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

Thursday, sunny.

Seven o'clock in the morning.

For most Hong Kong Island residents, it was just an ordinary morning. The aroma of milk tea and pineapple buns filled the tea restaurants, and commuters hurriedly squeezed onto the subway and buses. However, when they habitually turned on the TV and tuned to ATV to watch the morning news, everyone stopped what they were doing.

On the screen, there was no casual morning chat as usual, nor was there a weather forecast.

Two of ATV's star presenters, a man and a woman, sat solemnly at the anchor desk. Behind them, on the backdrop, were only four striking characters: "Overheard".

"Good morning, everyone. This is ATV's morning special report," the male host said in a somber voice. "We have always believed that Hong Kong Island is a society governed by the rule of law, and that citizens' privacy is sacredly protected by law. However, the shocking scandal we are about to reveal may overturn your perception."

"In the past six months, a kind and charitable citizen and a legitimate businessman who has made great contributions to the economy of Hong Kong Island have been illegally infiltrated, monitored, and even subjected to the most egregious form of wiretapping by high-ranking police officers without any court authorization or evidence of any crime."

The female host picked up the conversation, her tone carrying just the right amount of anger and sympathy: "The victim is Mr. Lu Chen, the chairman of the Golden Harvest Group. And the one who issued this illegal order was none other than the Assistant Commissioner of Police—Richard."

"Words are no proof; please listen to the recording."

The scene then shifts, and the screen displays an audio waveform.

Accompanied by a crackling sound of electricity, that familiar voice, with its arrogant Oxford accent, rang out clearly:

"...Breaking the law? Ha! Here, in this colony, who is the law? We are the Japanese Empire! We are the law!...If I want, I can turn white into black...I will make his family ruined..."

boom--!

This recording was like a nuclear bomb, instantly detonating the entire Hong Kong Island.

In the tea restaurant, the diners were so surprised that they dropped their chopsticks.

On the bus, the passengers were discussing the matter with righteous indignation.

In the office building, white-collar workers gathered in front of the television, feeling a chill run down their spines.

Lu Chen's media strategy was very clever. He portrayed himself as a "victim who was powerless to resist the abuse of public power" and an ordinary person who had no way to appeal to the powerful and had no choice but to turn to the media for help.

The host's words struck a nerve: "If even a business elite like Mr. Lu Chen is nothing more than an ant to be crushed at will by the foreign executives, then what sense of security do we ordinary citizens have left? Could you, the next person to be bugged and have your family destroyed, be the one watching this screen?"

Fear is often more inciting than anger.

Within just half an hour, the police station's complaint hotline was inundated with calls. Led by Cheng Yi-yan, protesters began gathering in Central, unfurling banners, and numerous employees, either spontaneously or by invitation, joined in: "Protest against police rule in Hong Kong!", "Severely punish Richard!", "Give us back our right to privacy!"

……

Richard's mansion on Victoria Peak.

It was eight o'clock in the morning.

Richard, dressed in a silk bathrobe, was enjoying a sumptuous English breakfast on the terrace. He was in a very good mood lately; the victory on the Falklands made him feel that the Westerners' position in Hong Kong was rock solid.

"Damn it, these people are getting lazier and lazier. Why hasn't the newspaper been delivered yet?"

Richard grumbled and casually turned on the portable television next to him.

The moment he turned it on, he heard his own demonic voice playing on a loop: "We are the law... to destroy his family and bring ruin upon him..."

"puff--!!"

Richard spat out the black tea he had just drunk—it was fine Darjeeling tea—and it was now sprayed all over the expensive carpet.

"What...what's going on?!"

Richard was so anxious he was jumping up and down, his face turning a deep purplish-red. He knew that recording all too well; it was what he had said when he threatened the female bully in the office!

"Hu! That bitch! She dared to betray me!!"

Richard rushed toward the phone, intending to order Cai Yuanqi to arrest the person.

Just then.

"Ding-dong—"

Doorbell rang.

Richard paused, thinking it was the newspaper deliveryman, and stormed off to open the door: "Damn it! Why are you so slow..."

The door opened.

