on the company’s stock price.

Take, for example, the sudden scandal involving the CEO of a certain e-commerce giant. As a result, the company’s stock price plummeted, dropping from $43 to $19 in a very short period, causing $7 billion in market value to vanish overnight.

Another example is when the CEO and his wife of a certain real estate company divorced; the company’s stock price plummeted that very day and has never recovered to its previous level since.

And when the CEO of a certain tech company sold off shares of his own company, cashing out a few hundred million dollars, the stock price plummeted by tens of dollars that very day, causing the market cap to evaporate by $160 billion in an instant.

This clearly shows just how significant the influence of a company’s founder is on its stock price…

And these are just minor scandals. In comparison, the current situation facing these Chinese companies is far more serious—we’re talking about founders directly walking away from their companies, saying, “I’m done with this!”

Anyone with a brain knows these companies are about to face a prolonged adjustment period. At that point, forget about profits—it’s even uncertain whether they’ll survive.

On top of that, the current stock prices of these companies are far above their actual value.

If you don’t bail out now, when will you? If you wait too long, you might not be able to escape at all.

Consequently, a stock price crash, a shrinking market cap, and investor losses are inevitable.

“Ding-ding-ding!!!”

Once the crowd’s excitement had subsided a bit, Li Yi raised both hands in a gesture of calm and said, “Everyone, please quiet down…”

Hearing Li Yi’s voice, the crowd in the VIP lounge gradually quieted down, and everyone’s gaze fixed on him.

“Everyone, although the prey has been caught, we haven’t yet skinned and gutted it, so don’t let your guard down. It’s not time to celebrate just yet!” Li Yi declared loudly.

“Brother Li Yi is right. We must press our advantage and pursue the enemy to the end; we must not seek empty glory like the tyrant. We can’t be like those fools across the table!” Li Fu Tiao chimed in.

“Mr. Li once said that our goal isn’t just to trap them, but to keep their money while ensuring they lose everything they own. So this isn’t over yet!” said Bao Chuanwang.

“Mr. Li, what should we do next?”

“That’s right, Mr. Li, give the order. We’ll all follow your lead…”

Li Yi motioned for everyone to quiet down again, then cleared his throat and said, “I’ve already drawn up the follow-up plan. Starting tomorrow, we’ll mobilize all our resources to drive down the stock prices of every company—using methods including, but not limited to, public relations campaigns and cutting off business partnerships—and we’ll see this market crash through to the end!”

“At the same time, no matter who approaches you to take over the original company’s shares, and no matter how low their offer, you must not accept it!”

Upon hearing this, Bao Chuanwang couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t we driving down the stock prices precisely to buy at rock-bottom prices and regain control of the company? Why can’t we accept the offer?”

Li Yi replied immediately, “Because the other side hasn’t been cornered yet. The price we’re being offered now is certainly not the lowest possible, so we absolutely cannot accept it.”

“Furthermore, in a situation like this, we must act in unison. If anyone deals with them privately, it could very well disrupt my overall plan.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Futiao immediately shouted, “Brother Li Yi is right. We must act in unison on matters like this. Only if we stand united and refuse to be the fall guys will they be forced to keep lowering their price.”

“Exactly! Only by cornering them can we make them lose their shirts!” He Dongying shouted.

“We’ll all follow Mr. Li’s lead. Anyone who dares to contact those people privately will no longer be a member of our Chinese Chamber of Commerce…”

Listening to everyone voicing their support one after another, Li Yi felt both delighted and grateful.

While his strategic planning had certainly played a role in inflicting such a crushing defeat on those foreign conglomerates, the support of the people standing before him was even more crucial.

Had even half of them not backed him, this battle would never have been such a resounding victory.

In fact, Sang Chai and the others didn’t lose unfairly. After all, no one could have imagined that these Chinese merchants would go so far as to make such a desperate decision for Li Yi’s sake—selling their life’s work and even their ancestral estates to him.

While Li Yi’s astonishing promise to cover all losses and the backing of the great red power behind him certainly played a role, one cannot overlook the trust these people placed in him.

With these people throwing their full support behind him, it was nothing short of a pipe dream for those with ulterior motives to try to bring them down.

Now that the main capital of these overseas conglomerates was trapped, and the gangs doing their dirty work had been rounded up by Shield Security, the Governor’s Office and the police department had suffered a severe blow to their prestige, their reputations now in tatters. The politicians in London had, in a word, lost everything.

However, Li Yi was not the type to take a beating without fighting back. Now that these people had lost their ability to strike, it was his turn to strike back.

“Ring-ring-ring…”

Just as Li Yi was deep in thought, a piercing electric bell suddenly rang out from outside.

Seeing this, Li Yi said, “Everyone, the net has been cast. Now we’ll see just how big the catch is. That’s all for today—see you tomorrow!”

With that, Li Yi strode out of the VIP lounge under the protection of Zhang Ziqiang and the others.

Coincidentally, just as Li Yi and his group passed by VIP Room No. 3, the tightly closed door suddenly swung open.

Li Yi then saw Sangchai and the others emerge from inside.

But unlike their confident demeanor from earlier that morning, everyone—including Sangchai—now looked pale and had furrowed brows, resembling frightened stray dogs living in constant fear.

Sang Chai and the others also spotted Li Yi, but this time they didn’t approach him to provoke him. They didn’t even dare to meet his gaze, fearing he might come forward to mock them.

Li Yi, of course, had no desire to engage with them. In his eyes, these people were nothing more than cowards—not even worth a second glance.

Besides, he had more important matters to attend to.

Therefore, he merely cast a casual glance at Sang Chai and the others, then strode purposefully toward the exit of the exchange…

………..

“What? You’ve acquired another 12% of Wharf Holdings?”

“Yes, boss. According to our preliminary investigation, Mr. Yang was supposed to hold only 3% of the shares, but we never expected his stake to be as high as 12%. Moreover, he’s willing to transfer all his shares to us—it’s truly a pleasant surprise…”

Just as the subordinate was proudly reporting his achievements to Sangchai, he failed to notice that Sangchai’s expression was growing increasingly grim.

This team had been dispatched earlier that morning with the objective of contacting Kowloon Wharf’s minority shareholders to acquire all the small stakes they held.

After all, before the market opened, they hadn’t anticipated that Li Yi and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce would unexpectedly cease their resistance. To ensure they could successfully secure controlling stakes in those key companies, they had dispatched a total of 12 such acquisition teams.

If this had happened a few days ago, Sangchai and his team would undoubtedly have been overjoyed to acquire such a large stake in Wharf Holdings in one fell swoop.

But Sangchai couldn’t muster a single ounce of joy at this moment. The reason was that today, through the stock market alone, they had acquired 18% of Wharf Holdings in a single transaction. Combined with their previous acquisitions, their total stake had already exceeded the threshold for a controlling interest.

If this 12% stake were added, their total ownership would reach 72%, far exceeding the 51% required for a controlling stake.

Conversely, after accounting for the shares held by retail investors, speculative capital, and brokerage firms, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s stake was pitifully small—perhaps not even 10%.

This gave Sang Chai a vague sense of foreboding…

Suddenly, Sangchai thought of the other dozen or so groups. If they all managed to secure large stakes as smoothly as this group had just done, things would get complicated.

With that thought, Sangchai hurriedly shouted, “Sanchez, contact Basang, Udan, and the others immediately. Stop acquiring any shares in Chinese-owned companies—now!”

Although Sanchez didn’t understand why his older brother—and immediate superior—had suddenly issued such an order, he hurried out to contact the teams.

Watching Sanchez’s retreating figure, Sangchai silently prayed that there would still be time…

The others in the room, who had been celebrating their “victory,” fell silent upon seeing Sang Chai’s grave expression, and all eyes turned to him.

“Mr. Sangchai, has something happened? Why do you look so grim?” Monroe asked, looking puzzled.

After a brief silence, Sangchai said in a low voice, “Something’s not right. We might have been tricked!”

Fooled?

Hearing this, Monroe, Michiko, and the others were stunned. Everything had been fine just a moment ago—how could they have suddenly been tricked?

“Mr. Sangchai, what do you mean? What kind of trap have we fallen into?” Michiko asked urgently.

“Our current shareholding percentage is too high—that’s not normal!” Sangchai said.

“Isn’t a high shareholding ratio a good thing? Doesn’t that make it easier for us to control those companies?” Michiko asked.

“No. Our primary purpose in acquiring these companies’ shares isn’t the companies themselves, but to use them to pressure the Chinese business elites behind them—to force them to withdraw from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and sever ties with Li Yi!”

Sangchai continued, “But if those people dump all their shares, we’ll lose the leverage we have over them. In that case, these companies won’t just be meaningless to us—they’ll actually become a burden and a weakness!”

Monroe and the others weren’t fools; anyone sent to carry out such a mission was bound to be a shrewd operator.

Upon careful reflection, they realized the truth.

