Chapter 301: Opinions on Incompetence

Inside the VIP room of Fanghuan Group headquarters.
Huang Fengwen personally poured a perfectly brewed cup of Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao tea into two exquisite teacups.
The aroma of the tea wafted gently, refreshing and invigorating.
He remained calm and composed, showing no sign of restraint despite the presence of the two distinguished guests opposite him.
“Both leaders are incredibly busy, and your presence today is a great honor to our humble abode!”
Huang Fengwen pushed the teacup across to the other side, a gentle smile on his face.
Seated opposite him were Wu Jianlin, the secretary of the Huaxia Strategic Investment Fund, and Li Donglai, the head of the National Economic Strategy Advisory Group, who, though retired, still wielded considerable influence.
“Haha, Chairman Huang, you’re too kind. To be able to drink tea personally brewed by Chairman Huang, this trip has been truly worthwhile!”
Wu Jianlin picked up his teacup, his posture perfectly composed.
Li Donglai was more direct. He took a sip of tea, set down the cup, and looked at Huang Fengwen with a gentle yet sharp gaze:
“Chairman Huang, let’s not beat around the bush. We’ve come here today without a reason.”
Huang Fengwen smiled, remaining composed:
“Mr. Li, you flatter us. Fanghuan’s success today is inseparable from the support of the country.
It is an honor for Fanghuan to have you two here to guide our work.”
Li Donglai sighed deeply: “Don’t say that, Chairman Huang. To be honest, we are the ones who have let you down, and we have let Fanghuan down.”
These words instantly made the atmosphere in the VIP room heavy.
Wu Jianlin also became serious and echoed:
“Mr. Li is right.
Our Xia Kingdom owes Fanghuan a great debt of gratitude this time.
The higher-ups have a very high opinion of you, saying that Fanghuan is not only a leader in business, but also a sharp dagger for our country on the international financial battlefield!”
Huang Fengwen understood.
In the previous thrilling financial war with Japan, who led the charge, charging to the front lines and forcibly forcing the Japanese economy to its knees in desperation?
It was Fang Huan!
But later, when the EU, using its antitrust laws, forcibly dismantled Fang Huan's highly successful shipping group, the country, for various reasons, couldn't help and could only watch helplessly as its heroic enterprise was bullied by foreigners.
However, Huang Fengwen didn't accept this "favor."
He simply smiled calmly:
"Mr. Li, you're being too polite.
Serving the country is a company's duty.
Let bygones be bygones."
His tone was gentle yet firm,
"We at Fang Huan are more concerned with the future."
With a single sentence, he deftly deflected the attack.
He expressed his stance while gently pushing back the "guilt card" offered to him.
Li Donglai and Wu Jianlin exchanged a glance, their admiration for Huang Fengwen rising even higher.
His lack of self-appointment and refusal to seek reward—such magnanimity was truly extraordinary.
"Excellent! Well said!"
Wu Jianlin clapped his hands in praise, then changed the subject, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and officially began today's "testing the waters."
"Chairman Huang's noble character is admirable. But we are here today with a mission."
He leaned forward slightly, getting straight to the point.
"Chairman Huang, as a national wealth fund, our Huaxia Strategic Investment Fund needs to find the most professional people to manage it and achieve a powerful alliance to ensure its preservation and appreciation.
We have been looking for strategic partners like Fang Huan, capable of fighting tough battles and winning victories on the international stage.
To be honest, your company's recent overseas operations, although not large in scale, have been executed with surgical precision, leaving our senior management in awe.
Therefore, we are here today to discuss with Fang Huan whether this surgical hand has the strategic capability to manage a large-scale national campaign.
Can it join forces with the nation to create a greater future?"
These words sounded like flattery, but Huang Fengwen sensed the underlying meaning:
This was a test.
They acknowledged Fang Huan's "techniques," but also wanted to see his "principles," to see the level of his vision and scope, and whether he could shoulder the responsibility of national-level cooperation.
Huang Fengwen understood; the test had arrived.
He didn't directly answer the question about cooperation, but subtly changed the subject.
"Secretary Wu, you flatter me. We're just making some small-scale attempts within our own little territory."
He paused, his gaze deepening.
"Since Secretary Wu wants to discuss strategy, I do have a humble opinion. Would you two be interested in hearing it?"
"Oh?" Li Donglai and Wu Jianlin perked up, leaning forward slightly. "We'd love to hear it!"
This was exactly what they wanted; they didn't want to hear about past achievements, but rather a prediction for the future.
Huang Fengwen slowly began:
“Hong Kong’s financial status is not what it used to be; a large amount of hot money is flowing out.”
Wu Jianlin nodded:
“Yes, according to our monitoring, the scale is at least hundreds of billions of US dollars.
Currently, the market generally believes that the largest destination for this capital is Singapore.”
