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

January 29th, Seoul.

The runway at Gimpo Airport was shrouded in the light mist of early spring. Guided by the control tower, a silver Gulfstream private jet slowly taxied into its designated position. There were no commercial markings on the fuselage, only the Luk family crest engraved on the tail.

A moment later, the gangway quickly approached, the cabin door opened, and Lu Chen slowly walked down the gangway.

Seoul in January was bitterly cold, and the wind blowing from the direction of the Han River felt like knives cutting into your face. Today he was wearing a long, dark coat with the collar turned up, and a few strands of his hair were ruffled by the wind.

Behind them followed Ba Wanghua and Tian Yangsheng. Ba Wanghua was dressed in a smart black business suit and carried a specially made confidential briefcase. Tian Yangsheng's eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, secretly scanning every blind spot and vantage point on the tarmac.

At this moment, a row of people had already stood outside the tarmac, all dressed in black suits. The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties with his hair neatly combed.

Upon seeing Lu Chen disembark, the man quickly approached, respectfully shaking Lu Chen's hands with both of them, and said in Cantonese with a Korean accent, "Mr. Lu, welcome to the Republic of South Korea. His Excellency the President specifically instructed me to convey his sincerest greetings to you on his behalf."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Lu Chen nodded.

"No, no, please go ahead."

The motorcade that came to pick him up consisted entirely of black Hyundai sedans, with military and police escorts leading the way, giving him quite a grand entrance.

The convoy then drove out of the airport and headed towards the city center along the highway by the Han River. The streets of Seoul in January were not crowded with pedestrians; the roadside trees were bare, and the outline of Namsan Tower was faintly visible in the hazy sky.

Lu Chen leaned back in the leather seat, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

This was his first time in South Korea.

Previously, Golden Harvest's industries and operations in South Korea were handled by Lin Chien-te or Cheng Yi-yen, but this time, he decided to come personally.

Because South Korea has reached a critical juncture – Jeon Young-sung is about to step down and Roh Tae-woo is about to take over.

This is not only a window of opportunity for the transfer of power, but also a crucial juncture in the changing status of South Korean conglomerates. He must personally oversee the situation to ensure the safety of Golden Harvest's existing investments in South Korea, and seize this opportunity to further expand its interests.

As the motorcade passed Gwanghwamun Gate, the outline of the Blue House gradually came into view. The blue roof gleamed coldly in the winter sun, like a beast crouching on a hillside, carrying an ominous aura.

In a broader context, Jeon Jung-hwan is a figure of considerable stature in the history of South Korea—especially compared to a certain abstract president of the 20th century. Jeon Jung-hwan not only seized power in 1980 during the assassination of Park Ka-ka and the ensuing political turmoil, but also became the fifth president of South Korea.

What is even more commendable is that, faced with the massive political crisis that swept the country last year, he decisively chose to back down. To the astonishment of his staff, he announced his acceptance of the demands for democratization and successfully put his trusted confidant, Lu Taiyu, on the throne as the next president.

It must be said that this decision was very successful, allowing him to remain in his office at the Blue House even as he prepares to leave office, instead of going into exile overseas.

……

The motorcade came to a stop in front of the Blue House main gate, and to everyone's surprise, Chun Doo-hwan and President-elect Roh Tae-woo were already standing in front of the gate to welcome them.

The young man was dressed in a dark gray suit. Although he wasn't particularly tall, he stood ramrod straight, and his eyes gleamed with a sharp, restrained light. He was fifty-seven years old, but he looked older than his actual age, with deep nasolabial folds and graying temples.

Standing beside him was Lu Taiyu, who was more robust and wore a calm and proper smile, exuding an air that was somewhere between a soldier and a politician.

"Mr. Lu!" Quan Xiaojiang stepped forward, shook Lu Chen's hand, and said in broken English, "Welcome to the Blue House. I've been wanting to meet you in person for a long time, and today my wish has finally come true."

"Mr. President, you're too kind." Lu Chen shook hands. "I should be the one apologizing—Jiahe's business in South Korea has been so much trouble for you all these years, and it's only today that I'm finally here to thank you in person."

"Hahaha, Mr. Lu, you're too kind." Quan Xiaojiang laughed heartily, then stepped aside and gestured, "Come on, let's talk inside. Tea is ready."

Subsequently, under the personal guidance of these two military and political giants who wield supreme power in South Korea, the group entered the Blue House.

The president's office is not large, but it is decorated solemnly—a mahogany desk, a dark carpet, and a South Korean flag and an oil painting of the South Korean mountains hanging on the wall. Outside the window is the courtyard of the Blue House, where pine and cypress trees gleam dark green in the winter sun.

After the guests and hosts were seated, the waiter respectfully served fragrant tea—not the traditional barley tea from South Korea, but West Lake Longjing tea, with a clear tea soup and a delicate aroma.