Indeed, they had invested a colossal sum of over 460 billion Hong Kong dollars with the sole purpose of gaining control over these Chinese-owned companies to achieve the political objective of dismantling the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

However, now that these Chinese businessmen have sold all their shares to them, their vulnerability has vanished.

On the contrary, now that they had become the major shareholders of these companies, the rise and fall of their stock prices was directly tied to their own interests. The very capital they had originally used to control the Chinese businessmen had instantly become their own Achilles’ heel.

At the same time, there is an even more serious problem: if, at this point, those Chinese businessmen—in their capacity as company founders or chairmen—were to expose some unsavory matters, the stock prices would inevitably plummet.

Given that current stock prices are already as fragile as a bubble, the consequences of such a scenario would be catastrophic.

“Mr. Sangchai, are you worried that those Chinese businessmen might dump their shares?” Monroe asked, his voice trembling slightly.

“It’s not a matter of worry. If this is a trap set by someone like Li Yi, they will certainly do this—and it’s the only way they can regain control of the company!” Sangchai said in a low voice.

“This… this is trouble. If they dump their shares, our losses could be beyond imagination…”

Before Monroe could finish, Sangchai hurriedly interrupted, “Tell the traders to dump some of our shares immediately. We need to offload them as quickly as possible before the stock price plummets…”

But before he could finish, the door to the VIP room swung open, and everyone watched as Sanchez rushed in, his face ashen.

“It’s over… it’s over! The stock price has plummeted!”

Seeing this, Sangchai immediately shouted angrily, “BB Xi TR Sanchez, what on earth happened? Why did the stock price suddenly drop?”

Sanchez shuddered at Sang Chai’s shout.

He stood there for a moment to compose himself, then replied immediately: “Just a moment ago, Li Yi led Chinese business tycoons from the He, Bao, and Li families into the trading floor. They publicly bowed to all investors to apologize, announcing that due to our hostile takeover, their families had liquidated all their shares in the companies and would be completely withdrawing from Wharf Holdings, Hongniao Real Estate,Longheng Bank, Hang Seng Bank, and other companies. At the same time, the executives from these major families serving in management roles at these companies are also being withdrawn. As soon as the news broke, the stock prices of these companies plummeted suddenly—and the decline couldn’t be stopped…”

Upon hearing Sanchez’s response, the crowd—which had been cheering just moments before—turned deathly pale, whiter than corpses that had lain in a morgue for three years.

Although they might not have known that one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems of China is called “Removing the Firewood from Under the Pot,” they understood the purpose behind Li Yi and his associates’ actions: to crash the market.

Moreover, they were well aware of the severity of the consequences—a stock market crash can sometimes be more terrifying than an avalanche…

“Mr. Sang, what should we do now? Think of a solution, quick!” Monroe said in a panicked tone.

To take down Li Yi and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, their company had not only committed all its available cash but also borrowed 3 billion US dollars from banks. If this investment failed, their company would inevitably face an unprecedented financial crisis.

Michiko was also pacing anxiously like a cat on a hot tin roof. Although her company was slightly stronger than Monroe’s, the investment amount was even larger—a full 8 billion US dollars.

If this investment resulted in massive losses, the blow to their company would be fatal.

Sangchai was also at a loss at this moment. He had realized that he had walked right into the trap Li Yi had carefully laid, and he was filled with regret.

He hated himself for being so arrogant, and he hated that Li fellow for being so cunning.

He had assumed that even if Li Yi were acting out of political considerations, he wouldn’t easily give up controlling stakes in those companies. Yet he never imagined that not only would Li Yi relinquish control, but he would even sell the companies outright to them.

Now that the other side was aggressively dumping shares, and they lacked sufficient funds to prop up the stock price, losses were inevitable.

Once the stock price plummeted, the other party would seize the opportunity to buy at rock-bottom prices, and control of the company might well return to their hands.

Through this entire maneuver, the other side wouldn’t suffer any losses—on the contrary, they’d make a huge profit.

Conversely, not only have they failed to fulfill the political mission assigned by London, but they’ve also lost everything they had.

Sangchai felt as if thunder had struck him—he was finished… no, all these major conglomerates were finished…

……….

Tuesday, October 26—an auspicious day for all undertakings!

At 8:30 a.m., accompanied by Zhang Ziqiang and the others, Li Yi arrived at the stock exchange.

Whether by design or not, the moment Li Yi and his group stepped through the exchange’s doors, they saw Sang Chai emerge from VIP Room No. 3 with a group of men and women, blocking Li Yi’s path.

Seeing this, Zhang Ziqiang and the others immediately shielded Li Yi behind them, their hands instinctively reaching for their waists.

The bodyguards surrounding Sangchai were startled and reacted immediately.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

The investors around them, who had originally been there to gawk at the spectacle, all stepped back in unison upon witnessing this scene.

It’s fine to watch the spectacle, but you certainly don’t want to risk your life—otherwise, you’d be losing out big time.

Sang Chai’s expression darkened, and he hurriedly said, “Li, don’t get the wrong idea. We just want to have a few words with you; we mean no harm.”

A cold smile flashed across Li Yi’s face. He took a step forward, weaving his way between Zhang Ziqiang and Zhou Wen, and stood directly in front of Sang Chai.

“What do you want to say?”

“Li, the situation is now quite clear. If you’re willing to concede defeat and dissolve the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, we’ll consider halting our attack and sparing your Star Company,” Sang Chai said with an air of arrogance.

Michiko, standing nearby, immediately chimed in, “Mr. Li, there’s an old saying in China: ‘Those who recognize the times are the true heroes…’”

But before he could finish, Li Yi cut him off, his tone icy: “You must have crawled out of that dead man’s grave—how come you’ve got so much bullshit spewing out of you?”

“Bastard, Mr. Li, you’re being so disrespectful…”

“Are you sewer-dwelling vermin even human?” Li Yi said with contempt.

“Mr. Li…”

“Shut up. Say another word, and I’ll slap you across the face.”

After that, Li Yi ignored this Korean green tea bitch and fixed his gaze on Sangchai across from him, saying coldly, “I admit you currently have the upper hand, but what China lacks least is the spirit to shatter like jade rather than be shattered like tiles. Besides, the battle isn’t over yet—we might still have a chance to turn the tables!”

“Turn the tide… Hah!”

Sang Chai continued, “Li, you’re being too naive. Setting aside whether you even have the ability to turn the tables, even if you did, I wouldn’t give you the chance—unless a miracle happens.”

Li Yi gave a cold laugh. “A miracle, you say? I forgot to mention—I’m a master at creating miracles!”

“And let me tell you one more thing: I’m not afraid of anyone’s challenge. What doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger!”

After dropping that line, Li Yi turned on his heel with a flourish and strode toward VIP Room No. 9 directly ahead, leaving Sang Chai and the others standing there in stunned disbelief.

This scene was clearly witnessed by the onlookers and captured by numerous reporters…

……..

“Ring, ring, ring…”

As the opening bell rang, another day of fierce competition began.

Thanks to the massive financial backing they’d received, Sang Chai and his team had ample ammunition. As soon as the market opened, they raised their stock acquisition price once again, delivering a sharp warning to Starry Sky Company.

However, Star Company didn’t back down. By sacrificing some positions to protect their core holdings, they managed to recoup a significant amount of capital and quickly raised their bid price in response.

Meanwhile, the speculative retail investors and brokerage firms who had been sitting on the sidelines saw how fiercely the two sides were competing. Realizing the stock price wouldn’t drop anytime soon, they rushed in to snap up shares, hoping to get a piece of the action.

After building the atmosphere to a fever pitch, Li Yi immediately ordered the shareholders of several companies to execute the “Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell” plan, systematically selling off their holdings in each company.

To avoid arousing the suspicion of Sangchai and his associates, the volume of each sale was kept small. Furthermore, whenever a sell order appeared, Star Company’s traders would engage in fierce bidding wars with others.

Their energetic performance certainly paid off. Coupled with the large number of retail investors and speculative capital entering the market to create chaos, it confused Sangchai and his associates, leaving them completely unaware that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was rushing to exit the market.

Meanwhile, in order to secure controlling stakes in the final seven companies as quickly as possible, Sangchai’s team soon approached the other shareholders of several major companies.

After all, the number of shares in free float on the market was limited; for most companies, it accounted for only about 30% of the total shares, and even at the high end, it did not exceed 50%.

If Sangchai and his team wanted to secure controlling stakes in these companies, they ultimately had to find a way off the market, and those small shareholders became their targets.

They had previously sent people to approach these minority shareholders, but the results were not promising.

Although these minority shareholders hadn’t explicitly rejected them, they hadn’t relinquished their shares either, clearly choosing to wait and see.

But now that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was suffering a series of defeats and looked on the verge of being completely crushed, coupled with the fact that Sangchai and his associates now had ample funds to offer higher prices, they were determined to secure these minority shareholders at all costs.

And things unfolded exactly as Sangchai and his associates had anticipated: when their representatives approached those small shareholders, the latter’s stance softened considerably.

