Chapter 431: Finance Minister Bowen

The red encrypted phone's ringtone echoed through the apartment.

Lu Qingshan walked over and lifted the receiver.

"Mr. Lu, this is Henry Bowen."

The voice on the other end was deep and sonorous, bearing the formulaic steadiness typical of American politicians.

But Lu Qingshan could tell that beneath that steadiness lay anger and resentment suppressed to the extreme.

"Mr. Bowles, good afternoon."

Lu Qingshan's tone was relaxed, as if chatting with an old friend.

"Mr. Lu, I think there may be some misunderstanding between us."

Bowen was clearly trying to control his emotions, enunciating each word sharply.

"Regarding the Mitsubishi matter, I believe there must be some communication problem. Wall Street is the global financial hub; any unnecessary panic would have disastrous effects worldwide."

"Mr. Bowles, are you trying to tell me how to act?"

Lu Qingshan interrupted him.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end.

"I only hope that, as a responsible investor, you can consider the bigger picture."

A hint of gritted teeth crept into Bowen's voice.

"The bigger picture?"

Lu Qingshan smiled.

"Mr. Bowles, the bigger picture you speak of—does it mean letting me watch Wall Street's vampires continue to harm investors worldwide with toxic assets? Or does it mean having me cooperate with you to sustain this bubble that's rotten to its core?"

"Mr. Lu!"

Bowen's voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"You're playing with fire! You think a few tricks can shake Wall Street? The US Government has a thousand ways to make your steps here impossible!"

Threat.

Bare threat.

Everyone in the apartment held their breath.

David Cohen's face turned deathly pale; he never imagined he would one day hear the US Treasury Department minister threaten his boss in this tone.

Lu Qingjun was even more nervous, his palms sweating.

But Lu Qingshan's expression did not change at all.

He even leaned back against the sofa, his posture even more relaxed.

"Mr. Bowles, are you finished?"

"What?"

Bowen clearly hadn't expected Lu Qingshan to react this way.

"I mean, have you finished your threat?"

Lu Qingshan's voice turned icy.

"If you're done, then it's my turn to speak now."

"First, the Mitsubishi decision is their own commercial judgment and has nothing to do with me. If Mr. Bowles wants to settle scores, he should go after Pan Liu Xinyu, not me."

"Second, every transaction I make on Wall Street is legal and compliant; if the US Government tries to use non‑market means against me, the whole world will see that the so‑called free market is nothing but a joke."

"Third…"

Lu Qingshan paused briefly.

"John Mc has already agreed to my terms. So, Mr. Bowles, are you planning to apologize to me personally, or have me send Morgan Stanley's $32 billion toxic‑asset list to the Wall Street Journal?"

With that sentence, the line fell completely silent.

Only Bowen's heavy breathing could be heard.

Lu Qingshan waited a full half‑minute.

"Mr. Bowles, my time is valuable."

"Mr. Lu."

Bowen finally spoke.

His voice no longer held the earlier anger and threat; instead it was a nearly humiliating calm.

"Regarding some earlier… misunderstandings, I, on behalf of the US Treasury Department, apologize to you."

He said it lightly, yet everyone in the apartment heard it crystal clear.

David Cohen sprang up from the sofa, hands covering his mouth, afraid he might shout.

Li Junjie's face was also shocked; he felt his whole worldview being completely reshaped.

Lu Qingjun was utterly stunned.

The US Treasury Department minister apologized to his own big brother!

"Very well."

Lu Qingshan's voice returned to calm.

"Mr. Bowles is a smart man. I believe we will have many opportunities for cooperation ahead."

"Mr. Lu, I hope you will keep your promise and stabilize the market."

Bowen's voice carried a hint of probing.

"I will."

Lu Qingshan said lightly.

"But not now."

What?

Bowen's voice rose again.

The market needs a real reshuffle, Mr. Bowen.

Lu Qingshan stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Those rotten trees must be cut down. Those poisonous assets must be cleared. The process will be painful, but it is necessary.

