In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Compared to Lin Haoran's composure and ease as he possessed a vast empire and looked down upon the world, Li Bingze was clearly living a life of unbearable hardship, enduring every moment of torment.

Since joining the ranks of South Korea's top ten chaebol families, he has never experienced such torment again.

In South Korea, wherever he went, he was almost always surrounded by people who flattered him.

He was used to being treated like a superior person, used to giving orders, and used to others guessing his thoughts and fulfilling his demands.

Even when facing the president and those political figures, he was treated with courtesy and relied upon.

When have I ever suffered such humiliation as being precisely attacked, almost having my lifeline cut off, yet having no choice but to bow down and submit?
This humiliation, in particular, came from a young man whom he had previously disregarded and even thought he could easily manipulate.

The difference is enormous.

It was so huge that he couldn't accept it for a moment, and his blood surged.

The assistant hurriedly left to carry out the orders, leaving Li Bingze alone in the suite.

He gripped the cold glass window, his gaze fixed on the towering Kang Le Building across the sea, as if trying to pierce through its reinforced concrete facade to see the figure on the top floor that filled him with fear and confusion.

"Intelligence, we must get the intelligence as soon as possible," he muttered to himself, this was the only lifeline he could grasp at the moment.

Only by thoroughly understanding Lin Haoran's background and the kind of energy network he possesses can he determine whether there will be even more intense follow-ups after this thunderous strike.

To what extent must Samsung apologize and make concessions to satisfy this mysterious rival and give Samsung a chance to survive?

Waiting is agonizing.

Especially this kind of waiting that concerns the life or death of a company.

He forced himself to sit down at his desk and tried to process some routine documents sent from headquarters in Seoul, but he could not focus his gaze.

The decisions that used to require his careful consideration now seem insignificant.

What lingers in my mind's eye are the official letter announcing the breakdown of negotiations with Sharp, the lukewarm termination notice from SVLT Semiconductor, and the vague yet chilling postponement statements from Citigroup and Morgan Stanley.

Every point is like a heavy hammer blow, striking his proud career and dreams.

Time passed minute by minute, and each second seemed as long as a century.

He picked up the phone several times, wanting to urge his assistant, but he forced himself to hold back.

He knew that using top-level connections to investigate a target like Lin Haoran would take time and, more importantly, require caution.

If certain lines are moved, they could expose some of Samsung's hidden plans overseas, or even attract unnecessary attention.

Since becoming one of South Korea's top ten chaebols, his ambitions have gradually grown.

Their vision has long since shifted from focusing solely on South Korea to looking towards the global super market.

Lee Byung-taek believed that sooner or later, Samsung's products would be available all over the world.

Therefore, he started his global expansion early on, and spent a considerable amount of money on it.

But at this moment, he couldn't care less.

About two hours later, the assistant finally returned, his face even more solemn than when he left, with a hint of barely concealed panic.

He was holding a folder that wasn't thick, but seemed unusually heavy.

"President."

The assistant's voice was hoarse as he walked to the desk and presented the folder with both hands: "This is a preliminary summary."

We utilized some of our most crucial networks in the US, Europe, and Japan, and the information we uncovered was quite astonishing.

Li Bingze grabbed the folder, his fingers trembling slightly, already having a premonition.

He took a deep breath to calm himself and turned to the first page.

As he flipped through the report page by page, his face went from pale to ashen, and then from ashen to a state of near-death shock.

Regarding Citibank, Lin Haoran not only officially became a core executive director of Citibank last month, but has also repeatedly helped Citibank obtain huge profits, becoming one of Citibank's most trusted partners.

In a crucial power shift at the top of Citigroup last month, Lin Haoran played a vital role through a series of complex capital operations, helping current Vice President John Reid solidify his position.

Unconfirmed but reliable sources suggest that Lin Haoran has a “deeply intertwined relationship” with John Reed, the Citibank successor.

In addition, Citigroup Chairman Walter Riston is said to fully support Lin Haoran, whose influence far exceeds that of ordinary directors.

