Who Made Him a Lawyer?

Chapter 445: Chapter 332: Advancing Step by Step

This is not...

Wang Yao was a bit stunned, he didn’t quite understand, what does this mean, "this is not..."

You were the one who said this!

Didn’t you just say it a second ago, how come the next second you’re contradicting yourself? Is the left brain fighting the right brain, with the amygdala doing the thinking?

"Honorable Judge, what we mean is that the defendant’s actions of land grabbing and other series of actions were not conducted for the sake of making money!"

Xu Liang kindly explained.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yao slightly understood, nodded, indicating he was aware.

"Continue," he said.

Xu Liang nodded and began to organize the order of information submission in his mind, then spoke:

"Before I go into that, I want to talk a bit about Zhengyang Mining Company itself."

As he spoke.

His gaze suddenly became sharp, sweeping over many figures, as if a blade, instantly piercing Zhu Haoyi.

Zhu Haoyi’s heart tightened, but he still remained calm, waiting to see what Xu Liang was up to.

"Zhengyang Mining Company was established thirteen years ago by the defendant’s representative, Zhu Haoyi."

"Earlier, Zhu Haoyi studied abroad and lived overseas for about thirty years, returning to Eastern Country at age thirty, and approximately two years later, Mr. Zhu founded Zhengyang Mining Company, becoming a mine owner."

Studied abroad, living overseas for thirty years...

The crowd paused, subconsciously extracting these two key labels, and then frowned.

People’s impressions of returnees are often extreme, either liking or somewhat disliking them, with few in between.

Of course, this is limited to the specific time period of 2005 when Western influences were particularly severe.

Xu Liang’s statement... could be said to have deteriorated some people’s perceptions of Zhu Haoyi again!

First studied abroad for thirty years, then returned to the country, beginning to exploit the locals... how could this not evoke a little anger?

"May I ask the defendant, is what we said true? Is there any false information?"

Xu Liang suddenly questioned the defendant.

The judge’s gaze shifted to the defendant’s seat.

Li Yang and Zhu Haoyi’s gazes darkened, their eyes unclear, they couldn’t figure out what Xu Liang was trying to do.

Finally, they cautiously nodded slightly.

"More or less."

Xu Liang nodded, then continued:

"Zhengyang Mining Company is somewhat different from ordinary mining companies."

"There are many difficulties in operating a mining company, but the absolute biggest are extraction and sales, with sales being the most critical!"

"Zhengyang City doesn’t have many quality mineral veins, most of the iron ore and coal mined are relatively inferior, yet Zhengyang City has no other minerals besides these."

"Theoretically, Zhengyang Mining Company should be barely surviving, lingering around the subsistence level, and it would take at least five years for the mineral veins to turn into cash flow and for the mining company to stabilize gradually!"

In Zhengyang City, iron ore and coal are predominant.

Although iron ore is globally in shortage, but...

Thirteen years ago, the domestic iron ore’s upstream and downstream industry chain was extremely competitive, even to the extent of overcapacity, leading to layoffs and the so-called mass unemployment trend emerging.

In this period, numerous steel plants across the country closed down, the iron ore mined was left unsellable, loans couldn’t be repaid, countless enterprises declared bankruptcy.

Yet ironically, Zhengyang Mining Company still profited from it!

It’s important to know, if it were any other mining company, even if not in its startup phase, a guaranteed death would be its fate!

"According to our investigation, it’s finally determined that Zhengyang Mining Company did not consume this batch of iron ore domestically, but instead shipped it overseas and consumed it internationally."

Xu Liang slowly said, then turned to look at Zhu Haoyi, raising an eyebrow.

"And... the other party purchased it at a high price!"

"Far exceeding the market price, even higher than before the price had dropped!"

"Defendant, am I correct?"

As the words fell, the hearing and the judge’s seats were baffled, their brows slightly furrowed, not knowing what Xu Liang was talking about.

Selling iron ore and mining company startups... what’s the connection with the trial?

It’s important to know, the case they were trying was the murder of Zhang Shan, not for Zhu Haoyi to detail how difficult his entrepreneurial journey was!

But adhering to the most basic rules of a judge, Wang Yao paused, then turned to look at the defendant.

Defendant’s seat.

Zhu Haoyi and Li Yang’s breaths suddenly became heavy, they didn’t know what Xu Liang was pulling, but they still nodded.

Back in the day, they aimed to root their business in Eastern Country using a mining company, initially intending to take a large loan as startup capital, then develop bit by bit.

But... they calculated everything, but simply didn’t calculate that after all the equipment, instruments, land, and workers were settled, the iron ore quickly plummeted in value right after being mined!

The mining company nearly collapsed, and Zhu Haoyi, having no choice, could only reach out to people behind the scenes, asking them to take the risk of exposure to urgently transport funds.

But to cover it up, they disguised it as selling iron ore.

This way... the mining company did not collapse!

"That’s how it was." Zhu Haoyi nodded, admitting.

His voice was very low, as if harboring concerns.

Zhu Haoyi didn’t understand what Xu Liang’s point was bringing this up, maybe the other party... knew something.

