Chapter 446: Teaching the US Treasury Secretary a Lesson: I Decide AIG

David Cohen moved like a wind‑up toy soldier, his motions stiff as he rushed to the bar and clumsily fumbled for tea leaves.

His mind was a blank, only the words "black tea, Darjeeling, with milk, no sugar" echoing over and over.

This was no longer serving a boss; it was preparing the first tribute for a newly crowned, crown‑less king spanning both sides of the Atlantic.

On the other side, Ye Ning had already dialed the US Treasury Department's hotline.

The moment the call connected, the air in the whole apartment seemed to be sucked out again, and everyone's breath was involuntarily held.

"This is the Minister's Office."

A female secretary's formal voice came from the other end.

Lu Qingshan sat upright on the sofa, took the freshly brewed, still steaming tea that Lu Qingjun handed over, and gently blew on it.

"Tell him, the United Kingdom Government Chief Economic Advisor, Lu Qingshan, has important matters to discuss."

His voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone clearly, as well as the ear on the other end of the phone.

The line was silent for a full five seconds.

Then came a suppressed, frantic commotion.

Immediately after, a roar full of anger and fatigue exploded from the handset.

"Lu Qingshan! What on earth are you trying to do?!"

US Treasury Secretary Bowen, the emperor of the dollar world's economic and financial sphere, sounded at this moment like a wounded beast trapped in a cage.

"Mr. Bowles, good day."

Lu Qingshan took a sip of black tea, his tone leisurely as if enjoying the afternoon sun on his own estate's lawn.

"I thought, as a fellow in the financial world, you would be more accustomed to checking the latest news before a call."

"News?" Bowen roared, "I only saw you turn the whole London upside down! You sent our allies to the hospital! What more do you want now?!"

"Allies?" Lu Qingshan set down his tea cup and let out a light laugh.

"An ally ready to sacrifice the whole world to pay for the trap you designed?"

He picked up the remote and turned on the massive TV screen in the apartment.

The screen instantly split into dozens of small panes.

Each pane displayed the logo of an internationally renowned bank.

German Bank, Paris Bank of France, Swiss Credit, Nomura Securities, Mizuho Bank…

They were densely packed, covering almost every top financial institution worldwide except the United States.

"Mr. Bowles, have you seen the circulating economic headline news?"

Lu Qingshan's voice traveled through the phone to Bowen's ears and also reached the hearts of everyone in the apartment.

"These are all AIG's creditors. They are also potential victims of your 'strangulation plan.'"

"Now, as the United Kingdom Government Chief Economic Advisor, I have the responsibility and duty to protect their interests and maintain global financial market stability."

"So, I called you to inform you of something."

"Inform?" Bowen was so provoked by the word that he nearly jumped up.

"Yes, inform."

Lu Qingshan's voice suddenly turned cold.

"Your plan to force AIG into bankruptcy and perish together with me is nullified from now on."

On the other end, only Bowen's heavy breathing remained.

He felt he was not talking to a person but to a monster, an Eastern monster cloaked in the guise of the United Kingdom Government.

The opponent not only dismantled the trap he had set but also took its components and placed them around his neck.

"You… on what grounds?" Bowen's voice was hoarse, full of resentment.

"Right now, I represent London."

Lu Qingshan's voice was calm yet carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

"I represent the interests of all of Europe."

"I represent all those unwilling to pay for Wall Street's greed."

"Mr. Bowles, if you persist in detonating AIG, I guarantee that what you will face is not Xinghan Capital's bankruptcy but a full‑scale war by all of Europe, together with Japan and the Middle East, against the US financial system."

"Then the rescue will not be just for AIG, but for the entire Wall Street."

These words, like a bucket of ice water, poured over Bowen's fury from head to toe.

He slumped in his office chair, his whole body cold.

He knew Lu Qingshan was not lying.

Once the United Kingdom Government publicly opposes, those European nations already dissatisfied with US financial hegemony will definitely seize the chance and launch a joint attack.

At that point, it would truly become an unending global financial tsunami.

And he, Henry Bowles, will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history as the sinner who personally ignited all this.

