Chapter 1121: Shell the Corn Before Leaving

"Hey, Xuewu, you didn't go to the signing ceremony with the French businessmen?"

In the third-floor corridor, Cheng Kaiyuan saw Li Xuewu passing by his office door and proactively stood up to greet him.

Li Xuewu turned his head and responded with a smile: "Deputy Director Cheng, I didn't go along; Director Ding accompanied the leader."

"Come, come, I was just looking to chat with you about the inspection team from the Fengcheng First Machinery Factory."

Cheng Kaiyuan called Li Xuewu into the room and simultaneously instructed his secretary to make tea.

"Don't bother, I already had some at Deputy Director Gu's place."

Li Xuewu waved his hand, stopped Zhang Shicheng, and sat down opposite Cheng Kaiyuan's desk.

Zhang Shicheng knew Li Xuewu didn't smoke, so he didn't step forward to offer a cigarette or light one.

"This was something from last week," Cheng Kaiyuan had a cigarette in his mouth, but seeing Li Xuewu had quit, he took a hard drag and snuffed it out in the ashtray.

"Old Xia came to me to handle the personnel transfer procedures, and I asked an extra question."

Cheng Kaiyuan looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "I heard you're going to split up the First Machinery Factory, right? Is there a concrete execution plan?"

"Not yet. If there were, it would definitely be reported to you first."

Don't look at Li Xuewu's relationship with Cheng Kaiyuan as average; their working relationship was very normal.

The Red Star Factory's administrative management system was prepared and formulated by Li Xuewu, and he hadn't left any backdoors for himself at all.

And he wasn't prepared to destroy his own Great Wall by being the first person to violate the administrative system.

Even Li Huai De didn't want to see anyone violate the established administrative system and play little tricks like "one word, one pen."

Therefore, Li Xuewu said that there was an execution plan to merge the Fengcheng First Machinery Factory, and it definitely had to be communicated with Cheng Kaiyuan.

His current situation at the Management Committee had eased, and Li Huai De didn't want internal instability or any mistakes at this time.

If it caused any interference with enterprise upgrading and conglomeration, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Honestly, Li Xuewu still recognized Cheng Kaiyuan's work ability, especially in production.

Kuang Yusheng had also praised Cheng Kaiyuan to Li Xuewu in private.

Of course, regarding the things the other party had done in organizational life, Kuang Yusheng was also extremely annoyed.

But this didn't hinder a comprehensive and positive evaluation of Cheng Kaiyuan as a person; he still had management ability and wisdom.

Otherwise, the Beijing Second Machinery Factory couldn't have progressed rapidly under his leadership and survived the movements of the past few years.

"Director Li's opinion is to split; this belongs to the process of resource integration."

Li Xuewu explained: "The Fengcheng First Machinery Factory is an old factory with a long history and numerous branches, many of which overlap with the Red Star Factory."

"The preliminary inspection opinion is to execute in three steps: split, merge, and reform."

"I can understand split and merge, but how to reform? What to reform into?"

Cheng Kaiyuan drank a mouthful of hot tea, looked at Li Xuewu, and reminded him: "I looked at the data on the Fengcheng First Machinery Factory's situation; you won't get it done for less than five million."

"So you must handle the factory's assets cautiously and prudently."

Li Xuewu nodded seriously and said: "Split off the branches or excellent assets that can operate independently, implement flat transformation, and transition directly to group-managed subsidiaries."

"Merge departments with the same attributes, categorize them into the Red Star Factory's internal management, for example, the service department should be adjusted to the Red Star Factory's service department, and establish a three-level branch management."

"Reform, naturally, is to deal with non-performing assets. This part of the content will wait until the steps of splitting and merging are completed before executing."

Li Xuewu carefully deliberated before opening his mouth to say: "Reform doesn't mean treating these assets like garbage to be sold off or ignored."

"My suggestion is optimization and transformation."

