In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Even though Lee Byung-taek had been a prominent figure in the South Korean business world for many years, he could not remain calm at this moment.

He has already made semiconductors the core strategy for Samsung's future, betting Samsung's future and the nation's destiny on them!
It could even be said that this was Lee Byung-taek's ultimate dream in his personal business career: to lead Samsung from trading and low-end manufacturing to become a world-class technology giant.

Therefore, he overruled objections, mobilized a large amount of the group's resources and future credit, and prepared to make a big splash.

But now, this ambitious plan has only just taken its first step and has been almost completely uprooted by someone in such a ruthless and precise way!

The failure to acquire Sharp's technology means that Samsung will have to start from scratch in the field of display technology, or find other weaker and inferior options, which greatly delays its entry into the high-value-added electronic component market.

The hijacking of the SVLT Semiconductor acquisition not only resulted in the loss of an existing technical team and patent portfolio, but also disrupted Samsung's initial timeline for building its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.

The postponement of bond issuance by Citigroup and Morgan Stanley directly blocked the "blood vessels" for Samsung Semiconductor's expansion. Without sufficient funds, all the grand plans are just empty talk!
Today, although Samsung is a large and powerful company, it needs money in all areas and cannot abandon its investment in other areas because of its semiconductor plan.

Therefore, Samsung actually doesn't have much money at its disposal.

Therefore, issuing bonds to develop the semiconductor field is necessary for Samsung.

But now these three blows are interconnected, each one potentially fatal!

This is something that ordinary business competitors could not achieve.

who is it?

Who has such enormous power and such clear targeting?
Names and forces flashed rapidly through Li Bingze's mind.

American counterparts?
Intel?

Texas Instruments?

They may have had motives, but it's unlikely they could have influenced both Japan's Sharp and Wall Street's two largest investment banks so quickly and simultaneously.

Japan's rival?
Sony, Panasonic?
It's unlikely, as Sharp, although a Japanese company, also competes with other giants.

Could it be that other conglomerates in South Korea are envious of Samsung's strategic transformation and are trying to obstruct it?

But do they have the ability to extend their reach into Silicon Valley and Wall Street?
One possibility after another was ruled out, but in the end, that name resurfaced uncontrollably once again: Lin Haoran!
It's him!

It must be him!
Yes!

Only him!
Sharp's new investors are linked to Hong Kong Land.

The mysterious buyer of SVLT Semiconductor came forward through Citigroup;

The sudden change of heart by Citigroup and Morgan Stanley...

All of this subtly points to the young Hong Kong tycoon who he just threatened and is now waiting for him to come and put pressure on him at the Kang Le Building!

In order to put pressure on the other party, his actions were deliberately leaked yesterday, with the aim of forcing Lin Haoran to submit.

But now, instead of yielding, the other party has dealt him such a heavy and fatal blow in a way that he could not even imagine or believe!
This is no longer a game of negotiation in business; it is clearly a dimensional attack, a naked crushing of strength and strategic deterrence!
Li Bingze felt a wave of dizziness, and a tremendous sense of defeat and a deep-seated fear almost overwhelmed him.

He has been in the business world for nearly fifty years, experiencing war, coups, and financial crises. He has taken Samsung from a small trading company to the position of one of South Korea's top chaebols. What storms haven't he weathered?

But this is the first time I've experienced being so decisively and globally attacked by a young opponent with such overwhelming force and precision, just when I thought I had the upper hand and victory was assured!
What a terrifying intelligence network it must take to so accurately grasp the three key moments of Samsung's semiconductor strategy?

How much capital and connections would it take to simultaneously leverage Japanese tech giants, hijack Silicon Valley high-tech companies, and influence the decisions of top Wall Street investment banks?

How decisive and ruthless must it have taken to coordinate multiple parties and launch such a silent yet deadly global coordinated attack in such a short period of time?
Lin Haoran...

What kind of person is he?

Just how deeply is he hiding his true strength?
Is the image of Hong Kong's richest man and business genius that the outside world sees merely the tip of the iceberg of his true strength?
Li Bingze recalled the information he had learned about Lin Haoran: in just a few years, he had built a vast business empire spanning multiple sectors including real estate, finance, retail, trade, utilities, and consumer goods, with shrewd acquisition methods and far-reaching strategic planning.

In addition, he knew that the other party was an executive director of Citibank, but that was all.

Based on his understanding of those American giants, even if Lin Haoran became an executive director of Citibank, he wouldn't have much power.

At most, he could occupy a board seat, but he would not have the power to interfere with Citibank's specific business decisions, especially on major matters involving the issuance of hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds!
But the facts are clear: Citibank not only postponed Samsung's bonds, but also subtly conveyed its intention to scale back cooperation.

