Chapter 12: Zhao Shengge’s Proposal

Chapter 12: Zhao Shengge's Proposal

The boy was confused but complied without question. He was wearing a white shirt that day, and pulling down the sleeves covered the mole on his wrist.

Zhao Shengge chose to ignore it.

Shao Yaozong misinterpreted, thinking the other party wasn’t entirely without sincerity, and smiled, "Mr. Zhao knows how to treat a lady." The room was quite chilly.

Zhao Shengge sat back, legs crossed, and remained silent.

Shao Yaozong didn’t mind and got straight to the point: "How is Mr. Zhao considering the matter we discussed earlier?"

Zhao Shengge played coy: "We’ll talk about the land later; let’s see the goods first."

"Alright," Shao Yaozong agreed without hesitation and ordered his assistant to bring out a box, opening it for display.

Zhao Shengge looked down with a faint smile: "White Crane Hall’s supply, really?"

Shao Yaozong paused slightly.

In addition to the wealthy and well-established families like Zhao, Jiang, Shen, and Zhuo, Hai City was also home to many remnants of underworld gangs from the previous century. They were brutal in their methods, disregarding rules, disrupting the market and order, colluding with officials for protection, repeatedly crossing red lines, and perpetually operating in the gray areas.

Because of the complex and deeply entrenched power dynamics, the customs and police departments had been deeply troubled.

White Crane Hall was among them. Recently, Mai Jiahui, who reportedly jumped off a building after a call from Zhao Shengge, had once been the deputy of White Crane Hall.

The police department had a superficial connection with Zhao Shengge and had repeatedly sought the participation of this business tycoon in the crackdown. Since Minglong Group had always enjoyed favorable policies from customs, Zhao Shengge agreed, leveraging public power to remove these market disruptors.

Seeing Mai Jiahui’s fate, Shao Yaozong knew the authorities were serious about the crackdown, and White Crane Hall’s days were likely numbered.

Sensing the impending doom, he acted swiftly, using his criminal evidence against White Crane Hall as leverage, asking Zhao Shengge to help him escape and whitewash his reputation, establish a new venture, and promised him a batch of lucrative goods and a piece of land in Baoli Bay.

In the gang, Mai Jiahui managed the cash flow, while Shao Yaozong handled the goods and land. Mai Jiahui, a decades-old fox, had fallen into Zhao Shengge’s hands. Shao Yaozong had already recognized the situation, believing he had no ability to compete with him, and White Crane Hall was already at its end, unable to offer him any further protection. No one could blame him for looking out for himself.

The lucrative goods were illegal, which Zhao Shengge had no interest in, but the land was of high value, specially designated during the creation of the special zone, something money couldn’t buy. Once the port was completed, it would manage billions in annual shipping.

Zhao Shengge had long desired it.

Shao Yaozong believed his leverage was substantial, unaware that Zhao Shengge had already negotiated with the financial department. Once Operation Thunderstorm No. 7 was completed, the contraband and the operational lines behind it would go to the customs department, and the land would go to Zhao Shengge.

Minglong Group would acquire it through a bidding process. Zhao Shengge never acted without a profit, and this informant wasn’t doing this out of friendship.

"Mr. Zhao has a sharp eye, but don’t blame Shao for being cautious. I’m reluctantly giving up this overseas connection, and I need to be sure the other party truly knows their stuff before I can rest easy."

"So, has Mr. Shao figured it out?" Zhao Shengge remained unperturbed.

"Of course, of course," Shao Yaozong ordered someone to bring out the real goods from a hidden door for Zhao Shengge to inspect.

Zhao Shengge picked up two and spun them around, pointing out a few detailed flaws.

In the underworld, if you go along with them, they won’t trust you. Zhao Shengge’s pickiness made Shao Yaozong believe he was genuinely interested in taking over this line of business.

"This isn’t something to worry too much about; Italians are used to revolvers, less likely to misfire."

Zhao Shengge glanced at him, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Shao Yaozong added, "There are only three cargo holds for this batch. If the other party takes them, we can reassemble the rest in time."

"Hmm," Zhao Shengge took the opportunity to ask, "How much is left?"

"Eight ships," Shao Yaozong lied; in reality, there were thirteen ships, with a few more crates close at hand.

They were stored in the Eagle Pool (Yingchi), a place known for its complex spatial structure. The Eagle Pool not only served as an entertainment venue but also housed a secret bank in its basement, where the Swiss excelled in secrecy.

Shao Yaozong had stored part of the goods in advance, after all, he was meeting Zhao Shengge, and he had to be extra cautious.