When they offered a purchase price far above market value, those minority shareholders decisively surrendered.

In less than a day, they successfully secured more than twenty small shareholders across seven companies, instantly becoming the major shareholders of these firms.

However, under Li Yi’s deliberate manipulation, although they had become major shareholders, they still fell short of the controlling stake.

Over the next two days, Li Yi once again drove up the stock prices of these companies.

He believed that Sang Chai and his group were on the verge of success; with “victory” within reach, they would certainly continue to follow suit.

Sure enough, upon seeing Starry Sky raise the stock prices of these companies once more, Sangchai and his group did not hesitate for a moment and immediately followed suit.

Moreover, in an effort to outmaneuver Starry Sky, they drove the stock prices even higher, hoping to seize controlling stakes in these companies in one fell swoop.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Li Yi decisively issued the order to make the final exit!

Following Li Yi’s order, the shares held by Starry Company were rapidly sold off.

By the time Sang Chai and his associates realized something was amiss, Star Company had already cashed out all its holdings in these companies.

VIP Room No. 3!

When Sang Chai and the others learned of the situation, they were all taken aback.

The people from Star Company had actually given up the fight and proactively cashed out to exit the market.

This left Sang Chai and his team, who had been waiting to seize control of the company, somewhat dumbfounded; at a time when they should have been celebrating, they found themselves unable to feel any joy.

After all, Star Corporation had previously demonstrated an unwavering resolve to fight to the end; they didn’t seem like the type to give up easily, and Sang Chai and his group didn’t believe Li Yi would surrender without a fight.

After all, if they gave up the fight, these companies would all fall into their hands. At that point, the Chinese business community on Hong Kong Island would be forced to side with them, and there would be no further obstacles to dissolving the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Compared to the economic losses, the significance of this matter was far greater. It seemed Li Yi would not—and could not—give up; the Red Empire behind him would not allow him to do so.

Yet, it was precisely this seemingly impossible scenario that actually unfolded.

In short, Starry Sky’s sudden exit caught Sang Chai and his associates completely off guard.

But considering Starry Sky’s current predicament—besieged on all sides—even if they fought to the bitter end, their fate wouldn’t be much better. It was better to cash out while the stock price was still high; at the very least, they could walk away with a hefty profit.

This… seemed to be their only—and best—option!

And someone as smart as Li Yi naturally understood all this and knew exactly what to do.

With that realization, Sangchai and the others felt a sense of relief and immediately began cheering in the VIP lounge.

However, their good mood didn’t last more than a few minutes before they received an unexpected piece of news. Upon hearing it, Sang Chai and the others in VIP Room No. 3 were left completely dumbfounded…

………

City Center. Li Family Mansion!

Just as the entire nation was writing off the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the massive reception hall at the Li Family Estate was teeming with people, a gathering of top-tier figures.

All 32 members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce were present, including the nine who had already announced their “resignation.”

Contrary to the outside world’s expectations of a scene of utter despair, the atmosphere in the reception hall was neither heavy nor oppressive. Instead, everyone was chatting and laughing, as if it weren’t their own companies that had lost control.

“Thump, thump, thump…”

As a series of steady, synchronized footsteps echoed through the room, the crowd engaged in conversation fell silent, and the once chaotic lounge gradually grew quiet.

“Click!”

The door to the reception room swung open, and immediately everyone saw Li Yi and Li Futiao stride in, flanked by several bodyguards in black.

Upon reaching the head of the table, Li Yi and Li Futao immediately took their seats.

Glancing at the BB Xi TR group before him, Li Yi said with a smile, “Congratulations to all of you on your rolling in of wealth and massive profits during this period!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhou Fu, the owner of Zhou’s Jewelry, chimed in with a laugh, “It’s all thanks to Mr. Li. If it weren’t for those bastards targeting you, our little company wouldn’t have caught their attention, and we certainly wouldn’t have been able to sell at such a high price!”

“Hahaha, you’ve really hit the jackpot this time, Old Zhou. Zhou’s Jewelry was originally valued at just 300 million Hong Kong dollars, but now it’s skyrocketed to 1.2 billion. You cashed out 400 million by selling just 25% of your shares—and with the shares you still hold, you’ve truly made a killing!”

“Why are you envious of me, Old Feng? Your Feng family cashed out over 8 billion this time, and the cost was less than 20% of your shares. We never realized Feng Group’s shares were so valuable—if we’d known, we would’ve snapped some up earlier!”

“That’s nothing compared to the Guos. Their Ling Shi was practically on the brink of bankruptcy, but now the stock price has tripled—and the family has cashed out over 8 billion. It’s like they just dumped that mess on those bastards. Everyone in the industry is green with envy!”

“If you ask me, Li Sheng is the real mastermind. With that one move—sacrificing the rook to save the king—he’s got those guys spinning in circles. They still think they’ve won, but little do they know they’re the biggest losers!”

“Exactly. They really think that just because they lost control of those companies, our Chinese Chamber of Commerce will disband? What a joke! With all this cash we’ve cashed out, we can set up a new company anytime!”

“Exactly. Our Hong Kong stock market was already short on development capital, but now that all this money’s pouring in, there’s no way it’s going anywhere…”

As everyone chimed in with their thoughts and opinions, Li Yi at the head of the table, along with Li Futao, He Dongying, and the others, all wore broad smiles.

That’s right—all of this was orchestrated by Li Yi.

He knew full well that competing with Sang Chai and his group on sheer capital was a losing battle—even with assistance from Beijing. After all, our foreign exchange reserves were limited; even if we poured every last bit into supporting him, it would be nothing more than a drop in the bucket.

Therefore, he decided to go all out—to fight to the death and emerge victorious.

According to Li Yi’s plan, once the stock price was driven up, he would sell off the majority of the company’s shares under the pretext of “sacrificing the pawns to save the king.” Sangchai and his group, determined to completely crush the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, would inevitably buy up every share offered.

In this way, they would cash out at the peak and secure a massive influx of funds.

Of course, the cost would be losing control of the company—but that would only be temporary.

Once the other side’s funds were exhausted, the tables would turn.

With that in mind, Li Yi pressed his palms together in a gesture of silence.

Once the room had quieted down, he said, “According to the latest intelligence we’ve received, Sangchai’s side has just received a large injection of funds. Barring any surprises, they will soon launch their final, all-out assault.”

“Mr. Li, are you saying it’s our turn to make our move?” Bao Chuanwang said, sounding somewhat excited.

Over the past period, various companies had made a fortune by cashing out their own shares, and they were all green with envy.

Most importantly, compared to those smaller companies, the Bao family’s Wharf Holdings was not only much larger in scale but had also seen a massive surge in its stock price during this period—rising to about five times its pre-conflict level, with a market capitalization exceeding 90 billion Hong Kong dollars.

Currently, the Bao family still held a 33% stake in Wharf Holdings. Even if they cashed out just half of it, that would amount to over 10 billion. Adding the more than 10 billion they’d already cashed out in recent months, the Bao family could profit by tens of billions from this single move alone. He couldn’t wait any longer.

The others, just like “Ship King” Bao, looked at Li Yi with eager anticipation.

Amid their expectant gazes, Li Yi nodded and said, “Soon, they will intensify their attacks on core companies like Wharf Holdings, Hang Seng Bank, and Ho Group. The stock prices of the remaining companies will inevitably rise again, and that’s when we can begin cashing out in an orderly manner.”

“Furthermore, Sang Chai’s people will certainly reach out privately to those small and medium-sized shareholders to buy out their shares. They might even have Old Feng and Old Lin step in to make the arrangements. When that happens, don’t hesitate—sell your shares as quickly as possible. This time, we’re going to completely drain their funds!”

Li Futiao sighed and said, “Although we’ll make a lot of money this way, all these listed companies will end up belonging to them.”

Upon hearing this, the previously lively atmosphere in the reception room fell instantly silent.

But just then, Li Yi spoke calmly, “This is only temporary. In a month at most, these companies will all be back in our hands!”

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Li Yi in astonishment.

“Brother Li Yi, is this the follow-up plan you were reluctant to reveal earlier?” Li Futao asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

“Yes. The main reason we chose to sacrifice the pawns to save the king earlier was that our capital couldn’t match theirs, so we had no choice but to avoid their sharpest attacks.”

Li Yi continued, “Although we’ve lost control of the companies for now, we’ve secured a massive amount of capital. The tables have turned—where they can go, we can go too.”

“Everything they swallowed before will have to be spat out exactly as it was…”

Hearing Li Yi’s bold words, everyone present felt their blood boil and their hearts race.

Although they had made money during this period, it had been a messy affair.

It didn’t feel good to be written off—or even mocked—by others.

Fortunately, they all trusted Li Yi and knew he had a backup plan.

Sure enough, sacrificing the pawns to save the king was merely a temporary measure; his goal had never been mere survival, but to crush the enemy completely.

