Siheyuan: I have a multi-dimensional chat group!

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it should have a lifespan of at least a thousand years.

Huang Rong: "Brother Bingkun, why are you saying such discouraging things? You're at the fourth level now, and you should have a lifespan of at least two or three hundred years. How could you be the first to die of old age?"

Yue Buqun: "That's right, Bingkun, as long as you cultivate diligently in the future, it's not impossible for you to attain immortality!"

Zhou Bingkun: "Yes, I will try my best!"

Group owner Xiao Shan: "However, one downside of modern society is that if you live past one hundred years old, you have to change your identity! Unlike in ancient society, where even if you didn't change your identity, you could just move to a different place and nobody would know who you were!"

Zhang Chulan: "Yeah! There are surveillance cameras everywhere now. If someone lives for two or three hundred years without changing their identity, it's really not easy to hide it from everyone!"

Zhang Sanfeng: "@Huang Rong, Madam Guo, I heard you say last time that you are still preparing to help the Song Dynasty resist the Mongol invasion?"

Huang Rong: "Yes! Jing-gege and I are already in Xiangyang City, and we have incorporated the army and government offices of Xiangyang City into our own forces. We are currently reorganizing and training them!"

Huang Rong: "Meanwhile, Beggar Clan disciples and martial arts heroes from all over the country are heading to Xiangyang City!"

Chapter 701, Developing Our Own Chips! (Please Subscribe!)

701

Group owner Xiao Shan: "If you take over Xiangyang City like this, will the Southern Song emperor agree to it?"

Huang Rong: "He originally disagreed, but after my father talked to him, he agreed! He even promised to provide me with all the military supplies and provisions!"

Group owner Xiao Shan: "Awesome!"

Yue Buqun: "I think you can completely replace him! There's no need to make things so complicated!"

Huang Rong: "I find governing Xiangyang exhausting enough, let alone governing a country! Forget it! If it weren't for Brother Jing, I wouldn't even want to get involved in these things!"

Li Ye: "That's true! Being a diligent and benevolent emperor is indeed very tiring!"

……

After ending his chat with the group, Xiaoshan began to plan for the oil crisis in July.

In June, Fok Kwun-tai led a group of representatives from Hong Kong's Chinese-owned businesses to the mainland for an inspection tour.

In July, the oil crisis broke out.

In this oil crisis, Xiaoshan, which had made advance arrangements, not only made a lot of money, but also took over a bank that had failed in its oil investment.

After Xiaoshan restructured the bank, it was renamed Ziwei Bank.

As for the large sum of cash earned from the oil crisis, Xiao Shan used it to establish a semiconductor research center, intending to develop chips belonging to China.

Xiao Shan was well aware that in the future internet age, this chip technology would be of paramount importance.

Now, while foreign countries haven't imposed a blockade on Hong Kong, we should acquire as much technology as possible to prepare for surpassing foreign chip technology in the future.

Although it was difficult to recruit people at the semiconductor research center at first, Xiaoshan was not in a hurry.

As long as I offer a high enough price, there will always be people willing to work for me.

Moreover, they can cultivate local talent in Hong Kong and even the mainland!

Many people within the group did not understand why Xiaoshan established a semiconductor research center.

However, Taishan Group is the sole authority in Xiaoshan. Whether they understand or not makes no difference to Xiaoshan. They just need to obediently do what they are told!

On this day, Zhou Aimin came to Xiaoshan to talk about advertising in the news.

As we chatted, the topic turned to Hong Kong Capital's investments in mainland China.

Zhou Aimin sighed and said, "Recently, there has been a lot of investment coming into Hong Kong, but less than half of them have stayed in the past four months. What are your thoughts on this, Mr. Xiao?"

What do you think?

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Shan picked up the phone on the table and dialed the number.

Soon, Luo Huiling brought in a document.

Xiao Shan handed the documents to Zhou Aimin: "Mr. Zhou, take a look. Is there anything wrong with this purchase order?"

This is the White Swan Hotel, which Fok Kwun-tai invested in in Guangzhou at the beginning of the year. It is also the first Sino-foreign joint venture five-star hotel in mainland China.

Looking at the purchase order, Zhou Aimin's expression gradually became serious. After hesitating several times, the words stuck in his throat and turned into a long sigh.

Xiao Shan said calmly, "The construction of the White Swan Hotel requires 10 kinds of decoration materials and supplies. The vast majority of these materials are not yet in production in mainland China, so we have to rely on imports."

