Chapter 13 Chapter 12 My Sky
"My dear friend, congratulations! You've got it all."
"Congratulations? You evil and vile ghost, I really want to strangle you immediately."
"Unless you strangle yourself!"
Mephisto sneered in my heart.
"No, I've lost everything."
"Monica?"
"Yes, she is everything to me, not the Sky Group that I inherited."
Mr. Phantom sighed: "Hey, when did you become an infatuated species? I know your original dream and desire is to have many different beauties come to sleep with you!"
"Shut up!"
I'd love to take a knife and cut my heart open, grab the bastard out and whip him, and throw him in the Atlantic.
"Don't you still want to own a mansion and a famous car? Inexhaustible money, a status admired by everyone, controlling the fate of thousands of people—now, you finally have it!"
"But that's not what you did."
"How can you be sure I didn't do it? You know that I, Mephisto, know everything and can do anything."
"You're wrong." I shook my head and scratched my heart and said, "Although, my previous dream was to know who I am? To obtain the desires I want, to gain the respect and envy of others, to gain wealth, fame and status, and finally Well, plus the love of beautiful women, so vulgar but so real."
The ghost clapped his hands vigorously and said, "Isn't this great? You have got it, as long as you are willing to enjoy life."
"However, after more than a year of nightmares, my dreams have changed."
"Turn into what?"
"I'm not fighting for myself."
"Oh, that's a good point—remember our deal?"
"Mephisto can satisfy all my requirements, but I can't be nostalgic for everything I own, otherwise my soul will be permanently occupied by it!"
"I have already said that it is not what I want now, and you have not met my request."
"Okay, then you wait, kid."
November 7, 2009, 10 am. New York, Manhattan, Sky Center Building. In order to avoid the reporters gathered downstairs, the company arranged for me to take a helicopter, take off from Gao’s private estate, pass through the steel forest of New York’s skyscrapers, and pass by the top of the Empire State Building at an ultra-low altitude, so close that I can clearly see the expressions of tourists.In my limited rebirth memory, it was the first time I took such a dangerous vehicle, not to mention the New York where 9/11 happened under my feet.Seeing my terrified appearance, the pilot reassured me that it was safe, and that the late Chairman Gao Siguo used this thing to attend meetings every time—it was fate that "Uncle" lived to be 48 years old before he died. Flying to the 88th-floor Sky Center Building, the standard heliport on the roof, the blades rolled up a strong storm, and landed deafeningly on the bull's-eye. The people who greeted me on the roof were already blown to one side by the wind, and they hurriedly arranged their suits, waiting for me to get off the helicopter—it was like the arrival of a gangster, and the secretary arranged my clothes again, wearing a pair of big sunglasses, pretending to be arrogant Look, set foot on the sky center building spotlessly. I remember that I used to work in the China branch of the Sky Group. I was used to being the role of my grandson being bullied. When I saw the general manager, I would stutter in fright. If I wanted to flatter me, I would lower my head to the ground first!At this moment, the disgruntled and trembling little staff around me looked at me like a kid who saw the king of Hades, and suddenly felt sympathetic to them—what idiot ordered everyone to come to the rooftop to suffer?I whispered a few words to the secretary and told everyone to go back to work as usual without any hellish welcome ceremony. The elevator took only one floor, and they came to the highest meeting room on the eighty-eighth floor—the entire building belongs to the Sky Group, and from bottom to top there are finance, sales, and accounting departments.The 80th floor and above belong to the chairman's office. There is an indoor swimming pool, a movie theater, and a banquet hall that can accommodate a thousand people. Only those above the director level can enter. The highest conference room is magnificently decorated, floor-to-ceiling windows directly face the Statue of Liberty, the table is made of the finest Amazon rainforest wood, the chairs are covered with African buffalo leather, and even each teacup is custom-made in Jingdezhen, China. This is the first time that Sky Group has held the Supreme Chairman since I took office as the fourth global chairman and CEO of Sky Group. Nika, they passed away shortly after finishing this meeting respectively. Are the following directors and executives secretly calculating how long I will live? Today's meeting includes all members of the board of directors.The person sitting first on my left is the assistant to the previous CEO, followed by the chief financial officer, sales director, public relations director, chief executive officer, and the presidents of the three major businesses of the group—the president of energy business, the president of financial business, and the president of manufacturing business. On my right hand are the presidents of the major regions around the world, including the president of the Asia Pacific region, the president of the North America region, the president of the Europe region, the president of the Latin America region and the president of the Middle East and Africa region. Given that the Sky Group is absolutely controlled by the Gao Sijia family, the so-called board of directors is a meeting of executives with a different name. The president of the Asia-Pacific region is an acquaintance of mine and the general manager of the Chinese branch.When I was a small salesman, I often saw him sitting on the stage majesticly, but I respectfully dared not speak until he laid me off and kicked me out.Those who attended the meeting today must have checked my background information. Even if he didn't recognize me before, he must know my past now!Although he couldn't see anything on the surface, he must have had nightmares of fright and was ready to be fired. I am afraid that other people are also disturbed. They have seen me at the last two funerals, but no one would have thought at that time that my relative from the Gao family from China (still a fake) would have a dramatic effect in just one night. climbed to the chairman's throne. I sat in the top seat, looked at the serious faces below, and didn't speak for a few minutes.No one dared to move underneath, like a game of "we are all wooden men".When the two elders started to feel dizzy and their heads were shaking, I opened my mouth: "Good morning! I am Gao Neng. Today is my first time at the headquarters, and it is also my first time to participate in the chairmanship. Please advise me, seniors." !" As soon as I finished speaking, I heard a burst of enthusiastic palms from below, especially the former CEO assistant next to me. This white man in his early forties, with the temperament of a White House press secretary, smiled at me very humbly. However, I saw through the secret in his heart at a glance: "Where did you come from the Chinese boy? You are lucky! You actually climbed to the throne of the chairman. If it wasn't for Monica's accident, you would wait until you were buried in the grave." No way! Hey, Monica is really too, why did you sign that document after inheriting the inheritance? Why did you leave all the property to your cousin? The company executives are all waiting to share the shares of the old chairman! " No wonder they all look like they have dry stools. Let him be taught the lesson slowly, and I said with a gloomy face: "First of all, I suggest that everyone stand up and observe three minutes of silence for my uncle, Mr. Gao Siguo, who passed away not long ago, and my cousin Monica!" Today, I am able to stand here, thanks to Monica's gift, here I will always be just a substitute for her and her father. All executives stood up, and the highest meeting room was silent. Many people watched Monica grow up, and some people did shed tears during the funeral. Everyone lowered their heads and the atmosphere was depressed, as if they were silently mourning for the dying Sky Group. Three minutes later, I wiped away my tears and sat down with my head up: "Please sit down! Now, Mr. Morris will introduce the latest situation of the group." Morris is the former assistant beside me. He opened the file seemingly sincerely, cleared his throat and said, "On behalf of the management of the group, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new chairman and CEO, Mr. Gao Neng!" There was another thunderous applause below, these old guys have really good hand strength! "As we all know, due to the impact of the global financial crisis, the company is currently in an extremely dangerous situation." Morris said while looking at me from the corner of his eye, but did not dare to meet my gaze. Businesses—petroleum, finance, and equipment manufacturing—all have fallen into serious losses, cash flow in North America is nearly exhausted, and the company’s debt ratio has already exceeded the warning line. If the bank loans cannot be repaid on time, the company can only declare bankruptcy protection.” These news have long been public news, and the expressions of the executives have not changed at all. They are probably secretly planning how to leave the group and quickly find high positions in other companies, right? "Among the various branches and subsidiaries of the group, the most dangerous one is North American Tianlun Insurance Company. Due to the bankruptcy of many customers, the company's expenditure this year has tripled compared with the previous year, and it is deeply in debt crisis. The group in the first half of the year The five billion US dollars that were added to Tian Lun Insurance have already been consumed, and if Tian Lun Insurance goes bankrupt, it will cause losses of tens of billions of US dollars to the group.” After Morris finished speaking, he handed the report to me, and said with eyes like a dog: "Please give instructions from the chairman!" I threw it aside without even looking at it, and calmly said to the following: "The issue of Tianlun Insurance, do you have any suggestions?" At this critical moment, when everyone is flying separately, who would dare to offer any suggestions?They all pretended to be Down's syndrome, and no one spoke for a long time. "Everyone has to speak!" I must establish authority for myself, and I cannot tolerate them ignoring my existence! Morris saw the appearance of a group of dead people below, and couldn't help shouting anxiously: "Everyone, please speak up! The problem of Tianlun Insurance must be solved. Do you want to wait for it to go bankrupt?" I said coldly: "Perhaps you all think that Sky Group will go bankrupt before its subsidiaries." These words finally made their expressions react, and Morris took advantage of the situation and called out: "Dr. Locke, you are the president of the financial business of the group, and Tian Lun Insurance belongs to your area of responsibility. Please tell me your opinion!" Dr. Locke is a super fat man weighing more than three hundred pounds. He gave Morris a sneaky look, and happened to reveal what he was thinking: "Morris, you flatterer, who doesn't know that you were the first to escape, but now the ship is sinking?" Holding the captain's thigh, do you want to drown together?" The doctor said helplessly: "Well... this... Tianlun... Tianlun Insurance Company was founded by the late Mr. Gao Guo in 1990. As an old employee of the company, I really don't want to see it go bankrupt. I suggest The group has transferred funds from Sky Bank to ensure that Tianlun Insurance can support it through this winter, and maybe it will have a chance when the economic situation improves next year.” Morris nodded and said, "Thank you very much! Next, Mr. Hilde, the financial director, will talk about his views." The chief financial officer is a Frenchman in his forties who looks exactly like Sarkozy. He frowned and said, "I also agree with the judgment of the financial business president. I know the financial situation of the group best. It is very bad at present, and it is impossible for the outside world to give us another report." To divide the money, we can only use Sky Bank to transfer funds to rescue Tianlun Insurance, otherwise the Sky Group will sink with Tianlun Insurance!" His last sentence was very serious, and others nodded in agreement. The president of North America also took the initiative to speak and said: "Mr. Chief Financial Officer is right. Transferring funds from Sky Bank is the only way, we have no other way!" It's strange that the chief financial officer—Sarkozy's eyes are very special, and there are some things that are elusive to me, and I can't read his heart for a while. I shook my head irritably: "Guys! The only way for you is to let Sky Bank inject capital into Tianlun Insurance? As far as I know, Sky Bank's cash flow is also extremely tight. In a Chinese saying, it is 'tear down the east wall to pay for the west wall' , or 'cut out the flesh and repair the sore' - dig out the healthy flesh and fill it up on the broken sore!" However, Morris beamed and said, "Wonderful, the Chinese people are amazing. There were plastic surgery in ancient times!" sweat! The guy who flattered the horse's leg made me laugh and cry. The foreigners below all nodded and said yes. Only the president of the Asia-Pacific region is Taiwanese, so he smiled wryly at me. I continued with confidence: "Mr. Hilde, I heard that apart from Tian Lun Insurance Company, the Group's most loss-making business is the eight petrochemical plants in North America, which are located in New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, Germany, etc. In Texas, St. Louisiana, California, Washington State, and Quebec, Canada, the operating costs of these plants are very high, and they occupy a large amount of crude oil of the group every year, becoming a heavy burden for the group, right?" "Yes!" Mr. Sarkozy, Mr. Hilde, wiped his sweat and replied with a strange gaze, "It has brought a serious debt burden to the group, but I would like to remind the respected Mr. Chairman that these eight companies are Mr. Gao Guo, the founder of the group, established it by himself in the 1980s. It is the pillar industry of the group in North America and the soul of the Sky Group. It must be transfused at any cost. These eight factories employ more than 10,000 people. Labor unions are very powerful in the United States and can influence many members of Congress, which is something we have to consider." "I finally understand why the Sky Group has come to where it is today! It is because of your continuous blood transfusion to these serious loss-making departments that the cash flow of the group is getting tighter and the performance in North America is getting worse and worse. We can only continue to borrow Money, patchwork to deal with the crisis. The result is that no problem is solved, but it seriously drags down the group as a whole - such as malignant tumors, which were not removed when they were first discovered, and then grew bigger and bigger until they took the owner's life! Just like The late Mr. Gao Siguo!" "I'm sorry!" The chief financial officer interrupted me in public, "Dear Mr. Chairman, do you express dissatisfaction with the late Mr. Gao Siguo?" What a vicious move!Pushing me to the opposite of Gao Siguo, implying that I will inherit the sky group's rule, is not a good name, and it is a foreign usurper. I stared at "Little Sarkozy" with a stern face, and his eyes made me more and more frightened, but I must not show weakness in front of him, otherwise I will never be able to lift my head in the Sky Group. "No, Mr. Gao Siguo is my uncle, I am his only nephew, and he is the person I respect the most! But I believe his favorite in his life is the Sky Group, and I will never allow cancer to happen to the Sky Group. " I glanced around again, like a lion without anger, when I glanced at the face of the president of the Asia-Pacific region, I read a sentence from his eyes: "This kid is not simple! Why didn't I notice it in Shanghai before?" He? He actually laid him off! What a blind eye! Last night, Hou told me on the phone that Gao Neng is a fool who doesn’t understand anything. Killed!" "Everyone, my suggestion now is—for the survival of the Sky Group, the hugely harmful tumor must be removed, and Tianlun Insurance and the petrochemical plant in North America must be sold." The last sentence was really resounding, and immediately there was a commotion below, many people whispered to each other, and even Morris beside me changed his face drastically. "Sorry, as the group's chief financial officer, I can't agree!" Unexpectedly, "Little Sarkozy" stood up and opposed me, which made me furious: "There is also a Chinese saying that 'a strong man cuts his wrist'. I have checked the financial statements of Tianlun Insurance and the North American petrochemical plant in the past few days, and they are completely messed up! These