Chapter 433: The White House's Olive Branch

Ye Ning pressed the speakerphone button.

The voice on the other end of the line came with a heavy Texas accent, yet the tone was unusually polite.

"Mr. Lu, this is White House Office Director Joshua Bolton. The President would like to speak with you; may I ask if you are available now?"

Everyone in the apartment held their breath.

Lu Qingjun even wondered if his ears were playing tricks on him.

White House Office Director? The President?

His older brother is about to talk with the US President?

"Hold on," Lu Qingshan's voice was as calm as if he were taking a routine business call.

He walked to the window and looked at the city outside, already plunged into darkness.

"All right."

A brief burst of static came from the other end, followed by an even richer voice that carried the characteristic charisma of a politician.

"Good evening, Mr. Lu. This is Ronald Reagan."

David Cohen's legs went weak, and he nearly fell off his chair.

Li Junjie was no better; he clutched the edge of the table, fearing he might pass out from the shock.

The US President called Lu Qingshan personally.

"Good evening, Mr. Reagan," Lu Qingshan's tone remained flat.

"Mr. Lu, I imagine you're very busy today," Reagan's voice carried a hint of probing, "What happened on Wall Street today has the world's attention."

"Indeed, very busy," Lu Qingshan did not deny.

"I heard Bao Ersen say that you played a crucial role in this storm," Reagan paused, "I don't know much about finance, but I understand one thing: the market needs order, and order needs someone to uphold it."

His words were airtight.

He neither directly accused Lu Qingshan of Short Selling Lehman nor explicitly pledged a rescue.

Lu Qingshan smiled.

"Mr. Reagan, I think you're being too modest. When you were acting in Hollywood, business was far simpler than it is now."

The remark carried a hint of teasing.

Everyone in the apartment inhaled a sharp gasp.

Few in the world could dare speak to the US President in such a tone.

But Reagan not only didn't get angry; he let out a hearty laugh.

"Mr. Lu truly is a straightforward person. Very well, I won't beat around the bush."

His tone grew solemn.

"Lehman Brothers' issue is no longer just a single company's problem. It concerns the stability of the entire financial system and the future of the US economy. I hope you understand that we need an orderly Solution."

"Orderly?" Lu Qingshan retorted, "Does Mr. Reagan think that letting a company suspected of financial fraud and insider trading continue to exist is orderly?"

"Mr. Lu..."

"Or does Mr. Reagan think that letting those Wall Street vampires keep using toxic assets to harm investors worldwide is maintaining order?"

Lu Qingshan's voice sharpened.

"If that's the order, I'd rather watch it collapse."

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

"Mr. Lu, you are right," Reagan's voice added a note of sincerity, "Lehman Brothers' executives should indeed face legal punishment. However, the rank‑and‑file employees and ordinary investors are innocent."

"So what does Mr. Reagan mean?"

"I hope you will cease Short Selling," Reagan finally stated his true purpose, "In return, the US Government is willing to offer you support in other areas."

Lu Qingshan did not answer immediately.

He turned around, looking at the team members in the apartment who were so tense they seemed on the verge of suffocation.

"Mr. Reagan, may I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"If the person standing here today were not me but a domestic US investor, would you still make this call?"

The question was both blunt and sharp.

Reagan fell silent again.

"Mr. Lu, you are questioning the fairness of the US Government."

"No, I'm merely stating facts," Lu Qingshan's voice grew cold, "When those Wall Street folks Short Sold the Europe Market and Short Sold the Place, your predecessors never once called to urge them to stop."

"Even during the two post‑war financial crises—the 1973 oil crisis and the 1980 debt crisis—when economies worldwide were upended by international speculators, the US Government not only failed to intervene but actually fanned the flames behind the scenes."

"Now Wall Street is bleeding itself, and you want me to stand down?"

"Mr. Reagan, do you think this is fair?"

His words were unrelenting.

Everyone in the apartment was stunned.

Lu Qingjun even gave his older brother a mental thumbs‑up.

