Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 229 Repaying others with their own methods
4 a.m., the Governor's Palace.

"Sir! Something terrible has happened!" The secretary hurriedly knocked on the door of the governor's bedroom.

"What major event could possibly happen in Hong Kong? Is it Jardine Matheson again?"

"No, no, it's people from the Fifth Division. They were arrested by the police!"

"What?!" The governor sat bolt upright in bed. "Explain yourself!"

"Mr. Sterling's team infiltrated Ho Fei's villa but fell into an ambush and are now all being held at the West Kowloon Police Station! They are accused of trespassing and assault with weapons by agents from the Fifth Division."

The governor's face turned ashen. At such a sensitive time in 1970—when Hong Kong's economy was booming, national consciousness was rising, and the government was trying its best to maintain the dignity of colonial rule—this scandal was a disaster!
"Contact London immediately!" he gritted his teeth. "And call the Commissioner of Police at the same time, demanding his immediate release!"

The people from the Fifth Division were eventually taken away by the military, but all their equipment was confiscated by the West Kowloon Command Center.

"Well, I did my best. It was a direct order from the section chief."

"It's ok."

"Are any of your men injured or killed?"

"They're all scratches."

"That's good. You still need to be careful these next few days. Colin isn't someone who gives up easily."

"I know that after this, you'll probably be under even closer scrutiny."

"So what? They won't find anything."

"Alright, hurry back, don't let anyone see."

"it is good."

This is a conversation between He Yuzhu and Orian after they were taken away from Wuchu.

The governor wanted to quell the incident, but the media didn't give him the chance; the next morning...

The Oriental Daily News' morning special edition carried explosive news on its front page:
[Shocking! British intelligence agents break into private residence at night, posing a serious challenge to Hong Kong's rule of law]
The accompanying image shows Colin and others being put into a police car.

Immediately following, TVB's morning news also broadcast an exclusive interview:
"This station has learned that last night, several people claiming to be from British intelligence broke into the private residence of Mr. Ho Fei, a prominent Hong Kong businessman."

Public opinion erupted immediately. Chinese members of the Legislative Council collectively voiced their demands for the government to thoroughly investigate this "serious violation of the rule of law and human rights in Hong Kong."

At 8 a.m., the atmosphere in the Governor's Palace conference room was as heavy as iron.

"Gentlemen," the governor said, glancing around at the assembled military and political leaders, "we are facing a serious diplomatic crisis."

The Commissioner of Police, expressionless, stated, "The facts are clear: personnel from Division Five trespassed on private property without proper authorization. This is a crime in any civilized society."

“But they were on official business!” a representative from the military retorted.

“What official business?” Orian sneered. “We’re told they’re ‘investigating a business dispute’—since when have business disputes become the domain of the Fifth Division?”

Just as the meeting reached a stalemate, the secretary rushed in and whispered a few words in the governor's ear.

The governor's face darkened further: "We just received instructions from London to immediately repatriate the personnel from Section Five and handle the matter discreetly."

Orion abruptly stood up: "Excuse my bluntness, Sir, but this is trampling on Hong Kong's judicial independence! If even Royal Secret Service agents can be above the law, how can we maintain order in the colony?"

These words were like a slap in the face to every British colonist present.

That afternoon, under pressure from public opinion, the governor had no choice but to hold a press conference, vaguely stating that "relevant departments will review the law enforcement procedures" and that He Fei himself would be compensated, but he made no mention of the handling of the five personnel.

This statement is like adding fuel to the fire.

Legislative Council members, business leaders, trade union representatives, and various groups have issued statements questioning the British government's commitment to the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Colin Sterling, preparing to board the plane, is facing the most humiliating moment of his career when he opens an unsigned letter from Orion.

"Do you remember that nameless intersection on the south bank of the Zhaoyang River on the peninsula? Your entire battalion was routed by a single company."

Colin's pupils constricted sharply after glancing at the note: "A whole company? How could that be? How could he know? Did he participate in that battle?!"

"Team leader, what battle?" His team member asked curiously, wanting to see the contents of the letter. Colin stuffed the letter into his mouth and began to chew.

