The Great Sage Returns from Ten Years of Imprisonment

As Lingyun predicted, the international financial markets opened with a surge on Monday.

From the earliest opening stock markets in Australia and New Zealand, to the stock markets in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the A-shares market, and then to the European and American stock markets that opened in the afternoon and evening, all of them opened with a gap up, and the situation is very promising!

But the best news Lingyun received came from Hong Kong Island.

Around 11:30 a.m., Central, Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority meeting room.

Wang Mian, Erwin, and lawyers from the two companies, representing Yuanda Group and Goldman Sachs respectively, signed the newly reached agreement on the settlement of the performance-based debt.

Immediately afterwards, they signed the first debt settlement agreement, completing the settlement of the first phase of the performance-based debt.

Also in the conference room were Chairman Zhao, who had just arrived from Shanghai yesterday, the legal director, and the head and deputy head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission's guidance group.

In addition, several senior officials and lawyers from the Hong Kong Island Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission were present to witness the negotiations and signing ceremony to ensure the fairness of the transaction.

Because the transaction needed to be kept confidential, no media reporters were present at the scene.

Only two senior executives from Broad Group and Goldman Sachs were present to film the event, which was used to preserve video evidence.

Both companies will submit the videos they filmed to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority for backup and archiving, so that there will be evidence to verify them!

After signing the relevant agreements and shaking hands, Erwin suddenly said:

"Mr. Wang, regarding the media resources you're being compensated with this time, will you, as previously promised, only invest them for profit and not get deeply involved in their operation?"

"The Yuanda Group is backed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of China, which is a special entity. Your operation of news media in North America is a very sensitive matter and will inevitably cause social unrest."

"This is what we're most worried about. If it ignites public opinion, Goldman Sachs will also be dragged into it. We don't want to see that happen, so Mr. Lauder asked me to find out the details."

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Mian smiled and shook his head.

"You can rest assured about this matter. Yuanda Investment's main business is financial investment, and it has no intention of venturing into news media, let alone North American media!"

"Our commitment remains unchanged. It won't be long before we transfer these media resources. The company that acquires these media resources must be private capital."

"This policy was formulated by the headquarters of Broad Group. The chairman of Broad Group happens to be here today; if you have any questions, you can ask him for confirmation right here!"

As he spoke, he turned his head and gestured to Chairman Zhao.

Chairman Zhao put on a perfectly appropriate smile and nodded to Erwin in greeting.

Erwin glanced at Chairman Zhao, then nodded and said:

"That's perfect. I trust you won't change the agreed-upon terms; that would only jeopardize our future transactions and be detrimental to you!"

"There's something I need to clarify. These are some of the last agreements I signed during my tenure as General Manager of Goldman Sachs' Hong Kong Island branch. I'm returning to headquarters in New York tomorrow."

"The executive who will replace me arrived in Hong Kong Island yesterday and will take over my work starting tomorrow. He will acknowledge these agreements and follow up on subsequent matters."

As he said this, his eyes quickly dimmed, filled with worry, yet also with a hint of expectation.

Paul, the investment director sitting next to him, had the same expression.

Tomorrow he will leave Hong Kong Island with Irwin and fly to New York to face punishment from Lloyd and Goldman Sachs headquarters. He is now a scapegoat with nowhere to escape!

The only saving grace is that they have found a new backer!

They just don't know where this new backer is hiding, or when he will appear to save them from their predicament.

All they can do is wait patiently through the agony!

Whether Irwin and Paul would leave, or whether they would be scapegoated by Goldman Sachs and Lloyd and kicked below the execution line, was of no concern to Chairman Zhao and Wang Mian.

They only care about one thing: whether Goldman Sachs will continue to honor these newly signed debt repayment agreements!

As long as Goldman Sachs acknowledges these agreements, it's a gamble that will pay off, and it will continue to repay the remaining debts!

What does it matter who becomes the general manager and investment director of Goldman Sachs' Hong Kong branch? Irwin and Paul can live or die as they please!

Of everyone present, only Chairman Zhao vaguely guessed something.

The story of Erwin and Paul might not be over yet. The person directing their subsequent scenes might be that young master who has been hiding in the shadows all along!

Wang Mian offered a perfunctory expression of concern regarding Erwin's departure and shook hands with him.

Afterwards, Irwin led his executives and lawyers out of the conference room to go back to the Goldman Sachs branch to pack their things, preparing to be fired the next day!

As soon as they left, Chairman Zhao suddenly said excitedly:

"Mr. Ren, I'd like to use the meeting room next door to make a few phone calls to Beijing and explain the situation."

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority chuckled softly and pointed to the door of the meeting room.

"Of course, Mr. Zhao, please make yourself at home. The reception room is very quiet; we'll wait for you here!"

Chairman Zhao smiled and nodded, then nodded to the head and deputy head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission's negotiation guidance group to greet them before turning and walking towards the meeting room.

Meanwhile, in the capital city.

In the offices at the headquarters of China Investment Corporation (CIC).

Seeing that it was already noon, Lingyun casually shut down the computer, tidied up a bit, and prepared to go have lunch.

As soon as he came out from behind his desk, his phone suddenly rang.

He took out his phone, glanced at the caller ID, and then answered the call.

"Good afternoon, Chairman Zhao. Is there any good news?"

The next moment, Zhao Dong's excited voice rang out.

"Haha, you guessed right, Ling Yun, I do have good news to tell you."

"Just now, I personally witnessed Yuanda Investment and Goldman Sachs reach and sign a debt repayment agreement, and Yuanda Group successfully received the first installment of compensation."

"This includes two high-end commercial real estate projects in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, as well as a controlling stake in Universal Television Network and eleven local television stations and media resources in North America."

Upon hearing this, Ling Yun cheered loudly.

"Great! This is truly a huge surprise, worth three big glasses!"

"Those damn foreign devils at Goldman Sachs actually got the hang of things this time, which is somewhat unexpected. There must be other factors at play."

"Haha, that's what I think too."

Chairman Zhao responded with a smile, then immediately returned to the main topic.

"These assets were valued at a total of $27 billion, a 15% premium, but this assessment was made in the context of the financial crisis. In your judgment, these assets have enormous appreciation potential!"

"From this perspective, Yuanda Group not only did not lose money, but actually made a huge profit. It's just that the profits will only be realized in a few years. I am also optimistic about the value of those two commercial real estate buildings."

"Regarding the controlling stake in Globe Television and eleven other television networks in North America, we will immediately organize a takeover team and head to the United States and Canada to begin the takeover work. Goldman Sachs will cooperate."

"Once Siyuan Investment is established, Yuanda Group will transfer the controlling stake in these media resources to you at a discounted price, helping you accelerate the pace of building a media group."

Ling Yun chuckled softly and continued expectantly:

"This arrangement is excellent. It seems I need to speed up the process of setting up Siyuan Investment. I should be able to get this done by the middle or late part of next month at the latest!"

"After successfully acquiring controlling stakes in these media resources, I will send people to take over these news outlets, just to establish a foothold first..."

They chatted for a while longer before ending their conversation.

Afterwards, Ling Yun left the office and took Zhong Tao and the others to dinner.

Even though he was far away in Hong Kong, Chairman Zhao still had to call the leaders of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and relevant leaders in Shanghai to report the latest situation!