He emphasized: "Whether it's aging machinery, backward technology, or even average worker levels, the whole lacks combat effectiveness and competitiveness."

"You can separate this part of the factory, form a joint-venture industry, and engage in a responsibility management system."

"Responsibility management system?" Cheng Kaiyuan's eyebrows jumped slightly when he heard him mention this, and he immediately asked: "What is Director Li's meaning?"

"No, it's my personal opinion."

Li Xuewu looked at him and said seriously: "Rather than saying it's dealing with these non-performing assets, it's better to say it's creating a test field, or you could call it a responsibility field."

"This statement is quite thorough; I didn't expect you to have research on rural agriculture."

Cheng Kaiyuan sized Li Xuewu up, smiled, nodded, and gestured for him to continue.

"It's just an analogy, but the meaning is the same," Li Xuewu explained: "Since it's not producing grain anyway, it's better to turn it upside down, engage in a cadre competition mechanism, where the capable rise and the mediocre fall."

"My principle is, don't invest a single cent, engage in internal resource integration, reward heavily, honor heavily, and practically train a batch of young, promising, and courageous cadres."

"Reward heavily, honor heavily, truly training people indeed."

Cheng Kaiyuan pondered carefully, nodded slowly, and said: "If you can revitalize the factory and bring it back to life, rewarding heavily and honoring heavily is only right and proper."

"Of course, this must not only emphasize the cadre management responsibility system but also emphasize the production management responsibility system."

He looked at Li Xuewu and tapped the table, saying: "When engaging in internal transformation, you must pay attention to the measure and the attitude of the masses."

"Yes, I understand your opinion," Li Xuewu made a note in his notebook and explained: "Material rewards and spiritual rewards go hand in hand."

"The concept of a test field and a responsibility field is no problem; I am quite in agreement."

Cheng Kaiyuan thought for a moment, looked at Li Xuewu, and asked: "Have you thought about whether the Red Star Factory's existing industrial system transformation should also take this path?"

"It's not a question of whether I want to, but that I must think about it and must take it."

Li Xuewu didn't care whether asking this would cause any responsibility, and spoke seriously: "Three years later, when the steel mill moves to Steel City, a large batch of service-supporting branch factories will be cast off."

You don't need to think about it; there definitely will be. The new steel mill being built in Steel City will adopt the world's most advanced steel rolling technology.

And the new steel mill will no longer be attached to so many branches; after flat surgery, it will serve as one of the professional factories managed by the group.

In other words, the existing branches will be separated for independent operation during the upgrading and group-forming process.

And in the process of moving toward future development, there will inevitably be some smaller-scale branch factories that will have difficulty surviving and operating.

If they rely entirely on the general factory or the group for support, there will be no end to it, like vampires hanging on the group.

What Cheng Kaiyuan asked Li Xuewu was the way out for these factories in the future, and whether they would operate according to the responsibility-based management philosophy he was currently talking about.

Li Xuewu's opinion was that regardless of whether it's a black cat or a white cat, a cat that catches mice is a good cat.

Small factories are the easiest to produce big results; with fewer people and a unified heart, it's easy to turn around. Delegate responsibility and power, do a good job in service and support, grasp the big direction, and let them charge ahead.

In this era, both industry and commerce are situations where big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp, regardless of whether it's a planned economy or a market economy.

Otherwise, how could the Red Star Factory acquire the Ying City Shipyard and the Fengcheng First Machinery Factory?

This philosophy of Li Xuewu's actually received Li Huai De's support and recognition first.

It's very simple: Li Huai De wants to hold personnel power and also wants to train his own team.

Currently, the departments in the Red Star Factory most suitable for training cadres are the Jinmen Trade Management Center and the tertiary industry over there.

The steel mill and the steel rolling mill are stagnant water; cadres don't easily have transfers or changes, and their forces are relatively stable.

This is what Li Huai De least wants to see, so he wants to boldly use young people and support young cadres to take up leadership positions.

