in2ebook Chapter 161 Goodbye Xiahou Wu
Chapter 161 Goodbye Xiahou Wu
If it is a mature fighting event, there are many formal means to make money, such as corporate sponsorship, ticket sales, and derivative product sales, so there is naturally no need to worry about the organizer not making money.
However, the boxing championship tournament organized by the prince and others is only in its second year and is not well-known. The reason they made money last year was entirely due to underground betting and rigged events, which made them a huge profit.
Although they made money, there were many people who shared it. The bosses who supported them wanted the lion's share, and the network of relationships required money to maintain. When it really came to the prince and his men, it wasn't as much as they had imagined. It could only be said to be a small profit.
After those behind-the-scenes bosses tasted the sweetness last year, many people joined the game this year and increased their investment. This is actually not a bad thing for the prince and others. With someone willing to invest money, they can just make the event bigger and stronger.
At the beginning of the year, in order to organize the event successfully, several princes went abroad to build relationships and organized this year's multi-national boxing championship.
In order to increase the popularity, a lot of money was invested in publicity. In the end, the boxing match became more and more popular and had a greater influence.
Then a few people became miserable. Some people took a fancy to this business and started picking peaches.
The person who picked the peaches had a strong background and persuaded the government departments, so the boxing match was transformed into a semi-official event.
Fortunately, the prince and his men had their own backers, and they united together, so they were not kicked out directly.
While not completely eliminated, they were still unwilling to accept being ripped off. Later, underworld figures from several countries, along with their respective bosses, formed a gambling scheme. One team invested $300 million, and seven teams, totaling $2.1 billion, were at stake. Whichever team won the gold medal would take home the $2.1 billion.
The reason why the prince and his gang dared to agree to this bet was that they were quite confident that they had a master on their hands.
This master is the boxing champion of last year. He is proficient in many kinds of boxing styles. I heard that the prince could not last more than fifty moves in his hands.
This involved a $2.1 billion bet, so naturally, all sorts of schemes and intrigues were involved. Any underhanded tactics were possible. This man had been in trouble last month, poisoned to death.
In fact, the prince and his men were also veterans, and they had made many arrangements for this man's safety. Nearly a hundred people were guarding him with guns 24 hours a day. In addition, there were also special people responsible for his food and drink. Furthermore, this man was not allowed to go out freely, and he stayed in the villa to train every day.
After making so many arrangements, I thought everything was foolproof, but I didn't expect that everything would be ruined in the end because of a woman.
This man is fond of women. In order to appease him, the prince and his men arrange a woman to go to the villa every week.
The prince and his men had found the person, and they had also conducted an inspection when they entered the villa to ensure that they had nothing with them. However, some things are truly hard to guard against. A woman smeared a slow-acting poison on herself, dodging the inspection and ultimately allowing the boxing champion to fall victim.
This man's death immediately sent the Prince and his men into a panic. Of the three hundred million dollars in Hong Kong, the eight Princes had pooled over a hundred million. If they lost, some might be wiped out. Furthermore, after letting the behind-the-scenes bosses lose so much money, it was uncertain whether they would let it go.
There are few good people among those in the underworld, especially when it comes to interests of tens of millions, they will be even more conscienceless.
The prince and his men wanted Lu Yongqiang to send people to participate in the boxing match, but they didn't want Lu Yongqiang to get a share of the profits, so they kept silent about the 2.1 billion US dollar bet and did not tell Lu Yongqiang what dangers he would face if he sent people to participate in the boxing match.
It was already the third day after meeting Gao Lao and Fat Cat when Lu Yongqiang met Xiyan again.
During these few days, Xiyan and his team had actually gone to Stanley to meet Xiahou Wu, wanting to make a deal with him. They wanted to find a way to get Xiahou Wu out of prison, and after he was released from prison, Xiahou Wu would participate in the boxing championship.
Just like rejecting Yongqiang, Xiahou Wu refused directly. He would be released from prison in a little over a year, so he naturally didn't want to participate in any boxing match. No matter how the Xiyan people coerced and lured him, Xiahou Wu just refused.
There was no other way. Xiyan and the others thought of Lu Yongqiang again, which led to Xiyan's meeting with Lu Yongqiang.
After the two met, Xiyan told Lu Yongqiang everything about the gambling and promised to let him participate in the gambling, with the shares divided equally among the nine of them.
Lu Yongqiang was desperately short of money, so how could he get more than 10 million US dollars to participate in the gambling? After Xiyan finished speaking, he remained silent.
Seeing that Lu Yongqiang didn't say anything, Xiyan said, "Qiangzi, are you dissatisfied with me?"
Lu Yongqiang raised his head and glanced at Xi Yan, then said, "Boss, what are you talking about? Isn't it always like this when you're on the street? What do I have to be dissatisfied with?
I was just thinking that I would not participate in this gambling game. I don’t have such a huge fortune as some of the big bosses, and I can’t easily take out so much money.
But if you want me to help persuade Xiahou Wu, I can agree to it, but I can't work in vain. If the matter is completed, won't I get some benefits?"
After Lu Yongqiang finished speaking, Xiyan was a little surprised. He didn't expect that Lu Yongqiang was not interested in the gambling.
