Chapter 235: Hundred Billion Siege! The Chinese Chamber of Commerce's Life-or-Death Moment

At the same time, the Far East Exchange's former Lu Qingshan's exclusive VIP trading room now had a Star Han Investment Group sign on the door, and the atmosphere inside was completely different.

The once spacious trading room now felt a bit cramped, with a dozen traders seated at trading terminals, nervously watching the numbers flickering on the screens. These were elites personally interviewed and selected by Ye Ning; each had more than three years of flawless operation records and were top talent in Hong Kong Island's financial sector. They came from varied backgrounds: senior traders poached from HSBC, mathematical prodigies who jumped from American investment banks, and a few young rookies who had just graduated from the London School of Finance.

To assemble this team, Ye Ning scoured the entire Hong Kong Island financial circle. She offered salaries 30% above market rates plus equity incentives to poach these elites from major investment banks and banks. She examined each résumé carefully, even flying herself to London and New York to investigate their past performance on site.

Seated in the front row, Zhang Qiming, who once set a record of HK$80 million profit in a single day at HSBC and was hailed as the "King of Hong Kong Island Trading," sat beside the Ph. D. mathematician Lin Yuchen, who had jumped from Morgan, and who had used her own algorithmic model to maintain zero loss on the U. S. stock market for three consecutive months.

"Everyone, after the opening today, our strategy will undergo a major adjustment," Ye Ning's voice rang through the trading room, carrying undeniable authority. "Everyone must strictly follow the boss's instructions without any deviation. Any act that disobeys the orders will result in immediate dismissal and a permanent ban from the Hong Kong Island financial sector."

Her gaze swept over each face, and her voice grew even more solemn: "Remember, we are not facing ordinary opponents but a coordinated squeeze by the entire Yingzi Group. According to our internal intelligence, they have mobilized at least HK$10 billion, preparing a lethal strike on the stock market. This is a war concerning the Chinese Chamber of Commerce's very survival, and each of us must be mentally prepared."

The traders nodded one after another, but each felt a surge of tension. HK$10 billion—a figure enough to instill Fear in anyone. It was roughly equivalent to several days' trading volume on the Hong Kong Island stock market, enough to stir up a tempest.

Zhang Qiming's palms began to sweat as he recalled Wilson, whom he had encountered at HSBC. That man was like a bloodthirsty shark, never giving opponents a chance to survive. Once an American investment bank tried to challenge HSBC in the Hong Kong Island stock market, only to be completely crushed by Wilson in three days, suffering losses exceeding US$1 billion.

"Ye Ning, can we really stand up to Wilson?" a young trader asked, voice trembling. "Their capital advantage is huge, and they even have the Imperial Governor's Office's backing. Our modest funds are like ants against an elephant in front of them."

Ye Ning looked at the young man, a flash of understanding in her eyes. She knew the traders' worries, after all they were up against the strongest adversary in Hong Kong Island's financial sector. But she also knew Lu Qingshan's capability; that young man could always work miracles in a dire situation.

"Do you know how Lu Qingshan evaluates Wilson?" Ye Ning's voice turned mysterious, carrying a reassuring confidence. "He says Wilson is like a tiger that looks fierce but is actually old, its teeth no longer sharp. What we need to do is let that tiger know a new hunter has emerged."

Her words silenced everyone. They recalled Lu Qingshan's legendary stock-market feats and remembered how that young man could turn the tide at critical moments with his uncanny ability.

At 9:30 a. m., the opening bell rang like a war trumpet.

The entire trading room fell silent in an instant, leaving only the clatter of keyboards and the ring of phones. Everyone's nerves were taut as if they were soldiers on a battlefield. A tense atmosphere permeated the air, and even breathing became cautious.

Zhang Qiming's hands flew across the keyboard, his eyes glued to the shifting numbers on the screen. As the team's chief trader, he bore the greatest pressure. Beside him, Lin Yuchen was frantically crunching various data, her notebook densely filled with mathematical formulas.

Lu Qingshan sat in the inner boss's office, watching the trading room through the internal communication system. His expression was calm, but Ye Ning knew that beneath that calm lay immense power, like the stillness before a storm. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, the rhythmic sound evoking a sense of impending danger.

On Lu Qingshan's desk lay a thick stack of documents: detailed analysis reports on each Yingzi Group subsidiary, with every company's financial condition, equity structure, and business model meticulously recorded. He had spent considerable time and money gathering these, and now was the moment for them to prove useful.

"Ye Ning, begin." Lu Qingshan's voice came through the communicator, bearing a composed strategic poise. "Continuously sell small amounts of previously Short Position index contracts, while covertly acquiring long index contracts in multiple small batches. Remember, act lightly, don't let the market detect our intent. Each trade must stay under HK$10 million, spread across different accounts."

Ye Ning was taken aback by the order. It completely overturned her perception of Lu Qingshan's trading style. She had imagined him favoring large, bold moves involving billions of Hong Kong dollars, yet now he demanded small, dispersed trades, leaving her puzzled.

She hurried to the newly opened office for Lu Qingshan, pushed the door open, and entered. The office was scented with a faint hint of sandalwood, and the massive floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of Central on Hong Kong Island's bustling scene. Lu Qingshan sat behind his desk, a report in hand, his gaze focused as if studying a work of art.

"Boss, what do you mean?" Ye Ning's voice was a bit nervous. "Do you think the stocks will rise? If so, our previous Short Position will suffer massive losses. According to my calculations, if the Hang Seng Index rises by 10%, our loss will exceed HK$800 million."

A flicker of unease crossed her eyes; as a mathematical prodigy, she keenly sensed the risk of this maneuver. If the judgment proved wrong, they would face ruin. The entire Star Han Investment Group's capital could be drained completely in a short span.

Lu Qingshan set the document down, looked at her, and a deep gleam flashed in his eyes as if he could read minds. He rose, walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, and gazed over Central's bustling Hong Kong Island skyline. The skyscrapers glittered in the sunlight, yet he knew a financial storm was about to sweep the city.