Chapter 440: Finance as a Sword, Adding a Heavier Weight to the Hong Kong Island Issue!

The two phones that rang almost simultaneously sounded like two invisible sledgehammers, smashing hard onto the top floor of Saint Remo Apartment.

The air that had just boiled with excitement after receiving National Team authorization was instantly sucked out, solidifying into a transparent amber that sealed everyone's astonishment, ecstasy and bewilderment inside.

David Cohen had just gotten up from the carpet and hadn't had time to cheer for his boss's upcoming launch of the "Eight-Nation Alliance", when Ye Ning's mention of "Downing Street 10" snapped him back.

This time, he didn't even have the strength to howl; he just stood with his mouth open, staring dumbly at the two phones, his gaze so hollow it seemed his soul had left his body, drifting over the Atlantic Ocean, overlooking the Fog City, which was also in panic.

Li Junjie and Zhang Qianru's minds were as if forced with an undecodable program, completely crashing.

The call from Capital City they could understand; it was a game at the national level.

But the United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office… what is that?

This is no longer business, not finance, not even plain politics.

This is rewriting history textbooks!

Lu Qingjun tipped the coffee pot in his hand, scalding coffee splashing onto the back of his hand, yet he didn't notice, staring rigidly at his big brother.

The man in his eyes had gone from a capable brother to a money‑making businessman, then to a scheming overlord who could stir the clouds.

And now, he didn't know what word to use to describe him.

Lu Qingshan walked to Ye Ning's side, his expression unchanged, as if the call hadn't come from the Prime Minister but from a community pipe‑repair worker.

He first pointed to the ordinary international long‑distance phone.

"The one from Li Zhi'an's side, you take it, ask what's happening in London now."

Then, unhurriedly, he picked up the red encrypted phone.

"Boss…" Ye Ning's voice carried a tremor she couldn't control herself, "This… this is Downing Street…"

"I know."

Lu Qingshan calmly pressed the speakerphone button.

"Hello, I'm Lu Qingshan."

On the other end, a male voice thick with an Oxford accent, courteous yet unable to hide his anxiety, sounded immediately.

"Good evening, Mr. Lu. I'm Allen, the Prime Minister's Chief Secretary. I'm terribly sorry to disturb you at this hour."

"Mr. Allen, something?" Lu Qingshan's reply was simple and direct, without a single courtesy.

This attitude made Allen on the line choke noticeably.

He was clearly used to the long, false pleasantries among politicians, and for a moment didn't know how to follow that blunt remark.

"It… it's like this, Mr. Lu." Allen cleared his throat, trying to make his tone sound less humble, "The Prime Minister has just concluded her visit to Huaxia; she… um, she expressed deep concern over the current severe turbulence in the global financial markets."

"Especially London Financial City, which has also felt a massive shock from Wall Street. The Prime Minister believes you have shown… extraordinary insight in this storm. So she wishes to hear your advice on the current situation."

"Advice?" Lu Qingshan let out a light laugh, small though it was, causing the hearts of everyone in the apartment and Allen on the line to skip a beat.

"My advice is simple."

Lu Qingshan walked to the window, his gaze seeming to pierce the night, landing on London across the ocean.

"First, keep your banks in check; don't let them play Leverage like Wall Street does, soaring to the heavens."

"Second, have enough cash ready. Because the fire on Wall Street has only just reached the doorstep; the real show is still to come."

Allen was taken aback by this blunt, even slightly admonishing "advice".

He was silent for a few seconds, then, in an even more humble tone, said, "Mr. Lu, your advice is extremely valuable. But… the Prime Minister wants to know, facing this crisis, what role should we… United Kingdom, play?"

That was the real question.

In the apartment, Li Junjie and Zhang Qianru exchanged a glance, each seeing the utmost shock in the other's reaction.

The United Kingdom, that once sun‑never‑sets empire, was so bewildered by the financial crisis that it had to ask a young Chinese man for its own national positioning!

"Role?"

Lu Qingshan turned around, looking at Ye Ning's computer screen.

