In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 752: Being Kind to the Enemy Is Being Cruel to Yourself

Lin Haoran's questions were like heavy hammer blows, slamming into Li Jiacheng's already fragile psychological defenses.

"The 50% discount I offered is based on the liquidation value assessment of CK Asset Holdings under the current risk of insolvency! Not some inflated net asset value! If you insist on not accepting it, fine, then I will immediately withdraw all concessions, and we will continue to play by the rules of the market."

Let's see if your Cheung Kong Holdings' cash flow breaks first, or if my Galaxy Entertainment Group collapses first!

The true intentions are revealed! A naked and undisguised threat!

Lin Haoran completely tore off that gentle veneer of "considering the overall situation," revealing his cold and cruel fangs.

He was certain that Li Jiacheng had no trump cards, and didn't even have the right to fight to the death.

After all, the other side really doesn't have any trump cards left now.

Li Jiacheng was struck dumb, his face instantly turning ashen, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

He opened his mouth, but found that something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't say a word.

All the luck and all the struggles were completely crushed at this moment.

"Moreover, your claim that the board of directors did not approve it is a paradox. Mr. Li, you know in your heart that your family holds 40% of the shares, my Galaxy Securities holds 38.4% of the shares, and with Chairman Chen's 1.7% of the shares, the total reaches 80.1%."

With such a high shareholding, wouldn't the entire board of directors be controlled by the two of us? Mr. Li, as long as you nod in agreement, the board of directors will naturally be under our control," Lin Haoran continued.

That Mr. Chen was none other than Chen Qizong, a close confidant of Li Jiacheng.

Ma Shimin, standing to the side, was also filled with dread.

Although he anticipated that the boss would aggressively lower the price, he didn't expect it to be such an astonishing 50% discount!
This was no longer a business negotiation; it was practically an execution.

HK$20 billion! There are very few companies in Hong Kong with a market value exceeding HK$20 billion, let alone this is real money.

Now, the boss is directly asking Cheung Kong Holdings to bleed HK$20 billion.

Ma Shimin sighed, "It's the boss who dares to speak up. If it were me, I wouldn't have dared to say that."

The office fell into a deathly silence, with only Li Jiacheng's heavy, suppressed breathing audible.

Lin Haoran stopped talking and just watched him silently, waiting for him to finally give in.

He knew the time was right and there was no need to continue.

Now, all that's left is to wait for Li Jiacheng to make a decision.

For Lin Haoran, if the other party agrees, then it is naturally not a problem.

However, if the other party objects, he will have no choice but to wait until Cheung Kong Holdings resumes trading tomorrow before continuing to increase his holdings.

It's the other person who's afraid, not him!

Time passed second by second, and every second was torture for Li Jiacheng.

In the end, all his strength, all his pride, and all his hope were completely drained away.

He uttered a few words in a hoarse voice, almost like a whisper:
"...Okay...50% off...50% off it is..."

This was an extremely difficult decision.

This was an unprecedented defeat and humiliation for Li Jiacheng in his decades of business success.

The coldness on Lin Haoran's face vanished instantly, replaced by a calm expression, even tinged with regret, as if the aggressive person from just moments before was not him.

“Mr. Li, making this decision was difficult, but it’s the only way for Cheung Kong to survive. Don’t worry, once the agreement is reached, the funds will be in place immediately, and Cheung Kong’s crisis will soon be over.” His tone even carried a hint of “comfort.”

He reached out his hand again.

This time, Li Jiacheng didn't look at the hand again, nor did he react. He just sat there blankly, as if he had lost all feeling.

Lin Haoran didn't mind and naturally withdrew his hand, saying to Ma Shimin, "Mr. Ma, I'll leave the follow-up matters to you tomorrow morning to lead the team to liaise with Mr. Li's people. Please make sure to complete all legal procedures as soon as possible. I need to see this contract before the stock market opens."

“Understood, boss,” Ma Shimin immediately stood up and replied.

