Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

The top-floor offices of the Lam House in Central were brightly lit.

Lin Yi was having a late-night meeting with several top lawyers from the group's law firm. The table was covered with ancient wine recipes and traditional Chinese medicine formulas collected from all over the world. The heads of the group's pharmaceutical companies and breweries sat respectfully to the side, waiting for these cultural treasures, which embody the wisdom of their ancestors, to undergo rigorous functional classification, pharmacological analysis, and commercial evaluation. Ultimately, Lin Yi would decide which production lines to invest in and how much capital to inject into research and development.

Lin Yi's mind raced, processing multiple pieces of information simultaneously—legal, commercial, and pharmacological. He received streams of spiritual information from the puppets across Hong Kong: gang warfare over territory, coded language in smuggling transactions at the docks, the brewing storm in the labor unions, and the despair spreading through the shantytowns. Data showed that in 1950s Hong Kong, triad power expanded rapidly through extortion, smuggling, and control over gambling, prostitution, and drugs. Although they mostly used knives and clubs to avoid excessive killing and strong police crackdowns, their control over grassroots communities was extremely strong, severely disrupting the business environment. The 50 Mount Davis conflict, a large-scale clash between refugees and triads that resulted in hundreds of serious injuries, exposed its chaotic nature. The power struggle between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party in Hong Kong was an even greater threat. The 1956 "Double Ten Riots," in which left-wing labor unions burned shops and blocked roads, led to military and police intervention, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries—one of the most serious security incidents of the era. Although the Hong Kong British government enacted anti-communist laws and cracked down on triads, it was difficult to eradicate the deep-seated problems. Coupled with the influx of refugees, the population has surged to 220 million, leading to a shortage of public housing, the proliferation of slums, rising crime rates, and the opportunity for gangs to infiltrate and control the community, posing a severe challenge to the entire social order.

Lin Yi remembered his master saying: If you want to do business in a place and seek long-term development, you either need a "stable and harmonious social environment" or you must have enough power to protect your own business.

"Establish a company security department," Lin Er suggested through divine sense, a suggestion that perfectly aligned with Lin Yi's ideas. "We need professional security forces to protect not only the group headquarters, warehouses, and docks, but also to provide security for the Lin's pharmacies, liquor stores, and department stores that will soon be scattered throughout the streets and alleys."

Lin Er reported the detailed plan, along with an analysis of the current situation in Hong Kong, to Lin Yan, who was far away in Beijing.

Inside the space, Lin Yan received the request for instructions. After a slight surprise, he was pleased. The evolution speed of these puppets had exceeded expectations. They were no longer merely tools for executing orders; they had begun to possess the ability to analyze situations, foresee risks, and propose constructive solutions.

"Approved." Lin Yan's thoughts traversed space. "Lin Er will be fully responsible for this matter. Make sure to assemble a lean, reliable, and disciplined team. The necessary funds and equipment will be allocated with priority." He even conveyed a rare hint of appreciation: "Well done, you know how to plan ahead."

Upon receiving Lin Yan's instructions and rare praise, Lin Yi and Lin Er both showed a subtle fluctuation, feeling an emotion called "overwhelmed with gratitude".

Meanwhile, in the mainland, Lin San and his puppet network expanded even more deeply and covertly, infiltrating most counties and even important villages across the country. In areas where food supplies were particularly tight, a batch of grain with mysterious origins quietly appeared on the black market. This grain was priced at the same level as, or even slightly lower than, official supply and marketing cooperatives, and required no ration coupons.

This move immediately triggered a buying frenzy in some areas. Lin San strictly followed Lin Yan's orders: limited sales and a purchase limit per person per transaction, both to prevent hoarding and resale, and to avoid releasing a huge amount of grain at once that would disrupt the planned supply system and attract unnecessary attention.

However, even such cautious operations still stirred up the existing black market power structure. Over the past two weeks, numerous groups have attempted to trace the source of this cheap grain. But in the face of the Foundation Establishment puppet, all tracking and spying proved futile. Most of the lackeys were easily discovered, given a brief punishment and warning, and then released.

Some, driven by greed and overconfident in their ferocity, dared to ambush a "cargo owner" at gunpoint in a secluded area. Upon receiving the request, Lin Yan's reply was to let them die as they wished. Thus, after a brief and predictable conflict, those armed thugs vanished from the face of the earth, their deaths carried out on the spot. This act was intended to establish authority and serve as a warning to others.

Overall, the initial arrangements between Hong Kong and the mainland have gone smoothly. However, Lin Yan is well aware that the real challenges are yet to come. Especially in Hong Kong, that lawless, bustling jungle where gang entanglements, complex politics, and bloodshed are almost inevitable.

Having a security company alone may be enough to deal with ordinary disturbances, but to truly establish a foothold and ensure long-term stability, one must have a deeper level of influence.

His mind raced, and he immediately relayed the order to Lin Er:

"We must expedite the company's security arrangements. In addition, there is another important matter: we must spare no resources to begin identifying, supporting, and even cultivating our own people within the Hong Kong police force and political circles. Only in this way can we ensure a solid foundation and a clear path for advancement or retreat."

"Master, don't worry, I will observe secretly and screen before making contact!"