Chapter 262: The Wolf Is Coming! Are You Ready, BHP and Rio Tinto?
The acquisition of Lianying Mining was completed.
Li Tang originally thought he would successfully acquire 100% of the company's shares, but he didn't expect that many shareholders were unwilling to sell their Lianying Mining stock.
Previously, they had agreed with Kent that the acquisition price would be at a 10% premium based on the closing price of the day.
However, after submitting a non-binding offer to Lianying Mining's board of directors, several directors expressed opposition.
Moreover, many of the company's employees were also shareholders, and they voiced concerns about their future and job security under the new Chinese ownership.
As a result, the board rejected their first offer.
Determined to succeed, Li Tang raised the offer, and it wasn't until the third submission, with a 20% premium, that he finally won the board's approval.
Even so, 25% of the shares remained circulating in the stock market.
According to his initial plan, after acquiring 100% of the shares, the company would be delisted.
In doing so, his actions on this side wouldn't need to be disclosed to the public.
The acquisition itself was small in scale and had little impact on the capital market.
Therefore, it didn't attract much attention.
When Lianying Mining issued a tender offer to all shareholders, many financial media outlets noticed the announcement and the company's move to suspend trading.
After all, it was acquisition news, so some media did follow up with reports.
But they only used small, unremarkable sections and brief coverage to mention it.
Some media didn't even investigate seriously, publishing hastily titled pieces like: "A Mysterious Investment Firm Is Close to Acquiring Lianying Mining."
Most of the press discovered that the investment firm was newly established, not well-known, and not some huge fund institution, so they didn't look deeper into who was really backing it.
As the merger and acquisition progressed step by step, every stage was announced according to regulations.
People were used to such news and didn't pay much attention.
Even when the acquisition was completed, it remained low-key in Austria's capital market.
At the headquarters of the Austrian Financial Review newspaper—
A newly hired intern, Yuna, ran excitedly into Editor-in-Chief Marianne's office, even forgetting to knock—clearly against company rules.
"Editor-in-chief! I've found a huge secret!" Yuna shouted in excitement.
"What is it, Yuna?"
Marianne didn't blame Yuna for her impulsive behavior, as Yuna was the daughter of one of the company's board members. She had taken extra care to mentor her, assigning her tasks and grooming her closely as soon as she graduated and joined as an intern.
Normally, interns have an adaptation period and need guidance from senior staff.
But this time, she had directly assigned Yuna the task of following up on the developments of Lianying Mining—an important responsibility and a clear sign of grooming.
Although it seemed like an insignificant news item, possibly of little interest to the public, Yuna had written several reports on the acquisition's progress. Though her drafts were rough, Marianne personally polished them for publication.
"I found a major scoop! The real party behind the acquisition of Lianying Mining is a company from China!" Yuna exclaimed.
"That's not unusual. Chinese companies also invest in our capital markets," Marianne smiled.
"No, no—you've definitely heard of this one!"
"Oh? What's the name?"
"Li Tang Shengshi Holdings!"
"That's quite a mouthful… doesn't ring a bell," Marianne thought hard but didn't recall the name. "Maybe I'm just getting old, Yuna. You know, I'm already 40—my memory isn't what it used to be."
"This company might not be that famous, but one of its subsidiaries is Zhongcheng Mining!" Yuna continued. "Zhongcheng Mining—you must have heard of them!"
"Zhongcheng Mining?" Marianne still looked confused, then offered an apologetic smile, thinking her memory might be failing her.
"Zhongcheng Mining spent 80 million USD last year to acquire a mining license from BHP and Rio Tinto!" Yuna continued excitedly. "That mining license is for the Tallego Copper-Gold Mine—the one that shocked the world!"
"You're serious?" Marianne suddenly snapped to attention.
Of course, she knew about that.
The Tallego mine is believed to be the world's largest undeveloped copper deposit.
Many renowned global economic analysts estimate the site's economic value to exceed $100 billion.
Not long ago, every media outlet was covering this explosive news.
Their own newspaper had featured it on the front page with the headline: BHP and Rio Tinto Lose $100 Billion in Assets!
That report stirred strong reactions from all corners of society.
Many even wrote letters to their headquarters, urging them to continue investigating Zhongcheng Mining.
Everyone wanted to know: What kind of company had such unbelievable foresight to "pick up" a $100 billion asset like that?
Others wanted the newspaper to keep tracking the company's growth.
They were curious to see just how high this resource could propel the company—and who exactly the mysterious owner was.
Unfortunately, a reporting team sent to Yanjing failed to uncover much.
The elusive owner of the mysterious company had never given an interview.
Despite much effort, they didn't even obtain a single photograph.
This was clearly a very low-profile individual.
"It's definitely true!" Yuna, though lacking reporting experience, was clearly serious about her work.
