In Hong Kong, we build a global business empire

Chapter 810 Warren Buffett, the Stock Market Guru, Eager to Meet Lin Haoran

With the plan set, the action naturally unfolded swiftly.

John Reid demonstrated remarkable efficiency and control as a top executive at Citibank.

Upon returning to Foresight Capital headquarters, he immediately summoned a few of his closest confidants and began arranging this "performance."

The fake transaction records were meticulously crafted, complete with formatting, seals, and signatures, making them virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

However, in certain subtle ways, as John Reed points out, there are flaws that only internal auditors can detect, pointing to deactivated accounts or outdated processes.

Meanwhile, Foresight Capital's trading department did execute a few small short-selling trades in US stocks.

The amount wasn't large, but it was enough to leave a trace within the system and "just so happens" to be caught by Miller's informants.

Inside the company, the atmosphere was also subtly changing.

John Reed, intentionally or unintentionally, expressed concerns about excessive optimism in the market at several non-core management meetings, and instructed the research department to expedite risk assessment reports for certain specific sectors.

Several folders labeled "Top Secret - Short Selling Strategy Analysis" also began circulating among certain departments under strict control.

Its content is half true and half false. Its core logic points to the "potential risks of Reaganomics" previously proposed by Lin Haoran, but the specific targets and timing are completely smoke and mirrors.

On the other hand, Lin Haoran had an in-depth conversation with Li Guowei.

He did not reveal all the details of the plan to Ligoway, just in case, but clearly instructed him to continue to maintain contact with Richard Miller and to pass on "intelligence" as required.

Although Li Guowei was a little uneasy, he agreed without hesitation because of his absolute trust in Lin Haoran.

He contacted Miller privately, telling him that after arduous investigation and observation, he had finally obtained crucial information.

The information is quite simple: John Reed has unwavering faith in Lin Haoran's judgment and has ordered Foresight Capital to launch a large-scale short-selling plan, initially investing $100 million, with further investments to be made depending on the situation.

Furthermore, Mr. John Reed seems very eager to complete most of his position building before the market shows clear signs of a downtrend.

To make the information more credible, Li Guowei, at Lin Haoran's behest, also revealed some details about Foresight Capital's internal "intensive investment analysis" and "frequent small-scale trial operations."

This information, corroborated by fragmented intelligence Miller obtained from other sources, greatly enhanced its credibility.

Richard Miller was thrilled after receiving the "key intelligence" from Ligoway.

He repeatedly checked information from other sources and confirmed that Foresight Capital had indeed had some unusual fund movements and trading activities recently, which were consistent with the description of the "short-selling plan" he had obtained.

"John, John, you've finally been bewitched by that Hong Kong kid and taken this foolish step! Using hundreds of millions of dollars, or even more, to gamble on a nonexistent market downturn? It's like shooting yourself in the foot!"

In a luxurious office at Citibank headquarters, Richard Miller looked at the data he had collected and sneered inwardly.

At that moment, he felt it was absolutely worth spending five million dollars to buy Li Guowei.

If this investment helps him overthrow John Reed and reach the pinnacle of Citigroup's power, the return will be more than tenfold or a hundredfold.

Therefore, Miller was even more convinced of the possibility that John Reed and Lin Haoran had reached some kind of secret cooperation.

He was convinced that he had a fatal weakness in John Reed, and that he was making risky investments that could seriously harm Citigroup's interests.

As John Reed said, his target was never Lin Haoran, but John Reed!

Richard Miller, and the forces behind him, all hope that Miller will become the next leader of Citibank.

After all, at Citibank, as long as you do a good job, there is no time limit for serving as chairman.

Just like Walter Riston, the current chairman of Citigroup, who has been at the helm of Citigroup since 1967, almost 15 years ago.

He had been considering stepping down for the past two years, and it was he who brought it up himself.

This is why Richard Miller and the financial group behind him are in such a hurry.

If they really do nothing, John Reid will inevitably become the next chairman of Citigroup.

He was not giving up. Why was John Reed able to rise so high based on his performance at Foresight Capital?
Why is Lin Haoran from Hong Kong able to gain such trust?

Richard Miller clenched his fists, a sinister glint in his eyes.

Now that he finally has a chance to bring John Ridley down, Miller will not let it slip away easily.

Once Richard Miller becomes the new chairman, Citibank will be under his control for a long time to come, and the forces behind him will gain enormous benefits and influence.

Therefore, defeating John Reed, his most formidable competitor, was of paramount importance to him and could not be afforded.

