Free Web NovelI was curious which option Ma Huateng would choose.
If he chose the first option, then it would be clean. I would sell the shares to the Shanghai Clique at three hundred million dollars, then join forces with Alibaba and create a rival.
Of course, stealing the messenger market—already dominated by Tencent—wouldn’t be easy.
But while the industry was still young, it was possible. And I was confident.
Alibaba’s newly launched online shopping platform, quality game services, and Jack Ma’s capabilities would be more than enough to compete.
If he chose the second option, things would get tedious. I would need to negotiate and redirect the Shanghai Clique’s attention elsewhere.
It would require sacrifices, but cutting Ma Huateng’s ties to the Clique had its advantages.
Truthfully, the simplest option was the third.
He could hand his shares over to Jack Ma and step away from management. Done.
But I sincerely hoped he wouldn’t choose that path. Ma Huateng’s abilities were real.
He didn’t answer easily.
This choice would determine his future—and Tencent’s future.
“You don’t need to answer immediately. I’ll be in China for another two days. Give me your decision within that time.”
Instead of the troubled Ma Huateng, it was Zhang Zhidong who replied quickly.
“Understood. Let’s end the meeting here. We’ll discuss and contact you shortly.”
It was best to withdraw here. I nodded and stood.
“It was a good meeting. I hope we continue this partnership, but that depends on CEO Ma’s choice. I will respect whatever decision you make.”
Right before I stepped out—through the door Manager Ma held open—Ma Huateng called out to me in a small voice.
“Mr. Kim Muhyuk, one moment.”
I turned back. His gaze was still wavering.
“...If I choose the first option, what will you do?”
I stared at him for a moment without responding.
He swallowed. I lifted one corner of my mouth.
“Well... I’ll think about it then. I’m not sure myself yet.”
I already had a plan, but why show him the answer sheet?
He frowned slightly at the ambiguous reply.
I tapped my temple with my finger and added:
“Use that good brain of yours. Think about what consequences your decision will bring.”
I turned again and walked away. Zhang Zhidong followed.
“I’ll escort you to the entrance.”
“No need. Shouldn’t you be talking to CEO Ma?”
“No. He needs time to think. Whenever he reflects alone, he always comes to good decisions.”
He answered firmly.
He clearly had deep trust in Ma Huateng.
“You trust Ma Huateng?”
“Yes. I do.”
He didn’t hesitate for even a second.
As expected of someone who built and grew Tencent with him.
He looked like someone who followed Ma blindly, but in truth, Zhang Zhidong was practically his strategist.
That’s why he remained with the company for twenty long years.
Inside the elevator, I looked at him again.
“We’ll handle things from here.”
“No. I’ll see you off.”
Despite my refusal, he stepped into the elevator.
The doors closed, and the car began descending.
“Are you uneasy? Worried I might change my mind because of this situation?”
“...I can’t say I’m not.”
“Things will proceed as planned. Whether Tencent remains our partner depends on CEO Ma’s decision.”
Soon the elevator reached the ground floor.
As I stepped out, I turned to him.
“Zhang Zhidong. What you need to do now is think this through alongside Ma Huateng. It was a pleasure meeting you. Until next time.”
I heard the elevator doors close behind me, but he didn’t step out.
Only the footsteps of Manager Ma and mine echoed through the lobby.
“Let’s head to the hotel.”
The car drove me toward the hotel I had booked.
Watching the familiar-yet-unfamiliar scenery of Shenzhen pass by, I spoke.
“Manager.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Manager Ma turned to me.
“Prepare documents on Zhou Yongkang. I want them by tomorrow.”
“Understood. I’ll make the calls immediately.”
I needed to know whether Zhou Yongkang acted alone... or on Jiang Zemin’s orders.
Only then could I decide how to move next—regardless of what choice Ma Huateng made.
My thoughts deepened like the scenery rushing past the window.
* * *
While Ma Huateng was still alone in the meeting room, lost in thought, Zhang Zhidong headed to his office.
He summoned the three remaining co-founders.
“What’s going on, Zhang?”
The first to arrive was COO Zeng Liqing.
“You’re early. Have a seat.”
Zeng Liqing, who entered cheerfully, noticed the seriousness on Zhang Zhidong’s face and immediately sat down quietly.
“What’s wrong? I’m busy, you kno—”
Grumbling as he entered, Xu Chenye froze the moment he saw Zhang Zhidong’s expression and silently sat.
“What is it? What happened?”
He whispered to Zeng Liqing, who shook his head.
The last to arrive was Chen Yidan.
“You’re all here already? Where’s Ma Huateng?”
“Chen Yidan. Sit.”
Zhang Zhidong spoke in a low voice.
Puzzled, he sat.
Zhang moved from his desk to the sofa and looked each one in the eye.
After a moment of silence, he finally began.
“You all know someone from Dreamhigh Investment visited today, right?”
They nodded. Xu Chenye couldn’t hold back.
