"What a disgrace, such a lively scene, and it’s all thanks to Liangzi, yet it has nothing to do with our Big A?”

"Liangzi’s getting too full of himself. Just take Tianxing Public Offering as an example; without our people, how would it have been possible to raise funds successfully?”

The stock forums were buzzing, with mainland investors feeling aggrieved. Heading to Xiangjiang to subscribe to bonds was already a hurdle, with a million-dollar start being an even bigger obstacle.

If the starting point were a bit lower, they could have scraped it together in small groups, but nearly seven million RMB per share? Even squeezing it tirelessly wouldn’t help.

"A higher threshold is good; this way we’re not competing for profits with the country. It’s not hard to guess that this time’s subscription is definitely dominated by mainstream market institutions.”

Even though retail investors were disgruntled, they understood that Tianxing Financial Group chose Xiangjiang to target the international market.

In the future, Lu Liang would only get further away from them, and if Tianxing Finance’s ABS were initiated in the mainland, it certainly wouldn’t be approved so easily.

Because there’s a suspicion of promoting cryptocurrency, and that’s something the country cannot tolerate.

But even if Lu Liang didn’t include them, Big A had its own operational logic.

Stocks related to Lu Liang and Tianxing, like “Conscious Food” and “Stellar Fertilizer,” all soared in the market.

"This market is becoming more and more incomprehensible.”

The retail investors grumbled and then immediately joined the speculative frenzy, because without a motive, there’s no play.

As it neared 2 PM in the afternoon, on the 82nd floor of Phase 2 of the Plaza Building.

"It’s almost time.”

The entire floor belonged only to Tianxing Quantitative, and currently, Lu Liang was the only senior executive left in the company.

Both Tang Caide and Li Junwei had led their teams over to Guangsheng Bank to assist Wen Chao.

"Jiawei, do you think the subscription funds will reach 10% in the first hour?” Lu Liang suddenly asked.

“30 billion US dollars? Hasn’t Ant Group already helped us achieve that?” Xu Jiawei said with a smile.

Lu Liang couldn’t help but chuckle, “Indeed, that’s true.”

He recalled a hurried glance at the phone inquiries and the list of visits.

Without exception, all were from the mainland or major financial institutions in Xiangjiang.

3.45% is too little for ordinary people; the interest on ten thousand bucks a year is just 345 bucks.

If placed in Big A, it wouldn’t even hit a limit-up board, but it’s particularly high for institutions that frequently purchase US treasuries.

Because they’d easily subscribe to 100 million dollars, which means 3.45 million dollars of interest in a year.

Moreover, the Federal Reserve is currently in a rate-cutting cycle, with the current five-year annual interest rate at only 2.78%.

The same 100 million dollars placed here would earn 670 thousand dollars more than purchasing US treasuries.

What’s more, Tianxing isn’t like Ant, purely relying on credibility and 3 billion RMB with no assets whatsoever.

The mainland doesn’t recognize the value of Bitcoin because it’s been burned by the dollar’s hegemony—a bitten snake fears the rope for ten years.

But in Xiangjiang and even in developed countries in East Asia like Japan and Korea and Singapore, the influence of Bitcoin has been expanding.

Small countries have no choice but to conform, whereas Xiangjiang, though backed by a major country, has the Hong Kong Dollar in essence tied to the US dollar.

While the two chatted,

The two o’clock chime in Beijing time sounded.

Tianxing Finance’s official website also updated in real-time with the first subscription from Ant Group, 30 billion US dollars.

"Holy shit, is Mr. Ma supporting Lu Liang?”

"I don’t see it as support, more like cooperation, it’s like borrowing someone else’s chicken to lay eggs.”

"Everyone, go check out the yield of Yu’ebao, the seven-day annualized yield has significantly increased.”

Quietly, Yu’ebao’s seven-day annualized yield increased from the previous 2.35% to 3.12%.

As soon as the news broke, a large number of internet users flocked to Alipay, seeing the 3.12% seven-day annual yield, they all had the same idea.

They can’t go to Xiangjiang,

Don’t have a million dollars,

But everyone has Alipay,

It’s only 0.33% less anyway.

More importantly, Yu’ebao offers a current deposit, basically accessible anytime without signing a five-year bond contract.

In just half an hour, Tianhong Fund under Yu’ebao’s assets skyrocketed by 50 billion RMB and continued to rise rapidly.

"Mr. Ma, no action no die,”

Realizing the situation, Lu Liang sighed deeply, Old Ma seemed to be racing toward an irreversible path.

He intended to absorb more savings to fuel Ant Group’s push for a listing.

Little did he know, what could be fuel for a rocket could also be a death knell.

Just like in ancient times, a military general holding 800,000 troops would be a major threat to the Emperor, who’d dream of eliminating him quickly.

Now that general still believes that as long as he controls enough troops, the Emperor won’t dare touch him, continuing to recruit troops nonstop.

Isn’t this clearly asking for trouble? After all, Old Ma isn’t a military general, and the regulatory body isn’t the Emperor.

At this moment, Lu Liang received a call from Wen Chao, “Mr. Lu, Tencent contacted us and intends to subscribe to 48 billion US dollars.”

"Accept it all without question.”

Lu Liang’s lips curled up as he secretly vowed that once Old Ma fell from his pedestal, he would surely treat Alipay’s overseas business and employees well.

