Chapter 1750: The Final Battle

Wu Sijie acted quickly, or rather, the Future Group's intelligence network within China was quite effective.

The task Zhao Fusheng assigned at noon was completed by evening, and Wu Sijie had obtained preliminary materials.

“This is what we’ve initially gathered.”

Wu Sijie handed a stack of documents to Zhao Fusheng and said seriously, “There’s more that I’m having people verify; this is what we can confirm.”

Zhao Fusheng nodded and began reading the materials.

As he read, he frowned. “What’s this? Why is it all about hospitals?”

“Although Lee Byung-chul keeps a low profile, his health is quite poor.”

Wu Sijie seemed prepared for Zhao Fusheng’s question. “I suspect his health may be failing.”

“Really?”

Zhao Fusheng’s eyes flickered with surprise as he looked at Wu Sijie. “Are you sure?”

This was no joke. As Lee Kun-hee’s greatest challenger, Lee Byung-chul’s existence was terrifying to many Koreans and to everyone at Samsung.

Even CJ Group owed its stability under Lee Jae-hyun’s succession to Lee Byung-chul’s presence.

But now, Wu Sijie was telling him that the former Samsung heir’s health had deteriorated. Didn’t that mean the battle for Samsung’s inheritance was nearing its end?

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng knew nothing of these matters.

Not that he was ignorant; it was simply that such information wasn’t widely circulated in China, rarely mentioned even by self-media.

“I’m sure.”

Hearing Zhao Fusheng’s question, Wu Sijie nodded. “I analyzed his recent medical records and other data. Taken together, his condition seems severe. Perhaps that’s why Lee Byung-chul requested a meeting with you.”

“You mean he wants to win me over?”

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and laughed. “Because our cooperation with Samsung gave me a stake in the company, Mr. Lee is tempted, isn’t he?”

Wu Sijie nodded. “Yes, he’s likely making a last-ditch effort.”

He paused, then added uncertainly, “And I suspect Lee Jae-hyun might be egging him on.”

Lee Jae-hyun?

Zhao Fusheng raised an eyebrow. Though reluctant to admit it, he had to acknowledge that he had indeed overlooked that man.

Despite some contact with Korea Star Investment and CJ Group, Zhao Fusheng had never met Lee Jae-hyun in person.

In his eyes, Lee was merely someone who succeeded on the back of his father’s legacy.

But now it seemed Chairman Lee was no pushover either.

“Do you think I should meet Lee Byung-chul?”

Zhao Fusheng suddenly asked Wu Sijie.

Wu Sijie was taken aback, puzzled as to why Zhao Fusheng would ask him that.

Wasn’t that a decision Zhao should make himself?

“What, afraid to answer?”

Zhao Fusheng glanced at Wu Sijie and smiled.

Wu Sijie nodded honestly. “Indeed, this is tricky. You asking me like this, I’m not sure I can give you an answer easily.”

He knew this matter concerned Future Group’s next moves in Korea. If he answered rashly and influenced Zhao Fusheng’s judgment, the loss wouldn’t be a mere hundred million or two—it could involve tens of billions or more.

As Zhao Fusheng’s assistant, Wu Sijie knew better than anyone how much capital Korea Star Investment now held in Korea.

It was said that a cunning rabbit has three burrows. Their chairman had quietly positioned himself in both the US and Korean markets, a truly impressive feat.

In the US, there was Facebook, hailed as the strongest unicorn in tech, now lauded by investors. Many speculated that once it listed on Wall Street, its market cap might exceed one hundred billion dollars.

Indeed, though not yet listed, Facebook was already valued at over seven billion dollars.

With over ten percent of Facebook’s shares, Zhao Fusheng had become one of the world’s youngest super-rich.

And quietly, he had also amassed considerable wealth in Korea.

If he wished, by consolidating his holdings, Korea Star Investment might not become a chaebol like Samsung, but its influence in Korea would be far from negligible.

For this reason, Wu Sijie knew that even if their domestic business suffered setbacks, Future Group would stand firm.

After all, behind Future Group lay a massive cash flow.

Take a super-rich person like Li Ka-shing—you never really know how much wealth they have. The so-called rich lists only calculate company shares.