two departments are terminally ill and hopeless, why should we invest working capital into these two bottomless pits? What is our most precious thing now? Cash flow! It should be invested in the most profitable and promising departments, and invest To young people who are full of vigor, not to dead people who are about to die! If we transfuse blood from Sky Bank to Tianlun Insurance, not only will we not be able to save Tianlun Insurance, but it will bury our last blood, and the result will be the group and its subsidiaries. perish together." "If Tianlun Insurance and the North American petrochemical plant are sold, Chairman Gao Siguo will die with regret." It was the Chief Financial Officer "Little Sarkozy" who took the lead in the rebellion. Who is he? "Then let the Sky Group die in peace?" "Mr. Chairman, although you have worked in the Chinese branch for several years, our executives today have all worked in the group for decades and have deep feelings for Sky Group." They are cursing at me again! Those executives must have studied me thoroughly, knowing that I worked as a salesman in the Chinese branch for several years, but was eventually fired and kicked out. Compared with them, my qualifications are insignificant.He therefore implied that I am not qualified to issue orders here, let alone talk about my feelings for the Sky Group. Suddenly, I felt that the current situation of the Sky Group was like that of Soochow on the eve of the Chibi War—if Cao Cao surrendered, the Sun family in Jiangdong would have nothing, and the important ministers of Soochow would still retain their original status, so the ministers agreed to surrender.When Lu Su said that the inside is powerful, Sun Quan swung his sword and cut off a corner of the wooden case. If there is a peacemaker like this case, he vowed to fight Cao Cao to the end, and he would have a great victory in burning Chibi! I don't have Sun Quan's sword, but I have the courage of an ancient hero! So, I stood up and yelled: "The landlord should replenish his brain!" This time the executives below are all stupid, they can't understand the Chinese Internet language. The chief financial officer resisted stubbornly: "Mr. Chairman, please respect our professional advice, your plan is not feasible at all." "You say I'm unprofessional?" I calmed myself down again, and smiled gracefully, "Facing you senior management, my qualifications are indeed very ordinary, and I don't have any professional knowledge. But I have common sense in life, If you are sick, you must treat the disease, and the tumor must be removed. There is an old saying in China, "If you keep the green hills, you will not be afraid of no firewood." In order to protect the roots of Sky Group, you must cut off the dead branches and leaves." "Then, if Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business are sold, who will buy them? Who will dare to buy them?" "Price and debt are indeed big problems, but as long as Tian Lun Insurance's brand value and customer resources are still there, as long as the advanced equipment and sales channels of the North American petrochemical business are still there, there will naturally be acquisition value!" "Sell to the Chinese?" My eyes lit up: "Is it not possible? As long as they are willing to bid." "In the past year, many Chinese companies have acquired major companies in the world, but are they willing to bear the debts of Tian Lun Insurance and North American Petrochemical?" "We can lower the selling price. As long as we don't drag the group down, we don't care how much we sell. It's all used to pay off the debt anyway. We can definitely find a suitable buyer quickly. Both parties get what they need. No one wins and the other loses." The problem." The "little Sarkozy" who strongly opposed me weakened his tone: "Okay, let's not talk about the buyer's problem, what about the trade union? Especially in the North American oil business, how to deal with so many employees? The union will not let us go, if What if there is a strike?" "I used to be a small salesman. I sympathized with all grassroots employees and could meet the demands of the union—new employees were arranged for other jobs, old employees were paid generous early retirement benefits, and employees who had nowhere to go were paid a one-time compensation. The fee was borrowed from Sky Bank, but it's nothing compared to your blood transfusion protocol." Everyone didn't expect that I would propose my own plan. Morris' eyes flashed in horror: "Oh my God, this kid is really capable. He is not the puppet we expected. Is there a master behind the scenes to support him?" In fact, for Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business, I have already made preparations in the past few days, and secretly hired a think tank to give advice, otherwise how dare I play tricks in front of these bosses? Looking at the chief financial officer and the president of the financial business, both faces were ashen, and other executives were also sweating.Probably they have already conspired secretly to make a plan to play me, a salesman-turned-fool, into a puppet emperor, so that they can use their hands to bring down the company, and take the opportunity to enrich their own pockets and pass the responsibility on to me . Seeing that no one dared to speak anymore, I simply took the initiative to call names: "Mr. Niu from the Asia-Pacific region, please express your opinion." This Niu is always the only Chinese in the top management of the group. He used to be my big boss in China, a person who is so high and elusive, but now he talks to me like a grandson: "Mr. Chairman, hello!" He said the first sentence in Chinese with a Taiwanese accent, obviously trying to get close to me, but I pushed back: "Mr. Niu, please speak English when we have a meeting at the New York headquarters. We can communicate in Chinese alone." Mr. Niu's face turned livid immediately, and he said in English embarrassingly: "SORRY! The current situation of the group is indeed very bad, especially Tian Lun Insurance and the petrochemical plant in North America. But the situation in our Asia-Pacific region is not bad, especially in China in recent months. There has been restorative growth, and I think that if the departments that have been sentenced to death are allowed to drag down the entire group and affect the regions and departments that can be profitable, it is better to abandon these large and unreasonable departments and concentrate on the places with the most potential!" "You mean to agree with my plan to abandon Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical department?" "Yes!" Boss Niu actually stood up and said loyally, "Don't stop, let's suffer from it! Mr. Chairman's plan is very good. I think this is the first step to save the Sky Group, otherwise it may be our plan." The last meeting of the board of directors! The next meeting may be the meeting of the entire group's bankruptcy and liquidation." Lao Niu is well versed in the Chinese culture's way of adapting to the situation. When he saw me appearing so strongly on the board of directors, he shamelessly defected and caught those executives by surprise. "Okay!" I clapped my hands for him, "President Niu of the Asia-Pacific region supports my plan, who else supports me? You can raise your hand!" The first one to raise his hand was Boss Niu, and then Morris, the idiot towards Qin Muchu, also raised his hand. But the rest of the people were dumbfounded, and many people quietly aimed at "little Sarkozy". It seemed that this guy was the leader of the rebellion, and no one dared to raise their hands without his signal. So, I changed my strategy and said loudly: "Then, those who oppose me, please raise your hands!" As soon as this remark was made, there was even more silence. No one in the audience dared to raise their hands, including the chief financial officer who opposed me the most. I smiled softly: "Since there is no objection in the board of directors, then my plan will be approved unanimously?" The executives looked panicked again, but no one dared to stand up and speak. This guy Morris immediately shouted: "Now announce the latest resolution of the board of directors. The group will sell Tianlun Insurance and eight petrochemical plants in North America." But I still have to save face for these bosses: "If anyone has any objections, please raise them on the spot." Everyone remained silent, and even the financial director "Little Sarkozy" stopped talking and stared blankly at my eyes. His eyes were no longer contempt and hostility, but some kind of complex emotions, even a little admire. "Good! Today's board of directors decided to sell Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business!"
a month later. Sky Group's cash flow is extremely tight, and the company is still in a serious loss situation. There are rumors that the group will go bankrupt at any time.However, since the last meeting of the board of directors, Tian Lun Insurance and the eight petrochemical plants in North America have been semi-closed, and the group has not invested a penny in them.Once the news of the public sale was announced, it caused an uproar among the American public, because these companies were once the pride of the United States, especially those old employees who had worked for many years, organized by the labor union to protest at the New York headquarters.The American mainstream media criticized me even more, just because a Chinese wanted to sell an American company, and the buyer was likely to be a Chinese company.Many executives begged me privately to stop the sale process and prevent the group from being suppressed by the US government.The director of public relations resigned angrily, because he was unable to defend the group, let alone organize crisis public relations and restore the group's image among the American public. But I don’t care about these disturbances at all. If for the sake of the so-called corporate image, once you compromise with the American public and the media, and keep Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business, the two cancers, the group’s rebirth plan will die before it is launched, and the limited cash flow will be exhausted. If we invest in these two bottomless pits, the result will be the death of the Sky Group. At that time, it will not be the employment problem of more than 10,000 employees of North American Petrochemical, but the survival of hundreds of thousands of employees around the world. Isn't this a greater responsibility?Why do Americans only see themselves?When an American company suffers a small loss, it will be wronged and screamed. When it is acquired by a foreign company, especially a Chinese company, the mentality becomes sour and hateful. In the first week, no company came to contact us, like Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business suddenly became Mexican cactus covered in thorns. In the second week, one of the largest private companies in India came to negotiate, but their bid was ridiculously low. The sum of the two departments was only 500 million U.S. dollars, and I rejected us on the spot. In the third week, a Russian oil tycoon flew to New York and was willing to bid 3 billion US dollars to buy the petrochemical sector in North America alone.The chief financial officer thought the price was too low, but I thought it could be considered, and sent a commissioner to Russia to investigate and continue the next negotiation. In the fourth week, a big boss finally came. The top three large state-owned insurance companies in China entrusted a well-known American investment bank to negotiate the acquisition of Tian Lun Insurance.Given my distaste for investment banks, I deliberately made them wait three days before starting the meeting at their New York headquarters.I scrutinized their takeover plans, although the Chinese state-owned company paid a lot of money, with expensive gifts for every executive - bordering on bribery.But I feel that they are not fully prepared, they are just throwing money at people.Once Tianlun Insurance is taken over, it may not be able to do a good job in the North American business, but it will cause great losses to China's state-owned assets.Although the value of Tianlun Insurance is still there, in the final analysis, it is a junk. Why should we Chinese take over this pile of junk at a high price?I don't want to slaughter my fellow countrymen as if they were taken advantage of. I flatly rejected this Chinese company and stopped all contact with investment banks. At the same time, people are constantly being sent to investigate the company's internal situation. I believe that the information shown on paper may not necessarily be the truth of the company.Extraordinary means must be used-I hired a group of industrial spies to secretly spy on various departments of the company and major branches around the world. The results of the investigation are shocking. After the death of Gao Siguo, and even during his serious illness, the Sky Group has been usurped by several executives-the chief financial officer is Hilde, followed by the financial business president, energy business president and manufacturing business president. President, all decisions are made by these people, and no one dares to disobey their will.What's more, Gao Siguo has always kept a low profile, and except for the board members, he has very little contact with the management and employees.Many people have worked in the headquarters for many years, but have never seen his true face, causing employees to only know the executives but not the chairman, thus reducing the authority of the big boss and enhancing the power of the executives. Over the years, due to Gao Siguo's self-isolation, intricate interpersonal relationships have been formed within the group, and many new employees cannot adapt and are forced to leave.Most of the old executives hold millions or even tens of millions of annual salaries, and most of them are not enterprising and seek pleasure, or secretly seek benefits for themselves. Some executives are already worth billions of dollars in private.Especially the Chief Financial Officer "Little Sarkozy". He has worked in the Sky Group for eighteen years. He started as an accountant at the grassroots level and gained the trust of Gao Siguo. He is the "Vice Chairman" - this is a position that the company does not have, and it also symbolizes the real power he holds. If this situation is not changed, the Sky Group will continue on its old path and head towards the abyss of extinction.No matter how entangled their forces are, and no matter how many conspiracies they have, since I am sitting on the chairman's throne, I must fight this group of people to the end! However, it is still too early to act rashly and replace the executives rashly, otherwise it will cause a severe earthquake in the management, which will not only paralyze the group, but also expose our problems publicly.At this critical juncture of life and death, the morale of the army must be stabilized, and it is absolutely impossible to confuse the position and be broken by the enemy from within. enemy! The Sky Group does have an enemy, a very powerful enemy, but I don't know the name of this enemy. According to the report of the think tank - there is a secret financial institution, and since January 2009, it has launched a fierce struggle with the Sky Group, and the battlefield is concentrated in the capital field.They seem to have a grudge against the Sky Group. Whenever we have any new moves, they will step in to obstruct us.This spring, the group was going to acquire a private bank in Mexico, but half an hour before signing the contract, the institution was the first to take it over at a price 20% higher than ours.In the summer, the Sky Group sold the power station equipment business in Germany and was about to sell it at a good price, but there was extremely unfavorable news in Europe, saying that the German power station equipment was seriously polluted, which led to an increase in the incidence of cancer in the surrounding residents-although it was purely false, It aborted the sale, which remains a heavy burden on our European business to this day.After judicial investigation in Germany, the source of the fake news is this secret financial institution! In fact, both Gao Siguo and the members of the board of directors knew the existence of this secret enemy, but no matter what method they used, they couldn't find out the background of that financial institution—not even the name!Because this enemy hides very deeply, every time it makes a move, it uses a new company name, usually registered in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands.We couldn't figure it out a few times in the first few times, but later we discovered some of their rules, such as delaying each shot to the end, using some insidious tricks every time, and closing down immediately once legal disputes arise. The only thing that is certain is that there is only one mastermind behind these shadow companies! Who is he?