This is by no means something that an ordinary executive director could easily accomplish.

Unless, Lin Haoran's influence within Citibank goes far beyond just a board seat.
Or perhaps he has a deeper connection with the real controllers behind Citibank, those hidden capitalist families or alliances.
And Morgan Stanley too!
That's a top investment bank on par with Citibank, how could they be so in sync with Citibank?
Does Lin Haoran have a similar influence at Morgan Stanley?
How can this be?

How could someone so young, rising to prominence in Hong Kong, possibly hold such influence within two of Wall Street's biggest players?
As for Sharp and SVLT Semiconductor, Hongkong Land's investment could be explained as a business transaction, but the timing was so precise, almost coinciding with the crackdown in the financial sector, that it cannot be explained by mere business acumen.

This is more like a meticulously planned, multi-pronged attack!

The more Li Bingze thought about it, the more terrified he became, and the more chilling he felt.

He originally thought that Lin Haoran was just a rapidly rising capital elite in the Asia-Pacific region. He might have some influence in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, but his foundation was still shallow on a global level, especially in core technology and financial hubs like the United States and Japan.

But reality ruthlessly shattered his conjectures.

The opponent not only has a deep foundation, but its hidden strength and reach may have reached a terrifying level that even he, the head of "South Korea's No. 1 chaebol", can hardly match!
This is not just about having money, but also about having "soft power" and "deep relationships" that can influence the decisions of top international companies and financial institutions!
This kind of power is often more terrifying and difficult to deal with than overt capital.

"Who exactly is he? Who's behind him?" Li Bingze was filled with immense questions and unease.

Before coming to Hong Kong, he thought that the other party's rise in just a few years was all due to luck, and that the other party was ultimately just a young man.

With his decades of experience in the business world, it's impossible that he couldn't beat a mere young upstart.

But now he realizes that his understanding of Lin Haoran is probably not even scratching the surface.

This rash probing and pressure was like a frog in a well trying to provoke an eagle in the sky, only to be nearly crushed by the storm stirred up by the eagle's casual flapping of its wings.

This young man may have already built a secret and powerful global network of capital and relationships, with its tentacles already reaching the core of American finance and the heartland of Japanese industry!
"Pfft~" Overwhelmed by anger, Li Bingze felt a metallic taste in his throat again. After forcing it down, he felt his internal organs churning.

He was gripping the edge of the table, panting heavily, his face ashen.

"President! How are you? I'll call a doctor right away!" the assistant cried out in panic.

"No need!" Li Bingze said sharply, his voice hoarse but with an undeniable decisiveness. "I'm not going to die yet! Listen, now is not the time to fall."

You must immediately contact headquarters and convene a top-level emergency strategic meeting. All business unit managers, core advisors, and overseas managers, regardless of their location, must connect through any means!
We need to reassess our semiconductor strategy and explore all possible alternatives and loss-mitigation measures!

At this moment, he felt that his actions against Lin Haoran were simply laughable, like those of a clown!
They actually dared to think they could use underhanded methods from South Korea to coerce an opponent with such terrifying global power into submission?

This is simply courting death!

He now has no doubt that if he insists on going his own way and takes substantial "troublesome" measures against 711-Eleven and Lawson's business in South Korea, then Lin Haoran's subsequent counterattack will likely be even more fierce and unbearable!
It may not just be targeting semiconductors, but could impact all of Samsung's other businesses globally!
While it won't cause Samsung a major loss, Samsung is a South Korean giant and can live quite comfortably by relying on the South Korean market.

But his biggest concern is that if Samsung really offends giants like Citigroup, it will become extremely difficult for Samsung to expand beyond South Korea and enter the international market on a large scale in the future, and it may even encounter obstacles everywhere!

Lee Byung-taek was naturally dissatisfied with being confined to the small South Korean market, so in his plan, Samsung's future was to become a world-class giant.

If Samsung offends Lin Haoran this time, and thinks about it in a serious way, its globalization dream may be nipped in the bud!
This is the most deadly!
Although Samsung is now a behemoth in South Korea, its domestic market is ultimately limited, and its ceiling is clearly visible.

Lee Byung-taek's lifelong dream was to transform Samsung into a globally renowned international giant like IBM, General Electric, Siemens, and Sony.

The semiconductor strategy was a key step in realizing this dream and leading Samsung from low-value-added manufacturing to high-tech industry transformation and upgrading!
If Samsung offends Lin Haoran and in turn angers the powerful forces behind him who may be entrenched in Wall Street and the global capital network, it could lead to invisible or visible resistance and blockades against Samsung in areas such as international financing, technological cooperation, and market access.