Yet Zhao Shengge arrived alone, with no hint of aggression, and leisurely sipped the wine offered by a boy.

"If changes are needed, can Mr. Shao guarantee the timeline?"

Shao Yaozong smiled, "You can count on it, Mr. Zhao." He was reluctant to completely hand over the operation to Zhao Shengge, and still wanted a cut of the transportation profits, aiming for a long-term partnership.

Zhao Shengge nodded, suggesting they could start with a few ships, to which Shao Yaozong readily agreed.

Noticing Shao Yaozong's apparent joy, Zhao Shengge asked if he’d forgotten something. Shao Yaozong mentioned that White Crane Hall’s crimes were too numerous to list, and the evidence was still being compiled. Zhao Shengge watched him for a moment, then agreed, suggesting they could settle payment and evidence simultaneously once the goods were shipped.

Shao Yaozong hesitated. He had planned to share the evidence only after solidifying a partnership with Zhao Shengge. However, Zhao Shengge made it clear: no evidence, no shipment. Without Zhao Shengge's protection, his cargo ships couldn't pass through the strait, and the Italians were sticklers for punctuality.

Shao Yaozong had to concede, "Then I’ll have part of the evidence prepared and sent securely to your company before the shipment."

Zhao Shengge was not fully satisfied, "How much is ‘part’?"

"About fifty to sixty percent," Shao Yaozong replied, treating the evidence as a guarantee. Being a businessman, he had to keep some leverage. "With so many transactions over the years, some details might slip through the cracks."

"Fine," Zhao Shengge didn't press further, knowing that the customs just needed a legitimate pretext. The police and inspection bureau were incredibly resourceful; once a lead was uncovered, it would trigger a chain reaction.

Finally, they discussed the transfer of shares. Zhao Shengge wanted to quickly get a handle on the board’s situation and was willing to buy Shao Yaozong's shares.

Shao Yaozong, on the other hand, wanted to leave quickly and cleanly, and also intended to involve Zhao Shengge in his affairs. Agreements and promises were hollow; a community of shared interests was the ultimate safety net.

Zhao Shengge flipped through the agreement Shao Yaozong brought, then casually tossed it onto the table with a soft thud. He fixed his dark, steady gaze on Shao Yaozong and said, "If Mr. Shao is selling flawed shares, I will invoke the 'Golden Act.'"

Shao Yaozong stiffened. He was sure Zhao Shengge hadn’t even read the terms carefully, yet the man was confident about the flaws in his shares.

The 'Golden Act,' also known as the 'Zhao Shengge Act,' was a set of Twelve Golden Rules Zhao Shengge had proposed during his solo battle against Wall Street giants in an anti-monopoly court abroad. After winning this seemingly impossible lawsuit, Zhao Shengge's reputation soared. The Belgian financial press named these rules the 'Golden Act,' which dealt a heavy blow to the white-dominated financial world at the time. A young Chinese man had restored balance to a biased and discriminatory scale with his trading skills and unimaginable perseverance.

Zhao Shengge didn't just aim for a single profitable deal; he sought to establish a system, focusing on long-term mechanisms for lasting solutions.

The 'Golden Act' included severe penalties for maliciously selling flawed shares. It was later introduced into the market by the Haishi Trade and Economic Association with unanimous approval. Though not legally binding, it was referenced and recommended in economic litigations as 'market rules,' 'industry standards,' and 'public order and good morals.'

Shao Yaozong dared not play tricks in front of the creator of the act and agreed to draft a new agreement after completing the asset valuation.

Zhao Shengge seemed somewhat satisfied.

The meeting concluded.

Shao Yaozong invited Zhao Shengge to watch a performance he had booked. It was likely some bizarre and erotic show. To avoid complications, Zhao Shengge agreed to attend.

Shao Yaozong was pleased.

He wasn't sure about Zhao Shengge's preferences but didn't go too far.

Zhao Shengge, having been in the world of fame and luxury for years, had seen all kinds of extravagant and decadent scenes. He was aloof and thus unimpressed.

However, Shao Yaozong indeed had a knack for selecting top-notch beauties for such occasions. Zhao Shengge looked around but found nothing particularly interesting.

Seeing Zhao Shengge unmoved and composed, Shao Yaozong teased, "Mr. Zhao, are you unimpressed or already taken? If it's the latter, I apologize for my presumption."

Zhao Shengge found the man somewhat ridiculous and presumptuous. He replied with pride and restraint, "Mr. Shao, you’re reading too much into it."