Vicious dogs in Hong Kong, entrepreneurs practicing evil cultivation

Chapter 118 An Irresistible Dog

Oriental Daily News front page news report:

"Mad Dogs Devour Stockholders' Flesh and Blood: A Righteous Teacher Exposes Financial Wolves"

Chen Guanjiang made a fortune through stock speculation, earning at least HK$4 million. After reaping profits from investors, he burst the financial bubble, causing a stock market crash. He only cared about his own interests and didn't care about the fate of investors.

...............

The article sparked a strong reaction after its publication.

Led by the Ma family, many people blocked the entrance to the Yanxun newspaper office, holding up various signs and clamoring for Chen Guanjiang to hand over the money.

Many investors who suffered heavy losses responded strongly, condemning Chen Guanjiang's rampant money-making behavior and arguing that since he had already made so much money, he should use some of it to compensate for their losses.

Unexpectedly, the most vocal objection came from the parents, who believed that Chen Guanjiang did not deserve so much money for failing to save someone in distress, and that family members were not as good as outsiders.

Unfortunately, Zhou Zhanqiao dismissed them with just a phone call.

In the stock market, profits and losses are the responsibility of the decision-makers; this is a fundamental principle of the financial market. Even the Hong Kong government cannot hold Chan Kwun-kong accountable for this on such grounds.

Stock trading is different from earning interest; it's a zero-sum game where someone wins and someone else loses. If those who profit have to be responsible for those who lose, stocks won't circulate, let alone the financial market will prosper.

The Ma family didn't expect things to go so easily; they just wanted to create some trouble for Chen Guanjiang. A strong fortress is often breached from within.

………………

Yau Tsim Mong District, Koh Sun News Agency.

Tang Yufei knocked on the door and exclaimed, "President Chen, something terrible has happened! The entire 'Dog Insights' team has resigned, all the information in the 'Dog Insights' section is wrong, and today's newspaper has been discontinued..."

Chen Guanjiang already had the answer in his mind, and asked again to confirm, "Did Hao Yuze sign it?"

"Yes!" Tang Yufei nodded.

Every day, the layout must be signed and confirmed by the editor-in-chief and deputy editor-in-chief before it can be printed.

If the editor-in-chief, Tang Yufei, pointed out the problem, then the one who must have caused the problem was the deputy editor-in-chief, Hao Yuze.

Fortunately, before deciding to confront the Ma family head-on, Chen Guanjiang ordered that all typesetting and printing must be cross-checked; otherwise, the publication of incorrect information would become a laughing stock.

Did he resign?

"I'm processing my resignation!"

"Let him in."

Tang Yufei bowed slightly and went out to call for someone.

A moment later, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Hao Yuze pushed open the door and entered, looking down at Chen Guanjiang with a blank expression. His attitude clearly said everything.

"sit!"

Chen Guanjiang smiled as Hao Yuze took his seat and continued, "You really are foolish to betray me at a time like this."

Do you think I wanted this?

Hao Yuze pointed at Tang Yufei, furious, and said, "Isn't it because you're too biased towards Tang Yufei! What do I lack compared to him? Why can he go to TVB but I can't?"

It is easy to share hardship, but difficult to share wealth.

Before the acquisition of "Wang Gou Daily", Hao Yuze, the head of the information editorial department, and Tang Yufei, the head of the communication and distribution department, were completely equals, managing different departments.

Even then, when the newspaper was on the verge of collapse, their monthly salary as managers was no more than HK$500.

Now, they not only have better platforms, but also a basic salary of over HK$1000 per month.

But I just won't accept it!

It's one thing for Tang Yufei to become the editor-in-chief since there's only one position, but why was he the one transferred to TVB?

Everyone knows that the TV station has a brighter future, and Chen Guanjiang's favoritism is so excessive that it makes him want to change his mind.

"..."

Tang Yufei smiled awkwardly and did not explain anything.

We only see the thief eating meat, but we don't see the thief getting beaten. No one knows what price Tang Yufei paid to gain this trust.

"Ha ha ha ha…"

Chen Guanjiang laughed and asked, "Do you know why most top positions are filled by people parachuted in, while deputy positions are rarely promoted to take over?"

“…………”

Hao Yuze was taken aback by this irrelevant answer.

Chen Guanjiang continued with a smile: "Because if deputies are allowed to take over directly, then all the deputies will try every means to overthrow the head."

"To avoid this situation, the head of the department will try every means to divide the power of the deputy."

"In this way, the two positions of principal and deputy will fall into endless and pointless struggles, forcing employees to take sides and exacerbating the conflict."

"In the end, no matter who wins or loses, the only ones who will suffer losses are the company and the boss, and they will continue to struggle with the subsequent head or deputy head, in a vicious cycle."

