The situation in Russia is deteriorating, and a large amount of capital is fleeing, with America inevitably being the destination. The crisis of Long-Term Capital Management, from its appearance to its end, might only last one or two months.
If, within these one or two months, things don't worsen to the point of being beyond their control, or if it isn't discovered by the public, Long-Term Capital Management might still find enough funds. The Wall Street financial market would naturally be fine, and Soros would not lack ammunition to attack Hong Kong. The problem is, now that He Zhengcheng has exposed it, does Long-Term Capital Management still want to keep it a secret?
"Good news! It's said that the Hong Kong Land and Development Department has already sent a letter to Long-Term Capital Management, inquiring about its current operating status!" Ji Jiasheng jumped onto the desk in their Hong Kong Island office. They had a company, but unfortunately, no pretty front desk.
"Haha, it's finally here..." He Zhengcheng said.
When strength is insufficient, one must leverage external forces. They lacked both prestige and capital, but because of their previous relationship with Peregrine, they could still get in touch with some high-level officials in the Hong Kong Government.
Among the list of initial fundraisers for Long-Term Capital Management, the Hong Kong Land and Development Department, the Singapore Government Investment Corporation, Taiwan banks, Bangkok Bank, and the Kuwaiti National Pension Fund all began to contribute money. Financial institutions from Japan and Europe followed closely.
Even the Bank of Italy invested 10 million US dollars in Long-Term Capital Management. Socialites also contributed generously: Hollywood magnates, the CEO of Nike, and partners from McKinsey all invested in this superstar company.
Now is the time to put pressure on Long-Term Capital Management... "What's Long-Term Capital Management's reaction?" Chao Yang asked.
"Of course, they're denying everything with full force, and counterattacking sternly, saying either shut up and leave the money, or take the money and leave, they don't care..." Ji Jiasheng said.
"Isn't that just a classic case of 'no silver here, three hundred taels'?" He Zhengcheng was learning. When running a business, being so arrogant to customers, even if you're a big store bullying customers, you don't need to be so obvious.
"Who said it wasn't? So the Hong Kong Land Department immediately took their money and left!" Ji Jiasheng said.
"No way, they just trust our judgment that much?" He Zhengcheng asked.
"There's news from Daxia Country, it's said that Russia's possibility of default is very high; they really have no money, their pockets are empty..." Ji Jiasheng said with a 'you know what I mean' look, which was particularly lewd.
"How did this news get to us?" He Zhengcheng found it strange that such high-level news would reach them... "Don't underestimate yourselves, we're not nobodies!" Ji Jiasheng said.
It was already August 10th. Their research reports, priced at 1 million Hong Kong dollars each, had sold less than 10 copies and three or four had been given away. Only the battle Manifesto for the public remained to be published. Lv Lang had gone to Russia; some things were best confirmed by their own people.
The six partners, though they had agreed the company would not engage in financial derivatives trading, had no restrictions on their private investments. So, everyone pooled a bit more money, gave it to Chao Yang to operate, ready to take a gamble and turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.
Last Friday's close saw the Hang Seng Index fall below 7000 points. Today, Monday, bulls and bears were battling around the 7000-point mark. Chao Yang and He Zhengcheng also had to keep an eye on the market, lest the decisive battle begin early and they be caught unaware.
"Did they tell you the time of the decisive battle?" He Zhengcheng asked.
"Are you dreaming? Tell us such a secret? If he dared to say it, I wouldn't dare to listen!" Ji Jiasheng roared, his temper growing.
"What you said makes so much sense, I'm speechless." He Zhengcheng turned away, ignoring him.
"There's also good news: someone has promised that no matter the outcome of this financial crisis, they will invest ten million US dollars in us." Ji Jiasheng said.
"Who is it? It wouldn't be Liang Botao, would it?" Chao Yang asked.
"No, it's Li Ban Cheng, the Li family." Ji Jiasheng said.
"Wow, this person really is..." He Zhengcheng, he didn't like Li Ban Cheng. Neither He Zhengcheng nor Duan Chao liked him. But this boldness, he truly was a superman... The more developed society becomes, the more tolerant it is, but the more it dislikes businessmen. That's why America's entrepreneurial heroes all package themselves as entrepreneurs.
"I didn't start a business to make money, but to save the world. If I don't make movies, what will the people of Daxia Country watch?" Someone said this under the spotlight.
Oh, sorry, I got sidetracked again. Anyway, American entrepreneurs are just different. Without these entrepreneurs, the Earth would have been destroyed by the Autobots from Cybertron several times over. And a businessman like Li Ban Cheng, in terms of business achievements and vision, he's truly a cheat code.
He Zhengcheng still lacked the confidence to surpass Li Ban Cheng. Surpassing the Li Ban Cheng family's wealth is nothing, but when it comes to the stability of wealth inheritance, haha, every single rich person in Daxia Country, all of you here are trash.
The Li family owns numerous ports globally and numerous public utility companies in Britain. These are very stable industries that can bring him continuously stable cash flow, transcending industry cycles.
The rise and fall of technology and internet companies are too fast; for example, the now famous Yahoo company had disappeared before his rebirth... "Li Ban Cheng's vision and boldness are indeed beyond words! We've just started to show our heads, and he's already trying to win us over with investment." Chao Yang said.
Li Ban Cheng kept pace with the times. Although his core industries were traditional, he was not behind in investing in high-tech industries. Many well-known companies in Europe, America, and Israel had his backing. The most famous was Facebook, the world's largest social network, which Li Ban Cheng later invested in... If He Zhengcheng wanted to be a pure businessman, then Li Ban Cheng would undoubtedly be his idol. Unfortunately, he was a successor to the socialist cause. Perhaps his level of thought had already surpassed Li Ban Cheng's.
Of course, in terms of contributions, he was far inferior to the other party. Li Ban Cheng invested in Shantou University and established a charitable foundation, while Duan Chao was still just a homebody living off his parents, completely worthless to society. He Zhengcheng, needless to say, shorted Hong Kong during the financial crisis; his character and morals, if not despicable, were certainly not those of a good person.
"Give me another chance, I want to be a good person!" He Zhengcheng thought a great deal after hearing about Li Ban Cheng.
"What did you say? You don't welcome Li Ban Cheng's funds?" Ji Jiasheng asked.
"Nothing, just suddenly thought of a movie." He Zhengcheng said.
"Is this Li Ban Cheng's, or Cheung Kong, or Hutchison Whampoa?" He Zhengcheng asked.
"His personal." Ji Jiasheng said.
Almost every listed company boss is dishonest, possessing a lot of wealth outside of the listed company. Not only that, but some are constantly thinking of emptying out the listed company, and Li Ban Cheng is a master at this. Emptying out, never mind, I won't say... "Oh! We haven't even discussed the investment direction, have we?" He Zhengcheng asked.
"Haha, they didn't ask us either." Ji Jiasheng said.
"So it's just an investment intention!" Chao Yang said.
"A person like him, once he's spoken, he certainly won't go back on his word! What's ten million US dollars? Even if it's lost, it's just a drop in the ocean for him." Ji Jiasheng said.
Indeed, top billionaires don't need to bother with nascent entrepreneurs.
"It all depends on whether we can make a splash this time!" Chao Yang said.
Man proposes, God disposes. They had essentially done everything they could. Whether Hong Kong could safely navigate this crisis ultimately depended on the determination of the Hong Kong Government and Daxia Country. Knowing history in advance, he was very confident.
"We will definitely succeed; the national fortune is with me, not with the enemy!" He Zhengcheng said firmly.