Hong Kong: Rise of the Kings.

Chapter 995 0980 [Wealth and Honor Are Seeked in Danger]

Li Zhaoheng is definitely the most outstanding son of the Li family. At least compared to his eldest brother and third brother, he has greater talent and means.

This time, Li Zhaoheng is sure to defeat Du Yongxiao.

However, he lost to Du Yongxiao last time because of a single move. Once bitten, one becomes afraid of ropes for ten years, so this time his method to deal with Du Yongxiao is: gather a group of people to attack him.

The "Anti-Du Alliance" was initiated by Li Zhaoheng, and it is now his biggest bargaining chip.

In order to consolidate this bargaining chip and maximize its value, Li Zhaoheng also held a special dinner. In name, it was a gathering for everyone to reminisce about the past, but anyone with a discerning eye knew that this was a swearing-in ceremony for the anti-Du coalition.

Li Xiaohe, the head of the Li family, did not expect his son to act so quickly. Before he could express his opinion, his son had already sent out invitations to all the tycoons and bigwigs.

For Li Xiaohe, this is indeed a rare opportunity to defeat Du Yongxiao in one fell swoop, but he also knows that Du Yongxiao has a solid foundation and has good relations with many Hong Kong bigwigs. As long as some of these bigwigs stand up to cheer for him or invest in him, Du Yongxiao will be able to turn the tide and even win.

But Li Xiaohe also saw that whether it was Boss Huo, Lin Baixin, Zheng Yutong and others, they were all sitting on their hands.

This made the shrewd Li Xiaohe couldn't help but wonder what these people were planning.

The more I thought about it, the more something seemed wrong.

Li Xiaohe wanted to dissuade his son Li Zhaoheng, but Li Zhaoheng was now in a difficult situation.

What's more, Li Xiaohe had no evidence to prove that Du Yongxiao had a backup plan, and that Boss Huo and others were his reinforcements.

Helplessly, before the banquet began tonight, Li Xiaohe felt it necessary to have a final conversation with his son Li Zhaoheng.

……

In the spacious conference room on the second floor of the western-style building in the backyard of the Li Mansion, Li Xiaohe and his son Li Zhaoheng sat facing each other.

Li Zhaoheng, who has always been arrogant and unruly, is like a well-behaved primary school student in front of his father. He sits in his seat with a smile on his face and a straight posture.

"Ahen, you've been doing so much lately, how do you feel?"

Li Xiaohe said to his son with a smile: "Do you feel something is wrong? Or is it too smooth? You know, we in business are sometimes like animals. When we encounter danger, we also have signs. After all, escaping from hunters and beasts cannot be simply relying on luck."

Li Xiaohe had a smile on his face as he spoke from beginning to end, and the look he gave Li Zhaoheng was filled with fatherly love.

Li Zhaoheng was used to this kind of smile from his father. Every time his father wanted to remind them or teach them a lesson, he would first show this kind fatherly smile. After beating them until they cried and felt hurt, he would tell them: "I beat you for your own good!"

"I think everything is fine." Li Zhaoheng looked at his father Li Xiaohe and answered respectfully. "People say that I do business as you do. Even if there is danger, I can smell it. Regardless of this time... there is really no smell."

Li Xiaohe nodded with a smile, then put on a stern face and pretended to be unhappy to teach Li Zhaoheng a lesson: "What do you mean by follow me? To do business, you must have independent opinions. You must surpass me. Do you understand? Since ancient times, it is said that a good father will have a good son. I hope you will be more successful and better than me. This is what I think and what I expect."

Li Zhaoheng listened to his father Li Xiaohe's words with a smile on his face, but he was thinking about the deeper meaning behind his father's words.

On the surface, it seems that Li Xiaohe really loves his son and hopes that he will succeed, but Li Zhaoheng knows that he still has an older brother and a younger brother who are eyeing him covetously. If he makes any mistake, he will be replaced by them.

To put it bluntly, the secret conversation today was about his old father Li Xiaohe not trusting him and not having confidence in him to form the anti-Du alliance.

"Don't worry, father! Even if I can't surpass you, I won't lose to you. Because my last name is Li like yours, and there has never been a coward in the Li family. I know that wealth and honor can only be achieved through risk."

Li Zhaoheng smiled defiantly at Li Xiaohe, and then said confidently: "I know you are worried that my establishment of the Anti-Du Alliance this time will completely offend Du Yongxiao, but times have changed. Now Du Yongxiao is not facing a single opponent from our Li family, but the powerful Anti-Du Alliance!"