An episode. Winter is here in New York, and the first snow is falling in Manhattan. Sky Center Building, the eighty-eighth floor of the group headquarters, and the luxurious chairman's office.On the opposite side is a row of Italian leather sofas, with the authentic works of Bada Shanren hanging on the back, on the left is a set of 14th-century French full-body armor, on the right is a group of imperial celadon from the Wanli period, and in the middle is a smooth teak floor. It can be used as an ice skating rink. Through the panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass, I saw snowflakes falling from the sky, covering the monster-like skyscrapers.Overlooking the dense streets of Manhattan, it seems that the country is divided by giant towers, all covered with a layer of snow, and only cars the size of beetles roll. Is this the world of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings"? Walking out of the automatic bulletproof door of the office, I said to the secretary, "I want to go for a walk." "Mr. Chairman, where are you going?" "under." "Manhattan?" "yes." The secretary nodded and picked up the phone: "Arrange a special car now." "Don't you understand me? I mean go for a walk, walk." "Walking in Manhattan?" Her complexion changed immediately, "Isn't this safe?" "I am not Obama in the White House, nor a prisoner of the Sky Group, nor is this Shawshank State Prison, I have the right to go down and walk!" A minute later, I took the non-stop elevator—from the 88th floor to the third basement, without any buttons in between.It used to be used exclusively by Gao Siguo to avoid being disturbed by other people, but it is said that he has never used it once and landed on the top floor by helicopter every time. On the third basement floor, my extended Lincoln car is parked, and there are more than a dozen limited-edition Bugatti Veyron sports cars collected by Gao Siguo, each worth several million dollars—to me, they are all scrap metal. Instead of letting them age in the basement and degrade the performance of the engine after being idle for a long time, they can be auctioned off to the public and add some precious cash to the group. Eight bodyguards with guns followed me, changed to an elevator underground, and came to an inconspicuous corner at the back of the building, a small door for cleaners to enter and exit. Finally standing on the land of Manhattan Island, looking up at the snow particles falling from the sky, greedily breathing the air on the ground.It used to be on the top of the 88th floor, like sitting on a plane for a month, and finally landed safely - but the sky group has not yet landed safely, dangerous air currents and enemies in the dark may make it explode in the air at any time. I've changed into a thick hoodie and a pair of big sunglasses, like a Chinese student wandering the streets of New York.I signaled the bodyguards to disperse and not come within ten meters of me—after Monica was attacked and killed in Africa, I was already under the strictest protection.If the last one of Lanling King Gao's family dies, Sky Group will be supervised by the US government. So, it doesn't matter if it's high energy or ancient hero, but I have to live. Alone in the noisy crowd of New York, quickly swallowed by the city.There is a thin layer of snow under my feet, and I stretch out my hands to catch the snow particles falling from the sky, watching the hot air exhaled from my mouth, but I can’t recall the scene of playing in the snow in my childhood-it’s so frustrating! Cheer yourself up, walk through the endless traffic, and look back at the 88-story sky center building.It was the first time I saw my office from the ground, it was like a castle in the air hanging above the snowy sky, it was a place that many people couldn't reach in their lifetime, including the vast majority of people working in this building, but what kind of place am I? Can you be safe?想到这不禁诚惶诚恐，倍感肩头责任沉重，令踏雪而行的我丝毫不能轻松。 很快走过帝国大厦，这座大萧条时代的建筑，是否预示那个时代将要复活？再回头看熙熙攘攘的人群，依稀可辨几张熟悉的脸——我的保镖，他们不敢离我太近，但都警惕地跟着我，防范周围每个可疑的人物。 走在曼哈顿飘雪的街上，沿着百老汇大街往南走去，享受这种躲在人群中的感觉，依然没人注意过我，就像芸芸众生中的一员。经过十几条路口，就快要到华尔街了，我想亲眼看看纽约证交所，看看世界贸易中心双塔废墟，看看布鲁克林大桥…… 突然，响起一阵刺耳的刹车声。 皱起眉头往街上看去，停着一辆劳斯莱斯轿车，高速开过斑马线的时候，差点撞到一个黑人妇女。开车的是个四十多岁的华人男子，走下车指着那女的说：“你是怎么走路的？” 没想到黑人妇女丝毫不示弱，抓着他的衣服领子乱叫，一时吸引来大量围观人群。华人男子显然很有钱，不想当街和路人纠缠下去，不耐烦地掏出一叠美元，放到黑人妇女手里，果然塞住了对方嘴巴。 突然，我认出了这个人。 This is the face! 一年多前在中国上海，与端木良陪着客户，去见一个上市公司的老总，差点给他投资了八千万，然而几天之后，这家上市公司宣告破产，留下几千名失业员工，还有几十万血本无归的投资者，最惨的当场跳楼自杀。而这位道貌岸然的老总，却偷偷转移了几亿美元，用假护照出逃远走高飞…… it's him. 没错，虽然仅有一面之缘，但烧成灰都能认出来。没想到这个背负深重罪孽的家伙，居然在纽约街头招摇过市，开着奢侈的劳斯莱斯拉风，不知吞掉多少中国股民的血汗钱！ 当他要钻进轿车离去时，却被我一把抓住了衣服。 “SHIT！” 一定把我当成了穷留学生，开口就扔给我一句脏话。 我冷冷地用中文回答：“刁总，你不认识我了吗？” “你说什么？”他像被电了一下，极不自然地抬头看看我，摇头说，“你认错人了。” 但我紧紧拉着他的衣服，不能让他这么溜了：“刁总，我没认错，一年多前你还是风风光光的上市公司老总，后来却成了国际刑警组织的通缉犯，没想到在纽约过得很滋润嘛。” “放手！”他的嘴唇开始颤抖，“再说一遍——你认错人了！” “嗯，但被你害死的那些人，是绝对不会认错你的。” 他恐惧地掏出手机：“再不放手我就要报警了！” “那就请打电话吧？要不要我帮你拨呢？9——1——1——” 这个混蛋真的发急了，当街就要挥拳打我，但没等他举起拳头，就被人从身后制服，结结实实地压倒在底——我的保镖早就侯着了，只要敢动手就立刻要他要看！ 只听他一身惨叫，大概胳膊脱臼了，昂贵的西装被按在雪地里，痛苦地乱骂起来。 真想上去再踹他两脚，他对许多人破产和自杀负有直接责任，却一走了之躲在美国逍遥快活！但我摇摇头，拿出手机拨了个号码：“喂，是国际刑警组织吗？我抓住了你们通缉的对象。”
a week later. 根据我的指示，天空集团总部地下的十六辆全球限量版威龙跑车，全部送到拍卖行——也是上次拍卖高思国收藏文物的地方。 这种跑车年产不超过50辆，即便二手车单价也在数百万美元。天空集团大老板坐过的车，更染上一层神秘色彩，引来许多富豪和明星关注。相比上次的古董拍卖，今天热闹了好几倍，整个大厅座无虚席，个个都有非凡身价——进场者必须提供千万美元以上资产证明。 全美各地的媒体记者，在外面等着拍下跑车雄姿，但财经记者们更关注我——天空集团新任第三代掌门人，曾经是中国被裁员的小白领，又被陷害关进美国监狱，奇迹般完成不可能的越狱逃亡，却阴差阳错被推上亿万富豪宝座。这些传奇经历使我成为新闻人物，多家媒体想对我专访，尤其在天空集团将出售天伦保险和北美石化部门的风口浪尖，但我婉拒了所有邀请，先把事情搞定再说话吧。 今天的跑车拍卖会，也算天空集团的一次形象公关。 首先，十六辆超级跑车出场本身，就构成了一个极其吸引眼球的时尚新闻，到场的买主中有不少好莱坞大明星，又升级占据了娱乐新闻头条。天空集团以前给人神秘保守的印象，如今却跻身于时尚娱乐圈，再加上我这个二十多岁的传奇董事长，有助于培养年轻人的市场。 其次，在风雨飘摇的经济危机环境中，许多大公司厉行节约度过寒冬，某些企业管理层的高薪与奢侈都成了丑闻。现在我大张旗鼓拍卖十六辆跑车，就是要与奢侈浪费之风一刀两断。从老板自身做起节约每一分钱，提倡高管们自动减薪，降低运营成本，也能与基层员工们亲近。 一石二鸟。 拍卖会正式开始，请了一位脱口秀明星做主持人，先向大家隆重介绍我的出场。 我穿着一套得体的礼服，微笑着点头示意，面对星光灿烂的闪光灯，丝毫没有胆怯和恐惧，反而自信满满赢来一片掌声，若两年前早就吓得瘫倒在地了！ 于是，我临时宣布本次拍卖所得资金，将全部捐献给可能会在北美石化部门出售过程中失业的工人。 接着是拍卖师登场一一介绍今天的十六辆超级跑车，整齐排列在临时搭建的舞台上，每辆车重新抛光打磨了一遍，配上一位超级名模点缀。这些车的数据也让人疯狂，单车16缸发动机，功率达到1000马力，最高时速407公里，比F1的最高记录还快。 第一辆车以三百万美元成交，买主是与斯皮尔伯格齐名的大导演。我对这种拍卖没什么兴趣，但作为卖主必须正襟危坐在第一排，只能频频回头观看竞拍者们，却看到不少光彩照人的女明星。 拍卖到第六辆车，忽然发觉大厅里多了一个人，从我的位置回头看过去极其显眼——白色汉服衣袖飘飘，黑色长发自然披散，宛如中国画里走出来的人物，却安然坐在最后一排，其他人都关注台上的拍卖，没注意到这个异类出现。 It's him again! 虽然隔着几十个人的脑袋，我还是一眼就看清了他的脸，让人看过一秒就终生无法忘却的脸。奇怪的是周围人的脸都很模糊，包括几位大名鼎鼎的人物，比如布拉德·皮特这样的大帅哥——与这位二十多岁的中国美少年相比，《特洛伊》中的阿喀琉斯也黯然失色！ 不可思议，就像是集体合影的照片，惟独有一个人的脸被PS过，才会造成这种“众人皆糊我独清”的效果。 但这又不是照片，而是现场真实的情景，由我的肉眼所见——难道？Could it be?最后一排的汉服美男并非真人，而是我脑中幻想出来的人物？ No! 他是真的，因为他也看到了我，一双完美的中国人的眼睛，果然比年轻时的张国荣更迷人，可以用“眉目如画”四个字形容。他不是西洋人的油画，而是中国宋朝以前的古画，《韩熙载夜宴图》里的感觉，魏晋风骨，六朝田园，南唐气度，后蜀奢靡…… 我痴痴地看着他，他也怔怔地看着我。 忽然，他给我一个微笑。 远在最后一排的他，脸上的小酒窝却如此清晰，仿佛是被照相机镜头放大。 "Murong Yun." 心底默念这三个字，我还记得他的名字，这个《北史》与武侠小说里才有的姓氏。 注意力都集中在回头看他，全然忘了拍卖正如火如荼，第十五辆车刚以七百万美元成交！ 原以为这位酷毙了的慕容美男，会像上次那样一鸣惊人叫价举牌。没想到他始终按兵不动，平静地坐在最后一排，完全不当弹眼落睛的跑车存在。除了与我的目光交流外，就没干过第二件事。 只剩下最后一辆威龙了。 终于把目光投向台上——拍卖师相当兴奋，这辆车的起拍价还是200万美元，但一上来就被叫到500万美元。我等待神秘的慕容云出手，但他全然置身世外地坐着，听任两个美国富豪互相叫价，转眼又升到800万美元，打破了今天的最高纪录。 就当拍卖师叫喊：“800万第一次！800万第二次！800万第三次！” 突然，最后一辆跑车的引擎盖高高弹起，竟然跳出一个蒙面男子！ 全场一片哗然，拍卖师也吓得摔倒在地，因为蒙面男子的手中，还有一把黑洞洞的手枪。 枪口指向第一排，对准了我的脑袋。 电光火石的瞬间，在看清蒙面人的双眼之前，我下意识地侧了侧身。 子弹同时射出枪口，发出骇人的呼啸声，几乎擦着我的耳边飞过。 I'm alive. 身后的座位响起一声惨叫，某位富家公子做了我的替死鬼。 全场更乱作一团，到处充满女人尖叫，大家慌不择路地逃跑，拍卖会霎时成为屠宰场。我的保镖闻声也迅速赶来，但杀手的枪口紧跟着我，马不停蹄射出第二枪。这回我钻到座位底下，子弹打在钢铁扶手上弹开。 我突然间异常镇定，脑中干净得宛如白纸，只剩下一个念头——逃生！ 没错，这个念头如此强烈，深深烙印在心底，是莫妮卡死前留给我的录音，让我答应她的那个承诺，无论发生什么都一定要做到！但前提是我必须活着，如果死了就什么都没有了。我不是为自己而活，也不是为天空集团而活，而是为了另一个世界的她。 此刻我的眼里，现场那么多人都消失了，静如午夜坟场，只有我和杀手两个人，在空旷的大厅玩着猫鼠游戏。 又一颗子弹，贴着我的头皮飞过去，打中了逃命的主持人。我转到一根柱子后面，逃向大厅的紧急出口。周围许多乱跑的人们，替我挡住杀手的子弹。同时响起一片枪战声，想必是我的保镖开枪了。来不及等他们来救我，飞快地跑上楼梯，开始有几个人跟着我逃，等爬上四五层楼梯，竟只剩下了我一个人。 难道其他人都被打死了？ 下面响起沉重的脚步声，不用看就想起杀手蒙面的双眼。 他来杀我了。 再往上跑了一层楼梯，居然已是大楼顶层。推开铁门来到天台，便是漫天大雪，周围矗立数栋摩天大楼，像群峰之中低凹的山谷。 往天台边缘跑去，却发现再也无路可逃，雪粒打湿我的头发，侥幸地回过头去——该死！ 蒙面杀手追了上来，举枪对准了我。 Is this the end? 我绝望地举起手来，不是为自己的生命绝望，而是为无法完成那个承诺而绝望。 "Don't move!" 声音并非来自杀手，而是杀手身后的某个人。 又是那一袭白色汉服，包裹着冰肌玉肤的美少年，俨然与白雪覆盖的楼顶融为一体。 “慕容云！” 情不自禁地叫出他的名字，似乎峰回路转重现生机？ 蒙面杀手真的不动了，慕容云在他后面笔直地举着手，有把枪顶着杀手脑后！ 他是来救我的？ 果然，汉服美少年继续用英语大喊：“放下枪！不然就给你爆头！” 杀手的头都被黑布裹着，只露出两个黑色眼珠，我看出他的眼神在颤抖，瞄准我的枪口也在颤抖。 真怕这个亡命之徒会不顾死活抠下扳机…… 十秒钟后，杀手放下了枪。 “快点过来啊！” 慕容云的神色也很紧张，用汉语向我咆哮了一声，鉴于他站在杀手背后，这让我心里也立刻没底了。 飞快地跑到他的身边，并一把夺过杀手的枪，只听慕容云用汉语喊道：“回到楼梯间！” 回头再看却吓死了我！ 原来慕容云并没有枪，他只是伸出右手中指与食指，屈起来伪装成手枪形状，用力顶住杀手的后脑勺。 站在原地犹豫了两秒钟，如果我一个人跑回楼梯，让没有枪的慕容云与杀手对峙，这个小伎俩万一被识破，岂非极度危险？ 反正杀手的枪在我手里，干脆一枪下去把这个混蛋干掉吧！ 汉服美男脸上满是雪花，额头却流下汗珠，紧张地对我大喊：“还不下去吗？快一点！” 我摇摇头跑下楼梯，慕容云也飞快地收手，没等杀手转过身来，就把铁门牢牢锁住。 success!凶残的杀手被我们锁在天台上，慕容云拽着我往楼梯下面跑去，刚下去一层就碰上我的保镖。 保镖们也都很着急，抓着枪气喘吁吁，大概以为我早就被干掉了！我来不及骂他们饭桶，指了指楼上说：“杀手在天台！” 六个保镖冲了上去，剩下两个保护着我和慕容云，匆匆跑回拍卖大厅。 满地狼籍惨不忍睹，至少躺着四具尸体，十几个受伤的人，威龙跑车溅满鲜血。有几个来不及逃出去的女人，躲在角落尖叫或哭泣。空气中飘荡着血腥味，我的嘴角剧烈颤抖，看着那辆引擎盖打开的跑车——杀手就一直躲在里面，等到它马上要被拍走时，才突然跳出来向我开枪，但引擎盖里怎么藏人呢？真是矛盾的BUG啊！ 合该是我大难不死，差一厘米就要被他爆头，究竟是什么人要杀我呢？ 也许，是袭击杀害莫妮卡的那帮人。 也许，是那个黑暗中的天空集团的敌人。 也许，是当初陷害我入狱的那个人。 也许，这三路人马就是同一个人？ 也许，他（她）就是—— 太阳穴再度疼痛起来，大脑似乎已运转到极限，再动下去就要爆炸。 大队警察刚刚赶到，护送我们撤离现场，坐进一辆严格防护的警车。拍卖行街边的雪地上，聚集不少逃出来的人们，不乏奥斯卡颁奖典礼上的老面孔。 手机突然响了，是保镖队长打来的，战战兢兢地说：“老板，对不起，刺客从天台上逃跑了。” "waste!" “老板，警察已经包围大楼，正在全力搜索！” 我毫不留情地挂断电话，不指望警察能抓住杀手——他只要把蒙面的东西一扔，就可以轻而易举地混在逃生人群中开溜。 警车呼啸着开向警察局，后排坐着我和慕容云，看着他一身白袍披肩长发，感觉像和古代人坐在一起。 他的表情已恢复冷静，撇了撇嘴角对我微笑：“你没事吧？” “没事！”看着他漂亮的脸庞，我忽然丧失了自信，无地自容地低头，“谢谢，你救了我。” “啊，没想到会有刺客，你惹到什么仇家了？” 这个问题真难回答，我惹到谁了？ 他笑了笑继续问：“你真是大难不死，我看着那个杀手向你开了三枪，又追着你跑上楼梯。” “那你还敢跟上来啊？” “哈，我只是很好奇——从没见过这种刺杀场面。” “你就想看看我被杀吗？”说完我自己也笑了，“其实我也想看看！” “不，你不想死。” 慕容云的表情一下子变得很严肃。 我也皱起眉头：“不过，刚才你实在太冒险了！” “用手指装作手枪？” “是，差点把我吓死，如果被他发现你耍了他，我们两个都会被杀死的。” “哈哈，小时候常玩这种游戏，我手指顶的力道非常大，他不敢拿自己的命冒险。” "You are so brave." “其实，现在想想也有些后怕哦。” “就是嘛！”我仰头长出一口气，“再说一遍，非常感谢你！” “你要怎么答谢我呢？” 这个问题真让人难回答，若是其他人救了我的命，我会毫不犹豫地签张空白支票，随便他在上面填多大数字。但面对这双迷离的眼睛，这张穿越自另一时空的脸，这个凭空出现的神秘美少年，我却无法说出用金钱来答谢他。 看我好久都没有回答，慕容云眨了眨眼睫毛说：“你真吝啬啊！” "No!" 最怕别人这么说我，刚想要说出一个巨大的数字，他却抢先问道：“你是哪一年的？” “82年。” 这是高能也是古英雄的出身年份。 “那我该叫你哥哥了。” “干嘛这么叫？听着怪别扭的。” 慕容云却盯着我的双眼，看得我心里怪怪的。 忽然，他对开车的警察说：“停车！请停车！” 警察不耐烦地说：“警察局快要到了。” “我们不是犯罪嫌疑人，有权利要求现在就下车！” "Ok." 警车在路边停下，汉服美少年飘然下车，我却坐在车里不知所措。 他探下头说：“不下来吗？那我一个人先走了。” 大概魏晋名士都这么神经兮兮！无奈地跟他下车，踏着纽约街头积雪，忽然感到了自由。 对面恰是中央公园，他像小孩那样兴奋地说：“兄台，我们进去走走吧。” 兄台？一下子跳跃到了武侠小说，那我该叫他贤弟吗？ 踏过一片白雪覆盖的树林，四周路人已越来越少，走到深处竟只剩我们两个。在拥挤喧嚣的曼哈顿，能有这样闹中取静的所在实在难得。他调皮地抓起一把新鲜的雪，砸向旁边的一盏路灯，不禁惊起几只鸽子，他伸出舌头做了个鬼脸：“哎呀，对不起，没看到你们。” 虽然刚刚遭遇行刺，与死神擦肩而过，我的内心却如此轻松，几个月来从未有过的感觉——因为中央公园里的雪景，还是眼前的美男慕容云？ “高能，我们从此兄弟相称如何？” "what?" “你不是说要答谢我吗？”他抓着空中飘落的雪粒，狡诈地微笑道，“既然你那么吝啬，就以此来答谢我吧！” “你我结拜为异姓兄弟？” "That's right." 我像看妖怪似的看着他，这是什么年代啊，难道还有刘关张桃园结拜？何况这是纽约，曼哈顿的中央公园！ “你不愿交我这个兄弟吗？” “不——可是。” 白色汉服在雪地里一晃：“你不想感谢我的救命之恩？” 这话像是对我的侮辱，我连连摇头：“不，你说怎样我就怎样！” “好，既然这么说，那我们就一齐跪下吧！” 没等我听明白，慕容云已抢先跪倒在地，接着将我硬拽下来——两个男人都已双膝下跪，面朝纽约的天空。 “苍天在上！小弟慕容云。” 他已双手抱拳对天致敬。 而我跪着愣了几秒钟，陷在积雪中的膝盖却动弹不得，痴痴地看着他的眼睛不知所以。 “快说啊！”他重重地拍了拍我的后背，“快说愚兄高能！” 完全无法拒绝这双眼睛，既然已经承诺“你说怎样我就怎样”，便下意识地跟着说：“愚兄高能！” “就此结拜为异姓兄弟！” “就此结拜为异姓兄弟！” 此情此景彻底震撼了我，面对这个汉服飘飘的古代人，惟有跟着他一同穿越时空。 慕容云的表情极度认真，绝非少年人开玩笑或恶作剧，无法从他的目光里分辨出谎言。 “不愿同年同月同日生。”