The report even included a vague internal document from senior management, and the meeting unanimously approved deepening the ties of interest with Lin Haoran.

Clearly, Lin Haoran's position within Citigroup is much higher than one might imagine!
As for Morgan Stanley, a senior executive from Morgan Stanley recently led a team to Hong Kong to visit Lin Haoran. It is said that the two sides have reached some agreements and become important partners.

Meanwhile, in Japan, it is said that Kenneth Fok, president of Hongkong Land's Japanese branch, has close ties with Sharp's senior management. It is almost certain that Sharp's sudden suspension of negotiations with Samsung was the result of Fok's behind-the-scenes efforts.

Huo Jianning was an absolute confidant whom Lin Haoran had personally promoted.

What alarmed Li Bingze even more was that the report mentioned that Lin Haoran maintained regular, non-public meetings with senior executives of several major Japanese conglomerates, such as Mitsubishi Corporation. Although the specific content was unknown, the network of relationships had clearly penetrated into the core circle of the Japanese conglomerates.

The investigation report even included major Japanese news stories that he hadn't noticed before but had already been reported.

When Lin Haoran went to Japan a year ago, he had very good relationships with many conglomerates. He even took the initiative to sell his Toyota shares, in which he was the largest shareholder, to the Mitsubishi Group. He not only made money, but also did Mitsubishi a great favor.

As for Citigroup's acquisition of SVLT Semiconductor, it was confirmed by relevant personnel within Citigroup that the financial backer behind it was indeed Lin Haoran, and Citigroup was merely acting on his behalf.

In addition, Lin Haoran also has a very strong influence in the UK. It is said that the upcoming wedding has even alarmed the Queen of England, who is preparing to personally travel from London to Hong Kong to be Lin Haoran's witness on the wedding day.

……

The report concluded with a summary of the intelligence analysts' conclusions based on the available information, and every word felt like a needle piercing Li Bingze's heart.

"The target, Lin Haoran, has a true strength and influence that far exceeds what is publicly available."

He has built a global, invisible network spanning finance, industry, and technology, characterized by its high degree of secrecy, coordination, and operational capability.

"This precise strike against Samsung's semiconductor strategy is very likely the result of coordinated operations by this network. In addition to commercial retaliation, its motives may also include a strategic intent to flex its muscles and establish regional and even global dominance in business rules."

"Recommendation: Reassess the relationship with Lin Haoran and his associated forces. Any direct confrontation could provoke a more intense and multi-dimensional counterattack, which is extremely risky."

We should seek reconciliation and relationship repair with the utmost sincerity.

"Snapped!"

Li Bingze closed the folder, leaned back in his chair, his chest heaving as if he had just finished a marathon.

No, it was as if I had just walked through the gates of hell.

The information in the report was even more astonishing and terrifying than he had guessed!
This is no ordinary wealthy Chinese man.

This is clearly a deep-sea behemoth that has already woven an invisible net and is waiting for its chance!
And Li Bingze, oblivious to his own limitations, actually stuck his neck out!

“No wonder, no wonder he was able to simultaneously undermine Sharp, hijack SVLT, and influence Citibank and Morgan Stanley,” Li Bingze murmured, his voice hoarse.

"This is not something one person could do alone; it's a system, an invisible empire at work!"

All previous doubts and wishful thinking were shattered by this intelligence.

The facts are clear and brutal.

Samsung is not facing a young business prodigy, but a behemoth that has already extended its reach to the core of the world.

All his previous calculations and reliance seemed so ridiculous and naive in the face of the opponent's global network.

"A frog in a well, I really am a frog in a well!" Li Bingze closed his eyes in anguish, tears welling up in his eyes.

It wasn't for the humiliation, but for the immense shock and sense of powerlessness that followed the complete overturning of one's understanding.

His business worldview, built up throughout his life, collapsed in the face of a higher dimension.

The biggest mistake was underestimating the other party.

