In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 759 Unwilling to accept defeat, Mr. Wayne, the former head of the household.
At this moment, Wei Li fell silent.

The description from the other end of the phone painted a clear picture in his mind:

The young new owner of Hutchison Whampoa sat in the main seat, his word carrying weight, and with a flick of his finger, he ousted an overconfident senior executive who challenged his authority.

Former colleagues, once side by side, instantly defected when faced with the threat of occupational death, vying to pledge their loyalty.
The abandoned one could only leave the core of power he once controlled in a sorry state, "escorted" by security guards...

In troubled times, heavy codes are used, and strong medicines are used for serious illnesses.

Unexpectedly, Lin Haoran, at such a young age, is already well-versed in this art!
At this moment, Wei Li was very shocked.

Who would have thought that the other party was just a young man in his early twenties?

No wonder they were able to build such a massive empire in just three years.

This move not only shattered Richard's illusion of "management autonomy," but also instantly dismantled any potential tendency to band together in opposition, establishing his absolute authority in the most direct and violent way.

The cost could be very high?

There will definitely be some short-term chaos.

In the long run, this decisive action prevented endless disputes and internal conflicts in the future.

This young man's ruthlessness and efficiency far exceeded his expectations!
It's so much more satisfying than Li Jiacheng's hypocritical approach of trying to control while maintaining a facade of harmony!
"Isn't he afraid that you all will collectively abandon your responsibilities, causing Hutchison Whampoa to be paralyzed?" Wei Li asked the key question.

"Lin Sheng later said, 'Hutchison Whampoa's success today is indeed due to the efforts of everyone here, but even more so to this platform! Without Hutchison Whampoa, do you think your resources and connections would still have much value?'"

These words... though harsh, were truly undeniable in that context.

Moreover, he immediately put Mr. Simon Murray in charge of stabilizing the transition period, and even if we leave, they can always bring in senior executives from Hongkong Land Group.

Even if we had ideas, we wouldn't dare gamble with our future.

Lin Sheng said that past actions would be forgiven, but collusion with Richard Xin would not be tolerated. He asked everyone to unite and work together for Hutchison Whampoa from now on.

Wei Li fell into a long silence again.

Although Lin Haoran's words were harsh, they incisively revealed the interdependent relationship between professional managers and platforms.

In the face of a boss with absolute equity and a powerful backer with even greater capital, threatening to "collectively withdraw" is an extremely fragile bargaining chip.

Lin Haoran saw through this, which is why he dared to use such force.

He has enough capital to bear the risk of short-term chaos, and even more confidence and means to quickly stabilize the situation.

This insight into human weaknesses and the courage to take risks gave Wei Li a long-lost thrill.

He couldn't help but compare Lin Haoran to his former boss, Li Jiacheng.

Li Jiacheng is also assertive, but he is more accustomed to manipulating things behind the scenes, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water, slowly infiltrating and squeezing out others, full of calculation and caution.

Lin Haoran, on the other hand, is sharp and aggressive, like a raging fire, and his style is to use force to overcome skill and kill with one blow!

With the same goal of taking control of the company, Lin Haoran's path is shorter, more direct, and more in line with the tastes of a "firefighter" like Wei Li, who is decisive and hates being hindered.

An indescribable emotion surged within Wei Li.

Is it out of disdain for Richard's foolish behavior?

Was it a mixture of shock and a touch of admiration for Lin Haoran's ruthless methods?
Is it a concern about Hutchison Whampoa's future?
Or is it a long-suppressed impulse to once again unleash one's full potential?

He left Hutchison Whampoa not because of failure, but because of ideological differences and the boss's suspicion.

He longs for a boss and platform that can fully empower him, allow him to showcase his talents, and truly propel the company to new heights.

Li Jiacheng couldn't give him what he needed, so he could only leave in despair, because he knew that staying with Hutchison Whampoa would only lead to wasting his time in vain.

Today, this young man named Lin Haoran has taken over Hutchison Whampoa with an unprecedentedly tough stance.

He dared to fire the CEO on the spot, dared to face any challenge, and showed a grand strategic vision. Considering the situation of the professional managers under his command, could such a boss and such a stage be the answer that Wei Li was looking for?

At this moment, this feeling inexplicably arose in Wei Li's mind.

Although he had never dealt with Lin Haoran, he actually understood how Lin Haoran handled things with his companies.

While it may seem that his actions today are a power grab, Wei Li knows that Lin Haoran rarely interferes too much in the management of the company.

Lin Haoran had already risen to prominence when he was still the chairman of Hutchison Whampoa's board of directors.

At that time, he investigated Lin Haoran's personality and experience through Hutchison Whampoa's intelligence department.