This was the Li Yi they knew—the one who was adept at reading the situation yet never shied from showing his sharp edge…

“Brother Li Yi, what do you need us to do?” Li Fu asked.

Li Yi replied immediately, “The top priority right now is for us to work together to offload the shares of these seven companies to Sang Chai and his crew. This will require Starry Sky Company to provide cover up front, while you guys make a quick getaway from the rear. When the time is right, we’ll go all in. The specific plan of action is…”

Li Yi then began discussing the specific plan of action with the group.

After over an hour of repeated simulations, the final plan was soon finalized.

Now, everything was ready; all that was missing was the right moment…

………

Thursday, October 21!

Early in the morning, when the people of Hong Kong Island arrived at their familiar newsstands to buy a few copies of their usual newspapers,

they were surprised to find that nearly every newspaper’s front page was reporting the same story—Starry Sky Corporation was on the verge of collapse.

By now, the stock market battle between Starry Company, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and the foreign consortium was no secret. In the absence of any sudden developments, this clash between the two sides was the biggest news and the topic of greatest public interest.

After all, with one side being an alliance of overseas financial consortiums backed by multiple nations, and the other being Starry Company and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce with their “red” background, this battle was destined to be more than a mere commercial dispute; the traces of a great power struggle were unmistakable.

Precisely for this reason, the current financial battle has become a major event capturing the attention of virtually everyone on Hong Kong Island.

For the past month and a half, the two sides have traded blows back and forth, locked in a dead heat where neither could gain the upper hand.

But no one could have anticipated that today the tide would suddenly turn, shattering the delicate balance.

The reason was that yesterday, Star Company suddenly dumped shares in more than twenty companies, causing the Chinese Chamber of Commerce to lose controlling stakes in 24 companies overnight.

According to analysis by renowned financial experts, Starry Company’s move was likely driven by a shortage of follow-up funds. Unable to withstand the frenzied attacks from the coalition of overseas financial groups, it was forced to abandon some less critical companies—essentially sacrificing the pawns to save the king.

At the same time, experts believe that Star Company’s move is merely a short-term fix.

While this may recoup some funds, it will also trigger a series of adverse chain reactions for both Star Company and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

First, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce will face internal divisions due to being abandoned, undermining its unity.

Second, this move will send a signal to investors that Star Corporation is no longer capable of fighting back. This will not only hinder Star Corporation’s ability to raise funds but also undermine investor confidence in enterprises affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Finally, it will boost the confidence of their opponents. Seeing the dawn of victory, they will inevitably continue to intensify their attacks on the listed companies belonging to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, making it even more difficult for the already teetering Chinese Chamber of Commerce to cope.

With one side weakening and the other strengthening, Star Company’s defeat is almost inevitable.

Fueled by media reports, news of Star Company’s stock market setback spread like wildfire and quickly reached every corner of Hong Kong Island.

As the news continued to ferment, the stock market was inevitably affected.

As soon as the market opened on the 21st, the stock prices of companies affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce plummeted. Fearing a market crash, many retail investors and speculative capital rushed to cash out at the peak.

Meanwhile, those overseas consortium alliances continued to accept every offer that came their way; as long as the shares belonged to companies affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, they snapped them all up.

Although this frenzied buying spree drained their funds, the results were astonishing.

In just a single day, they once again secured controlling stakes in 28 companies.

At this point, fewer than 30 companies remained under the control of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Due to the bearish market sentiment, these remaining companies were also in a precarious position and could be taken over at any moment.

On October 22, after securing controlling stakes in 52 companies, Sangchai immediately ordered his team to contact the original major shareholders or actual controllers of these companies.

As long as these shareholders and actual controllers publicly announced their severance from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and distanced themselves from Star Company, no shareholders’ meetings would be convened, and everything would remain as it was for these companies.

Furthermore, if these shareholders who had lost control of their companies were able to raise funds to repurchase shares and regain control, that would also be acceptable.

In short, the prerequisite was to withdraw from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce!

Faced with this situation, various dissenting voices began to emerge within the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

For a time, aside from a few who knew the truth, nearly everyone on Hong Kong Island was bearish on Starry Company, bearish on Li Yi, and bearish on the Chinese Chamber of Commerce…

……….

Monday, October 25!

After a brief two-day break, the fierce competition of the new week began once again.

After several days of speculation, rumors that Starry Company was running out of funds and had no choice but to cut its losses to survive were already flying everywhere.

As if to confirm the public’s speculation, when the stock market opened on Monday, shares of companies affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce fell across the board.

Apart from public pessimism, the most significant reason for the decline was that stock prices had become excessively high.

After more than twenty days of frenzied trading, the stock prices of these companies had skyrocketed several times over.

It must be understood that these high prices were artificially inflated; they did not reflect any actual increase in the companies’ intrinsic value. The inflated stock prices were like a bubble—ready to burst at the slightest provocation.

Investors aren’t fools; seeing that these companies lack staying power, they are rushing to sell their shares.

With so many sellers, stock prices naturally fell—an inevitable law of the market economy.

Sangchai and his associates, however, seized this opportunity to aggressively acquire shares in these companies, steadily increasing their ownership stakes.

Consequently, aside from the seven companies that are still holding on thanks to Starry Sky’s support—whose situations remain relatively stable—all other companies have now reached the brink of collapse.

On the 25th alone, controlling stakes in 12 more companies were seized, and on the 26th, 9 more.

By the close of trading on the 27th, of the nearly 100 listed companies affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, only 7 remained under its own control; the rest had all fallen into the hands of Sangchai and his associates.

During this period, nine of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s original 32 members publicly announced their withdrawal one after another, while the remaining members were all wavering.

The situation was becoming increasingly dire for both the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Li Yi.

By this point, virtually everyone on Hong Kong Island believed that Star Company’s fate was sealed and that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was on the verge of disintegration.

This was especially true for Sangchai and his associates, who believed victory was assured.

Although they had already poured over 400 billion Hong Kong dollars into the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s enterprises during this period, their reserve funds were severely depleted.

But seeing that the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was on the verge of collapse, Sangchai immediately sent a telegram requesting assistance to his family and their contacts in London, while also instructing several other major conglomerates to continue raising funds.

Seeing the clear results of their efforts, the masters behind these men were naturally willing to increase their investments. After all, once the Chinese Chamber of Commerce was crushed, they would have free rein to reap whatever they wanted from the Hong Kong stock market.

Besides, even if they suffered losses, it didn’t matter. Compared to the immense threat posed by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, losing a little money was truly nothing.

Soon, another massive injection of $12 billion was sent over.

With his ammunition replenished, Sangchai decided to launch a final, all-out assault on the Chinese Chamber of Commerce immediately, aiming to finish the job in one fell swoop and take complete control of these companies.

He immediately revised his plan of action: while ordering his team to continue raising the buyout price for the seven core companies’ shares, he also instructed others to privately contact the small and medium-sized shareholders of each company to purchase their shares at a premium.

In Sangchai and his associates’ view, once they controlled these seven core enterprises, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce would no longer have a single listed company under its control—and thus would have no reason to exist.

In this way, their objective would be achieved.

As for how to liquidate the companies in their possession and recoup their funds, they already had follow-up plans in place.

If they carried out their plan as intended, not only would the Chinese Chamber of Commerce fall apart and Li Yi and Starry Sky be reduced to nothing, but the money they’d invested would also be recovered—at which point they would emerge victorious on all fronts!

However, what Sang Chai and his associates didn’t know was that Li Yi and his team were also waiting for this very moment. The time for a true showdown had arrived…

………

The night passed without incident!

The next morning, before the stock market had even opened, the Far East Stock Exchange was once again bustling with activity.

In VIP Room 3, Sangchai and his group had arrived early, and it was clear that everyone was in high spirits.

This was understandable, after all. With massive funds pouring in, Star Company and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce were already showing signs of defeat, and for Sang Chai and his group, victory was within reach.

From his seat of honor, Sang Chai saw that most of the guests had arrived. Clearing his throat, he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, since there’s still a little time before the market opens, let’s hold a brief meeting. Representatives from each consortium, please stay; everyone else may wait in the VIP lounge next door.”

At Sangchai’s command, all personnel from each company—except for the main representatives—immediately stood up and headed toward the exit.

Soon, the vast VIP Room No. 3 was left with only a dozen or so people—all key players in this stock market battle.

Once the room had been cleared, Sangchai immediately said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve just received word that Star Company plans to divest itself of some non-core smaller firms to free up capital, and will then throw its full weight behind competing with us for stakes in those major companies. What are your thoughts on this?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Monroe’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, “Mr. Sangchai, is your intelligence source reliable?”

“Accurate. The information comes directly from within the Chinese Chamber of Commerce—its accuracy is beyond doubt!” Sangchai said confidently.

“Hahaha, this is great news for us! No matter which company Li Yi decides to let go, it will create rifts and divisions within the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Once that happens, the day they fall apart won’t be far off,” Monroe laughed heartily.