Because of the opponent's youth and the fact that the opponent rose to prominence in Hong Kong rather than Europe and America, there is a subconscious assumption that its global foundation is not deep and that it can be suppressed by relying on its local advantages.

Therefore, without properly investigating the other party, they arbitrarily started a business war.

What a fatal misjudgment!
Now, it's too late for regrets.

The die is cast, the knife is already at my throat.

What he needs to consider now is not saving face, nor past misjudgments, but how to minimize the losses and secure a way out for Samsung.

"President, we..." The assistant looked at the president, who seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and felt a pang of sadness, not knowing how to comfort him.

Li Bingze's eyes were bloodshot and weary, but he was ultimately a powerful and ruthless figure.

Things have come to this point, and there's no point in being discouraged.

Every second wasted now could plunge Samsung into an even deeper quagmire.

"Prepare the gift immediately, as fast as possible!"

Lee Byung-taek's tone was urgent: "No, prepare three copies! One to represent me, Lee Byung-taek, one to represent the Samsung Group, and one to represent our Lee family. The format must be the highest, to show our utmost apology and respect. Get it done immediately!"

"Yes, Chairman!" The assistant didn't dare to delay and immediately turned around to make the arrangements.

Li Bingze sat alone in the quiet suite. Outside the window, Victoria Harbour was bathed in sunshine, with cruise ships shuttling back and forth, a scene of bustling prosperity, but it did nothing to warm his cold heart.

He looked at the not-so-heavy document repeatedly, every word in the report echoing in his mind: "a global invisible network spanning finance, industry, and technology," "high degree of secrecy, coordination, and dynamism," "flexing muscles and establishing the discourse power of business rules"...

The combination of these words created a scene that sent chills down his spine.

It's not just retaliation; it's more like a strategic attempt to establish authority!

Samsung, unfortunately, became the chosen sacrificial lamb or the example.

The idea of ​​"the Queen of England as the officiant" struck him as particularly absurd and unbelievable, yet he couldn't ignore the terrifying energy it might represent.

If this is true, then Lin Haoran's influence has far exceeded the commercial realm, reaching the highest levels of established Western empires.

This is a power that cannot be measured by money or business tactics.

As a prominent chaebol in South Korea, he does indeed wield significant influence in South Korean politics.

But once he leaves South Korea, he loses much of his influence.

He recalled his previous, simplistic investigation of Lin Haoran, those superficial wealth figures and acquisition cases, which now seemed like a joke.

The opponent's true strength is like that iceberg, the part hidden beneath the surface is so vast it's suffocating.

"We must make amends, we must fight for a sliver of hope," Li Bingze murmured.

He knew that simply giving gifts and offering verbal apologies was far from enough.

What the other side likely wants is something more substantial—concrete actions that demonstrate Samsung's willingness to back down and admit its mistakes, and may even involve concessions on Samsung's future core strategies. Time slipped away in anxious contemplation.

The gifts were prepared quickly: three national treasures and a very sincere land deed were packed into boxes.

Li Bingze did not personally deliver the package; he needed to preserve his last shred of dignity and also needed time to consider the more difficult face-to-face negotiations to come.

He instructed his assistant to deliver the gift to the Kang Le Building with the utmost humility and deference.

Then came the even more agonizing wait.

Waiting for the other person's reaction to receiving the gift, waiting for a possible response, or worse, silence.

During the waiting period, an emergency strategic meeting was also held at the Seoul headquarters via encrypted line.

The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy. After learning the preliminary intelligence and the chairman's judgment, all the senior executives present fell into a deathly silence.

No one could come up with an effective solution. Faced with an absolute disparity in strength and precise strikes, all conventional commercial countermeasures seemed pale and powerless.

Ultimately, the meeting reached a consensus: to strive for a reconciliation with Lin Haoran at all costs.

The specific conditions will be determined by Lee Byung-taek, and anything that does not completely undermine Samsung's foundation can be considered.

This means Samsung's future is at stake on Lee Byung-taek's next round of negotiations.