"However, just importing a small amount of goods requires visiting more than a dozen departments. The White Swan Hotel has to make countless trips to obtain these purchase orders!"

"At this rate, how long will it take to complete the White Swan Hotel? Old Master Huo couldn't hold on any longer, so he specially went to Beijing to ask for an imperial edict. Only with this imperial edict could the project proceed and finally the completion date was set."

Upon hearing Xiao Shan's words, Zhou Aimin was at a loss for words.

Just then, the phone on Xiao Shan's desk suddenly rang.

Xiao Shan picked up the phone: "This is Xiao Shan!"

"Mr. Xiao, Jardine Matheson has made a move against Wharf Holdings!"

As one of the two most valuable rental stocks in Hong Kong, Wharf Holdings is not easily given up by either Worldwide Shipping or the Jardine Matheson Group.

With both sides contributing nearly equal amounts of shares, this acquisition battle is bound to be exceptionally fierce.

"I understand..." Xiao Shan put down the phone and said to Zhou Aimin, "Jardine Matheson Group has made a move against Wharf Holdings. I'm sorry, I must excuse myself now..."

“Okay, Mr. Xiao, please get back to your work!” Zhou Aimin nodded.

The battle for Wharf Holdings will once again be a confrontation between Chinese and British capital, with past grievances and grudges unfolding in the new era. Zhou Aimin certainly hopes that the shipping magnate will emerge victorious.

In terms of damage to British capital alone, this one far surpasses that of the Sea Dragon King. I wish Chinese capital a victory!

After Zhou Aimin left, Xiao Shan called Luo Huiling over to inquire about the situation.

After hearing Luo Huiling's account, Xiao Shan realized that the Jardine Matheson Group had launched a surprise attack while the shipping magnate was away at John Bull.

Unexpectedly, before leaving Hong Kong, the shipping magnate instructed his son-in-law on how to deal with the situation, and in the midst of the chaos, he did not fall into a disadvantageous position.

In just one morning, Wharf Holdings' share price climbed from HK$55 per share to HK$64 per share.

When the market opens in the afternoon, it wouldn't be surprising if the opening price jumps directly to 70.

Chapter 702, Xiao Shan Taking Advantage of the Situation! (Please Subscribe!)

Upon receiving the news, Bao, the shipping magnate, used his connections in John Bull to adjust the schedule of John Bull's flights to Hong Kong and asked Taishan to spread the word that he would be returning to Hong Kong that night. Xiaoshan readily agreed to help.

Before the shipping magnate returns, the trading volume in Wharf Holdings in the afternoon will certainly not be very high.

Stock market investors choose to invest in order to make a profit, so naturally they won't miss out on a good opportunity to profit.

Upon arriving at Taishan Securities, Xiaoshan quickly gained an understanding of the current situation.

We have a general understanding of the shareholding situation of both parties in Wharf Holdings, and the shares that could be acquired were already obtained by both parties before the relationship soured.

Almost all of what's unavailable is in the hands of retail investors in the stock market, making this a do-or-die battle.

"How many Wharf Holdings shares do we hold?" Xiao Shan asked softly.

In the current situation, stocks are like chips.

Having anticipated the current situation, Xiao Shan bought some more shares after clearing out his Wharf Holdings stock, hoping to gain friendship from either side or completely break ties with the other.

"Only 2.7%, the stock price is too high, and it would be very difficult to increase holdings at the same time," Li Fansong, general manager of Taishan Securities, replied with a slight apology.

Wharf Holdings' normal share price should be around HK$50 per share.

However, because the Jardine Matheson consortium wanted to fleece retail investors, they deliberately drove the share price down to HK$15.

Now, in order to compete with the shipping magnate for Kowloon Wharf, Jardine Matheson has raised its share price to HK$52 per share.

With the stock already at a normal price, and with Worldwide Shipping and the Jardine Matheson consortium secretly accumulating shares, it has become extremely difficult for others to buy the stock at a low price.

"2.7%?" Xiao Shan frowned.

Hutchison Whampoa also holds a 1.6% stake in Wharf Holdings, which can be acquired simply by raising the acquisition price; it will not play a decisive role.

However, Xiaoshan had no interest in Wharf Holdings.

Although they are two of the best rental stocks in Hong Kong, the acquisition of Wharf Holdings was extremely difficult.

Taishan acquired a controlling stake in Hutchison Whampoa for HK$30 billion, but was unwilling to spend HK$20 billion to acquire Wharf Holdings.

After all, Wharf Holdings is only one of the "two wings of Jardine Matheson".

With 20 billion yuan in funding, Xiaoshan can achieve even greater development.

