Chapter 346 Damn Americans
The place where Newbigin met Jim was none other than the Mandarin Hotel.

After all, this is a high-end hotel owned by Jardine Matheson, and it has all the necessary facilities, such as a reception room.

If it were Li Changhe, he would definitely think seriously about going, and perhaps at least bring his own bodyguard team with him.

But Jim didn't have to.

He went there with only two assistants. After all, his American identity was his biggest safety card.

In the reception room, when Newbijian saw the blond and blue-eyed Jim walking in, a bright smile appeared on his face. Although the two sides are now in a hostile relationship, Western politeness cannot be lost.

“Hi, I’m David Sandberg!”

Seeing Jim coming in, Newbijian spoke first and said his English name.

"Sandberg? Jewish?"

Jim frowned at this time and asked Newbijian.

Sandberg is a typical Jewish surname. Of course, it is not ruled out that other Westerners use it. However, if the word David is added, Jim concludes that the other person is definitely a Jew.

After all, David himself is a well-known king in Jewish history. He was the second generation Jewish king before King Solomon. It is said that he unified the Kingdom of Israel and established Jerusalem as its capital.

So based on this name and this surname, Jim concluded that the other person was Jewish.

Hearing Jim's words, a hint of displeasure appeared on Newbijian's face. The other party's direct question was actually very impolite.

"I think you should introduce yourself before asking questions?"

Newbijian suppressed his anger and asked Jim.

Jim smiled nonchalantly: "Of course, I am Jim Watson, the manager of the securities investment department of Manhattan Bank."

"Hello, Mr. David, nice to meet you."

"Manager of the Investment Department? Aren't you the head of Dongfang International?"

Hearing Jim's words, Newbijian frowned and a surge of anger surged in his heart.

He was the boss of Jardine Matheson, but when he was negotiating with someone, the only person he met was a manager from the bank's investment department?
"Why? Mr. David looks down on a small manager like me?"

"I'm sorry, I'm still the authorized representative of Oriental International. The acquisition of Hong Kong Land shares in the market is the masterpiece of me and my team."

"So, Mr. David, you can talk to me about anything, including selling the land!"

Jim said to Newbijian with a smile at this time.

"Can you take full responsibility?"

Newbijian looked at Jim with some suspicion.

Jim smiled and nodded: "Of course!"

"Well, Mr. Jim, I think we can actually negotiate. There is no need to fight in the stock market."

"I don't know what your requirements are. You can put them forward. Jardine Matheson Group has a huge influence in the Far East. I think we can do it."

Newbijian calmed down at this moment and began to speak to Jim.

Jim just listened to a few words, then waved his hand unceremoniously: "Listen, so Mr. David, you are not talking to me about the sale of the land, right?"

“Sell? No, I think we can cooperate.”

Newbijian said seriously.

After listening to this, Jim smiled contemptuously and then shook his head: "Sorry, we have no intention of cooperating."

"Mr. David, our goal this time is to take control of Hutchison Whampoa, so you only have two choices. Either you defeat us in the stock market and take full control of Hutchison Whampoa's shares."

"Or, we defeat you and take control of the land."

"But I think I can kindly remind you that the British government cannot save Hong Kong Island, and you, cannot save Hong Kong Land either. Of course, it's not just Hong Kong Land, but all the properties under your Jardine Matheson Group."

"You should be aware that some things are not just about business."

"But we are different. We have the ability to keep all our properties on Hong Kong Island."

"So, I suggest that Mr. David go back and discuss with the Keswick family. Selling the shares of the Landmark to us is the best choice for you."

"After you get the money, you can continue to invest in other industries. As far as I know, you have been moving to Southeast Asia, which shows that you actually have this concern."

"If you continue to fight with us in the stock market, even if you keep the land, you will lose everything in the end. Believe me, Mr. David, this is not an exaggeration. Our information channels are much better than yours!"

Jim spoke seriously to Newbijian at this moment.

After hearing this, Niu Bijian's heart trembled, but he quickly calmed down and spoke in a timid tone.

"Mr. Jim, I think you are exaggerating. Great Britain has the ability to keep Hong Kong Island, and Jardine Matheson also has the ability to keep all its assets."

Jim saw his attitude and shook his head in disdain.

"Mr. David, do you think it's fun to deceive yourself?"

"Forget it. I'm just giving you a friendly reminder for the sake of the relationship between our two countries. Don't hold on to the end, or else a hundred years of hard work will be in vain."

"I can give you a little information. Our two countries are currently conducting commercial negotiations in many industries, including the issue of Hong Kong Island. In this regard, Britain has no right to intervene."

"Its ownership, like your vast colonies back then, will not change because of your will, but because of the will of the United States."

Jim spoke to Newbijian confidently and arrogantly.

After hearing this, Newbijian felt inexplicably flustered. Although Jim's words were very humiliating, Newbijian had to admit that what he said was the truth.

After World War II, the independence movements that emerged all over the world in the 1950s and 1960s were not due to the kindness of the British who granted the colonies the right to independence, but rather the behind-the-scenes support of the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, which dismembered Britain's global colonial system.

Because the United States and the Soviet Union knew very well that no matter how weakened the British were in the world war, as long as they had colonies all over the world, they would be able to recover quickly and become the powerful empire on which the sun never sets again.