November 7, 2009, 10 am. New York, Manhattan, Sky Center Building. In order to avoid the reporters gathered downstairs, the company arranged for me to take a helicopter, take off from Gao’s private estate, pass through the steel forest of New York’s skyscrapers, and pass by the top of the Empire State Building at an ultra-low altitude, so close that I can clearly see the expressions of tourists.In my limited rebirth memory, it was the first time I took such a dangerous vehicle, not to mention the New York where 9/11 happened under my feet.Seeing my terrified appearance, the pilot reassured me that it was safe, and that the late Chairman Gao Siguo used this thing to attend meetings every time—it was fate that "Uncle" lived to be 48 years old before he died. Flying to the 88th-floor Sky Center Building, the standard heliport on the roof, the blades rolled up a strong storm, and landed deafeningly on the bull's-eye. The people who greeted me on the roof were already blown to one side by the wind, and they hurriedly arranged their suits, waiting for me to get off the helicopter—it was like the arrival of a gangster, and the secretary arranged my clothes again, wearing a pair of big sunglasses, pretending to be arrogant Look, set foot on the sky center building spotlessly. I remember that I used to work in the China branch of the Sky Group. I was used to being the role of my grandson being bullied. When I saw the general manager, I would stutter in fright. If I wanted to flatter me, I would lower my head to the ground first!At this moment, the disgruntled and trembling little staff around me looked at me like a kid who saw the king of Hades, and suddenly felt sympathetic to them—what idiot ordered everyone to come to the rooftop to suffer?I whispered a few words to the secretary and told everyone to go back to work as usual without any hellish welcome ceremony. The elevator took only one floor, and they came to the highest meeting room on the eighty-eighth floor—the entire building belongs to the Sky Group, and from bottom to top there are finance, sales, and accounting departments.The 80th floor and above belong to the chairman's office. There is an indoor swimming pool, a movie theater, and a banquet hall that can accommodate a thousand people. Only those above the director level can enter. The highest conference room is magnificently decorated, floor-to-ceiling windows directly face the Statue of Liberty, the table is made of the finest Amazon rainforest wood, the chairs are covered with African buffalo leather, and even each teacup is custom-made in Jingdezhen, China. This is the first time that Sky Group has held the Supreme Chairman since I took office as the fourth global chairman and CEO of Sky Group. Nika, they passed away shortly after finishing this meeting respectively. Are the following directors and executives secretly calculating how long I will live? Today's meeting includes all members of the board of directors.The person sitting first on my left is the assistant to the previous CEO, followed by the chief financial officer, sales director, public relations director, chief executive officer, and the presidents of the three major businesses of the group—the president of energy business, the president of financial business, and the president of manufacturing business. On my right hand are the presidents of the major regions around the world, including the president of the Asia Pacific region, the president of the North America region, the president of the Europe region, the president of the Latin America region and the president of the Middle East and Africa region. Given that the Sky Group is absolutely controlled by the Gao Sijia family, the so-called board of directors is a meeting of executives with a different name. The president of the Asia-Pacific region is an acquaintance of mine and the general manager of the Chinese branch.When I was a small salesman, I often saw him sitting on the stage majesticly, but I respectfully dared not speak until he laid me off and kicked me out.Those who attended the meeting today must have checked my background information. Even if he didn't recognize me before, he must know my past now!Although he couldn't see anything on the surface, he must have had nightmares of fright and was ready to be fired. I am afraid that other people are also disturbed. They have seen me at the last two funerals, but no one would have thought at that time that my relative from the Gao family from China (still a fake) would have a dramatic effect in just one night. climbed to the chairman's throne. I sat in the top seat, looked at the serious faces below, and didn't speak for a few minutes.No one dared to move underneath, like a game of "we are all wooden men".When the two elders started to feel dizzy and their heads were shaking, I opened my mouth: "Good morning! I am Gao Neng. Today is my first time at the headquarters, and it is also my first time to participate in the chairmanship. Please advise me, seniors." !" As soon as I finished speaking, I heard a burst of enthusiastic palms from below, especially the former CEO assistant next to me. This white man in his early forties, with the temperament of a White House press secretary, smiled at me very humbly. However, I saw through the secret in his heart at a glance: "Where did you come from the Chinese boy? You are lucky! You actually climbed to the throne of the chairman. If it wasn't for Monica's accident, you would wait until you were buried in the grave." No way! Hey, Monica is really too, why did you sign that document after inheriting the inheritance? Why did you leave all the property to your cousin? The company executives are all waiting to share the shares of the old chairman! " No wonder they all look like they have dry stools. Let him be taught the lesson slowly, and I said with a gloomy face: "First of all, I suggest that everyone stand up and observe three minutes of silence for my uncle, Mr. Gao Siguo, who passed away not long ago, and my cousin Monica!" Today, I am able to stand here, thanks to Monica's gift, here I will always be just a substitute for her and her father. All executives stood up, and the highest meeting room was silent. Many people watched Monica grow up, and some people did shed tears during the funeral. Everyone lowered their heads and the atmosphere was depressed, as if they were silently mourning for the dying Sky Group. Three minutes later, I wiped away my tears and sat down with my head up: "Please sit down! Now, Mr. Morris will introduce the latest situation of the group." Morris is the former assistant beside me. He opened the file seemingly sincerely, cleared his throat and said, "On behalf of the management of the group, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new chairman and CEO, Mr. Gao Neng!" There was another thunderous applause below, these old guys have really good hand strength! "As we all know, due to the impact of the global financial crisis, the company is currently in an extremely dangerous situation." Morris said while looking at me from the corner of his eye, but did not dare to meet my gaze. Businesses—petroleum, finance, and equipment manufacturing—all have fallen into serious losses, cash flow in North America is nearly exhausted, and the company’s debt ratio has already exceeded the warning line. If the bank loans cannot be repaid on time, the company can only declare bankruptcy protection.” These news have long been public news, and the expressions of the executives have not changed at all. They are probably secretly planning how to leave the group and quickly find high positions in other companies, right? "Among the various branches and subsidiaries of the group, the most dangerous one is North American Tianlun Insurance Company. Due to the bankruptcy of many customers, the company's expenditure this year has tripled compared with the previous year, and it is deeply in debt crisis. The group in the first half of the year The five billion US dollars that were added to Tian Lun Insurance have already been consumed, and if Tian Lun Insurance goes bankrupt, it will cause losses of tens of billions of US dollars to the group.” After Morris finished speaking, he handed the report to me, and said with eyes like a dog: "Please give instructions from the chairman!" I threw it aside without even looking at it, and calmly said to the following: "The issue of Tianlun Insurance, do you have any suggestions?" At this critical moment, when everyone is flying separately, who would dare to offer any suggestions?They all pretended to be Down's syndrome, and no one spoke for a long time. "Everyone has to speak!" I must establish authority for myself, and I cannot tolerate them ignoring my existence! Morris saw the appearance of a group of dead people below, and couldn't help shouting anxiously: "Everyone, please speak up! The problem of Tianlun Insurance must be solved. Do you want to wait for it to go bankrupt?" I said coldly: "Perhaps you all think that Sky Group will go bankrupt before its subsidiaries." These words finally made their expressions react, and Morris took advantage of the situation and called out: "Dr. Locke, you are the president of the financial business of the group, and Tian Lun Insurance belongs to your area of responsibility. Please tell me your opinion!" Dr. Locke is a super fat man weighing more than three hundred pounds. He gave Morris a sneaky look, and happened to reveal what he was thinking: "Morris, you flatterer, who doesn't know that you were the first to escape, but now the ship is sinking?" Holding the captain's thigh, do you want to drown together?" The doctor said helplessly: "Well... this... Tianlun... Tianlun Insurance Company was founded by the late Mr. Gao Guo in 1990. As an old employee of the company, I really don't want to see it go bankrupt. I suggest The group has transferred funds from Sky Bank to ensure that Tianlun Insurance can support it through this winter, and maybe it will have a chance when the economic situation improves next year.” Morris nodded and said, "Thank you very much! Next, Mr. Hilde, the financial director, will talk about his views." The chief financial officer is a Frenchman in his forties who looks exactly like Sarkozy. He frowned and said, "I also agree with the judgment of the financial business president. I know the financial situation of the group best. It is very bad at present, and it is impossible for the outside world to give us another report." To divide the money, we can only use Sky Bank to transfer funds to rescue Tianlun Insurance, otherwise the Sky Group will sink with Tianlun Insurance!" His last sentence was very serious, and others nodded in agreement. The president of North America also took the initiative to speak and said: "Mr. Chief Financial Officer is right. Transferring funds from Sky Bank is the only way, we have no other way!" It's strange that the chief