Do you want Wall Street to collapse?

Bowen's voice was filled with disbelief.

No, I just want those damned people to pay the price.

Lu Qingshan hung up the phone.

A long‑suppressed cheer erupted in the apartment.

David Cohen rushed over, so excited he could barely speak.

Boss! You're amazing! You're practically a god! You made the US Treasury Secretary apologize! This… this is an epic victory!

Li Junjie also came over, his face full of admiration.

Boss, what do we do next?

Lu Qingshan did not answer immediately.

He looked at the city outside, about to be caught in a storm, and spoke slowly.

Ye Ning.

Here.

Notify Wilson, initiate the Second Phase.

All funds, put them all on the line.

I will, before tomorrow's close, push Lehman Brothers' stock price below ten US Dollars.

When those words were spoken, the entire apartment fell into a death‑like silence again.

Ten US Dollars.

That means Lehman Brothers' market value will evaporate by more than eighty percent.

That will be a genuine financial tsunami.

Yes!

Ye Ning's fingers began to fly across the keyboard.

Commands streamed through encrypted channels to London, to Tokyo, to every prepared account worldwide.

The war has officially begun.

At that moment, Lu Qingshan's private phone rang again.

This time it wasn't an encrypted call, but a regular international long‑distance.

Ye Ning glanced at the caller ID, and his expression grew a bit complex.

Boss, it's Hong Kong Island calling.

Mr. Li Fuying.

Lu Qingshan answered the phone.

Mr. Lu, I've heard about what's happening in New York.

Li Fuying's voice carried a hint of worry.

You've gone a bit too far this time.

Chairman Li is worried about me?

Lu Qingshan smiled.

It's not you I'm worried about, it's the Far East Association.

Li Fuying sighed.

What you did in New York has already been reported back to Hong Kong Island. Now everyone in the Far East Association is talking, saying you intend to overturn Wall Street. Mr. Lu, are you really confident?

Chairman Li thinks I'm not confident?

It's not a lack of confidence, it's just too crazy.

Li Fuying's voice held a trace of helplessness.

But I'm not calling to urge you to back down.

What is that?

I'm calling to tell you that all the Far East Association's funds can be mobilized at any time.

Li Fuying's voice became solemn.

Whatever amount you need, I'll give you that amount.

Lu Qingshan was silent for a few seconds.

Thank you, Chairman Li.

No need to thank me.

Li Fuying smiled.

I'm just placing a bet. Betting that you can truly create history.

After hanging up, Lu Qingshan turned to face the team.

Did everyone hear?

Heard!

Everyone answered in unison.

"Then don't just stand there, get to work!"

The whole apartment entered a battle state again.

On the screen, Lehman Brothers' stock price was still falling.

Twenty-three dollars.

Twenty dollars.

Eighteen dollars.

Panic had already spread completely.

And just then, the New York Stock Exchange suddenly announced a suspension of trading in Lehman Brothers.

The reason given was 'abnormal fluctuation.'

David Cohen's face changed upon seeing this news.

"Boss, they want to forcefully stop the bleeding!"

"Useless."

Lu Qingshan said calmly.

"Suspending trading will only make the panic worse. When the market opens tomorrow, it will fall even harder."

As his words fell, another news item popped up on Ye Ning's computer.

【Federal Reserve holds emergency meeting to discuss whether to rescue Lehman Brothers.】

Upon seeing this news, a cold smile appeared on Lu Qingshan's lips.

"Here it comes."

"Boss, is the Federal Reserve going to rescue Lehman?"

David Cohen asked nervously.

"No."

Lu Qingshan shook his head.

"They're just putting on a show, giving the market an explanation. The real decision has already been made."

"What decision?"

"Let Lehman Brothers die."

Lu Qingshan's voice was ice-cold, as if coming from hell.

"Because only by letting Lehman Brothers die can we kill the chicken to scare the monkey, making other financial institutions behave."

"And we are that knife."