Chapter 152: Negotiation, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu vs. Tycoon Li

This Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, who is he?

How could there be such a massive outcry?

At this moment, many high-ranking government officials and staff present heard the name Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu for the first time and were instantly stunned.

Mr. Li's expression also shifted; he had assumed Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was merely a small-time gangster, never expecting him to command such widespread support.

What the hell? What happened to the "gangster" we were promised?

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Guozhong, Ma Jun, Fatty Sha, He He Wenzhan, and the officers from the Wanchai Police Station did not feel surprised at this moment; instead, they found it perfectly natural.

After all, the reputation Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu had built through his charitable deeds was accumulated bit by bit, and it was absolutely genuine.

However, the officers from the Hong Kong Island Headquarters and the various police stations across the territory were unfamiliar with Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, so hearing thousands of people in the venue chanting one person's name simultaneously struck them as rather astonishing.

"This Councilor Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan, who is he?" Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Jiaju kicked Jin Jin Dazui.

"I don't know," Jin Jin Dazui spread his hands. "If you don't know, I know even less."

On the side of the Chief Secretary's high-ranking officials, Diao Diao Yaozu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Island District Council, quickly ran over to report Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's information to the superiors, which was roughly: a gangster, from the Hongxing, a councilor, likes doing charity...

Chief Secretary's high-ranking officials: "???"

What on earth?

Looking at these terms individually, I can understand them; why is it that when added together, I can't make sense of it?

"Call him over immediately."

"Yes..."

Soon they were dumbfounded, because Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was not at the scene.

Not at the scene, what the hell are we doing!

They had no choice but to quickly dispatch police cars to clear the way and go pick up Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

Taking advantage of this time, they selected the remaining four representatives.

Not long after, these four representatives were chosen; they were of the more normal variety, all from families of fire victims, and were considered to have relatively good reputations among their neighbors.

And at this time,

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was also picked up by a police car and arrived at the scene.

"Wee-woo, wee-woo~~~"

The police car arrived, and Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu stepped out.

The government officials on the steps, Mr. Li, the people from the Electric Company, the police... everyone looked toward Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

"Damn!"

"Such a handsome guy?"

Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Chen Jiaju touched his own face; this handsome guy was only three points inferior to his own looks, which was simply heaven-defying.

Everyone in the venue who didn't know Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu also curiously sized him up, wondering what kind of charm this guy had to have gained such unified support from so many citizens at such a young age.

As for the thousands of protesting citizens, seeing Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu arrive, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu has arrived,

Justice has arrived!

……

……

10 minutes later,

Electric Company, VIP conference room.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu and the other four elderly representatives sat on one side, while Mr. Li and his group sat on the other.

Ultimately, due to special reasons, this negotiation had no audio recording, no video recording, and certainly no live television broadcast.

Of course, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu wanted a live broadcast, but he couldn't possibly go head-to-head with the Chief Secretary's office; that would be suicide.

Mr. Li was carefully sizing up Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu at this moment.

Perhaps it was truly because he had done so many good deeds, but the spirit Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu displayed at this moment looked sunny and full of positive energy at first glance.

"This guy... is really a gangster?"

Mr. Li and a group of vice presidents and directors muttered in their hearts, feeling extremely strange.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu glanced at his teammates; all four were elderly people over 60, so it seemed he would have to rely on himself for this consultation.

After exchanging seven or eight polite pleasantries, they officially began.

"Mr. Li, before we negotiate, we must clarify one thing, and that is that the cause of the fire was the aging of the cable bridge catching fire..."

One of Mr. Li's subordinates immediately interrupted: "Wait a moment... the cause of the fire has already been clarified; it was not the aging of the cable bridge, but improper use of fire. The Fire Services Department has already provided a specific investigation report."

As soon as these words were spoken, the four elderly representatives slammed the table in anger on the spot.

"What did you say?"

"Screw your mother!"

"Turning black into white, do you think we don't know the cause?"

Who would have thought that while the old men were old, their firepower was still quite sufficient.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu leaned back in his chair, not joining the frantic shouting, but instead looking at Mr. Li: "If Mr. Li wants to negotiate like this, then let's not negotiate at all. On this point alone, I absolutely cannot give an account to those neighbors who died or were affected."

"Also, since there is no audio or video recording of this negotiation anyway, it's better to lay some things out on the table."

Mr. Li had always been quite composed and unmoved; upon hearing this, he smiled slightly: "Fine, let's lay it out, let's be direct... You say the cable bridge aged and caught fire, do you have evidence?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "I do. I have currently collected several eyewitnesses, and they can all prove that the cable bridge caught fire first."

Mr. Li did not show any panic: "Then do you have photos?"

