Chapter 555: Cashing Out Gold, Luring Shen Bi

While Lin Cong was thwarting HSBC's share‑accumulation plan, Tian Guoli was also plotting another operation.

Because the current gold price is already very high.

Compared to the thirty‑to‑forty dollars when they acted, it has now risen to 760 dollars.

The price has truly increased by more than tenfold.

Over these years they have been continually increasing their gold stockpile.

By now their average cost is roughly seventy to eighty dollars.

They have cumulatively invested 30 Hong Kong dollars.

That is to say, the value of the gold alone means Yang Qing already possesses nearly 30 billion Hong Kong dollars.

Such a huge gold reserve lets Da Song Bank stand as firm as Mount Tai.

But starting today, they are going to begin selling gold.

"Yang Qing, are we really going to start dumping gold from today?"

He still feels a bit sorry; hoarding this stuff is addictive, and now having to sell it makes his heart ache.

Yang Qing is very resolute.

"Using 760 dollars as the benchmark, start continuously clearing out our gold."

"I hope we can finish liquidating before mid‑February."

"The physical gold, too, should be gradually exchanged for cash at the major banks."

Having received Yang Qing's order, Tian Guoli immediately sprang into action.

Soon Shen Bi noticed Yang Qing's move.

Because Da Song Bank and Yang Qing have already begun reducing their paper gold holdings at HSBC.

Yang Qing wants to run.

This is Shen Bi's first impression.

"Is he doing this because of the stock‑market issue, to take revenge on him? Or does he really intend to flee?"

"A gold account worth over ten billion—Shen Bi cannot afford to be careless in responding."

He quickly appeared in Yang Qing's office.

Shen Bi exchanged no pleasantries, directly stating his purpose.

"Yang Qing, is this gold dump meant to liquidate, or what?"

Yang Qing gave no explanation; he did not want Wall Street to remember him.

Or perhaps it's better to come secretly.

"Whether it's the Imperial City or real estate, money is needed for construction."

"The governor has already issued an order, forbidding continued vacancy of land."

"So I need money to push the project forward."

"Shen Bi, any problems?"

Shen Bi furrowed his brows; Yang Qing obviously was not telling the truth.

He did not continue to dwell on it.

"Then Yang Qing, after selling the gold, how do you intend to handle the funds? Could they remain in HSBC in US‑dollar form?"

Now everyone knows that Yingjiang has completed the petrodollar layout, and the US dollar is about to appreciate.

The era of petrodollar hegemony has begun.

At the same time, it marks the start of Yingjiang's industrial decline.

Therefore he wants Yang Qing to keep the money in HSBC in US‑dollar form.

Now one US dollar exchanges for 5 Hong Kong dollars; by 1983 the rate will become 7.8.

This shows how fast the dollar will appreciate and the Hong Kong dollar depreciate over these years.

By 1983, to realize the construction of a financial free port, the Hong Kong dollar must be pegged to the US dollar.

Thus Shen Bi is quite clever.

Yang Qing spends Hong Kong dollars in Gangdao, while HSBC reaps US dollars.

The more Yang Qing spends, the more HSBC earns.

Yang Qing cannot show that he has seen the future trend.

"I have no objections, but how can Shen Bi guarantee the safety of my such huge funds?"

Shen Bi's face instantly darkened.

"Yang Qing, what do you mean?"

"Do you not trust our HSBC?"

Yang Qing gave a hollow laugh.

"Shen Bi, we have our own bank; why put the money in HSBC?"

"Is it not fine to let Da Song Bank earn the money?"

"So you understand—you cannot just take such a huge profit on a single word."

Shen Bi knew it wouldn't be that simple; does Yang Qing not fear that he would sabotage his sell‑off plan?

Yang Qing is truly unafraid, because this is a policy‑driven adjustment.

It is not being manipulated by financiers behind the scenes.

From now on it's hard to say; as Wall Street rises, financial‑sector struggles will become ever more brutal.

A sell‑off like Yang Qing's will definitely be sniped at by someone.

Now is the last lingering warmth of a free market; the future financial world belongs to Wall Street, to the ambitious.

Shen Bi's mind went through a thousand twists and turns, but ultimately he had no way to threaten Yang Qing.

Because Yang Qing's gold holding cost was too low.

No matter how he operates, he makes money.

But if he wanted to launch a sniper attack, the cost he would have to bear is also beyond his ability.

So his expression changed many times, but in the end he spoke with a pleased look.

"What do you want?"

Yang Qing chuckled.

"Use the shares of the major companies you hold as collateral."

"Besides, I need 1% of HSBC's shares, and I want to obtain a board seat at HSBC."

"Although HSBC has a rule that no one may hold more than 1% of its shares."

"But everyone knows that most of the local shares are actually in the hands of the English."

"It's very difficult for ethnic Chinese to buy HSBC shares."

"Bao Degang has cooperated deeply with HSBC for many years, earning it countless sums of money before gaining this honor."

"But he is merely a figurehead."

"Faced with Yang Qing's lion-sized demand, Shen Bi was indignant."

"Director Yang, don't you think you're being too greedy?"

"Can't those two foreign firms satisfy your appetite?"

"Do you think the governor will agree to your unreasonable demand?"

Yang Qing felt he was overthinking.

"I'm not interested in Wheelock, nor in Swire."

"All I want is collateral; I must guarantee the safety of my funds."

"Just as banks require collateral and pledges when lending to others."

"With so much of my money entrusted to you, shouldn't there be a guarantee?"

"My demand is reasonable and justified."

"You guarantee the safety of my funds, and I guarantee the safety of these shares."

"Is there any problem with that?"

Shen Bi gritted his teeth.

"Yang Qing, without our HSBC's cooperation, you won't be able to sell that gold."

Yang Qing chuckled.

"It's fine; without HSBC there's Standard Chartered, and without Standard Chartered there's the Bank of China."

"Believe me, they'll like having me as such a big client."

"As for obstacles along the way, they should have the ability to resolve them."

"You mean, isn't that Mr. Shen Bi?"

Shen Bi's breath caught.

"Accustomed to his arrogance, he almost forgot that Standard Chartered and the Bank of China also have respectable positions."

"For such a huge sum, I'm afraid those two will rush to help him get things done."

"Alright, you win."

"I will go back and explain the situation to the board of directors and Your Excellency the Governor."

"I hope General Manager Yang will remember his promise and not interfere in our affairs."

Seeing Shen Bi compromise, Yang Qing also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Of course, I place the utmost importance on trust."

"I hope we have a pleasant cooperation, Mr. Shen Bi."

After Shen Bi returned, he quickly went to communicate with all parties.

In order to retain this huge fortune, they still decided to compromise.

"Want HSBC shares? Give them. Want a board seat? Give it."

"Want the shares of the major companies? Can't give them all; try to pick out the Yang clan's and foreign firms' stocks."

"Then put those junk stocks in."

"Then bundle them and throw them at Yang Qing."

"If the junk stocks go bankrupt, Yang Qing must also compensate for that loss."

"This is called asset preservation."

Shen Bi and Mai Lihao never imagined Yang Qing would end up with so many shares.

"Then isn't the Hong Kong stock market his domain?"

"He can play however he wants, promote whomever he wants—this is tantamount to handing the Hong Kong stock market over to Yang Qing."

"How dangerous is that?"

"It's simply too dangerous."