Chapter 327: Wang Shanghong Stunned: How Many Hidden Cards Does He Really Have?

The black tiger‑head Mercedes sedan merged smoothly into the traffic on Chang'an Street, the window showing towering buildings rushing backward. Lu Qingshan leaned against the back seat, his gaze sweeping over the Capital City's unique gray sky; the calm he felt after conquering Hong Kong Island was being replaced by an even hotter ambition.

The office building of the Foreign Exchange Administration Bureau stood solemn and austere, the air seeming to be filled with the scent of numbers and regulations. People coming and going moved with hurried steps, their expressions serious.

Lu Qingshan, however, strolled leisurely, as if on familiar ground, and arrived at Wang Shanghong's office.

Wang Shanghong was buried in reviewing a document when he heard a knock; looking up, he saw Lu Qingshan. The seriousness on his face melted instantly, and he rose to greet him, a suppressed enthusiastic smile spreading: "You finally came! I thought that after you returned to the Capital City you'd have forgotten an old friend like me!"

"Bureau Chief Wang, you're joking. I just finished handling a family matter and came straight to report to you, didn't I?" Lu Qingshan said with a smile, placing a box of tea leaves carefully wrapped in oil paper on the desk. "A Hong Kong Island friend gave me Wuyi Mountain mother tree Da Hong Pao; it's been stored for many years, please try it."

"You, always so courteous," Wang Shanghong said, his eyes brightening, his hand honestly taking the box, opening it himself. A rich, mineral tea aroma instantly filled the office. He fiddled with the tea set while brewing tea for Lu Qingshan.

After a few pleasantries, Wang Shanghong proactively got to the point, lowering his voice, excitement in his expression: "The last battle on Hong Kong Island was splendid! Not only did we earn foreign exchange, but more importantly we displayed the prestige of Huaxia capital! Old Chen singled you out in the internal meeting, praising you as a 'young tiger general with both courage and strategy'!"

"It's all thanks to good national policy; I merely went with the flow," Lu Qingshan said modestly, then shifted his tone, lifting his tea cup but not drinking, gently tracing the warm rim with his finger, his gaze becoming as deep as the sea.

"Bureau Chief Wang, Hong Kong Island is just an Appetizer. This time I'm here to discuss something with you; my next target is London."

"London?"

"Clang!" The hand holding the tea cup shook violently, the scalding tea splashed onto his expensive western trousers, and the cup crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. He seemed unfazed by the burn, sprang up sharply, staring intently at Lu Qingshan, his face full of horror and disbelief.

That's London! The financial heart of the empire on which the sun never sets, the birthplace of the modern financial system, the Rothschild family's centuries‑old backyard, the stronghold of countless international financial giants!

Lu Qingshan fighting on Hong Kong Island can be considered a home‑ground operation, with favorable terrain and support. Going to London, however, would be a lone foray deep into the tiger's den!

"Qing Shan, you're not kidding, are you?" Wang Shanghong's voice trembled slightly as he circled the desk, his expression unusually grave. "London Financial City's waters are far deeper than Hong Kong Island's! Its rules, connections, and capital scale are on a completely different level. Our knowledge of that side is almost a blank sheet!"

"I know." Lu Qingshan's expression remained unusually calm, as if speaking of something as ordinary as going downstairs to buy groceries. "Precisely because we don't understand, we must go. We can't stay forever splashing in our own pond; sooner or later we have to venture into the ocean to fight real sharks."

His gaze was tranquil as water, yet seemed to conceal a stormy surge capable of swallowing everything.

"The target I intend to snipe is Yingzi. After taking such a heavy loss on Hong Kong Island, they won't settle quietly. Rather than waiting for them to recover and retaliate, we should strike proactively, hit their home base, and leave them unable to tend to themselves!"

Wang Shanghong was stunned by the ruthlessness and domineering aura emanating from Lu Qingshan's words.

This kid, his nerve is too big! He's practically insane!

He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to calm down, and considered the issue from a professional manager's perspective: "The idea is bold, but the risk is extremely high. Do you have a concrete plan? For example, which companies are your targets? How much capital do you intend to invest? What's the trading strategy?"

Lu Qingshan shook his head, poured himself another cup of tea, and gently blew on the steam.

"The concrete plan can't be disclosed yet."

Wang Shanghong frowned, about to follow up.

Lu Qingshan continued: "Because the market changes in an instant, any perfect plan made in advance may become a scrap of paper on the real battlefield. I can only tell you that I've already sent people over, and the funds are in place. The real plan must adapt on the battlefield."

"When the commander is abroad, the sovereign's orders may go unheeded. True battle opportunities often lie within a single line; seize it and it's victory. Hesitate, and it's a bottomless abyss."

Wang Shanghong stared at the young man before him, suddenly at a loss for words. He felt his heart twitch, an inexplicable palpitations spreading through his body. It didn't feel like a businessman discussing a deal, but rather a strategist‑general arranging a pre‑war campaign that could decide the nation's fate.

He was still weighing the pros and cons and risks when the office door suddenly went "Bang!" as someone forcefully pushed it open from outside, the door slamming against the wall with a deafening crash.

"Lao Wang, I heard your secretary say a distinguished guest arrived here..."

A loud voice with a hint of teasing rang in, the sound arriving before the person.

Immediately after, a tall, vigorous man strode in, none other than the Minister of the Foreign Trade Department, Zhang Jianshen.

Zhang Jianshen's eyes landed on Lu Qingshan seated on the sofa; he widened his eyes, pointed a finger at Lu Qingshan, and scolded with a laugh: "Well, Lu Qingshan! I kept wondering why I couldn't find you anywhere in the world, only to discover you're hiding at Lao Wang's!"

"You returned to the Capital City and didn't even report to me first, running all over the world, treating the Capital City like your backyard, huh?"

Facing the minister's "reproach", Lu Qingshan quickly stood, smiling helplessly: "Minister Zhang, I've just returned and haven't had a chance to pay my respects at your place yet."

"Cut the act!" Zhang Jianshen didn't buy it, took a few steps forward, grabbed Lu Qingshan's arm with astonishing strength, "Stop drinking tea with Lao Wang; he's just a money‑bag manager, what serious business could he have? Come with me; I have a huge matter to discuss with you!"

Saying that, he ignored Wang Shanghong's reaction, hauled Lu Qingshan out, muttering, "You kid are truly my lucky star; I was fretting over something and you just walked right into it!"

Lu Qingshan was knocked off balance by the pull, and could only glance back at the stunned Wang Shanghong with a helpless look.

Wang Shanghong opened his mouth slightly, watching the two disappear at the doorway, still holding the unfinished cup of tea.

A huge matter?

He glanced at the report on London Financial risk assessment on the table, a swirl of mixed feelings in his heart.

How many hidden cards does this kid still have that I don't know?