As Colin chewed the note, his mind was filled with that late spring night on the peninsula, when his entire elite battalion was torn apart by a elusive Chinese People's Volunteer Army reconnaissance company. The screams and pleas for help from his subordinates, along with the intense gunfire, kept echoing in his mind. That battle was a disgrace in his military career and a nightmare for him.

Colin's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and his already pale face looked like that of a dead man.

"Team leader, team leader? What's wrong?"

"Phew, phew, it's alright, it's alright." Colin knew he had lost. He had lost both times because he underestimated his opponents. Last time, his opponents didn't have time to finish the job quickly because the U.S. reinforcements had arrived. This time, it was because of the special circumstances in Hong Kong and that the people there were 'abiding by the law'. Otherwise, his entire group would be dead by now.

"It's nothing, but you look terrible?"

"Board!" Colin practically roared, roughly shoving aside his subordinates and rushing up the gangway first.

In fact, he really wanted to turn back and find Orian, because he was the only one captured at the time, and he wanted to ask about 'He Fei' even more, but he knew that he had to obey orders to board the plane and return home.

The roar of the engine could not mask the pounding of his heart. He needed to return to London immediately, to the place where he could access the war archives on the peninsula. He needed to know the truth!
A few days later, on the banks of the Thames in London, inside an unassuming but heavily guarded Georgian-style building.

"Disgrace! Colin, this is a disgrace to the entire Fifth Division!" Deputy Director Sir Humphrey roared angrily.

He waved a thick report, a detailed account of the utter failure of the Hong Kong operation. "A whole team was cornered in a businessman's study like rats by his hired security? And then dragged to the police station? Good heavens! The Times and the Guardian are mocking us as robbers in suits!"

"Sir, the target, He Fei, codenamed 'Water Seller,' has an extremely unusual background! I suspect... he was very likely involved in the Korean War and was a member of the elite reconnaissance unit of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army! I request to use the highest authority to access all relevant files of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army units from 1950 to 1953 on the eastern front of the Korean War, especially the battle at the unnamed intersection on the south bank of the Zhaoyang River, particularly... those at the reconnaissance company level!" He practically gritted his teeth as he spoke the last few words.

Humphrey looked at Colin as if he were an idiot.

"The Korean Peninsula? Volunteer Army scouts? Sterling, are you sure you haven't lost your mind because of the ambush in Hong Kong? We're talking about Keswick's death, the theft at Wharf Holdings, and your recklessness and mistakes! It's about losses of tens of millions of dollars and the shaking of an ancient family's roots in the Far East! Not about digging up old news from twenty years ago!"

"Sir, according to the current intelligence, the methods used in the Kowloon Wharf theft were clean, efficient, and left no trace, far exceeding the capabilities of ordinary criminal organizations. The speed at which the target, He Fei, rose to power, the tactical prowess and equipment level displayed by his security forces, and especially his almost instinctive, battlefield commander-level countermeasures when facing our surprise attack! All of this points to one answer—he has an extremely professional military background supporting him! And in Hong Kong, only him! Only he has the motive, the ability, and the audacity to simultaneously target Jardine Matheson's core warehouse and its top leader!"

"Where's the evidence? I need evidence!"

"No results found!"

"Then why did you take action? Why didn't you notify the Hong Kong government? You didn't even notify the military. What are you trying to do?"

"We are from Division Five."

"That's Hong Kong, Hong Kong!"

"And your report says that he built a huge business empire in Hong Kong in just a few years, and even infiltrated the police force? Why would Orian Trench, our own former army officer, be so devoted to him? That doesn't make sense."

“That’s the most terrifying part, Sir!” Colin spoke rapidly. “He’s not just a soldier, but a master strategist with exceptional foresight! He’s exploited Hong Kong’s complex environment, using business rules as cover, weaving a network of money and profit. Orion? That coward! His capture on the peninsula robbed him of his soldier’s backbone. He’s easily manipulated by He Fei, either by using his weaknesses or offering him huge sums of money, turning him into his protector! Wang Cuiping? That woman from the mainland is the biggest suspect in herself! They are He Fei’s hands reaching into Hong Kong’s law enforcement system! Sir, this isn’t ordinary business competition; it’s a meticulously planned war against Hong Kong’s interests in the Far East! He Fei is the frontline commander of this war! We must act immediately and destroy the Keswick family before they completely spiral out of control!”