"You can see that besides me, there are also Mr. Li Jiacheng, the three bosses of Henderson Land Development, Li Zhaofu of Far East Securities, and even Qiu Degen of Far East Bank who has a good relationship with Du Yongxiao. What does this show? It shows that there are no eternal friends in the world, only eternal interests! Everyone is busy for profit. These tyrants are all people who will not do anything without profit! As long as they are given enough benefits, they don't care whether Du Yongxiao is the Commissioner of Police or a friend!"

Li Xiaohe's eyes lit up when he heard this. From his son Li Zhaoheng's words, it seemed that he was already fully confident that he could completely control the "Anti-Du Alliance" tonight and thus deal a severe blow to Du Yongxiao?
But soon Li Xiaohe frowned slightly and shook his head slightly at his son Li Zhaoheng: "That's why I feel something is wrong. Is Du Yongxiao so easy to deal with? Don't you think it's too smooth?"

Li Zhaoheng smiled, looked at his father, and changed his previous elementary school student look. He actually took out a cigar from his arms and lit it in front of his father.

Li Xiaohe looked at his son without saying a word.

Li Zhaoheng held a cigar in his mouth and exhaled a puff of smoke: "Father, you are old and your courage has become smaller! This world is not as treacherous as you think. Sometimes things are in our hands! Besides, now that I have set up the Anti-Du Alliance, I am afraid I can't just withdraw from it, right?"

Li Xiaohe did not scold his son who had become somewhat arrogant, but said calmly: "Maybe I am really old. But as the saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry!"

Hearing this, Li Zhaoheng smiled coldly: "Don't worry, I don't need you to clean up my mess this time, and I don't have the nerve to ask you to help me again! To be honest, I have already mortgaged all my shares, and now I can only fight to the death!"

After hearing Li Zhaoheng's last words, Li Xiaohe's hands shook and he almost broke the teacup in his hand. He managed to catch it but still spilled tea all over his hands.

Li Zhaoheng looked at his father's disgrace and a hint of contempt appeared on the corner of his mouth.

I am old after all, and I can't even bear this little news.

Li Xiaohe calmed down and asked doubtfully, "Are you serious? Are you going to mortgage all the shares of Li's?"

"Of course! I'm the leader of the Anti-Du Alliance. If I don't have these capitals, how can I fight against that Du guy? Three hundred million, only three hundred million are mortgaged, and the things are worth five hundred million..." Li Zhaoheng raised the corner of his mouth: "If you really want to help me, take out another two hundred million. I will collect five hundred million and definitely crush that Du guy!" Li Xiaohe's expression became very ugly. He stood up and pointed at his son: "You, you, you——" After a long time, he finally said: "Are you crazy?"

Li Zhaoheng stared at his father closely: "You know best whether I am crazy or not! Now I have no way out. Whether I win or lose depends on this one! If you still regard me as your son, you should support me with all your strength and use all the liquid funds of our Li family to support me!!"

Li Xiaohe rubbed his temple and suddenly felt dizzy. He swayed and almost fell.

Li Zhaoheng did not help him, but said calmly: "If you don't want to help me, then forget it. You are old, so go to bed early. I still have to take care of the guests!"

After saying that, Li Zhaoheng stood up and left the meeting room without even looking at his father Li Xiaohe.

Li Xiaohe looked at his son and murmured, "How foolish! If all the shares are mortgaged, if they fall into the hands of others, our Li family will be finished! Is it necessary to be so decisive just to deal with Du Yongxiao?"

He paused and continued, "But if I don't help him, won't I have even a 60% chance of winning? If I give him another 200 million and mortgage my shares... maybe, maybe... I can really win."

Li Xiaohe sighed deeply and sat down on the chair.

To him, this matter was too complicated. Helping or not helping seemed both wrong and right.

……

Tonight, Li Zhaoheng entertained the bigwigs of the "Anti-Du Alliance" in a grand manner. The dinner was set up in the backyard of his own home, with more than a dozen tables placed outdoors. Although all the lighting facilities were available, a Western band was specially invited to provide accompaniment. It was a combination of Chinese and Western elements, with everything you could think of to eat, drink and have fun.

But all the guests present today know that eating, drinking and having fun are secondary. Li Zhaoheng's invitation to them to attend the banquet was just a gimmick for external publicity. The real purpose was to hold a swearing-in ceremony and announce the official establishment of the anti-Du alliance.

Speaking of Du Yongxiao, he is definitely the most popular figure in Hong Kong recently. As the first Chinese Commissioner of Police in Hong Kong and a first-class earl of the British Empire, his status is noble, but he also has another identity as the president of the Du Group.