"Right, you don't, do you."

"Then let me tell you a more realistic problem. If I believe these witnesses were all deliberately found by you to obtain higher compensation, when it goes to court, my lawyers will question the testimony of your eyewitnesses..."

"Do you think you can win in court? I have a professional legal team, including four senior counsel appointed by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, and ten barristers..."

"As long as I want to drag it out, I can drag the case on for a year or two, and you still won't have key evidence."

"Furthermore, those eyewitnesses also received money from unknown sources. I suspect they have dark backgrounds and are not ordinary, upstanding citizens... Do you think the court will judge it that way then..."

Before Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu could speak, the four old men were so angry they slammed the table and started cursing again.

"You bastard, saying such things, do you have any conscience left!"

"Framing us, to think you could come up with that."

Their spit was almost spraying onto Mr. Li's head.

Mr. Li frowned,

Several subordinates stood up one after another to argue back with the old men; for a time, the conference room was in chaos.

Mr. Li leaned back in his chair, leisurely lit a cigarette, and said to Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu:

"Young man, this level is no longer the kind of fighting and killing you gangsters do..."

"I am more familiar with the rules of the game than you are."

"Today, since you are standing in front of me, I will teach you a lesson on how the rules of this world operate."

"Take this one matter... the courts, I have my people there, do you? The media, I have my people there, do you? The business world, the political world, I have my people everywhere, do you?"

"Even if there are eyewitnesses, so what? People have weaknesses, and I have plenty of ways to make their testimony invalid."

"So, how can you fight me!"

After hearing this, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu grinned.

"Clap, clap, clap~~~~"

Applause!

"Mr. Li said it perfectly; it has truly opened my eyes."

It must be said that Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu very much agreed with Mr. Li's words.

The referee, the linesman, and the organizers are all my people, how can you fight me. jpg

Ordinary citizens, no matter what, could never defeat a peerless tycoon from the Four Great Families like Mr. Li.

However, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was not an ordinary citizen; he had a cheat.

The only problem was that this cheat was not yet fully developed, and it was impossible to truly hurt Mr. Li's foundations.

The only thing he could do was to try and bite off as much meat from Mr. Li as possible.

The more he bit off, the higher the support rate he would gain.

The problem now was how much he could bite off.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu said: "Regarding these words from Mr. Li, can I assume you are acting like a hooligan?"

"Knowing full well that the truth is the cable bridge caught fire, yet refusing to admit it, and instead calling a deer a horse to wrongly accuse a deceased old person of improper use of fire."

Mr. Li chuckled: "Don't use such ugly words. The business world is like a battlefield; all is fair in war. This is just standard operating procedure in the adult world."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu nodded: "Since you want to act like a hooligan, then I will act like one too... Starting from today, I will arrange for people to protest downstairs at your building every day. I don't believe you can sit still."

Mr. Li: "............"

If he really did that, it would indeed make him look a bit disheveled.

If today's matter went wrong, it could trigger a mass conflict, and it would be a huge problem if they stormed the company.

However, as the richest man, he still had great courage and coldly snorted without showing any weakness:

"Protest every day? Do you think you, as one representative, can really represent those neighbors? What a joke!"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu sneered inwardly.

Sorry, but at certain times, I really can represent them.

Mr. Li continued: "There is one more point. Regarding these kinds of mass interest demands, our company has encountered many of them before. Old building demolition, land acquisition, we always encounter these problems... We generally adopt the method of divide and conquer..."

"Those who compromise first get more money! Those who compromise later get progressively less... I have been in business for decades, and there is no group that can withstand this kind of division!"

"There is a saying that is very true: one should not worry about scarcity, but about inequality! The amount of money given is not the key; the key is that it is not given equally!"

"As long as I give them money, and give it unequally, they will start fighting among themselves!"

Regarding this, Li Zong was extremely confident!

This tactic worked every single time!

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu sighed: "Li Zong, I think what you said makes a lot of sense."

!.

Although he did not agree emotionally, rationally, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu knew that Li Zong was right; the method he described captured the weaknesses of human nature very well.

In later generations, when facing the difficulties of demolition, this was generally the tactic used.

Li Zong smiled: "So, has Mr. Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan already made a decision?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu shook his head: "No, I think Li Zong, you have calculated everything, but you have forgotten one thing."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu began to smile.

Li Zong smelled the scent of danger, his eyes narrowing: "What do you mean?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu said: "Just now, Mr. Li, you mentioned an old saying called 'one should not worry about scarcity, but about inequality'... I wonder if you have heard another old Chinese saying, 'a common man's rage, blood spills five steps,' which in modern terms means, 'with a weapon in hand, all are equal'!"