While others hadn't bothered to look deeper into who was buying Lianying Mining, Yuna was genuinely curious.
Following the information published about the acquirer, she traced the source and unearthed this explosive secret.
Truthfully, uncovering this wasn't all that hard.
People had just been lazy, thinking the story wasn't worth deeper investigation.
"Oh my god!"
Marianne grabbed Yuna's shoulders, thrilled. "This is going to be a hot topic! Zhongcheng Mining has entered Austria's capital market. Last time, they tricked BHP and Rio Tinto out of a $100 billion mining license. This time, what are they after?"
"I don't know what they want," Yuna shook her head, "but I'd really like to meet this mysterious billionaire named Li Tang."
"Everyone will be just as curious as you!"
Marianne stood up and rushed out of the office, her excitement bubbling over. "Our paper is going to sell like crazy! I'm calling a full team right now to dig deep and follow up!"
Before leaving, she didn't forget to praise her: "Yuna, this time you've done a tremendous job!"
The next day, the Austrian Financial Review's front page was entirely devoted to this major revelation.
The headline read: The Wolf Is Coming! BHP and Rio Tinto, Are You Ready?
Austria, as a resource-exporting nation, heavily relies on mineral resources for its economy.
BHP and Rio Tinto, as the two biggest players in this space, naturally attract massive attention.
When the article was published, people were in shock—from office buildings to cafés and restaurants.
That Chinese company that had taken a $100 billion mining license from BHP and Rio Tinto was here!
It was a wolf!
It had the sharpest eyes, the fiercest hunting instincts!
Now, what prey had it locked onto?
Previously overlooked, Lianying Mining suddenly became the hottest name in Austria.
Everyone wanted to know what kind of company this was.
Rumor had it they were on the verge of bankruptcy and delisting—then out of nowhere, a mysterious investor swooped in and completed an acquisition with lightning speed.
Previously, readers had seen some sparse news coverage and didn't think much of it.
But now, seeing it was Li Tang Shengshi Holdings, a company from China—
The very same one that had discovered the Tallego mine!
No one could understand—what exactly about Lianying Mining had attracted such a hunter from a mysterious land?
"This article talks a lot but doesn't get to the point!"
"What we really want to know is: What does Li Tang Shengshi Holdings plan to do?"
"The owner of this company, having secured the Tallego mine, is clearly a top-tier billionaire. We want to know—what does he even look like?"
"If your article can't even give clear info about the target of the report, then what's the point? Their acquisition is already detailed in company announcements—we don't need your paper for that!"
Mining enthusiasts finished reading and were still unsatisfied.
It seemed there were still more secrets to uncover.
Seeing how the story exploded in popularity and papers sold out, other media outlets grew envious and quickly dispatched their own teams to follow up.
Later that evening, Alice knocked on Li Tang's door and walked in directly.
"Late at night, what are you doing here instead of sleeping?" Li Tang had just showered, wrapped in a towel, his muscular upper body exposed.
He was instantly cautious. After all, Alice was a young woman.
If she had any ulterior motives—
Or if he failed to resist temptation—
That would be a mistake.
He had just gotten off the phone with Li Xinqi, and their relationship had made significant progress. He couldn't afford to slip now.
Alice looked at his appearance with only mild surprise, unfazed or embarrassed.
She walked straight to the bed, tossed a newspaper onto it, and turned on the TV.
"Our acquisition of Lianying Mining has caught outside attention," she said.
"Oh?" Li Tang didn't seem bothered.
He preferred to make money quietly, under the radar.
But getting noticed was inevitable, especially when it came to iron ore—there was no way to avoid Austrian scrutiny.
"Watch this news." Alice grabbed the remote and tuned into a business program.
The host and several economic experts, or experienced business managers, were in discussion.
"We now know the company behind the Lianying Mining acquisition is Chinese—Li Tang Shengshi Holdings. Their most famous move was acquiring the Tallego mine license from BHP and Rio Tinto."
After a quick recap of the topic, the host asked, "What do you all think of this acquisition?"
The Iron Ore War: Can Li Tang Shengshi Holdings Survive the Global Giants?
"Iron ore production and trade—only large corporations like Rio Tinto and BHP can leverage economies of scale to reduce production costs to around 40 AUD per ton and still turn a profit. No other companies can possibly achieve that."
"In recent years, international iron ore prices have been steadily rising, but companies like Rio Tinto and BHP have taken this opportunity to expand production. I believe this supply surplus will only worsen as they scale further."
"So you're saying iron ore prices will fall in the future?"
"That has been the overall trend for the past two decades, and it's very difficult to reverse. Only companies that adapt to this trend and environment will survive."
"Looks like Li Tang Shengshi Holdings' investment is going to be a total loss!"
"They clearly don't understand the global iron ore market!"
These mining economists argued for quite a while, each expressing their views freely.