Miller could almost picture John Reed looking humiliated before the board, Foresight Capital suffering huge losses, and his position as successor teetering on the brink of collapse.

However, the information currently available is insufficient to form an overwhelming chain of evidence.

While the transaction records were suspicious, the amounts were too small.

The internal report is only analytical in nature and lacks solid evidence of actual operation.

Miller naturally understood that to bring down a heavyweight like John Reed in one fell swoop, there had to be irrefutable evidence that his decisions had brought substantial risks or losses to the company.

Therefore, his most important task next is to gather more evidence and then launch an attack at the board meeting to completely end John Reed's position as successor.

So, the next step is to start with Foresight Capital.

John Reed did have a lot of control over Forward Capital, but Richard Miller believed that in this world, money makes the world go round!

Putting everything else aside, in his view, even Li Guowei, who was by Lin Haoran's side, had been successfully "bought off" by him. Wouldn't it be even easier to take down some of the senior executives of Qianzhan Capital?
……

After Lin Haoran finished discussing with John Reed how to trick Miller and gave instructions to Li Guowei, he had nothing else to do.

In the following days, Lin Haoran rarely even went to the headquarters of Citibank and Huanyu Investment Company.

He even left New York State and took Guo Xiaohan and her bodyguards to Boston, the capital of Massachusetts in northeastern New York State, for a few days.

Before we knew it, it was November 25th.

This day marked half a month since he left Hong Kong.

At this moment, Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan are in Boston's Chinatown.

Boston is perhaps best known for its world-famous Harvard University and MIT, as well as Boston lobsters.

In reality, Boston also has a significant Chinese population, ranking among the top five in the United States in terms of permanent Chinese residents, with a history dating back over a century.

The entrance to Chinatown features a Chinese-style archway inscribed with the words "The world belongs to all" and "Propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame."

The neighborhood is filled with Chinese restaurants, shops, and traditional buildings, creating a rich atmosphere of Chinese culture.

Lin Haoran and Guo Xiaohan strolled through the familiar street scenes, as if they had temporarily escaped the financial turmoil of Wall Street in New York.

“I never expected to experience such authentic Chinese culture in Boston,” Guo Xiaohan said softly, linking arms with Lin Haoran.

They had all disguised themselves, and Lin Haoran only arrived here after confirming that no one would recognize them.

Today, Lin Haoran is quite well-known among Chinese Americans.

For safety's sake, it's best not to be recognized.

At this moment, he and Guo Xiaohan seemed like an ordinary college student couple.

Li Weidong, Li Weiguo, and other bodyguards, dressed in ordinary clothes, were scattered around them, maintaining a respectful distance and vigilantly observing their surroundings.

Lin Haoran smiled slightly: "Wherever there are Chinese people, there is a Chinatown; it's our root."

The two played until after 8 p.m. before returning to the hotel.

They stayed at the Fairmont Copley Square Hotel, one of Boston's most iconic hotels.

While Guo Xiaohan was taking a shower, Lin Haoran picked up the phone in the suite and called Li Guowei, who was far away in New York.

He needed to know the latest developments over there, such as whether Miller had started making moves.

If he's already prepared to take action, such as preparing to hold a board meeting, he will naturally go back to New York.

Li Guowei's familiar voice came quickly from the other end of the phone, with a tone that was both nervous and excited: "Boss, Miller has been making a lot of moves lately, it looks like they're preparing for something big."

Upon hearing this, Lin Haoran smiled and said, "Tell me in detail what he did?"

Li Guowei cleared his throat and began to report in detail: "Miller has been frequently contacting some mid-level managers at Foresight Capital recently, seemingly trying to win them over and obtain more inside information about the short-selling plan."

In addition, he also tried to get more information from me. I had discussed it privately with John Reed, so I gave him some seemingly true but actually false information that was enough to further mislead him. He was very excited after hearing it.

Moreover, he privately contacted some board members and spread unfavorable remarks about John Reed, saying that he was blindly following a young man and making high-risk investments, which could cause huge losses to Citigroup.

It seems that it won't be long before he can't resist calling a board meeting and taking some unfavorable action against Mr. John Reed.

Lin Haoran nodded slightly; all of this was within his expectations.

Miller would naturally stop at nothing to bring down John Reed.

It looks like he won't be in Boston for more than a few days before heading back to New York.

He also plans to visit Harvard University and MIT in a few days!

Now it seems that if I want to go, it's best to do so in the next couple of days, so that my plans don't change and I don't miss this rare opportunity, and also so that I don't get bogged down in affairs in New York afterwards. Lin Haoran secretly calculated in his heart, but said to Li Guowei, "Continue to keep a close eye on Miller's every move, and report to me immediately if there are any new developments."

