Chapter 421: Finally No More Scraping By!

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, half a month passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Xia Yu was extremely busy, running back and forth between companies to handle various affairs.

This urgency led him to urge Kowloon Warehouse Group to quickly renovate its building so that most of the companies could be consolidated into one headquarters, making his work more convenient.

While Xia Yu was busy managing his own companies, the battle for the Jardine Consortium was gradually coming to an end.

Jardine Consortium, the largest British conglomerate in Hong Kong and the biggest in East Asia outside of Japan, had fallen. What remained was only the seemingly unified but internally divided Keswick family.

Despite it only taking a month from start to finish, this colossal conglomerate with over 300 associated companies fell as quickly as a shooting star. It was truly a matter of great regret. After the regret, there was only infinite awe for the stock market god, Xia Yu.

The Jardine Consortium originally had over 300 associated companies. Although the Keswick family had the final say, the reality was that the consortium was composed of many smaller families and shareholders.

Over a century, the Keswick family couldn't maintain control over its companies as firmly as Xia Yu. Furthermore, continuous mergers and acquisitions led to the introduction of new shareholders, mostly distributed across various subsidiaries. The three main parent companies had few outsiders involved.

Under the fierce hunting by many big players, the Jardine Consortium was torn apart. The Keswick family continually sold off smaller and less influential company shares, using the money to increase their holdings in more important companies.

This was a form of resource swapping, seeking self-preservation.

The core enterprises of the Jardine Consortium, such as Jardine Shipping, Jardine Food Group, and Jardine Property, were all acquired by others. As for those taken by Xia Yu, they were not even worth mentioning—Xia Yu was only interested in the core companies.

In the end, the Keswick family retained only a fully privatized Jardine Machinery Group, a Jardine Real Estate Investment Company, and a 43% stake in the Land Investment Group.

It must be said that despite the Keswick family holding more than 30% of the Land Investment Group's shares, they still managed to retain control of the group.

Of course, the Land Investment Group's board of directors also underwent almost a complete overhaul. Many big names, relying on their shares, obtained seats on the board.

These big names were not willing to give up on the Land Investment Group. Although they didn't have control for now, being inside the group meant there would be future opportunities.

It was foreseeable that the management of the Keswick family would be extremely difficult in the future, surrounded by predatory big players. It would be hard for them to compete.

Apart from these three large companies, the Keswick family also retained a dozen or so smaller companies. These companies were considered more promising by the Keswick family.

Moreover, the Keswick family had absolute control over these companies. As long as they didn't go public or sell shares, outsiders couldn't take them away.

Thus, the Keswick family still controlled just under twenty companies. Compared to their peak when they controlled over a hundred companies and were linked to more than two hundred, the difference was immense.

So, the Jardine Consortium was essentially defunct, leaving only the Keswick family.

But even a dead camel is bigger than a horse. Despite this, the Keswick family's overall strength still surpassed the Wheelock & Co. conglomerate, as they still controlled the giant Land Investment Group!

The ranking of the four major British forces changed. Swire Properties, which had been slightly weaker than the Jardine Consortium, took the top spot.

Hutchison Whampoa, which was two-thirds of Swire Properties' strength, ranked second.

The Keswick family was in third place, with a total strength roughly equivalent to half of Swire Properties.

Finally, Wheelock & Co. ranked fourth, with strength comparable to the Keswick family, roughly two-fifths of Swire Properties' strength.

Although this ranking was based on overall strength, in terms of combat power and influence, the Keswick family was definitely at the bottom!

Not only had they become a laughing stock, but their internal cohesion was also failing. With external threats looming, how could they rise again?

Unless one day, a decisive and iron-fisted leader emerged from within the Keswick family, there might still be a glimmer of hope for resurgence.

…

As the war drew to a close and the smoke cleared, those licking their wounds were licking their wounds, and those digesting were digesting. The stock market gradually stabilized, and the small to medium-sized institutions that had been hiding began to reappear.

Only a group of onlookers were left reminiscing about the past.

Just as the dark clouds over Hong Kong began to disperse, a sudden piece of news exploded like a missile in a calm lake, causing waves of agitation.

Early in the morning, Jia Yi Television Station suddenly issued a statement announcing that it would cease operations due to financial difficulties and posted a notice outside its headquarters declaring that Jia Yi would stop broadcasting from that day.

Jia Yi Television Station had stopped broadcasting!

This also meant that bankruptcy and closure were imminent!

Although there had been speculation about Jia Yi Television Station's decline due to organizational changes and large financial expenditures, many had hoped it might survive.

However, with Jia Yi Television Station being saved temporarily by the capital of the Lin family under He Zuo-zhi's connections and even launching the "July Offensive," which made Wireless Television cautious, it seemed the situation was better.

Unfortunately, business still depended on hard strength.

The "July Offensive" fizzled out and didn't achieve its goals. The Lin family's disappointment led them to stop investing, breaking the last lifeline for Jia Yi Television Station and sealing its fate!

Jia Yi Television Station, being one of the three major stations, had a glorious past with high ratings for shows like "The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain," "The Crane and the Divine Needle," "Meteor Butterfly Sword," and "The Golden Knife Love." Its influence was strong both inside and outside the industry.

So, when the shutdown announcement came out, both the media and entertainment circles were shocked and rushed to gather information.

Jia Yi's old rivals, Wireless Television and Li's Television, were also among the first to learn of the news.

Unlike Shao Yifu's shock, Huang Xizhao privately admired boss Xia Yu's foresight, realizing that Jia Yi Television Station was indeed going to close as analyzed by the boss.

This meant that Li's Television Station would no longer need to scrape by!

It was time to take action!

Li's Television Station would rise from the ashes and soar to new heights!

Excited, Huang Xizhao immediately summoned the senior executives to the conference room and then called boss Xia Yu.

Not long after, Huang Xizhao, full of energy from receiving the boss's orders, entered the large conference room with a high spirit.

At this moment, the senior executives of Li's Television Station, including the "Three Heroes of Li's," Deputy General Manager Zhong Jinhui, and planners Xiao Ruoyuan and Xu Xiaoming, were already seated, all with smiles on their faces, clearly aware of Jia Yi's announcement.

Seeing the radiant Huang Xizhao enter, everyone assumed he, like them, was delighted by the reduction of a competitor.

This was a normal assumption. Over the years, Li's Television Station had faced a miserly and weak British old man, and had to compete with the rich Jia Yi and the old dominant Wireless Television. If anyone had the most pressure, it was Huang Xizhao.

"Old Huang, today is indeed a great day, haha!"

Deputy General Manager Zhong Jinhui said with a smile.

"Indeed, it's a great day!"

Huang Xizhao's smile was uncontrollable, nodding in agreement with excitement.

"Alright, time is of the essence. I've called everyone here to discuss a major matter!"

As soon as he sat down, Huang Xizhao eagerly announced.

Hearing this and seeing Huang Xizhao's overly excited demeanor, everyone became curious, turning their eyes towards him.

"It's been over a month. Now that Jia Yi is finally going down, it's time for us to make our move!"

"I've already called the boss!"

After Huang Xizhao's first statement, Zhong Jinhui was about to speak but swallowed his words when he heard the second statement. He stared at Huang Xizhao with wide eyes and blurted out, "The boss is coming?"

"The boss?!"

Others also widened their eyes, their breaths quickening.

Was the mysterious boss who had given Huang Xizhao immense confidence finally making an appearance?

Huang Xizhao took a deep breath and scanned the curious faces of everyone.