Michiko chimed in, “Mr. Monroe’s analysis makes perfect sense. The fundamental reason why the Chinese Chamber of Commerce is so difficult to deal with is that they’re a solid, united front. Once that unity is broken, their fighting power will inevitably wane, and defeat will be inevitable.”

“Mr. Sangchai, so it seems those yellow-skinned monkeys are finally about to collapse. It won’t be long before we can reap the rewards of the Hong Kong stock market, will it?”

“Mr. Sangchai…”

Just as everyone was chiming in with their overly optimistic predictions, Sangchai noticed Dolsen, who had remained silent the whole time.

Knowing that this man had likely already betrayed his family, Sangchai decided to test him.

“Dorson, what’s your take on this?”

Dorson was pondering the intent behind Li Yi’s move. He didn’t believe Li Yi had been forced into a corner and had chosen to sacrifice the pawn to save the king.

Compared to Sangcai and the others, he understood Li Yi’s capabilities and strength far better.

Setting aside his unfathomable abilities, that man’s true strength was far beyond what these parochial fools could ever imagine.

Not to mention that Li Yi currently controls Sheffield Steel United, a company with a market value of over 13 billion pounds. Even just his stake in Green Brothers Investment in New York—a company worth over 35 billion US dollars—amounts to 33% of the shares, valued at 12 billion US dollars. How could he possibly have been driven to this point?

Not to mention, that man has the backing of a vast Red Empire. This so-called “sacrificing the pawn to save the king” move is likely just a bait he’s thrown out—the only question is what kind of fish he’s trying to catch this time.

Therefore, upon hearing Sangchai’s inquiry, Dolsen replied directly, “In my personal opinion, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce hasn’t reached a dead end yet. This news may not be true, and even if it is, there must be an ulterior motive…”

Before he could finish, Sangchai replied calmly, “So, you believe the Chinese Chamber of Commerce still has the strength to fight back?”

“Yes. So please, don’t be too optimistic in your assessment of the situation!” Dolsen said with a serious expression.

Although he didn’t want the people before him to crush the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, he also didn’t want Li Yi to win too easily.

After all, if Li Yi were to emerge with a resounding victory, it would mean a massive surge in the power of both Starry Sky Corporation and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In that case, their British-funded group would have no chance of recovery, and they would spend every day trembling under the other side’s oppressive might.

In his view, the best outcome would be a stalemate where both sides were left battered.

So, Dalson’s warning was sincere!

However, Sang Chai seemed to have anticipated this response long ago. He let out a cold laugh and stared at Dolsen, saying, “Dolsen, though we are of the same family, we should be of one mind.”

“But judging by your behavior these past few days—boosting others’ morale while undermining your own, speaking on behalf of our rivals—I can’t help but suspect you have ties with those Chinese!”

Dawson hadn’t expected Sangchai to suddenly confront him, but he remained completely unflustered. He replied calmly, “Sangchai, since you’ve come to doubt me, there’s no point in me staying here any longer. My people will withdraw from all your operations from now on…”

Just as Sangchai was about to flash a victorious smile, Dolsen suddenly spoke again: “However, I must warn you: that Li Yiyuan is far more dangerous than you imagine. If you remain as complacent as you are now, you will suffer a crushing defeat.”

With that, Dolsen left VIP Room 3 without looking back.

Sangchai’s mood remained unchanged by Dolsen’s departure.

After watching Dolsen leave, he said in a cold tone, “Ladies and gentlemen, don’t listen to his nonsense. This man has been scared out of his wits by that Li Yi. We needn’t pay him any mind.”

Monroe immediately asked, “Mr. Sangchai, once Dolsen withdraws, the British-funded groups here on Hong Kong Island will follow suit. Won’t that affect our plan?”

“No. We’re already in the final stages. Whether they’re here or not won’t affect the final outcome!” Sangchai said confidently.

“Mr. Sangchai, if those people from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce really give up a portion of their company shares today, should we accept them or not?” Michiko asked.

“Take them. Why wouldn’t we?”

Sangchai continued, “Although the companies they’re giving up are small and of average strength, taking them over will create a rift within the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. By then, we might not even need to launch a full-scale attack—they’ll collapse on their own!”

Monroe chimed in, “I agree with Mr. Sangchai. We have ample funds right now, so acquiring these companies won’t affect our future plans.”

Michiko added, “I also agree with Mr. Sangchai. The outside world has already begun to cast doubt on Li Yi and Starry Sky. If they dare to abandon even a single company, those retail investors and hot money will tear them to shreds…”

Seeing that these few spoke so decisively, the others naturally found their arguments convincing and chimed in one after another.

Soon, everyone reached a consensus on the matter!

Just then, a piercing yet familiar bell rang out from outside—the market had opened!

As the opening bell rang, investors who had been waiting in the wings sprang into action.

Just as in the previous days, after the two giants entered the fray and engaged in a fierce battle, and once it was clear the battle was still raging, retail investors and brokerage firms followed closely behind, entering the market one after another.

Less than ten minutes after the market opened, the stocks of major companies became the focal point of the fray, and share prices began to rise steadily.

Just then, Li Yi issued the order to sacrifice the pawns to save the king.

Immediately afterward, traders at Star Company began offloading shares of more than twenty companies.

Although Sang Chai and the others understood that Li Yi’s side was trying to recoup funds,

However, in order to first shatter the Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s united front, they did not retaliate; instead, they accepted every offer. Whatever Li Yi’s side sold, they bought.

At the same time, retail investors and brokerage firms seemed to be following some invisible lead, flocking to follow Sang Chai and his group as they frantically snapped up the shares being dumped by Star Company.

In just a single day, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce lost controlling stakes in 24 companies—and this appeared to be only the beginning…

………

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed!

During this time, Li Yi, along with the key figures from Starry Sky Company and the Chinese Business Association, had been locked in a fierce battle on the stock market against the overseas consortium led by Sangchai.

Initially, the two sides vied for control of major companies such as Wharf Holdings and Hang Seng Bank.

Amid the fierce bidding war, the previously sluggish stock prices of these companies soared, and their market capitalizations skyrocketed.

In just one week, the stock prices of the seven major companies had at least tripled. Wharf Holdings, the subject of the fiercest competition, soared from its original price of HK$46.6 to HK$196—a fourfold increase.

Because the competition between the two sides was so fierce—with both sides adopting a strategy of spending whatever it took—the acquisition process proved exceptionally difficult for Sangchai and his team.

Although they have now acquired substantial stakes in various companies—in some cases even surpassing the controlling shareholders’ stakes, such as at Wharf Holdings and Longheng Bank—

even so, they have not secured a 51% controlling stake in any of the companies.

According to relevant provisions of the Companies Act, without a controlling stake, they cannot forcibly convene a shareholders’ meeting and thus cannot take control of these companies.

Seeing that Starry Sky Company was resolutely resisting and showed no signs of backing down,

Left with no other choice, Sangchai and his associates had no option but to broaden their scope of attack, targeting all publicly listed companies owned by members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, in the hope of diverting Li Yi and Star Company’s attention and financial resources.

In their view, Star Company’s funds were, after all, limited. As long as Li Yi refused to abandon a single company, his funds would soon be exhausted.

At that point, they would secure victory in this financial war.

To this end, Sang Chai and his associates not only diverted massive funds from their respective parent companies but also, through connections in London, secured an additional $5 billion in loans from Huifeng Bank, Citibank, and Imperial Bank by pledging the shares of their major conglomerates and their assets on Hong Kong Island as collateral.

They had already held a financial advantage, and now that advantage had become even more pronounced. Sangchai and his associates were fully prepared to crush Li Yi and Star Company.

Events unfolded exactly as Sangchai and his associates had anticipated. As wave after wave of capital was poured into the market, the pressure on Star Company to snap up shares grew increasingly intense.

By late October, nearly all of the nearly 100 billion yuan they had raised had been spent, and the situation suddenly became perilous…

………

Far East Club, VIP Room 9!

After the closing bell rang, Li Yi, exhausted from a day of fierce trading, slumped back on the sofa, his face worn with fatigue!

A short while later, Pang Feiyan, Yang Qian, Liang He, and the others—who had been directing operations from the trading floor—returned to the conference room one after another.

However, everyone’s expressions were somber, and the atmosphere in the VIP lounge felt oppressive.

“Boss…”

Hearing Pang Feiyan’s call, Li Yi slowly opened his eyes, then sat up straight.

“How’s the situation over there? Is the momentum still that intense?” Li Yi asked in a deep voice.

“Yes, they’re still throwing money around like crazy. By the market close, the stock prices of companies like Weihua, Yuanxiang Kitchenware, and the Yang Group had surged another 47%,” Pang Feiyan reported.

“Hmm!”

“What about the other retail investors, hot money, and brokerage firms? Have they started getting active again?” Li Yi asked.