After some time, the assistant returned, his face even more grim than when he left.

"President, the gift was returned unopened. Mr. Lin's side said, 'We appreciate Mr. Lin's kindness, but the gift is too valuable and we feel unworthy to accept it. In business matters, it's best to stick to business principles.'"

"Boom~"

Li Bingze felt as if something had exploded in his head, and his vision went black.

Reject!

Refuse it without hesitation!
They didn't even give us a chance to salvage the situation!
This terrified him more than direct insults, because it meant that the other party didn't care about his sincerity at all, or that the sincerity he showed was far from meeting the other party's expectations.

The worst happened.

It seems the other party has even closed the door to negotiations halfway.

Li Bingze wanted to get angry and fly into a rage; he had never suffered such humiliation before.

But he also knew that he was not qualified to be in front of the other party at all.

After all, he was the one who started this whole thing. If he hadn't pulled those underhanded tactics to try and win the operating rights and directly managed stores of 711-Eleven and Lawson in South Korea, none of this would have happened.

Ultimately, the reason was that I was too greedy!

"What else did he say?" Li Bingze asked, his voice hoarse.

"No, they didn't say anything else, they just told us to bring the things back." The assistant lowered his head, not daring to look at the chairman's face.

Li Bingze slumped down, covered his face with his hands, and pondered his next move.

The room was deathly silent, except for the sound of his heavy breathing.

Refusing a gift is a very clear and strong signal: the apology is not sincere enough, the attitude is not humble enough, or the other party does not want material compensation at all.

What does the other party want from Samsung?
He really hadn't thought of that.

Samsung only holds a very important position in South Korea; outside of South Korea, it's nothing.

Therefore, for a moment, Li Bingze couldn't figure out what the other party had taken a liking to about his family.

He knew that negotiations were definitely possible, unless the other party completely abandoned the South Korean market.

After all, Samsung isn't without its advantages.

But now that the other party is so assertive, Li Bingze is starting to panic.

What if the other party really abandons the South Korean market completely and then targets Samsung?

The other party can give up the South Korean market, but Samsung cannot give up semiconductors, nor can it give up its future expansion into overseas markets.

He wasn't afraid of Lin Haoran, but he was afraid of the powerful forces behind Lin Haoran, such as the United States and the Queen of England, and the terrifying connections and background of the other party!

How to do?
What else can I do?
Go myself!
I have no choice but to go in person!

Put aside all your pride and airs, and beg for forgiveness in person like an ordinary person who has done something wrong.

This thought filled him with immense humiliation and pain, but for Samsung, he had no other choice.

"Get the car ready."

Li Bingze lowered his hand, his face ashen, but his eyes were unusually firm: "I will go to the Kang Le Building in person to pay a visit to Mr. Lin Haoran."

"President!" The assistant looked up in surprise.

"Get ready quickly!" Li Bingze shouted sternly.

Then his voice softened, filled with endless weariness: "In addition, on my behalf and in the name of Samsung Group, I will draft a most sincere letter of apology and a letter of congratulations on your marriage."

The tone must be extremely humble and respectful. Send it immediately; let the other party know our attitude before we arrive.

"Yes." Knowing that the chairman's mind was made up, the assistant dared not say anything more and hurriedly went to do it.

Li Bingze was alone in the suite, tidying up his clothes and hair in front of the mirror.

The old man in the mirror had sunken eyes and a haggard face. His former dignity and vigor had vanished, leaving only a heavy sense of weariness and resolute determination.

He took a few deep breaths, trying to straighten his somewhat hunched back, attempting to find a trace of his former self, but to no avail.

At this moment, he was just an old man about to face an unknown fate.

Shortly after, a black sedan drove away from the Peninsula Hotel, through the Cross-Harbour Tunnel, and headed towards the Hong Lok Building in Central, Hong Kong Island.

In the car, Li Bingze closed his eyes to rest, but his clenched fists and slightly trembling eyelids betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

The car arrived at the Kang Le Building.