Li Xuewu's mention of casting off some loss-making or overall weaker production-capacity supporting projects and handing them over to young cadres to manage and operate was very much to Li Huai De's liking.

The radiator casting factory and auto repair factory established two years ago to engage in small factories were all in a state of loss.

Anyway, they were all losing money; it's better to make use of waste, and these young cadres can train and grow their experience.

Mainly, it doesn't cost money, and there's no need to worry about causing problems.

"Besides engaging in a responsibility management system, we must also find survival opportunities from external space."

Li Xuewu put away his notebook and introduced: "You can't raise good children by keeping them at home; it's better to open the door and let them play to their heart's content."

"As long as the big direction doesn't go wrong, let them find partners if they need to, let them find a 'husband's family' if they need to; the Red Star Factory will provide the dowry."

"Hahaha—!"

Cheng Kaiyuan was amused by Li Xuewu's description, patted the table, pointed at Li Xuewu, and said: "Just said you had research on rural agriculture, now I have to say you have research on emotional life."

"Hey, I'm in charge of comprehensive work, so naturally, I have to grab everything," Li Xuewu also made a joke; "grabbing everything" is a derogatory term, but using it here is an appropriate self-deprecation.

The description of finding partners and finding a "husband's family" was a reasonable explanation for joint-venture factories.

Factories with smaller scale, weaker production capacity, not strong comprehensive strength, and low development potential are allowed to seek external aid.

Whether it's joint development or cooperative production, or even joint-stock operation, the Red Star Factory will provide a certain amount of support.

For example, the production projects of the Technology Research Institute, and the production projects and supporting projects of the tertiary industry and joint-venture industry.

Note here that joint-venture industry and joint-stock industry are not the same thing.

They seem to have cooperation, and even have equity cooperation, but in reality, they are two different things.

Joint-venture internal cadres and staff don't have a distinction between inside and outside; everyone is on the same rope.

The Red Star Factory's joint-stock industry isn't like that; internal cadres and staff belong to their own factories, and even production equipment and technology are pieced together through cooperation.

Since it's a joint venture, the Red Star Factory can completely "marry off" the entire factory like a daughter.

Including technology, equipment, workers, etc., as long as the other party gives a considerable dowry.

This, of course, isn't selling the factory, and it's not dealing with those workers, but rather selling a part of the management rights in the form of cooperative operation.

The property rights are still the Red Star Factory's, including the land and shares.

Every year, they can get a small bit of filial piety from these "daughter" branch factories, and that counts as having a family bond.

When the family bond is gone one day, or the children grow up or leave, they can take back the land and clear the equity, ensuring there will be no loss.

This gentle resource integration management model is felt to be very feasible by whoever hears it.

Especially since the merger work of sixteen enterprises is underway, and factories and departments of all sizes are being integrated in order.

In this process, naturally, some branch factories of factories are cast off.

Cheng Kaiyuan described them as "chicken ribs"—meatless to eat, but a pity to discard.

Anyway, the Fengcheng First Machinery Factory is going to be integrated and merged with sixteen factories. By then, packaging and integrating these enterprises and establishing a Joint-Venture Industry Management Office—a large department spanning Beijing and Fengcheng—will be established.

"After the integration plan and execution plan come out, you must transfer them to me to take a look; production must walk in front."

Cheng Kaiyuan greeted his secretary Zhang Shicheng to find a file from the cabinet and handed it to Li Xuewu, saying: "Take a look at this."

"Are there results from the negotiations with the Italian businessmen?"

Li Xuewu took the file and glanced at it; the title was written very clearly, no need to guess randomly.

"Went to Fengcheng and Steel City last month; Xu Sinian even made a special call to ask if I was going to the Ying City Shipyard."

"Hehe, is he unsure in his heart, or does he have no goods in his hands?"

Cheng Kaiyuan chuckled. He had a huge addiction to smoking, and couldn't hold back now, so he took out a cigarette and lit it.

