Chapter 648: Overbearing and Thunderous Power

While Xia Yu was busy with the pharmaceutical business, good news finally came from Rothschild & Sons Ltd.

Dick Keswick and Phil Keswick's combined 41.5% stake in Jardine Engineering Corporation was acquired.

The shares were then transferred by Xia Yu to the Tiangong Group.

For this, Xia Yu paid a total of 635 million Hong Kong dollars.

The shares in Claude Keswick's hands were acquired by Jiuding Securities a day earlier for 310 million Hong Kong dollars.

In this way, Xia Yu acquired all the shares of Jardine Engineering Group, but only paid a price of 1.522 billion Hong Kong dollars.

The price was not considered high, and it can be said to be excellent value for money.

Although Jardine Engineering Group is an unlisted company, the Keswick family wanted to raise the price as much as possible in the face of the takeover, so they deliberately leaked the news of Xia Yu's acquisition.

However, it was completely different from what the Keswick family imagined. Despite their deliberate leak of the news, no one stepped in to block the deal, which was extremely disappointing to them.

But it is understandable. Xia Yu is now at the peak of its powers, and there was the case of the acquisition of the Hongkong Land Group some time ago. No one in Hong Kong wants to offend Xia Yu for the sake of the Jardine Engineering Group, whose acquisition is unlikely to succeed.

The Keske family's loud and clear dissemination of the news has instead conveyed another meaning.

That is that the Keske family is selling off its assets in a big way, preparing to launch the entire family in Hong Kong.

Although the Keswick family's most valuable company, Hongkong Land, had already been acquired, the second most valuable company, Jardine Engineering, was also being acquired by Xia Yu.

However, there were still many valuable companies and assets.

Many people were eyeing these assets.

When the news that Jardine Engineering had been fully acquired by Xia Yu broke, it was once again confirmed, and the tycoons who had been waiting were finally unable to hold back any longer.

They visited the Keswick family one after the other, just to acquire some of the assets in the Keswick family's hands.

For a time, the Keswick family's door was thronged with people, and they didn't know whether to be happy or sad.

But these things no longer concerned Xia Yu.

The Keswick family's two most valuable companies had been acquired by him, although there were still some companies, such as the Maxim's Group, Jardine Matheson Properties, and Jardine Matheson Investment, that had some value.

However, these either did not fit with Xia Yu's strategy or had already overlapped with his business, and they no longer seemed so important that it was unnecessary to waste precious funds.

Furthermore, he has eaten most of the assets of the Jardine Matheson Group, so he had better leave some soup for others to drink, lest he be collectively targeted by everyone.

Although he is not afraid, there is no need to lose all his popularity.

Therefore, after the acquisition of Jardine Engineering Corporation, Xia Yu devoted himself to the group's takeover and spin-off work, so that the business could get back on track quickly and smoothly.

When he went to Jardine Engineering Corporation, Xia Yu brought a German with him, Colin Hester, who had served as a senior executive in the international sales department of Siemens AG in Germany. He had strong marketing and management capabilities and was well connected.

Colin Hester also served as the general manager of the shell company Tiangong Electric Co., Ltd.

Colin Hester was willing to jump ship because he knew that Xia Yu was acquiring Jardine Engineering Corporation and had told him that Tiangong Electric Co., Ltd. would merge with Jardine Electronics Manufacturing, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jardine Engineering Corporation.

It was a transformation of status, and a new challenge, for Colin Hester to go from being an executive at one company to the general manager of another, but he was full of fighting spirit.

In addition to Colin Hester, Xia Yu also brought the elites of Standard Accounting Firm, Standard Law Firm, and the police!

The group soon arrived at the headquarters of Jardine Engineering Corporation, where a group of executives respectfully stood downstairs to greet them.

As for the Keske family members, none of them came, not wanting to see an embarrassing scene.

When they saw that the police were also among Xia Yu's group, many people's faces changed guiltily, and a bad feeling rose in their hearts.

'Good morning, boss!'

'Mm-hm!'

After scanning the faces of the executives, Xia Yu nodded expressionlessly in response, then told someone to show the way, and everyone went to the meeting room together.

Before coming, Xia Yu had already done his homework and could recognise most of the people, but he still asked everyone to introduce themselves one by one.

After the round of introductions, Xia Yu scanned the room expressionlessly, making everyone feel uneasy.

His gaze finally settled on the general manager of Jardine Electronic Manufacturing, one of the seven wholly owned subsidiaries of Jardine Engineering Corporation.

