Chapter 194: Bus Tycoon

What is going on?

Asia Investment Co., Ltd. actually did not launch an acquisition action today, and instead sold off all the shares purchased from Huang Yaonan.

Meanwhile, SNOWSPARK increased its holdings by 1 million shares.

Immediately following this, a stock commentator published a review: "Asia Investment Bank secretly acquired 7.56 million shares at a price of 22 dollars before announcing the acquisition decision, thinking that this would be enough to seize power in one go; this is simply too confident."

"Because the acquisition price is about the same as the market price, it not only fails to attract the interest of major shareholders but also fails to attract the interest of retail investors, instead drawing the fire of brokers and speculators in the market."

"If Asia Investment Co., Ltd. had raised the proposed acquisition price per share to as much as 40 dollars when the stock price was between 22 and 25 dollars, it would certainly have been welcomed by small and major shareholders, and then Zhongba would have become the property of Asia Investment Co., Ltd."

"It is a pity that Asia Investment Company has already missed the opportunity, and the acquisition action has failed at the final hurdle."

"Of course, Asia Investment Co., Ltd. can also make a handsome profit by selling shares while the stock price is at a high level."

Immediately after, Securities Commissioner Mai Si stated regarding the Zhongba acquisition incident that Asia Investment Co., Ltd. sold a total of 3.08 million Zhongba shares today.

A spokesperson for Wardley claimed that Asia Investment Co., Ltd.'s sale of the aforementioned number of Zhongba shares was a strategic step to understand the market's absorption capacity through the sale of shares.

As for the spokespersons for Zhongba Group and Jardine Fleming, they announced joyfully: "The Zhongba acquisition battle has temporarily come to an end; the Yan Family has achieved a major victory, and SNOWSPARK is considering whether to launch a full acquisition."

That night.

Guojun Building.

Chen Jiajun held a thick cigar in his left hand and swirled a wine glass with his right.

Zhan Peizhong, Sima Xiang, and others walked into the office with excitement on their faces: "Boss, we compared the internal accounts of Zhongba Group with the annual reports published by Zhongba Group and indeed discovered something fishy."

"For the same models of tires, gasoline, and spare parts, Zhongba Group's procurement costs are generally 20 to 30% higher than those of Bar Group; this item alone accounts for a discrepancy of 50 million."

"In addition, according to regulations, any profit exceeding the 15% line must be transferred to Zhongba's development fund account, but Zhongba Group withheld all of these funds and misappropriated them for other uses. Over these five years, 30 million in funds have gone missing each year, totaling 150 million in funds."

Chen Jiajun could understand the mindset of the Yan Family of Zhongba Group; as a public utility company, Zhongba Group had the British Hong Kong government pressing down from above and employees constantly demanding wage increases from below, and the key was that Zhongba Group's ticket prices had not risen much in recent years.

Over time, their mindset was bound to become unbalanced.

It was only logical that they would react by falsifying accounts to line their own pockets.

As for Huang Yaonan, as a relative of the Yan Family, seeing the portion of profits that belonged to him being swallowed up, and seeing Yan Chengkun, who was originally a sedan chair carrier, living better than he did, it was inevitable that he would develop a desire for revenge.

"I will give Mr. Yan a way out first."

Chen Jiajun sipped his whiskey, took out his mobile phone, and called Yan Jieqiang: "Hello, this is Chen Jiajun."

"It's you."

Yan Jieqiang reacted immediately; it turned out that behind Asia Investment Co., Ltd. was Dalao Jun of Hongxing.

Chen Jiajun wanted to be the hegemon of the Hong Kong bus industry.

He stood up and walked to the balcony: "Mr. Chen, you are very sharp; the God of Sniping is truly worthy of the name. Our Zhongba Group is willing to buy back the shares from Asia Investment Co., Ltd. Let both sides value harmony; what do you think?"

"I also want to value harmony..." Chen Jiajun said.

Yan Jieqiang was immediately overjoyed, yet the very next moment, Chen Jiajun said: "I am now giving you a chance to leave with dignity."

"What do you mean?" Yan Jieqiang frowned.

"It's like this: my people have discovered signs that Zhongba Group has engaged in financial fraud..."

"Beep, beep, beep."

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Jieqiang hung up the phone.

After hanging up, Yan Jieqiang loosened his tie and gasped for air.

