Chapter 1445: Head of State? Threats and intimidation as usual!

Jokes aside.

Su Xingjian is still very necessary for Xia Yu in this position.

In recent years, Hong Kong has been able to develop according to his intentions, and it is inseparable from the full cooperation of Governor Su Xingjian.

Since So Xingjian has come to him to express his loyalty once again, Xia Yu will not remain indifferent.

It so happens that he is also going to contact Margaret today to make his position clear.

After calculating the time difference, he realises that it is already past mid-morning in London.

He decides to just call her now, in front of So Xingjian.

He does as he thinks.

Xia Yu takes the phone on the desk and directly dials Margaret's private office number.

Xia Yu had been to Margaret's office before, and she had several phones there. Although they were all encrypted, one of them was private.

'DING... DING...'

After ringing for a while, the phone suddenly connected.

'Hello, who is this?'

A somewhat familiar female voice came over the phone, and Xia Yu immediately recognised it as Margaret's.

He greeted her with a smile, 'Good morning, Ms Margaret, this is Xia Yu.'

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line, before Margaret's slightly enthusiastic voice came through again: 'So it's Mr Xia. It's been a long time. I'm glad to hear from you.'

'I'm glad too, that you're in the office and that I was able to get through,' Xia responded with a faint smile.

After a brief greeting, Xia didn't beat about the bush, not wanting to give Margaret too much time to think. He got straight to the point.

'Ms Margaret, next time I go to the UK, I will ask you to enjoy afternoon tea with me. As for now, you are busy with your work, so I won't be long-winded. The day before yesterday, in the British Parliament, the proposal put forward by the Conservative Party's MPs caused social unrest in Hong Kong. I would like to know your attitude towards it.'

Sure enough, when such a pointed question was thrown directly at her, Margaret was silent for a long time, obviously pondering how to respond appropriately.

And her response after pondering was not unexpected to Xia Yu, as she was trying to pass the buck and stall.

'Mr Xia, I was also very surprised by this Proposal, because it wasn't my idea. Over the past two days, the entire political arena has been in chaos surrounding this matter, and there may be no result in the short term. This matter has already exceeded my control.'

Xia Yu sneered, 'Heh heh.'

'Lady Margaret, you are known as the Iron Lady, and the Conservative Party also controls a majority of seats in the House of Commons and House of Lords. Nothing in the UK is beyond your control. The key is whether you want to do it or not.'

'So in this matter, I hope that you can suppress it as soon as possible before it further ferments.'

'Hong Kong is my hometown, and you should know very well how much hard work and effort I have put in to build it. I cannot just stand by and watch my hard work being destroyed. This is my bottom line.'

Xia Yu's tone of voice was a bit heavy, and the average person would feel uncomfortable when they heard it, not to mention someone in a high position like Margaret.

Su Xingjian, who was sitting nearby, didn't know when his face had become very serious as well. He sat upright, but his ears were perked up.

Soon, Margaret's cold voice came over the receiver: 'Mr. Xia, I understand how you feel, but you have to know that this involves the interests of the United Kingdom. Although we are friends, I should represent the interests of the people and listen to their voices.'

Xia Yu sneered, and Margaret, who was cautious and dared not say anything, felt that he was deliberately putting pressure on her.

'Ms Margaret, as a businessman, I should not interfere with Hong Kong's affairs, but I have already given the UK many other benefits.'

'The development of Hong Kong today has little to do with the UK. We have developed on our own. If it weren't for the more than 5 billion pounds I invested in the UK, Hong Kong's current situation would only be better.'

'If I had not provided the crucial intelligence back then, the UK would not have won the Falklands War. If the war had been lost, would the UK still have the prestige it has today?'

'I have done what I could.'

'I and my allies have always supported the UK.'

'But now, we are very disappointed. If the UK turns its back on us, we can only defend our interests in our own way.'

'Hong Kong is our foundation. We can abandon investments outside Hong Kong, especially investments in the UK.'

'I just don't know if the British economy can bear it.'

'And even if those things are announced, how much credibility will the British government have with the capital?'

A series of words, like a series of sharp arrows, pierced Margaret's heart.

Even though it was nearly a third of the way across the globe, Xia Yu could still hear Margaret's heavy breathing through the receiver, and it was clear that Margaret was in a very bad mood.

However, she was unable to vent her anger at Xia Yu. After all, they were in the wrong in this matter.

And Xia Yu was a top capitalist, whose influence on the UK could not be underestimated. She could play the rogue with others, but not with Xia Yu.

After a long while,

Margaret finally gave Xia Yu an answer, but it was still not quite satisfactory to Xia Yu.

'Mr Xia, I will keep a close eye on this matter and will also take care of the emotions of the people of Xiangjiang. Please don't worry, I will call you back in a few days.'

'...'

'Pat!'

The watch had made its stance clear, and after a few more unproductive words, the two parties ended the call, and Xia Yu put the phone down.

He looked at Su Xingjian, who had learned the inside story for the first time. The latter's shocked expression made Xia Yu smile involuntarily.

'Governor Su, you heard just now that I have taken the pressure on myself. Please do your best to stabilise the situation.'

'Yes, don't worry!' Su Xingjian snapped back to his senses and said hurriedly, his attitude more respectful than before.

His previous understanding of Xia Yu was still too one-sided...

Afterwards, Su Xingjian stayed for a while before taking the initiative to make an excuse to leave.

After pondering for a moment, Xia Yu picked up the encrypted phone again and called George Berkeley of the Guangming Fund.

The result of this phone call:

George Berkeley's car pulled into Downing Street at 3pm London time.

...

Margaret, who had stopped what she was doing, looked at George Berkeley, who was smiling, but she felt a pang of bitterness in her heart and had to show enough enthusiasm.