A deal that results in the loss of 800 of your own while killing 1,000 of your enemies is not a worthwhile one.

However, Wharf Holdings can be used as leverage to negotiate terms with Universal Group and Jardine Matheson, which is what Xiao Shan values.

"How many shares did Jardine Airways, Jardine Insurance, and Cathay Pacific each acquire?" Xiao Shan asked again.

Li Fansong replied without hesitation: "Jardine Air Cargo Terminal has a market value of HK$500 million, with Jardine Pacific holding 36.2% of the shares and our side holding 21.2%."

"Jardine Insurance Advisors Group has a market capitalization of HK$600 million, with the Jardine Consortium holding 30.3% of the shares and our side holding 15.1%."

"Cathay Pacific is a subsidiary of Swire Airlines, which has a complete monopoly on Hong Kong's civil aviation. It is not listed, and we do not have access to its financial statements, so we cannot estimate its valuation. In order not to alert its shareholders, we have not proposed a takeover. We currently do not hold any shares."

“The shareholders of Cathay Pacific include Taikoo Airways, Hong Kong Airport Ground Handling, Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering, the Hong Kong tycoon Song family, and HSBC. To acquire it, we must approach it from multiple angles.”

Swire's businesses are mostly held through cross-shareholding, making it far more resilient to risks than Jardine Matheson and Hutchison Whampoa.

However, in the cross-shareholding, Jardine Matheson and Hutchison Whampoa also hold some shares, which could be taken over at any time.

"Very good!" Xiao Shan nodded in satisfaction.

That evening, Xiao Shan went directly to the Keswick family, who controlled the Jardine Matheson Group.

Hutchison Whampoa will exchange its 1.6% stake in Hong Kong Airport Ground Handling, Jardine Air Cargo Terminals, and Jardine Aviation Services for shares in three companies.

Xiaoshan has achieved true control over the ground staff at Xiangjiang Airport.

In order to protect its own interests, Jardine Matheson essentially sold off Swire Group completely.

However, the equity of these three companies was exchanged with the equity under Hutchison Whampoa, and Xiaoshan still needs to spend some more funds to transfer it to Taishan.

After all, only one-third of Hutchison Whampoa is in Xiaoshan, but Taishan is 100% owned by Xiaoshan.

The relative importance of each is self-evident.

However, the Keswick family had no intention of letting Xiao Shan off easy. They directly reported on television that Xiao Shan had exchanged his Wharf Holdings shares with them.

This is an attempt to make it impossible for Xiaoshan to operate within the Chinese-owned business circle.

After all, the current struggle between the shipping magnate and Jardine Matheson for Kowloon Wharf is a battle between Chinese and British capital.

By giving its shares to the Jardine Matheson consortium, Xiaoshan is essentially cutting itself off from Chinese capital!

However, Xiao Shan had anticipated this, so he went to see the ship king Bao early the next morning.

Meanwhile, the shipping magnate was at HSBC, with HSBC's CEO, Ms. Shen.

Although John was a big shot, he was notorious for being mercenary.

So when the shipping magnate offered a more generous reward, he chose to keep the shipping magnate!

Upon meeting with Bao, the shipping magnate placed a document on the table and said to Xiao Shan, "We will acquire the 2.7% stake in Taishan Securities for a total of HK$2.7 million, at a price of HK$100 per share!"

This was the price that had been agreed upon beforehand.

Now that the funds are in place, the shipping magnate has mortgaged Global Shipping to HSBC, obtaining a loan of HK$20 billion for this major battle.

This morning, Wharf Holdings' share price jumped to HK$84 per share at the opening of the market and is still climbing rapidly.

Everyone knows this is far from over, and Xiaoshan offering HK$100 per share isn't considered bullying.

Chapter 703, The Decline of Newspapers! (Please Subscribe!)

After looking at the agreement offered by Bao, Xiao Shan smiled mysteriously: "Mr. Bao, I can transfer the shares of Wharf Holdings to you, but I also want to reach two deals with you."

Why would Xiaoshan still want to acquire Wharf Holdings' shares when it's time-consuming, laborious, and impossible to achieve?

Of course, it's not just about making money.

When assets reach tens of billions, money is truly just a string of numbers, merely a tool to be transformed into power.

Money is just the egg; industry is the hen.

“I know!” Of course, the shipping magnate was not stupid. He immediately promised, “As long as I get a controlling stake in Wharf Holdings, the shares of Jardine Air Cargo Terminal that I hold will be yours, with the same valuation of HK$5 million.”