Rebirth of Hong Kong Island, leading the technology war

Chapter 624 Hu Shao's application for land reclamation stuns Li Changxi! How will Speaker Hua rule? The high-stakes gamble officially begins.

Li Changxi wasn't processing documents at the moment. Instead, he turned his high-backed swivel chair slightly toward the huge floor-to-ceiling window, gazing intently at the scenery outside.

On one side of the window is the bustling and dense urban landscape of Hong Kong Island, with its towering buildings, full of the vitality of modern commercial society; on the other side is the shimmering Victoria Harbour, with ships coming and going, offering a wide and magnificent view.

Li Changxi has a habit of quietly gazing out the window when he is thinking about important issues or seeking inspiration for decision-making.

Especially when he encounters a bottleneck at work or needs to make major strategic decisions, the scenery outside the window seems to bring him more ideas and a calmer mindset.

Just then, a few crisp, rhythmic knocks sounded on the office door, interrupting his thoughts.

"Come in," Li Changxi replied, his voice steady.

The door was pushed open, and a very capable-looking woman in a well-tailored, high-end business suit walked in.

This woman, named Xue Meiyi, was not only well-dressed but also had an outstanding appearance, a tall figure, and an elegant demeanor that revealed a shrewdness that should not be underestimated.

She carried a folder in her hand and walked with a composed demeanor.

Despite her relatively young age, Xue Meiyi was Li Changxi's most capable right-hand woman, deeply trusted and relied upon.

Li Changxi would entrust her with handling and following up on many important matters within the group that required high confidentiality and precise execution.

Li Changxi had great confidence in her work ability and recognized her loyalty.

There were actually quite a few people in the company who privately discussed and speculated whether there was some kind of special relationship between Xue Meiyi and Li Changxi that went beyond the scope of work.

In fact, the two had no other connection besides a strict working relationship.

Li Changxi was not without such thoughts; he had indeed made overt and covert attempts to probe the matter before, revealing his intention to develop a closer relationship with Xue Meiyi.

However, Xue Meiyi's attitude was very clear and firm in her refusal.

She is a modern professional woman with clear career plans and life goals. She cherishes her career and independent personality and would never betray her true self and original aspirations to gain shortcuts or special treatment in the workplace.

Seeing that Xue Meiyi had rejected him so decisively and thoroughly, Li Changxi weighed the pros and cons and dared not have any further improper thoughts.

Because he knew very well that Xue Meiyi's true and irreplaceable value to him and the Cheung Kong Group he managed lay in her outstanding work ability and efficient handling of affairs.

If his inappropriate actions anger her and she leaves the company in a fit of rage, it would be an unbearable loss for both Li Changxi personally and the entire Changhe Group.

In this respect, Li Changxi is a clear-headed person who knows how to control his desires and prioritize the overall situation.

It is precisely because of his calm and rational judgment that the Li family is focusing on grooming him as their future successor.

He truly excelled in personal ability, strategic vision, and emotional control, far surpassing his peers.

Unfortunately, Hu Jiangshan suddenly seemed to have mutated, driving Li Changxi a bit crazy.

Xue Meiyi walked to the desk, gently placed a document in front of Li Changxi, and then briefly reported the core content of the document, asking Li Changxi to take some time to review it and make comments.

Li Changxi nodded, indicating that he understood, and put the document aside for the time being.

When he looked up, he noticed that Xue Meiyi seemed to want to say something but hesitated, as if she had something else to say.

"What's wrong, Meiyi? Is there something else?" Li Changxi asked.

Xue Meiyi hesitated for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts, before speaking: "Yes, President Li, it's about Hu Jiangshan. It seems they're planning something big again."

Upon hearing the name "Hu Jiangshan," Li Changxi's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his tone turned somber: "What kind of trouble is he up to now? Wasn't he quiet for a while?"

Xue Meiyi reported clearly: "According to what we know, Hu Jiangshan recently formally submitted an application to the relevant departments of the Hong Kong government, intending to expand the space launch site."

"What?" Li Changxi's expression hardened, and he unconsciously sat up straighter. "Expand the launch site? On Tenglong Island?"

Xue Meiyi replied, "Yes, we want to expand the space launch site on Tenglong Island."

Why would he do such a thing?