Lin Haoran nodded, no longer looking at the dejected Li Jiacheng, and turned to walk to the floor-to-ceiling window, once again casting his gaze upon the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbour outside.

Ma Shimin walked to Li Jiacheng's side and said softly, "Mr. Li, let me see you downstairs."

Li Jiacheng didn't react at all. After a long while, he stood up stiffly and unsteadily like a puppet, without even looking at Lin Haoran's back, and slowly moved out of the office.

The door closed softly.

Lin Haoran stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes as deep as the night.

This time, they really went too far with Li Jiacheng.

However, he knew he couldn't be soft-hearted.

"Boss, 50% off, isn't that a bit..." Ma Shimin returned after seeing the person off and couldn't help but ask in a low voice. The price was so low that even he was a little shocked.

Lin Haoran did not turn around, but said calmly, "Mr. Ma, you must remember that being merciful to your enemies is being cruel to yourself. I have already shown him the greatest 'mercy' by leaving him the foundation of Cheung Kong Holdings and the position of Chairman of the Board."

How many years will it take him to recover from this? And in those years, we can do so much more.

His voice was calm, yet carried a chilling coldness and decisiveness.

"This battle must not only be won, but won completely, so that all potential adversaries will feel fear to their very bones at the thought of being my enemy for decades to come."

Ma Shimin felt a chill run down his spine, finally understanding his boss's deeper meaning.

This is not a simple commercial victory; it is an assertion of authority, a complete crushing defeat that will shape the landscape of Hong Kong's business world for decades to come.

The boss's goal was not only to target Mr. Li, but also to make sure that anyone in the Hong Kong business community who dared to provoke him in the future would have to think twice about the consequences!
Previously, the suppression of Jardine Matheson and Huafeng Bank was not enough, was it?
Then continue.

What the boss wants is to make the entire Hong Kong business community fear him.

Looking at Lin Haoran's tall and confident back, he seemed to see a new emperor rising slowly, stepping on the bones of a group of villains.

The negotiations ended after many twists and turns, ultimately ending with Li Jiacheng's near-humiliating and complete surrender.

Night falls.

Lin Haoran left the Kang Le Building in a Rolls-Royce.

Inside the car, a Hong Kong radio station's financial program was playing, with the host rapidly reporting the latest analysis: "Based on current information, Galaxy Securities' 38.4% stake in Cheung Kong Holdings is just one step away from the 40% stake held by the Li family, the largest shareholder."

Although the stock market is closed today, market sentiment is already at its peak! All eyes are on the resumption of trading tomorrow!
It is expected that after the market opens, both panic selling and buying spree by bulls will cause huge fluctuations. Will Galaxy Securities continue to increase its shareholding and thus surpass the Li family?
Can Li Jiacheng stage a comeback and retain control? This is the sword of Damocles hanging over the hearts of all investors!

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Hong Kong's business community will be even more bustling tomorrow.

……

In the blink of an eye, a night had passed.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Lin Haoran got up and, as usual, ate breakfast while reading the newspaper.

Cheung Kong Holdings undergoes a dramatic change! Four directors defect, bringing Hongkong Land's stake to nearly 40%!

Is Li Ka-shing facing widespread opposition and a change of ownership at Cheung Kong Holdings imminent?

"Ma Shih-min's Endorsement of 'Responsibility': A Carefully Planned Coup!"

Lin Haoran's Capital Sword Shines Again, Li Jiacheng's Business Empire Faces Turbulent Times

All the newspapers were reporting on his shareholding battle with Li Ka-shing.

Lin Haoran smiled slightly as he read the descriptions in the newspapers, his heart unmoved.

The report provides a detailed analysis of the significant threat posed by the 38.4% shareholding, meaning that Lin Haoran's side only needs to acquire a very small percentage of shares from the market to rival the Li Jiacheng family, or even launch a full takeover bid.

The Hong Kong media was in an uproar, and everyone realized that the balance of power in this battle for control had been decisively tilted.

The question of who will truly own Cheung Kong Holdings, the company that represents half a lifetime of Li Ka-shing's hard work, seems to be rapidly fading away.

