Extra Story - Tales of the Capital's Past - The Curtain Falls

The next day, Monday.

The financial market in Jingzhou had an eerie atmosphere from the moment it opened.

Nine o'clock sharp in the morning.

At the Li Group headquarters, the phone in the Financial Director's office was the first to ring.

"Director Zhang, this is President Zhao from Jingzhou Bank. Regarding the three-billion-yuan loan your company had due last month, the head office has decided not to renew it."

"Please ensure your company repays the principal and interest in full by the required deadline."

Cold sweat instantly broke out on the Financial Director's forehead.

"President Zhao, this... this isn't according to our agreement! We had previously agreed..."

"Apologies, this is the head office's decision."

The other party's tone was strictly business, devoid of any emotion.

Then, the call was disconnected.

Before the Financial Director could even process this,

a second call, then a third, followed in rapid succession.

"Director Zhang, this is Jian'an Bank."

"Director Zhang, this is Xingqi Bank."

"Director Zhang, this is..."

Every single call, without exception, was a notification demanding immediate loan repayment.

Credit withdrawal!

It was as if all the banks had conspired, simultaneously pulling the rug out from under the Li Group in a devastating move.

Director Zhang's face turned deathly pale.

He knew something catastrophic was happening.

He rushed in a panic into Li Hongji's office.

"Chairman Li! It's terrible! The banks... all the banks are calling in our loans!"

Li Hongji had been leisurely enjoying his morning tea.

Hearing this, the hand holding his teacup jerked violently.

Tea spilled all over the desk.

"What did you say?"

"All the banks! They're demanding we repay all outstanding loans within the stipulated timeframe! The total amount exceeds twenty billion!"

"What!"

Even a figure like Li Hongji couldn't maintain his composure at this moment.

Twenty billion in cash flow.

Even if they sold off the entire Li family assets, it would be impossible to raise that amount in such a short time!

"How could this happen? How!"

Li Hongji's mind raced.

He immediately realized this was no coincidence.

This was a long-planned, coordinated siege against the Li family!

"Lu Chengsi! It must be Lu Chengsi!"

He roared, grabbing the phone to call the bank presidents.

But not a single call would go through.

Either the lines were busy, or no one answered.

Just then, the office door was flung open.

Li Xiujian rushed in, his face filled with terror.

"Dad! Something's happened! Our overseas company is in major trouble!"

He slammed a stack of printed documents onto the desk.

They were all overwhelming English news reports.

"Cordia Iron Ore Suspected of Severe Financial Fraud, Under Investigation by Local Financial Regulators!"

"Cordia Stock Plummets 90% Within Half Hour of Opening, Triggers Multiple Trading Halts!"

"Insiders Claim Cordia Iron Ore is Actually a Money-Laundering Tool for the Li Family of Xia, Substantial Evidence of Illegal Funds Exposed!"

...

Cordia Iron Ore.

The Li family's largest overseas cash cow.

Also their final escape route.

Now, that route had been completely severed.

It had even turned into a massive black hole threatening to drag them into an abyss.

"We're finished..."

Li Hongji looked at the news, swayed, and collapsed dejectedly onto the sofa.

He knew he had lost.

Lost utterly and completely.

Domestic cash flow drained dry.

Overseas funding chains severed.

A two-pronged attack.

The opponent aimed to deliver a fatal blow.

The ruthlessness of the methods, the meticulousness of the planning, sent a chill down his spine.

He couldn't understand.

Who on earth possessed such power to simultaneously leverage resources both domestically and internationally?

Lu Chengsi?

Alone, he probably didn't have that much clout.

And while Lu Chengsi was an old fox, his tactics were more traditional.

This operation was watertight. Was there someone else?

Mo Jingsheng?

He was a possibility.

But Mo Jingsheng always played it safe, never acting without absolute certainty.

Li Hongji felt Mo Jingsheng wouldn't dare risk "failing to kill the snake and getting bitten in return."

Who was it?

Who on earth was it!

At the same time.

The media in Jingzhou also collectively "went crazy."

Front-page headlines of major newspapers, website pop-ups, midday TV news broadcasts...

All were flooded with negative news about the Li Group.

"Exposing the Original Sin Behind the Li Group's Unbridled Growth!"

"Exclusive Report! The Death of Jingzhou Business Owner Wang Linked to Li Group's Strong-Arm Tactics!"

"From Organized Crime to Money Laundering: The Sinful History of a Business Empire's Rise!"

Each report was like a sharp knife.

Tearing to shreds the Li family's magnificent robe, woven from money and power.

Revealing the bloody, ugly truth beneath.

Public opinion in Jingzhou exploded.

Public anger swept through like a flood.

The entrance to the Li Group headquarters was besieged by an angry crowd of protesters.

Countless reporters, armed with cameras, tried to force their way in.

The company's stock price hit the limit-down almost immediately after the market opened.

Countless shareholders lost everything, wailing in despair online.

When the wall starts to fall, everyone pushes.

Those small and medium-sized enterprises that once depended on the Li family, those subordinates who bowed and scraped before them,

now became the fiercest opportunists, throwing stones at those already down.

"Mr. Hong, here is what you asked for."

Inside an inconspicuous black car.

A man handed a thick manila envelope to the person opposite him.

Inside the envelope were all the Li family's illicit accounts from over the years, every dirty secret.

"Brother Bao, you are smart."

Brother Bao was Li Hongji's most trusted right-hand man, responsible for handling all the "dirty work."

But now, he had become the first to betray the Li family.

Because he knew the Li family was already a sinking ship.

He didn't want to go down with it.

"Mr. Lu's side...?" Brother Bao inquired tentatively.

"Don't worry. Mr. Lu said that as long as the information is genuine, you will be well-provided for for the rest of your life."

Brother Bao let out a long sigh of relief.

...

One month later.

In just one month.

A business empire that had dominated Jingzhou for decades, seemingly impregnable,

collapsed just like that.

So fast that no one could react.

That evening, the glow of the setting sun dyed the sky a bloody red.

Dozens of police cars, sirens wailing, surrounded the Li family's palace-like estate in the Western Hills.

Armed police officers stormed inside.

The vast estate was nearly empty.

All the servants, all the bodyguards, had already fled.

Only Li Hongji and his son Li Xiujian remained.

They sat in the cavernous main hall.

As if awaiting their final judgment.

All anger and panic had vanished from Li Hongji's face.

Only an ashen calm remained.

He looked at the police officer in charge and slowly stood up.

"I'll go with you."

He glanced at his son beside him, broken and hollow-eyed.

"My son is young and foolish. I alone am responsible for everything. He has nothing to do with it."

This was the last thing he could do for his son as a father.

However, just as he was about to be handcuffed...

He suddenly spoke up.

"Can I make one last phone call?"