"Mr. Wei Li? Mr. Wei Li?" Xia Boyin's call on the other end of the phone pulled Wei Li back from his wandering thoughts.

"Yes, I'm listening." Wei Li's voice returned to calm, but the turmoil in his heart was far from over.

"Mr. Lam also said that he would find a new and capable CEO to take the helm of Hutchison Whampoa as soon as possible. I called you today in the hope that you, Mr. Willie, could return to Hutchison Whampoa and lead us to continue to create brilliance."

"Mr. Wei Li, Mr. Wei Peter and I are all looking forward to your return," Xia Boyin added cautiously, his voice filled with anticipation.

They are all long-time employees of Hutchison Whampoa, but most of them are senior executives who were mentored or promoted by Wayne Lai.

It can be said that in their hearts, Wei Li was like a mentor.

If Wayne Lai could return to Hutchison Whampoa, their situation wouldn't be so awkward.

Moreover, they had more faith in Wylie's abilities than in Richard.

With Wayne Lai around, Hutchison Whampoa will definitely develop better, and as a senior executive, the better the company develops, the more bonuses will naturally be!

So, that was actually the purpose of Xia Boyin's phone call.

Since Lin Haoran is looking for a new CEO, if we were to say who in Hong Kong is most suitable for the position, it would undoubtedly be Wei Li.

Upon hearing this, Wei Li frowned and said, "What reason do I have to go back? I never intended to go back after deciding to leave Hutchison Whampoa. Besides, I am not familiar with this Mr. Lin Haoran. Even if I wanted to, he might not be interested!"

“Mr. Wei Li, after the meeting, when Mr. Lin Haoran and Mr. Ma Shimin were talking privately, I overheard them mentioning your name. It seemed that they had included you on the potential list of potential new CEOs of Hutchison Whampoa.”

Wei Li's pupils suddenly contracted.

Lin Haoran actually thought of him?
Or did Ma Shimin recommend himself to him?

A surge of warmth welled up uncontrollably from the bottom of my heart.

Yes, Ma Shimin understood his abilities and also knew about his story with Huang.

In fact, Wei Li and Ma Shimin had quite a few dealings.

After all, he was previously the taipan of Hutchison Whampoa, while Simon Murray was the executive director of Jardine Matheson. The two giant companies had many cooperative projects.

Moreover, both are top professional managers in Hong Kong, so the relationship between Simon Murray and William Wayne is actually not bad.

Therefore, Ma Shimin knew him very well.

After dealing with the troublemakers within the company, Lin Haoran will inevitably need to find a powerful helmsman who can truly steer the giant ship of Hutchison Whampoa and achieve his strategic goals.

It seems that Ma Shimin submitted his name.

“I understand, Simon.” Wei Li’s voice remained steady. “Thank you for telling me all this. Focus on your work. This Mr. Lin is not simple.”

Work hard for Hutchison Whampoa and don't have any unrealistic ambitions. Your future is bright. As for whether I will return to Hutchison Whampoa, that's a matter for later.

"Understood, Mr. Wylie. I look forward to working together again someday."

After hanging up the phone, Wei Li stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window for a long time.

Outside the window, the Hutchison Whampoa Building looked particularly magnificent in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Once upon a time, that was his battlefield, his kingdom.

During those years, Wayne Gould must have devoted a tremendous amount of effort to turning Hutchison Whampoa, which was on the verge of bankruptcy and even facing a broken capital chain, back to its former glory.

So he left with regret and resentment.

Now, a new, younger, more powerful, and more elusive master has taken over.

Richard's fate clearly conveys Lin Haoran's way of governing: absolute authority, unquestionable control, and zero tolerance for betrayal and challenges.

It's dangerous, but it's also full of huge possibilities.

A boss who dares to act in this way often has the courage to support truly capable people in expanding their territory.

Will he be as suspicious and obstructive as Li Jiacheng?

Or will they give genuine trust and space based on their own abilities and determination?

However, judging from the current situation, he has granted his professional managers such as Ma Shimin, Chen Shulin, Cui Zilong, and Burton enormous corporate management power. This kind of boldness and vision far surpasses Li Jiacheng's somewhat narrow-minded style of doing things.

He has dealt with many Chinese entrepreneurs, most of whom are actually like Li Ka-shing.

Chinese bosses who are willing to delegate authority like Lin Haoran are rare.

If I could take charge of Hutchison Whampoa, I could realize my ambitions within this framework...

Wei Li's heart began to race involuntarily.

A long-lost desire, belonging to the warrior, awakens in his blood.

He craved a formidable opponent, and even more so, a stage where he could give it his all. His current position as chairman of a subsidiary of the Baibaoli Group was certainly insufficient to satisfy his ambitions.