Lin Haoran's ruthless methods once again demonstrated to the entire Hong Kong the unfathomable depth of his financial strength and his cold-blooded and decisive style of doing things.

At this moment, the outcome of the negotiations between Lin Haoran and Li Jiacheng has not yet been officially announced to the public.

Therefore, everyone believes that once the stock market opens today, Galaxy Securities will definitely continue to aggressively increase its holdings in Cheung Kong Holdings, and then surpass the Li Ka-shing family to become Cheung Kong's largest shareholder.

The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, but the hustle and bustle had already begun.

Newsstands were packed with people, and newspapers such as Sing Tao Daily, Oriental Daily News, and Wah Kiu Yip became the target of a buying frenzy.

The newsboy's clear and urgent cries pierced the tranquility of dawn:
"Breaking News! Breaking News! Cheung Kong Holdings in Crisis! Lam Ho-yin's Stake Approaching 40%! Li Ka-shing Besieged on All Sides!"

"Breaking News! Mysterious Buyer Spends Big on Cheung Kong! Mr. Lam is Just One Step Away from Controlling the Company!"

The bright red front page headline, like a bleeding wound, bears witness to the lingering impact of yesterday's shocking press conference at the Hong Kong Leisure Building.

"Wow! 38.4%! Only 1.6% less than the Li family! It seems that Cheung Kong Holdings might really have to change its ownership to the Lin family!" In a breakfast shop on the street, an old tea drinker wearing thick glasses slapped his newspaper hard, shocked.

"How could Xu Yuhui and these other shareholders betray Li Jiacheng! They'll get their comeuppance sooner or later!" The middle-aged man at the table was indignant; his eldest son now worked for Cheung Kong Holdings.

“Maybe Li Jiacheng really did end up with Cheung Kong Holdings in debt? What Xu Yuhui and the others said might not be unreasonable. With Lin Sheng’s abundant funds, if he can really control Cheung Kong Holdings, the stock price might be driven even higher?” A young man in a white shirt, who looked like a white-collar worker, chimed in, attracting several glances that were a mixture of disdain and deep thought.

Li Ka-shing still enjoys a fairly good reputation in Hong Kong, after all, he has been in business for decades.

"In this blitzkrieg, Lin Haoran really used all sorts of means. He had both courage and money. Starting with targeting Hutchison Whampoa, he bought shares, poached talent from the other side, and then held a press conference to force Li Ka-shing to suspend trading of the two companies. He followed one step after another, not even giving anyone a chance to breathe."

"Lin Haoran and his Galaxy Securities have laid a terrifyingly meticulous plan. Standard Chartered Bank has backed down again. It seems Li Jiacheng is truly in dire straits." A well-dressed analyst working in the financial district said to a friend while looking at the professional analysis in the Hong Kong Economic Journal. Citizens gathered in teahouses, parks, bus stops, and alleyways, and the conversation revolved around this business battle among Hong Kong's most powerful Chinese families that had shaken the entire city.

However, while they were having various discussions, they were unaware that Li Jiacheng and Lin Haoran had already made a decision.

At the Chinese Building, the headquarters of Cheung Kong Holdings, on the top floor, in the chairman's office, Li Ka-shing arrived early.

However, it was easy to tell from his expression that he was in a bad mood.

This was the worst battle he had ever experienced since he started doing business.

The thought that not only would Hutchison Whampoa be handed over to someone else, but also sold at a discount, and that Cheung Kong Holdings, the foundation of his business, would be undermined by the other party, caused Li Ka-shing a sharp pain in his chest, as if he had been struck hard with a blunt instrument.

He instinctively clutched his chest, clearly feeling very distressed.

Outside the window was the familiar view of Victoria Harbour, but today it appeared as a desolate gray to him.

He once thought this land was impregnable, but now it is besieged by enemy troops, and even the core area has changed hands.

He didn't sleep a wink last night; he couldn't fall asleep at all.

Chen Qizong stopped him from sitting down. Li Jiacheng had already told him in detail the decision he made when he met with Lin Haoran yesterday.