Xue Meiyi's face showed a complicated expression as she said, "According to the reason stated in their application materials, it is to meet the construction needs of future new facilities."

"New facilities? What new facilities could possibly be built?"

Li Changxi's face showed an expression of disbelief and incredulity.

The existing launch sites are already quite large, so what is the need for further large-scale construction?
What exactly is Hu Jiangshan up to?
Is he crazy, or does he have some other motive?
Li Changxi picked up the cup of coffee on the table, which had long since gone cold, took a sip, and frowned slightly at the icy bitterness, but did not put the cup down.

"It's completely unnecessary! Why would Hu Jiangshan suddenly want to expand the launch site? Has he gone mad? Expanding a space launch site would cost a fortune! It doesn't make any sense from the most basic business logic!"

At this point, Li Changxi looked up and asked, "Have you investigated his true motives for doing this? Is there any information behind it that we haven't yet grasped?"

Xue Meiyi nodded. Her reports were always clear and organized: "Boss, I have sent people to inquire from various sources and heard some fairly reliable rumors. It is said that Hu Jiangshan is planning to build a new, technologically advanced launch pad."

"A launch pad? A launch pad for launching rockets?" Li Changxi repeated almost subconsciously, and as soon as he finished speaking, he realized that the question was somewhat foolish.

Since it's a launch pad built in a space launch site, it must be a facility used to launch rockets, not a military device used to launch missiles.

He shook his head, feeling somewhat annoyed by Hu Jiangshan's unconventional behavior.

Xue Meiyi didn't seem to mind her boss's slight lapse in composure: "Yes, boss, it's a new type of rocket launcher specifically designed for space launches. And according to rumors, this type of launcher is said to be unprecedented in the entire Blue Star region, making it a pioneering creation."

"They don't even exist on Earth yet?" Li Changxi looked surprised. "So new? That sounds too incredible!"

Even if Hu Jiangshan were ambitious and wanted to add another launch pad to the existing launch site, it wouldn't be entirely impossible. After all, with only one launch pad, launch efficiency would indeed be limited, making it impossible to handle too many commercial launch orders simultaneously.

For example, the rocket launch site that CK Hutchison Holdings is currently investing in and building is initially planned to have three fully functional rocket launch pads, with the aim of increasing throughput and commercial competitiveness.

“Boss, what we have at the moment are just rumors, not official confirmation.” Xue Meiyi maintained her professional caution. “However, one thing is almost certain: Hu Jiangshan is taking this very seriously and has invested a lot of resources. I heard that in order to push this project forward, he even used his connections to arrange a meeting with Speaker Hua.”

“Speaker Hua? You mean Speaker Hua Junfeng?” Li Changxi’s brows furrowed even more.

"Yes, that's him."

"That's strange." Li Changxi tapped his fingers lightly on the smooth tabletop, lost in thought. "Hu Jiangshan wants to expand the launch site and build new launch pads. These are all business matters for their Jiangshan Group. Why would they specifically go to Speaker Hua? Is there some shady business going on that we don't know about?"

Xue Meiyi hesitated slightly, seemingly considering her words, and said in a low voice, "According to internal sources, Hu Jiangshan's application to expand the launch site this time may involve large-scale land reclamation."

"What?! Land reclamation?!"

Li Changxi almost stood up from his chair. Even with his composure, he showed an expression of extreme shock, feeling like his mind was a little stuck.

"Is he really crazy? Or have I misunderstood?"

Li Changxi considered himself quick-witted and insightful, but even he was completely unsure of Hu Jiangshan's true intentions.

This guy's thinking is so unconventional, he doesn't play by the rules!

Is land reclamation something that ordinary companies, or even ordinary conglomerates, can easily accomplish?

"...reclaiming land from the sea."

Li Changxi murmured the word repeatedly.

Even for the Li family of Hong Kong Island, with their enormous power and deep political and business connections, it would often take several years just to complete all the preliminary approval processes and legal and compliant procedures before officially launching a decent land reclamation project.

This doesn't even include the huge financial investment and the various risks that may arise, such as environmental protection and public opinion.

The launch site that Changhe Group is currently building in cooperation with SpaceX and Gas Group is on land that Changhe Group acquired many years ago through a land reclamation project.

