Chapter 523: Wanshang's Talent Strategic Layout

Having resolved the workers' concerns, Li Yaozong turned his gaze to a more distant future—Wanshang's hundred‑year foundation must be forged with talent.

On October 8, 2011, just after the National Day holiday, the conference room of Wanxiang Dasha was once again filled with people.

Li Yaozong stood by the window, looking at the distant Fenghuang Mountain. Autumn sunlight lit the ridges sharply, layers of green in varying shades, like a massive oil painting.

He silently tallied in his mind—Wanshang now has 1.2 million employees, but how many truly master core technology and can lead the future?

The door opened, and people arrived one after another.

Li Yaozong turned around, walked back to the head seat and sat down.

"Today's meeting won't discuss performance or the market."

He scanned the room.

"Science and technology are the primary productive force, talent is the key; today we'll talk about talent cultivation."

Chen Feng was the first to speak.

"General Manager Li, our chip team is short of staff. Especially those who can do architecture design—there are fewer than five hundred nationwide. Recruiting costs keep rising; sometimes even offering triple salary, they still won't come."

Li Yaozong nodded.

"This problem isn't limited to chips. Systems, video, automotive, live streaming—none of them lack people."

He paused.

"So today, we'll set a few rules to govern talent cultivation for the next ten to twenty years."

He gestured toward Wang Bo.

Wang Bo opened the notebook in front of him.

"General Manager Li outlined four directions; I'll start, and everyone can add."

"First, establish a Creator Academy."

Wang Bo pulled up a PPT and projected it onto the screen.

"Fenghuang Broadcast has been online for three months, with registered creators surpassing two million. Yet fewer than one percent actually go viral. Most newcomers post a few videos, get no views, and quit."

He pointed to the data on the screen.

"Our research shows newcomers lack not equipment or ideas, but methods. How to shoot attractively? How to edit appealingly? How to interact with fans? No one teaches that."

Zhou Ye interjected.

"Video techniques can also be taught. How to light, how to record sound, how to color‑grade. Fenghuang Cut has those functions, but many people don't know how to use them."

Li Yaozong looked at Wang Bo.

"What's your plan?"

Wang Bo was already prepared.

"Combine online and offline. Online, we'll open an official account on Fenghuang Broadcast and post tutorial short videos daily. Offline, in Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu we'll run intensive training camps, fifty people per session, three days and two nights, with meals and lodging included."

He paused.

"Instructors will be hired from top creators and paid for their lessons. After trainees finish, they must submit assignments; the outstanding ones will be signed directly for support."

Zhao Ming raised his hand.

"What about the budget?"

Wang Bo flipped through the pages.

"The first year is estimated at about 20 million."

Li Yaozong nodded.

"Do it. Not only cultivate creators, but also develop our own content operations."

"Second, internal cultivation—study abroad."

Wang Bo switched to the next slide.

"Wanshang now has 3,700 employees with master's degrees or higher, and 320 with doctorates. Most of them graduated from prestigious domestic universities."

He looked at Li Yaozong.

"But cutting‑edge technology remains abroad. The best chip design is in the United States, the strongest automotive technology is in Germany, and AI algorithms lead in the United States."

Chen Feng added.

"We now work on chips; many materials are public papers, but the core stuff must be learned over there."

Li Yaozong looked at him.

"You mean sending people abroad?"

Chen Feng nodded.

"Send a batch of people to the United States, Germany, Japan to pursue master's or doctoral degrees, or work in research institutes there for a few years."

He Xiao frowned.

"What if they go and don't come back?"

The conference room fell silent for a second.

Li Yaozong looked at Chen Anbang.

Chen Anbang cleared his throat.

"Legally we can sign a contract. The company pays, and after graduation they must return to serve for at least five years. If they breach, they pay five times the amount."

He Xiao laughed.

"Five times? How much would that be?"

Chen Anbang did the calculation.

"Studying a two‑year master's in the United States costs about 500,000 per year for tuition and living expenses. Two years, one million. Five times that is five million."

Zhou Ye stuck out his tongue.

"Five million is enough to buy an apartment in Beijing."

Wang Bo said from the side.

"If they really don't come back, even five million can't stop them. The key is to find a way to make them willing to return."

Li Yaozong nodded.

"Well said."

He looked at the people present.

"When sending people out, we must choose those who have affection and a sense of belonging to the company. After they go, keep in touch and care about their lives. When they graduate, give them good positions and good benefits."

He paused.

"People strive for higher ground. If we build that high ground, they'll naturally return."

"Third, cooperate with universities."

Wang Bo turned the page.

"Top domestic universities—Tsinghua, Peking University, Fudan, Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, Harbin Institute of Technology—all have our alumni. We can set up joint labs, scholarships, and targeted training."

Liu Yang raised his hand.

"The screen part is the cooperative foundation with Changchun Guangji. It can be expanded."

Chen Feng continued.

"For chip design, we can cooperate with Tsinghua's Microelectronics Institute. Their basic research is strong; we provide funding and share the results."

Zhao Ming thought for a moment.

"For system software, we can cooperate with the National University of Defense Technology. Their operating system is well done."

Li Yaozong listened as each of them spoke.

After everyone finished speaking, he finally spoke.

"When cooperating with universities, we must pay attention to two points."

He raised one finger.

"First, money must be provided, but not for free. For cooperative projects, Wanshang must have priority usage rights. For result commercialization, Wanshang must have priority investment rights."

He raised another finger.

"Second, talent must be recruited. Students who perform well during the cooperation should be locked in early. After graduation they can join Wanshang directly without another interview."