On the screen, two news items from Reuters in the United Kingdom had just popped up.

One was a photo of Prime Minister Thatcher stumbling in front of People's Hall.

The other was a hard‑line statement from Huaxia's leader that there was "no room for discussion" on the sovereignty issue.

"Mr. Allen, before I answer your question, I'd like to ask you one." Lu Qingshan's voice suddenly grew cold.

"Please, Mr. Lu."

"I heard the Prime Minister's visit to Capital City didn't go smoothly?"

The question, like a sharp ice spear, instantly pierced the diplomatic veneer Allen had built.

The line on the other end fell into a death‑like silence.

Allen's breathing, through the handset, reached each ear clearly, heavy and oppressive.

He couldn't understand how a financial speculator could suddenly drag the conversation to such a highly sensitive political issue!

"Lu… Mr. Lu, I think this has nothing to do with the financial issue we're discussing…" Allen's voice was extremely hoarse.

"No relation?" Lu Qingshan retorted, "Mr. Allen, have you forgotten what one of the world's largest offshore financial centers is called?"

"It's called Hong Kong Island."

"A city that for over a hundred years has been under British jurisdiction, but soon will return to Huaxia's embrace."

Boom!

The words rang like a thunderclap from the nine heavens, exploding simultaneously in Allen's mind and on the top floor of Saint Remo Apartment!

Li Junjie suddenly covered his mouth, feeling his blood surge backward.

When the map ends, the dagger appears!

Boss, this isn't a financial discussion; he's using the whole Wall Street crisis, wielding the $300 billion he holds that can lever global capital, to add the heaviest weight to the nation's centennial plan!

"You… what exactly are you trying to say?!" Allen's voice completely broke, the Oxford elite's elegance vanished, leaving only terror and trembling after his hand was exposed.

"I want to say, the United Kingdom now has two choices."

Lu Qingshan's voice, like a king wielding a scepter, delivered the final ultimatum.

First, keep clutching the Americans' leg, watching Wall Street's fire blaze over, turning London into ash as well. Then, at the negotiating table, continue arguing endlessly with us over that pitiful 'decency'.

Second, face reality.

In finance, cooperate with me; I can not only help you stabilize the London market, but also take you along to share the feast left after Wall Street collapses.

In politics, be smarter, return what doesn't belong to you with proper dignity.

A prosperous, stable London Financial City, plus priority access rights to the future Huaxia market. Swap for a smooth transition of Hong Kong Island, which you could never retain anyway.

Mr. Allen, you can convey my words to the Prime Minister unchanged.

Tell her, should she do this deal or not?

On the other end of the phone, only heavy breathing remained.

Allen felt he wasn't speaking with a person, but with a demon, a demon that saw through everyone's hearts and desires.

The conditions he offered were so tempting, yet so overbearing.

He wasn't negotiating at all.

He was giving charity.

Charity to the former empire on which the sun never sets, a chance not to sink completely in the new world order.

A long while.

"I... I will convey it to the Prime Minister," Allen's voice was hoarse as if drifting out of a tomb.

"Beep... beep..."

Lu Qingshan hung up the phone directly.

In the apartment, there was a dead silence.

Everyone was as if immobilized by a stasis spell, not moving a muscle.

Until Ye Ning also put down the handset.

"Boss," she raised her head, her face equally dazed, "Li Zhi'an says the London market has gone crazy. Barclays Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland's stock prices plummeted thirty percent within half an hour after opening. They asked, what should we... what should we do next?"

Lu Qingshan walked to her, picked up the phone that connected to London.

Li Zhi'an.

"Boss! I'm here!" On the other end, Li Zhi'an's voice was extremely excited.

Lu Qingshan looked out the window at the night sky belonging to New York, and a slight curve lifted at the corner of his mouth.

Notify Wilson.

Forget AIG, and also forget Bear Stearns.

Mobilize all of our funds.

I want you, before tomorrow's London stock market opens, to give me the most detailed acquisition plan.

Our new target is...

Barclays Bank.