“Yes. As the competition between our two sides grows increasingly fierce—and seems to be a fight to the death—those brokerages and speculative funds have started entering the market again.”

Pang Feiyan continued, “A few days ago, they were just testing the waters with small amounts, but over the past couple of days, they’ve been pouring in more and more capital.”

Li Yi sighed deeply. It truly was a case of “good advice falling on deaf ears, and mercy failing to save those who cut their own throats.”

A financial battle of this scale was simply beyond the reach of speculative capital and retail investors like them.

After a moment’s thought, Li Yi turned to Zhao Xinlan beside him and asked, “Manager Zhao, how much money is left in the company’s accounts?”

“Boss, we currently have 12.2 billion Hong Kong dollars, but at today’s rate, that won’t even last three days!” Zhao Xinlan replied.

Hearing this, the expressions of everyone else in the VIP room darkened.

As elite traders, they knew full well that financial warfare was all about money. Running out of funds was like running out of ammunition on a real battlefield—they would be left defenseless against the enemy’s onslaught.

“Boss, should we take out a loan from the bank?” Pang Feiyan asked.

Before Li Yi could respond, Pang Feiyan sighed and continued, “Right now, aside from Hang Seng Bank—which we control—and Longheng Bank, which is barely holding its own, no other bank would ever lend us money.”

“Have you tried?” Pang Feiyan asked, frowning.

“Yes, I’ve privately asked a few friends who work at banks. Their management has indeed issued a directive prohibiting the approval of loans to companies affiliated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In other words, not only can our Star Company not get a loan now, but neither can any other Chinese companies!” Zhao Xinlan said.

“Bastards! How dare they do this? Not long ago, they were hounding us every day, begging us to lend them money…”

Listening to Pang Feiyan’s angry outburst, Li Yi replied calmly, “No need to get upset. This was to be expected.”

In fact, Li Yi had known about this for a long time; Dolsen had told him the news a few days ago, but Li Yi hadn’t mentioned it to Pang Feiyan and the others.

“Boss, should we look for some outside help?” Yang Qian asked suggestively.

Li Yi naturally knew exactly who she meant by “outside help.” He figured that if he asked, the higher-ups would scrape together the funds for them, even if it meant selling off the family silver.

But Li Yi still shook his head and said, “We don’t need that for now!”

“Boss, if we can get some foreign reinforcements, we really should bring them in. We’re really on the verge of collapse!” Pang Feiyan said.

Just then, Li Yunbao, sitting below them, spoke up: “Boss, my old man told me to tell you that as long as you’re willing, our Li family is prepared to contribute another 5 billion Hong Kong dollars.”

“And the money is already ready; it can be transferred to our account at any time.”

“No need. It hasn’t come to that yet!”

Li Yi continued, “Manager Lan, tomorrow you’ll issue an announcement on behalf of the company stating that Starry Sky Company’s Fund No. 2, Deep Blue, is now open for public subscription. The fundraising target is 30 billion Hong Kong dollars, with a one-year term, a fixed return of 10%, and no management fees!”

A fixed return of 10%, no management fees, and a term of just one year!

Hearing this, everyone immediately understood: the boss was planning to borrow money from the public.

Compared to taking out a bank loan, borrowing from the public seemed to be the only option left.

“Yes, I’ll issue the announcement tomorrow. However, raising 30 billion will likely take two or three months—we might not be able to hold out that long!” Lan Xinming said.

“It’s fine. Just follow my instructions!” Li Yi said.

“Understood!”

At that moment, Pang Feiyan spoke up again: “Boss, given the current situation, Sang Chai and his men will launch their final all-out assault on us within three days at the latest. How should we respond?”

Li Yi replied calmly, “Since we can’t defend everything, we’ll have to focus our defenses on key areas.”

At these words, everyone was taken aback.

Li Yi’s intentions couldn’t have been clearer: he was sacrificing the rook to save the king.

“Boss, are you planning to give up controlling stakes in some of the companies?” Yang Qian asked.

“Yes. The stock prices of these companies have at least tripled. By giving up a portion of them, we can recoup some capital, which will allow us to focus our resources on defending those key enterprises,” Li Yi said.

“But won’t the companies we give up… won’t they be finished?” Pang Feiyan asked.

“When we’re outmatched, we have no other choice!”

Li Yi sighed and continued, “Feiyan, you and the other managers discuss this immediately and come up with a priority defense plan. Aside from those seven key companies, we can let go of the rest. Have it ready for me by tomorrow!”

“Yes!”

“Yunbao, go find your old man and have him gather all the members of the Chamber of Commerce. I need to talk to them. Set the meeting for two hours from now!” Li Yi said.

“Yes!”

“Dismissed…”

………..

Hong Kong Island. Far East Stock Exchange!

As Star Investment and the overseas consortium made their moves one after another, trading volume surged for the shares of various companies that had previously been ignored by the market.

Seeing major investors bottom-fishing these stocks, retail investors and hot money—who had previously worried about being stuck with them—rushed to adjust their prices.

After all, once competition arises, the value of anything becomes apparent.

This is especially true for stocks: when no one wants them, they’re not even worth the paper they’re printed on.

But once people start scrambling for them, their value can multiply several times over in a single day.

These retail and speculative investors are masters at shifting their positions with the wind. Although few now dare to compete with the big players for a piece of the pie after being thoroughly beaten twice,

However, that doesn’t stop them from raising the asking prices on their holdings—or simply withdrawing their sell orders to wait for a better price.

After all, no one wants to work for free, do they?

Under these circumstances, the stock prices of these companies soared again at a visible pace.

In less than an hour, share prices that had previously been cut in half had largely recovered.

Although they were still slightly lower than the normal prices of the previous few days, the difference was negligible.

Most importantly, this upward trend continued, and with great momentum.

With no retail investors or speculative capital to disrupt the market, the main battle was now between Starry Sky and the overseas consortium; even the well-capitalized brokerage firms dared not get involved in this major conflict.

There was nothing to be done; both sides of this market manipulation were backed by bigwigs, and neither was particularly inclined to play by the rules.

It doesn’t rise when it should, and it surges wildly when it should fall.

Amid yesterday’s wild swings, a large number of previously confident retail investors, speculative capital, and brokerage firms were wiped out, leaving countless bankrupt.

Those who managed to avoid bankruptcy still suffered losses to varying degrees.

In short, retail investors, hot money, and brokerage firms have all been thoroughly cowed and can only watch quietly as the two sides battle it out fiercely.

This time, the overseas consortium is determined to seize controlling stakes in these companies. After all, their goal isn’t to make money, but to assist the British Hong Kong government in neutralizing the threat posed by the Chinese Merchants’ Association.

The most direct and effective method is to seize controlling stakes in these companies and then force the original major shareholders to withdraw from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Of course, if they can make a fortune in the process, so much the better.

It didn’t matter if they didn’t make a profit—or even if they lost money—since Downing Street would compensate them for any losses, provided the British Empire’s finances could bear the cost.

Precisely because someone was covering their backs, Sangchai and his associates acted decisively and without hesitation, raising their bids far more quickly and aggressively than Star Company.

By the market close that day, Wharf Holdings’ share price had soared to HK$65 per share, while Hang Seng Bank’s stock had risen to HK$47 per share… Compared to their normal prices before this battle began, the increases were all over 50%.

Ho Group, which saw the largest increase, had seen its share price skyrocket from HK$44 before the battle to HK$82—nearly doubling in value.

But this was only the beginning. It was foreseeable that the battle between the two sides for BB Xi TR would continue in the days ahead, and share prices would keep skyrocketing.

In addition to the shares in free float, the non-tradable shares of these companies are also targets for those overseas financial consortia.

The most distinctive feature of these Hong Kong companies is their dispersed shareholding structure; a single company may have dozens or even hundreds of shareholders, and in many cases, major shareholders do not hold a large number of shares.

This provides outside forces with the opportunity to manipulate these companies’ stock prices and even launch hostile takeovers.

This is also the source of confidence for Sang Chai and his associates in defeating Li Yi; after all, at this stage, the key to victory lies in who has more money.

In this regard, they believe their capital is far more substantial than Li Yi’s.

However, they have no idea that Li Yi’s goal has never been to compete with them for control of these companies, but rather to keep them all…

………

As the battle for equity began, clashes on other fronts continued.

Yesterday, the Governor’s Residence and the police headquarters managed to stabilize the situation by betraying Yamada, Meng Lin, and others, causing the crowd of protesters demanding justice to disperse.

However, the Governor’s Office—which had previously remained in the background—was thrust into the spotlight and could no longer play the role of the innocent, delicate white lotus.

Early this morning, as news of the destruction of the Tiger Gang, the Yamaguchi-gumi, the Southern Monkey Gang, and other triads spread, internal discussions about the matter began within each organization.

That said, the versions circulating within the various gangs differed.

Some believed those gangs had tried to go head-to-head with Mr. Li of Starry Sky Corporation, only to be wiped out, with the Governor’s Office and the police merely picking up the pieces.