“That’s right, everyone thinks so.” A meaningful smile appeared on Huang Fengwen’s lips.
“But what if… Singapore, this financial center, also collapses?”
“Hmm?”
Wu Jianlin and Li Donglai’s gazes simultaneously sharpened, forgetting to put down their teacups.
Huang Fengwen didn't give them a chance to ask further questions, continuing:
"Our internal risk control model has been issuing warnings recently.
Singapore's financial system, seemingly prosperous, is actually built on two fragile pillars:
Extremely high real estate leverage, and excessive reliance on international speculative capital.
Its status as a financial center is like a magnificent castle built on sand."
His tone was calm, but every word struck the two tycoons like a hammer blow.
"Our Fanghuan Investment's chairman, Su Hao, has a judgment."
Huang Fengwen finally revealed the core of the matter:
"He believes that a financial storm targeting Singapore may arrive very soon, within weeks.
At that time, capital fleeing Singapore itself will converge into a torrent with nowhere to go."
The "strategic prediction" had been made.
The air in the VIP room seemed to freeze.
Wu Jianlin and Li Donglai, both top-tier shrewd individuals, instantly understood the earth-shattering meaning behind Huang Fengwen's words.
After a long pause, Li Donglai asked in a slightly hoarse voice:
“Chairman Huang… do you mean this torrent of capital has a chance to flow back to Hong Kong?”
“Opportunities are never waited for,” Huang Fengwen said, looking them directly in the eye.
“If the country can seize this window of opportunity and introduce targeted and attractive financial opening policies in Hong Kong at the right time, such as simplifying the QFII approval process or temporarily lowering capital gains tax…
then, we can not only stabilize the situation in Hong Kong, but even establish our dominant position as Asia's financial center for decades to come!”
He didn't mention what Fang Huan would do, nor did he make any “requirements.”
He simply presented a grand blueprint for the country from a very high strategic perspective, pointing out the key nodes for realizing this blueprint.
With a breathtakingly grand strategic vision, he perfectly answered Wu Jianlin's earlier “test.”
He casually presented an “opportunity” as a “gift of intelligence.”
Wu Jianlin and Li Donglai exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
This was no "incompetent opinion"; this was clearly a groundbreaking strategy only a national strategist could propose!
Wu Jianlin took a deep breath, his expression incredibly serious. His previous probing intent vanished, replaced by extreme importance:
"Chairman Huang, the information you provided… is of paramount importance.
We need to report to our superiors immediately and organize experts for an urgent assessment.
Rest assured, if the situation is indeed as your company assesses, the nation will not miss this opportunity!"
His words had shifted from "discussing cooperation" to "thanking you for providing such valuable and crucial information."
The balance of power between the two had been subtly reversed.
"I was just suggesting a possibility, don't take it seriously."
Huang Fengwen picked up the teapot again and refilled their cups, as if his dramatic words from just moments before had never been spoken.
"Come, come, Elder Li, Secretary Wu, the tea's getting cold."
***
After seeing the two VIPs off, Huang Fengwen stood alone in his office, gazing out the window.
Given his current status and the size of Fanghuan Group, he could easily refuse this cooperation.
Yes, refuse.
As long as he could find an excuse, saying that Fanghuan was currently focused on its own business and unable to attend to other matters, Elder Li and Secretary Wu wouldn't be able to object.
After all, they had brought up the past, feeling guilty, and would never force him to do anything against his will.
By refusing, Fanghuan could remain uninvolved, peacefully existing as a business tycoon with immense wealth, far removed from the treacherous national power struggles.
This was undoubtedly the safest and most secure option.
But why didn't he refuse?
Involuntarily, Huang Fengwen's mind flashed back to the scene of Fanghuan Shipping Group being brutally dismantled by those European Union robbers cloaked in civilization.
The thought of those giant ships that once belonged to Fanghuan in the port now flying other companies' flags filled him with a sense of powerlessness, a piercing pain of watching his own flesh and blood being ripped out—a feeling that still haunted him like a nightmare.
He knew better than anyone that the saying "business is business, politics is politics" was nothing more than a self-comforting statement for the weak.
Faced with a weak and insecure nation, the business empire you painstakingly built is nothing more than a piece of meat on someone else's chopping block, ready to be devoured at any moment.
Huang Fengwen no longer wanted to be that piece of meat!
What he wanted was not just a Fang Huan who made money, but a Fang Huan that "no one dared to touch"!
And to achieve this, he had to tie Fang Huan's interests to the fate of the nation!
To make Fang Huan an indispensable piece on the national chessboard, one that could even determine the outcome!
This was the real reason he couldn't refuse.
This was ambition!
And also a shield!
Moreover…
He still had Su Hao!
The miracles that young man had created time and time again gave him the confidence to play this earth-shattering game!