"You… what do you want?"

After a long pause, Bowen squeezed the words out from between his teeth.

He compromised.

"Very simple."

Lu Qingshan lifted the tea cup again.

"AIG cannot fall. At least, not now."

"The US Government must step in to save it."

"Save? How to save?" Bowen's voice was filled with despair, "That's a hole of hundreds of billions of US Dollars!"

"Money is not the problem."

Lu Qingshan's voice carried a hint of amusement.

"I heard the Federal Reserve's money‑printing machine has been well maintained lately."

"First step: the US Government injects an emergency $85 billion into AIG, acquiring 79.9% of its shares and temporarily nationalizing it."

Bowen was stunned.

The plan sounded… astonishingly similar to the one his office's frazzled think‑tank had initially discussed.

"Second step."

Lu Qingshan gave him no time to think.

"AIG's toxic CDS assets must be stripped out. We'll set up a 'bad‑loan bank' to load all that junk in and deal with it gradually."

"As for the healthy, cash‑flow‑generating quality assets…"

Lu Qingshan paused.

Li Junjie and Zhang Qianru in the apartment felt their hearts jump to their throats.

They knew the real drama was about to begin.

"... for example, AIG's International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), the world's largest aircraft leasing company with thousands of planes, a true golden goose."

"And its real‑estate investments worldwide, its property‑insurance business…"

"These quality assets must be stripped from AIG and sold publicly and fairly to repay part of its debt."

"Sell?" Bowen's guard rose. "Sell to whom?"

Lu Qingshan smiled.

"Obviously to international investors who have the strength and willingness to help the US Government 'stabilize' the financial market."

He glanced at the team beside him, now completely petrified.

"For instance, our Xinghan Capital, or the Victoria Opportunity Fund under Xinghan."

"Or, my friend, Japan's Mitsubishi Group."

"And another friend of mine, the Shason Family."

"I think we'd all be happy to take these assets at a 'fair' price and ease the burden for the United States."

"You're dreaming!"

Bowen roared again.

"This is looting a fire! It's naked plunder!"

"Mr. Bowen, you can choose to refuse."

Lu Qingshan's voice turned cold again.

"Then watch AIG's stock plunge below one dollar after tomorrow's opening, watch investors worldwide rush to redeem, watch the entire financial system collapse completely."

"Or you can choose to accept my 'suggestion'."

"Exchange some assets you can't even protect for the survival of the whole system."

"Your choice."

On the other end of the phone, silence fell again.

This silence was longer and more desperate than any before.

In Saint Remo Apartment, David Cohen watched Lu Qingshan, his expression like one observing a prehistoric beast elegantly dismembering its prey.

He wanted not only the meat but also the blood, even to crack the bones and drain the marrow!

Finally, Bowen's voice sounded again, devoid of any emotion, just a deadened ash.

"I... agree to your plan."

"Very well."

Lu Qingshan nodded with satisfaction.

"Then, regarding the concrete implementation of this plan…"

He stood, walked to the massive display screen, extended a finger, and tapped the screen lightly.

"I hope to see a few familiar names on the post‑restructuring AIG board."

"After all, as its future major asset holder and key business partner, we need to ensure the company stays on the right path."

Bowen's breathing halted again.

He finally understood that what the other side wanted was far more than assets.

What they wanted was control!

Complete, permanent control over this colossal entity that once almost killed him!

"Lu Qingshan…"

Bowen's voice now carried a hint of pleading.

"What exactly must you do to finally stop?"

Lu Qingshan looked out at the city symbolizing American financial hegemony and said slowly:

"Stop?"

"Mr. Bowen, you seem to have misunderstood."

"This banquet has only just begun with the appetizer…"

He turned, faced the phone, and uttered the final sentence that would utterly annihilate Bowen and the entire Saint Remo Apartment.

"By the way, I forgot to tell you…"

"As the UK Government's Chief Economic Advisor, I will fly to Geneva tomorrow."

"The Governor of the Swiss National Bank invited me for coffee, and we will also discuss how UBS and Credit Suisse handle those US 'toxic assets'."