Blowing away the smoke in front of him, seeing Li Xuewu looking at the file carefully, he continued: "Every time I ask about the production situation of Ying City Industry, someone must complain to me, saying that Director Xu is too cautious, to the point of going crazy."

"Hehe—"

Li Xuewu chuckled, not caring about Cheng Kaiyuan's words.

After scanning the file once, he said: "If you meet someone who says this again, please transfer them to me."

"I want to promote this person to the Joint-Venture Industry to display their talent and ambition; don't bury the talent."

"Hahaha—"

Cheng Kaiyuan just chuckled, not mentioning the source of these words, but instead asked meaningfully: "Regarding Comrade Xu Sinian, what is your view?"

"Entrusted at a time of creation, ordered at a time of crisis."

Li Xuewu used a sentence from Zhuge Liang's "Chu Shi Biao," slightly modified, to answer Cheng Kaiyuan.

Cheng Kaiyuan thought for a moment, nodded, and said: "Indeed, Comrade Xu Sinian has made sacrifices for the Red Star Factory."

Li Xuewu didn't make any further judgment on this, but put down the file in his hand and asked: "Is Andrew's meaning to engage in that set of proxy shareholding?"

"This is unworkable in the system; he doesn't possess this qualification."

"Hmm, I also mentioned this point to him," Cheng Kaiyuan nodded and explained: "After all, it's too far from the Sino-Polish Company."

Knowing Li Xuewu's document work was powerful, he didn't expect it to be this powerful.

Not to mention writing articles, publishing books and newspapers, and management didn't need to be mentioned; the administrative management system was all set up by him.

It's just that he didn't expect his reading and memory to be this formidable—ten lines at a glance, never forgetting what he's seen; this hand is truly scary.

That was a thick stack of negotiation memorandums; Li Xuewu only spent three or five minutes—it shouldn't have been enough to even look at the key titles and paragraphs.

But now, talking to himself, he was grabbing the key points directly, and there wasn't a single stutter in his speech.

"It's not just far; it's a difference of a thousand miles—it's not the same thing at all."

Li Xuewu reached out and gently patted the file: "The establishment background and influence of the Sino-Polish Company, especially the significance and contribution of the other party in the transportation industry, cannot be reflected by the Gili Star Company."

"A yacht manufacturing enterprise—being able to execute OEM production by the Red Star Factory is already thanks to the Industrial Department covering for them. He still wants this kind of beauty? It's a fantasy."

"I'm more inclined to think he's opening his mouth like a lion," Cheng Kaiyuan also felt bitter in his heart. It was hard to get a trade opportunity from Li Xuewu's hands, but for a month, the negotiations had been smashed to pieces.

He had been to the Ying City Shipyard three or five times, but the actual progress of the negotiations was minimal.

The other party wanted too much, and he couldn't give it; he wanted too much, and the other party cursed him out.

Now the problem was deadlocked here, and Cheng Kaiyuan had no way out.

Before, the Beijing Machinery Second Factory had never received foreign trade orders, and had never dealt with these foreigners, so they really had no experience.

Last time, when negotiating with the foreign business delegation, Li Xuewu had equipped him with a professional negotiation team.

This time, although some people were drawn to participate in the negotiations, even he felt it was a mess from organization to negotiation.

Zhang Shicheng inquired around and found out that every time Li Xuewu engaged in foreign trade negotiations, he would first organize an administrative meeting and make at least three sets of all plans and processes.

Where would he have Li Xuewu's patience, and he didn't have that meticulousness; he just felt that since the Gili Star Company already had a cooperation foundation with the Red Star Factory, this negotiation should be easy.

Damn it, that Italian businessman named Andrew is really an old bastard, a rolling meatball, the kind that doesn't take oil or salt.

Cheng Kaiyuan was so angry that he suspected this old guy had colluded with Li Xuewu to deliberately come and make things difficult for him.

