Chapter 408: Minister Wang, Are You Copying Homework?

On the other end of the phone, a long silence settled.

In the apartment, the string called time seemed stretched to its limit, taut and ready to snap at any moment.

David Cohen, Li Junjie, and Lu Qingjun were like three figures frozen by a pause button, motionless.

They didn't understand the Chinese on the phone, but they could read Lu Qingshan's expression and feel the sudden weight that rose in the air after that question.

"Pilot Enterprise," more than one.

The weight of that sentence could crush any skyscraper on Wall Street.

In Li Junjie's mind, the tangled network of relationships was struck by a bolt of heavenly thunder, and every node and line was redefined in an instant.

He finally understood why the mysterious fund's maneuvering was so calm and disciplined, almost unlike any human hand.

It wasn't about maximizing profit at all; it was carrying out a strategic mission!

David Cohen's mouth opened and closed repeatedly; he felt as if he had fallen into a rabbit hole, and at the other end lay a magical reality he could not comprehend.

He thought he was working for an Eastern tycoon, then realized he was serving a Financial Demon, and later discovered he was risking his life for a mad avenger.

Only now did he terrifyingly realize that, unknowingly, he might have become a brick of red China hurled at Wall Street!

Finally, from the other end of the phone came an extremely light sound, half a sigh, half an approving chuckle.

"Comrade Qingshan, your acuity exceeds our expectations."

Wang Shanghong's voice remained steady, but beneath that steadiness lay a hint of relief after the secret was revealed.

He neither affirmed nor denied, yet that sentence itself was the best acknowledgment.

"Some of our financial institutions, according to the General Office's risk assessment model, have also noted the huge Bubble in the US Subprime market. In line with the principle of hedging and appreciating the nation's foreign‑exchange reserve assets, carrying out some... Exploratory Operation is within regulations."

Wang Shanghong's wording was official and precise, sounding as if he were reading a report.

But Lu Qingshan caught the subtext.

"Exploratory Operation?" Lu Qingshan leaned against the back of the sofa, a curve lifting his mouth corner. "Minister Wang, the force of your 'exploration' is no small thing. It almost uncovered my hidden card."

On the other end of the phone came another silence, as if weighing how to respond to that teasing 'accusation.'

"We are also feeling our way across the river by touching stones," Wang Shanghong's tone softened. "And you, Comrade Qingshan, you are not a stone; you are a Pathfinder. Your actions have verified much intelligence for us and given us great resolve."

"So, are you doing a follow‑investment?" Lu Qingshan asked with a smile.

"That's not called follow‑investment," Wang Shanghong corrected. "It's called... Strategic Coordination."

Strategic Coordination!

Those four words came through the handset, clear as day.

Although the others in the apartment didn't understand, they saw Lu Qingshan's smile become especially radiant after hearing those four words.

"What a 'Strategic Coordination.'" Lu Qingshan nodded slowly. "Now I understand. You handle the Yang Plan, using national credit as backing, buying openly and honorably. I handle the hidden scheme, stirring the waters in secret to draw fire."

"Qingshan, your understanding is profound," Wang Shanghong's voice finally carried a genuine smile. "Some matters the National Team cannot personally intervene in. But you are different; you are 'Prospector Capital,' a private fund that fights freely in the market. All your actions comply with Wall Street's rules."

"Rules?" Lu Qingshan chuckled lightly. "I only trust strength."

"You have already proven your strength," Wang Shanghong's tone grew solemn. "Therefore, the nation is willing to become part of your strength. The sanctions you previously demanded against Morgan Stanley were only a beginning. Whatever you need, you can request at any time. As long as it is within the bounds allowed by the rules, we will provide you with facilitation."

"I have only one question," Lu Qingshan withdrew his smile.

"Go ahead."

"How large is the scale of your capital?"

This time, Wang Shanghong dropped the official rhetoric, remained silent for a full five seconds, then, in a calm voice that made hearts race, uttered a number.

"Phase one, five billion. Including the forty‑six billion that Comrade Wang Yuyun of Hong Kong Island transferred back through channels before you went to London."

The unit is US Dollar.