Therefore, the tacit cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union encouraged the independence of Britain's colonies around the world and cut off all sources of blood transfusions for Britain.

As a result, the country where the sun never set suddenly became an island nation trapped in the Atlantic Ocean, and its century-long glory was no longer to be regained.

And now, as Jim said, as long as there is a clear will between China and the United States, the ownership of Hong Kong Island does not need to be discussed at all.

Without the support of the United States, Britain and the North would have no capital to negotiate at all. The other side's army could march south at any time, cross the bay, and flatten the entire Hong Kong Island.

By that time, Jardine Matheson’s assets might really be lost as the other party said?
So, the other party’s information is really more reliable than theirs?
At this moment, Newbijian was in hesitation.

There was no way. The Keswick family might have influence in Hong Kong Island, but when it came to negotiations at the level of China-US, they simply couldn't get any information.

If the two parties really negotiated, then Jardine Matheson would be like meat on the chopping board now.

"Mr. David, believe me. Take my conversation with you back and tell the Keswick family. They will make a clear judgment."

"Rockefeller and our partners don't really want to fight to the death with Jardine Matheson. We can sit down and negotiate a suitable price to acquire the land."

“And you can also get enough US dollars to choose a new, suitable and safer land for investment for your assets.”

“This is a win-win situation for both parties.”

"Okay, that's all for today's negotiations. I hope that next time we discuss, you can bring me the good news that I like to hear."

Jim said this confidently, then stood up decisively and walked out.

This time, Niu Bijian did not see him off, but stood there with his brows tightly frowned.

It was a long time after Jim left that Newbijian stood up and walked out with his men.

"Big class?"

Just then, Newbijian's secretary hurried over.

"what's up?"

Newbijian asked calmly.

Seeing this, the secretary hurriedly said, "Boss, we just found out that Jim and his friends checked into our Mandarin Hotel after arriving in Hong Kong Island."

After listening to this, Niubijian's face did not show much fluctuation. He just looked at his secretary calmly and said with a hint of self-mockery: "So what?"

"Do you want to assassinate them in our hotel?"

"Or should we kick him out of our hotel and force them to negotiate with us?"

It’s just staying in a hotel, what’s the point for Jardine Matheson?
"Let's go. At this time, this little trick is no longer useful."

If Jardine Matheson had received the news in advance, it might have been able to find some way to create difficulties for them and use them as bargaining chips.

But now, things have come to this point, what other means can they use?
The other party is an employee of Manhattan Bank, and perhaps he is representing Rockefeller.

Back at Jardine's headquarters, Newby was in his office and saw Henry Keswick sitting inside.

"Mr. Henry"

"Hmm? You're back? How was it, David? Did the talk with them go well?"

Henry Keswick frowned at this moment and asked Newbijian.

Newbijian sighed and shook his head: "Mr. Henry, how is your negotiation with the bank going?"

Henry Keswick also shook his head: "I went to Standard Chartered this afternoon, but the other party said that it was difficult to come up with enough funds. Standard Chartered Bank's operations in the past two years have not been good. They don't have the courage to give us so much money."

"Citibank does not accept Hong Kong Land's real estate mortgages because, in their view, those are Hong Kong Land's assets. Now Hong Kong Land is in the midst of a battle for equity, and these real estate mortgages are not safe."

“These damn Americans.”

Because of the differences in corporate law between the United States and the United Kingdom, the two sides have different understandings of the company's operating authority. British Crown is a system of major shareholders, and the major shareholders control the operating rights, so Henry and Jardine Matheson have always disposed of Hampton's assets at will and have the final say.

But it is not like this in the United States. Their board of directors decides all systems. So although Jardine Matheson is a major shareholder of Hutchison Whampoa, Citibank does not recognize Jardine Matheson's exercise of various rights over Hutchison Whampoa's buildings.

In the view of Citibank, once the ownership of Hutchison Whampoa changes, the mortgaged properties under Hutchison Whampoa will most likely become bad debts, which the new shareholders will not recognize and Jardine Matheson will be unable to repay.

So Citibank asked Jardine Matheson to provide other assets as collateral, but Jardine Matheson now has no valuable assets at all.

In the past, Jardine Matheson usually took over both Hutchison Whampoa and Wharf Holdings, with Hutchison Whampoa using mortgages to help Wharf Holdings and Wharf Holdings using mortgages to help Hutchison Whampoa.

But now that Hutchison Whampoa is gone, Jardine Matheson only has Hutchison Whampoa left, and he can’t open the business anymore.

Citibank did not recognize any of his overseas assets. Even if they did, they would have to spend a lot of time collecting evidence and accepting the documents before they could negotiate. Jardine Matheson simply did not have the time for that.

"Mr. Henry, actually, during the negotiations this afternoon, the other party revealed some information to me and asked me to come back and tell you."

"I think what the other party said may not be groundless."

Newby then told Henry Keswick what Jim had said to him.

After hearing this, Henry Keswick's face suddenly became serious.

　I adjusted my work and rest schedule yesterday and also changed my update time. From now on, I will no longer update in the early morning, but in the morning. Otherwise, my day and night are always reversed, and my life is completely disrupted!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)