"This tea is good." Lu Chen picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"I'm glad Mr. Lu likes it," Quan Xiaojiang smiled. "Knowing that Mr. Lu has a fondness for this, I specially instructed someone to prepare it."

Afterwards, the group exchanged pleasantries for a while, and the atmosphere was harmonious. The conversation naturally turned to business.

"Mr. Lu," Quan Xiaojiang spoke first, his tone warm, "the cooperation between our two sides over the past few years has been a perfect match. Golden Harvest has been a great help to South Korea, and I will always remember this kindness."

Golden Harvest entered South Korea in 1985. Cheng Yiyan, acting on Lu Chen's instructions, reached an agreement with Quan Xiaojiang: Golden Harvest would introduce cutting-edge industrial technologies to South Korea and whitewash Quan Xiaojiang's regime in the international arena. In exchange, Quan Xiaojiang granted Golden Harvest special permission to become one of the few foreign companies allowed to enter the South Korean market and provided it with preferential policies.

"President, you flatter me," Lu Chen said, picking up his teacup. "It's simply a win-win situation. Jiahe made money in South Korea, and South Korea gained technology and employment; it's a win-win situation."

"Mr. Lu is right, a win-win situation." Lu Taiyu chimed in, his smile utterly sincere. "Mr. Lu, rest assured, our cooperation will continue after I take office. Jiahe's interests in South Korea are my interests."

He spoke sincerely, but Lu Chen knew that a large part of that sincerity was for the "kickbacks"—over the years, the activity funds that Jiahe had given to these two people each year had never been small.

"With President Lu's words, I'm relieved." Lu Chen put down his teacup. "However, there's another matter I'd like to discuss with you both today."

"Mr. Lu, please speak."

"I am very optimistic about the future development of South Korea, especially those high-quality companies," Lu Chen said. "Therefore, I want to invest in some companies."

The office fell silent for a moment.

Quan Xiaojiang tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice. Lu Taiyu's expression did not change, but his gaze became cautious.

"Investment?" Quan Xiaojiang asked slowly. "Mr. Lu, which companies are you referring to?"

"Samsung, Hyundai, Daewoo," Lu Chen casually rattled off three names that could shake the very foundations of the South Korean economy.

Quan Xiaojiang's brows were furrowed into a deep frown.

"Mr. Lu," he paused for a moment, carefully choosing his words, "these three companies are the pillars and economic foundation of South Korea. You are also aware of our country's foreign investment policy—foreign capital is absolutely not allowed to hold controlling stakes in core manufacturing and vital industries, let alone launch hostile takeovers. Even in joint ventures, foreign ownership cannot exceed 49%. Even American giants like Micron, General Electric, and DuPont must strictly adhere to this ironclad rule."

He paused, then looked at Lu Chen: "I hope Mr. Lu understands this."

Lu Taiyu added from the side, "Mr. Lu, it's not that we don't trust you; this is the inviolable line of defense for our Republic of South Korea. Foreign investment is welcome, but control must remain in the hands of the South Koreans."

Lu Chen leaned back in his chair and smiled slightly.

"You two have misunderstood," he said. "I never intended to control these companies. I simply wanted to invest, acquire some equity, and share in the profits of South Korea's economic boom. I don't care about equity or board seats."

Upon hearing this, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo exchanged another glance, their wariness undiminished.

"Mr. Lu, even if it's just an injection of capital, the entry of foreign capital into the capital structure of a conglomerate is a significant procedural move. It's a complex issue with far-reaching consequences; once this door is opened—"

"President Quan," Lu Chen interrupted his excuse, his tone still calm, "you go to so much trouble to protect these tycoons, but behind their backs... they might not necessarily appreciate your kindness."

Quan Xiaojiang's expression changed: "What do you mean by that, Mr. Lu?"

Lu Chen didn't answer, but simply nodded to Ba Wanghua. Ba Wanghua understood, took a document from her briefcase, placed it on the coffee table, and pushed it in front of Quan Xiaojiang.

"President, take a look," Lu Chen said quietly, "This is something I went through a lot of trouble to obtain."

With a hint of suspicion, Chun Doo-hwan tore open the seal and turned to the first page, while Roh Tae-woo quickly followed.

However, just a few seconds later, the faces of these two powerful figures who controlled the military darkened visibly.

The document contains secret intelligence about the core executives of top conglomerates such as Samsung and Hyundai.

Intelligence indicates that the "June Democracy Struggle" last year, which triggered a dramatic upheaval in South Korea and even led to the resignation of all the young players, was entirely orchestrated by these large conglomerates.

They provided the money, the manpower, and the channels, secretly driving the nationwide movement.

The reason for doing this is very simple—they don't want to be used as an ATM by the young players anymore.

Chun Doo-hwan's fingers trembled slightly as he turned the pages, his face turning ashen, faster and faster, his expression growing increasingly grim.

