Chapter 1765 A Mistake of Fate

Within three days, the top brass of CJ Group converged on China from all over the world.

This news quickly spread to South Korea.

Father, there might be movement from Uncle's side.

Lee Jae-yong hurried back to the Lee family mansion in Cheongdam-dong to report to his father, Lee Kun-hee.

But when he entered his father's study, he found that his sister Lee Boo-jin and others were already waiting there.

Have a seat first.

Lee Kun-hee said calmly to Lee Jae-yong and his other children.

Especially when looking at Lee Jae-yong, Lee Kun-hee waved his hand: "Sit down too. The sky hasn't fallen yet. What's the rush!"

Lee Jae-yong gave a wry smile at this. His father made it sound easy. Everyone knew CJ Group was bound to make a move soon, yet his father remained as steady as a mountain. Wasn't he afraid Uncle would stir up trouble?

After Lee Jae-yong and the others sat down, Lee Kun-hee glanced at them and said indifferently, "Tell me, what information have you gathered?"

Lee Jae-yong and the others each shared the news they had obtained with Lee Kun-hee.

After a long while, when they had all finished speaking, Lee Kun-hee finally spoke with a cold laugh: "It seems my older brother is planning to make his last stand."

Having been brothers for decades, Lee Kun-hee believed he knew his brother Lee Maeng-hee's character well.

To put it nicely, his brother had great ambitions but little talent; to put it bluntly, he was someone with high aims but low abilities.

Indecisive, and in Lee Kun-hee's view, Lee Maeng-hee often lacked his own opinions, easily swayed by those around him.

That was the main reason their father had ultimately removed him from the position of Samsung heir.

How could a person without a mind of his own, easily influenced by others, lead Samsung forward?

Of course, Lee Maeng-hee was unaware of this.

Or rather, no one had ever brought it up in front of him, since it wasn't exactly a glorious matter.

Moreover, times had changed; aside from those involved, no one else could know about what happened back then.

Father, should we send someone to investigate?

Lee Jae-yong asked Lee Kun-hee.

He knew well that his uncle Lee Maeng-hee had summoned his cousin Lee Jae-hyun and cousin Lee Mi-kyung to China, which meant he might be about to launch a massive legal marathon.

Many knew that Lee Maeng-hee was in poor health, and everyone understood that before leaving this world, Lee Maeng-hee would certainly strike back at Lee Kun-hee.

Clearly, that counterattack had now arrived.

Investigate what?

Hearing his son's words, Lee Kun-hee smiled slightly, his expression relaxed, as if completely unaffected. He looked at Lee Jae-yong and said, "Guess what your uncle will do?"

File a lawsuit?

Lee Jae-yong was no slouch either. At his father's question, he replied offhandedly, "Aside from a lawsuit, I can't think of any other way for Uncle."

Indeed.

Lee Kun-hee nodded: "Other than suing me on the grounds of unclear division of your grandfather's estate, I can't think of any way he can target me."

As he spoke, he looked coldly at his children and the others: "Don't panic. The matter between him and me is our problem. Samsung remains Samsung, understand?"

Understood.

Yes, Chairman.

Everyone quickly stood up and bowed to Lee Kun-hee in agreement.

After all, he was a titan commanding the Samsung empire. With just a few words, Lee Kun-hee steadied everyone's troubled minds and calmed them down.

That was ability!

If it were Lee Maeng-hee, he would never have such composure.

The style of a general and the style of a commander are two different concepts.

The former can lead a company to grow and thrive, while the latter can make that company stand unshaken.

And Lee Kun-hee was undoubtedly the latter.

This had already been proven by history.

When the others left, Lee Kun-hee kept Lee Boo-jin and Lee Jae-yong behind.

Father, is there something you need?

Lee Jae-yong asked Lee Kun-hee in confusion.

He thought his father had kept him and his sister to ask them something.

Lee Boo-jin was also puzzled, wondering what their father wanted to discuss with them.

Has there been any movement from Hanxing Investment recently?

Lee Kun-hee suddenly asked Lee Boo-jin.

Lee Boo-jin furrowed her brows slightly, thought for a moment, then shook her head at Lee Kun-hee: "No. When we probed them before, they didn't respond. They seem to be focusing on integrating the companies they hold, apparently not planning further expansion."

I see...

Lee Kun-hee thought for a moment, then said to Lee Boo-jin, "Contact Lotte and SK."

Huh?

Lee Boo-jin and Lee Jae-yong were startled, looking at Lee Kun-hee in surprise, not understanding what he meant.