"Impossible."

"Impossible. If they didn't have our internal accounts, Asia Investment Co., Ltd. could not have discovered this."

Yan Jieqiang muttered to himself, his eyes losing focus.

Thinking of the internal accounts, he thought of his trusted subordinate Tan Guangliu; Yan Jieqiang immediately called Tan Guangliu, but after a busy signal, there was no response, so he called the company again.

The reply he received was that Tan Guangliu had taken leave today.

Yan Jieqiang's heart settled slightly.

Yan Jieqiang knew clearly how much fishiness there was in Zhongba Group's finances, and he also knew one thing: once it was exposed, his father Yan Chengkun would not be able to protect him...

Having made up his mind, Yan Jieqiang prepared to take a gamble; he bet that Chen Jiajun did not have the evidence in his hands.

Listening to the busy signal on the mobile phone, Chen Jiajun said in a slightly regretful tone: "It seems our Young Master Yan does not want to leave with dignity..."

Chen Jiajun drained the wine in his glass: "Dumu, let Tan Guangliu go and surrender."

"OK."

One hour later.

A van stopped at the gate of the ICAC, the door opened, and Zhongba Group's Chief Financial Officer Tan Guangliu stepped out of the vehicle.

He took a deep breath, looked down at the briefcase in his hand, which contained the whistleblower letter and the internal account materials, and strode into the gate of the ICAC.

"I want to surrender. I am Zhongba Group's Chief Financial Officer Tan Guangliu, and I want to report Zhongba Group's Yan Jieqiang for financial fraud."

Upon receiving Tan Guangliu's report, the next day, ICAC Commissioner Wei Liqin, who was the head of the ICAC, led dozens of ICAC investigators to raid Zhongba Group.

At this time, reporters from the Oriental Daily News, Hong Kong Economic Journal, Wah Kiu Yat Po, and Industrial Daily were waiting at Zhongba Group, hoping to obtain first-hand information on the Zhongba acquisition battle, and this scene naturally fell into everyone's eyes.

Wei Liqin and the investigators took away a large amount of materials but left in a hurry without having any contact with the reporters.

But the reporters dug deep into the inside story through their respective channels, obtained some information, and immediately sent it back to their respective newspaper headquarters.

On this day, Zhongba Group's stock price plummeted in response, and only then did the stock experts and investors realize that Asia Investment Co., Ltd. had likely obtained the relevant information long ago, which was why they had sold off part of the shares they held yesterday.

Upon receiving the news, Yan Chengkun was shaking with anger, glaring with fire in his eyes at Yan Jieqiang, who was usually his right-hand man: "Tell me, have you tampered with the accounts at Zhongba Group?"

"I, I..." Yan Jieqiang's face turned red and he stammered for a long time, finally falling to his knees with a thud: "Dad, I don't want to go to jail."

Seeing his son's behavior, Yan Chengkun understood immediately, and his head couldn't help but roar: "You unfilial son..."

Yan Jieqiang crawled forward two steps, hugged Yan Chengkun's legs, and continued to beg: "Dad, this must be a conspiracy by Dalao Jun of Hongxing; Tan Guangliu was definitely coerced by them."

"What does it have to do with Chen Jiajun?" Yan Chengkun glared at Yan Jieqiang.

Yan Jieqiang wept and told Yan Chengkun the content of last night's phone call.

"When you get beaten, stand at attention; when you admit a mistake, stand firm. Do you think you can hide it for a moment and hide it for a lifetime? Chen Jiajun calling you is giving you a way out!"

Yan Chengkun slapped Yan Jieqiang across the face with a *pa* sound.

If Yan Jieqiang had reported truthfully last night, Yan Chengkun would still have had room to maneuver, but now that the other party had torn off the mask, there was no room left to maneuver at all.

Yan Jieqiang wept bitterly and said, "Dad, I was wrong, I was really wrong, you have to save me."

That afternoon.

Both sides met at Chen Family Manor.

Chen Jiajun smoked a Cigar and picked out a tea cake from a transparent display case: "Uncle Kun, Song Pin Hao Pu-erh tea, how about it?"

As he spoke, Chen Jiajun tossed the tea leaves into the teapot, opened the cigar box, and made a gesture of invitation.

