Chapter 259: Strategic Mastery! Founding Xinghan Bank, Targeting a Century‑Old HSBC!

In the afternoon, the sea breeze brushed lightly, and the sunshine was perfect.

Lu Qingshan stood on the massive curved balcony on the second floor of the castle, overlooking the expansive private garden below that stretched like a park and the distant azure Great Wave Bay. The waves rhythmically pounded the golden private beach, producing rolling sounds that refreshed the soul.

Here, far from the city's clamor and shielded from countless prying eyes, he finally had a place where he could think in peace.

Defeating Wilson was only the first step; as he said last night, the real war had only just begun. The British Capital Group has entrenched itself on Hong Kong Island for a century, deeply rooted, and will not settle for a single defeat. He needs more allies and stronger trump cards.

At that moment, Li Fuying's phone rang, her voice brimming with excitement as she discussed the details of tomorrow night's housewarming banquet.

"Uncle Li, the banquet can wait; are you free to come over now?" Lu Qingshan's voice was calm yet carried an unrefusable tone. "I have an important friend here I'd like you to meet; he might help answer some of our questions."

"Oh? Alright, Qing Shan, I'll be there right away," Li Fuying said, a bit surprised but immediately agreeing.

Soon, Li Fuying's Rolls‑Royce stopped at the foot of the castle. She hurried into the ten‑meter‑high grand hall and at a glance saw Lu Qingshan sipping tea on a sofa with a man. He was of medium build, wore gold‑rimmed glasses, and appeared scholarly and refined—a middle‑aged gentleman.

The man seemed about forty, dressed in a perfectly tailored top‑brand suit, his demeanor steady and restrained, yet Li Fuying keenly noticed his tea‑holding hand's knuckles were slightly pale, and a barely perceptible tension and excitement flickered in his eyes.

"Chairman Li, allow me to give you a grand introduction," Lu Qingshan stood, pulling the middle‑aged man forward, his expression solemn and formal. "This is Mr. Liang Zhiwei."

He paused, his gaze blazing, and said word for word, "He is the current Director of HSBC's Investment Division, and also a senior financial advisor for Taigu Group."

The moment his words fell, the crystal chandelier's glow in the hall seemed to freeze.

Li Fuying's smile froze; she widened her eyes, staring in disbelief at Liang Zhiwei, then at Lu Qingshan, a buzzing emptiness echoing in her mind.

HSBC! Taigu Group!

Aren't they Lu Qingshan's arch‑rivals in this financial war? The executioners forcing the Chinese Chamber of Commerce into a corner! And Liang Zhiwei, by his title, is a core figure of the opposing camp!

What does this mean, Qing Shan? Crazy? Inviting the wolf into the house?

"Chairman Li, greetings," Liang Zhiwei set down his tea cup, gave Li Fuying a slight bow, his demeanor extremely respectful, yet fine beads of sweat already broke out uncontrollably on his forehead.

Li Fuying's mind raced at a tenth of a second, countless thoughts flashing like lightning. She suddenly recalled that in this great war, every move Lu Qingshan made was as precise as a Divine Revelation! How did he know Wilson would gamble everything? How did he know exactly when the opponent's funding chain would snap? How could he always anticipate Wilson's actions in advance, as if a bug had been planted in the enemy's command center!

Could it be…

A world‑shaking conjecture erupted wildly in her mind, making her shiver; her gaze at Lu Qingshan transformed completely, from admiration to horror!

Lu Qingshan seemed to read her thoughts, gave a faint smile, walked to Mr. Liang's side, gave his shoulder a firm pat, and said to the now pallid Li Fuying, "Uncle Li, don't be nervous. Mr. Liang is one of us."

He added another sentence, low in volume, yet it rang in Li Fuying's ears like a heavy bomb.

"Mr. Liang hails from the mainland, has been suppressed within the Yingzi system, his talent unrecognized. He is an absolute friend and the sharpest dagger we have lodged in the enemy's heart!"

Boom!