As Li Jiacheng's core partner, he fully supports whatever decision Li Jiacheng makes.

Moreover, he knew that with his 1.7% stake, there was absolutely no possibility of any opposition.

The secretary quietly brought over a cup of ginseng tea. Seeing his pale face, she said in a worried whisper, "Mr. Li, would you like to rest for a bit?"

Li Jiacheng waved his hand weakly, as if all his strength had been drained away.

He closed his eyes, and Lin Haoran's cold face, his piercing words, and his seemingly gentle but actually cruel "comfort" at the end played repeatedly in his mind like a nightmare.

"50% off...50% off..." The humiliating, barely audible sound of his own compromise still echoed in his ears.

He knew that in Hong Kong today, everyone thought the battle had only just begun and was waiting for the bloodbath that would follow the opening of the stock market today.

Little did he know that the war had ended last night with his complete surrender.

This feeling of being the only one sober while everyone else is drunk, mixed with immense humiliation and frustration, almost consumed him.

Just then, the internal phone on the table rang urgently.

Li Jiacheng's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath and answered the call.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Ma Shimin from Hongkong Land Group, along with several colleagues, has arrived downstairs. They say they are entrusted by Mr. Lin Haoran to discuss important matters concerning Cheung Kong Holdings with you, Chairman and the Board of Directors, immediately." The receptionist's voice carried a hint of panic.

What was supposed to come finally came.

Li Jiacheng gripped the receiver tightly.

All eyes in the office instantly turned to him.

He paused for a few seconds, sighed, and said, "Mr. Ma and his team, please go directly to the top-floor conference room and inform all board members to assemble in the conference room within fifteen minutes—no, within ten minutes! Immediately!"

After that, he hung up the phone directly.

Li Jiacheng stood up from his chair, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, revealing both resentful anger and a hint of resignation at the dust settling.

Since things have come to this point, there's nothing that can be changed, and we can only accept reality.

He strode out of the office first, his back slightly hunched in the backlight.

Chen Qizong and the others dared not delay and immediately followed, each of them feeling as if a huge rock was pressing on their hearts.

Ten minutes later, in the boardroom of Cheung Kong Holdings.

The atmosphere in the huge boardroom was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Li Jiacheng sat in the main seat, no longer displaying his former high spirits.

A few senior executives from Cheung Kong Holdings, who had rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency notice, sat scattered around. They were the Li family's staunchest supporters, but each of them wore a look of surprise, uncertainty, and barely concealed worry.

Those absent were none other than Xu Yuhui, Chairman Wu, General Manager Qian, and Chairman Zhao, who had turned against each other at the Kang Le Building yesterday.

Their seats were empty, like four silent mocking laughter, a reminder of how utter and devastating yesterday's betrayal was.

These men are definitely not going to make a living in Hong Kong anymore, and they don't know how to face Li Jiacheng, their former comrade-in-arms.

Therefore, after holding a press conference yesterday, they took their families and all left Hong Kong.

As for the fixed assets in Hong Kong, they have all been entrusted to Hongkong Land Group for handling.

The conference room door was pushed open.

Ma Shimin, with a professional smile on his face, wearing a well-tailored gray suit and with his hair neatly combed, walked in first.

Behind him were two elite assistants carrying heavy briefcases, and a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a serious expression who looked like a legal professional.

The four-person team exuded a powerful aura of control, a stark contrast to the anxious atmosphere in the meeting room.

Ma Shimin's sharp gaze swept across the entire room, finally landing on Li Jiacheng, whose face was gloomy, in the main seat. He nodded slightly in greeting: "Mr. Li, distinguished directors, good morning. Time is precious. I am here on behalf of Galaxy Securities and our boss, Mr. Lin Haoran, to handle two important matters concerning the future development of Cheung Kong Holdings."

The matter was settled yesterday, so there's really no need for further discussion.

Therefore, the entire meeting was just a formality.

The meeting decided that Cheung Kong Holdings would sell its entire 40% stake in the company to Galaxy Securities for HK$20.2 billion, with the funds to be settled within three days.