Samsung's path to globalization will then be fraught with difficulties, and it may even be forever trapped in this corner of the Korean Peninsula!
This is the long-term threat that terrifies Lee Byung-taek even more than the current setback in his semiconductor project!
Temporary project losses can be made up for, technology can be developed elsewhere, and funds can be raised through various means. However, being rejected by mainstream international capital and the technology sector would truly jeopardize Samsung's future!

"President, should we still go see Mr. Lin Haoran as planned?" the assistant asked cautiously, his voice trembling.

He could sense from the unprecedented fear and urgency in the chairman that the seriousness of the situation far exceeded his imagination.

“Go! We must go!” Li Bingze said resolutely.

He struggled to stand up straight. Although his face was still pale, there was no longer any hesitation in his eyes, only a resolute determination to burn his bridges.

"But it's not about exerting pressure, it's about making a statement! It's about apologizing! It's about fighting for a glimmer of hope!"

He took a deep breath and quickly gathered his thoughts: "Let's go over after our meeting!"

"Yes!" The assistant quickly wrote it down.

"Furthermore, before I go to see Lin Haoran, I must immediately extend my sincerest greetings to Mr. Lin Haoran on my behalf and on behalf of Samsung Group, express our apologies for any misunderstandings that may have occurred during our previous communication, and congratulate him on his marriage in a tone of utmost humility and respect!"

"At the same time, prepare one, no, three generous gifts, of the highest quality, to represent the respect of myself, the Samsung Group, and our Lee family, respectively." Lee Byung-taek spoke extremely quickly, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with humiliation.

But more than anything, it's a clear-headed understanding of reality and a survival instinct driven by fear.

Having been in business for many years, he understands that the ability to be flexible and adaptable is essential for long-term success in the business world.

"Understood! I'll take care of it right away!" The assistant turned to leave.

"and many more!"

Li Bingze stopped him and continued, "Using all our top-level connections in the United States and Japan, at all costs, I want to know the true relationship between Lin Haoran and the core decision-making levels of Citibank and Morgan Stanley as soon as possible!"

I need to know which established American financial families he is connected with, and also to find out how deep his ties are with conglomerates like Mitsui, Mitsubishi, and Sumitomo in Japan, in addition to his investments in Jukuri Group and Sharp.
Remember, it's about finding out everything, even if it means exposing some deeply buried clues!

"Yes, Chairman!" The assistant felt a chill run down his spine. The chairman was about to use Samsung's most core overseas intelligence resources, accumulated over decades of operation!
This shows just how terrifying the threat posed by Lin Haoran had become in the president's mind.

After his assistant left in a hurry, Li Bingze stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the suite, looking at the still bustling Victoria Harbour outside, his heart filled with turmoil and mixed feelings.

The sun was shining brightly, but he felt no warmth whatsoever, only a biting cold.

This trip to Hong Kong not only yielded no results, but also backfired, almost ruining Samsung's future plans.

What terrified him even more was that he discovered he knew almost nothing about this suddenly rising young rival!
The other party is like an iceberg hidden in the fog. What he sees is probably only the tip of the iceberg above the water, while the massive mountain beneath the water is enough to smash his proud three-star ship to pieces!
"Lin Haoran, how many things do you still not know about me?" Li Bingze muttered to himself, his voice filled with confusion, apprehension, and a hint of awe that even he himself was unwilling to admit.

The Kang Le Building, which is separated from the Peninsula Hotel by the sea, is also experiencing its morning rush hour.

Inside the building, 23 passenger elevators and 62 escalators operate almost continuously.

White-collar workers in suits, hurried visitors, and clerks pushing document carts flow through this second tallest building in Hong Kong like blood.

However, the private elevator area on the top floor of the building maintains a tranquility that is completely different from that below.

Lin Haoran arrived early in the morning.

He took the private elevator and successfully reached the 51st floor.

As he entered the office area, many senior executives from Hongkong Land Group greeted him, and he responded with a smile to each of them.

Inside the office, Liu Xiaoli had arrived at some point.

Last night, Lin Haoran was the last to leave, and there were many documents and materials on the table.

At this moment, her desk had been tidied up perfectly.

"Boss, you're here. Let me make you some tea," Liu Xiaoli said softly, turning to prepare it.

Just then, the cell phone next to her desk rang. She handed the phone to Lin Haoran before going to make tea.

Lin Haoran glanced at the number; it was a call from the building's front desk.

"Sir, a gentleman named Malcolm Forbes wishes to visit you and is currently waiting in the lobby. Would you like to invite him up?" The receptionist's voice came through clearly and respectfully.

Malcolm Forbes?
Lin Haoran was not surprised to hear this.

After arriving in Hong Kong yesterday afternoon, the other party couldn't wait to see him.