The Hong Kong Du Group is like a huge business empire, owning Hengchuang Real Estate, Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, SF Express, McDonald's chain, Golden Harvest Film Company and so on.

Any one of these companies is a strong target, but they are all just subsidiaries of the Du Group. You can imagine how powerful the Du Group is.

But now, the Du Group is facing an unprecedented crisis. Its subsidiary Hengchuang Real Estate is under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption and its stock price has plummeted!

If Hengchuang cannot save itself, it will trigger a series of chain reactions, and the entire Du Group will be in crisis.

All these bigwigs and tycoons who have joined the anti-Du alliance have their own thoughts, but they have one thing in common, that is, they keep a close eye on the Du Group and take your life when you are weak!

As long as Hengchuang falls, the behemoth Du Group will collapse, and then it will be the time for these big sharks to divide up the flesh and blood.

"It looks like the Li family is making a big splash this time!" A Hong Kong real estate developer sat at the dining table, observing the guests coming and going, and expressed his views to those at the table.

Another real estate developer sitting on his left shook his head: "The size of the battle is not important. What is important is whether we can work together! If everyone is acting on their own and has their own agenda, I don't think there is any point in forming an anti-Du alliance."

The remaining real estate developers at the same table nodded secretly, obviously agreeing with this statement. The key point now is whether everyone is really willing to form an alliance or come here to wait and see the situation? If they are just waiting and watching, it doesn't matter whether they come or not.

"I heard that this time Li Zhaoheng has put out 300 million to take over Hengchuang Real Estate in one fell swoop. By then, he will eat the meat and we will drink the soup!" A fat real estate developer sitting at another table picked up his wine glass and looked towards the side door of the backyard. There was a small one-story Western-style building there. Through the windows of the building, people could be vaguely seen inside.

In addition to these well-known real estate developers, Li Zhaoheng also invited Li Jiacheng, Li Zhaoji, Li Zhaofu, Qiu Degen and others tonight. Any one of these people, if he stomps his feet, is enough to cause turmoil in the entire Hong Kong economic chain. Only a Chinese tycoon of the same level as them, like the Li family, can invite these people to gather together.

These real Chinese tycoons certainly cannot be like the supporting actors downstairs and just set up a few tables on the green lawn in the backyard to entertain guests. Even if they don't care, Li Zhaoheng, as the host, cannot afford to lose face.

There was no long table in the spacious VIP room, only a few sofas placed randomly, with a tea table in front of the sofas. After Li Zhaoheng invited a group of Chinese tycoons to take their seats one after another, he was the last one to take his seat, smiling at everyone and saying, "It's rare that you all have some free time today and are willing to come to my house and sit for a while."

Li Zhaoheng smiled kindly, turned his head to look at Li Jiacheng who was smiling but not saying anything, and pointed to the tea set on the tea table in front of him: "Boss Li, this is the Pu'er tea cake from the Daoguang period. I specially asked for it from my father. You must try it today."

Li Jiacheng laughed: "Thank you, Lisheng. I didn't expect to have an unexpected gain here today. This old tea cake is a good thing, which can't be bought with money. Thank you in advance!"

"Boss Qiu, Far East Bank has sufficient funds recently. I heard that it just lacks investment projects. Now the opportunity has come, and I hope you can seize it." Li Zhaoheng turned his head to look at Qiu Degen, and said sincerely: "To be honest, I admire you very much, Boss Qiu. It will be a great honor for me if we can work together and fight side by side this time."

There was silence in the room, and everyone looked at Qiu Degen's expression calmly.

Far Eastern Bank has strong capital, and even a big shot like Li Jiacheng sometimes needs help and care from the other side. If we can bring him down this time, there is no need to worry about not achieving great things.

Qiu Degen stroked the jade ring on his thumb and looked back at Li Zhaoheng with a smile: "Lisheng, didn't we agree that today is a family dinner and not about business? You praise me so highly for no reason, how should I respond to you?!"

Go back to your mother!

Li Zhaoheng had already cursed Qiu Degen in his heart, but the smile on his face did not fade at all: "What business is not business, I just think that we are all Chinese and should help each other. Besides, this opportunity is rare, and we are all gathered together to help the Du Group, so that such a large company will not collapse and affect the Hong Kong economy."

This statement is a bit shameless. It is obvious that he wants to swallow up the Du Group, but he says it so nicely.

Li Zhaoheng kept calling people Chinese, and anyone could tell he was talking about justice. Although he appeared to be righteous and moral on the surface, he actually had evil intentions.

(End of this chapter)