At the same time, be careful to protect yourself and don't let Miller realize that you and we are deliberately misleading him.

Li Guowei quickly replied on the other end of the phone, "Don't worry, boss, I'll be careful. I'll continue to act according to plan and provide Miller with some 'clues' that can further stimulate his actions."

Lin Haoran nodded in satisfaction: "Very good."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Haoran called Su Zhixue again.

I originally just wanted to ask if there was anything special, but I didn't expect there really was.

"Boss, Mr. Buffett called me and wants to visit you. I told him you haven't been in New York these past few days, and he hopes you can contact him when you have time. He has something to discuss with you!" Su Zhixue reported shortly after the call connected.

“Buffett? Okay, I got it!” Lin Haoran said and then hung up the phone again.

What do you want with this stock market guru?

Lin Haoran's heart stirred slightly. Warren Buffett, the legendary figure in the investment world known as the "Oracle of Omaha," had taken the initiative to contact him, which must not be a trivial matter.

Speaking of which, he now has another special identity.

That is, Lin Haoran had already been invited by Buffett to join Berkshire Hathaway as an executive director of the company, which is the investment company run by Buffett. At the same time, Lin Haoran is also the second largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway.

In 1979, he traveled to London, England, and unexpectedly acquired 5.6 shares of Berkshire Hathaway from a European squid consortium.

At that time, Berkshire Hathaway had a small number of shares, with a total of only 50 shares.

Therefore, Lin Haoran's 5.6 shares already represent more than 10% of the total shares.

However, despite being the second-largest shareholder and executive director of Berkshire Hathaway, he rarely contacts this renowned stock market guru.

After a moment's thought, he decided to contact Buffett as soon as possible to see what the investment master was up to.

He naturally had Buffett's contact number.

So, Lin Haoran quickly dialed another number.

The phone was answered after only two rings, and Buffett's signature gentle voice came through the receiver: "Hello, this is Warren Buffett."

“Mr. Buffett, I’m Lin Haoran,” Lin Haoran said in fluent English, his tone relaxed and familiar. “I heard you were looking for me?”

“Lin!” Buffett’s voice immediately became enthusiastic. “Great! I’ve finally gotten in touch with you. I called your office in New York a few times this morning, and your staff said they would let you know about my situation.”

Lin Haoran smiled and said, "What's wrong? Is there something urgent?"

Buffett's voice became slightly more serious: "There are indeed some things I'd like to discuss with you in person regarding the current market situation. Don't forget that you are also the second-largest shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway."

When would you like us to meet? I'm in Omaha right now, but I can fly over anytime.

Lin Haoran was somewhat surprised by Buffett's eagerness. He glanced towards the bathroom, where he could still hear the sound of Guo Xiaohan taking a shower.

He had originally planned to accompany her to visit Harvard University tomorrow.

“I’m currently in Boston,” Lin Haoran said cautiously. “If things aren’t too urgent, perhaps we could meet in New York in a few days? I’ll probably be staying there for a while.”

To his surprise, Buffett responded almost without hesitation: "Boston? No problem! I can fly there tomorrow morning."

To be honest, Lin, I think it's best if we meet as soon as possible. The capital markets have been experiencing some unusual fluctuations lately, and I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Lin Haoran raised an eyebrow. The fact that Buffett was so eager to get started meant that things were clearly not simple.

Several possibilities flashed through his mind: Was it related to Reaganomics?
Or did Buffett sense some bigger market trend?

Lin Haoran stopped refusing: "Since you put it that way, then I'll be waiting for you in Boston. I'm staying at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. What time tomorrow would be convenient for you?"

"Let me check the flights... The first flight departs from Omaha tomorrow morning and will arrive in Boston around 10:00 AM. How about we meet at the hotel at 10:30 AM?"

"If you don't mind, I can invite you to brunch." Buffett replied quickly.

Lin Haoran laughed and said, "Of course not. Let's meet at the hotel restaurant at 10:30 tomorrow. Do you need me to arrange for someone to pick you up from the airport?"

Buffett laughed heartily and replied, "No need to trouble yourself, I'll arrange it myself. I look forward to meeting you tomorrow, Lin."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Haoran thoughtfully put down the receiver.

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped just then, and a moment later, Guo Xiaohan came out wrapped in a bathrobe, drying her wet hair with a towel.

"Whose call was it?" she asked casually.