Lin Haoran naturally didn't want to see him and planned to leave him hanging for now.

The other party had targeted his company for no reason before, and he's just going to let it go like this?

That's not Lin Haoran's style at all.

I will not offend others unless they offend me; if they offend me, I will retaliate tenfold!
This is the creed that Lin Haoran has adhered to through the ups and downs of the business world, and it is also one of the reasons why he was able to build such a huge business empire from scratch in just a few years.

Some of Forbes magazine's previous reports were deliberate attempts to smear the company, claiming that the rich list released by Oriental Media Group had stolen the title of the first to be published by Forbes.

So they became enraged and made biased, even irresponsible, speculations and comments about his company.

To achieve his own goals, he single-handedly fueled the Hong Kong real estate crisis.

Throughout, it exuded the arrogance and prejudice of established Western media towards emerging Asian capital.

Lin Haoran's wealth and achievements are the result of hard work and are not defined by any list.

The rich list released by MediaCorp is based on public data and rigorous analysis, aiming to more accurately reflect the wealth landscape of Hong Kong and even the Chinese world. So how can there be any talk of "grabbing titles"?
Forbes' reaction precisely exposes its possessiveness and deep-seated sense of superiority.

The reason I left him hanging yesterday was to make him understand that Hong Kong is not New York, and that Lin Haoran is not an ordinary tycoon who can be manipulated at will and who needs to rely on Forbes to boost his fame.

Want to see him?
Yes, but you have to have the right attitude and show enough sincerity.

He has no intention of seeing them now.

If you can't bear this humiliation, you can simply turn back and go home immediately.

Anyway, it's Forbes that's in a hurry, not me, Lin Haoran.

Holding the microphone, Lin Haoran calmly instructed the receptionist, "Tell Mr. Forbes that my schedule is full today and I don't have time to meet with anyone. Ask him to leave his contact information and I will have someone contact him when I have time."

That's what they say, but when he'll actually contact someone depends on his mood.

"Yes, boss," the receptionist replied.

Lin Haoran was perfectly clear about why Malcolm Forbes was so eager to see him.

Forbes' reports targeting Lin Haoran and Oriental Media Group, such as questioning wealth data and predicting a downturn in Hong Kong real estate, have triggered countermeasures from forces such as Citibank, leading to a multi-dimensional crisis in legal, financial, and reputational aspects, which has threatened the survival of the Forbes Group.

The Department of Justice's investigation, the SEC's inquiry, and the avalanche of lawsuits from shareholders and advertisers are enough to cripple them within months.

The withdrawal of advertisers, the termination of partnerships, the plummeting stock price, and the sharp decline in magazine sales have all contributed to the major crisis facing Forbes today.

For Malcolm Forbes now, the only one who can save the Forbes Group might be his enemy, Lin Haoran.

That's why the other party went to such lengths to bow and scrape, waiting for him to receive them.

But what does that have to do with him?

After hanging up the phone, Liu Xiaoli had already brewed tea.

She gently placed a cup of fragrant Longjing tea on Lin Haoran's desk, her movements quiet and without making a sound.

Then, she walked behind Lin Haoran and gently massaged his shoulders with her delicate hands.

The pressure was just right, so comfortable that Lin Haoran couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

The tense shoulder and neck muscles slowly relaxed under the just-right massage, and the fatigue from planning and strategizing over the past few days seemed to dissipate a bit.

He closed his eyes, enjoying this moment of peace and comfort.

Liu Xiaoli's technique is skillful; her fingertips apply warm pressure as she gently presses along the lines of her shoulder blades, a technique that is neither frivolous nor ineffective in relieving fatigue.

She had been by Lin Haoran's side for quite some time and knew his habits and tolerance very well. Her service at this moment was quiet and attentive, a tacit understanding between the two of them that needed no words.

The aroma of tea wafted through the air. Lin Haoran picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and gazed out the window.

Looking down from the 51st floor, the waters of Victoria Harbour shimmered in the sunlight, and the skyscrapers of Kowloon Peninsula stood tall on the opposite shore, with the Peninsula Hotel's silhouette clearly visible.

The Peninsula Hotel is the jewel of Hong Kong's hotel industry and the preferred accommodation for many political and business leaders when visiting Hong Kong.

It's not surprising that a South Korean business tycoon like Lee Byung-taek stays at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong.

However, the Peninsula Hotel is still owned by Lin Haoran.

It can be said that although he could not monitor the other party's every move, Lin Haoran knew exactly who Li Bingze met at the hotel and what meeting room he used.

He could almost picture the South Korean business tycoon in that luxurious suite, utterly overwhelmed and on edge. (End of Chapter)