America: My Time

Chapter 424 Overseas East
Chapter 424 Overseas East

The Russians aren't exactly saints either. Without an introduction from someone you know, venturing into this line of work carries a huge risk of being scammed. And even if you succeed, you might face suppression from Western countries because your trade with the Russians could involve goods they don't want to see. If you don't know how to strike a balance and don't have enough power, it's very difficult to get into this circle.

Many people know that trading with the Russians is profitable, but they often can't easily handle the goods they get from the Russians. So this industry isn't one you can just jump into. John can trade with those guys in Japan, quickly sell off his goods at low prices, and then continue stocking up and trading. This is something many shipping companies can't do.

What is dumping? John is currently engaged in such a crazy transaction: he is dumping alcohol, luxury goods, fruits, and food into Russia in exchange for large quantities of crude oil, timber, minerals, and even steel. John can easily buy up any goods that Russia has, and at the lowest possible price, and then resell them to Japan.

"Old Bao, haven't you ever thought about cooperating with him? He owns ten oil refineries and needs a lot of crude oil. Don't you have connections with Middle Eastern tycoons? You could totally cooperate with him!"

"Cooperation? What do I have to offer in cooperation? What you see is only the surface. This kid is not as simple as you think. His relationship with Middle Eastern tycoons is much stronger than mine. You don't think he's just a financial giant, media mogul, or mining magnate, do you? If you think that, you're very wrong. He's also an arms tycoon, one of the largest arms manufacturers in the United States, and he even has his own security company. He has considerable orders from Middle Eastern tycoons."

"So powerful? He didn't have this kind of strength a few years ago, did he?" At this moment, a look of shock flashed in the eyes of the man standing next to Bao Lao. In just a few years, this young man had already developed such terrifying strength. This was too crazy and he found it unbelievable.

"That's how powerful he is. A few years ago, he had to compromise when facing pressure from the British, but now, do you think HSBC dares to confront him head-on? Even Shen Daban had to compromise. This guy is a monster. We're all getting old; it's the era of the young. Moreover, he's clearly aiming to make a big splash in shipping, and he's laying out a global strategy. He chose this time, making it difficult for many to stop him. Just look at his expansion in Southeast Asia. If he couldn't fully unleash his potential before due to funding issues, that problem has now disappeared. However, from his conversation with Shen Daban, it's clear that he has no intention of continuing to expand in Hong Kong, so he won't have a significant impact on us."

What these Hong Kong tycoons are most worried about is John's financial dealings, as this could affect their interests. If the Hong Kong stock market fluctuates, their assets will be impacted.

"Old Bao, you can rest assured, but Old Shao has been very worried lately. The situation at TVB is not good!"

"There's nothing we can do about it. I know about Lao Shao's situation, but no one can change it. ATV spans Hong Kong and Taiwan, with influence throughout Asia. How can we possibly catch up with such a gap? Their media moguls are no joke, and their strength is far beyond what Lao Shao can match. Lao Shao doesn't dare to go head-to-head with Taiwan. Do you think Taiwan dares to confront this little guy? It's a difference in strength that Lao Shao can't change. Now even British conglomerates have to compromise. Hong Kong has entered this little guy's era. Even if this isn't his focus, Hong Kong is now entering his era. The change of ownership at Standard Chartered Bank was just the beginning. Anyone who underestimates him will pay a heavy price. Standard Chartered's acquisition is a cautionary tale!"

"Standard Chartered's fate is indeed shocking. Who would have thought that it would be acquired in just a few years? Young people these days are really terrifying. Now almost all British-owned properties in Hong Kong are in his hands. He can be said to be the largest real estate developer in Hong Kong now, and he has a considerable influence on Hong Kong's real estate market."

"Sir Youde has arrived and is talking with the little fellow. They seem to be having a very good conversation."

During the conversation, Governor Youde appeared. His first target was John. It seemed that the governor was also worried about Hong Kong's financial situation. After all, Hong Kong's financial institutions were experiencing one financial crisis after another, which made the governor very concerned. If he could reach an agreement with John and Standard Chartered Bank, he could breathe a sigh of relief.

Standard Chartered Bank is a source of concern for many now because it is no longer a publicly listed company but a private one. This has caused unease among many, who worry that Standard Chartered might trigger a financial storm in Hong Kong, impacting the city's development and stability. However, these people are overthinking it. John has no such thoughts, nor would he dare to.