Even if he were to take charge of the Great Eagle Group, he would still be dissatisfied. The Great Eagle Group has a place in Hong Kong's real estate industry, but compared with real estate giants such as Cheung Kong Holdings, Sun Hung Kai Properties, and New World Development, the Great Eagle Group is ultimately a level below.

Hutchison Whampoa's position in Hong Kong's business community is even higher than that of Cheung Kong Holdings and Sun Hung Kai Properties.

He had served as the head of Hutchison Whampoa, and it was clear that there were not many companies in Hong Kong that he could take seriously.

So this is just a transitional period in his career.

Lin Haoran's victory over Li Jiacheng and his decisive elimination of Richard Xin demonstrate this very strength and courage.

This young man was like a thunderbolt piercing the dull sky of Hong Kong's business world, shocking people and making them want to get closer and find out what was going on.

At that moment, Wei Li's mind raced with a multitude of thoughts.

The contrast between his position as the head of Hutchison Whampoa and his fall to the chairmanship of a third-rate company was indeed disheartening.

He once controlled a vast business empire at Hutchison Whampoa, and his decisions influenced the fate of countless people. How high-spirited he was back then!

Now, in this small company, although I have decision-making power, I always feel that I lack that bold and unrestrained spirit.

He recalled his days at Hutchison Whampoa, dealing with various forces and intense business competition and complex workplace relationships. Although it was tough, it was also full of challenges and passion.

Hutchison Whampoa was like a huge stage, allowing him to fully display his talents.

Now, this stage seems to have a new possibility. Lin Haoran's appearance has given him the opportunity to return to Hutchison Whampoa.

Although, he definitely won't be able to remain the chairman of the board of directors of Hutchison Whampoa.

However, even becoming the CEO of Hutchison Whampoa is still a good choice.

Wei Li slowly turned around, returned to his desk, and sat down.

He opened the drawer and took out a somewhat old photo album, which contained photos of him working at Hutchison Whampoa.

There are group photos celebrating the success of a project with colleagues, photos of him speaking at an important meeting, and even photos of him looking triumphant when he made the headlines of a newspaper. Each photo carries his past glory and memories.

"Am I really going to miss this opportunity?" Wei Li murmured to himself.

He knew that returning to Hutchison Whampoa meant facing a completely new leadership style and unknown challenges.

Although Lin Haoran has demonstrated great courage and vision, his aggressive style of doing things makes it uncertain whether I can adapt to it.

Moreover, Richard's fate served as a warning, constantly reminding him that under Lin Haoran's command, making a mistake could lead to utter ruin.

However, another voice also echoed in his mind: "This is an opportunity to prove myself again. Lin Haoran values ​​capable people so much. If I can gain his trust, perhaps I can lead Hutchison Whampoa to a new height."

Working at Baibaoli Group made him realize even more the importance of a group's strength.

If he were still the head of Hutchison Whampoa, he would at least be 99% confident that he could stand out from the other competitors and successfully acquire China Bus.

The reason why Baibaoli Group failed to succeed is ultimately because its strength was far inferior to that of those well-established giants.

In the brutal battlefield of business, without substantial capital and extensive network of connections, it's like navigating a dilapidated boat on a turbulent sea, constantly in danger of being swallowed by the waves.

He believed that his talent in the business world was top-notch, even in Hong Kong and Asia.

However, even with such talent, it was difficult for him to make the Baibaoli Group successful.

This is like an adult holding a stick and a child holding a gun. Although the adult is stronger, the child's weapon is more lethal.

In business competition, capital and connections are the key "guns".

Wei Li gently stroked the edge of the photo album, his thoughts drifting further away.

He recalled some major projects he had participated in at Hutchison Whampoa, and the scenes of wits and courage in fighting against various forces were still vivid in his mind.

Every successful negotiation and every smooth progress of a project made him feel that his value had been realized.

Now, although he can still exert some abilities at Baibaoli Group, he is subject to too many restrictions, like an eagle with its wings bound, unable to soar into the sky.

“Perhaps I really should go back and give it a try,” Wei Li murmured.

He knew that returning to Hutchison Whampoa meant standing at the forefront of Hong Kong's business world once again, where there was fiercer competition and a wider world to explore.

Although Lin Haoran acts aggressively, his vision and courage may provide him with an unprecedented platform for development.

He closed the photo album, stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the city night view outside.

The brightly lit streets are bustling with traffic and people; this is a city full of opportunities and challenges.

This is why he traveled all the way to Hong Kong.

He, Wei Li, was once a prominent figure in the city's business world. How could he be content to remain unknown on a small stage?
Just as his thoughts were churning like the tides of Victoria Harbour, the phone on his desk rang again.

This time, the number displayed on the screen was very familiar to him, because it was the office landline number he used to have when he was the head of Hutchison Whampoa.