Standing outside the door were not newspaper boys, but four men in dark blue suits with stern expressions.

The middle-aged man leading the group showed his identification and spoke in a calm tone, as if he were ordering food: "Good morning, Mr. Richard. I am the Chief Investigator of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). We have received conclusive evidence accusing you of abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and illegal wiretapping. Please come with us to assist with the investigation."

"ICAC?!" Richard's pupils contracted sharply. "Do you know who I am? I'm the Assistant Commissioner of Police! You have no right to..."

"Even if it's the Governor of Hong Kong, we'll still arrest him if he breaks the law," the ICAC director coldly interrupted him. "Mr. Richard, we've prepared the famous ICAC coffee for you, please."

Two investigators stepped forward and restrained Richard from both sides.

at the same time.

Wan Chai Police Headquarters.

Cai Yuanqi had just entered the office and hadn't even had time to deal with the mountain of complaint documents piled up on his desk when he was blocked at the door by several ICAC personnel.

"Sir Choi, please come with us regarding the Richard illegal wiretapping case, and the charges against you for forgery and overstepping your authority in commanding the CIB."

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, this usually arrogant "banana faction" leader, who was regarded as a rising star in the police force, was handcuffed and led away from the police station in a disheveled state.

With witnesses and physical evidence readily available, and the chain of evidence irrefutable, they have no way to overturn the situation.

……

Central, Golden Harvest Building.

Lu Chen stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the dense crowd of protesters below, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand.

"Boss, this fire has started." Cheng Yiyan stood behind him, his tone filled with emotion. "The share price of Jardine Matheson has already fallen by 5%, and the entire British-owned sector is in turmoil."

"That's not enough," Lu Chen turned around, his eyes chillingly calm. "I'm going to make the Jardine Matheson Group soar to new heights today!"

This was also part of Lu Chen's plan. He didn't choose to declare war on the entire British conglomerate, as that would make too many enemies. He precisely targeted only the Jardine Matheson Group behind Richard, because Jardine Matheson was Richard's main supporter.

"Also, arrange for representatives from other conglomerates to play golf," Lu Chen ordered. "This sends a clear signal to the outside world: we are only targeting Richard and the Jardine Matheson Group behind him. As for conglomerates like HSBC and Swire, we maintain a friendly and cooperative attitude."

This tactic of "divide and conquer" may be old-fashioned, but it still works.

There are no permanent friends in business.

After receiving news from the shipping magnate, HSBC's tycoon, Shen Zhou, not only failed to support Jardine Matheson, but also secretly took advantage of their misfortune. After all, HSBC had sided with the shipping magnate during the Kowloon Wharf battle, and they had long disliked the arrogant Jardine Matheson.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen's "Red Alliance" also began to exert its influence. In addition to the previous legislative and ICAC interventions, Bao, the shipping magnate, united dozens of Chinese business leaders to jointly submit a letter of protest to the Governor's House. Huo Lao, on the other hand, used his connections on the mainland, and the Hong Kong branches of two newspapers published a strongly worded editorial criticizing the Hong Kong British government for "chaotic management and human rights violations."

The top tycoons Lu Chen had befriended on the "Fortune Maru"—such as Sir Guo and Zheng Daheng—also put pressure on the Governor of Hong Kong through their respective channels. This was partly to support Lu Chen, and partly because no one wanted to wake up one day to find themselves bugged.

……

three days later.

The storm not only failed to subside, but intensified, even alarming London.

10 Downing Street.

The Iron Lady looked at the report on her desk, her brow furrowed.

Having just won the Falklands War, Hong Kong was preparing to leverage its victory to pressure the major Eastern power in the upcoming Sino-British negotiations. But at this crucial juncture, such a massive scandal has erupted in Hong Kong!

Police leaders openly proclaimed "We are the law," which is tantamount to handing bullets to the other side! If this matter continues to escalate, it will not only affect the bargaining chips, but also further damage Japan's already meager international credibility.

"Tell Youde (the Governor of Hong Kong)," the Iron Lady said coldly, "that he must quell this immediately. I don't want to hear a single word about wiretapping at the negotiating table!"

Government House, the back garden.

