Siheyuan: My wife is Xu Huizhen

The strongmen at Standard Chartered are even more adept at networking and maneuvering; even adjustments to the colonial government's fiscal budget require their approval first.

The one in the governor's mansion is even more mysterious. He always wears a black trench coat and stands guard on the left side of the mansion gate. He seems inconspicuous, but he can turn his energy into a shield the moment a bullet gets close.

Last year, when anti-colonial activists attempted to storm the Governor's Palace, he subdued them with a single move. Even the Governor publicly referred to him as the "Guardian of Hong Kong."

These powerful figures act like three invisible giant nets, firmly suppressing local forces at the bottom of the power pyramid—wealthy Chinese businessmen who want to expand overseas trade have to be mindful of the whims of powerful bankers.

Gangs seeking to seize territory must be wary of the ruthless methods employed by the Governor's Office.

Even local martial artists who want to advance to the Gang Jin level face covert suppression from outside forces.

With a mere gesture, they could stir up the economic lifeline and power vortex of Hong Kong. It was the existence of these three men that, like three pillars supporting the sky, firmly maintained the foundation of foreign power's rule on this land, making the colonial order difficult to shake for decades.

Of course, there were not only these seven powerful martial arts practitioners in Hong Kong; the rise and fall of martial arts forces was just like the ebb and flow of the tides.

For example, Inchcape, which is now ranked fifth on the list of foreign firms, once had a glorious period of great success in its early years—behind the company was a powerful patriarch named "Iron Sword".

In his youth, this ancestor had killed a rebel leader on the Indian battlefield. His "Iron Sword Gale" could cut a copper coin in half from ten paces away, and his fame spread throughout Southeast Asia.

With his intimidating power, Inchcape almost monopolized the luxury goods shipping route from Hong Kong to Europe. When cargo ships passed through the Strait of Malacca, as long as they flew the Inchcape flag, even the fiercest pirates dared not approach.

In the luxury goods trade, it exclusively secured the Hong Kong agency rights for more than ten top brands, including French perfumes and Swiss watches. Long queues formed in front of its stores year-round, and even the wives of colonial government officials had to pull strings to buy limited edition items.

At that time, Yingzhijie was incredibly powerful, even the four major trading companies had to give it some leeway. When the company boss went out, he was followed by two elite bodyguards. Wherever he went, business people would bow and scrape. He could be called the "uncrowned king" of Hong Kong's business world.

Just three years ago, the "Iron Sword" ancestor passed away peacefully in his sleep. When the news spread, the entire Yingzhijie Company was struck like a thunderbolt. The senior management held an emergency meeting overnight, and the lights stayed on for three days and three nights, but they still couldn't stop the panic from spreading. For Yingzhijie, this was nothing short of a bolt from the blue.

Although Yingzhijie still has two experts at the Core Formation Realm to support them, these two were merely followers when their ancestor was alive. They possessed strong but weak internal strength, and were not even qualified to directly confront the powerful warriors of the four major trading companies.

With the loss of its strongest deterrent, the good days of the Heroes have come to an end in an instant:

Jardine Matheson immediately joined forces with dock gangs and forcefully seized three golden shipping routes to Europe. When the cargo ships were blocked in the port, a master of the Core Formation Realm stepped forward to negotiate, but was forced to take three steps back by a burst of energy from the other party's Gang Jin master. He could only watch helplessly as his cargo was unloaded by his competitor.

The situation in the luxury goods sector was even more dire. A French perfume brand turned around and gave its distribution rights to Wheelock. After the perfume stock in Inchcape stores was snapped up, the shelves were empty for two whole months, and even regular customers switched to other stores.

Even worse, some local small and medium-sized businesses dare to come and steal business, poaching customers with low prices.

In just two years, Inchcape's market share plummeted by 30%, and its once bustling headquarters is now so deserted that even the receptionist can doze off.

This bloody example serves as a mirror, reflecting the cruelest truth about Hong Kong's business world:

In this dog-eat-dog world, the rise and fall of a company is never determined by capital alone. To a large extent, it depends on the strength of the powerful figures behind it. As long as the powerful figures are there, the foundation is stable; when the powerful figures are gone, the company collapses and its members scatter.

Having seen through the ruthless rule of "might makes right" in Hong Kong's business world, He Yuzhu planned ahead from the very beginning of his company's establishment, laying out his plans early on. He personally visited Du Guanghe, a master who had been living in seclusion for many years, three times to invite him out with sincerity and generous treatment.

Old Du was once the "treasure of the gang" at the docks. His "Iron Shirt" martial arts were unmatched. Now, he was in charge of security at the factory. He not only established a strict patrol system, but also set up hidden sentries in key locations in the factory area. Whenever thugs or spies sent by competitors approached, they would be numb all over by Old Du's energy before they even touched the wall. Over time, no one in the surrounding area dared to mess with the factory anymore.

At the same time, he recruited Du Wanting, who was well-versed in dock affairs, and her senior brother. Du Wanting was good at dealing with people and could subdue the local "street bullies" at the dock with her superior aura, ensuring smooth cargo transportation.

Her senior brother was an expert in trade negotiations. In a confrontation with Southeast Asian businessmen, he used the overwhelming aura emanating from his body to deter his opponents from further haggling.

The three experts, each fulfilling their respective roles, formed an iron triangle defense, a top-tier lineup among the mid-level forces in Hong Kong, enough to deter small businesses or gangs that coveted their businesses.

He Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the factory orders steadily increase and the port cargo transportation proceed smoothly. He had thought that such an impregnable security barrier would be enough to allow the company to develop steadily without a Gang Jin expert in charge, and at least to last until he trained a Gang Jin successor.

Unexpectedly, the winds did not cease even when the tree wished to remain still. Wheelock, a long-established foreign firm with a rich history, would so disregard decorum and come directly to them, openly demanding to acquire shares in a "forced sale" manner.

This is not an investment; it's clearly taking advantage of the He family's weakness of not having any experts with the Gang Jin level, bullying them by abusing their power!

He Yuzhu felt a surge of scalding anger rush from his dantian to the top of his head, as if a raging fire was burning in his chest, making his internal organs ache.

Years of experience in the business world forced him to suppress this impulse. He quietly clenched his knuckles under the table, his nails digging deep into his palms, using the stinging pain to stay awake.

He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze piercing as he stared directly at John Madden, his lips pressed into a cold, hard line, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable force:

"Our company also has three experts at the Transcendent Realm!"

Each word seemed to spring from between his teeth, heavy as it landed in the air, carrying a hint of resentment at being forced into a corner and the sharp edge of a desperate counterattack—he deliberately emphasized the word "three names," attempting to use the sheer number of his Transcendent Realm lineup to slightly suppress the arrogance of the opponent, who relied on their Gang Jin strength.

However, John Madden seemed oblivious to the forcefulness in He Yuzhu's words, maintaining his nonchalant demeanor.