“Buffett,” Lin Haoran replied, “he’s flying to Boston tomorrow to see me.”

Guo Xiaohan stopped drying her hair in surprise: "Buffett? That 'stock market guru' Buffett?"

As early as the late 1960s, Buffett invested in many well-known companies, such as The Washington Post, Coca-Cola, and ABC.

These investments not only brought Buffett substantial returns but also further enhanced his market influence.

With his investment performance improving significantly, Buffett began to receive widespread media attention.

His investment philosophy and strategies have become more widely known and recognized, gradually making him a legendary figure in the investment world.

Since the 70s, Buffett has continued to diversify his investments through Berkshire Hathaway, achieving long-term, stable returns.

His investment portfolio covers multiple sectors including insurance, finance, consumer goods, and energy, demonstrating exceptional investment acumen and risk management capabilities.

As Berkshire Hathaway continues to grow and its performance remains outstanding, Buffett has gradually become an icon in the global investment community.

His investment philosophy, strategies, and life philosophy have been widely disseminated and referenced, and have had a profound impact on investors worldwide.

Even in Hong Kong, Buffett enjoys a very high reputation and has become an idol for many people in the Hong Kong financial industry.

Therefore, Guo Xiaohan, the eldest daughter of the richest family in Southeast Asia, naturally knew about Buffett.

She put down the towel, her eyes full of curiosity: "Why is he in such a hurry to see you?"

Lin Haoran walked to the sofa and sat down, gesturing for Guo Xiaohan to sit next to him: "As you know, I am one of the executive directors of Berkshire Hathaway."

Buffett said he wanted to discuss the current market situation and also mentioned some 'unusual volatility.'

He paused, then continued, "I suspect this might be related to some of my recent moves in New York. Given Buffett's network on Wall Street, he likely already has some information."

Don't forget, as Berkshire Hathaway's second-largest shareholder, my investment moves naturally attract his attention.

Guo Xiaohan nodded thoughtfully: "You mean, what you said at the Citigroup board meeting might have already reached Buffett's ears?"

“It’s not impossible.” Lin Haoran nodded slightly. “Although those words should have been a company secret, there were more than a dozen directors present at the time, so the news was bound to leak out.”

Given Buffett's influence in the financial world, it's not surprising that he knows this.

Although Guo Xiaohan was not involved in what happened at the Citibank board meeting, Lin Haoran had briefly told her about it that evening.

Therefore, Guo Xiaohan was aware of Lin Haoran's outrageous remarks at the board meeting.

Lin Haoran walked to the window, gazing at the dazzling Boston night view, and continued, "Xiaohan, it seems our planned itinerary for tomorrow will have to be rescheduled."

"It's alright, business is important. Do you need me to leave then?" Guo Xiaohan said considerately.

"No need. I'll be having brunch with Mr. Buffett tomorrow morning, so you can come with me," Lin Haoran said with a shake of his head and a smile.

He just didn't want Guo Xiaohan to interfere with his career, not that he didn't want her to know anything.

Even if Guo Xiaohan knew everything about Berkshire Hathaway, it wouldn't matter.

After all, he was only the second largest shareholder, just a shareholder.

Unsurprisingly, Buffett's purpose in contacting him was definitely related to follow-up investments in Berkshire Hathaway.

This stock market guru is known for his prudent investment approach. He must have noticed Lin Haoran's recent unusual behavior on Wall Street and wanted to gain a deeper understanding of this important partner's investment philosophy.

Or perhaps he himself sensed something was wrong, but wasn't sure and wanted to confirm something with Lin Haoran.

However, while Buffett is a renowned stock market guru in the eyes of many, he is simply a respected senior investor.

Ultimately, today's Berkshire Hathaway is not the investment giant that will later break the trillion-dollar mark.

Lin Haoran clearly remembers that Berkshire Hathaway's market value did not break the one trillion dollar mark until 2024.

Now, even after the company's market capitalization has increased over the past two years, it is only around $10 billion.

Although it already has a very high influence in the investment world, for Lin Haoran, a super-rich man with assets of at least tens of billions, the importance of Berkshire Hathaway is far less than the outside world imagines.

He maintained his position as the second-largest shareholder primarily because he valued the network he had built with Buffett and the company's enormous growth potential over the next few decades.

Thinking of this, Lin Haoran said to Guo Xiaohan, "When we meet tomorrow, just listen quietly. Mr. Buffett is a very easygoing person, so don't be too reserved."

Guo Xiaohan nodded obediently: "I understand, I will be careful."

(End of this chapter)