Chapter 86: Setting the Finance Office on Fire
"Then call an emergency board meeting as the majority shareholder of Qingzhou Cement. Right after this, start contacting all the shareholders. As for the non-shareholding board members, don't worry about them — they're usually at the company anyway.
Be upfront with the shareholders: tell them you intend to take the Chairman position. Unless they're not in Hong Kong, once they realize you're about to firmly occupy the Chairman seat, even if they have murky dealings with Halier Centurion, they won't dare refuse to attend.
After all, there's no reason to offend someone who's already secured Qingzhou Cement's leadership.
However, you should still be cautious — Halier Centurion may try something. But honestly, with your 40% control, he can't change anything.
Tomorrow, I'll bring people with me to support you at the meeting," Lin Wanan explained carefully.
"Alright, Dad. With you backing me up, I'm not worried about any last-minute resistance from Halier Centurion. I'll make the calls now," Lin Haoran said confidently.
Last time, during the previous board meeting, he had already exchanged contact information with all shareholders.
Thus, reaching them wasn't difficult.
It was just after 5:00 p.m., still early.
Most of these shareholders weren't actively involved in the company's operations.
Some had their own businesses, others were retired.
Lin Haoran called them one by one.
For those who answered, he immediately discussed the board meeting.
For those who didn't, he planned to call back later.
After more than half an hour, he successfully contacted seven out of the five British and three Chinese shareholders.
When they heard Lin Haoran's "reveal" about his 40% ownership, they were all shocked.
Forty percent — an extremely high holding rate.
Even if they had shady deals with Halier Centurion, they knew resistance was useless against someone with such overwhelming control.
Most chose not to offend Lin Haoran, agreeing to attend tomorrow's meeting.
Only one Chinese shareholder couldn't be reached because he was abroad — temporarily unreachable.
In addition to the shareholders, Lin Haoran also contacted one other person: Deputy General Manager Burton.
In Lin Haoran's view, Burton was clearly competent — respected by the middle management and marginalized by Halier's faction, a promising sign.
Once Lin Haoran took over Qingzhou Cement, General Manager Ziegler would have to go — he couldn't leave any of Halier's cronies in place.
Burton, on the other hand, seemed perfect to temporarily replace Ziegler.
If he proved himself, he could even remain in the future.
Lin Haoran spent more than ten minutes speaking with Burton.
After finishing with Burton, about ten minutes later, the last shareholder called back.
Lin Haoran explained the situation again, including his now 40% control.
As expected, even the last shareholder agreed to attend.
Having contacted everyone he needed, Lin Haoran breathed a sigh of relief.
As for Halier Centurion and the four non-shareholding board members, Lin Haoran didn't bother contacting them.
Earlier, he had already confirmed through the HR department that all of them were scheduled to be at the company tomorrow — they couldn't refuse to attend.
Frankly speaking, in this situation, delay tactics wouldn't help Halier Centurion.
Nothing could change what was coming.
"Dad, I've contacted everyone. We can hold the board meeting tomorrow morning," Lin Haoran said cheerfully after hanging up.
"Good. I'll start preparing on my side too," Lin Wanan said, excited.
Taking over Qingzhou Cement!
Even as Chairman of Wanan Group, Lin Wanan had never dreamed that one day, the Lin family would control Qingzhou Cement — it was unbelievable.
Even though it would be Lin Haoran becoming Chairman instead of himself, it didn't matter.
It was still a victory for the Lin family.
Since he was supporting Haoran's rise, Lin Wanan made plans to bring along Wanan Group's CFO, legal advisors, and others tomorrow.
No matter what Halier tried, they would be ready.
In the face of 40% ownership, Halier had no chance of fighting back.
Even though Lin Haoran hadn't contacted Halier Centurion directly, the news quickly reached his ears.
Meanwhile, inside Qingzhou Cement's Chairman's Office, Halier Centurion was gathered with Ziegler and his other loyalists.
This news had hit Halier like a thunderbolt.
Wasn't Lin Haoran supposed to have only 13.7%, maybe 15% at most?
Now they were telling him he controlled 40%?
Halier Centurion was confused and furious.
He realized now that Lin Haoran had deceived him.
And he couldn't understand where Lin Haoran had gotten the funds to buy so many shares.
After all, Wanan Group wasn't particularly powerful.
He had discreetly investigated Wanan Group recently — just as Lin Haoran claimed, Wanan Group was tied up developing a real estate project in North Point.
They had no spare resources to buy a company even stronger than themselves.
All signs had suggested Lin Haoran couldn't possibly buy much more stock.
Yet here it was — Lin Haoran now controlled 40% and was preparing to seize the Chairmanship.
When Halier first heard it from a fellow British shareholder, he thought it was a joke.
But as more calls came in from other shareholders confirming it, he realized — it was real.
"Mr. Ziegler, what do we do now? If I fall, you'll go down too," Halier said grimly.
"Mr. Halier, let's not panic yet. Maybe it's a bluff? Forty percent is insane!" Ziegler protested.
"I hope it's a bluff. But the signs suggest otherwise.
I analyzed the recent stock transactions: they've been unusually active for two months now.
Even subtracting the normal volume, there are still over 25 million shares in extra trades.
It's entirely possible Lin Haoran owns 20 million shares.
Last time, when he said there were other forces buying secretly, I doubted it.
Now, I'm sure — it was all his lie. There was no other force. It was him all along," Halier said bitterly.
He had been completely outplayed by a young man.
His glorious reign at Qingzhou Cement was about to end.
Forty percent — an insurmountable majority.
"Mr. Halier, if we can't stop this, our only option is to protect ourselves. I suggest destroying all fake financial records tonight!
Otherwise, if they investigate, they'll find everything.
Honestly, our forged accounts might fool outsiders, but any competent finance person would spot the problems instantly," Ziegler said urgently.
They knew all too well the dirty tricks they had played over the years.
As one of Halier's personally groomed cronies, Ziegler had profited handsomely.
"I know. But if we destroy everything, what about the missing records? How do we explain that?" Halier asked bitterly.
"I have a plan.
If there's an 'accidental' fire in the Finance Office, no one will question missing documents.
Tonight, we set the Finance Office on fire," the CFO suggested with a sinister smile.
If the records burned, the evidence would be gone — simple as that.
As the CFO elaborated, Halier and Ziegler's eyes grew brighter and more determined.
"Let's do it. How will we start the fire?" Halier asked.
"I'll handle it.
One of the electricians is my relative.
I'll arrange for him to 'repair' an outlet in the Finance Office tonight — leave a hidden hazard.
The fire will look like an accident," Ziegler said decisively.
"Good.
Mr. Ziegler, I'm counting on you. We have no time left," Halier said solemnly.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything," Ziegler said confidently.
"Alright, let's do it," Halier nodded.
He trusted Ziegler completely.
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