"May I ask, why would the other company purchase the mining company’s steel at a high price during a global steel demand slump and capacity decline?"

Xu Liang’s eyes flashed, asking the question.

Zhu Haoyi paused, his heart sank.

Before he could respond, Xu Liang interrupted, bluntly stating:

"Furthermore, after this transaction, the overseas company that bought the steel declared bankruptcy a month later, disappearing altogether!"

"May I ask the opposing representative, do you think this looks reasonable?"

Reasonable?

Reasonable, my ass!

In that environment back then, even begging wouldn’t sell those goods. How could something like this happen? It just doesn’t make sense!

"Our side is not aware, and besides, this is just normal commercial transactions."

Li Yang suddenly spoke up, interrupting Xu Liang’s speech, then anxiously glanced at Wang Yao.

"Your Honor."

"What the opposing counsel mentioned has nothing to do with the case. We request that they address the case specifically, rather than digressing!"

This topic is too dangerous.

If that transaction were discovered, it would definitely make the National Security suspicious of the two!

If suspicion is established, an investigation would follow, and a slight probe would inevitably expose their identities!

Hence, the topic must be diverted!

But what worries Li Yang is why Xu Liang is casually mentioning these cases... What exactly is he after!?

Li Yang’s heart sank to the bottom.

On the bench, Wang Yao frowned, his eyes full of contemplation.

He also realized that what Xu Liang was saying had nothing to do with the case, it was pure nonsense!

However...

’This kid wouldn’t risk being penalized by saying baseless things during the appeal....’

Wang Yao thought to himself.

Although Xu Liang is quite a litigator, Wang Yao also knew that the opponent would never take on a case unrelated or unnecessarily strenuous.

But if the information Xu Liang mentioned was useful, then....

How is that information related to the case!?

"Plaintiff, please continue!"

Wang Yao took a deep breath and looked at Xu Liang to speak.

Hearing this, Xu Liang revealed a slight smile and continued,

"Honorable Judge, please record what I mentioned earlier, the unusual order from Zhengyang Mining Company’s first transaction."

"Following that...."

"It was the second time."

Saying this, Xu Liang produced another set of documents.

The second time?

The crowd raised their eyebrows, somewhat puzzled.

Then they saw Xu Liang organize the materials and slowly began,

"In 2001, 2002, and 2003, during these three years, Eastern Country’s export quota management was in a state of chaotic competition."

"During these three years, a large number of coal mines were being sold at prices twenty percent below the international market price."

"During this period, in 2001, there was an initiative by a mining company to form a Coal Alliance aiming to uniformly set sales prices."

"Initially, major mining companies had reached a cooperation, and all low-priced coal mines from these companies were stopped in preparation for price hikes in sales, but found.... "

"Domestically, people continued to sell large quantities of coal abroad at low prices!"

"Eventually, after several months of standoff, the alliance disbanded, returning to chaos until 2004 when the government implemented the ’Coal Export Quota Management Measures,’ ending such phenomena."

Xu Liang slowly disclosed an event unknown to many.

Wang Yao paused, then became somewhat aware.

He also knew about this issue back then.

Eastern Country’s coal wasn’t poor in quality, yet exporting at extremely low prices had been a chronic problem.

There once was an initiative by mining companies to counter such incidents, at least to prevent the loss of national resources, but it was repeatedly thwarted.

Various phenomena eventually led to the alliance’s disbandment, causing domestic coal to be sold at giveaway prices for decades!

The losses incurred during this period... would have to be calculated in billions!

This was before 2005, and it wasn’t a single digit....

Does this matter... involve Zhengyang Mining Company?

Xu Liang’s eyes suddenly sharpened, turning to look at Zhu Haoyi.

"According to our investigation... when the alliance was tightening the coal mines, Zhengyang Mining Company was making extensive purchases of surplus coal from cash-strapped mining companies in the domestic market!"

"Then selling at extremely low prices, meanwhile, a shell company was involved with Zhengyang Mining Company to maintain low prices through left-hand to right-hand transactions."

"It was precisely because of this that the Coal Alliance disbanded...."

Maintaining prices by passing from left hand to right hand, then slowly selling off some resources to maintain parts of the market demand....

This....

Deliberate?

Wang Yao frowned.

Indeed, even an outsider could see that if Zhu Haoyi did this.

There was definitely a deliberate intent behind it!

It seemed they just wanted... to maintain low coal prices!?

What benefit did this give to Zhu Haoyi? No benefits, only disadvantages in terms of resource loss and foreign parasites feeding off Eastern Country...

Given this... why did Zhengyang Mining Company still do it?

"To the defendant, may I ask if your side has engaged in such events."

Xu Liang asked again, his gaze devoid of emotion, yet it seemed like a mountain pressing on one’s shoulders!

Furthermore.

The audience in the gallery also looked at Zhu Haoyi with peculiar expressions.

Li Yang’s breathing gradually became heavy, but he still sat in the chair responding.

He initially wanted to deny it, but upon seeing the document in Xu Liang’s hands, he stopped abruptly, after much deliberation, he slowly answered,

"Yes, but not entirely."