Chapter 834: Alliance Fragmentation

Xu Shaochen’s words had a double meaning.

“You’re right, it’s the same with anything. For those with power, as long as the result is right, it’s all that matters.”

Jim nodded, fully agreeing with Xu Shaochen. The implication was that they too had power.

“How about we go for a drink?”

Seeing that they were about to discuss serious matters, Jenny took the initiative to send the three women away.

The three women dared not refuse Jenny’s request, so they nodded and followed her away.

In no time, only Xu Shaochen, Jim, Tony, and Mike were left.

“Let’s talk about your terms.”

Xu Shaochen asked directly, not bothering with any roundabout tactics.

The three men exchanged glances, and then Mike spoke, “Xu, in fact, the three of us have the same request, and it’s not excessive. We just want to buy a portion of Xu Corporation’s shares from you.”

“And how much is this so-called portion?” Xu Shaochen flashed a smile.

Tony responded, “Ten percent. Ten percent for each of us.”

“Do you know what that means? Do you know what owning ten percent of Xu Corporation’s shares represents?”

After hearing this, Xu Shaochen scoffed. Ten percent for each of them meant they’d be getting a total of thirty percent—nearly half of his holdings.

If these three succeeded, they could easily rally a few other minor shareholders and wouldn’t they then be able to stand on equal footing with Xu himself?

It was simply a joke.

“Xu, we would offer you an appropriate compensation…” Jim began.

Xu Shaochen raised his hand and interrupted, “Impossible. The shares I hold will never be sold. Not for ten percent, not even five percent for one of you.”

Right now, he was relying on his shares to maintain absolute control over the company and suppress some restless minds.

If any of his shares were released, Xu Corporation would likely descend into chaos, and these three would become the second largest shareholder group after him.

By then, the Xu Corporation might even have to change its name, so Xu Shaochen would never agree to such terms.

Of course, he couldn’t completely sever ties with the three of them either. After all, Xu Corporation’s headquarters was in Mg Country, and if he fell out with them, it might be hard to withstand the pressure if all three acted together.

It seemed like he was in a dilemma, but Xu Shaochen had his own calculations.

“Xu, to use a phrase from your China, you seem to be biting the hand that feeds you. If you’ve come all the way to Mg Country just to reject us, then you came for nothing.”

Mike said coolly, his words laced with threat.

Tony and Jim also gave Xu Shaochen cold stares.

Xu Shaochen smiled indifferently, “How could it be for nothing? I came for tourism. Meeting you was just a side trip.”

He paused here, then spread his hands, “Now, it seems this result has left you all disappointed, but I’m quite satisfied.”

“Xu Corporation has faced plenty of jealous competitors during its growth, but if my grandfather could handle them, why can’t I?”

“Xu Corporation isn’t afraid of any challenges. They will only make us stronger.”

With that, Xu Shaochen casually grabbed a golf club and started playing, completely ignoring the three men.

Mike, Tony, and Jim exchanged glances, their faces dark and stormy as if water would start dripping any moment.

“Let’s hope your confidence lasts.”

Tony said coldly.

“As you wish.”

Xu Shaochen smiled faintly, swinging the club. The golf ball followed a perfect arc and dropped into the hole.

“Hmph!”

The three men snorted and left with grim expressions.

They had not expected this damn man from China to be so ungrateful. He was practically courting death.

Could it be that, as someone from the lower ranks, he simply didn’t understand the power their families wielded?

If that was the case, then they would make sure he personally witnessed the consequences of angering them.

Watching the three leave, Jenny hurried over, “What’s going on? Why did the talks fall apart so quickly? Didn’t I tell you to hold back a little?”

“Auntie, call Mike and invite him for afternoon tea later.”

Xu Shaochen said calmly.

Jenny was stunned, looking at Xu Shaochen suspiciously, “Are you trying to sow discord? They won’t fall for it. After all, your tactic doesn’t seem that clever.”

Xu Shaochen shook his head, a faint smile on his face as he said:

“Auntie, you don’t understand our country’s history very well. A great man once said, when facing an enemy too tough to confront directly, you split them up, rope some in, and suppress the others together.”

“It doesn’t matter whether the tactic seems clever or not; what matters is that it works. It’s bound to succeed. If it doesn’t, it just means the benefits offered weren’t tempting enough.”

Johnson, Karen, and Nick’s families had certainly aligned on the issue of targeting Xu Corporation. For now, they formed an alliance.

But this alliance was incredibly fragile. All it would take was a tempting offer to one of them, and the whole thing would collapse.

Just like in China’s history during the Warring States period, when multiple countries allied to resist the powerful Qin Kingdom.

But Qin managed to defeat them one by one using a strategy of courting distant allies while attacking nearby enemies.

Were the rulers of those countries stupid?

Xu Shaochen firmly believed that no true idiot could rise to become a ruler. Regardless, their perspective would inherently be broader than that of the average person.

Yet they were still swayed by the benefits offered by Qin, willingly breaking apart their fragile alliances, and one by one, they were devoured.

Now, Xu Corporation stood like the Qin Kingdom, while Johnson, Karen, and Nick’s families were like those states that had allied to challenge it.

The difference was that they were the aggressors, and Xu Shaochen was on the defensive.

They had united, not for survival like the ancient states, but purely for profit, making their alliance even more fragile.

“Well, I still feel like it’s a bit unreliable.” Although raised by Xu Shaochen’s grandfather, Jenny’s thinking was still limited by Mg Country’s perspective.

Xu Shaochen sighed, “They’ve just left, and they should still be together. Call him now. If he agrees, we’re halfway to success.”

If Mike had no ulterior motives, he’d honestly inform the other two about the call and refuse to meet.

But if he did, it would be a different story.

Jenny called Mike, and after a brief moment, she looked back at Xu Shaochen:

“He agreed to meet, and right before he hung up, I heard him lying to Jim and Tony.”

Xu Shaochen chuckled. They wanted to swallow Xu Corporation?

They’d better watch out, or they might just get devoured one by one instead.