The Great Sage Returns from Ten Years of Imprisonment

In the office, Ling Yun was talking animatedly on his phone.

"I happen to know a little about Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch's subsidiaries. Considering that these two top investment banks are now on the verge of collapse, this is the perfect opportunity to strike while they're down."

"The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers is inevitable. We can use the acquisition negotiations to buy time, and use the excuse of demanding that Lehman Brothers divest its toxic assets in its Hong Kong Island branch before we can make the acquisition."

"Lehman Brothers will go bankrupt in two weeks at most. When that happens, its Hong Kong branch will have to close down, and we'll definitely be able to snag a huge bargain. Three million US dollars is enough to acquire Lehman's Hong Kong branch..."

Chairman Zhao was so shocked by the price that he gasped in disbelief.

"My God! Three million dollars? Did I hear that right? Lehman Brothers offered three hundred million dollars!"

"Hahaha, you heard me right, it really is three million US dollars. That's why it's called profiting from someone's misfortune!"

Ling Yun nodded with a smug smile.

Then, he abruptly changed the subject, his voice suddenly turning much colder.

"Merrill Lynch is in a slightly better position and is unlikely to go bankrupt directly, but it will inevitably be acquired. Before being acquired, Merrill Lynch will definitely sell off assets to raise cash."

"In view of this, the acquisition of Merrill Lynch's Hong Kong Island branch needs to be expedited, preferably completed before the financial crisis breaks out, to avoid them changing their minds after the acquisition."

"Based on the situation at Merrill Lynch's Hong Kong branch, the offer cannot exceed US$500 million, and Merrill Lynch is required to divest all toxic assets related to subprime mortgages."

"As long as you stick to these two points, I'm sure Merrill Lynch will compromise and sell their Hong Kong Island branch to you..."

Unsurprisingly, Chairman Zhao was once again taken aback.

Before Ling Yun could finish speaking, he clicked his tongue and sighed.

"Three million US dollars from Lehman Brothers' Hong Kong branch, five million US dollars from Merrill Lynch's Hong Kong branch—this is blatant robbery! That's outrageous!"

Ling Yun burst into laughter, his words filled with murderous intent.

"Hahaha, you're right, this is blatant robbery. We have the advantage of timing, location, and popular support. If we don't rob these bastards now, are we just going to let them live through the New Year?"

Upon hearing this, Chairman Zhao burst into laughter.

They then continued their in-depth discussion on this issue.

Based on the information he had gathered in his previous life, Ling Yun quickly helped Yuanda Group formulate a general framework for the acquisition plan and also helped the group avoid some pitfalls in advance.

The discussion ended half an hour later.

After hanging up the phone, Ling Yun sat in a chair and thought for a moment.

He then picked up his phone and called Director Li of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

After the call connected and we exchanged greetings, he immediately got to the point.

"Director Li, I just received a call from Chairman Zhao of Yuanda Group. I learned some important news, which is why I'm calling you."

"Looks like this is another surprise. Tell us, what's the big news?"

Director Li said with a smile.

"Here's the thing, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch's respective Hong Kong branches are privately looking for buyers and preparing to sell their companies..."

Ling Yun got straight to the point and began to explain the relevant situation.

He first recounted his discussions with Chairman Zhao, and then told Director Li that Yuanda Group intended to acquire the Hong Kong Island branches of Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch.

Then, a special reminder: the closure of the Hong Kong branches of Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch is now a certainty!

In view of this, all companies and financial institutions, whether domestic or Hong Kong-funded, as well as every ordinary person in mainland China and Hong Kong Island, must immediately avoid these pitfalls!

During this period, do not engage in any form of cooperation with these two financial institutions.

Terminate any existing partnerships immediately, and stay as far away as possible from any non-partners!

Anyone or any company that partners with them at this time is simply throwing money away like a sucker.

All the money invested is like throwing good money after bad—it's gone forever!

Lingyun issued the warning because Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch's Hong Kong branches had done the same thing in their previous lives, defrauding many companies and investors.

In his previous life, until the day before bankruptcy, these bastards were still constantly luring investors to buy their investment products and entrust them with large sums of money.

The next day, the company declared bankruptcy, and all the money that investors had just invested went down the drain.

Among the many investors who were badly scammed, it is said that the famous Hong Kong singer lost most of his fortune.

Later, even in his sixties, the "God of Songs" was still working himself to the bone on stage, performing hundreds of concerts a year to earn money to pay off debts and support his family. The root of all this lies in this!

After listening to Ling Yun's introduction and reminder, Director Li remained silent for a moment before giving a solemn response.

"Xiao Ling, your call came at just the right time. At this critical juncture, we must be on high alert and not let these desperate guys take advantage of us."

"Many enterprises and financial institutions under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission have branches in Hong Kong Island. We immediately issued a notice to remind them to avoid being deceived."

"We must protect all other businesses, organizations, and individuals on Hong Kong Island, as well as all Hong Kong-funded companies and institutions, and ordinary citizens..."

Hearing this, Ling Yun couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

After determining the basic response strategy, Director Li ended the call.

Immediately afterwards, he convened a meeting with relevant leaders and personnel and quickly disseminated the information.

The General Office, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, the Hong Kong Government, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, and other relevant agencies were notified immediately to explain the situation and to alert the relevant departments and Hong Kong authorities to the risks and avoid falling into a trap.

By 8 or 9 p.m., the news had spread among numerous financial institutions and companies in both mainland China and Hong Kong, and all companies and institutions were on high alert.

By noon the following day, with the help of relevant departments and institutions, the news spread rapidly throughout the streets and alleys of Hong Kong Island, reaching the ears of almost everyone.

Faced with this sudden turn of events, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch's two branches, who were just gearing up for the final round of profit-taking, were completely dumbfounded!

Their carefully crafted final harvest plan had to be abandoned before it even began.

Not only that, starting Thursday morning, people began arriving at the two foreign financial institutions, demanding to redeem their investments or withdraw their capital and terminate the cooperation plan.

By Thursday afternoon, the doors of both financial institutions were completely blocked.

Outside the door, investors from all walks of life had come after hearing the news, shouting demands to redeem their investments or terminate their partnerships!

At this point, these two seemingly prestigious foreign financial institutions had long since become empty shells, with no money left to repay investors.

The inability to repay the money resulted in the matter escalating rapidly, growing bigger and bigger, and soon causing a sensation throughout Hong Kong.

By Friday afternoon, the Hong Kong Island Monetary Authority had quickly intervened.

An investigation team was dispatched to two branches of Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch to conduct on-site investigations and to order the two financial institutions to cooperate in fulfilling investors' redemption requests.

If the two financial institutions evade their redemption obligations, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission will freeze all of their assets to protect the interests of investors.

In just two days, these two foreign financial institutions based in Hong Kong have fallen into dire straits and may have to close down at any time.

Faced with this situation, Yuanda Group's Hong Kong Island branch, which intended to acquire the two financial institutions, was naturally happy to see the deal happen.

Those who knew a little about the inside story, including Chairman Zhao and General Manager Wang, were all amazed.

They knew that all of these things were inextricably linked to Ling Yun, or rather, that he was the most direct mastermind behind it all.

They realized that Ling Yun's immense power and ruthless methods far exceeded their imagination.

Before I knew it, it was Friday evening.

After arranging the investment strategy for the evening, Ling Yun drove away from the CIC headquarters, preparing to personally arrest someone.

Shortly after I left, Director Xie suddenly called.

As soon as the call connected, his excited voice came through.

"Good news, Lingyun, international oil prices are about to break through $113!"

"As expected, notify the investment departments of each airline; they can now get involved."

Ling Yun responded with a smile.