The group's original intention was to develop a large commercial complex there.

However, the real estate industry continued to slump, and the project was shelved and never started.

The fact that it is now being used to build a more forward-looking space launch site is a good example of making the best use of existing assets and revitalizing them.

Li Changxi asked Xue Meiyi, "So, according to your information, Hu Jiangshan's plan is to reclaim land around Tenglong Island to acquire new land and expand his launch site?"

"Yes, boss, based on the information we've gathered so far, that should be their intention," Xue Meiyi replied confidently.

Li Changxi rhythmically tapped his fingers on the expensive solid wood desk, producing a soft "tap-tap" sound. This seemed to calm him down considerably, and a look of certainty even appeared on his face.

"Hmph, even if Hu Jiangshan has some connections and manages to get to Speaker Hua through them, it'll probably be a waste of time. I know Speaker Hua Junfeng too well. He's always meticulous and principled, and he values ​​rules and procedures the most. For projects like this that are clearly beyond the norm and involve significant interests and environmental impact, he would never make an exception easily, let alone be swayed by personal relationships."

Li Changxi did indeed have dealings with Speaker Hua Junfeng, and more than once.

The most memorable time was a few years ago when he met Hua Junfeng through his father Li Ziji's very strong connections.

At the time, all we hoped was that Speaker Hua could, within a certain compliant scope, make a call to the relevant departments and do us a favor.

Unexpectedly, Hua Junfeng didn't even ask about the specifics before flatly refusing, his attitude clear and resolute.

Although Li Changxi was somewhat surprised at the time, he was not angry.

Because Li Ziji had warned his son beforehand that Hua Junfeng was likely to refuse, and that he shouldn't have too much hope.

Given Hua Junfeng's upright and even somewhat cold-hearted temperament, he would usually refuse such a request.

As expected, Speaker Hua Junfeng refused.

Afterwards, Li Changxi actually admired Hua Junfeng. In the complex and treacherous world of fame and fortune in Hong Kong, it was truly rare to find someone who could uphold such principles.

At this point, Xue Meiyi added, "To ensure the accuracy of the information, I have used our internal connections in the Hong Kong government's council office to have a close friend keep an eye out for any concrete information regarding the Teng Lung Island reclamation proposal. She will notify me immediately."

Upon hearing this, Li Changxi smiled slightly, appearing confident. He took another sip of his iced coffee and said in a relaxed tone, "Actually, even without being notified, I could roughly guess the outcome. Given Speaker Hua's consistent personality and style of handling affairs, it's absolutely impossible for him to give the green light to a whimsical guy like Hu Jiangshan. I'm confident about that."

Xue Meiyi nodded in agreement: "Boss, my judgment is basically the same as yours. However, there is one thing to note. This time, Hu Jiangshan did not directly approach Speaker Hua. Instead, he was connected through the relationship of Old Master Hu Yingxiang. Old Master Hu is highly respected in Hong Kong. Speaker Hua will more or less give him some face. At least meeting him should not be a problem."

"...Hu Yingxiang?"

Li Changxi was taken aback at first, then shook his head dismissively: "Even if Old Master Hu personally intervenes, it probably won't make much of a difference. At most, Speaker Hua will only meet with Hu Jiangshan out of courtesy and to hear what he has to say. But to expect him to go against his principles and agree to anything just to save face for Old Master Hu is absolutely impossible. Speaker Hua is not that kind of person."

"Maybe."

After Xue Meiyi finished reporting her work, she was about to turn around and leave the office when her cell phone started buzzing.

She took out her phone and glanced at the caller ID. A hint of hesitation flashed across her face. Then she said to Li Changxi, "Boss, this call might be related to the latest news from Speaker Hua."

Upon hearing this, Li Changxi smiled with interest, leaned back in his wide chair, and said leisurely, "Oh? That's perfect. You can answer it here. I really want to hear with my own ears how Speaker Hua righteously and sternly rejected Hu Jiangshan's unreasonable demands. He even wants to reclaim land from the sea? It's laughable. Who does he think he is? Does he really want to turn Tenglong Island into an artificial island? Speaker Hua isn't that stupid to satisfy the unreasonable desires of someone like him."

Xue Meiyi nodded and answered the phone.

(End of this chapter)