"This is all your imagination. Like I said, where's the evidence?"

Colin remained silent.

Looking at his capable subordinate, whose face was now etched with dejection, Humphrey took a deep breath and finally made a decision: "Regarding the background investigation of He Fei, I will grant him the highest level of authority. You will be in charge personally, utilizing all our dormant resources in the East. You can... try to contact the people there."

"At the same time, I will apply to the Cabinet to activate the 'Scepter' contingency plan. I will propose to the higher authorities that you, Colin Sterling, be authorized as the commander of Operation 'Scepter' to be fully responsible for the 'non-contact' suppression of He Fei and his associated forces. Objective: At all costs, stop his further erosion of Jardine Matheson's assets and force him to return his illegal gains! If necessary... allow the use of final measures."

Colin immediately perked up as if he'd been injected with adrenaline, snapping to attention: "Yes, Sir! I will never let you down!"

"You and your subordinates cannot go to Hong Kong for the time being. Focus on recovering from your injuries."

“I can go to Southeast Asia by myself, it’s closer.”

"No, you can't act alone. Wait for my instructions."

"Yes, Sir." He Yuzhu didn't know about what was happening in London; he didn't have that kind of power yet. Even if he did know, he would just beckon Colin and say, "Come on over!"

A few days later, in He Yuzhu's office, A Lang came to report the news.

"Boss, Jardine Matheson has sent people to Hong Kong again. The representative of the Keswick family is Henry Keswick, the nephew of Sir William Keswick. Accompanying him are three core directors, including CFO Andrew Davis and COO Richard Burns. It's quite a large entourage. They went straight to Jardine Matheson Building after getting off the plane and held an emergency closed-door meeting."

"As expected, stray dogs always huddle together to lick their wounds and plot their counterattack. Is our 'gift' ready?"

"We're ready. The 'clues' about the Wharf theft and the Keswick plane crash have been delivered through several absolutely secure anonymous channels to a few neutral international media outlets and several long-established European conglomerates that compete with Jardine Matheson. The content is 'exciting' enough to cause a huge uproar at their board meetings. In addition, the scattered shares of Jardine Matheson that we acquired, plus the minority shareholders we've secretly contacted who are dissatisfied with the current state of Jardine Matheson, now give us 11.7% of the voting rights. While this is not enough to shake the Keswick family's absolute control (about 38%), it is enough to create huge trouble and uncertainty at the shareholders' meeting."

“Very well, nails must be driven in one by one, fortresses often collapse from the inside. Henry Keswick, huh? Let’s see what this guy is capable of. Notify Xu Damao and Gu Yuanheng, Qinquan and Huanghe Automobile Factory, starting today, to implement the highest standard of quality audits on all supply, service and cooperation projects of all affiliated companies under Jardine Matheson. Those minor issues that were previously overlooked, now be strictly controlled according to the terms of the contract.”

"Boss, what if they cut off the supply?"

"Go and set up another trading company, without any connection with the Yellow River Group, specializing in supplying industrial equipment and raw materials."

"What are they?"

"We make motors, bearings, steel, precious metals, and so on."

"Boss, do we have any in stock?"

"Remove the 'ma' character!"

"Okay, then wouldn't we have been able to be self-sufficient long ago?"

"What are you thinking? You still have to rely on outsiders for Huanghe Industrial's building materials."

"It seems like I'm the only one having a hard time!"

"Get lost! What are those things you've been doing under Yellow River Industries?"

"Hehe, I was just imitating you, boss, thinking three steps ahead for every one step I take!"

"Alright, go take care of your business. Inform me immediately of any news from Jardine Matheson."

"Yes."

A few days later, on the top floor of Jardine House, in the largest conference room, beside a huge mahogany conference table, Henry Keswick stood with a livid face. He had just finished reprimanding the Hong Kong local management for their "incompetence" and "stupidity" in handling the crisis.

His uncle, Sir William the Elder, had fallen ill after learning of the double tragedy of his son's death and the theft of Kowloon Wharf.