Unsurprisingly, they all predicted failure for the acquisition of Lianying Mining.
From their perspective, there was simply no possibility of breaking even, let alone making a profit.
These individuals were seasoned professionals with years of industry experience. Their opinions carried weight.
The host then turned toward the man sitting in the center—a key guest they had painstakingly invited: Ron, Director of Marketing at BHP.
"Ron, you're a senior executive at BHP. What's your take on this situation?"
Ron had remained silent up to this point.
In recent weeks, BHP's management had been ruthlessly criticized over the Tallego copper-gold mine incident—accusations that nearly drowned them in public outrage.
He knew that speaking on this matter was risky.
One wrong word could have disastrous consequences.
But since he had accepted the media invitation and was representing BHP with the CEO's authorization, he came prepared.
Clearing his throat, Ron finally spoke.
"I've noticed many media outlets are linking Li Tang Shengshi Holdings' acquisition of Lianying Mining to BHP, as if we are somehow connected."
He looked directly into the camera and stated firmly: "There is absolutely no connection between BHP and this acquisition. Please do not make assumptions."
The media had already extensively covered BHP's sale of the Tallego exploration license.
BHP had clarified multiple times that it was a regular commercial transaction.
They had also admitted their mistake—at the time, they did not anticipate such a massive copper deposit in Tallego. It was a poor decision in hindsight.
Apologies, public statements, and explanations had been offered countless times.
Ron didn't want to revisit that painful chapter.
So when it came to discussing Li Tang Shengshi Holdings' acquisition of Lianying Mining, he felt it was irrelevant to BHP and preferred to keep quiet.
That was BHP's stance.
But the public didn't quite agree.
The host glanced down at his cue cards and pressed further: "Many believe this Chinese company is entering the iron ore market with a plan. They want to challenge BHP!"
"There's absolutely no evidence for such a claim," Ron denied flatly. "We welcome all foreign investment in the iron ore sector. It shows that our market is attractive to global capital!"
"You're saying you're not at all worried that this company might take more wealth from you in the future? That they could challenge your dominance?"
"At BHP, we're never afraid of competition." Ron replied curtly, clearly unwilling to elaborate.
"In the beginning, economic analysts pointed out that Lianying Mining holds a large mining license. Some parts of that land used to belong to BHP, didn't they?"
The host referred to his notes again. "Aren't you concerned that the land you gave up might later be proven by the Chinese to contain iron ore?"
"In the 60s and 70s, yes, we did return parts of the land in Pilbara to the South Australian government."
"Why?"
"We're a resource production company. If the land doesn't contain mineral resources, we naturally return it."
"Are you sure you didn't misjudge the land and that it actually does contain valuable minerals?"
"Of... of course we're sure!" Ron stumbled slightly, clearly realizing the host was setting a trap.
But ever since the Tallego mine debacle, no amount of explanation could shake the suspicion.
…
Back in the hotel room, Li Tang and Alice were watching the program with full attention.
"Even BHP is starting to pay attention to our acquisition of Lianying Mining," Alice said, turning to look at Li Tang, who was sitting at the edge of the bed wrapped in a white towel. She asked casually, "Are you not wearing anything under that?"
"Huh?" Li Tang instinctively pressed his legs together.
Just a man and a woman, alone in a hotel room—the atmosphere was undeniably suggestive.
He didn't respond, keeping his gaze on the TV screen.
"They can talk all they want. We'll just do what we need to do. It's none of their business."
He smiled.
"No need to worry about public opinion."
"Alright," Alice nodded, agreeing with Li Tang's viewpoint. "Kent got in touch. A bunch of reporters are camped outside Lianying Mining, all clamoring to interview you."
"Oh right!"
Hearing that, Li Tang jumped up, nearly losing his towel.
"Tell Kent—absolutely no interviews! Those reporters love to stir up trouble. A few words on camera, and who knows what they'll twist it into."
"I already told Kent not to talk, and especially not to reveal your identity—not even a photo. If anyone breaks that rule, they're fired."
Alice had clearly become Li Tang's trusted right hand.
"Since our company's identity was exposed, Lianying Mining has practically locked down its premises. No outsiders allowed."
"You thought of that before I did." Li Tang gave her a thumbs-up.
Alice stood up and let her eyes wander over Li Tang's physique, smiling slyly. "Nice body. Didn't expect you to have abs."
"I'm your boss. Don't joke like that," Li Tang scolded.
"I heard you've never dated. I can teach you," Alice said sweetly.
"I don't need you to teach me!" Li Tang waved her away. "Go rest. You've been working nonstop."
"I'm not tired at all," she said with a grin.
"Out, out—I'm going to bed." Li Tang practically pushed her out and slammed the door.
This temptress was clearly here to drain his energy.
Dangerous—very dangerous.