Others claimed that those gangs had originally been collaborating with the Governor’s Office and the police to crack down on Starry Sky Corporation, only to be turned on and killed in the process. Afterward, instead of offering assistance, the police kicked them while they were down.

Some even believe the whole affair was a setup orchestrated by Star Company and the Police Department, aimed at wiping out these foreign-based syndicates in one fell swoop. To ensure success, they were even willing to sacrifice the Tiger Hall—a group they had personally nurtured—as a sacrificial pawn.

Just look at the five triads that were wiped out: aside from the Tiger Hall—the Police Department’s own protégé—the rest were all foreign infiltrators.

At the same time, everyone in the underworld knows that Meng Lin of the Tiger Hall is Lin Luolan’s lackey. If it weren’t to lure in the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Southern Monkey Gang, how could Lin Luolan possibly take down the Tiger Hall? Wouldn’t that be a complete contradiction?

Although accounts vary, everyone believes one thing: the Governor’s Office and the Police Department played a highly disgraceful role in this incident.

Overnight, several triad groups that had previously been close to the Governor’s Office and the Police Department instinctively began to distance themselves.

These triads on Hong Kong Island have some degree of connection with the authorities; those without such ties were eliminated long ago.

When necessary, they would handle matters the authorities found too delicate to tackle themselves, in exchange for the authorities turning a blind eye—or even both eyes—to certain activities.

But this is just ridiculous, Governor’s Office. I’m charging into battle for you up front, and you’re standing behind me, ready to stab me in the back at any moment.

Who in their right mind would continue to cooperate with you?

In just a single day, the reputation of the Governor’s Office and the Police Department has been completely ruined in the eyes of the triads.

On top of that, the media and magazines were ramping up their efforts, continuing to expose the triads’ crimes.

After the people from Shield Security took control of those five syndicates, a massive amount of evidence of their criminal activities was unearthed. In addition to the standard practices everyone despises—such as preying on men and women and forcing innocent people into prostitution—they also uncovered a large number of heinous crimes, including kidnapping for ransom, robbery and murder, drug smuggling, and human trafficking.

Subsequently, under the direction of Yang Wenguang and others, these crimes and the related evidence were extensively reported by various media outlets.

While reporting on the cases, they also launched a scathing critique of the police department’s inaction regarding these matters and offered reasonable speculation about the role the police had played in them.

As these crimes and evidence continued to be exposed and spread rapidly, the prestige the police department and the Governor’s Office had just gained by “betraying” Yamada, Meng Lin, and others was quickly eroded.

Their reputation among the public was rapidly deteriorating at a visible pace…

It could be said that by this point, the Governor’s Office and the police department had suffered a crushing defeat, while triad groups like the Tiger Gang and the Southern Monkey Gang had lost everything.

In contrast, Huang Lixing’s Blue Dragon Society and Shield Security not only reaped tangible benefits but also gained the recognition of several top-tier triad organizations, skyrocketing their reputation and emerging as the biggest winners.

However, the main battlefield of this war has never been underground, but rather in the stock market.

The behind-the-scenes maneuvering was merely a sideshow; it didn’t determine the outcome in the open. So the battle between Li Yi and the overseas financial conglomerates continues…

……….

The next morning!

Li Yi got up early. After a quick breakfast, he arrived at the stock exchange under the protection of Zhang Ziqiang and his team.

With some time still left before the market opened, Li Yi once again gathered the company’s key personnel.

Once everyone was present, Li Yi turned to Pang Feiyan and asked, “Yang Qian, what’s the situation out there now?”

Yang Qian replied immediately, “The situation is very unfavorable for us. After a night of speculation, coupled with someone fanning the flames behind the scenes, yesterday afternoon’s announcement is now common knowledge.”

“As a result, all investors are now bearish on our companies. It’s predictable that once the market opens, our stock prices will inevitably plummet again.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Lan Xinming, sitting below Li Yi, added, “Boss, last night, members of the joint investigation team moved into our companies. When I came in this morning, I specifically stopped by the newsstand to take a look—several major newspapers are reporting on this matter.”

“Clearly, their goal is to collude with those overseas financial groups to drive down our stock prices!”

Li Yi nodded, then turned to Pang Feiyan and asked, “Have the earnings figures from yesterday been tallied yet?”

“They’re in!”

Pang Feiyan continued, “Yesterday, by shorting first and then going long, we made a total of 32.5 billion Hong Kong dollars. However, we don’t have many shares of those companies left in our portfolio now.”

Hearing this, everyone in the VIP lounge looked stunned.

Earning over 30 billion Hong Kong dollars in a single day—not even a money-printing press could do that fast.

Yet Li Yi’s expression didn’t change much; it was as if he’d made thirty dollars instead of over thirty billion.

After a moment’s thought, Li Yi said in a deep voice, “Don’t get too excited just yet. Yesterday was merely an appetizer. In fact, our showdown with those overseas conglomerates has only just begun.”

At those words, everyone was stunned.

It’s already this intense, and it’s only just begun?

“Boss, what should we do once the market opens?” asked Pang Feiyan.

Li Yi paused briefly before replying, “Our mission today is to launch a full-scale counterattack against those foreign conglomerates, prevent them from buying up those companies at rock-bottom prices, and above all, stop them from gaining controlling stakes.”

“Boss, I’m a bit confused. If you’re so worried about them taking control of those companies, why did you cooperate with them yesterday to short-sell those companies?” Pang Feiyan asked, puzzled.

Pang Feiyan’s question echoed the thoughts of the others; even now, the group still couldn’t fathom what their boss was thinking.

Although they had made a significant profit yesterday, they had also sold off a considerable number of shares, resulting in a noticeable drop in their ownership stake.

More importantly, if they were to launch a counterattack against those overseas conglomerates to prevent them from seizing controlling stakes, they would inevitably have to invest massive amounts of capital to outbid them for shares. In that case, the money they made yesterday would have to be reinvested—so what was the point?

Li Yi replied calmly, “There are two reasons for collaborating with those people to short these companies: one is to make money, and the other is to clear the field!”

“Clear the field?”

They could understand the profit motive, but what did “clearing the field” mean?

For a moment, everyone’s faces were filled with confusion.

Li Yi didn’t keep them waiting long, explaining directly, “This is a decisive battle that will determine the very survival of our Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Originally, I had absolute confidence and was certain of victory in this battle.”

“However, there are now a large number of brokerage firms, speculative capital, and retail investors in the market ready to speculate. Although their strength is scattered, if they band together, they won’t be any weaker than any of us. Therefore, we must eliminate them before the decisive battle.”

Upon hearing this, Pang Feiyan, Yang Qian, Lan Xinming, Li Yunbao, and the others were all stunned.

Not only had they not anticipated this, but it was likely that the retail investors, hot money, and brokerage firms hadn’t foreseen it either—that their own boss’s first move upon entering the fray would not be directed at those overseas financial conglomerates, but at them.

Moreover, it was foreseeable that once the market opened, the retail investors and speculative funds that had heavily invested the previous day would flee.

After yesterday’s two market reversals, most retail investors would have suffered heavy losses and would no longer dare to jump between the two major players. This would allow their boss to focus entirely on taking on those foreign conglomerates.

Once they grasped Li Yi’s strategy, everyone was both stunned and impressed…

Just as everyone was reeling from the revelation, Li Yi’s voice rang out again: “Once we’ve weeded out the speculators, it will be time for us to go head-to-head with the foreign conglomerates!”

“Once the market opens, the stock prices of these companies are bound to plummet. Sang Chai and his crew are waiting for exactly this opportunity—they’ll definitely snap up these stocks at rock-bottom prices just before they hit the floor. So today, our mission is to intercept them.”

“Feiyan, Lianghe, keep a close eye on the activity in the trading floor and be ready to jump in and snap up shares of these companies at any moment!”

“Yes!”

“Yang Qian, you keep an eye on the Governor’s Office and the Independent Commission Against Corruption. They’ll definitely be working hand in hand with those overseas consortiums—there’s bound to be more to come!” Li Yi said.

“Yes!”

“Yunbao, your task is…”

………

“Ring-ring-ring!”

As the opening bell rang, the exchange buzzed with activity once again.

Just as Li Yi had predicted, the speculative retail investors who had heavily invested in various companies’ stocks the previous afternoon all chose to cut their losses and flee at the first opportunity after reading the Hong Kong-British government’s announcement and the media reports.

With so many people fleeing and very few daring to step in at this moment, sell orders flooded the entire market.

Under these circumstances, the only way to cut losses in time was to lower prices.

It was just like selling goods: when products were slow to sell and there was fierce competition, the only options were either to set a unified price or to launch a price war.

But the stock market is even more ruthless than the real economy, and those seeking to strike it rich in the market are accustomed to cutting their losses when prices fall. If you dare to list at HK$50 per share, I’ll dare to list at 49, or even 46.

Consequently, as hot money and retail investors scrambled to exit, the share prices of various companies plummeted.