financial officer—Sarkozy's eyes are very special, and there are some things that are elusive to me, and I can't read his heart for a while. I shook my head irritably: "Guys! The only way for you is to let Sky Bank inject capital into Tianlun Insurance? As far as I know, Sky Bank's cash flow is also extremely tight. In a Chinese saying, it is 'tear down the east wall to pay for the west wall' , or 'cut out the flesh and repair the sore' - dig out the healthy flesh and fill it up on the broken sore!" However, Morris beamed and said, "Wonderful, the Chinese people are amazing. There were plastic surgery in ancient times!" sweat! The guy who flattered the horse's leg made me laugh and cry. The foreigners below all nodded and said yes. Only the president of the Asia-Pacific region is Taiwanese, so he smiled wryly at me. I continued with confidence: "Mr. Hilde, I heard that apart from Tian Lun Insurance Company, the Group's most loss-making business is the eight petrochemical plants in North America, which are located in New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, Germany, etc. In Texas, St. Louisiana, California, Washington State, and Quebec, Canada, the operating costs of these plants are very high, and they occupy a large amount of crude oil of the group every year, becoming a heavy burden for the group, right?" "Yes!" Mr. Sarkozy, Mr. Hilde, wiped his sweat and replied with a strange gaze, "It has brought a serious debt burden to the group, but I would like to remind the respected Mr. Chairman that these eight companies are Mr. Gao Guo, the founder of the group, established it by himself in the 1980s. It is the pillar industry of the group in North America and the soul of the Sky Group. It must be transfused at any cost. These eight factories employ more than 10,000 people. Labor unions are very powerful in the United States and can influence many members of Congress, which is something we have to consider." "I finally understand why the Sky Group has come to where it is today! It is because of your continuous blood transfusion to these serious loss-making departments that the cash flow of the group is getting tighter and the performance in North America is getting worse and worse. We can only continue to borrow Money, patchwork to deal with the crisis. The result is that no problem is solved, but it seriously drags down the group as a whole - such as malignant tumors, which were not removed when they were first discovered, and then grew bigger and bigger until they took the owner's life! Just like The late Mr. Gao Siguo!" "I'm sorry!" The chief financial officer interrupted me in public, "Dear Mr. Chairman, do you express dissatisfaction with the late Mr. Gao Siguo?" What a vicious move!Pushing me to the opposite of Gao Siguo, implying that I will inherit the sky group's rule, is not a good name, and it is a foreign usurper. I stared at "Little Sarkozy" with a stern face, and his eyes made me more and more frightened, but I must not show weakness in front of him, otherwise I will never be able to lift my head in the Sky Group. "No, Mr. Gao Siguo is my uncle, I am his only nephew, and he is the person I respect the most! But I believe his favorite in his life is the Sky Group, and I will never allow cancer to happen to the Sky Group. " I glanced around again, like a lion without anger, when I glanced at the face of the president of the Asia-Pacific region, I read a sentence from his eyes: "This kid is not simple! Why didn't I notice it in Shanghai before?" He? He actually laid him off! What a blind eye! Last night, Hou told me on the phone that Gao Neng is a fool who doesn’t understand anything. Killed!" "Everyone, my suggestion now is—for the survival of the Sky Group, the hugely harmful tumor must be removed, and Tianlun Insurance and the petrochemical plant in North America must be sold." The last sentence was really resounding, and immediately there was a commotion below, many people whispered to each other, and even Morris beside me changed his face drastically. "Sorry, as the group's chief financial officer, I can't agree!" Unexpectedly, "Little Sarkozy" stood up and opposed me, which made me furious: "There is also a Chinese saying that 'a strong man cuts his wrist'. I have checked the financial statements of Tianlun Insurance and the North American petrochemical plant in the past few days, and they are completely messed up! These two departments are terminally ill and hopeless, why should we invest working capital into these two bottomless pits? What is our most precious thing now? Cash flow! It should be invested in the most profitable and promising departments, and invest To young people who are full of vigor, not to dead people who are about to die! If we transfuse blood from Sky Bank to Tianlun Insurance, not only will we not be able to save Tianlun Insurance, but it will bury our last blood, and the result will be the group and its subsidiaries. perish together." "If Tianlun Insurance and the North American petrochemical plant are sold, Chairman Gao Siguo will die with regret." It was the Chief Financial Officer "Little Sarkozy" who took the lead in the rebellion. Who is he? "Then let the Sky Group die in peace?" "Mr. Chairman, although you have worked in the Chinese branch for several years, our executives today have all worked in the group for decades and have deep feelings for Sky Group." They are cursing at me again! Those executives must have studied me thoroughly, knowing that I worked as a salesman in the Chinese branch for several years, but was eventually fired and kicked out. Compared with them, my qualifications are insignificant.He therefore implied that I am not qualified to issue orders here, let alone talk about my feelings for the Sky Group. Suddenly, I felt that the current situation of the Sky Group was like that of Soochow on the eve of the Chibi War—if Cao Cao surrendered, the Sun family in Jiangdong would have nothing, and the important ministers of Soochow would still retain their original status, so the ministers agreed to surrender.When Lu Su said that the inside is powerful, Sun Quan swung his sword and cut off a corner of the wooden case. If there is a peacemaker like this case, he vowed to fight Cao Cao to the end, and he would have a great victory in burning Chibi! I don't have Sun Quan's sword, but I have the courage of an ancient hero! So, I stood up and yelled: "The landlord should replenish his brain!" This time the executives below are all stupid, they can't understand the Chinese Internet language. The chief financial officer resisted stubbornly: "Mr. Chairman, please respect our professional advice, your plan is not feasible at all." "You say I'm unprofessional?" I calmed myself down again, and smiled gracefully, "Facing you senior management, my qualifications are indeed very ordinary, and I don't have any professional knowledge. But I have common sense in life, If you are sick, you must treat the disease, and the tumor must be removed. There is an old saying in China, "If you keep the green hills, you will not be afraid of no firewood." In order to protect the roots of Sky Group, you must cut off the dead branches and leaves." "Then, if Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business are sold, who will buy them? Who will dare to buy them?" "Price and debt are indeed big problems, but as long as Tian Lun Insurance's brand value and customer resources are still there, as long as the advanced equipment and sales channels of the North American petrochemical business are still there, there will naturally be acquisition value!" "Sell to the Chinese?" My eyes lit up: "Is it not possible? As long as they are willing to bid." "In the past year, many Chinese companies have acquired major companies in the world, but are they willing to bear the debts of Tian Lun Insurance and North American Petrochemical?" "We can lower the selling price. As long as we don't drag the group down, we don't care how much we sell. It's all used to pay off the debt anyway. We can definitely find a suitable buyer quickly. Both parties get what they need. No one wins and the other loses." The problem." The "little Sarkozy" who strongly opposed me weakened his tone: "Okay, let's not talk about the buyer's problem, what about the trade union? Especially in the North American oil business, how to deal with so many employees? The union will not let us go, if What if there is a strike?" "I used to be a small salesman. I sympathized with all grassroots employees and could meet the demands of the union—new employees were arranged for other jobs, old employees were paid generous early retirement benefits, and employees who had nowhere to go were paid a one-time compensation. The fee was borrowed from Sky Bank, but it's nothing compared to your blood transfusion protocol." Everyone didn't expect that I would propose my own plan. Morris' eyes flashed in horror: "Oh my God, this kid is really capable. He is not the puppet we expected. Is there a master behind the scenes to support him?" In fact, for Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business, I have already made preparations in the past few days, and secretly hired a think tank to give advice, otherwise how dare I play tricks in front of these bosses? Looking at the chief financial officer and the president of the financial business, both faces were ashen, and other executives were also sweating.Probably they have already conspired secretly to make a plan to play me, a salesman-turned-fool, into a puppet emperor, so that they can use their hands to bring down the company, and take the opportunity to enrich their own pockets and pass the responsibility on to me . Seeing that no one dared to speak anymore, I simply took the initiative to call names: "Mr. Niu from the Asia-Pacific region, please express your opinion." This Niu is always the only Chinese in the top management of the group. He used to be my big boss in China, a person who is so high and elusive, but now he talks to me like a grandson: "Mr. Chairman, hello!" He said the first sentence in Chinese with a Taiwanese accent, obviously trying to get close to me, but I pushed back: "Mr. Niu, please speak English when we have a meeting at the New York headquarters. We can communicate in Chinese alone." Mr. Niu's face turned livid immediately, and he said in English embarrassingly: "SORRY! The current situation of the group is indeed very bad, especially Tian Lun Insurance and the petrochemical plant in North America. But the situation in our Asia-Pacific region is not bad, especially in China in recent months. There has been restorative growth, and I think that if the departments that have been sentenced to death are allowed to drag down the entire group and affect