Chapter 2036: The Real Target

"Two things."

Zhao Fusheng looked at Wu Sijie and Liang Jingyu, raising two fingers.

"First, mobilize funds and be ready to enter the market at any time."

"Second, keep a close eye on the movements of Hyundai and SK."

Hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Wu Sijie and Liang Jingyu exchanged glances, puzzled as to why he had chosen only these two conglomerates as targets after all his deliberation.

They were not fools; clearly, Zhao Fusheng had no intention of moving against CJ or Samsung.

In other words, he did not plan to stand opposite Lee Kun-hee and Lee Meng-hee.

"Chairman, you..."

Liang Jingyu asked Zhao Fusheng in confusion, "I heard that the person in the Blue House is planning to take action against Samsung."

The person in the Blue House naturally referred to the current president of South Korea.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled upon hearing this: "That President Roh might be a good man, but the people around him have dirty hands. If he doesn't act, fine; if he does, he won't be far from stepping down."

This was the truth.

After all, this was South Korea.

A country controlled by chaebols.

Roh Moo-hyun might be a good man, but his family might not be as clean as he was.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng never trusted these politicians.

Placing hope in politicians was like putting a knife to one's own neck—you never know when they might cut.

"Then what do you mean..."

Wu Sijie hesitated, looking at Zhao Fusheng, "Are we going to ally with the Lee family?"

"Who knows?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled and shook his head: "Tomorrow I plan to meet Lee Meng-hee and Lee Kun-hee. I hope these two won't disappoint me; otherwise, I wouldn't mind giving them a push."

Hearing these words, Wu Sijie and Liang Jingyu exchanged a look, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

So after all this, their boss had never intended to take sides; he was just waiting to see who would offer the best price.

Those not of our kind are bound to think differently.

Whether it was the chaebols, Samsung, or CJ, in Zhao Fusheng's eyes, they were not his people.

Therefore, he would not ally with any side; he would only stand with the victor.

As for the thoughts of the loser?

Hah.

History is written by the victors; losers have no right to write history.

Just like after the Manchu entered the pass, how much history was rewritten?

The stubborn literati had long been slaughtered.

Keep your hair and lose your head, or keep your head and lose your hair.

The Ten Days of Yangzhou, the Three Massacres of Jiading.

These brutal massacres have long been buried in the dust of history.

No one knows how much prosperity the Manchu iron hooves destroyed upon entering the pass; they only remember the so-called Kang-Qian Golden Age, the so-called Great Qing Empire.

Court dramas and queue dramas whitewash not only the peace of an era but also a barbaric civilization.

...

...

The next day, Zhao Fusheng's message reached Lee Kun-hee and Lee Meng-hee.

"He wants to see me?"

Lee Kun-hee asked Lee Boo-jin with some surprise.

Lee Boo-jin had come specifically to deliver the message.

"Yes, Father."

Lee Boo-jin bowed and said, "Not only you, but it seems he also arranged to meet Uncle."

"Hmm, interesting."

Lee Kun-hee nodded and waved his hand: "I understand. Tell him that tonight I will host a banquet at the Lee family mansion and invite him."

"Yes."

Lee Boo-jin turned and left.

She knew well that the confrontation between her father and someone of Zhao Fusheng's level was not something she could participate in, so she said nothing extra.

Watching Lee Boo-jin's retreating figure, Lee Kun-hee sighed.

His eldest daughter was indeed very smart.

In fact, if she were a man, she would undoubtedly be the most suitable candidate to inherit the family business.

But unfortunately, she was a woman.

That destined her to never become the head of the family.

At that moment, the butler walked in.

"Chairman, it's a call from Mr. Lee Meng-hee."

"Hello, big brother."

Lee Kun-hee picked up the phone...

...

...

Soon, Lee Boo-jin conveyed Lee Kun-hee's words to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng was naturally quite pleased and gladly accepted the invitation.

In the evening, he took a car to the Lee family mansion in Cheongdam-dong.

Though it was not his first time there, seeing the luxuriously decorated villa still stirred his emotions.

Capitalist capitalists really knew how to enjoy life.

"Chairman, what are you thinking about?"

Liu Yiming, noticing Zhao Fusheng seemed distracted, asked curiously.

"Nothing."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head. "It's just that these capitalists really know how to enjoy life."

"Huh?"

Liu Yiming looked utterly bewildered. "If you've made money, shouldn't you enjoy life?"

Fine.

Zhao Fusheng was momentarily speechless.

He had to admit, the values of modern society were something he couldn't argue with.

From top to bottom, the entire nation's—even the people's—outlook had changed dramatically.

Take certain people who called themselves national entrepreneurs, yet their daughters still studied abroad and attended debutante balls.

Some even built their fortunes on state policies, calling themselves real estate tycoons, but once they'd made enough money, they sent their children abroad for green cards and sold off their domestic assets.

Such people still dared to call themselves public intellectuals.

Disgusting!

But Zhao Fusheng could do nothing about it. That was how the times were. As an ordinary man, all he could change was the fate of those around him.

As for the rest, he was powerless.

Thinking of this, he felt inexplicably irritable, and his expression soured.

Seeing his mood, Liu Yiming dared not speak and simply stayed quietly by his side.

Soon, the group entered the banquet hall.