"Therefore, if a person in a leading or deputy position has outstanding work performance, the correct way to continue to advance is to be transferred to another position."

"In this way, the career advancement path is preserved, the company is prevented from getting caught up in endless and pointless power struggles, and the top and deputy leaders can focus on their work without any conflict of interest..."

Management is a comprehensive interdisciplinary field that studies the laws, methods, and patterns used to improve organizational efficiency.

Its core is to achieve predetermined goals by integrating human, financial, and material resources through planning, organizing, leading, and controlling its functions.

Many seemingly counterintuitive decisions become traceable once you study management principles.

Things are simple, people are complex.

Chen Guanjiang cannot be perfect in every aspect. If you want to get things done, you can't do without people. If you want to get things done, you have to learn how to use people. Management is truly an art.

"So, the one going to Wi-Fi... is me?"

Hao Yuze asked blankly, looking at Tang Yufei beside him in disbelief, who nodded slightly.

"Otherwise what?"

Chen Guanjiang said with barely concealed disappointment, "Who is related to whom, who has a past relationship with whom? The interests, blood ties, and feelings within TVB are all intertwined and cannot be distinguished."

"In the past, Tang Yufei had to be ruthless in his expansion, carving out a place for himself from the monolithic wireless network. He offended many people, and that's how he made enemies."

"It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. If you stay at TVB, you'll be targeted at any time. It would be better to transfer back to the news agency and stay there until you've stabilized your position at TVB before jumping over or being promoted to another position."

"Although my cash flow can be converted into gold, I will eventually convert it into industry. But I come from a poor family and don't have many people I can trust. You are my original team."

"In other words, no matter who goes to Wireless, when I conduct a large-scale asset reshuffle, almost everyone in my most trusted team will have a chance for promotion, right?"

While relying on fear to maintain power is the simplest and most effective method, it is also extremely unstable.

Today, Chen Guanjiang no longer needs to use violence to manage, nor does he need to manipulate executives by tarnishing their reputations; instead, he has escalated to the stage of using bribery.

From the very beginning, Chan Kwun-kong decided to send Hao Yu-ze to TVB, not only to avoid factional infighting within the company, but also to acknowledge Hao Yu-ze's diligent work ethic.

More importantly, it demonstrates to other executives that there is a path to advancement for those who follow Chen Guanjiang, and as long as this path exists, the loyalty of his subordinates can be ensured.

Instead of fighting for a few positions through internal strife, this approach greatly facilitates management while also fostering unity and cohesion, thus entering the second stage of power operation.

"Mr. Chen... I..."

Hao Yuze felt a lump in his throat, unsure how to defend himself. His promising future had vanished before his eyes, and he had ended up being accused of betrayal.

"What position did the Oriental Daily News promise you?"

"Editor-in-Chief..."

"Haha! Editor-in-chief?"

Chen Guanjiang laughed loudly and said, "The Ma family has Ma Chengkun and Ma Tingqiang in charge on the surface, and Ma Xiru and Lin Shunquan secretly directing things behind the scenes. The editor-in-chief... is just a figurehead."

As the Ma family's family business, the Oriental Newspaper is also their only voice and talisman. Even if they don't trust the Ma family, the Lin family, how can they rely on outsiders?

The so-called editor-in-chief is just someone with a higher salary; he has absolutely no power that the editor-in-chief of Hong Kong's second-largest newspaper should have.

Without power, there is no social status. As a treacherous outsider, he was sidelined from the beginning and had no possibility of gaining power.

"..."

Hao Yuze smiled bitterly, unsure of what to say.

From Chen Guanjiang's resentment when he gave Tang Yufei a high position, to his jealousy when Tang Yufei was able to work at TVB, he became emotional and made a big mistake when he was slightly won over by the Ma family.

In retrospect, it seems that staying at the Koo News and being promoted to editor-in-chief at the Oriental Daily News is less advantageous than being a manager at the Koo News.

Go!

Chen Guanjiang smiled with great interest: "Just like how you secretly contacted the disbanded dog trading team at the Yanxun News, you also secretly contacted their horse trading team after joining the Oriental Daily News."

"Once I have settled the score with the Ma family, as long as you can bring back the Ma Jing team and the Gou Jing team, I will grant you redemption, forgive your past mistakes, and keep your current treatment."

"You...you're serious?" Hao Yuze thought he was hallucinating.

"Of course it's true!"

Why?

Overwhelmed with shame, Hao Yuze pressed on, "I have already betrayed you, so why are you still using me?"

"In my eyes, there is no betrayal, only self-interest!"

Chen Guanjiang continued nonchalantly, "According to the plan, I will make my move after MacLehose, and severely damage the Oriental Daily News in one fell swoop, thereby taking control of the Malaysian newspaper and becoming the number one newspaper in Hong Kong."