…
At Southern Australia University, in the dorms—
A picnic cloth was laid out on the floor, with bread, roast chicken, soda, and even some beer.
The students gathered to celebrate and thank Toby and Zhu Yanxi.
"20% profit in one month!"
"If I had ten grand in AUD and bought Lianying Mining shares, I'd have made two grand—enough to party for weeks!"
"I had money, but didn't dare invest it all. Even knowing the company was getting acquired, I didn't have the guts to go all in."
"I made 2,000. Not bad."
"I only made 200. I'm pissed!"
"Come on, cheers! Let's toast Toby for sharing the tip. We all made money!"
The atmosphere was buzzing. Toby, surrounded by classmates, couldn't stop smiling.
After things calmed down, someone asked, "Toby, I heard you and Zhu Yanxi invested everything into Lianying Mining. How much did you make?"
"We…" Toby glanced at Zhu Yanxi. "We didn't make any money."
"Why?" Everyone was puzzled.
"We didn't accept the acquisition offer. We're still holding the shares—so technically, no gains yet," Toby explained.
"You didn't sell?"
"What were you thinking?"
"This was quick money! If you keep holding, the price might drop again!"
"My dad drives heavy trucks in Pilbara. He said many iron ore companies have gone bankrupt. These small firms can collapse any time."
"If Lianying Mining gets delisted, you won't even be able to sell your shares!"
"Luckily, they didn't delist. The stock is suspended for now, but it should resume trading soon."
Everyone thought it made more sense to cash out while ahead.
Toby shrugged. "Zhu Yanxi said the stock will rise further."
"Trading has resumed," Zhu Yanxi said, pulling out a newspaper. "You probably didn't notice, but Lianying Mining has been all over the news lately."
"Really?"
The students passed the paper around, some reading aloud.
Zhu Yanxi, feeling like a stock guru, beamed with confidence. "Toby and I made the right call. On the first day of trading, the price jumped 10%! And I think this is just the beginning."
"Why?"
"Media buzz. Everyone believes in the company's future." Zhu grinned. "They're calling it a unicorn."
"Oh my god—it's the Chinese company that found the Tallego mine!" one student shouted.
"No wonder the stock skyrocketed. If they find another world-class mine, the price could increase a hundredfold!"
"Zhu, Toby—why didn't you tell us the truth earlier?!"
"Hurry! It's still not too late to buy Lianying shares!"
There weren't many shares left in the secondary market, but the media hype had drawn immense attention from capital markets.
Retail investors rushed in, dreaming of overnight wealth.
A hundredfold return? Who wouldn't try their luck?
In no time, the few remaining shares were being fought over.
After resuming trade, Lianying's stock price kept soaring.
But this surge had nothing to do with its operations.
It was all about the Li Tang Shengshi Holdings brand—and the media frenzy.
Li Tang ignored the chaos until one day, he got a call from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Perth. They were hosting a gathering and wanted him to attend.
The next day, someone even hand-delivered a gold-trimmed invitation.
Li Tang wasn't sure about it at first.
But then Hu Zhenchi, general manager of Wukuang International Investment, called. An old friend of his was in Perth, in trouble, and wanted to meet.
Li Tang got the number—and discovered the meeting time and location perfectly aligned with the Chamber's gathering.
So it wasn't a scam.
Might as well go.
He brought Alice along.
She wore an elegant evening dress and high heels, arm-in-arm with Li Tang as they boarded a luxury yacht.
The gathering took place at sea—an opulent affair with gourmet food, premium wine, and bikinied women from every ethnicity.
"Why are we here again?" Alice whispered, clearly dressed to impress.
Li Tang stood still, glancing around, unfamiliar with anyone.
Still, their invitation was accepted at boarding.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Li Tang?" a staff member approached.
"I am," he replied.
"Please follow me."
They were led into a lavish banquet hall, filled with elegant décor and classical music.
Inside were many Chinese faces—some wealthy and elderly, others young and capable.
"You're Li Tang?" a middle-aged man approached with a champagne flute.
"I am. Are you Dai Benyong, the one who called?" Li Tang looked at the lean-faced man.
"I'm Dai Benyong, General Manager of Gangyong Steel. I've been in Perth a while now. Saw the news and found out you were here."
"I've been here for quite some time," Li Tang replied. "What business brings you here?"
"I'm negotiating an iron ore supply deal with BHP's marketing department. Not going well," Dai said bluntly. "I tried several contacts—no help. I figured, with your ties to BHP, maybe you could lend a hand."
"I did have a successful deal with them before."
Li Tang glanced at Alice, then smiled mysteriously.
"But honestly, I might not be much help. In fact, I might make it worse."
Hearing that, Dai was at a loss for words.
"We'll see."
"You must've seen from the news that my relationship with BHP probably isn't very friendly," Li Tang said.
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