A private afternoon tea is underway.

Seated at one side of the round table were the newly appointed Governor Youde, who looked exhausted, and Newman, the taipan of Jardine Matheson.

Sitting opposite him was Lu Chen, who had a calm expression, and Bao Chuanwang, who acted as the middleman.

"Mr. Lu," Governor Youde put down his teacup and rubbed his temples, "this matter has blown up too much. London is very dissatisfied. The Prime Minister herself called to demand that the situation be calmed down as soon as possible."

"I also want to calm things down," Lu Chen said casually, cutting a piece of cake. "But Your Excellency, it was the corrupt police who struck first. My office was bugged, my secretary was threatened, and my reputation was damaged... I was just defending myself."

"We are willing to apologize and offer compensation," Newt G. said with a dark face. Richard had completely disgraced Jardine Matheson this time. "Mr. Lu, name your price."

"Money? I don't need money."

Lu Chen wiped his mouth, took a document out of his briefcase, and pushed it in front of Niu Bijian.

"I heard that Jardine Matheson owns a semiconductor packaging and testing plant in Kwun Tong, which is being sold due to poor management?"

Newbijian was taken aback. That factory was indeed a non-core asset of Jardine Matheson, with outdated technology, losing money every year, and was being prepared for sale and dismantling.

"I'll buy it for fifty million Hong Kong dollars," Lu Chen said.

"Fifty million? That piece of land is worth more than that!" Niu Bijian was shocked by Lu Chen's ruthlessness.

"Then let Richard stay in prison for another twenty years, and let ATV continue to play that recording until all foreign investors think that Hong Kong Island is a place without privacy," Lu Chen said coldly.

Niu Bijian stared intently at Lu Chen, finally deflated like a punctured balloon.

"……make a deal."

With this factory, and the technology Lu Chen reverse-engineered, Jiahe's chip manufacturing could immediately have a ready-made production line, saving at least two years of factory construction time.

"Furthermore," Lu Chen looked at the Governor of Hong Kong, "I hope that the Hong Kong British government will not, in the future, conduct any form of targeted investigation or harassment against me and my company, unless you have solid evidence through legitimate means."

"I guarantee it in the name of the Governor of Hong Kong," Youde agreed without hesitation.

All he wants now is to get rid of this plague and clean up this mess.

Lu Chen certainly didn't believe the foreigner's promise, but given that Youde had made the promise in the name of the Governor of Hong Kong, and considering the magnitude of the incident, the Hong Kong British government wouldn't dare to act recklessly again, at least in the short term. As for what would happen later? It was still uncertain who would control the official power.

……

A week later.

The storm has finally subsided.

Richard and Cai Yuanqi were formally indicted and sentenced to eight and five years in prison, respectively, ruining their reputations and ending up in jail.

Meanwhile, a much larger reshuffle is underway within the police force.

With Richard's downfall, the position of assistant commissioner became vacant.

Conventionally, this position is usually reserved for foreign officers. However, this scandal severely damaged the prestige of foreign officers within the police force. Coupled with pressure from figures like the shipping magnate and Mr. Fok, the Governor's Office had no choice but to compromise and agree to promote a Chinese police officer to quell public anger.

A senior superintendent named Li Shutang was promoted to assistant commissioner of police.

Li Shutang, a veteran in the Chinese police force, is an upright man. Although he was also educated in the British system, he is deeply patriotic and has always been suppressed by foreigners. He has always had a good relationship with Bao Chuanwang and others, and is also an ally carefully selected by Lu Chen. He is also a key piece in breaking the "foreigners' one-man rule" in the police force.

At the conferment ceremony.

When Li Shutang received the scepter symbolizing power and became the first Chinese Assistant Commissioner of Police with real power in the history of the Hong Kong Island Police Force, all the Chinese police officers were thrilled.

This means that Lu Chen has shattered the "glass ceiling" that has been built up by foreigners in the police force's upper echelons.

From then on, the police force was no longer a place where foreigners held absolute power.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Jiahe Building.

As Lu Chen watched the awarding ceremony on television, he raised his glass and toasted Victoria Harbour outside the window.

"I concede this round."