As for hidden assets, Forbes would personally visit these people and ask if they wanted to disclose all their wealth.

Only a fool would believe that every year’s Forbes list is based on solid data.

Take Hong Kong, for instance.

The combined assets of Hong Kong’s top ten richest people accounted for thirty-five percent of the city’s GDP.

What does that mean?

The answer is obvious.

The same goes for China. Whether it’s the two Mas or others, they all conceal some of their wealth. Truly wealthy people rarely reveal all their cards.

According to traditional Chinese habits, if you have ten points of strength, you show at most six or less.

Those billionaires on display are often just putting on a glamorous front.

Many chairmen of listed companies in the news will pledge all their equity at the drop of a hat; someone with a net worth of over ten billion might suddenly become penniless.

Where's the money?

Who holds the real wealth?

And that invisible billionaire, for whom a certain actress has given birth to four children and is preparing for a fifth—how did he amass his fortune?

How many super-rich like that person are there in China?

Zhao Yanzi's husband and Qing Gege's husband are both the type who are not famous but extremely wealthy.

Where did their wealth come from?

The waters are too deep; no one dares to investigate, because investigating would be like touching off a powder keg—it would explode.

As for who would get caught in the blast, that's anyone's guess.

…

…

Zhao Fusheng was quite satisfied with Wu Sijie's caution.

To be honest, he didn't like subordinates who always blabbered on about nothing.

The most important thing for a subordinate, especially a secretary, is to be good at sizing up the situation.

Sometimes when the boss asks you a question, he doesn't necessarily need an answer; he might just want you to give him an out or a buffer.

The result of answering rashly is being looked down upon by the boss.

"You can go back now. I'll think it over."

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand, dismissing Wu Sijie.

Wu Sijie nodded: "I'll leave the materials here. If there's more, I'll send it to your email right away."

"Okay."

Zhao Fusheng was naturally very satisfied with his thoroughness.

The reason Zhao Fusheng valued Wu Sijie was precisely because he was smart enough to know what he should do and what he didn't need to do.

In this regard, he was much better than Zhang Qian.

Zhang Qian, though also very smart, was better at protecting people than getting things done.

Wu Sijie, on the other hand, though much weaker in combat skills, was a professional management talent.

Simply put, one was a man of action, the other a man of brains.

After Wu Sijie left, Zhao Fusheng sat at home, silently staring at the materials in front of him, lost in thought.

After a long time, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.

He looked up and saw that it was Fan Baobao who had returned.

"Where's the kid?"

Seeing that Fan Baobao wasn't with their daughter, Zhao Fusheng asked with some confusion.

"Mom's watching her."

Fan Baobao shrugged: "She said Beibei has a day off today, so we should go over for dinner."

Li Yuan now lived in the house that Zhao's mother had bought earlier, and she was quite free.

"Okay."

Zhao Fusheng nodded.

At that moment, Fan Baobao noticed the materials on his desk and casually asked, "What's up? Something going on?"

"Nothing much."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "Just business stuff."

As he spoke, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he suddenly asked Fan Baobao, "Tell me, if in a family, two brothers are fighting to be the eldest, and the older brother loses and goes far away, but now suddenly falls gravely ill—what do you think he would do?"

Huh?

Fan Baobao blinked, completely baffled.

She really had no idea what Zhao Fusheng was talking about.

What nonsense was this?

"Ha, don't you get it?" Seeing Fan Baobao's reaction, Zhao Fusheng knew she was confused, so he quickly explained the whole story—from the feud between Lee Kun-hee and Lee Maeng-hee in the last century to the current situation in South Korea.

Finally, Zhao Fusheng said, "Now you understand, right?"

"I think I get it."

Fan Baobao laughed: "You mean Lee Maeng-hee wants to meet you to go after that Lee Kun-hee?"

"Something like that."

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "At least that's what Zheng Yao and I have analyzed."

As he spoke, he pointed to the materials on the table and said to Fan Baobao, "These are the materials Wu Sijie had collected today. They show that Lee Maeng-hee is probably on his last legs, so he's in a hurry to find allies and make a final struggle!"

Struggle?

Fan Baobao frowned slightly, clearly not understanding Zhao Fusheng's meaning. In her view, this was hardly a struggle.