Fang Wenshan added from the side.

"This can be used for publicity. It also helps university recruitment, attracting more outstanding students to apply for related majors."

Li Yaozong nodded.

"The publicity department should cooperate to turn school‑enterprise cooperation into a brand."

"Fourth, the Wanshang Research Institute."

Wang Bo turned to the last page.

"Basic research, future direction. The institute should study what the world will need in five or ten years, and what Wanshang should do."

He pointed at several keywords on the screen.

"New energy, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, new materials, quantum computing…"

He Xiao looked at those words and was silent for a few seconds.

"New energy, cars will definitely need it. Battery technology and motor technology must be planned in advance."

Zhou Ye responded.

"Artificial intelligence is already used in video. Recommendation algorithms, content moderation, smart editing—all rely on AI."

Chen Feng thought for a moment.

"New materials are needed for chips. Next‑generation semiconductor materials—silicon carbide, gallium nitride—are already being developed abroad."

Wang Bo added.

"Also crisis management. The institute needs a mechanism to monitor black‑swan events, such as sudden technology bans or abrupt market changes, and how to respond."

Li Yaozong listened and nodded.

"The institute's role is not to make products, but to make forecasts."

He looked at the people present.

"Allocate one hundred billion each year and invest it. We don't expect immediate profit, but we must ensure Wanshang stays on course."

The conference room fell silent for a few seconds.

Zhang Yuan raised his hand.

"President Li, I have an addition."

Li Yaozong gestured for him to speak.

Zhang Yuan stood up.

"Now each department works in isolation. Chip designers don't understand systems, system engineers don't understand video, video teams don't understand automobiles. As technology becomes more integrated, we need a mechanism for cross‑department communication and rotation."

He paused.

"For example, let chip designers spend six months in the automotive side to learn their needs. Let video developers spend six months in the systems side to learn how to cooperate."

Zhao Ming nodded.

"That's good. Rotation can cultivate multidisciplinary talent."

He Xiao also agreed.

"The automotive side welcomes it. The more people who understand chips and software, the better our cars will be."

Li Yaozong looked at Zhang Yuan.

"This suggestion is approved. Later HR will draft a plan."

Liu Yang raised his hand.

"I'll add one as well."

He looked at Li Yaozong.

"When we recruit now, we look at education and experience. But some people have low education yet strong hands‑on ability. For example, line technicians who have worked twenty years understand the craft better than a freshly graduated PhD."

He paused.

"These people should also have a path for advancement. They shouldn't stay on the assembly line forever."

Li Yaozong looked at him.

"What are your thoughts?"

Liu Yang thought for a moment.

"Internal technician grading: junior, intermediate, senior, special. Once graded, the compensation matches that of an engineer. Give them a future as well."

He Xiao tapped the table beside him.

"That's good. In my automotive division there are many veteran technicians whose skills surpass anyone's, but they lack formal education. Give them a title, and they'll work with more vigor."

Li Yaozong nodded.

"Set up the technician system as soon as possible."

Fang Wenshan raised his hand.

"Director Li, the publicity department also has an idea."

"Go ahead."

"We do so much talent development; we need to let the outside world know. The Creator Academy, overseas study, university collaborations, research institute—each is a story."

He paused.

"When the stories are told well, they attract more talent. Young people will want to join a company that values talent."

Li Yaozong smiled.

"You're turning the talent strategy into a brand."

Fang Wenshan nodded.

"Exactly. A brand is attraction."

Lin Jiawen, the last, raised his hand.

"Director Li, the bank side can cooperate on some matters."

He looked at Li Yaozong.

"For example, an employee children's education fund. After five years of service, if a child enters university, the bank can provide a low‑interest loan. After ten years, they can apply for a scholarship."

He paused.

"Also, employee housing loans. Wanshang employees buying a house in Shenzhen receive preferential rates from the bank."

The conference room fell silent for a few seconds.

He Xiao spoke first.

"That's good. Retaining people isn't just about salary; it also depends on family."

Li Yaozong looked at Lin Jiawen.

"Can the bank approve the children's education fund and housing loans?"

Lin Jiawen nodded.

"Yes. It's the bank's own policy and not a violation."

Li Yaozong thought for a moment.

"Let's start with a pilot. Choose a few factories in Shenzhen, run a one‑year trial. If it works well, we expand."

The meeting ran from 2 p. m. to 6 p. m.

In four hours, they went through every aspect of the talent strategy.

Creator Academy, overseas study, university collaborations, Wanshang Research Institute, job rotation system, technician grading, children's education fund, housing loans…

Each item corresponded to a problem.

Each item pointed toward the future.

Li Yaozong, after hearing everyone's remarks, stood up.

"What we decided today isn't a one‑ or two‑year matter; it's a ten‑ or twenty‑year matter."

He looked around.

"For Wanshang to become a centennial enterprise, it needs a centennial talent plan."

He paused.

"Some of those present today may not see the results. But your successors will, and their successors will as well."

He looked at each person.

"This is inheritance."

When the meeting adjourned, it was already dark.

Li Yaozong stood by the window, watching the distant lights.

Fenghuang Mountain vanished into the night, but the R&D center at its foot was brightly lit.

Under those lights, countless young people were working overtime, learning, growing.

Some of them would be sent to the United States for further study.

Some would explore the future in the research institute.

Some would become the next generation's technical backbone.

He recalled his father's family maxim.

"Be modest in conduct, bold in deeds. Keep compassion in your heart."