'President Berkeley, welcome to Downing Street.'

'Ms Margaret, sorry to interrupt!'

'No, please sit down!'

'Thank you.'

'...'

In the office, after the secretary had served coffee to the two of them, Margaret dismissed the others, leaving only Margaret and George Berkeley.

'President Berkeley, what can I do for you?'

Margaret leaned back on the sofa in a relatively comfortable position and smiled as she looked at George Berkeley.

George Berkeley said with a serious expression on his face, 'Margaret, today, the Hong Kong stock market plummeted, and we have suffered heavy losses in our investments in Hong Kong. And we expect the losses to be even greater in the future.'

'And this is just the losses in the financial sector.'

'In addition to financial investments, we also have other large-scale investments in Hong Kong. The most typical example is the Rolls-Royce Motor Group. Hong Kong is the most important production and assembly base for Rolls-Royce in Asia. Now the social unrest in Hong Kong has affected the company's normal production and operations.'

'I hope the government can give us a stable business and investment environment, and not let people with sinister motives benefit.'

Margaret secretly thought, 'Just as expected,' and quickly hid her smile.

She sighed and said sincerely, 'President Berkeley, I understand how you feel, but I didn't initiate this matter, so it's difficult for me to help you solve it.'

'However, I suggest that the Bright Foundation can stop the loss in time and withdraw the funds. There are still many investment opportunities in the UK, and the government will also provide preferential investment policies.'

George Berkeley decisively shook his head: 'Ms. Margaret, going global and developing a global strategy is the fundamental strategy of our company, and this will not change.'

'This strategy is also deeply tied to the development of the British economy. If it weren't for the fact that our company has earned enough profits abroad over the years and brought them back to the country, we wouldn't be able to make so many investments domestically.'

'If we abandon our investments in Hong Kong and Asia now, then in the future, we will have to spend many times the cost to re-enter the market.'

'Moreover, part of the assets that the royal family entrusted to us to manage were also placed in Hong Kong, and are now on the verge of loss. In any case, we will not let this part of the assets lose money!'

'So there is only one outcome we can accept, and that is for Hong Kong to regain and quickly restore stability and provide a good investment environment for everyone.'

Margaret looked torn and at a loss.

'President Berkeley, after all, Xiangjiang is still under our jurisdiction, and I sincerely hope that Xiangjiang can stabilise. However, the situation surrounding this matter is still very complicated, and I cannot give you an answer for the time being.'

George Berkeley stared at her with burning eyes and said sternly, 'Ms Margaret, you should also be very clear about the situation behind this matter.'

'This matter has been a struggle for capital from beginning to end, except that some people want to use the British government as a gun.'

'Who are those people?'

'And who are we to you?'

'I hope you can always have a clear understanding and not be influenced by other people.'

George Berkeley was a little thirsty, so he stopped to drink some coffee. Seeing Margaret's face change, he continued.

'I don't want to say too much, I just want to make our attitude clear.'

'Investment in Hong Kong is part of our super-high growth, and we will never give it up.'

'The enemy wants me to cut my losses, but that's absolutely impossible!'

'If the situation is urgent, we will sell off those low-yield assets in the UK and mobilise funds to protect our interests in Hong Kong. After victory, the funds may return.'

'If 3 billion pounds is not enough, then 5 billion pounds, and if that doesn't work, then 10 billion pounds. There is no upper limit, until we win!'

'As for other investments in the country, we are quite at ease with them and hold a long-term mentality, not caring about market fluctuations.'

Margaret was completely unable to sit still.

Not caring about market fluctuations, to put it bluntly, means that it doesn't matter whether the financial order and economy of the UK will be stable.

If the Bright Fund really withdraws tens of billions of pounds from the UK, the UK stock market will definitely fall sharply, and that's not the most terrifying thing.

The most terrifying thing is the foreign exchange market!

The foreign exchange reserves of the UK will be emptied, exposing its vital weaknesses. At that time, the pound exchange rate, which has risen due to the Plaza Accord, will most likely be attacked.

If Xia Yu also withdraws a large amount of capital, then the British economic order, which has just begun to pick up...

Thinking about this, Margaret shuddered.

Looking at George Berkeley's serious expression, Margaret's mood was terrible, and she was even more annoyed than when she was threatened by Xia Yu in the morning.

And she also knew that George Berkeley must have Xia Yu's shadow behind him when he came to see her.

She just had to say it.

Xia Yu was indeed making a move against her vital points.

Margaret could care less about the stability of Hong Kong.

But she absolutely could not accept the destruction of the British economic order.

Finally, Margaret relented.

She forced a forced smile and said, 'President Berkeley, Hong Kong is the Oriental Pearl in Britain's hands. As long as it is in British hands, we have the responsibility and obligation to ensure its prosperity and stability.'

George Berkeley also smiled, 'I believe in Ms. Margaret's abilities, I'll wait and see!'

'I have some things to attend to, so I won't disturb you. I'll come visit again next time I have the chance.'

'Okay, I'll see you out!'

After personally seeing George Berkeley out the door, Margaret turned and walked quickly towards her office, frowning the whole way.

She had to do something, and she couldn't let this farce continue for too long, the risks were too high!

Soon after George Berkeley left, Evelyn Lochiel hurried back to discuss with Jacob Lochiel after receiving the news.

Xia Yu and the others had already counterattacked, and they must be on high alert again to prevent the situation from being ruined.

What Evelyn Lochiel and the others did not know was that Xia Yu's series of actions were not only meant to really intimidate Margaret, but also to show them.

This kind of reaction was only normal.

Otherwise, if they remained indifferent, it would make the Lochills and other empty-headed people suspicious, and if something really happened, it wouldn't be pretty...