His mission is to stabilize the situation, find the real culprit, and do everything possible to mitigate losses and defeat the opponent.

However, reality is crueler than imagined.

"Henry, calm down. Anger won't solve anything." The speaker was the financial director, Davis, a cunning old fox with gray hair and sharp eyes.

“Davis, how can I stay calm? The management in Hong Kong is clearly used to being high and mighty, and then someone seized the opportunity to bring them down.”

"We can't entirely blame them; our opponents are quite formidable."

"He's just a Chinese guy, and one who just came from the mainland not long ago."

“Henry, what did your father teach you? Never underestimate any opponent. We are now facing an all-out attack. In terms of public opinion, we are at a disadvantage. Those Chinese newspapers portray us as clowns and losers because of the Kowloon Tong redevelopment project and their previous blunders. The Lands Department is also not very friendly to us now, and even hinted that they may re-evaluate the partners! Our cash flow is drying up rapidly, and the banks... are also on edge.”

COO Burns added, “And then there are those anonymous letters! The ‘clues’ about Wharf Holdings and… ‘Silver Wing’ are so strong, though they’re just rumors, that they’re already circulating in small circles in Europe. Several of our competitors have started using this as a pretext to question our management capabilities and the security of our assets, trying to snatch away several important projects we’re in talks with. There’s a lot of instability on the board, especially among non-Keswick family members.”

Henry Keswick took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down: "So, you think the mastermind behind all this is that nouveau riche named He Fei? The one who was selling water on the street a few years ago?"

“He’s not just a street vendor selling water. His first client was the Kowloon Police Station, then all the police stations in Hong Kong. Huanghe Motors’ first major client was also the Hong Kong Police Station,” said COO Burns.

"We must admit that he seized upon our mistakes and struck with precision. His 'Yellow River Group' is rapidly integrating resources, and once the Kowloon Tong project is completed, it will completely change the landscape of Hong Kong's real estate market and squeeze our core interests. More importantly, although the contents of those anonymous letters lack direct evidence, the detailed analysis of Wharf Holdings' 'impossible theft' and the inexplicable reasons for the 'Silver Wing' crash are enough to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of shareholders and partners. Once doubt arises, the dam of trust will begin to crumble."

CFO Davis continued, “We tried contacting several of our major partner banks, including HSBC and Standard Chartered, hoping to obtain short-term liquidity support to stabilize the situation. But their attitude… was very ambiguous. They either demanded more collateral or directly stated that head office approval was required. Clearly, they were also observing the situation, or perhaps… had already heard rumors or were under some kind of pressure.”

"Pressure? What kind of pressure?" Henry pressed.

“We suspect that He Fei’s people have secretly contacted senior bank officials, or… his financial strength far exceeds our expectations, making the bank more inclined to favor him when weighing the risks,” Davis said helplessly.

"Hong Kong bankers are best at 'adding flowers to brocade' and also best at 'kicking someone when they're down.'" He finished speaking and let out a long sigh.

Henry slammed his fist on the heavy mahogany table. “Then fight back! In the way we do best! He’s blocking our supplies and services, isn’t he? We can do that too! Issue the order: all Jardine Matheson’s docks, warehouses, and transportation companies will be subject to the highest level of security checks on the cargo transportation and warehousing services of Yellow River Industries, Taishan Security, Yellow River Automobile Factory, Qinquan Beverages, and all their affiliated companies, effective immediately! Every box, every document, must be thoroughly checked! I want to completely paralyze their logistics!”

Davis frowned. "Henry, this...this is tantamount to an open declaration of war, and it will severely damage our own business reputation and port efficiency. What will those international cargo owners think? What will other customers think?"

"What are we doing worrying about this now!" Henry roared. "Jardine Matheson is about to be trampled underfoot by a water seller! Reputation? Once we crush him, reputation will naturally return! Execute! Execute immediately!"

“Alright, let’s give it a try. Besides compensating those cargo owners for their losses, the rent the group collects each month is enough for us to fight a battle with them.” Davis raised his hand in support.

“Then let’s fight. I’ll go set it up now.” Burns thought for a moment and agreed.

Jardine Matheson quickly sprang into action.