"Qiangzi, you should have some understanding of Xiahou Wu's strength. If he's willing to participate in the boxing match, he'll definitely win the championship. That's 2.1 billion US dollars. Even if the nine of us can only get one-third, that's still hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars each. With so much money, aren't you tempted at all?"
Of course Lu Yongqiang was tempted by the several hundred million, but even if he won the boxing match, the money would not be easy to get, and if he was not careful, there might be a big mess.
Lu Yongqiang thought that he had some influence in his small territory in Hong Kong City, but this matter involved seven places and so many people from both the black and white worlds. If a big mess really broke out, he might not be able to protect himself.
Lu Yongqiang smiled and said, "Boss, a few hundred million is not just a few thousand yuan. Of course I want it. But I know my own limitations. I'll eat according to my ability. If I don't have that ability, I won't reach out recklessly. Instead of being ignorant of the sky and the earth and greedy for money that doesn't belong to me, it's better to stop while I'm ahead, ask for a kickback, and then pocket the money."
Hearing what Lu Yongqiang said, Xiyan patted Lu Yongqiang on the shoulder, then said with a smile: "Qiangzi, you are a cunning boy. Others don't know how strong you are, but I can't hide it from you. Your strength is not weaker than any of us.
But this matter does involve considerable risks. If you are unwilling to participate, I will not advise you otherwise.
As for the kickback you're asking for, it shouldn't be a big problem, but the specific amount I can give you is not something I can decide on my own. I need to discuss it with a few of us before I can give you a reply."
That night, Xiyan had someone deliver a check for 20 million to Lu Yongqiang, and also said that there would be another surprise after the matter was completed.
Lu Yongqiang didn't hesitate and took the check directly. He went to meet Xia Houwu the next day.
In an apartment near Stanley, a table full of delicious food was set on the dining table in the living room, and Lu Yongqiang and Xiahou Wu sat facing each other on either side of the table.
The apartment belonged to a corrections officer at Stanley Correctional Service. Lu Yongqiang had given him $500,000 to bring Xia Houwu out of Stanley for a meal. This led to their current meeting.
Lu Yongqiang said, "Mr. Xiahou Wu, I'm so sorry! I took the initiative to have you brought out without your consent."
Xiahou Wu frowned and said, "Is Guijianchou your man? Are all you gangsters so wild now? You're trying to put a nail in the prison."
Lu Yongqiang smiled and shook his head, saying, "Ghost Sees Sorrow is not my man. I only spent 500,000 for this meeting today."
"Five hundred thousand?" Xiahou Wu was stunned for a moment and said, "Mr. Lu, are you telling me that if I have money I can do whatever I want?"
Lu Yongqiang shook his head and said, "Although I am rich, I will not spend half a million on such a boring thing. The reason I spent this money to arrange this meeting is that I don't want others to know that I have met you.
After our last meeting, I took the liberty of inquiring about your past, Mr. Xiahou. Honestly, your former enemies were too powerful, and I, Lu, with my limited resources, simply couldn't afford to provoke them.
If someone hadn't approached me and asked me to find a way to persuade Mr., and it was difficult for me to refuse, to be honest, I really didn't want to see Mr. again. "
Xiahou Wu was also a smart man. As soon as Lu Yongqiang finished speaking, he immediately guessed Lu Yongqiang's intention. He said, "Mr. Lu, you are meeting me this time not to ask me to be your bodyguard, but to persuade me to participate in a boxing match?"
Lu Yongqiang nodded and said, "Sir, you are a sensible person. I met you this time to persuade you to participate in the boxing match."
"Boxing match?" Xiahou Wu's face changed and he said, "After I accidentally killed someone in the boxing ring that year, I made up my mind that I would never go to the ring to box again in this life. Mr. Lu, I'm sorry that you have made a trip in vain. I will definitely not participate in the boxing match." As he spoke, Xiahou Wu stood up and prepared to leave.
When Xiahou Wu was about to reach the door of the room, Lu Yongqiang said coldly, "Xiahou Wu, this boxing match may be your only chance to leave Stanley in your life. Are you sure you want to give up like this?"
As Lu Yongqiang finished speaking, Xiahou Wu turned around and looked at Lu Yongqiang with an ugly expression, then said sternly: "Are you threatening me?"
Lu Yongqiang said, "I'm not threatening you. I'm just stating a fact. They went to so much trouble to send you to Stanley. Do you think they just wanted you to stay there for five years? Do you think they would watch you get out of prison and then seek revenge on them?"
As Lu Yongqiang spoke, Xiahou Wu's face became uglier. He said sternly, "I was wrong when I accidentally killed someone. So I willingly pleaded guilty and went to jail to atone for my sins.
Since I willingly pleaded guilty back then, it means that what happened back then is over. How could I hold a grudge? How could I seek revenge on them after I get out of prison? Your talk is simply nonsense."
"Nonsense?" Lu Yongqiang said coldly, "Xiahou Wu, why do you have to deceive yourself? Do you think they will believe you and not bear grudges against them? Do you think they will believe you and not seek revenge on them after you are released from prison?"