Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 231 Recruiting Talented Individuals and Extortion

The following afternoon, He Yuzhu and Xiaoman drove back to the villa that had been attacked but was now peaceful.

Although it is no longer the main residence, it is still cleaned and maintained regularly.

More importantly, this place is far from He Yuzhu's current public activity center, making it less likely to attract attention.

Chen Sheng arrived ten minutes earlier than agreed. He was wearing a light blue shirt that had faded slightly from washing, dark trousers, and black-rimmed glasses. He was slightly thin, but stood upright, and his eyes were clear with a hint of sharpness that was not easily detected.

He stood quietly in the living room, surveying his surroundings without a trace of unease.

"Chen Sheng!" Xiaoman greeted him with a smile, "You've arrived very early."

"Senior Sister Qiao." Chen Sheng gave a gentle smile, then turned his gaze to He Yuzhu, who walked in after him, and his expression immediately became solemn. "Mr. He, hello! I've heard so much about you."

“Mr. Chen, please don’t be so polite, please have a seat.” He Yuzhu extended his hand and shook hands with him.

Chen Sheng didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly, while Xiaoman went to call the servants to serve tea.

“Mr. Chen, my wife Xiaoman should have mentioned to you that I invited you here not to discuss an ordinary job. I believe you are somewhat aware of the current situation of the Yellow River Group, and even myself,” He Yuzhu said bluntly.

Chen Sheng adjusted his glasses and nodded, saying, "Yes, Mr. He. Jardine Matheson has suffered a series of setbacks, Keswick... passed away unexpectedly, and Wharf Holdings was mysteriously robbed, shaking the Hong Kong business community. Yellow River Industries has emerged as a dark horse, becoming the focus and inevitably the target of everyone's criticism. British conglomerates, local forces, and even... pressure from London." He paused, looking at He Yuzhu, "And you are undoubtedly at the center of this storm."

"See through things thoroughly."

Chen Sheng continued, “The eye of the storm is both a dangerous place and a place of opportunity. The collapse of Jardine Matheson left behind a huge power and wealth vacuum. But this vacuum will not automatically fall into the hands of the Chinese. British capital will fight back, other Chinese businesses will compete for it, and there will also be those parasites clinging to the old system. What we are facing is a war without gunpowder, the battlefield is in the stock market, at the docks, on construction sites, in the Legislative Council, and also in the invisible business intelligence network.”

He Yuzhu leaned forward slightly, his eyes piercing: "What I need is not just a financial expert or a legal advisor, but a strategist who can see the essence of complex situations, formulate strategies, and plan with mastery. A partner who can help me conquer the capital market, mitigate risks within the legal framework, and gain the upper hand in business competition. This job is incredibly stressful, extremely risky, and may even... be shady. But at the same time, it may also change things, truly opening a door for the Chinese community in Hong Kong."

Chen Sheng listened quietly, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with thoughtful consideration.

He did not immediately respond, but instead asked, "Is Mr. Ho's goal merely to replace Jardine Matheson and become the new business tycoon?"

“Replace?” He Yuzhu laughed. “That’s too superficial. Jardine Matheson is essentially a representative of colonial capital. Its foundation lies in monopolies and privileges, as well as its more than a century of capital accumulation. Although it has intricate ties of interest with the Hong Kong government, once it senses real danger, or when the Hong Kong pie no longer aligns with its core interests, it will not hesitate to withdraw. Of course, they won’t shed their tails like a gecko; before they leave, they will squeeze out the remaining value of Hong Kong one last time.”

"No way. They've been operating in Hong Kong for a century!" Chen Sheng was shocked.

"What, you don't believe me?" He Yuzhu knew that Jardine Matheson had run away in the 11s, and what was left were some commercial chains like 7-Eleven.

"No, no, no, I just can't accept this statement for the time being."

"Haha, do you think I'm exaggerating?"

"No, it's just that I don't see that possibility yet."

"You will see it, in the near future!"

"I will look at it carefully."

He Yuzhu stood up, walked to the window, looked outside, and spoke in a low voice, each word like a hammer blow:

"I want everyone to see that Chinese capital doesn't need to rely on foreigners. With wisdom, courage, and genuine business acumen, it can rise up with dignity under fair (or at least relatively fair) rules! I want those British companies that are used to being high and mighty to understand that Hong Kong is no longer their backyard where they can take whatever they want! I want 'money bags' like HSBC to know that their choices are no longer limited to companies like Jardine Matheson! I want those parasites that depend on Jardine Matheson to lose their breeding ground! I want the economic lifeline of Hong Kong to truly be in the hands of those who build it and love it!"