"Apologies, Chairman Zhao. We old men have trouble moving about and couldn't welcome you in person."

"Yes, our sincerest apologies."

Lee Kun-hee and Lee Meng-hee, both seated in wheelchairs, smiled at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng returned the smile. "You're too kind. I'm the one intruding."

On the surface, host and guest were delighted.

But what each truly thought, only they knew.

"Please, have a seat."

Lee Kun-hee said, "Let's talk over dinner."

"Alright."

Zhao Fusheng didn't stand on ceremony and sat down as Lee Kun-hee indicated.

Soon, servants brought in various Korean dishes and then withdrew.

The room was left with only Zhao Fusheng, Lee Kun-hee, and Lee Meng-hee.

"Chairman Zhao, please."

"Mr. Lee, please."

The three exchanged smiles and began to eat.

…

…

No one knew what Zhao Fusheng discussed with the Lee brothers that night.

But the following evening, Zhao Fusheng left South Korea.

However, before leaving, he summoned the co-representatives of Hanxing Investment, Liang Jingyu and Wu Sijie, for a private meeting.

"Keep an eye on Hyundai."

Zhao Fusheng instructed Wu Sijie and Liang Jingyu.

"Chairman, do you mean…" The two were surprised that Zhao Fusheng's target had finally settled on the Hyundai Group.

"Those two old foxes from the Lee family are putting on an act."

Zhao Fusheng said directly, "There's no chance with SK. We have to move against Hyundai. Remember, once Hyundai joins forces with Lee Mi-jin, we strike. Understood?"

"Yes."

Wu Sijie and Liang Jingyu quickly nodded.

At the same time, their expressions turned serious.

The Hyundai Group was no ordinary conglomerate. Its founder, Chung Ju-yung, was born into a poor farming family in Tongcheon, Gangwon Province, North Korea. As a child, he secretly gathered firewood in the mountains after farming, saving money over half a year.

After graduating, he took that money to the city and worked as a laborer on construction sites and docks.

At twenty-two, the owner of the rice shop where he worked, impressed by him, gave him the shop. But the outbreak of the Japanese invasion of China forced the shop to close. He then borrowed money to open an auto repair shop, which burned down just five days after opening.

Chung Ju-yung did not bow to harsh reality; he raised funds again and started another repair shop.

After Japan's surrender, he hung up the sign for Hyundai Auto Industry in Seoul. With many US military vehicles in southern Korea, the skilled Chung Ju-yung grew the factory into a large repair shop employing nearly a hundred people within a year. Unsatisfied, he then set up a sign for Hyundai Construction next to the repair shop. Thus, the Hyundai Group developed step by step.

Among Chung Ju-yung's many sons, the second son Chung Mong-koo, the fifth son Chung Mong-hun, and the sixth son Chung Mong-joon were the most notable.

Chung Mong-koo was taciturn, unsociable, calm, and clear-headed. He was extremely afraid of his father; whenever Chung Ju-yung was present, he stood at a distance.

Chung Mong-hun was versatile, loved literature, and had the best relationship with his father. He firmly carried out his father's will and earned Chung Ju-yung's deep trust and affection. In 1992, after losing a lawsuit accusing him of embezzling funds to support his father's presidential campaign, he willingly spent several months in a remote prison.

Chung Mong-joon loved sports and was eloquent. After college, while managing Hyundai Heavy Industries, he entered politics and was elected to the National Assembly four times.

Like many wealthy families, the Chungs could not avoid the fate of fraternal strife.

In the 1990s, Chung Mong-koo pushed his uncle out of Hyundai Motor. In 2000, he attempted a coup while Chung Mong-hun was on a business trip, sparking the "Prince's Revolt."

Chung Ju-yung was extremely displeased. He summoned Chung Mong-koo and told him to abandon any thought of becoming group chairman, compensating him with control of Hyundai's automotive business. Chung Ju-yung then announced that Chung Mong-hun would be chairman of the board and Chung Mong-joon would control Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Thus, the Hyundai family was divided into three factions, and the fraternal conflict temporarily subsided.

After Chung Ju-yung's death in 2001, Chung Mong-hun inherited Hyundai according to his father's will.

However, two years later, the Chung family's saga of wealth and power resumed. After Hyundai's most valuable assets—Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Heavy Industries—became independent, the remaining dozen or so companies, though large, were heavily indebted, and the group still bore the burden of investments in North Korea.

Chung Mong-hun was frequently investigated for alleged political slush funds, while his brothers remained coldly indifferent to his plight. Alone, he bore the sorrow of a collapsing empire. Finally, he leaped from the Hyundai headquarters building, ending his life.

And now, Zhao Fusheng had set his sights on the Hyundai Group.

Wu Sijie and Liang Jingyu felt a chill in their hearts.

Was their boss's ambition a bit too grand?

Seeing their reaction, Zhao Fusheng smiled. "We're not challenging the Hyundai Group alone. Remember, our target is Hyundai Motor."

Huh?

The two exchanged glances.

Zhao Fusheng explained, "I've already discussed it with Lee Kun-hee and the others. Samsung and we will jointly acquire a portion of Hyundai Motor's shares. Remember, quit while you're ahead."

"Yes."

The two had no choice but to nod.

As subordinates, they naturally followed their boss's orders.