“Boss, Jardine Matheson has made its move. Henry Keswick has ordered all of Jardine Matheson’s ports, warehouses, and logistics to conduct an ‘indefinite, highest-level security review’ on all our affiliated companies. Several shipments of building materials imported from Southeast Asia and a batch of auto parts ready for export have been stuck at the docks, with the reasons being ‘the documents need further verification’ and ‘the safety of the goods is questionable’.”

"Oh? He couldn't hold back so quickly? It seems this young Mr. Keswick is even more impatient than his cousin. Well, the more frantic he is, the bigger his flaws will be."

"Boss, what should we do? The construction site is waiting for building materials, and Factory Manager Gu is also waiting for export deliveries." Ah Lang said with some worry.

"What's the rush? Have you completed the paperwork for the new trading company I asked you to register, 'Sihai Trading'?"

"It's all done! We just received all the licenses yesterday. We used the name of an old friend we absolutely trust. He has a clean background and no apparent equity connection with the Yellow River Group."

“Very good. Pass the word down and have ‘Sihai Trading’ immediately supply the Kowloon Tong project with high-quality steel, cement and other building materials of the same specifications at market price… no, at half a percent lower than market price. The supply will be drawn from our own ‘backup warehouse’.”

Ah Lang's eyes lit up: "Understood! Our 'backup warehouse' always has a stable inventory, and the quality is absolutely guaranteed! Now the construction site won't stop!"

"As for the car parts exports that are stuck on Director Gu's side, let 'Sihai Trading' step in and contact several small and medium-sized shipping companies that have good relations with us but are not controlled by Jardine Matheson. Tell them that we are willing to pay a premium to ensure that this batch of goods is loaded onto other companies' ships within 24 hours and leaves the port directly. Losing some freight costs is okay, reputation and delivery time must be preserved."

"Yes! I'll do it right away!"

“Also,” He Yuzhu added, “Jardine Matheson likes ‘security checks,’ right? Contact Orion and have his people ‘take a look’ at the ‘security situation’ of Jardine Matheson’s other important warehouses and docks. Especially those areas where high-value goods are stored or where sensitive operations are taking place.”

Upon its debut, Sihai Trading Company quickly filled the building materials gap left by Yellow River Industry due to the blockade of Jardine Logistics with extremely high efficiency and highly competitive prices.

At the Kowloon Tong construction site, heavy trucks only stopped for a few hours before forming long queues again, transporting steel and cement from Ah Long's "backup warehouse." The project's progress was not only unaffected, but actually accelerated due to the stable supply.

The workers were talking amongst themselves, saying that the boss was incredibly resourceful and could always find a new way.

On Gu Yuanheng's side, with the mediation and premium support of Sihai Trading, the auto parts stuck at the Jardine Matheson port were quickly transferred to other small and medium-sized ports not controlled by Jardine Matheson, loaded onto ships that had been contacted in advance, and left port on time, thus fulfilling the promise of on-time delivery.

Gu Yuanheng breathed a sigh of relief and admired his boss's foresight even more.

Jardine Matheson's counterattack was like a heavy punch hitting cotton; it not only failed to injure its opponent, but also caused a significant drop in the operational efficiency of its own docks and logistics companies due to the "highest level of security checks."

Complaints from other cargo owners flooded Jardine Matheson's headquarters, and many even followed the example of those on the Yellow River side, directly entrusting their shipments to other shipping companies.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Orion was "dutifully" fulfilling his "duties".

After receiving a "reliable tip" from a "concerned citizen," the West Kowloon Police Station, together with the Fire Services Department, the Public Works Department and other departments, conducted a surprise "joint security inspection" of several key warehouses and docks under Jardine Matheson.

The inspection results were worrying: aging fire-fighting facilities, excessively high stacking of goods in violation of safety regulations, and potential structural hazards in some buildings... A series of strongly worded rectification notices were posted on Jardine Matheson's doors, and the relevant areas were even ordered to suspend operations for rectification.

　Thank you to readers cyndi1982 and Xiaomi-Eternal Time for the generous donations!

　　Also, is anyone interested in playing a subordinate of "Brother Zhu"? Business or military roles are both fine. We'll see how the story unfolds later. Coming up with names is quite tiring.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)