the regions and departments that can be profitable, it is better to abandon these large and unreasonable departments and concentrate on the places with the most potential!" "You mean to agree with my plan to abandon Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical department?" "Yes!" Boss Niu actually stood up and said loyally, "Don't stop, let's suffer from it! Mr. Chairman's plan is very good. I think this is the first step to save the Sky Group, otherwise it may be our plan." The last meeting of the board of directors! The next meeting may be the meeting of the entire group's bankruptcy and liquidation." Lao Niu is well versed in the Chinese culture's way of adapting to the situation. When he saw me appearing so strongly on the board of directors, he shamelessly defected and caught those executives by surprise. "Okay!" I clapped my hands for him, "President Niu of the Asia-Pacific region supports my plan, who else supports me? You can raise your hand!" The first one to raise his hand was Boss Niu, and then Morris, the idiot towards Qin Muchu, also raised his hand. But the rest of the people were dumbfounded, and many people quietly aimed at "little Sarkozy". It seemed that this guy was the leader of the rebellion, and no one dared to raise their hands without his signal. So, I changed my strategy and said loudly: "Then, those who oppose me, please raise your hands!" As soon as this remark was made, there was even more silence. No one in the audience dared to raise their hands, including the chief financial officer who opposed me the most. I smiled softly: "Since there is no objection in the board of directors, then my plan will be approved unanimously?" The executives looked panicked again, but no one dared to stand up and speak. This guy Morris immediately shouted: "Now announce the latest resolution of the board of directors. The group will sell Tianlun Insurance and eight petrochemical plants in North America." But I still have to save face for these bosses: "If anyone has any objections, please raise them on the spot." Everyone remained silent, and even the financial director "Little Sarkozy" stopped talking and stared blankly at my eyes. His eyes were no longer contempt and hostility, but some kind of complex emotions, even a little admire. "Good! Today's board of directors decided to sell Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business!"
a month later. Sky Group's cash flow is extremely tight, and the company is still in a serious loss situation. There are rumors that the group will go bankrupt at any time.However, since the last meeting of the board of directors, Tian Lun Insurance and the eight petrochemical plants in North America have been semi-closed, and the group has not invested a penny in them.Once the news of the public sale was announced, it caused an uproar among the American public, because these companies were once the pride of the United States, especially those old employees who had worked for many years, organized by the labor union to protest at the New York headquarters.The American mainstream media criticized me even more, just because a Chinese wanted to sell an American company, and the buyer was likely to be a Chinese company.Many executives begged me privately to stop the sale process and prevent the group from being suppressed by the US government.The director of public relations resigned angrily, because he was unable to defend the group, let alone organize crisis public relations and restore the group's image among the American public. But I don’t care about these disturbances at all. If for the sake of the so-called corporate image, once you compromise with the American public and the media, and keep Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business, the two cancers, the group’s rebirth plan will die before it is launched, and the limited cash flow will be exhausted. If we invest in these two bottomless pits, the result will be the death of the Sky Group. At that time, it will not be the employment problem of more than 10,000 employees of North American Petrochemical, but the survival of hundreds of thousands of employees around the world. Isn't this a greater responsibility?Why do Americans only see themselves?When an American company suffers a small loss, it will be wronged and screamed. When it is acquired by a foreign company, especially a Chinese company, the mentality becomes sour and hateful. In the first week, no company came to contact us, like Tian Lun Insurance and the North American petrochemical business suddenly became Mexican cactus covered in thorns. In the second week, one of the largest private companies in India came to negotiate, but their bid was ridiculously low. The sum of the two departments was only 500 million U.S. dollars, and I rejected us on the spot. In the third week, a Russian oil tycoon flew to New York and was willing to bid 3 billion US dollars to buy the petrochemical sector in North America alone.The chief financial officer thought the price was too low, but I thought it could be considered, and sent a commissioner to Russia to investigate and continue the next negotiation. In the fourth week, a big boss finally came. The top three large state-owned insurance companies in China entrusted a well-known American investment bank to negotiate the acquisition of Tian Lun Insurance.Given my distaste for investment banks, I deliberately made them wait three days before starting the meeting at their New York headquarters.I scrutinized their takeover plans, although the Chinese state-owned company paid a lot of money, with expensive gifts for every executive - bordering on bribery.But I feel that they are not fully prepared, they are just throwing money at people.Once Tianlun Insurance is taken over, it may not be able to do a good job in the North American business, but it will cause great losses to China's state-owned assets.Although the value of Tianlun Insurance is still there, in the final analysis, it is a junk. Why should we Chinese take over this pile of junk at a high price?I don't want to slaughter my fellow countrymen as if they were taken advantage of. I flatly rejected this Chinese company and stopped all contact with investment banks. At the same time, people are constantly being sent to investigate the company's internal situation. I believe that the information shown on paper may not necessarily be the truth of the company.Extraordinary means must be used-I hired a group of industrial spies to secretly spy on various departments of the company and major branches around the world. The results of the investigation are shocking. After the death of Gao Siguo, and even during his serious illness, the Sky Group has been usurped by several executives-the chief financial officer is Hilde, followed by the financial business president, energy business president and manufacturing business president. President, all decisions are made by these people, and no one dares to disobey their will.What's more, Gao Siguo has always kept a low profile, and except for the board members, he has very little contact with the management and employees.Many people have worked in the headquarters for many years, but have never seen his true face, causing employees to only know the executives but not the chairman, thus reducing the authority of the big boss and enhancing the power of the executives. Over the years, due to Gao Siguo's self-isolation, intricate interpersonal relationships have been formed within the group, and many new employees cannot adapt and are forced to leave.Most of the old executives hold millions or even tens of millions of annual salaries, and most of them are not enterprising and seek pleasure, or secretly seek benefits for themselves. Some executives are already worth billions of dollars in private.Especially the Chief Financial Officer "Little Sarkozy". He has worked in the Sky Group for eighteen years. He started as an accountant at the grassroots level and gained the trust of Gao Siguo. He is the "Vice Chairman" - this is a position that the company does not have, and it also symbolizes the real power he holds. If this situation is not changed, the Sky Group will continue on its old path and head towards the abyss of extinction.No matter how entangled their forces are, and no matter how many conspiracies they have, since I am sitting on the chairman's throne, I must fight this group of people to the end! However, it is still too early to act rashly and replace the executives rashly, otherwise it will cause a severe earthquake in the management, which will not only paralyze the group, but also expose our problems publicly.At this critical juncture of life and death, the morale of the army must be stabilized, and it is absolutely impossible to confuse the position and be broken by the enemy from within. enemy! The Sky Group does have an enemy, a very powerful enemy, but I don't know the name of this enemy. According to the report of the think tank - there is a secret financial institution, and since January 2009, it has launched a fierce struggle with the Sky Group, and the battlefield is concentrated in the capital field.They seem to have a grudge against the Sky Group. Whenever we have any new moves, they will step in to obstruct us.This spring, the group was going to acquire a private bank in Mexico, but half an hour before signing the contract, the institution was the first to take it over at a price 20% higher than ours.In the summer, the Sky Group sold the power station equipment business in Germany and was about to sell it at a good price, but there was extremely unfavorable news in Europe, saying that the German power station equipment was seriously polluted, which led to an increase in the incidence of cancer in the surrounding residents-although it was purely false, It aborted the sale, which remains a heavy burden on our European business to this day.After judicial investigation in Germany, the source of the fake news is this secret financial institution! In fact, both Gao Siguo and the members of the board of directors knew the existence of this secret enemy, but no matter what method they used, they couldn't find out the background of that financial institution—not even the name!Because this enemy hides very deeply, every time it makes a move, it uses a new company name, usually registered in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands.We couldn't figure it out a few times in the first few times, but later we discovered some of their rules, such as delaying each shot to the end, using some insidious tricks every time, and closing down immediately once legal disputes arise. The only thing that is certain is that there is only one mastermind behind these shadow companies! Who is he?