Wei Li's eyes lit up, and he took a deep breath.

He didn't answer immediately, but let the phone ring a few times.

His gaze returned to the building outside the window, and a complex yet excited smile slowly curved his lips.

The ringing of the telephone sounded particularly abrupt in the rather empty chairman's office of Yalong Company.

Wei Li's gaze never left the bustling lights of Victoria Harbour outside the window, especially the Hutchison Whampoa Building, which he knew all too well.

He took a deep breath, as if to suppress some turbulent and complex emotions, before slowly turning around and walking to the large mahogany desk.

Wei Li's heart pounded faster than usual, a long-lost thrill mixed with anticipation and wariness welling up inside him.

Deep down, he felt a sense of anticipation, and finally picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Wei Li's voice was calm and even, with a hint of British reserve, a reflection of his years of professionalism.

"Good evening, Mr. Wei Li. I apologize for bothering you, and I hope I haven't disturbed your rest." A voice that he recognized came from the other end of the phone; it was Ma Shimin.

His English had a standard Oxford accent, and his tone was polite and direct, without any unnecessary small talk.

“Mr. Ma Shimin?” Wei Li’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, his suspicions instantly confirmed.

"Not at all. At this hour, for Hong Kong businessmen, the night is just beginning. What advice do you have?"

"I wouldn't presume to offer advice," Ma Shimin chuckled on the other end of the phone. "I'm sure Mr. Wei Li has already heard about the 'little incident' that happened at the Hutchison Whampoa Building this afternoon?"

The fact that Xia Boyin and the others overheard his discussion with Lin Haoran was because the two of them deliberately let them know, wanting them to pass the message on to Wei Li.

Otherwise, if they really didn't want Xia Boyin and the others to know, they wouldn't have had a chance to find out at all.

“I’ve heard a little about it.” Wei Li’s answer was brief and restrained, neither showing excessive interest nor feigning ignorance. “The business world is like a battlefield; personnel changes are inevitable.”

"Mr. Richard, what a pity." He changed the subject, his tone tinged with regret, but he stopped there, leaving the judgment to the other party.

"It is indeed a pity, but as the boss said, a manager who cannot be of one mind with the shareholders or even attempts to hijack the company to satisfy his own desires is no longer suitable to take the helm, no matter how capable he is."

Ma Shimin's voice turned serious, directly quoting Lin Haoran's words from that afternoon, clearly conveying the new boss's attitude and bottom line.

Wei Li's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the receiver.

Ma Shimin is using Lin Haoran's words to reiterate the unquestionable authority, while also implying that any act that challenges this authority will be ruthlessly eliminated.

Richard is a bloody example presented to everyone.

"Mr. Lin's methods are indeed impressive," Wei Li commented calmly.

"So, Mr. Ma's call tonight wasn't just to repeat the resolutions of your Hutchison Whampoa board, was it? After all, it has nothing to do with me; I'm no longer the head of Hutchison Whampoa."

“Mr. Wei Li is indeed a man of few words.” Ma Shimin smiled and got straight to the point. “Both the boss and I believe that Hutchison Whampoa is currently at a critical turning point.”

Richard's departure has left an important vacancy. We need a truly capable, decisive leader who shares the boss's strategic direction to steer this giant ship to broader waters.

Wei Li's heart skipped a beat; his premonition was about to come true.

He didn't respond immediately, and a brief silence fell over the office, broken only by the faint static of the microphone.

The neon lights outside the window shone through the glass, casting interplay of light and shadow on his angular face.

Simon Murray's voice continued, carrying a sincere invitation: "We have thought about this for a long time. Looking at the whole of Hong Kong, and even Asia, the only person who can perfectly fit this position in terms of professional ability, understanding of Hutchison Whampoa, and international vision is you, Mr. William Ralph.

Despite being mentally prepared, Wei Li's breath still involuntarily paused for a moment when he heard the invitation in person.

Countless images flashed through his mind in an instant: when he was appointed to the position in a time of crisis, he was left with a mess of Hutchison International amidst ruins;

He overcame opposition and pushed for a merger with Whampoa Shipyard, thus establishing Hutchison Whampoa.
He worked day and night to sort out assets, divest loss-making businesses, and restructure debt, ultimately turning the tide and making Hutchison Whampoa profitable.
There was also the invisible constraint and the deepening estrangement that arose after Li Jiacheng took over, and the unspeakable resentment and disappointment he felt when he finally submitted his resignation...

Hutchison Whampoa was the most significant chapter in his career, the culmination of his hard work, and the place of his unfulfilled dream!

A strong sense of longing welled up inside me.

Back to Whampoa!

He took charge of this giant ship that he personally helped repair and push onto the waterway!
(End of this chapter)