bookbashuk Chapter 623 Capital Games 2
Chapter 623 Capital Games 2
"Relying solely on Hong Kong Island isn't enough; Taiwan is also a crucial piece in their strategy!"
Just when we thought we were almost done, Third Master tapped the table and started talking about the intensive capital activities in Taiwan's entertainment industry in May.
"A massive capital alliance between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong—the Wang brothers have big ambitions, don't they?" Fatty Lin said sarcastically.
"Having too much ambition is sometimes a bad thing; it means one's virtue doesn't match their position!"
Third Master's face was gloomy, and when he said the last four words, he tapped the table four times.
"That's right, with those two brothers' character, do they even deserve it?" Fatty Lin chimed in, playing the straight man again.
"Alright, I'll continue my analysis!"
Third Master waved his hand, acting as if a person in a high position didn't care about some clowns.
"In May, the entertainment industry in Taiwan was also quite popular. For example, Luo Xiaolei held a tour at the Taipei Arena, June Band spent a lot of money to film a 3D concert movie, and her group held a final concert. Every celebration banquet was packed with local trade conglomerates and entertainment investors."
When the "local trading conglomerate" was mentioned, Third Master's lips curled into a wide grin, the sarcasm in which even a fool could see.
"Let me tell you, these performances, whether they are big-budget films or cultural and entertainment projects, are all transit points for the exchange of funds between Hong Kong Island and Taiwan."
"Taiwanese trading families and Hong Kong compradors have long been engaged in cross-border trade, with completely interconnected financial channels. The two Wang brothers will personally lead a team to Taiwan at the end of this month to use co-production projects, investment tours, and theatrical films as pretexts to transfer illicit funds flowing out of Hong Kong into Taiwanese projects for hedging and laundering!"
At this point, Third Master held up one finger and said, "In just five months, the Wang family has established three complete channels: the diversion of mainland capital, offshore money laundering in Hong Kong, and the diversion of projects in Taiwan, allowing funds to flow freely between the three places and completing a closed loop."
Speaking of this, Third Master's face darkened again. "Now is the last window of opportunity before the net is closed. When the Shanghai Film Festival officially kicks off in early June, the Wang family will present a complete film and television investment plan that integrates Hong Kong and Taiwan in front of the entire industry, attracting more large-scale mainland capital to join and build a monopolistic cultural and entertainment capital trust."
"Are the Wang brothers really that ambitious?"
Hearing this, I couldn't help but ask.
If the Wang brothers really succeed in this, their status will be completely different.
While she may not be on par with Deng Wenwen's tycoon husband, she's close enough to be considered a guru of the entertainment industry.
"These two brothers, now that they have powerful backers, they've become quite ambitious!"
Third Master snorted and said, "If they succeed in this, they will be able to firmly bind the capital of the mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. From then on, they will have complete control over the flow of funds and the allocation of project resources in the entire Chinese film and television industry."
"Damn, if they actually succeed, it'll be a disaster!" Fatty Lin muttered.
Long Nier frowned as she listened, and couldn't help but ask, "Third Master, are you saying that all those concerts and movie promotions that have been flooding Hong Kong these past two months are just a front for them to launder money and network within their circles?"
"That's right!"
Third Master glanced at Long Nier, then at the two of us brothers, and said earnestly, "Remember this, you are not ordinary people. Ordinary people can look at celebrity gossip and box office figures, but we need to see the flow of funds behind it all."
"The so-called celebrity gatherings and film and television investments are just a facade; beneath that facade lies a cross-regional capital alliance."
"With the groundwork laid in May and the stage set in June, the Wang family will take advantage of the film festival to completely integrate the capital of Hong Kong and Taiwan. Once they are fully formed, they will have a firm grip on the flow of capital and resource allocation in the entire Chinese-language entertainment industry, as well as many hidden gray-area schemes."
Hearing this, I finally understood why Third Master was in such a hurry to come to Hong Kong Island to help us understand the Wang brothers' plans.
Leaving aside the obvious benefits, the key is the so-called "hidden gray scheme" that Third Master mentioned.
Once the supply chain across the mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong is established, massive amounts of money can be laundered through this channel, especially now that we live in the era of blockbuster movies, where a single film can easily cost hundreds of millions of dollars, or even more.
A few movies, from filming to promotion and release, can generate more than a billion yuan in revenue.
This gray layout is crucial.
To put it bluntly, Third Master was ultimately doing it for himself.
If he were in control of this chain, he wouldn't be in a hurry at all.
I suddenly understood.
Third Master came here today to break down the entire capital layout for us, seemingly to give us pointers and warn us of the Wang family's ambitions. But in the end, it was out of jealousy that he didn't control the gray financial chain in the three regions that the Wang family controlled.
Once this entertainment capital trust is established, the Wang family will gain a foothold through the film festival, monopolize resources and gray money channels in the three regions, and any future attempts by Third Master to intervene in the capital game between South China and Hong Kong will only be met with restrictions and leave him completely passive.
Thinking of this, I glanced at Fatty Lin without making a sound.
This guy and I exchanged a glance, and in that one glance, I realized he had also come to his senses.
I winked at him, the meaning was simple: you respond, quickly appease Third Master.
This guy understood instantly, took half a step forward, and said, "Third Master really sees things clearly!"
When he said this, Fatty Lin looked on with admiration, and his tone was so sincere that no one could find fault with him.
I secretly gave him a thumbs up; when it comes to flattery, even ten of him couldn't match him.
"Third Master, the three of us are just ordinary mortals. We only care about trivial matters like who hired a ghost or who had an extramarital affair. Unlike you, who is always looking at capital strategies and the country's macro-development. We never imagined that there were such deep capital schemes hidden beneath the entertainment industry!"
Fatty Lin, all smiles, kept showering him with compliments as if they were free.
Third Master appeared reserved on the surface, but you could tell from his raised eyebrows that he was quite pleased.
"The Wang brothers' tricks might work on ordinary people, including the three of us, but in your eyes, Third Master, it's like children playing house; you can see right through them!"
Fatty Lin kept praising her, and he didn't repeat himself. The key was that he didn't blush or skip a beat, and he said it as if it were the truth. If it were me, I could accept one compliment, but after a couple of compliments, I would feel disgusted.
"Third Master, to be honest, if you hadn't come all this way today to give us some pointers, we'd still be completely in the dark. Your vision and perspective are unmatched across mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong!"
"You've got a real mouth, kid!"
At this point, Third Master also felt that he had gone a bit too far, and smiled as he pointed at Fatty Lin.
"Third Master, I'm telling the truth, why don't you believe me? I can swear!" Fatty Lin looked aggrieved and was about to raise his hand to swear.
Seeing this, I was completely impressed.