Your uncle doesn't have many allies he can seek in China. Zhao Fusheng is one of his most favorable choices." Lee Kun-hee smiled faintly, addressing his two children's confusion. "Since that's the case, we need to give Chairman Zhao a good warning, let him know who the true master of Samsung is!"

Okay, I understand.

Lee Boo-jin nodded, indicating she understood her father's intention.

Although she had a good personal relationship with Zhao Fusheng, this was a matter of family interest, so Lee Boo-jin naturally wouldn't speak up for Zhao Fusheng.

She also understood her father's intention: essentially to warn Hanxing Investment, making Zhao Fusheng in China realize that the best future partner was Samsung, and that Samsung was controlled by Lee Kun-hee, not Lee Maeng-hee.

A slap and then a sweet date.

In other words, that was Lee Kun-hee's wishful thinking.

As for Zhao Fusheng's feelings, did they matter?

In South Korea, Lee Kun-hee's word was law.

Lee Boo-jin didn't think Hanxing Investment had any power to resist. Even if it did, what could it do against several Korean chaebols?

...

...

In fact, many years later, Lee Boo-jin and Lee Jae-yong would regret that if they had been smart and firm enough to advise their father Lee Kun-hee, perhaps so many things wouldn't have happened later.

But there are no ifs in this world. Often, we don't know what will happen in the next moment, so when making choices, we only look at immediate gains and what's in our own plate.

Yet we don't realize that many things in this world require consideration of the future.

Zhao Fusheng was troubled precisely because he considered the future.

Upon learning that several senior executives of CJ Group, including Vice Chairman Lee Mi-kyung, had rushed from South Korea to the capital, Zhao Fusheng said to Zheng Yao, "It seems Lee Maeng-hee has made up his mind."

Of course.

Zheng Yao wasn't surprised and explained to Zhao Fusheng, "Don't forget, this is his last chance."

Yes, his last chance.

Zhao Fusheng nodded and sighed, feeling a bit regretful.

In recent days, he hadn't been idle. The vast network of the Future Group was mobilized, including the connections of Xue Yuanfang and Ye Jing.

Ultimately, through various conclusions, they analyzed that Lee Maeng-hee's health was declining; he had at most five more years to live.

In other words, in five years, even if Lee Jae-hyun wanted to fight the inheritance lawsuit with Lee Kun-hee, he wouldn't have the standing.

Because by then, Lee Maeng-hee would surely be dead.

Subtracting the last year or two of his life, the days when Lee Maeng-hee could still think clearly were only these few years.

He was really in a hurry!

What should we do?

Zheng Yao asked Zhao Fusheng, "Keep waiting?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled and looked at Zheng Yao, "What, are you anxious?"

Not anxious.

Zheng Yao shook his head: "I'm worried that delays might cause trouble. Samsung's information network is pervasive. Such a big move by CJ Group can't go unnoticed by Samsung. If they find out we're cooperating with CJ Group, our losses could be significant."

That was his honest opinion. After all, the Future Group had worked hard to establish a foothold in South Korea. Hanxing Investment, through a series of operations, had taken root there. If this matter ended up ruining everything, Zheng Yao thought it would be truly heartbreaking.

Indeed.

Zhao Fusheng agreed with her, nodding: "I know this matter needs to be kept confidential, but the problem is, if Lee Jae-hyun doesn't come to a decision, we may not be able to determine his intentions."

As he spoke, Zhao Fusheng shrugged: "Besides, unless Lee Kun-hee is crazy, he should know that I am someone he should be courting, not someone to suppress, right?"

Zheng Yao nodded; Zhao Fusheng was right about that.

Neither of them expected that Lee Kun-hee's thoughts would be completely different.

Or rather, Lee Kun-hee never imagined that Lee Jae-hyun would be so reckless as to offer Zhao Fusheng a deal he couldn't refuse or give up.

The subsequent development of events headed in a direction no one had anticipated.

Of course, no one knew that yet.

They were all doing what they thought was right, just like Lee Mi-kyung and the others at Lee Maeng-hee's residence, who at that moment were staring at Lee Jae-hyun in shock.

Because no one expected that Lee Jae-hyun would propose swapping CJ Group shares with the Samsung shares held by the Future Group.

Father, Jae-hyun is taking a risk. Aren't you going to stop him?

Lee Mi-kyung looked at Lee Maeng-hee in disbelief and asked.

And the next moment, her father's words left her dumbfounded.