Take Wharf Holdings’ stock price as an example: at last night’s close, it was still holding at HK$45 per share, slightly lower than the HK$46.60 it had traded at the day before.

But less than half an hour after the market opened today, the price plummeted to HK$38.

Take Longheng Bank’s stock price as another example: it closed at HK$28 per share yesterday, but has now dropped to HK$22—a decline of over 20%.

More importantly, as a result of this, the stock prices of other companies in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce are also falling.

However, since these companies are not on the government’s list of announced entities, they have been less affected, and their share price declines have been limited.

Even so, a dark cloud still hangs over the entire Far East Stock Exchange, with a sense of despair pervading the market.

To make matters worse, at 10:00 a.m., the British Hong Kong government issued another announcement stating that several companies had serious operational issues and may have been involved in criminal activities, leading to the summons of executives from several firms…

Unsurprisingly, most of the companies whose executives were summoned belonged to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, with names like Wharf Holdings and Lung Hang Bank prominently featured on the list.

As a result, the stock prices of these companies plummeted once again.

This situation persisted until 3:00 p.m., at which point the stock prices of those companies—including Wharf Holdings, Longheng Bank, and the Ho Group—were dealt another severe blow, with all experiencing declines of over 50%.

Even at this point, sellers still outnumbered buyers by a wide margin.

Just as everyone was speculating how low these companies’ stock prices would fall, suddenly, someone in the market began buying up large quantities of their shares—it was Star Investment!

Almost simultaneously with Star Investment’s move, Sangchai issued the same order, and the two sides began competing for shares in perfect unison.

However, this time only these two sides were in the fray; the vast majority of retail investors, speculative capital, and brokerage firms all chose to sit on the sidelines. The decisive showdown between Li Yi, Sang Chai, and their respective teams had begun…

………..

While the stock market was in turmoil, the situation in the city was equally unpredictable.

At 3:00 p.m., the police department held a press conference. Maxley, the head of the department, appeared in person. He first repeatedly assured the public that their arrest of those gang leaders and key members yesterday was not merely a token gesture; the police were not trying to deceive the public.

At the same time, the police department publicly announced that all the gang leaders and key members had already confessed to their crimes, and that the cases would soon be transferred to the prosecution for indictment.

However, the effect was limited; the public was not convinced and did not disperse. Instead, the crowd continued to grow.

By 3:30 p.m., traffic on seven or eight streets surrounding police headquarters had been brought to a standstill due to the massive influx of people.

As a result, the Governor’s Office and the police headquarters were once again inundated with calls from the upper echelons of society.

Left with no choice, the Governor’s Office was compelled to respond.

Less than half an hour after the police press conference concluded, the Governor personally stepped forward to deliver a televised address.

In his address, the Governor personally pledged his full support for the police’s investigation into those criminal gangs, guaranteeing that gang leaders who had committed serious crimes would be sent to prison, thereby restoring peace and order to the people of Hong Kong Island.

Subsequently, the Governor also called on the crowd surrounding Police Headquarters to disperse immediately and not disrupt normal daily life…

The successive statements from the police headquarters and the Governor’s Office sent shockwaves through the community, instantly making the already complex situation on Hong Kong Island even more unpredictable.

First, Yamada, Meng Lin, and others inside the police headquarters sensed something was amiss, and their attitude shifted from cooperation to resistance.

Originally, according to their agreement with Lin Luolan and Max Lee, they were only supposed to play along with the police station to put on a show—a mere formality.

Once the crowd dispersed, they would return to their respective organizations, and everything would go back to the way it was before.

They had assumed they would be able to leave once dawn broke.

But even by 9:00 a.m., when the police station opened for business, they still hadn’t been released.

More importantly, from last night until this morning—such a long time had passed—not a single brother from the gang had come to see them.

This made Yamada and the others extremely anxious, and they all demanded to see Maxley and Lin Luolan.

Subsequently, Maxley, Lin Luolan, and others summoned Yamada, Meng Lin, and the others to a meeting in the police station’s conference room.

Before the meeting began, Lin Luolan had Yamada, Meng Lin, and the others look out at the dense crowd of protesters gathered below the police station. Only then did she inform them that, since the crowd outside had not dispersed, they were currently unable to leave.

Next, Maxley produced a pre-prepared confession and asked Yamada, Meng Lin, and the others to sign it.

He also explained that the confession was merely intended to lull the public outside into a false sense of security; only by doing so would the crowd believe the police were genuinely and seriously investigating the case, and only then would they disperse.

Although Yamada, Meng Lin, and the others still harbored some doubts about this—after all, it was a confession—they wondered if signing it might put them in danger.

But considering that the police station and the Governor’s Office’s greatest enemies were not the triads, but Li Yi and the Chinese Merchants’ Association behind him—and that they still needed the triads’ help—they wouldn’t take action against them at this critical moment.

Furthermore, Maxley had personally guaranteed that once they signed the confession and the police held their press conference, they would be free to leave.

And so, Yamada, Meng Lin, and the others signed the confession without a second thought.

However, after signing the confession, they were not released; on the contrary, the number of guards surrounding them increased, causing Yamada and the others to realize something was amiss.

They demanded to see Maxley and Lin Luolan again, but this time, no one responded. It didn’t take long for Yamada and the others to realize they had been treated as sacrificial pawns…

Although they didn’t know where Maxley and the others got the nerve to target them, being deceived made Yamada and the others extremely angry. They scrambled to contact their henchmen on the outside, preparing to have them rescued.

What Yamada and the others didn’t know was that their gang on the outside had already been wiped out; it was just that Lin Luolan and the others had been keeping this information under wraps.

Despite the magnitude of the incident, there were no reports of it on the outside, except among a few insiders.

Furthermore, the henchmen who had managed to escape last night and during the day to alert their boss at the police station had all been detained by Lin Luolan and his crew.

Barring any surprises, these men would meet the same fate as their boss—they would be treated as sacrificial pawns to appease public outrage, facing prosecution and trial.

Lin Luolan, Maxley, and the others were well aware that once they’d decided to use these gang members as sacrificial pawns, they had to see it through to the end—otherwise, they themselves would be the ones to pay the price.

However, Meng Lin, Yamada, and the others all had powerful backers. By plotting against them in this way, Max and Lin Luolan were also facing immense pressure.

Fortunately, after the press conference at the police station concluded, the crowd gathered outside the headquarters dispersed, and traffic—which had been disrupted for most of the day—returned to normal.

But this isn’t over yet…

………

The Stock Exchange!

Compared to the Governor’s Office, which had been forced from behind the scenes into the spotlight, and Maxley, Lin Luolan, and others struggling to survive in the crossfire, Sangchai and his team at the exchange were equally frustrated.

According to Sangchai’s original plan, once they had driven the stock prices of companies like Wharf Holdings and Hang Seng Bank to their peak, they would sell the shares they had acquired, then continue to dump shares to drive the prices back down to rock bottom.

However, after his orders were issued, he discovered that someone had beaten them to it and had already begun dumping large quantities of their shares.

Upon investigation, they discovered that the ones selling off shares just like them were, surprisingly, the people from Star Company and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

In other words, for the entire day, these people had been moving in lockstep with them—and in some cases, their actions were even faster than their own.

Although Sang Chai didn’t know exactly what Li Yi was thinking, he couldn’t counter them at this point. After all, with their strategies aligned, attacking Li Yi and his group would be tantamount to shooting themselves in the foot.

Left with no choice, Sang Chai and his team could only watch helplessly as Li Yi and his group followed their lead… and made money…

With both major market makers frantically dumping shares of these companies, the market sentiment quickly shifted from buyers to sellers, and stock prices plummeted from peak to trough.

In less than half an hour, from 3:30 to just before 4:00, the stock prices of these companies—which had previously surged nearly twofold—were brought back down to earth.

Fortunately, when the stock prices fell to the morning’s opening price, the downward trend halted, bringing relief to the heavily invested institutions, speculative capital, and retail investors.

But just then, the British Hong Kong government suddenly issued an announcement. It stated that the government had recently conducted surprise inspections of several key enterprises on Hong Kong Island, uncovering a large number of illegal and non-compliant activities, and released a list of these companies along with details of the issues found.

Kowloon Wharf, Hang Seng Bank, Longheng Bank, Ho’s Group, and Star Investment were prominently listed among them.

The specific issues plaguing each company were also clearly outlined. For instance, Wharf Holdings was found to have severely substandard infrastructure, port management personnel engaging in extortion and bribery, and management accepting bribes.

Longheng Bank and Hang Seng Bank were found to have engaged in irregular lending practices, money laundering, and tax violations, while Star Investment Company also faced tax-related issues…

In response to these “issues,” the government has instructed relevant departments and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to form a joint investigation team to conduct on-site investigations at these companies.

As soon as this announcement was released, it instantly sent shockwaves through the stock market, causing the shares of these companies—which had just stabilized—to plummet once again…

…………