The general manager of Jardine Electronic Manufacturing was a 56-year-old British man named Lewis Ransom. In Xia Yu's business investigation, Lewis Ransom was a capable person, but he liked to line his own pockets and was Claude Keswick's man.

Facing the Jardine Matheson Group, which is in a different situation, Xia Yu is prepared to act against the norm today.

The first fire he sets is on Lewis Ransom!

'Lewis Ransom, on 31 August 1976, purchased motors from the Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric and accepted a kickback of 120,000 Hong Kong dollars.'

'On 14 October 1976, the purchase...'

A middle-aged man from the Standard Law Firm read out the charges expressionlessly, but the face of a man in his fifties grew increasingly pale, and sweat kept dripping from his forehead.

As for the others, they were all apprehensive, knowing that the new boss was making an example of someone to establish his authority, and they were afraid that they would be the next ones.

...

'The cumulative amount of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds reached HK$1.48 million, causing the company to suffer a loss of nearly HK$8 million.'

'Boss, I'm innocent, I definitely didn't do any of these things, they're all lies, don't believe them!'

Lewis Linsen pleaded in panic.

Xia Yu and the others had expressionless faces, and the middle-aged man from Standard Law Firm continued, 'According to Article 128, Paragraph 2 of the Xiangjiang Criminal Law... Lewis Linsen, you have committed an economic crime, and next you will please go to the police station to explain the situation.'

Just then, the police officer who had been waiting came in from the outside, walked straight up to Lewis Lensen with a cold face, and scared him pale.

'Mr. Lewis, please come with us!'

'I didn't, I didn't commit a crime, you have no evidence, you can't arrest me, let me go...'

'Whether it's true or not, the law will give you a fair result. For your own good, please don't resist too much, lest we take coercive measures.'

Seeing Lewis Lenson, who had been on an equal footing, being taken away by the police in the blink of an eye, was an unparalleled deterrent to everyone present.

Everyone looked away from Xia Yu, afraid to look directly at him, praying in their hearts that they were not the next one.

Everyone present had been in the same position for a considerable period of time, and more or less had some kind of problem. It depended on whether Xia Yu had discovered it or not, and whether he was willing to arrest them.

Next, Xia Yu turned his gaze to the person in the middle of the group, Horton Jewell, the president of Jardine Engineering Corporation.

In Xia Yu's investigation, Horton Jewell was an old minister of the Keske family, discovered by John Keske, and had a close relationship with the Keske family.

Now that the Jardine Matheson Group has been acquired, Horton Jewell must absolutely be removed! He can no longer be on the same page as Xia Yu!

'Holden Jewell, you are fired. Xu Feiyang will take your place. You have one week to hand over all your work. Do you want to open this file or not? We'll see how you behave.'

Xia Yu said, and threw a file folder on the desk.

Everyone's face changed, and they looked at Xia Yu in disbelief. Even Holden Jewell's face turned pale.

They hadn't forgotten that Lewis Lenson's file had just been taken from a file folder.

No one expected that after Lewis Lenson, it would be the turn of Holden Jewell, the group general manager, who ranked highest among all the people.

Fortunately, Xia Yu did not go too far and gave him a chance to redeem himself.

Therefore, Holden Jewell was not annoyed by being removed from his position, but secretly relieved. He nodded hastily, 'I understand, thank you, Mr Xia, for giving me this opportunity.'

As for the other party, Xu Feiyang, a rare Chinese face, was completely shocked. He didn't expect the position of group general manager to fall on him.

Xia Yu ignored the shocked and surprised Xu Feiyang and said to Holden Jewell, 'Very well, you go outside and wait!'

'Yes!'

Horton Jewell immediately responded, then quickly left the meeting room.

Next, Xia Yu ignored the reactions of the crowd and introduced Colin Hester to the crowd: 'Starting today, Jardine Engineering Corporation will be renamed Tiangong Engineering Corporation and will be under the Tiangong Group. Jardine Electronic Manufacturing Company will be spun off and merged into Tiangong Electric Co., Ltd. Colin Hester will be the general manager, and you will cooperate with him well.'

'You know what some of these things are, and I know what you've done. Compared to the previous two people, I can let bygones be bygones with what you've done before, but in the days to come, you must work wholeheartedly and refrain from doing anything you shouldn't. You've seen the consequences for yourselves!'

'Do you understand?'

With those last three words, Xia Yu suddenly raised his voice, his face stern, looking very authoritative.

'Yes!'