He Yuzhu turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as lightning, and stared directly at Chen Sheng: "This is what I want! Not to replace Jardine Matheson, but to change the entire game! To make Hong Kong's business landscape no longer a one-man show by colonial capital! Mr. Chen, tell me, do you dare to enter this game? Is this battlefield worth your dedication?"

Chen Sheng's body trembled slightly.

The pupils behind the lenses suddenly contracted, and breathing seemed to stop for a moment.

He Yuzhu's words were like a thunderclap, splitting open the long-standing knot of depression and confusion in his heart!

"It's not about replacing, it's about changing the rules! It's not about becoming a new monopolist, it's about reshaping the landscape! And this landscape is bigger and more... breathtaking than he imagined!"

His hands, resting on his knees, clenched unconsciously.

My blood seemed to be rushing faster, and a long-lost, almost boiling feeling of excitement surged to my head.

At HSBC, all he saw were cold numbers and a game of capital; he felt an invisible ceiling and a deep sense of powerlessness.

At this moment, He Yuzhu is describing a road full of thorns but shining brightly—a road that may truly change the fate of Hong Kong's Chinese community!

He abruptly stood up, meeting He Yuzhu's sharp gaze, his eyes burning with fighting spirit, and said firmly, "Mr. He! I'm in this game! I've come to this battlefield!"

"Welcome to the team!" He Yuzhu came over and shook Chen Sheng's hand.

"Don't stand there, sit down and have some tea, let's chat!" Xiaoman then came out with the tea.

Chen Sheng's joining was like injecting a precise and powerful driving force into the high-speed machine of the Yellow River Group.

He Yuzhu placed him directly under A Lang as a special advisor to Huanghe Industrial, with his first task being to secure the Kuiyong land parcel.

However, things did not go well; in fact, they were quite bad.

The governor, who had promised He Yuzhu compensation under immense pressure, now wanted to bury the matter and let it go after the storm had passed.

Ah Lang and Chen Sheng, representing Huanghe Industrial, went to Government House for several days in a row to request an audience, only to be told that "His Excellency the Governor is meeting with important guests" or "His schedule is full, please make an appointment for another day." On one occasion, the secretary even directly hinted that "Regarding the Kwai Chung site, the government is conducting a comprehensive assessment and there is no conclusion yet. Please wait patiently for official notification."

This is clearly a blatant delaying tactic, intended to nullify and destroy the promises made at the time.

"Boss, these foreigners are shameless! They spoke so righteously in front of the reporters, but now they've disappeared without a trace!"

“I didn’t believe what Chen Sheng said before, but now I think they will go even further. They just want to drag it out until the public outcry subsides, until we lose patience, or until the bidding process in Kwai Chung is finalized, and then give us some random piece of land out of the way!”

He Yuzhu sat on the sofa, his expression calm, his fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on Chen Sheng, who was sitting next to A Lang and intently flipping through a stack of newspapers and documents.

"Advisor Chen, what do you think?" He Yuzhu asked directly.

Chen Sheng raised his head and adjusted his glasses: "Mr. He, Brother Lang, the Governor's Office's attitude is both unexpected and reasonable. Unexpected because they broke their promise so blatantly; reasonable because the influence of British-owned groups, especially Jardine Matheson, remains, and they will inevitably exert pressure to prevent us from acquiring this strategically important plot of land. The Kwai Chung Container Terminal is the lifeline of Hong Kong's future trade, and it is not in their overall interest to let a company with a Chinese background, which is hostile to Jardine Matheson, get a piece of it."

He picked up a copy of the Sing Tao Daily marked with a red line, which contained the report of the Governor's promise at the press conference to "review the procedures" and "provide Mr. Ho with reasonable compensation."

"The key point is that the governor made this public promise only when he was cornered by the media storm. Now that the storm has subsided, he naturally wants to go back on his word. But the promise has already been made, and it's in black and white in the newspapers. That's our weapon."

"Weapons? But they're avoiding us, we don't even have a chance to brandish them," Ah Lang said, frowning.

"No, the opportunity lies in these newspapers." Chen Sheng's lips curled into a cold smile. "If the Governor-General's Office wants to handle this quietly, we'll give them a kick, make this matter even hotter than the Fifth Division incident last time, so hot that they have no choice but to step in and resolve it, and they must resolve it in full view of everyone!"

“The idea is good, but have you considered how effective these methods will be when you’re dealing with a group of shameless and dishonest people?” He Yuzhu said.

"That can't be, can it? After all, he's the Governor of Hong Kong. Would he really throw away all his dignity?" Chen Sheng asked uncertainly. "What does face matter compared to land and profits? Besides, he's not going to be the Governor for life," He Yuzhu said.

Chen Sheng was momentarily speechless at He Yuzhu's question, and then fell into deep thought.