An episode. Winter is here in New York, and the first snow is falling in Manhattan. Sky Center Building, the eighty-eighth floor of the group headquarters, and the luxurious chairman's office.On the opposite side is a row of Italian leather sofas, with the authentic works of Bada Shanren hanging on the back, on the left is a set of 14th-century French full-body armor, on the right is a group of imperial celadon from the Wanli period, and in the middle is a smooth teak floor. It can be used as an ice skating rink. Through the panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass, I saw snowflakes falling from the sky, covering the monster-like skyscrapers.Overlooking the dense streets of Manhattan, it seems that the country is divided by giant towers, all covered with a layer of snow, and only cars the size of beetles roll. Is this the world of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings"? Walking out of the automatic bulletproof door of the office, I said to the secretary, "I want to go for a walk." "Mr. Chairman, where are you going?" "under." "Manhattan?" "yes." The secretary nodded and picked up the phone: "Arrange a special car now." "Don't you understand me? I mean go for a walk, walk." "Walking in Manhattan?" Her complexion changed immediately, "Isn't this safe?" "I am not Obama in the White House, nor a prisoner of the Sky Group, nor is this Shawshank State Prison, I have the right to go down and walk!" A minute later, I took the non-stop elevator—from the 88th floor to the third basement, without any buttons in between.It used to be used exclusively by Gao Siguo to avoid being disturbed by other people, but it is said that he has never used it once and landed on the top floor by helicopter every time. On the third basement floor, my extended Lincoln car is parked, and there are more than a dozen limited-edition Bugatti Veyron sports cars collected by Gao Siguo, each worth several million dollars—to me, they are all scrap metal. Instead of letting them age in the basement and degrade the performance of the engine after being idle for a long time, they can be auctioned off to the public and add some precious cash to the group. Eight bodyguards with guns followed me, changed to an elevator underground, and came to an inconspicuous corner at the back of the building, a small door for cleaners to enter and exit. Finally standing on the land of Manhattan Island, looking up at the snow particles falling from the sky, greedily breathing the air on the ground.It used to be on the top of the 88th floor, like sitting on a plane for a month, and finally landed safely - but the sky group has not yet landed safely, dangerous air currents and enemies in the dark may make it explode in the air at any time. I've changed into a thick hoodie and a pair of big sunglasses, like a Chinese student wandering the streets of New York.I signaled the bodyguards to disperse and not come within ten meters of me—after Monica was attacked and killed in Africa, I was already under the strictest protection.If the last one of Lanling King Gao's family dies, Sky Group will be supervised by the US government. So, it doesn't matter if it's high energy or ancient hero, but I have to live. Alone in the noisy crowd of New York, quickly swallowed by the city.There is a thin layer of snow under my feet, and I stretch out my hands to catch the snow particles falling from the sky, watching the hot air exhaled from my mouth, but I can’t recall the scene of playing in the snow in my childhood-it’s so frustrating! Cheer yourself up, walk through the endless traffic, and look back at the 88-story sky center building.It was the first time I saw my office from the ground, it was like a castle in the air hanging above the snowy sky, it was a place that many people couldn't reach in their lifetime, including the vast majority of people working in this building, but what kind of place am I? Can you be safe?想到这不禁诚惶诚恐，倍感肩头责任沉重，令踏雪而行的我丝毫不能轻松。 很快走过帝国大厦，这座大萧条时代的建筑，是否预示那个时代将要复活？再回头看熙熙攘攘的人群，依稀可辨几张熟悉的脸——我的保镖，他们不敢离我太近，但都警惕地跟着我，防范周围每个可疑的人物。 走在曼哈顿飘雪的街上，沿着百老汇大街往南走去，享受这种躲在人群中的感觉，依然没人注意过我，就像芸芸众生中的一员。经过十几条路口，就快要到华尔街了，我想亲眼看看纽约证交所，看看世界贸易中心双塔废墟，看看布鲁克林大桥…… 突然，响起一阵刺耳的刹车声。 皱起眉头往街上看去，停着一辆劳斯莱斯轿车，高速开过斑马线的时候，差点撞到一个黑人妇女。开车的是个四十多岁的华人男子，走下车指着那女的说：“你是怎么走路的？” 没想到黑人妇女丝毫不示弱，抓着他的衣服领子乱叫，一时吸引来大量围观人群。华人男子显然很有钱，不想当街和路人纠缠下去，不耐烦地掏出一叠美元，放到黑人妇女手里，果然塞住了对方嘴巴。 突然，我认出了这个人。 This is the face! 一年多前在中国上海，与端木良陪着客户，去见一个上市公司的老总，差点给他投资了八千万，然而几天之后，这家上市公司宣告破产，留下几千名失业员工，还有几十万血本无归的投资者，最惨的当场跳楼自杀。而这位道貌岸然的老总，却偷偷转移了几亿美元，用假护照出逃远走高飞…… it's him. 没错，虽然仅有一面之缘，但烧成灰都能认出来。没想到这个背负深重罪孽的家伙，居然在纽约街头招摇过市，开着奢侈的劳斯莱斯拉风，不知吞掉多少中国股民的血汗钱！ 当他要钻进轿车离去时，却被我一把抓住了衣服。 “SHIT！” 一定把我当成了穷留学生，开口就扔给我一句脏话。 我冷冷地用中文回答：“刁总，你不认识我了吗？” “你说什么？”他像被电了一下，极不自然地抬头看看我，摇头说，“你认错人了。” 但我紧紧拉着他的衣服，不能让他这么溜了：“刁总，我没认错，一年多前你还是风风光光的上市公司老总，后来却成了国际刑警组织的通缉犯，没想到在纽约过得很滋润嘛。” “放手！”他的嘴唇开始颤抖，“再说一遍——你认错人了！” “嗯，但被你害死的那些人，是绝对不会认错你的。” 他恐惧地掏出手机：“再不放手我就要报警了！” “那就请打电话吧？要不要我帮你拨呢？9——1——1——” 这个混蛋真的发急了，当街就要挥拳打我，但没等他举起拳头，就被人从身后制服，结结实实地压倒在底——我的保镖早就侯着了，只要敢动手就立刻要他要看！ 只听他一身惨叫，大概胳膊脱臼了，昂贵的西装被按在雪地里，痛苦地乱骂起来。 真想上去再踹他两脚，他对许多人破产和自杀负有直接责任，却一走了之躲在美国逍遥快活！但我摇摇头，拿出手机拨了个号码：“喂，是国际刑警组织吗？我抓住了你们通缉的对象。”