There are currently two mainstream payment applications in the mainland market, namely Alipay and WeChat.

However, in people’s traditional impression, Alipay is business-oriented and can store large amounts, while WeChat is entertainment-oriented and only stores small amounts.

The former’s Yu’ebao often has a higher seven-day annualized rate than the latter’s Lingqiantong.

Now that Yu’ebao actively guides the way, how could Tencent, which started as a copycat, miss such a good competitive opportunity?

As three o’clock in the afternoon approaches.

Tianxing Finance’s official update shows a large-scale subscription order from Tencent Group for 48 billion US dollars.

At the same time, Tencent’s Lingqiantong also raised its seven-day annualized rate, directly increasing from the original 2.16% to 3.45%, focusing on not earning a penny.

As long as they capture Yu’ebao’s large savings users, it’s fine to lose a bit of money, as they can recover it with profit later.

Led by the Double Ma, 78 billion US dollars out of Tianxing Finance’s 300 billion dollar subscription share was directly occupied by the two companies, accounting for 26%.

This made the hesitant institutions unable to sit still, calling Wen Chao one after another, intending to conduct large-scale subscriptions through internal channels.

At three thirty in the afternoon,

The 90th minute of Tianxing Finance’s ABS issuance.

Another large-scale subscription order was updated officially, with an international institution named PIF acquiring a 50 billion US dollar subscription share.

"PIF, also known as the Public Investment Fund, is under the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund.”

The tycoons from the Middle East also came with their knives and laughter to support Lu Liang.

At this moment, Yiyun Villa.

The meeting room previously exclusive to the Earth Association currently only has Zheng Jiachun and Qi Yaonian.

The two exchanged glances, seeing the bitterness in each other’s eyes. The three large subscription orders together already amount to 128 billion US dollars, with the subscription progress reaching 42.68%.

This is only the 90th minute of the ABS initiation; their hoped-for subscription failure can only turn into a fantasy.

And now, it’s no longer a matter of failure but of how quickly Tianxing can complete the 300 billion US dollar issuance.

"Mr. Qi, do we still have a chance?”

Zheng Jiachun asked hoarsely, unable to stop swallowing dryly, feeling despair for the first time.

In fact, for a model like this, Tianxing Finance could completely choose not to disclose it, or wait until the subscription ends before announcing it.

Lu Liang didn’t choose to do so; instead, he updated large orders on the official website in real time, which is blatant showing off.

It’s a bit like the once-a-decade grand parade, always bringing out the nuclear weapons for a spin and a basking in the sun.

Vehicles carrying nuclear weapons passing through the front door seem to say: I, terrifyingly strong, come if you dare!

Qi Yaonian remained silent for a long while: “He’s doing it on purpose, wanting to achieve the effect of winning without fighting.”

How could he not know Lu Liang’s intention? The showing off is just to make them retreat in the face of difficulties, not to waste funds in vain, lest they end up with nothing.

In this way, Hengtai can successfully acquire New World, and Tianxing can reduce its investment, directing funds to more needed places.

"What’s HSBC’s attitude?”

Zheng Jiachun asked. New World is their ancestral property; even if they know it’s impossible, they must strive for it.

"I will definitely fully support the Zheng Family.”

Qi Yaonian said solemnly. In such a situation, he could only express his own attitude. The old masters at the headquarters are like the elite class of the late Qing period, having been at ease for too long.

As long as the army is not at the gates and the analysis shows a doomed situation,

Generally, they choose to abandon, with the euphemistic saying that as long as the green hills are there, one need not worry about firewood.

Zheng Jiachun naturally heard the undertone in Qi Yaonian’s words, clenching his teeth: “Is there no other way?”

"There is, but do you dare to gamble?” Qi Yaonian asked, facing such a situation, HSBC would no longer unconditionally support the Zheng Family.

Unless the Zheng Family is willing to pay the price, such as putting Zhou Da Fu on the betting table, HSBC would be willing to take this risk with them, fighting for the last bit of chance.

"But…”

Zheng Jiachun stopped short, swallowing his words again, and said with a bitter smile: “Give me some time, I need to think.”

He very much wanted to act impulsively and recklessly.

But now nearing fifty, with a large family and business, he couldn’t make such an irrational decision.

"As soon as possible, time waits for no one.”

Qi Yaonian sighed. Compared to Lu Liang, they severely lacked courage, which is why they kept retreating.

"I will help you think of other ways.” He said resolutely.

Forces in Xiangjiang and East Asia can no longer be relied on; either won over by Lu Liang or they don’t want to offend him.

If they are seeking assistance, they can only look farther away, such as across the ocean in the United States.

At four o’clock in the afternoon, Singapore National Bank reported good news, with the originally set 50 billion dollar quota fully subscribed.

At five ten in the afternoon, Tokyo Sumitomo Bank also reported success, and Han City Modern Bank met its target at five thirty in the afternoon.

"Mr. Lu, how is the current progress?” Ota Ling asked with a smile.

Five billion dollars is a breeze, with Mitsui Sumitomo subscribing 12 billion US dollars.

If there’s a little extra quota at Xiangjiang Station, they can also help digest it.

"There’s not much left at Xiangjiang Station, only about 4.2 billion dollars.” Lu Liang said with a beaming smile, full of energy.

With four out of five stations triumphant, only New York Station hasn’t moved yet, but it is understandable as it’s still early there and the bank staff haven’t started their day.