Lee Byung-taek refused his assistant's help, got out of the car alone, and looked up at the towering building.

The sunlight was a bit too bright, so he squinted, then walked into the lobby with slightly heavy but unusually firm steps.

He hadn't made an appointment, but he was sure Lin Haoran knew he was coming.

Sure enough, a senior assistant at the front desk seemed to have been waiting for a while and said with a smile, "President Li, Mr. Lin is dealing with some urgent matters."

Please wait a moment in the reception room on the top floor. Mr. Lin will see you as soon as he finishes his work.

"Thank you for your trouble." Li Bingze nodded slightly, his heart filled with bitterness.

It was another round of waiting, another short wait.

The other party clearly wanted him to continue to suffer the torment of waiting, to continue to wear down the last bit of his spirit and dignity.

But he had no choice but to accept it.

He took a private elevator directly to the top floor and was led into a spacious, bright, and well-lit meeting room with a great view.

When Li Bingze saw the huge world map and the densely packed group photos on the wall, his heart was struck again.

He stood in front of the world map for a very long time.

Having been in business for decades, he had almost reached the pinnacle of the South Korean business world, yet he had never had such a significant impact.

When he goes abroad, he may be received by some local investment promotion officials, but that's about it.

As for Lin Haoran, looking at this list, he saw presidents, prime ministers, queens, and many of them he was very familiar with, including many top global business tycoons.

These silent images, more powerful than any words, demonstrate the owner's despairing global network of influence.

After looking at it for an unknown amount of time, he finally walked away from the world map and went to the oval window alone.

Looking out the window at the bustling Hong Kong Island and the shimmering Victoria Harbour, Li Bingze forced himself to calm down and think about every possible situation he might face and how to deal with it.

Time passed second by second, each second feeling like an eternity.

The meeting room was so quiet that he could hear his own heartbeat.

At that moment, Lin Haoran was not in his own office, but in Ma Shimin's office, discussing the negotiation terms.

Judging from Li Bingze's subsequent actions, it is clear that the other party panicked.

Given this, it's natural to want to reap as much benefit as possible.

After all, since Samsung initiated the conflict, the other party should bear the corresponding compensation.

In the reception room, anxiety, humiliation, fear, and a sliver of hope intertwined and churned in the heart of Lee Byung-taek, a South Korean business tycoon.

He didn't know how much time had passed, maybe twenty minutes, maybe forty minutes, but just when Li Bingze felt his nerves were about to snap, the door to the reception room was gently pushed open.

Lin Haoran walked in.

He wore a well-tailored light gray suit, no tie, his shirt collar casually open, and a faint, enigmatic smile on his face.

Compared to Li Bingze's haggard and tense appearance, he seemed calm and composed.

"President Li, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Something urgent came up. I apologize." Lin Haoran walked to the head seat and sat down, his tone calm and revealing no particular emotion.

Malcolm Forbes could refuse to meet with him because there wasn't much in the Forbes Group that he was interested in.

However, Lee Byung-taek was different. If he didn't want to lose the South Korean market, he still needed to meet with this South Korean chaebol.

After all, it would be a real shame to give up 711-Eleven and Lawson convenience stores now that they've reached this point.

Of course, the initiative is on his side.

In contrast, the Samsung chairman is now the one begging him.

If we can take this opportunity to capture more market share in South Korea, that would be a good thing.

“Mr. Lin, you are too kind. It was I who was presumptuous to disturb you. I am the one who should apologize.” Li Bingze immediately stood up, bowed slightly, and adopted an extremely humble posture.

He carefully observed Lin Haoran, trying to discern clues from the other's expression and eyes, but to no avail.

The other person's calmness was unfathomable.

"President Li's personal visit must be for something important?"

Lin Haoran gestured for him to sit down, took the tea that Liu Xiaoli offered at the opportune moment, gently blew on it, and then his gaze fell on Li Bingze's face. (End of Chapter)