Chapter 43: Reactions from All Sides

"Mr. Lin, your strategy is both direct and highly efficient. Given our current strength and the market climate, driving up the share price of Wharf is no difficult feat.

The crux of the matter is that several financial consortia are already operating in the shadows, waiting for the right moment. If we go all out and aggressively absorb shares, these groups will likely misinterpret the situation, assuming a much stronger opponent has entered the fray; they would never sit idly by and allow a rival to seize control of the market so easily.

In this way, to protect their own interests, they will be forced to join the scramble, just as you, Mr. Lin, have so farsightedly anticipated. Our actions will serve merely as the catalyst, triggering a chain reaction that will naturally steer subsequent developments in our favor.

Therefore, I see no significant obstacles to the conditions you have proposed. If you decide to proceed with this plan, let us demonstrate our prowess on this afternoon’s battlefield and prove it with results! I have full confidence in our team and our plan," Su Zhixue responded with great enthusiasm.

"Good, Zhixue. I am entrusting this afternoon’s mission to your team. Give it your all—do not let me down," Lin Haoran said with an air of unquestionable authority.

He understood the gravity of this operation; it was a mission where only success was acceptable. His available capital was stretched thin, making this a "sink or swim" battle for him. He needed not only to push Wharf's stock to new heights but also to cleverly manipulate market sentiment to draw two giants—Jardine Matheson and the legendary shipping magnate Sir Pao—into the fray, forcing them to lock horns under his orchestration.

Feeling the weight of Lin Haoran’s trust, Su Zhixue straightened his posture and replied firmly, "Mr. Lin, rest assured, we will exhaust every effort to live up to your expectations. This afternoon, we shall let our actions speak for themselves!"

As Lin Haoran meticulously briefed Su on the afternoon’s trading strategy, the atmosphere inside the headquarters of World-Wide Shipping, located in the Prince's Building in Central, felt heavy, as if the air had frozen solid.

The moment the morning trading session concluded, Mr. Wu, the son-in-law of Sir Pao, hurriedly placed an international call to the shipping magnate, who was attending a conference in Singapore. He provided a exhaustive, play-by-play report of every subtle fluctuation in Wharf’s stock throughout the morning.

Upon receiving this news, Sir Pao made an immediate and significant decision, resolutely canceling his scheduled golf match with a high-ranking official that afternoon.

"I will personally oversee operations from here and stay by the phone. You must keep a close eye on the market as well; notify me immediately at the slightest sign of trouble," Sir Pao commanded his son-in-law.

For the Pao family, the acquisition of Wharf was a strategic move of paramount importance, one where no oversight could be tolerated. Although they were already the largest shareholder in Wharf, this status did not grant them controlling interest, leaving them feeling quite powerless.

To achieve full control of Wharf, the Pao family knew they had to increase their stake to bolster their influence and decision-making authority. Yet, they had cleverly claimed publicly that they had no such plans—a ruse intended to mask their true intentions and avoid inciting unnecessary market volatility or alerting competitors.

In truth, the Pao family had long viewed Wharf as a critical component of their "abandoning ships for the shore" strategy, designed to hedge against the impending shipping depression and minimize losses.

Sir Pao had originally assumed that by quietly and covertly accumulating shares, the process would take at least a year or more to unfold smoothly. To his surprise, only a month after he had announced his initial intentions, the market for Wharf stock was boiling over once again, as if returning to the frenzy of the past.

In Sir Pao’s view, it was clear that Jardine Matheson had felt the immense pressure from the Pao family and had developed an unprecedented sense of urgency regarding the control of Wharf. To defend their own interests and prevent the loss of control, Jardine had been forced to react quickly and launch their own share-accumulation plan.

This sudden turn of events signaled that Sir Pao’s hopes for a covert acquisition had come to an end. The battle for control over Wharf had officially reached a fever pitch.

Meanwhile, Trevor Bedford, the Executive Director and General Manager of Hongkong Land, acted swiftly. He urgently contacted David Newbigging, the Tai-pan of Jardine Matheson, to provide a detailed report on the anomalous fluctuations of Wharf stock observed during the morning session.

Bedford was deeply concerned, analyzing that this sudden, violent market reaction was a clear signal that Sir Pao had finally lost patience and begun an aggressive takeover of Wharf shares.

"This is disastrous," Bedford thought to himself, realizing the urgency and gravity of the situation.

Upon hearing the detailed report, Newbigging also sensed the severity of the crisis. He immediately realized this was not merely about the control of Wharf, but directly impacted the interests and strategic layout of the entire Jardine Matheson group.

"Mr. Bedford, I am departing for the Hongkong Land headquarters immediately!" Newbigging’s voice carried an air of unwavering resolve.

As the Tai-pan of Jardine Matheson and the head of Hongkong Land, he knew that at this critical juncture, every decision made by Hongkong Land was inextricably linked to the future of Jardine. Thus, he had to take command personally to devise a strategy that would ensure Jardine’s dominant position in the tug-of-war for Wharf remained unshaken.

The headquarters of Jardine Matheson and Hongkong Land were not far apart; less than ten minutes later, Newbigging arrived to meet with Bedford.

Without exchanging pleasantries, they went straight to the heart of the matter. Bedford, appearing particularly professional, pulled the morning’s trading data for Wharf from his folder and handed it to Newbigging.

Newbigging took the data and began to review it with intense focus. Every set of figures pulled at his nerves, granting him a clearer understanding of the market dynamics. He knew full well that behind these numbers lay a fierce capital struggle, with the control of Wharf as the focal point.

As he delved deeper into the analysis, Newbigging’s brow furrowed. He realized that Sir Pao’s maneuvers were much faster and far more aggressive than he had anticipated. Faced with such a situation, he had to make a swift decision and adjust Jardine’s strategy to ensure they maintained the upper hand in the struggle.

"Are there any difficulties with the group’s liquid capital?" Newbigging asked.

"Mr. Tai-pan, we currently have over 200 million Hong Kong dollars available at Hongkong Land. However, when competing against Pao Yue-kong, this amount is clearly insufficient. If this competition truly enters a white-hot phase, this money will be exhausted very quickly," Bedford replied with a bitter smile.