Lu Qingshan hung up the phone.

The entire top‑floor apartment was so quiet that each person's own heartbeat could be heard.

"Brother... just... what did they say on the phone?" Lu Qingjun's voice was hoarse; he stared at Lu Qingshan's expression, his heart a flutter.

Lu Qingshan did not answer immediately.

He stood up and walked to the three petrified hands before him.

He looked at Li Junjie: "Do you still think our plan could be disrupted by that mysterious fund?"

Li Junjie's body jolted; he shook his head vigorously, his hand holding his glasses trembling.

Disrupt?

That's not a disruption!

This is a mountain crushing from above! It's a Dimensionality Reduction Strike!

He looked at David Cohen, the blond‑eyed Jewish elite, whose expression now resembled Moses witnessing a miracle for the first time.

"David, do you still think our purchase of fifty billion in CDS makes us play the fool?"

David's lips trembled; he tried to speak but not a single word came out.

Fool?

Using fifty billion US Dollars as bait to lure Wall Street's greed, then the National Team fires a massive counter‑attack from behind with fifty billion US Dollars of heavy artillery!

This, damn it, is no longer theology! It's a cosmic war!

He finally understood why the boss, upon learning that John Parker was investigating his family, erupted in such furious, reckless rage.

Because that was no longer a matter of personal grievance.

It was provoking a 'Pathfinder' of a massive state machine!

John Parker thought he was dealing with a sheep, unaware that behind that sheep marched an entire armored division!

"Boss..." David finally regained his voice, looking at Lu Qingshan; his gaze could no longer be described as admiration—it was a total, prostrate conversion. "I... I apply... I apply to join your nationality!"

Lu Qingshan was amused, and the tense atmosphere relaxed.

"Alright," he patted David's shoulder. "Now, return to your posts."

He scanned the crowd, and his voice returned to calm and decisive.

"From now on, cease all analysis and tracking of that 'Friendlies' funding. They take their sunny road, we take our single‑plank bridge. All we need to know is that we are not fighting alone."

"Ye Ning, Zhang Qianru!"

"Present!" The two women immediately stood upright.

"Increase the buying intensity! Don't mind minor cost fluctuations! Our window is brief; we must secure as many chips as possible before the market reacts! If funds are insufficient, apply to Hong Kong Island and London! Our Victoria Opportunity Fund hasn't been tapped yet!"

"Li Junjie, David!"

"Present!"

"Your mission remains unchanged: continue gathering all negative information on the subprime crisis! But broaden the scope! Not just Lehman Brothers—every financial institution holding MBS (mortgage‑backed securities) and CDO (collateralized debt obligations) must be monitored! I want a Wall Street 'death list'!"

"Qingjun!"

"Hey! Brother!"

"Go downstairs and buy a few cases of the finest champagne." Lu Qingshan, unusually, showed a hint of relaxed fatigue, "Tonight, we'll celebrate early."

The whole team seemed infused with a brand‑new spirit.

The earlier excitement stemmed from reverence for Lu Qingshan's personal brilliance.

Now the excitement is a grand narrative of participating in great‑power games and shaking history with our own hands!

They are no longer a bunch of speculators; they are pioneers, sharp blades!

While the entire apartment was immersed in this fresh exhilaration, the military‑grade encrypted communication Terminal in front of Ye Ning, which had remained silent and was used to contact "Razor" and "Black Widow," suddenly emitted a crisp "beep."

It wasn't a phone ring nor an email notification.

It was a point‑to‑point, untraceable text message.

Ye Ning's motion stopped; she looked at the screen, completely stunned.

Everyone's gaze in the apartment was drawn toward it.

"What's wrong?" Lu Qingshan asked.

Ye Ning didn't turn around; her voice, for the first time, carried a hint of extremely complex emotion—surprise, confusion, and an indefinable sense of belonging.

She slowly turned her head, looking at Lu Qingshan.

"Boss."

"They… have contacted us."

Her finger pointed at the screen.

On the screen, there was only a very simple interface, the sender was anonymous.

The message content consisted of just two characters.

Dongfeng Missile.