But this absurd thought was just a wild guess when he was angry. When he truly calmed down, he could still recognize his own inadequacies.

Dealing with these foreigners, he himself was inherently deficient—he couldn't even speak a word of a foreign language.

The whole negotiation relied on a translator, and he was at too much of a disadvantage in rhythm; he even felt a kind of stifling feeling.

Another thing, he was very conceited about industrial production and had argued with that old guy Andrew about industrial management issues, which pushed the negotiation foundation of both sides further back.

So, for half a month, he ignored Andrew, and Andrew ignored him; the two were in the same state as a couple fighting and having a cold war.

At the end of May, Andrew called the Red Star Factory, meaning he wanted to find Li Xuewu to talk.

This pushed Cheng Kaiyuan into a corner. If that old guy really found the Red Star Factory and bypassed him to find Li Xuewu, then he would truly have lost all face.

Zhang Shicheng inquired around and confirmed that Li Xuewu hadn't contacted Andrew yet and was dealing with the situation on the Japanese side, so he proactively found Li Xuewu to handle this matter.

He proactively found Li Xuewu, which was much more proactive than letting Andrew find Li Xuewu, and it saved him from embarrassment and losing face.

Of course, finding Li Xuewu naturally couldn't be done directly for this matter; how embarrassing would that be to say out loud?

He found another reason, and after calling Li Xuewu in, he laid his cards on the table.

Looking at Li Xuewu's indifferent appearance, Cheng Kaiyuan was also burning with anger.

Of course, not angry at Li Xuewu, but at that old immortal Andrew.

You just say, what's so strange about Li Xuewu, why do foreigners like to talk to him?

If it were women, that would be fine, saying Li Xuewu is majestic and has a demeanor; but an old man running to the capital to find Li Xuewu all the time—what's that about?

Is Li Xuewu that good?

Among the cadres in the Red Star Factory responsible for foreign trade, you look through them—it's this rotten kid who pits these foreigners the hardest and has the most devious methods.

However, these foreigners just recognize Li Xuewu, which left Cheng Kaiyuan speechless.

Compared to Li Xuewu, he was treating them to meals, accompanying them on investigations, and even giving them discounts on negotiation terms.

However, look at this old guy—the more you spoil him, the bigger his temper gets, and he even started playing temper with him.

I don't believe Li Xuewu can offer a better negotiation plan and conditions than me; if I don't pit these bastards to death, I'll let them run.

Look at that little devil from the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company, played around by Li Xuewu; the French businesswoman Chantel, threatened by Li Xuewu's table-slapping and bad-acting, forced to bow her head and recognize the current negotiation outline.

Going further back, Atte threw millions of dollars into the interior before rolling away.

It's just that Li Xuewu's family doesn't farm; otherwise, these grandsons would have to squat until autumn, shell all the corn for Li Xuewu's family before leaving!

"Regardless of what kind of lion's mouth, talk if you can talk; if you can't talk, tell him not to think about it," Li Xuewu pushed that memorandum and said: "These things are obviously nonsense."

"Tell him clearly, we can only build old-fashioned fishing boats now, and we have the technology but no equipment for light and medium cargo ships."

Li Xuewu curled his lip: "If he's willing to cooperate, then show some sincerity, be generous; whether it's OEM production or compensation trade, let's implement the technology and equipment first."

"Should I ask him to come to the capital to talk?"

Cheng Kaiyuan had no bottom in his heart; he had talked to that old stubborn guy several times, and now he was a bit hurt.

He only heard before that Germans were rigid and stubborn; he didn't hear that Italians had this kind of behavior.

"It just so happens that the French businessmen are signing the contract today, and the ten-thousand-ton cargo ship project is also about to start; inviting him to participate is also appropriate."

"No problem, I'll cooperate with you when the time comes."

Li Xuewu understood that Cheng Kaiyuan was truly at his wit's end, reluctant to let go of the meat in his mouth, but unwilling to put in the effort to open his mouth and bite.