Both sides lit up their Cigars, and Chen Jiajun took a sip of tea, breaking the silence first: "Sir Yan, it is not easy for us to sit together and speak frankly. Why don't you express your intentions first?"

"Then let's speak frankly. I can hand over the control of Zhongba, and sell all the Zhongba shares in the Yan Family's hands to you, but the new Zhongba Board of Directors must not dig up old accounts, especially not pursue Yan Jieqiang's negligence during his tenure."

Seeing that there was a way out, Yan Chengkun nodded and put forward his own terms.

Yan Chengkun's act of cutting off his own arm to survive was entirely within Chen Jiajun's expectations: "The share price is 25 dollars."

At this, Yan Chengkun was struck where it hurt: "Even if you kill someone, you don't have to rub their head in the dirt. I came to negotiate with sincerity. Is this your attitude, Boss Chen?"

Chen Jiajun smiled dismissively: "That was a result of you playing tricks and driving up the price; I do not recognize it."

"Screw your mother."

"I would rather sell the shares to anyone else than sell them to you."

Yan Chengkun cursed angrily and immediately prepared to flick his sleeves and leave.

"Then Uncle Kun, you had better hurry, because Zhongba's share price is currently plummeting.

Once the issue of the falsified accounts is announced tomorrow, I'm afraid the share price will fall even further."

"In addition, your son, Young Master Yan Jieqiang, will likely have to report to Stanley Prison."

Chen Jiajun said unhurriedly, crossed his legs, took a puff of his Cigar, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

Yan Chengkun strode back: "25 dollars is really too little. I need at least 30 dollars; otherwise, I will risk this old life of mine to sell the shares in my hands to someone else!"

Chen Jiajun pondered for a moment and said, "Fine, it's a deal."

The next day.

Zhongba Group.

The seats for the Chairman of the Board and the major shareholder, Asia Investment Company, were empty.

The board assistant, a man in glasses, pushed up his glasses anxiously; he was the moderator of today's meeting.

Just then, someone hurried into the conference room and whispered a few words into the man in glasses' ear. The man in glasses widened his eyes and immediately said, "Mr. Yan Chengkun has voluntarily resigned from his position as Chairman due to health reasons."

"Click."

The door was pulled open.

Everyone looked up.

Tall, well-dressed young demon slaves filed in, an endless stream of them, standing on both sides of the conference room.

Chen Jiajun, with his overbearing presence and astonishing aura, entered the conference room with Wei Li and Wu Guangzheng.

The man in glasses immediately wiped his sweat and said, "Mr. Chen Jiajun has applied for the position of Chairman of the Board of Zhongba Group. Does anyone have any objections?"

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing why such a change had occurred.

Chen Jiajun sat in the main seat with an air of "who else but me," took out a Cigar, and signaled for the man in glasses to continue.

"Asia Investment Company has acquired the shares held by Chairman Yan Chengkun... Mr. Yan, and now holds 49% of the shares, becoming the largest shareholder of Zhongba Group."

For the takeover battle against Zhongba, Bao Jueshi and Chen Jiajun had each put up 500 million, and half of these funds still remained.

This was enough to prove the value of the former Jardine Matheson taipan Wei Li, though it could not be denied that Chen Jiajun had played the decisive role.

"Welcome Mr. Chen of Asia Investment Company, let us welcome Tycoon Chen, applause please," the man in glasses said in a humble and sincere tone, then immediately stood up, clapping until his hands were red.

Everyone stood up.

"Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap."

Chen Jiajun looked around, stood up, and pressed his hands down: "No need to be so polite, just carry on as usual."

"Although you will be working under me from now on, Zhongba relies on everyone's joint efforts. This is Mr. Wu Guangzheng."

"From now on, Mr. Wu Guangzheng will serve as the General Manager of the Group and concurrently as the Vice Chairman of the Board."

"Mr. Wu Guangzheng, please take your seat."

Wu Guangzheng bowed slightly to Chen Jiajun and then went to his seat: "Colleagues, please take care of me in the future."

"Mr. Wu, I have long admired your name."

The members of the Board of Directors greeted him one after another.

"From now on, Mr. Wei Li will serve as the Deputy General Manager of the Group and concurrently as the Vice Chairman of the Board. The Group will undergo many major changes, so please wait and see."

After helping Wei Li and Wu Guangzheng take office, Chen Jiajun left the scene gracefully.

(End of chapter)