Jiao Yang stood there, stunned as if struck by lightning, looking at Jiang Yu Hai speechlessly.
After a long pause, he timidly said, "Uncle, do you really have to shut it down? You have shares in here. If it closes, you'll lose a lot. Uncle, please reconsider?"
Before Jiang Yu Hai could reply, another person walked into the office and said calmly, "Jiang Yu Hai, I didn't expect you to have shares in this factory. No wonder they couldn't find any problems all this time, and every inspection passed with flying colors. It turns out the director himself was backing it all along. Jiang Yu Hai, you're quite capable."
Jiang Yu Hai's face contorted, his expression a mix of tears and a forced smile.
Jiao Yang glanced at the newcomer and cursed, "Hey, who do you think you are, talking to my uncle like that? Do you know who my uncle is? He's..."
Before Jiao Yang could finish, Jiang Yu Hai roared, "Shut your trap! This is the Five-Star General, Dragon King!"
Five-Star General?
Dragon King?
Jiao Yang nearly fainted on the spot. In this godforsaken, insignificant place, how could such a high-ranking official appear? A Five-Star General could practically walk all over the entire city of Wudu.
Even the slumbering dragons of Wudu wouldn't dare to breathe loudly in front of a Five-Star General.
Jiao Yang was utterly bewildered. "Lord Dragon King, that... I didn't know it was you. I was just speaking a bit loudly. My apologies."
It turned out the Dragon King had intercepted Jiang Yu Hai on the way and brought him here.
Amusingly, Jiang Yu Hai had indeed intended to stand up for Jiao Yang and protect the factory's interests at first. However, he never imagined he would encounter such a formidable figure this time.
Still thinking of protecting the factory?
Still trying to operate under the radar?
Impossible!
The Dragon King ignored Jiao Yang and stood behind Lu Ming, awaiting his instructions.
This made Jiao Yang even more foolish.
The Dragon King was a Five-Star General, an incredibly powerful figure who could walk all over Wudu. Yet, such an important person was standing obediently behind Lu Ming like a subordinate, waiting for his orders.
This was, this was simply unbelievable.
Going by this trend, was Lu Ming's status even more noble than the Dragon King's?
But how could that be possible?
In an instant, Jiao Yang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, chilled from head to toe, with an urge to smash his head against a wall and die.
Now he finally understood why Lu Ming was so arrogant and spoke such bold words.
The man truly had the power!
Lu Ming gently tapped the tabletop and said indifferently, "My intentions remain unchanged. Since they are unwilling to negotiate, I will proceed without negotiation. First, all chemical plants are to be shut down. Second, they are to be sold to me at 1% of market price. Yes, that's all."
Hearing this, Jiao Yang and Jiang Yu Hai were on the verge of tears.
1% of the price?
What's the difference between that and outright theft?
The Dragon King said, "The current market value of the several factories is around 500 million. At 1%, that would be... uh... let me calculate, 1% of 500 million is 5 million. Mr. Lu, you would only need to pay 5 million to acquire these chemical plants."
What?
5 million?
1% of 500 million, and you're sure it's 5 million? Did a gym teacher teach you math?!
Selling at 1% was already a huge loss, but the Dragon King was even more 'shameless,' slashing the price again, not even giving them 1%, but reducing it to a thousandth!
Jiang Yu Hai cried, "No, Lord Dragon King, how is 1% of 500 million 5 million? You..."
Before he could finish, the Dragon King drew a pistol from his hip and pressed it to Jiang Yu Hai's forehead, saying, "Are you implying I calculated incorrectly?"
"No, I wouldn't dare." Jiang Yu Hai was so scared he was about to wet himself.
It was obvious the Dragon King had intentionally miscalculated.
These two black-hearted scoundrels, Jiao Yang and Jiang Yu Hai, had earned who knew how much illicit money over the years from these illegal factories.
And they still wanted a 1% acquisition price? Pipe dream!
The Dragon King continued, "Since there's no miscalculation, have your financial representatives come over. Quickly sign the transfer contract. I'm busy and don't have time to waste with you."
"Ah? Sign today?" Jiang Yu Hai's tears streamed down, still clinging to a sliver of hope. "Lord Dragon King, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have used the factory to coerce downstream farmers, nor should I have engaged in forced sales. I truly know I was wrong. Please give me a chance to atone. Don't smash my rice bowl. Without the factory, how will my family survive?"
Heh, playing the victim.
The Dragon King wasn't buying it.
He pulled out a set of data and said, "You scoundrel, still trying to cry poverty with me. You have over 100 million in savings in the bank alone! Your other properties and real estate combined are enough to last a lifetime. Over the years, you and your relatives have earned so much money from these black factories, and you still cry poverty? Have you no shame?"
Jiang Yu Hai was stunned. He hadn't expected the Dragon King to have investigated him so thoroughly.
Crying poverty was useless now.
But what he didn't expect was that his attempt to cry poverty would bring him even greater trouble.
Lu Ming rubbed his temples and said, "Dragon King, don't be too rough. Since they're crying poverty, we should help them achieve their ideals. They want to be poor, so we'll help them be poor. How about this: you compile the criminal records of Jiang Yu Hai, Jiao Yang, and the others, then send them to the police station, and confiscate their homes. Let these people truly become poor and realize their dream."
This...
Jiang Yu Hai was speechless.
How could crying poverty lead to disaster? Fake poverty had become real poverty?!
The Dragon King laughed heartily, "Good. I'll handle these matters. Also, forget about transferring the factories. I'll speak to the local authorities and shut down all the factories, with the assets confiscated."
"Yes, let's do as you say." Lu Ming readily agreed.
Clang, clang.
Jiang Yu Hai and Jiao Yang both collapsed to the ground, their eyes vacant and lifeless, staring ahead.
Tragic!
Originally, it was just losing the factories, but now they were losing all their assets.
Even more terrifying was that they were going to jail.
The money they had earned over the years from the black factories was confiscated before they could even spend it. Where could they even begin to seek justice?
Jiang Yu Hai's anger overwhelmed him, and he 'wow'ed, spitting out a large mouthful of blood, and passed out on the spot.
Lu Ming glanced at him and said, "Send him to the hospital first, then to the police station. Don't let him die."
The Dragon King nodded. "As you command!"
With everything arranged, Lu Ming stood up and left the office. He had intended to teach Jiao Yang a small lesson, but unexpectedly, it had unearthed such a large mess.
This was for the best, cutting the weeds and digging up the roots, completely eradicating the black factories!
He went downstairs.
The worker was still diligently watching Lu Ming's car. Seeing Lu Ming emerge, he smiled and said, "Sir, your car is perfectly fine. I watched it very carefully. Please inspect it."
Lu Ming smiled, took out a hundred yuan from his jacket pocket, and slipped it into the worker's pocket. "This is your payment for watching the car. The factory is shut down, find a new job. Behave yourself in the future and don't help illegal factories anymore."
With that said.
Lu Ming got into the car, stepped on the accelerator, and sped away.
The downstream villagers were still eagerly waiting for his news.