It's just that the meat he delivered to his mouth was all nailed; he didn't know if Cheng Kaiyuan dared to eat it.

Even if Cheng Kaiyuan didn't dare to eat it, he was reluctant to throw this piece of meat away; throwing it away would be even more embarrassing.

So hearing Li Xuewu agree, he also smiled and said: "The negotiation table is your advantage; naturally, you should be the vanguard, and I'll cooperate with you."

Hmm, it could be seen that this Old Cheng was truly unable to hold on, otherwise he wouldn't be this polite.

Li Xuewu didn't care about these achievements or merits, and gestured outside the door: "Then that's it, I'll wait for your news."

He stood up and said: "I have a few guests waiting, I have to hurry and send them away."

"Hahaha—from the Sanhe Joint-Stock Company?"

Cheng Kaiyuan stood up, shook hands with Li Xuewu, saw him out of the office, and teased: "Don't tell me they're here to send you a beauty trap?"

"What if it really is?"

Li Xuewu joked: "Eat the beauty, and use the trap against them?"

"Absolutely not, it's not worth it."

Cheng Kaiyuan smiled and said: "You are the precious wealth of our factory; there's no need to sacrifice your innocence in this kind of matter."

"Then that's it, this kind of matter is still better left to the old comrades to shoulder the heavy responsibility."

Li Xuewu walked out the door and said with a smile: "I'll have them send the beauty trap to you later."

"Go to hell—hahaha!"

Cheng Kaiyuan stood at the door, laughing and seeing Li Xuewu off, before turning back into the office.

"Leader, this memorandum... how should it be handled?"

Zhang Shicheng was tidying up the files on the desk; the one in his hand was exactly the file he had just handed to Li Xuewu to read.

Cheng Kaiyuan's face no longer had a smile; he glanced at it with a frown and waved his hand: "Archive it, it's no longer needed."

"Okay, leader, I'll send it to the archives room in a while."

Zhang Shicheng first responded, then took advantage of tidying up the files to ask in a low voice: "With Deputy Director Li coming forward for the negotiations, will the Italian businessmen misunderstand anything?"

"Misunderstand what?"

Cheng Kaiyuan raised his head and glanced at his secretary, understood his meaning, scratched his head, and said: "It's not that complicated; to put it plainly, it's still a question of trust."

Now that the problem was probably solved, he didn't mind explaining one or two things to his secretary.

"The Italian businessmen proposed so many additional conditions, nothing more than worrying about whether the Red Star Factory has the ability to fulfill its responsibilities and obligations on the basis of cooperation with the French businessmen."

He spoke: "Old-school capitalists care about actual benefits, including the present and the future."

"Then, with Deputy Director Li coming forward, can the other party trust us?"

Zhang Shicheng asked suspiciously: "Could it be that the Italian businessmen doubt your identity, or the ability you represent?"

These words were only said by Zhang Shicheng, the secretary—a relationship of "one prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer."

But if anyone else had said it, Cheng Kaiyuan would have thought that person was here to tease or mock him.

If it were anyone else, Cheng Kaiyuan would have to think that the person was there to tease or mock him.

"Comrade Xuewu truly has real ability in foreign trade cooperation negotiations; I am willing to bow down to him in this regard."

Cheng Kaiyuan leaned back in his chair, looking at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window: "And, there is a reason why the Italian businessmen trust and prefer to negotiate with Comrade Xuewu."

He turned his head and looked at his secretary: "I ask you, between Director Xu of the Ying City Shipyard and Deputy Director Li, who has more development potential?"

"This... I can't say well."

Zhang Shicheng hesitated, clutching the file in his hand: "How to compare this? Age and seniority? Or ability?"

"Comprehensive ability, development potential," Cheng Kaiyuan seemed to be thinking too, gesturing for Zhang Shicheng to speak: "Don't worry, speak boldly, say whatever comes to mind, compare them however you want."