Meanwhile, although Lin Haoran was not present, he will become the new vice chairman of the board of directors of Cheung Kong Holdings, thanks to his 38.4% stake.

Of course, he had promised Li Ka-shing that he would not interfere too much in the management of Cheung Kong Holdings, so the position of vice chairman was more of a formality.

The reason for settling the payment so readily within three days was that Lin Haoran is now an important shareholder of Cheung Kong Holdings, and he is not short of funds, so there is no need to delay the payment.

With nearly 40% of the shares, Cheung Kong Holdings makes money, and Lin Haoran also indirectly makes money.

The conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; only Ma Shimin's clear and steady voice echoed.

His lawyer quickly took out a thick stack of prepared agreement documents from the briefcase and distributed them to every director and senior executive present.

Li Jiacheng looked at the agreement pushed in front of him; the large black characters on the cover, "Equity Transfer and Cooperation Agreement," stung his eyes.

He reached out his slightly trembling hand and turned to the first page.

The terms were cold and detailed, solidifying his humiliating promises from the previous night in black and white, each word a reminder of yesterday's crushing defeat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the terms of the agreement are based on the principle of commercial fairness and have fully taken into account Cheung Kong Holdings' current financial situation and future development. Please review them carefully. If there are no objections, we will complete the signing as soon as possible so that the funds can be in place as soon as possible to stabilize Cheung Kong Holdings' situation," Ma Shimin said with a smile.

This time, he came on behalf of his boss, so he can be considered the victor.

Several directors loyal to Li Jiacheng looked at each other, their gazes eventually turning to Li Jiacheng in the main seat.

What they saw was Li Jiacheng's almost ashen face and tightly pursed lips.

One of the more senior executives couldn't help but speak up: "Mr. Ma, at this price, the core assets of Cheung Kong are worth far more than this. Isn't this...?"

"Everyone, I understand how you feel, but this is a decision already made by Mr. Li and my boss, Mr. Lin, so there's no need for you to discuss it further. Besides, I'm just here to help my boss, Mr. Lin, with the procedures. It's no use for you to talk to me."

You should sign it as soon as possible so I can go back and report. If there are still problems, you need to talk to my boss. I have no right to change anything.

However, I want to remind you that delaying or refusing will only lead to more uncontrollable consequences. As you all know, the stock market is about to open. If our boss doesn't see this contract before the market opens, Galaxy Securities will continue to increase its holdings in Cheung Kong Holdings. "Ma Shimin said in a deep voice.

His words carried a threat, but more importantly, they were the truth.

The deal has already been reached. If we object now, wouldn't all the talk we had last night have been for nothing?
The executive opened his mouth as if to say something, but was stopped by a slight gesture from Li Jiacheng.

Li Jiacheng closed the agreement as if he had used up all his strength.

He raised his head, looked at Ma Shimin, and said in a hoarse and tired voice, "The agreement, we'll sign it."

A few simple words brought this lightning-fast business battle to a close.

The meeting room was deathly silent. The faces of the directors were filled with shock and resentment, which eventually turned into helpless silence.

They knew that Li Jiacheng's words meant he had no other choice.

The signing process was swift and tense. When Li Jiacheng signed his name in the designated spot, the pen tip nearly tore through the paper several times.

When he pushed the signed agreement to Ma Shimin, he seemed to age several years in an instant.

Ma Shimin carefully examined the signature, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his face.

He put away the agreement, stood up, and said, "Mr. Li, everyone, it's been a pleasure working with you. Galaxy Securities' funds will arrive on time. I hope Cheung Kong will get back on track as soon as possible."

These high-sounding words sounded particularly jarring at that moment.

Li Jiacheng did not respond, but simply closed his eyes wearily.

Ma Shimin said no more and left the conference room with his men decisively.

The moment the door closed, the oppressive atmosphere in the conference room almost froze.

Li Jiacheng did not open his eyes for a long time, leaning back in his chair.

(End of this chapter)