The group responded in unison, but their eyes were on the large stack of file folders that had just been placed on the table. They were eager to see if there were any of their own, and then destroy them.

After witnessing what had just happened, how could they not know what was inside?

Although many of them comforted themselves in their hearts that what they had done could not be discovered, they dared not be absolutely sure, given the previous example.

Not to mention the ending of Lewis Ransom being taken away by the police, it was just as hard to bear as Holden Jewell.

Afterwards, Xia Yu quickly cut the Gordian knot, quickly arranged some work, and then let Standard Accounting Firm and Standard Law Firm take over the accounts and contracts of Jardine Engineering Corporation.

He then announced the end of the meeting and called Xu Feiyang into his office.

Looking at Xu Feiyang, who was standing and not sitting, Xia Yu's mouth revealed a smile.

'Sit tight, don't be so nervous.'

'Thank you for your concern, boss, I'm not nervous!'

Xu Feiyang said with a pretence of composure, but his wandering eyes showed the turmoil and unease inside him.

'Although we haven't met before, I have some knowledge of you. I think you have the ability to take on the position of general manager. I hope you won't let me down!'

Xia Yu said with a slight seriousness.

'Don't worry, boss, I will do my best and strive to be the best!'

Xu Feiyang looked up, straightened his shoulders, and answered loudly.

'Mm!'

'You have been given the opportunity, but whether you can hold onto this position depends on your own performance!' Xia Yu nodded slightly and whispered.

'Yes!'

Before coming, Xia Yu had already investigated the situation of Jardine Engineering Group thoroughly, and there was a reason why he came on the first day with a domineering and overbearing manner, holding aloft the sword of power.

That is because Jardine Engineering Corporation is an old asset of the Keswick family. There have been relatively serious problems with internal management, and the management has begun to corrupt, and many of them have close ties to the Keswick family.

What Xia Yu needs is a healthy Jardine Engineering Corporation that can follow orders, so he had to be ruthless and set an example.

In fact, most of the files in the briefcase were empty. No matter how hard Xia Yu checked, it was impossible to find dirt on everyone in a short period of time.

But he knew that many people were not clean.

So he was bluffing!

If he investigated everyone thoroughly, there would be absolutely no one left who was clean.

But if he replaced everyone at once, the entire Jardine Engineering Corporation Group would instantly be paralysed.

He had not acquired the Jardine Engineering Corporation Group (hereafter referred to as the Tiangong Machinery Group) just to play around.

So after much thought, Xia Yu decided to kill the chicken to warn the monkey as soon as he arrived, so as to establish his authority immediately.

I believe that everyone is living under the threat of a sword hanging over their head. No one will dare to resign on their own initiative, because if Xia Yu has any dirt on them, they will be taken away by the police even if they resign. Therefore, the only way out is to work hard and try to make up for their mistakes, which will greatly motivate them to work.

Later, when the time is right, he will gradually replace the staff one after the other, and will not stop until Xia Yu thinks it is okay.

Moreover, in the face of major personnel adjustments, no one will be able to stir up any trouble, and there will be no losses to Tiangong Machinery Group.

At that time, Tiangong Machinery Group will experience a second spring, and it will be able to truly follow Xia Yu's development plan and direction, growing into a large international enterprise.

In the office, Xia Yu stood alone in front of the French windows, looking out at the bustling scene below. His eyes were unfocused as he muttered, 'In addition to Tiangong Group's need for a large number of talents, other companies also lack talent. In the future, my career expansion will also require a talent pool, otherwise it will seriously hold things back.'

'It seems I must have a stable talent supply channel!'

Most of the time, Xia Yu hunts for talent through the Hong Kong branch of Korn Ferry International.

However, the Hong Kong branch of Korn Ferry International was only established in early 1978, and the talent information database on this side of Southeast Asia was not yet very complete.

Needless to say, the other three headhunting companies were not as hardworking as Korn Ferry International, and at this time, they did not even have a branch in Hong Kong.

As a result, Xia Yu had to wait a while every time he needed talent.

It was not that Korn Ferry was not reliable, but after all, the capital of the American company Korn Ferry was limited. In order to deploy globally, the funds allocated to Hong Kong were small, and it was difficult for the Hong Kong branch of Korn Ferry to develop rapidly.

Therefore, it was destined to be unable to keep up with Xia Yu.

For this reason, Xia Yu could only take personal action and it would be best to set up a headhunting company, transform the results of others' decades of work into his own talent pool, and continue to establish his own talent training system.