"If you do things too thoroughly and too ruthlessly, then you must be careful. Some people, after suffering unfair treatment, will inevitably harbor a sense of malice in their hearts. You are not unaware of how chaotic Xiangdao is right now; those selling arms and buying explosives can be found anywhere."

"Li Zong, you wouldn't want to be living in fear every moment, would you?"

At this,

it was Li Zong's turn to be silent.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu's words had instantly struck his Achilles' heel.

He was very wealthy, had influence, and had friends everywhere.

However, at the same time, he was also a creature of flesh and blood; a backstab, a gunshot, or an explosion could also kill him.

With a net worth of nearly a hundred billion, there was no need to put himself in danger for a few hundred million in Xiangdao currency. Moreover, he still had a son, a daughter-in-law...

Li Zong glanced at Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu smiled slightly.

He knew that the tone of the negotiation had already been set.

Just like the famous Zhang Zhang Ziqiang kidnapping case, Li Zong was extorted for over 1 billion, but because he feared for his son's life, he would rather give the money to Zhang Zhang Ziqiang and cooperate with him to avoid the police than let his family be in danger.

For Li Zong, when it came to a matter of life, money was just a number.

Next,

one final question remained:

Li Zong: "Regarding the charitable donation, I am willing to provide a large amount of aid..."

He called it charity, not compensation.

He did not admit that this was the fault of the Electric Light Company.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu: "So, you still don't want to admit that the cause of the fire was your aging cables?"

Li Zong: "Whether the cables are aging or not is something you don't actually care about; what you care about is wanting more compensation... Am I right?"

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu thought for a moment and nodded: "On this point, let the people of Shantou Street decide for themselves... but you must restore the old man's innocence."

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu could not control how the neighbors of Shantou Street chose.

But the innocence, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu had to manage!

Li Zong: "That is very simple. I will find someone to take the fall, saying that because he had extreme hatred for the Electric Light Company, he lit the fire and ignited the cables..."

Finding someone with cancer to take the fall was not difficult at all for Li Zong. Of course, the Fire Services Department would also have to issue a notice; although it would be a bit embarrassing for them, given Li Zong's friendship with the Huifeng, Zhada, and the Viceroy, this would not be difficult.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu gave a thumbs up.

6!

Ruthless!

With this, the preliminary intentions were basically discussed.

First, restore the old man's innocence.

Second, the specific amount of compensation (charitable donation) still needed to be discussed, but Li Zong could give a higher amount.

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu was basically satisfied; although he had not nominally nailed down that Li Zong's Electric Light Company caused the big fire due to aging equipment, the neighbors of Shantou Street had received corresponding compensation.

However, Li Zong was not in a good mood, because although he had preserved his reputation, what could have been settled for 100 million might now cost several hundred million.

Deep down, he was still very unhappy with this person, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu!

He felt that it was likely Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu who was organizing those protesting citizens behind the scenes; otherwise, how could those people be so united? And why would they call for Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu to uphold justice for them?

Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu looked at Li Zong, smiling.

Li Zong looked at Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu, smiling.

Meanwhile, the four elderly representatives and Li Zong's subordinates were still ranting wildly.

"Alright, it's over. Let's continue talking tomorrow!"

Li Zong said this, then walked quickly out of the conference room.

"Ah? It's finished?"

"This..."

The four old men and Li Zong's subordinates wiped the spit off their faces and looked at each other.

Outside the Electric Light Building,

the protesting citizens had not yet left, the police maintaining order were still there, and a large number of news media were still present.

They were waiting for the results of the negotiation.

Then...

they had only waited for less than 20 minutes,

when Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu and the four elderly representatives appeared at the building entrance and walked out.

"Look! They're out!"

"Councilor Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan is out!"

"Ah? So fast?"

"Did they reach an agreement?"

At this moment, numerous reporters indignantly picked up their cameras, click-click~~~, and aimed them at Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu and the four elderly representatives behind him to take photos.

Under the gaze of nearly ten thousand people, Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu,

holding a microphone,

"Citizens, hello everyone..."

"We have already agreed on a basic framework with the tycoon Li... Next, we need to hire lawyers to conduct further, more detailed negotiations..."

"All citizens, please go home..."

"Tonight, please have the Shantou Street community office select 50 representatives to meet and discuss the negotiation matters together..."

Soon,

the more than 8,000 gathered citizens gradually dispersed.

A storm was temporarily calmed.

Upstairs,

Li Zong looked through the floor-to-ceiling glass at Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu and the dispersing citizens below, his expression uncertain.

The secretary lowered his head: "Boss, should we investigate this Director Director Director Director Director Director Guan Zu?"

(End of chapter)