The acquisition of Standard Chartered will require time for integration, and new crises are likely to emerge soon. Standard Chartered's most important task now is to stabilize itself, ensure a smooth transition of power, and usher in the era of Yuan Tianfan. Indeed, Yuan Tianfan will become Standard Chartered's CEO. This was John's decision long ago, and Yuan has gained considerable understanding of Standard Chartered over the past few years, making him the most suitable candidate.

After their conversation, John couldn't help but sigh. It seemed his acquisition of Standard Chartered had truly unsettled many in Hong Kong, encountering so many problems in such a short time. It appeared the impact would be difficult to eliminate in the short term; the British were clearly afraid.

"Tianfan, what are your thoughts?" After talking with those British guys, John sat down with Yuan Tianfan and asked casually. This was Yuan Tianfan's first high-profile appearance since taking over Standard Chartered, so he must have some different ideas.

"I have a lot of ideas, and people I didn't know before are all coming up to me. To be honest, I'm having a hard time getting used to it!" This is the real world. Before, he was just the CEO of Pacific Investment, but now he is the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank. There is a huge gap between the two. Banks control huge amounts of money, so who can ignore them?

“It will be suitable, but Standard Chartered needs to be stable right now and cannot afford any rash moves. Standard Chartered cannot withstand any storms right now. Only by stabilizing itself can it make further progress. I am very reassured with you taking over!”

“Boss, the Dong family wants to request financial support. They’ve been significantly affected by shipping issues and I’m afraid they won’t be able to hold on for long! But they’re heavily indebted, and I don’t know what to do right now. I’m a complete novice when it comes to shipping, I know absolutely nothing about it!” At this moment, Yuan Tianfan recounted his previous experience.

"Shipping, that's really hard to say. The shipping industry still needs time to recover. I know about the Dong family's situation; they're indeed in dire straits. Without external help, they're doomed. Their current funds won't last long, as the entire global shipping industry is in a slump. However, bank loans alone can't solve the Dong family's crisis. Without enough orders, there's no hope in sight, and in Japan, everyone's probably eager to collect their loans. Standard Chartered Bank can't withstand this kind of turmoil right now. If someone chooses to intervene at this time, it will be very detrimental to our control of Standard Chartered. How about this, you invite him over, and I'll talk to him!"

Although he had Australian shipping in hand, Quantum Mining would soon be selling large quantities of iron ore, requiring shipping to South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. However, Australian shipping currently lacked sufficient cargo ships. It wasn't that John had ordered few ships from Japan, but rather that he hadn't anticipated the scale of the deal with Russia, and the profits were far greater than those of ordinary transportation. Hearing Yuan Tianfan's words at this moment gave John an idea, though its success was still uncertain.

"Hello, Mr. John!" Soon, Yuan Tianfan brought the head of the Dong family to John's side. Although they were very low-key, their actions still attracted the attention of those who were interested at the banquet.

“Mr. Dong, hello. I am somewhat familiar with the situation at Orient Overseas. We have just taken over Standard Chartered, and such loans will put considerable pressure on us. Moreover, we could easily be taken advantage of by our adversaries. However, I think we can cooperate in other areas. Quantum Mining has iron ore supplies from South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. If you are willing to accept this, Quantum Mining can acquire 50% of Orient Overseas' shares for HK$1 billion. What do you think? Of course, you don't need to answer right away. If you have any concerns, you can go back and think about it carefully before giving me your reply!”

Quantum Mining's proposed HK$1 billion investment in Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) to acquire a 50% stake—is this considered opportunistic profiteering? Not at all. It's a lifeline. Quantum Mining is offering more than just the HK$1 billion investment; it's also providing related business—iron ore transportation—which could revive OOCL. Furthermore, once this business is secured, the pressure on the Japanese banks will instantly disappear. Everyone in Hong Kong's business circles knows how close John's relationship with Japanese banks is.

"Mr. John, no need to wait any longer. I accept Quantum Mining's investment. When shall we sign the agreement?" At this moment, as the head of the Dong family, Mr. Dong Jianhua agreed to John's proposal without hesitation. It would be a foolish decision to miss such an opportunity. Not only is the Dong family in trouble now, but Hong Kong Shipping is also in trouble, and Zhao's Wah Kwong Shipping is no exception. If he did not agree and the other party found out, there would definitely be an outcome he did not want to see. It was precisely because he understood the seriousness of the matter that Mr. Dong directly agreed to John's proposal.

(End of this chapter)