Indeed, for a governor with a limited term who represents colonial interests, breaking a promise to Chinese merchants might have a far lower political cost than the financial loss of relinquishing a strategically important piece of land, especially given the continued pressure from British powers like Jardine Matheson.

"The boss is right. It's too idealistic to expect the other party to keep their promises or to easily win over Kwai Chung through public pressure. The governor could simply drag it out until the bidding process is over, then symbolically compensate us with a piece of remote land, or even use other non-land forms of compensation to brush it off, such as a small amount of cash or a meaningless honorary title. The public outcry will eventually pass, and as long as he's shameless enough, or he brings up other issues to divert attention, this matter can be dropped."

Ah Lang panicked: "What should we do? We can't just sit here and suffer this loss! This land is too important to us!"

"What's the rush? It's not like we've run out of cards to play."

He Yuzhu opened the drawer of his desk, took out a thick kraft paper file folder, and slammed it heavily on the table.

"Snap!" The dull sound was particularly clear in the quiet study.

"Here is irrefutable evidence of Colin Sterling's illegal trespassing on my private property and assaulting people with weapons that night! High-definition photos record the faces of every intruder, the weapons they carried, and even their disheveled appearance when they were subdued by our security! There are also extremely clear audio recordings of Colin Sterling's subordinates confessing their identities and purposes at the scene! There is also a copy of the preliminary interrogation transcript from Superintendent Orion, with Colin's signature confirming it! This is not only evidence that slaps the Governor's House in the face, but also a bomb that could ignite an international scandal, humiliate the entire Fifth District, and even shake the positions of certain important figures in London!"

Ah Lang gasped, his eyes instantly lighting up with astonishing brilliance: "Boss! You mean... use this to pressure the governor?"

Chen Sheng also felt a pang of anxiety; he instantly understood He Yuzhu's strategic intentions.

This is no longer a simple business game; it's a grand scheme that mixes politics, diplomacy, and intelligence scandals together!
He adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses becoming incredibly grave: "Mr. He, this move... is extremely risky! Once it's made public, it will completely sever ties with the Fifth Bureau and even the British government behind it. In order to quell the situation, the Governor may be forced to agree to our demands, but he may also... take the risk and adopt even more extreme countermeasures."

"Taking a risk?" He Yuzhu sneered.
"Does he dare? London has just been humiliated by Colin and his men's foolish actions and has barely shed its international ire. If, at this moment, irrefutable evidence of Colin Sterling's illegal intrusion and armed assault, especially the clear video footage showing them being subdued like robbers, were 'accidentally' leaked to reporters from The Times, The Guardian, or the BBC... do you think the gentlemen in the London cabinet would choose to protect a colonial governor at all costs, or would they choose to immediately sever ties and shift all the blame to 'the personal error of the operations commander' and 'the Hong Kong governor's inadequate supervision'?"

He paused, then said with unwavering resolve, “The governor understands the implications better than we do! He can’t afford to lose face, nor can he bear the responsibility of reigniting an international scandal and shaking the foundations of the empire’s rule in the Far East! So, when he saw this, he had only one choice—to meet our demands in exchange for the permanent silence of this evidence!”

"Ah Lang! Get ready. Tomorrow morning, you will personally go to Government House and request an audience with the Governor. If he makes another excuse to refuse to see you..."

He Yuzhu picked up the heavy file folder and pushed it towards Ah Lang. "Give this to his secretary. Tell him that if he doesn't see the Governor in person within half an hour, or doesn't receive a clear and satisfactory answer regarding the compensation for the Kwai Chung land plot, then the contents of this document will appear on the desks of the editors-in-chief of several internationally renowned media outlets within an hour. Remember, be respectful, but be as clear as possible!"

Ah Lang picked up the file folder with both hands and said excitedly, "Don't worry, boss! I know what to do! I guarantee I'll complete the task!"

Looking at the two men's performance, Chen Sheng thought to himself, "I'm still too inexperienced! This young boss in front of me is far more shrewd than I imagined in terms of his methods, the depth of his plans, and his astonishing courage."

This is not just business acumen, but a precise grasp of human nature, political rules, and the balance of power! With such a person, how can you not achieve great things?
“Mr. He, although the risks are manageable, the subsequent counterattack from Jardine Matheson and the British capital will inevitably be even more ferocious. We need to immediately start preparing a development plan for the Kwai Chung plot once we get it, as well as a response to the full-scale counterattack they may launch in finance, supply chain, and even public opinion.” Chen Sheng quickly got into character, his mind racing.

“Very good.” He Yuzhu nodded approvingly.