“Why? Negotiations went poorly? What did they ask for? Why do you look like that?”
“The meeting wasn’t bad.”
“You said James didn’t come personally.”
Zhang nodded.
“Right. A Korean man named Kim Muhyuk came. And that doesn’t matter—because he’s the real owner of Dreamhigh.”
“...What?”
“And what’s more shocking... he’s connected to Korea’s HS Venture Capital.”
Even mild-tempered Xu Chenye jolted to his feet.
“What?! HS Venture Capital? And you just let him walk out?!”
“Sit. I’m not finished.”
He reluctantly sat again.
“TJ Soft’s Blood Alliance and SY Soft’s Mu Online—he entrusted the China service rights of both games to us.”
“What—seriously?! Don’t joke! I almost fainted!”
Zeng Liqing slapped his hands together in joy.
“It’s no joke. I’m in no mood to joke. Up to that point—everything was good. But then came a problem. A big one.”
“A... problem?”
After a deep breath, Zhang Zhidong explained everything.
The others had never heard any of this.
Only he and Ma Huateng had known.
“So you’re telling me... our company’s fate is being decided by political power? Did I understand that right?”
Chen Yidan gnashed his teeth.
Zhang nodded.
“What are you two doing?! Why is the Party involved in OUR business?!” fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would come to this. But listen—this wasn’t Ma Huateng’s fault. To operate freely, guanxi is essential. His father’s efforts got the Shanghai Clique’s recognition, which allowed us to grow without obstacles. We all benefited from him. You can’t turn on him now. I won’t betray him.”
His cold voice sank the room further.
When Tencent was founded, Ma Huateng provided most of the capital, entitling him to a larger share.
Yet he distributed shares to the others.
He ended up with 47.5%, while the other four held 52.5%.
It was his way of ensuring they could restrain him if he ever made unilateral decisions.
But that no longer mattered.
Tencent now belonged to Dreamhigh.
“That man gave Ma Huateng three choices. Sell Dreamhigh his shares for three hundred million dollars. Or reject the Shanghai Clique and ally completely with him. Or... sell all your shares to someone he chooses and leave the company—and the industry altogether.”
The three fell silent, deep in thought.
After a long while, Zeng Liqing spoke first.
“Selling 46.5% for three hundred million... means he values Tencent over eight hundred million already. Right?”
Zhang nodded.
“If we choose the third option and sell everything, we’ll all become rich. Is everyone satisfied with that?”
None of them were the type to be satisfied with just that.
They all shook their heads.
“If we choose the second option, we’ll still face attacks from the Shanghai Clique. So the best is the first option, right?”
Zhang nodded.
“Chenye, you’re right. It has the least risk... ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) and also the most risk.”
“What does that mean?”
“If Dreamhigh decides to create a company identical to ours—pouring unlimited funds into it—would that still be the best choice? I guarantee it. Within five years, we’d be gone. A Dreamhigh-backed startup would swallow us whole.”
“That’s impossible to know. I don’t believe we’d be pushed aside so easily.”
Solar-optimistic Xu Chenye insisted—but Zhang shook his head.
“That’s because you haven’t met Kim Muhyuk. That man was operating above us. Everything we envision for Tencent—he already had in his head. It’s not just money.”
His intensity made Xu Chenye falter.
“W-What kind of man is he?”
“It was like he had crawled into Ma Huateng’s mind. He knew everything. That’s what scares me. If he becomes our enemy—we won’t survive.”
It was the first time they saw the rational Zhang Zhidong so shaken.
Zeng Liqing and Xu Chenye exchanged uneasy looks.
Finally, Zeng asked cautiously:
“So you’re saying we choose the second option? But what about attacks from the Shanghai Clique?”
“He said he would block them.”
“And is he capable? This is China. Not the U.S. or Korea.”
“He was personally invited by Hu Jintao. If he can’t, then I’ve misjudged him.”
At that moment, Chen Yidan spoke.
“You called us here to unite our stance and persuade Ma Huateng, didn’t you. You’ve already made up your mind.”
Zhang nodded.
“Even if we make enemies of the Shanghai Clique, we must choose him. If he becomes our enemy, we have no future. Power lasts only ten years, wealth lasts forever.”
“If that’s your conclusion, I agree.”
Chen Yidan agreed first. The other two followed.
“So we are all agreed?”
They nodded. Zhang stood.
“Let’s go to Ma Huateng. It’s time to show him our resolve.”
All four co-founders, except Ma Huateng, united.
They marched toward the meeting room with determined faces.
* * *
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, I was drinking coffee and organizing my thoughts.
“Boss, here’s the file on Zhou Yongkang.”
In one day, the documents were ready.
“That was fast.”
“It seemed urgent, so I applied some pressure.”
“Haha. Good work.”
Seeing my expression was stiff, Manager Ma made a rare joke.
It eased me a little. Smiling faintly, I opened the envelope.
“Well then... let’s see what kind of man he is.”