a week later. 根据我的指示，天空集团总部地下的十六辆全球限量版威龙跑车，全部送到拍卖行——也是上次拍卖高思国收藏文物的地方。 这种跑车年产不超过50辆，即便二手车单价也在数百万美元。天空集团大老板坐过的车，更染上一层神秘色彩，引来许多富豪和明星关注。相比上次的古董拍卖，今天热闹了好几倍，整个大厅座无虚席，个个都有非凡身价——进场者必须提供千万美元以上资产证明。 全美各地的媒体记者，在外面等着拍下跑车雄姿，但财经记者们更关注我——天空集团新任第三代掌门人，曾经是中国被裁员的小白领，又被陷害关进美国监狱，奇迹般完成不可能的越狱逃亡，却阴差阳错被推上亿万富豪宝座。这些传奇经历使我成为新闻人物，多家媒体想对我专访，尤其在天空集团将出售天伦保险和北美石化部门的风口浪尖，但我婉拒了所有邀请，先把事情搞定再说话吧。 今天的跑车拍卖会，也算天空集团的一次形象公关。 首先，十六辆超级跑车出场本身，就构成了一个极其吸引眼球的时尚新闻，到场的买主中有不少好莱坞大明星，又升级占据了娱乐新闻头条。天空集团以前给人神秘保守的印象，如今却跻身于时尚娱乐圈，再加上我这个二十多岁的传奇董事长，有助于培养年轻人的市场。 其次，在风雨飘摇的经济危机环境中，许多大公司厉行节约度过寒冬，某些企业管理层的高薪与奢侈都成了丑闻。现在我大张旗鼓拍卖十六辆跑车，就是要与奢侈浪费之风一刀两断。从老板自身做起节约每一分钱，提倡高管们自动减薪，降低运营成本，也能与基层员工们亲近。 一石二鸟。 拍卖会正式开始，请了一位脱口秀明星做主持人，先向大家隆重介绍我的出场。 我穿着一套得体的礼服，微笑着点头示意，面对星光灿烂的闪光灯，丝毫没有胆怯和恐惧，反而自信满满赢来一片掌声，若两年前早就吓得瘫倒在地了！ 于是，我临时宣布本次拍卖所得资金，将全部捐献给可能会在北美石化部门出售过程中失业的工人。 接着是拍卖师登场一一介绍今天的十六辆超级跑车，整齐排列在临时搭建的舞台上，每辆车重新抛光打磨了一遍，配上一位超级名模点缀。这些车的数据也让人疯狂，单车16缸发动机，功率达到1000马力，最高时速407公里，比F1的最高记录还快。 第一辆车以三百万美元成交，买主是与斯皮尔伯格齐名的大导演。我对这种拍卖没什么兴趣，但作为卖主必须正襟危坐在第一排，只能频频回头观看竞拍者们，却看到不少光彩照人的女明星。 拍卖到第六辆车，忽然发觉大厅里多了一个人，从我的位置回头看过去极其显眼——白色汉服衣袖飘飘，黑色长发自然披散，宛如中国画里走出来的人物，却安然坐在最后一排，其他人都关注台上的拍卖，没注意到这个异类出现。 It's him again! 虽然隔着几十个人的脑袋，我还是一眼就看清了他的脸，让人看过一秒就终生无法忘却的脸。奇怪的是周围人的脸都很模糊，包括几位大名鼎鼎的人物，比如布拉德·皮特这样的大帅哥——与这位二十多岁的中国美少年相比，《特洛伊》中的阿喀琉斯也黯然失色！ 不可思议，就像是集体合影的照片，惟独有一个人的脸被PS过，才会造成这种“众人皆糊我独清”的效果。 但这又不是照片，而是现场真实的情景，由我的肉眼所见——难道？Could it be?最后一排的汉服美男并非真人，而是我脑中幻想出来的人物？ No! 他是真的，因为他也看到了我，一双完美的中国人的眼睛，果然比年轻时的张国荣更迷人，可以用“眉目如画”四个字形容。他不是西洋人的油画，而是中国宋朝以前的古画，《韩熙载夜宴图》里的感觉，魏晋风骨，六朝田园，南唐气度，后蜀奢靡…… 我痴痴地看着他，他也怔怔地看着我。 忽然，他给我一个微笑。 远在最后一排的他，脸上的小酒窝却如此清晰，仿佛是被照相机镜头放大。 "Murong Yun." 心底默念这三个字，我还记得他的名字，这个《北史》与武侠小说里才有的姓氏。 注意力都集中在回头看他，全然忘了拍卖正如火如荼，第十五辆车刚以七百万美元成交！ 原以为这位酷毙了的慕容美男，会像上次那样一鸣惊人叫价举牌。没想到他始终按兵不动，平静地坐在最后一排，完全不当弹眼落睛的跑车存在。除了与我的目光交流外，就没干过第二件事。 只剩下最后一辆威龙了。 终于把目光投向台上——拍卖师相当兴奋，这辆车的起拍价还是200万美元，但一上来就被叫到500万美元。我等待神秘的慕容云出手，但他全然置身世外地坐着，听任两个美国富豪互相叫价，转眼又升到800万美元，打破了今天的最高纪录。 就当拍卖师叫喊：“800万第一次！800万第二次！800万第三次！” 突然，最后一辆跑车的引擎盖高高弹起，竟然跳出一个蒙面男子！ 全场一片哗然，拍卖师也吓得摔倒在地，因为蒙面男子的手中，还有一把黑洞洞的手枪。 枪口指向第一排，对准了我的脑袋。 电光火石的瞬间，在看清蒙面人的双眼之前，我下意识地侧了侧身。 子弹同时射出枪口，发出骇人的呼啸声，几乎擦着我的耳边飞过。 I'm alive. 身后的座位响起一声惨叫，某位富家公子做了我的替死鬼。 全场更乱作一团，到处充满女人尖叫，大家慌不择路地逃跑，拍卖会霎时成为屠宰场。我的保镖闻声也迅速赶来，但杀手的枪口紧跟着我，马不停蹄射出第二枪。这回我钻到座位底下，子弹打在钢铁扶手上弹开。 我突然间异常镇定，脑中干净得宛如白纸，只剩下一个念头——逃生！ 没错，这个念头如此强烈，深深烙印在心底，是莫妮卡死前留给我的录音，让我答应她的那个承诺，无论发生什么都一定要做到！但前提是我必须活着，如果死了就什么都没有了。我不是为自己而活，也不是为天空集团而活，而是为了另一个世界的她。 此刻我的眼里，现场那么多人都消失了，静如午夜坟场，只有我和杀手两个人，在空旷的大厅玩着猫鼠游戏。 又一颗子弹，贴着我的头皮飞过去，打中了逃命的主持人。我转到一根柱子后面，逃向大厅的紧急出口。周围许多乱跑的人们，替我挡住杀手的子弹。同时响起一片枪战声，想必是我的保镖开枪了。来不及等他们来救我，飞快地跑上楼梯，开始有几个人跟着我逃，等爬上四五层楼梯，竟只剩下了我一个人。 难道其他人都被打死了？ 下面响起沉重的脚步声，不用看就想起杀手蒙面的双眼。 他来杀我了。 再往上跑了一层楼梯，居然已是大楼顶层。推开铁门来到天台，便是漫天大雪，周围矗立数栋摩天大楼，像群峰之中低凹的山谷。 往天台边缘跑去，却发现再也无路可逃，雪粒打湿我的头发，侥幸地回过头去——该死！ 蒙面杀手追了上来，举枪对准了我。 Is this the end? 我绝望地举起手来，不是为自己的生命绝望，而是为无法完成那个承诺而绝望。 "Don't move!" 声音并非来自杀手，而是杀手身后的某个人。 又是那一袭白色汉服，包裹着冰肌玉肤的美少年，俨然与白雪覆盖的楼顶融为一体。 “慕容云！” 情不自禁地叫出他的名字，似乎峰回路转重现生机？ 蒙面杀手真的不动了，慕容云在他后面笔直地举着手，有把枪顶着杀手脑后！ 他是来救我的？ 果然，汉服美少年继续用英语大喊：“放下枪！不然就给你爆头！” 杀手的头都被黑布裹着，只露出两个黑色眼珠，我看出他的眼神在颤抖，瞄准我的枪口也在颤抖。 真怕这个亡命之徒会不顾死活抠下扳机…… 十秒钟后，杀手放下了枪。 “快点过来啊！” 慕容云的神色也很紧张，用汉语向我咆哮了一声，鉴于他站在杀手背后，这让我心里也立刻没底了。 飞快地跑到他的身边，并一把夺过杀手的枪，只听慕容云用汉语喊道：“回到楼梯间！” 回头再看却吓死了我！ 原来慕容云并没有枪，他只是伸出右手中指与食指，屈起来伪装成手枪形状，用力顶住杀手的后脑勺。 站在原地犹豫了两秒钟，如果我一个人跑回楼梯，让没有枪的慕容云与杀手对峙，这个小伎俩万一被识破，岂非极度危险？ 反正杀手的枪在我手里，干脆一枪下去把这个混蛋干掉吧！ 汉服美男脸上满是雪花，额头却流下汗珠，紧张地对我大喊：“还不下去吗？快一点！” 我摇摇头跑下楼梯，慕容云也飞快地收手，没等杀手转过身来，就把铁门牢牢锁住。 success!凶残的杀手被我们锁在天台上，慕容云拽着我往楼梯下面跑去，刚下去一层就碰上我的保镖。 保镖们也都很着急，抓着枪气喘吁吁，大概以为我早就被干掉了！我来不及骂他们饭桶，指了指楼上说：“杀手在天台！” 六个保镖冲了上去，剩下两个保护着我和慕容云，匆匆跑回拍卖大厅。 满地狼籍惨不忍睹，至少躺着四具尸体，十几个受伤的人，威龙跑车溅满鲜血。有几个来不及逃出去的女人，躲在角落尖叫或哭泣。空气中飘荡着血腥味，我的嘴角剧烈颤抖，看着那辆引擎盖打开的跑车——杀手就一直躲在里面，等到它马上要被拍走时，才突然跳出来向我开枪，但引擎盖里怎么藏人呢？真是矛盾的BUG啊！ 合该是我大难不死，差一厘米就要被他爆头，究竟是什么人要杀我呢？ 也许，是袭击杀害莫妮卡的那帮人。 也许，是那个黑暗中的天空集团的敌人。 也许，是当初陷害我入狱的那个人。 也许，这三路人马就是同一个人？ 也许，他（她）就是—— 太阳穴再度疼痛起来，大脑似乎已运转到极限，再动下去就要爆炸。 大队警察刚刚赶到，护送我们撤离现场，坐进一辆严格防护的警车。拍卖行街边的雪地上，聚集不少逃出来的人们，不乏奥斯卡颁奖典礼上的老面孔。 手机突然响了，是保镖队长打来的，战战兢兢地说：“老板，对不起，刺客从天台上逃跑了。” "waste!" “老板，警察已经包围大楼，正在全力搜索！” 我毫不留情地挂断电话，不指望警察能抓住杀手——他只要把蒙面的东西一扔，就可以轻而易举地混在逃生人群中开溜。 警车呼啸着开向警察局，后排坐着我和慕容云，看着他一身白袍披肩长发，感觉像和古代人坐在一起。 他的表情已恢复冷静，撇了撇嘴角对我微笑：“你没事吧？” “没事！”看着他漂亮的脸庞，我忽然丧失了自信，无地自容地低头，“谢谢，你救了我。” “啊，没想到会有刺客，你惹到什么仇家了？” 这个问题真难回答，我惹到谁了？ 他笑了笑继续问：“你真是大难不死，我看着那个杀手向你开了三枪，又追着你跑上楼梯。” “那你还敢跟上来啊？” “哈，我只是很好奇——从没见过这种刺杀场面。” “你就想看看我被杀吗？”说完我自己也笑了，“其实我也想看看！” “不，你不想死。” 慕容云的表情一下子变得很严肃。 我也皱起眉头：“不过，刚才你实在太冒险了！” “用手指装作手枪？” “是，差点把我吓死，如果被他发现你耍了他，我们两个都会被杀死的。” “哈哈，小时候常玩这种游戏，我手指顶的力道非常大，他不敢拿自己的命冒险。” "You are so brave." “其实，现在想想也有些后怕哦。” “就是嘛！”我仰头长出一口气，“再说一遍，非常感谢你！” “你要怎么答谢我呢？” 这个问题真让人难回答，若是其他人救了我的命，我会毫不犹豫地签张空白支票，随便他在上面填多大数字。但面对这双迷离的眼睛，这张穿越自另一时空的脸，这个凭空出现的神秘美少年，我却无法说出用金钱来答谢他。 看我好久都没有回答，慕容云眨了眨眼睫毛说：“你真吝啬啊！” "No!" 最怕别人这么说我，刚想要说出一个巨大的数字，他却抢先问道：“你是哪一年的？” “82年。” 这是高能也是古英雄的出身年份。 “那我该叫你哥哥了。” “干嘛这么叫？听着怪别扭的。” 慕容云却盯着我的双眼，看得我心里怪怪的。 忽然，他对开车的警察说：“停车！请停车！” 警察不耐烦地说：“警察局快要到了。” “我们不是犯罪嫌疑人，有权利要求现在就下车！” "Ok." 警车在路边停下，汉服美少年飘然下车，我却坐在车里不知所措。 他探下头说：“不下来吗？那我一个人先走了。” 大概魏晋名士都这么神经兮兮！无奈地跟他下车，踏着纽约街头积雪，忽然感到了自由。 对面恰是中央公园，他像小孩那样兴奋地说：“兄台，我们进去走走吧。” 兄台？一下子跳跃到了武侠小说，那我该叫他贤弟吗？ 踏过一片白雪覆盖的树林，四周路人已越来越少，走到深处竟只剩我们两个。在拥挤喧嚣的曼哈顿，能有这样闹中取静的所在实在难得。他调皮地抓起一把新鲜的雪，砸向旁边的一盏路灯，不禁惊起几只鸽子，他伸出舌头做了个鬼脸：“哎呀，对不起，没看到你们。” 虽然刚刚遭遇行刺，与死神擦肩而过，我的内心却如此轻松，几个月来从未有过的感觉——因为中央公园里的雪景，还是眼前的美男慕容云？ “高能，我们从此兄弟相称如何？” "what?" “你不是说要答谢我吗？”他抓着空中飘落的雪粒，狡诈地微笑道，“既然你那么吝啬，就以此来答谢我吧！” “你我结拜为异姓兄弟？” "That's right." 我像看妖怪似的看着他，这是什么年代啊，难道还有刘关张桃园结拜？何况这是纽约，曼哈顿的中央公园！ “你不愿交我这个兄弟吗？” “不——可是。” 白色汉服在雪地里一晃：“你不想感谢我的救命之恩？” 这话像是对我的侮辱，我连连摇头：“不，你说怎样我就怎样！” “好，既然这么说，那我们就一齐跪下吧！” 没等我听明白，慕容云已抢先跪倒在地，接着将我硬拽下来——两个男人都已双膝下跪，面朝纽约的天空。 “苍天在上！小弟慕容云。” 他已双手抱拳对天致敬。 而我跪着愣了几秒钟，陷在积雪中的膝盖却动弹不得，痴痴地看着他的眼睛不知所以。 “快说啊！”他重重地拍了拍我的后背，“快说愚兄高能！” 完全无法拒绝这双眼睛，既然已经承诺“你说怎样我就怎样”，便下意识地跟着说：“愚兄高能！” “就此结拜为异姓兄弟！” “就此结拜为异姓兄弟！” 此情此景彻底震撼了我，面对这个汉服飘飘的古代人，惟有跟着他一同穿越时空。 慕容云的表情极度认真，绝非少年人开玩笑或恶作剧，无法从他的目光里分辨出谎言。 “不愿同年同月同日生。”