He knew exactly where the resentment of these tycoons came from. Although he had indeed given them strong support during his tenure—preferential policies, loan benefits, market protection, etc.—there is no such thing as a free lunch. In return, he completely controlled these tycoons, turning them into his private treasury.

It is well known that General Quan is always generous to his subordinates and ordinary soldiers, often distributing several times their usual pay and huge bonuses. Where does this money come from? Naturally, it comes from the "friendly donations" of those tycoons.

What? You're not willing to sponsor? Fine, one private room at the Xibingku Grand Hotel, go in and think it over.

In those years, the tycoons gritted their teeth and poured money out of their pockets, one bill at a time. On the surface, they were respectful, but behind the scenes, they were seething with hatred.

Now, they've finally found an opportunity to bite back.

"These damned ingrates!" Quan Xiaojiang slammed his hand on the coffee table, making the teacups jump and spilling barley tea all over the table. His chest heaved violently, and the muscles in his face twitched. "I've raised them for so many years! And they dare—!"

Lu Taiyu's face was so dark it seemed to drip water. He reached out and pressed down on Quan Xiaojiang's wrist, lowering his voice: "President, calm down, Mr. Lu is still here."

Quan Xiaojiang took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, then raised his head, looking at Lu Chen with a complex expression: "Mr. Lu, this intelligence... I hope to take it back and verify it slowly."

"No problem, Your Excellency, please feel free to investigate," Lu Chen smiled nonchalantly. "So, what do you two think of my investment proposal?"

Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo exchanged a heavy glance.

They weren't fools. Those tycoons were indeed a bunch of mad dogs, but the one in front of them was a tiger.

The chaebols at most want to break the chains that bind them, which can still be considered an internal struggle in South Korea. But Lu Chen—if you give him a chance, who knows what he might do to South Korea.

"Mr. Lu," Lu Taiyu began slowly, his tone much more relaxed than before, "we appreciate your suggestion, but Jiahe is, after all—"

"I understand," Lu Chen interrupted him, still maintaining his nonchalant demeanor. "I completely understand your concerns. That's why, as I just said, you're free to propose some restrictive terms; we can discuss them. Besides—there's actually another advantage to getting these companies to accept my investment."

"Oh? I'd like to hear your thoughts." Chun Doo-hwan's eyes flickered.

"Foreign investment in core state-owned enterprises naturally requires security review by the Blue House and the Ministry of National Defense," Lu Chen said, picking up his teacup and taking a slow sip. "You can use the pretext of reviewing foreign investment to legitimately send people into these conglomerates to monitor their internal accounts, fund flows, and even track which political forces they are secretly colluding with."

He put the teacup back on the coffee table and looked at the two of them.

"Will they dare to act recklessly then?"

Quan Xiaojiang and Lu Taiyu were both stunned.

They exchanged a glance. Then, Quan Xiaojiang's expression slowly changed—from the gloomy look before to one of reassessment.

This Lu Chen not only handed them a knife, but also told them how to use it.

"Mr. Lu," Quan Xiaojiang began slowly after a moment's thought, his voice much calmer than before, "this matter is of great importance. We need to discuss it."

"Of course." Lu Chen nodded.

"Mr. Lu, if you're not in a hurry," Lu Taiyu interjected, his face regaining its smile, "why not stay in South Korea for a few more days? The snow scenery in Seoul is quite beautiful; I can arrange for someone to show you around. We'll get back to you about this as soon as possible."

"Okay," Lu Chen stood up, extending his hand, "then I'll wait for news from you two in Seoul."

"Definitely," Quan Xiaojiang grasped his hand and shook it vigorously, "Definitely."

……

The motorcade drove out of the Blue House and headed towards the city along the same route. Dusk had fallen in Seoul, and the lights along the banks of the Han River lit up one after another, casting dappled light on the thin ice-covered surface of the river.

Lu Chen leaned back in the car, watching the street scene flash by outside the window, without saying a word.

The reason he was willing to accept the restrictive terms was because Lu Chen was well aware of the development prospects of companies like Samsung and Hyundai, and even more so because he knew that now was the best time to infiltrate the South Korean conglomerates.

If we wait a few more years, until the chains restricting conglomerates completely disappear, and until these behemoths truly grow powerful, then trying to enter will no longer be a matter of making demands—they won't even open the door for you.

As for whether agreeing will result in being subject to the jurisdiction of the South Korean government?

What a joke! He agreed to Lu Taiyu's request; what business is it of Kim Dae-jung who will be on stage later?

Besides, once Lu Taiyu and the last of the military government officials step down, and no one is left to put the brakes on the financial magnates, Lu Chen will have plenty of ways to turn the tables.

Outside the window, the lights of Seoul Tower shone in the twilight, like a star suspended above the city. The convoy drove across the Han River Bridge, the river flowing slowly beneath, its surface gleaming dimly in the lamplight.