Li Fuying felt the world spin; she instinctively grabbed the nearby sofa to stay upright. She finally understood! Everything was clear!

No wonder! No wonder Lu Qingshan could win so splendidly! No wonder Wilson lost so completely!

It turned out that a dagger of our own had long been lodged in the enemy's heart!

At this moment, when Li Fuying looked at Lu Qingshan again, her gaze held not only admiration and gratitude but also deep reverence, even a hint of soul‑deep fear.

The young man's scheming and tactics are terrifying! He plans meticulously and wins battles from afar; this is beyond a mere business genius—it is the making of a generation's overlord!

He suddenly burst into a hearty laugh, his chuckle filled with post‑disaster relief and boundless optimism for the future. He strode forward, gripping Liang Zhiwei's hand tightly: "Welcome! Welcome, Mr. Liang! So you're one of us! The very ones who break bone and tendon! Hahaha, wonderful!"

Only Lu Qingshan knew that Liang Zhiwei's card was turned thanks to memories from a past life, a feat that took monumental effort. In his previous incarnation, Liang Zhiwei, leveraging his outstanding professional ability and deep understanding of the Place market, rose rapidly and eventually became one of HSBC's captains across the entire Place region—a true financial titan.

How could such talent be made to serve the United Kingdom?

Lu Qingshan, watching the flattered Liang Zhiwei, dropped another heavy bomb, essentially giving Li Fuying a reassuring pill.

"Uncle Li, the Financial Empire I spoke of last night isn't empty talk. I'm preparing to register a new bank called 'Xinghan Bank', taken from 'The stars shine brilliantly, as if emerging from within.'"

He looked at Liang Zhiwei, eyes blazing with trust: "I intend to invite Mr. Liang to resign from HSBC and become the inaugural Bank President of our Xinghan Bank."

"What?!"

Liang Zhiwei and Li Fuying shouted in surprise together.

Li Fuying was once again stunned by Lu Qingshan's boldness. Establish a bank? And make a freshly 'defected' enemy its Bank President? What a magnitude of vision and spirit!

Liang Zhiwei, meanwhile, was knocked dizzy and trembling by the colossal surprise that fell from the heavens.

Bank President! The founding President of an entirely new bank!

He had originally thought that by taking the huge risk of allying with Lu Qingshan, he would at most become an executive in the new company. He never dreamed that Lu Qingshan would entrust the entire bank's future to his hands!

What a level of trust! What a degree of esteem!

"Thump," Liang Zhiwei could no longer contain the excitement, grievance and gratitude that had built up for over a decade; his knees gave way, and he knelt directly on the hard marble floor before Lu Qingshan.

"Mr. Lu! You… you're going to crush me!" his voice trembled, tears glimmering in his eyes. "I spent ten years at HSBC, my achievements all snatched by my United Kingdom superiors, forever kept down! I thought I'd never have a chance to rise in this life! How could I, Liang Zhiwei, dare to accept such a monumental responsibility!"

"I trust those I employ, and I do not employ those I doubt," Lu Qingshan reached out to help him up, his voice calm yet imbued with undeniable authority. "I know Mr. Liang's abilities better than anyone. The future of Xinghan Bank, the future of Hong Kong Island's Chinese capital, lies in your hands."

A warrior dies for a confidant!

Liang Zhiwei straightened his posture, inhaled deeply, and bowed solemnly to Lu Qingshan.

"Mr. Lu, I shall never forget your rebirth grace! From now on, my life belongs to you! I am willing to use all I have learned to build iron walls for Xinghan Bank, and to expand your Financial Empire!"

Watching this scene, Li Fuying's heart was already roiling with waves.

Only now did she truly understand what Lu Qingshan meant by "replace and supplant" last night.

This young man isn't aiming to compete with the British Capital Group.

He intends to use Yang Plan and Yin Plot, thunderous tactics and unparalleled wit, to uproot the century‑old British Capital power entrenched on Hong Kong Island and swallow it whole!

A brand‑new era belonging to the Chinese seems truly about to arrive.