Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

1981, October.

While Lu Chen was enjoying the neon lights and champagne in Tokyo's Ginza district, two thousand kilometers away in Hong Kong, a financial duel without gunpowder, yet capable of bankrupting countless people, had entered its most brutal, hand-to-hand combat phase.

Central, Hong Kong Island Stock Exchange.

The air here was thick and hot, filled with the smells of tobacco, sweat, and the hoarse shouts of countless people. Red and green numbers jumped wildly on the huge electronic screen, and every second of rise and fall represented the evaporation or creation of millions of dollars.

At this moment, a battle of the century that would be recorded in the annals of Hong Kong's business history—the "Wharf Holdings takeover battle"—had entered its bloodiest and most brutal stage of close combat.

This battle not only concerns the ownership of Wharf Holdings, a century-old company, but also symbolizes an unprecedented direct challenge launched by Chinese-owned conglomerates against British-owned trading companies.

"Promoted! Promoted again!"

"Wharf Holdings! Buy! Buy as much as you can!"

Countless red-vested individuals shouted themselves hoarse, and the incessant ringing of telephones sounded like a death knell. Wharf Holdings' stock price soared like a runaway horse, ignoring all technical indicators. Lu Chen's entry into the market further exacerbated the scarcity of Wharf Holdings shares, pushing the price to new historical highs.

On the morning of December 3, a major announcement set the entire city of Hong Kong ablaze.

Having been driven to the brink of despair, Jardine Matheson, in an attempt to retain control of Wharf Holdings, issued an announcement declaring its willingness to acquire Wharf Holdings shares from all Hong Kong shareholders at an exorbitant price of HK$61 per share!

The news caused an uproar worldwide.

Keep in mind that at that time, Wharf Holdings' market value was only HK$51. Jardine Matheson's move represented a premium of a full HK$10!

This is practically throwing money away!

The news sent the Hong Kong stock market into a frenzy. Investors waved their shares like madmen, eager to get a piece of the pie in this capital feast. However, in the eyes of the real financial giants, Jardine Matheson's "big move" revealed a desperate weakness.

Just like an injured old lion, although its roar is deafening, it is filled with fear and despair when facing the challenge of a young male lion.

……

Meanwhile, in Central, at the HSBC headquarters building.

Top floor, Chairman's office.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows offer an unobstructed view of Victoria Harbour, with thousands of sails racing on the water, symbolizing the city's prosperity and ambition.

But at this moment, the two bigwigs sitting on the sofa had no interest in appreciating the scenery at all.

"Old Shen, the situation is not good."

The speaker was a burly man with a resolute face; he was none other than the world-renowned shipping magnate, Bao. He took a small sip of the finest Da Hong Pao tea, his furrowed brows and slightly clenched fingers revealing his inner anxiety.

"61 dollars. That old bastard Newbridge (the head of Jardine Matheson) is trying to bury me in money."

The shipping magnate put down his teacup, his tone heavy, "Although I just borrowed 15 billion from you, I'm not afraid to spend the money. But the problem now is—there's no stock on the market."

This is a brutal mathematical game, and also a race against time.

Currently, both the shipping magnate and Jardine Matheson hold approximately 40% of Wharf Holdings' shares. Whoever can acquire the remaining shares first, reaching the 50% absolute controlling stake, will be the ultimate winner.

The embarrassing thing is that retail investors' stocks have long been wiped out, and liquidity has dried up.

"I've had someone investigate," Bao Chuanwang said, rubbing his temples. "On the secondary market, about 10% of the retail shares were quietly acquired by a mysterious tycoon a few months ago. This person's methods are very professional; they built their positions in batches, and their secrecy is extremely high, like a ghost."

"Both Jardine Matheson and I are looking for this person. Whoever finds him will win."

Sitting opposite him was Shen Zhou, the head of HSBC Bank and the de facto "God of Wealth" of Hong Kong Island.

Logically, HSBC, as a British-owned bank, should have helped Jardine Matheson, but in the business world, there is no nationality, only interests.

HSBC is not only the second-largest shareholder of Wharf Holdings, the shipping magnate, but also a staunch supporter of his "going ashore" strategy. In the early 80s, affected by the oil crisis and economic recession, demand in the shipping industry shrank dramatically, entering a period of hardship. Wharf Holdings then decided to change its strategy and begin "going ashore." Only if Wharf Holdings succeeded in this move could Wharf Holdings achieve its transformation, allowing HSBC to reap greater profits.

Moreover, as one of the four major trading companies, HSBC had long disliked Jardine Matheson's arrogant "old-fashioned aristocrat" attitude. This was a showdown between Chinese and British capital, and also an internal war among the four major trading companies.