"This is exactly what your focus will be on next, so you don't need to go tomorrow. Acquiring the land is only the first step; the key is how to turn this strategic location into a fulcrum for us to leverage Hong Kong's logistics landscape. You will also be in charge of developing specific countermeasure plans. Remember, we don't fight unprepared battles."

"Understood!" Chen Sheng replied.

The next morning, at the Governor's House in Hong Kong.

The secretary looked at Ah Lang, who was visiting for the fourth time, with disgust on his face. He had just said, "The Governor's schedule is full."

Ah Lang interrupted him, a businesslike smile on his face. His voice was low, but each word was clear and distinct: "Please repeat this message. Please be sure to tell His Excellency the Governor that I have brought a 'personal gift' from Mr. He. This gift is very 'special,' concerning the 'face' of His Excellency and certain important figures in London. If I do not see the Governor in person within half an hour, or do not receive a clear answer regarding the Kwai Chung land plot..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping meaningfully over the file folder. "Then this 'gift' can only be given to those international friends who are very interested in the 'heroic deeds of the Royal Agents in Hong Kong'."

The secretary's face turned deathly pale instantly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

He still remembered how badly he had been scolded last time, so he dared not be negligent again and quickly went upstairs to knock on the governor's office door.

Less than ten minutes later, the secretary practically ran back, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Mr. Hong! His Excellency the Governor requests that you... come in immediately!"

Inside the Governor's office, the Governor of Hong Kong sat in a tall chair. Across from him, Ah Lang gave a perfunctory greeting and then placed the heavy file folder directly on the Governor's large desk with a dull thud.

"Your Excellency, my boss asked me to give you his regards."

"No need, I can't accept his greetings."

“This is a small token of my boss’s appreciation. It contains some video and audio recordings. My boss said that keeping these things with him is always a ‘hidden danger.’ He believes that only by handing them over to you can they be truly ‘safe and secure.’ Of course, in exchange, Mr. He only hopes that you can fulfill the promise you made to the public back then—this is our request.”

As he spoke, Ah Lang handed over another document.

The governor certainly knew what was in the document bag!
He had seen Colin's report on the failure of that idiot's operation, but the fact that such detailed and deadly evidence was in the hands of the enemy was beyond his expectations!
He couldn't imagine the consequences if these things were exposed!
"He... wants that land?" The governor's voice was almost squeezed out through clenched teeth.

Ah Lang calmly took out a clearly marked planning map of the Kwai Chung Container Terminal that he had prepared beforehand, and pointed precisely to a location—the core area with the best water depth and the greatest future development potential in the entire plan!
"Mr. He believes that only this piece of land can truly reflect the 'compensation' you promised. Of course, we can proceed with the specific transfer method and price according to procedure."

The governor looked at the spot Ah Lang pointed to, and his eyes twitched violently a few times.

That's practically the heart of Kwai Chung's future golden pier!
Giving it away is tantamount to cutting flesh off the Hong Kong government itself!

But...does he have a choice?
Perhaps there is, but who knows what will happen before a solution is found? The colonies are not limited to this area; other places are much more restless than Hong Kong.

As the saying goes, "Ask for the moon, negotiate the price," the governor couldn't just accept whatever others said. He said, "Mr. Hong, this land... is in the core area of ​​the Kwai Chung development plan, and it's priceless. Mr. He's demands are far too much! This goes far beyond the scope of any personal 'compensation' for him!"

"Your Excellency, you misunderstand. Our boss fully understands the government's difficulties and is well aware of the value of this land. That's precisely why we believe that only this land can match the resounding promise you made at the press conference, and truly reflect the Hong Kong government's deep remorse for the 'procedural impropriety' and its sincere compensation for the injustice suffered by Mr. Ho. As for the value... we are willing to purchase it at the market price assessed by the government, and we will never let the Hong Kong government suffer a loss. All we ask for is a fair opportunity to participate, and a result that fulfills your public promise."

"Are you trying to get everyone else to bid against you?"

"As expected of His Excellency the Governor!"

"Is there a backup of this?" the governor asked, pointing to the file folder.

"I don't know, it's up to you whether it's possible or not," Ah Lang said, pointing to the map.

The governor's face turned ashen, the threat growing stronger; clearly, this was just one part of it.

He even wants to lock Ah Lang up now and have the police search He Fei's house to retrieve everything related to him.

But he knew that was impossible. How could someone as smart as He Fei keep things in one place? And since he dared to have his subordinate bring them over, he must have other plans.

He abruptly closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently. It took him more than ten seconds before he slumped back in his chair, as if all his strength had been drained.

"Okay, this land... you can have it. But I want all of this."

"Thank you, Your Excellency. I will pass on the message to my boss."

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(End of this chapter)