Chapter 122: The Overlooked Big Brother B! (Please subscribe)

Li Bancheng is absolutely the most prominent tycoon in Hong Kong in the last ten years, bar none.

His rise is truly rich with legendary color.

Especially his swallowing of Hutchison Whampoa in the capacity of a Chinese merchant; it is absolutely a major boon for the Hong Kong Chinese business circle.

From then on, Chinese merchants have successively launched actions to snatch up high-quality assets from the hands of the Four Great Foreign Houses.

Hong Kong is just like this; as long as you succeed, you are impressive.

No one will care at all about the process and reasons for the success.

Added to the media's unbridled touting, Li Bancheng has become Hong Kong's model of inspiration.

It is also because his fame is great that this time, the tabloid's report suddenly became popular all over Hong Kong.

Especially since the report's headline was sensational and the content had considerable impact, that goes without saying.

Originally, a street tabloid with a circulation barely reaching a few hundred sold over fifty thousand copies in one go this time; it can be said to have ascended to the heavens in one step.

If they can catch this heaven-sent wealth and stabilize the results, a new first-class newspaper will appear in Hong Kong, simultaneously creating a small legend of sudden wealth.

"What is going on?"

Li Bancheng had just arrived at the office when an assistant delivered this newspaper.

After reading it, his complexion was extremely ugly, and he asked directly: "Have you figured it out? The situation of the newspaper office behind this paper—where did they get the guts to publish this?"

"It's been figured out; it's just a street tabloid, the boss has no background!"

The secretary had a layer of cold sweat on his forehead and hurriedly replied: "As for the content in the newspaper, according to the investigation, the newspaper office received an anonymous letter, and the content in the letter was just this!"

As for why this tiny newspaper office dared to publish such content, he didn't explain.

Isn't the answer obvious? Once such content is published, it can absolutely cause a sensational effect.

If he were that tabloid boss, he would also take the risk to gamble on it.

"Spend money, have that tabloid office retract the content!"

Li Bancheng said directly: "The speed must be fast, don't let this tabloid circulate too widely!"

"Chairman, it's already too late!"

The secretary lowered his head, ashamed: "By the time we saw the newspaper, this tabloid was already selling like crazy!"

"Then sue them for fabricating rumors!"

Li Bancheng snorted coldly: "We must express our attitude!"

Watching the secretary's departing back, he couldn't help but rub his temples, feeling quite a headache.

This matter doesn't have much impact on the group company raising funds, but the impact on his reputation is huge.

Time reached mid-August of '87; his goal of raising funds through the four major listed companies had basically been completed, raising over ten billion in funds in one go.

But if the stock market crash arrives as scheduled, and things are not much different from the content in the tabloid, then he will definitely be cursed as HSBC's running dog; this is something Li Bancheng absolutely does not want to see.

In fact, the first target he suspected was the big financier, HSBC Bank.

Because in this way, he would basically be completely tied to HSBC, and there would never be a possibility of jumping ship.

Of course, he quickly threw such a thought to the back of his mind; the aftermath of HSBC doing this would be too great.

Is it possible that it was other Chinese tycoons?

There is definitely such a possibility, but the likelihood is not high.

If they knew about the possibility of a stock market crash, they would definitely be like him, raising massive funds early, preparing to bottom-fish directly after the crash; there is no need to expose such information in advance.

While Li Bancheng was thinking left and right in his office, the rest of the Chinese tycoons in Hong Kong also learned the news, holding that tabloid and reading it carefully, not wanting to miss a single word.

"The content in this newspaper is highly likely to be true!"

At Bao Chuanwang's home, this former world shipping king who successfully landed ashore ten years ago said with deep and certain eyes.

"How is this possible? How could HSBC support Li Bancheng so strongly!"

Bao Chuanwang's second son-in-law exclaimed: "No matter what, HSBC shouldn't have bypassed you, Father-in-law!"

"Hehe, I am old, and my body is no longer useful!"

Bao Chuanwang was open-minded and said leisurely: "Whatever HSBC wants to do, I cannot stop it!"

"Then, should we make some preparations?"

The second son-in-law said indignantly: "According to what that tabloid says, HSBC is very likely wanting to promote Li Bancheng to become the richest man in Hong Kong; what good luck!"

Even someone like him who has luck couldn't help but sigh with envy.

"We can reserve some funds; we can't let Li Bancheng have all the beauty to himself!"

Not only Bao Chuanwang, but the rest of the Chinese tycoons, after seeing the newspaper content, regardless of whether they believed it or not, all made plans to reserve funds.

HSBC can strongly support Li Bancheng, but if Li Bancheng wants to successfully become the richest Chinese man in Hong Kong, he has to ask whether they agree or not.

Not to mention the Chinese tycoons in Hong Kong, even the families controlling the British-funded consortia behind the scenes all reacted one after another.

In fact, the ones most seriously affected by HSBC growing bigger are these British-funded foreign houses.

Like Jardine Matheson and Wheelock, because of business strategy issues, their business in Hong Kong suffered heavy losses and they were squeezed quite uncomfortably by HSBC.

It's just that Swire's situation is a bit better, but compared to HSBC's momentum, they were also heavily suppressed, which made the families in charge of the major foreign houses quite unhappy.

And how did HSBC manage to become the sole dominant force?

Wasn't it by supporting Chinese tycoons in Hong Kong, thereby rapidly establishing a huge advantage?