"Don't rush, Bao," Shen Zhou slowly cut open his cigar, lit it, and exhaled a puff of smoke. A sly glint flashed in his shrewd blue eyes, like that of an old fox. "When God closes a door, he always opens a window."

"What do you mean?" The shipping magnate's eyes lit up.

"Just now, my friend, who is also an old acquaintance of yours, Sutherland, brought us some unexpected good news," Shen Zhou flicked his cigarette ash, "The 'ghost' has been found."

"Who?" The shipping magnate jumped to his feet, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Who is this 'mysterious tycoon'? Old Shen, no matter the cost, I must acquire these shares!"

Shen Zhou smiled and said, "You must have heard of this person. He's been making headlines lately—Lu Chen."

Upon hearing the name, Bao Chuanwang paused for a moment, then a young, handsome figure with a mysterious smile appeared in his mind.

"You mean... Mr. Lu, the boss of Golden Harvest?"

The shipping magnate sat back down on the sofa, his shock gradually turning into a complex admiration.

"It was him..."

"I'd heard before that this young man was no ordinary person, with connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles, and incredibly shrewd methods. But I never imagined his business acumen would be this ruthless. Six months ago? Back then, Wharf Holdings' stock price had already reached HK$30, and he still dared to invest so heavily?"

"The younger generation is truly formidable! They are indeed formidable!"

The shipping magnate was filled with emotion. He had spent half his life in the business world and had met countless people, but a young man like Lu Chen, who not only had a business mind but also accurately predicted the general trend and remained calm, was extremely rare.

"Old Shen, please contact him for me as soon as possible!" The shipping magnate couldn't sit still any longer. "Tell him that no matter where he is, I want to see him! I'll give him a price he can't refuse!"

"Don't worry, I've already asked Sutherland to help me make contact," Shen Zhou glanced at the clock on the wall. "Coincidentally, he just flew back from East Asia. I guarantee he'll receive our message as soon as the plane lands."

……

Half an hour later.

The underground parking lot of the HSBC Building.

A black Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up in the VIP parking space.

The car door opened, and Lu Chen, though travel-worn, was unusually energetic. He had just completed the "Takamagahara" project in Tokyo and hadn't even had a chance to rest when he received this invaluable phone call.

"Boss, it looks like this piece of fat meat is finally going to be cooked," Cheng Yiyan said with a smile as he came to pick him up from the airport.

"yes."

Lu Chen straightened his tie, looked out the car window at the sturdy concrete pillars of the HSBC Building, and smiled. "After raising fish for half a year, it's finally time to reel them in."

Top floor office.

The shipping magnate even had a quick lunch in his office. He canceled all his afternoon meetings, and even cancelled appointments with several tycoons, all to wait for that young man.

"Bao, relax," Shen Zhou said calmly, or perhaps it was just her mindset that was different from the person in question, as she leisurely sipped her coffee. "Normally, you'd be unfazed even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of you."

"Hey, Lao Shen, you know that too."

The shipping magnate sighed and sat back on the sofa. "This time, Kowloon Wharf is extremely important to me. It's a crucial step in my landing on land, a Normandy landing for circumnavigating the globe—only victory is acceptable, defeat is not an option. Jardine Matheson must have gotten wind of this by now. If they beat me to it..."

"So we need to make sure it hits the mark. In a moment, you just need to quote him a price he can't refuse, even if it costs a little more."

"I understand," said the shipping magnate, his eyes resolute and brimming with confidence. "My battle with Jardine Matheson has reached this point, it's a fight to the death. These 16 million shares are of paramount importance. What does spending a little more money matter? As long as we can acquire Wharf Holdings and complete my strategic plan, I'll earn back all this money many times over in the future!"

This is not just a business deal, but a high-stakes gamble on the family's century-old legacy.

Just then.

"Knock knock knock".

There was a knock on the heavy mahogany door of the office.

The secretary opened the door and respectfully reported, "Chairman, Sir Bao, Mr. Lu Chen has arrived."

Bao Chuanwang and Shen Zhou exchanged a glance, and the two stood up to greet him almost simultaneously.

This is absolutely the highest level of courtesy in the Hong Kong business community.

A tall, slender figure stepped into the room.

Lu Chen was still wearing the same dark suit he wore at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Tokyo. Despite the long flight, his calm, elegant, and slightly imposing demeanor remained undiminished.

He looked at the two business tycoons standing in front of his desk to greet him, and a signature smile appeared on his face.

"Shen Daban, Bao Jueshi."

Lu Chen nodded slightly, neither humble nor arrogant, "I just got off the plane and came to bother you. I hope I haven't disturbed your enjoyment."

"Not at all! Mr. Lu's visit is such an honor to this office!"

Bao Chuanwang walked forward with a big laugh and clasped his hands together tightly.