The only one bold enough to speak so bluntly in front of the US President is probably his older brother.

Reagan on the other end was cornered, unable to speak.

A long while.

"Mr. Lu, you are right."

Reagan's voice carried a hint of helplessness.

"The past indeed had many unfair aspects. But now, we need to look forward."

"I can promise that the US Government will strengthen regulation of Wall Street and will not let similar incidents happen again. At the same time, I also hope you can give me a chance to prove that the US Government treats all investors equally."

Those words sound very nice.

But Lu Qingshan could tell that this was merely a politician's stalling tactic.

"Mr. Reagan, I appreciate your Sincerity," Lu Qingshan's tone softened a bit, "but I have one condition."

"Please, go ahead."

"The US Government must not interfere with the market's normal operation. Let the bankrupt go bankrupt, let the liquidations be liquidated. If those Wall Street financial institutions truly have problems, let them pay the price."

"But at the same time, the US Government must protect those innocent investors and depositors. Do not let ordinary people foot the bill for Wall Street's greed."

The condition is put forward very cleverly.

It both upholds his own stance and gives the White House a way out.

Reagan visibly let out a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Lu, I agree to your condition."

"Very well," Lu Qingshan nodded, "then I can also promise that future operations will be more cautious and will not let the market get out of control."

"Thank you, Mr. Lu," Reagan's voice was full of gratitude, "if there is a chance, I hope to meet you at the White House."

"There will be a chance."

Lu Qingshan hung up the phone.

A long‑suppressed cheer erupted in the apartment.

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

"Boss! You were so impressive just now! You actually got the US President to call you personally to seek reconciliation! This... this is an epic‑level victory!"

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

"Boss, you are no longer a hunter of Wall Street. You are... you are a presence that can stand on equal footing with the US Government!"

Lu Qingshan waved his hand, signaling them to be quiet.

"Don't get too excited yet."

He walked back to the sofa and sat down again.

"Reagan's call is merely a surface article. The real war is just beginning."

"Boss, what do you mean?" Zhang Qianru asked.

"Lehman Brothers is only the first domino to fall," Lu Qingshan's voice grew serious, "Next are Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, AIG... the problems of these institutions are even more severe than Lehman Brothers."

"Moreover, those Wall Street people will not sit idly by. They will definitely find ways to strike back."

"So we cannot be careless."

Ye Ning nodded.

"Boss, who is our next target?"

Lu Qingshan did not answer immediately.

He looked at the city outside the window, already plunged into darkness, and countless names flashed through his mind.

Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, AIG, Citibank...

These names will fall one after another in the coming months.

And he is the hand that will topple them.

"Ye Ning."

"Here."

"Notify Wilson and Li Zhi'an and have them start studying Bear Stearns' asset structure."

"Understood."

"David, Li Junjie."

"Here!"

"You two are responsible for compiling Lehman Brothers' profit data and calculating how much we earned this time."

"Got it!"

The two immediately returned to their respective computers and began frantically pounding the keyboards.

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

Outside, Manhattan had already fallen into darkness, with only scattered lights flickering.

It was like a massive ship about to sink.

And he was the one lighting a fire in the cabin.

At that moment, Lu Qingjun walked up to his side.

"Brother, I have a question."

"Speak."

"Why did you agree to Reagan's condition? With your current power, you could keep Short Selling and turn the entire Wall Street upside down."

Lu Qingshan turned his head and looked at his younger brother.

"Lu Qingjun, you must remember one thing."

"What is it?"

"Doing business is not for destruction, but for reconstruction."

Lu Qingshan's voice deepened.

"What I want is not a collapsed Wall Street, but a Wall Street that I help rebuild."

"Only then can I truly hold the discourse power."

Lu Qingjun nodded, half‑understanding.

At that moment, a new message popped up on Ye Ning's computer.

She glanced at it and was stunned.

"Boss, look right away."

Lu Qingshan walked over.

On the screen was a formal email from Morgan Stanley.

The email's subject was very brief, only four characters.

【Cooperation Invitation】