Before it was Bao Chuanwang, later it was Li Bancheng, and now there is even more of a stance to promote Li Bancheng to be the richest Chinese man in Hong Kong; this is wanting to further expand the advantage.

In short, a tabloid ignited public opinion in Hong Kong.

Those Chinese tycoons and British-funded foreign houses who hold the lifeline of Hong Kong's economy, although they remained as immovable as mountains on the surface, were frequently making small moves in private; for a time, undercurrents were surging, and no one could grasp the future situation.

As for that tabloid, they gave up the idea of investigating further after just a little probing.

At a glance, it was the handiwork of someone with intentions; the existence who delivered the anonymous letter wiped their own traces very cleanly, and there was no need to pay special attention at all.

Not only were the Chinese tycoons and British-funded consortia in Hong Kong reminded, but many low-to-middle-class tycoons and wealthy people in Hong Kong also suddenly realized at this time.

Their actions were not slow either; either they learned from Li Bancheng to reserve funds, or they simply invested the funds in their hands to Li Bancheng, becoming a follower eating the dividends.

Of course, there were still some people holding a wait-and-see attitude.

After all, it was just the explosive content of a tabloid; no one knew if it was an exaggeration.

But soon, first-class newspapers including *Oriental Daily News*, *Ming Pao*, and the newly emerged *Mong Kok News* almost simultaneously reported the follow-up content a few days later.

This time, the content was still full of conspiracy theories, mainly describing HSBC's true purpose.

The article directly stated that HSBC wants to be the shadow emperor of Hong Kong!

Not only does it hold the power to print and issue Hong Kong dollars, but if there is also the richest Chinese man in Hong Kong cooperating on the surface, regardless of influence or actual power, it will become the shadow emperor of Hong Kong.

In the article, it focused on describing the content of the Chinese capital flow that Wu Feng had guessed earlier.

With the richest Chinese man in Hong Kong like Li Bancheng guiding it, HSBC would naturally become the capital transfer station for Chinese tycoons in Southeast Asia, directly replacing the previous Pangaea Bank.

Once HSBC replaces the role of Pangaea Bank, its influence and actual energy will be incomparable.

Not only will Hong Kong's financial industry be completely affected by it, but the capital flow of Chinese tycoons throughout Southeast Asia will also be affected and supervised by it.

Later, it may very well extend to the portion of funds from the Mainland that are overseas; by then, HSBC's influence and status will not be limited to just Hong Kong.

Boom!

Once such a report came out, it was as shocking as dropping a 'Little Boy' in Hong Kong.

All readers who saw the newspaper content felt shocked in their hearts and were speechless for a time.

Even the British-funded consortia and Chinese tycoons opened their eyes wide, full of disbelief.

At the same time, they were also startled by HSBC's astonishing scheme!

But in fact, HSBC's top management themselves were a bit shocked; they hadn't thought that far ahead before.

But regardless, the appearance of two consecutive reports with huge influence heavily stirred up the entire Hong Kong.

If nothing else, the citizens' desire to investigate in their hearts was even stronger than the scorching sun overhead at this time.

It can be said that in a short period of time, a terrifying atmosphere of discussion formed across the entire Hong Kong.

Concerning massive amounts of money and astonishing wealth, and even the invisible control of Hong Kong, who would dare not pay attention?

As for the content reported by several major newspapers, like the previous tabloid, they all received anonymous letters.

For the sake of sales and influence, even if they offended HSBC and Li Bancheng slightly, they couldn't care less.

If they have the ability, let the two companies come up with hush money in the tens of millions; obviously, that is not a very likely thing.

You must know, this time Hong Kong's first-class newspapers were all rounded up.

Even with HSBC's energy, without knowing in advance, wanting to suppress it is not such a simple matter, let alone now that it has already been reported.

Anyway, the law does not punish the masses; Hong Kong's first-class newspapers simply don't worry about settling accounts after the autumn.

At this time, whether HSBC and Li Bancheng have the mood to deal with each newspaper is hard to say.

The impact of the matter is too great; not only did the news in Hong Kong spread quickly to the entire Southeast Asian Chinese world, but even Japan and South Korea followed up with reports because the content was too explosive.

As for whether the Mainland was affected, it certainly was.

It's a pity that the outside world couldn't guess the specific reaction of the Mainland, so it wasn't mentioned too much.

Not to mention ordinary Hong Kong citizens, even the Hall Masters and Big Brothers of Hong Hing were discussing it endlessly.

Look, Big Brother B successfully held the newly snatched Causeway Bay territory for three days, and thus successfully planted the flag in Causeway Bay; Hong Hing's main hall immediately held a celebration.

It's a pity that the Hall Masters who arrived early just said congratulations to the glowing Big Brother B, and then huddled together to chat about HSBC and Li Bancheng.

One by one, they spoke with spit flying and eyebrows dancing; those who didn't know would think they had inside information.

Wu Feng was also dragged in, having to express his shock and sigh from time to time, as if he were really surprised by this information.

Only Big Brother B was left standing gloomily on the side, unable to participate at all.

How could he participate?

Before, he was just messing around in Ciyunshan, with no money or capital in his hands to toss around in the stock market.

Without experience in this area, naturally, he couldn't say anything, so he could only be an unwilling listener; none of the Hall Masters paid too much attention to his reaction.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 123 =====