"I have always been confident of defeating the Ma family, but once the Ma family's defeat is certain, other newspapers will definitely compete for the Hong Kong horse racing market, which is an outcome I do not want to see."

"I need you to infiltrate the Oriental Daily News, familiarize yourself with the management and operations of the Ma Jing team, and after the Ma family's downfall, bring them all to work for the Yao Xun newspaper..."

The reason Chen Guanjiang did not attack the Ma family was that he was worried that if the Ma family fell, the newspapers would divide up the Ma Jing market, which would be tantamount to doing the work for others.

By following the general trend and pressing forward in one go, before other newspapers can react, there is a chance to take over the entire horse racing team of Oriental Daily News.

Ma Chengkun's desperate gamble disrupted all of Chen Guanjiang's plans, forcing him to take action against the Ma family ahead of schedule while also trying to swallow up the Ma Jing team of the Oriental Daily News.

As for Hao Yuze…

People change with time and environment!

Back then, the one who wrote "To die a quick death with a knife, to live up to my youthful ideals," how selfless and righteous was he when he assassinated the regent? After losing the power struggle, he was unwilling to become a dog for the island nation.

However, in his later years, when he was in unbearable pain, his greatest wish was to return to China to stand trial.

With unwavering loyalty and patriotism, Yue Fei dedicated his life to resisting the Jin dynasty and welcoming the two emperors. Yet, the army he commanded was called the Yue Family Army. What kind of army would be named after its own family name?

Moreover, without the need for government supplies, they independently cultivated 18 shi of rice, employed merchants who generated an annual profit of 116 million guan, and their family's real estate and wineries generated an annual profit of 42 guan, enough to support the army's expenses for three months.

Self-financing of provisions and military involvement in commerce—this was the true nature of warlords. If they were to truly welcome the two emperors back to court, Emperor Gaozong of Song, Zhao Gou, would have no choice but to abdicate. This would be legally untenable and would constitute a coup d'état.

Throughout history, no deposed crown prince has ever survived, let alone an emperor who has abdicated.

Furthermore, after welcoming back the two emperors, they were placed in the hands of Yue Fei. Who would it be? Wang Mang? Or Cao Cao? Or even Zhao Kuangyin?

When there is no other choice, one must be righteous and eloquent.

When faced with a choice, who can say for sure?

Whether it's Tang Yufei or Hao Yuze, in Chen Guanjiang's eyes there is no absolute right or wrong, loyalty or treachery, only different choices made by each person according to the times and interests.

If one day, with a gun to his head, Chen Guanjiang himself is not sure if he will betray him, so what right does he have to expect absolute loyalty from his subordinates?

Since Hao Yuze's betrayal and the loss of the Dog Jing team are already established facts, no amount of anger can change that.

Conversely, Hao Yuze secretly reorganized the scattered Dog Jing team, packaged them up, and sent them back to the Oriental Daily to gain the Ma family's trust.

If the Ma family ultimately falls, Hao Yuze will have nowhere to go, and returning with the Ma Jing and Gou Jing teams from the Oriental Daily News will be the best option.

"I...I..."

Hao Yuze didn't know how to answer. He had just betrayed the Yanxun News Agency, and before he could even take a new position, he was about to choose to betray again?

"No need to say anything, I won't believe you no matter what you say."

Chen Guanjiang stood up, patted Hao Yuze on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "You just need to do your job well at the Oriental Newspaper. When the Ma family falls, your choice will be the answer."

Hao Yuze left in a daze, and Tang Yufei couldn't help but ask, "President Chen, after the Ma family's downfall, if Deputy Editor-in-Chief Hao can really bring back the 'Dog Classics' and 'Ma Classics' teams, will you really forgive and forget about it?"

"Let bygones be bygones? Are you kidding me!"

Chen Guanjiang smiled and continued, "I don't hate Hao Yuze. On the contrary, I'm very grateful to him. It's always better to see a person clearly sooner rather than later when they make a bigger mistake."

"At the same time, I respect everyone's choices, and there is no law or reason that requires unconditional loyalty."

"It's perfectly normal and understandable to choose to betray when faced with conditions that are beneficial to one's own development! But in this matter, we absolutely cannot let bygones be bygones."

"If a traitor harms the company's interests, and all past transgressions can be forgiven simply by returning sufficient resources, doesn't that mean anyone can do it? How can the company be managed in the long run?"

"..."

Tang Yufei's understanding of this unscrupulous boss has been refreshed once again.

Since Hao Yuze's departure is a fait accompli, we should try our best to mitigate the losses and even turn it into a favorable condition for ourselves.

Clearly, Hao Yuze, who was not very bright to begin with, neither saw through Chen Guanjiang's cultivation of him nor his scheming against him.

Or perhaps, Hao Yuze's personal and professional abilities are excellent, but his workplace and management skills are limited to this, so his departure doesn't seem like a loss...