"Then—I still favor Director Xu."

Zhang Shicheng said cautiously: "Director Xu has worked in the position of Director of the Red Star Factory's Office."

"Hmm, that makes sense, continue."

Cheng Kaiyuan listened to his secretary's words, encouraged him, and gestured for him to continue.

Zhang Shicheng's words gained the leader's recognition, and his courage grew, continuing: "If we talk about ability, Director Xu's foundation is more solid, and now he has the work experience of serving as a top leader."

He hesitated for a moment: "In essence, the Red Star Factory is still an industrial enterprise, and in the end, it still relies on management and foundation."

"Even if Deputy Director Li has solid management skills and flexible handling ability, he is stuck on the two items of experience and age."

"Hmm, finished?"

Cheng Kaiyuan saw him nod, then pursed his lips and thought for a moment, saying: "What you said should represent the thoughts of some people. After all, Deputy Director Li is only at the deputy division level now; even if he catches up with a promotion, he's only at the division level, and he's stuck on the age and experience items."

He paused, then said again: "However, have you ever thought that there are many people in the Red Star Factory who understand industrial management, but very few who understand economic and development management?"

"Especially people who possess a comprehensive development strategic perspective for the enterprise."

Cheng Kaiyuan gestured in front of his eyes: "The Red Star Factory can cultivate ten or twenty production management talents like me, such as Kuang Yusheng and the others, who can step up at any time."

"However, as it stands now, if the Red Star Factory wants to walk at the forefront of the era's transformation, it needs people who understand economics and strategy to come up."

"Your meaning is..."

Zhang Shicheng listened to the leader's words, and had a kind of sudden enlightenment surprise.

He hesitated and asked: "Times create heroes? The Red Star Factory caught the era's opportunity, and Deputy Director Li caught the Red Star Factory's opportunity?"

Cheng Kaiyuan raised his hand and pointed at Zhang Shicheng; without answering, he had already made a sign of recognition and correctness.

"It would take ten or fifteen years for Comrade Wenxue and Comrade Sinian to reach the position of a branch factory top leader, but Comrade Xuewu might only need five years."

He sat up straight, drank a mouthful of warm tea, and said: "Young man, age and experience are never your ceiling; ability is. Understand?"

"Lea... Leader, are you saying..."

Zhang Shicheng suddenly thought of something, standing opposite the office desk, bending over and reporting in a low voice: "There is a voice in the factory now, privately spreading with nose and eyes."

Seeing the leader didn't stop him, he knew the leader wanted to listen, so he continued: "There is a rumor that this inspection to Liaodong Industry was deliberately brought by Director Li to bring Deputy Director Li along, just to pave the way."

"And, the wind coming from Steel City says that Director Dong has also started the second half of the sprint, and is simultaneously doing preparatory work for Deputy Director Li to take over."

"Even starting to strictly grasp discipline and supervision work, and cleaning up the accounts and historical problems of some projects in a ledger style."

Zhang Shicheng gathered his courage to speak these things, then added cautiously: "Of course, these are all things I heard privately, and some people say that Deputy Director Li going to Steel City will definitely go down with an absolute advantage."

"Hearing wind and rain, when can this kind of bad habit in the office be thoroughly cured?"

Cheng Kaiyuan shook his head slightly: "It's just normal investigation work. Director Li is not good at negotiations, especially regarding economy and mergers."

"In this kind of work, only Deputy Director Jing and Comrade Xuewu are the most reliable, and he is also the Deputy Director of the Management Office, so if he doesn't take him, who would he take?"

First, he explained the significance of Li Xuewu accompanying Li Huai De to Liaodong, then said again: "Comrade Wenxue is very stable over there. Steel City Industry started sprinting after the small hardware project landed last year; now sprinting—it's nonsense."

"As for discipline and supervision work, that's work Comrade Xuewu is responsible for, and also work Director Li has been grasping for a long time; going to Steel City is entirely a coincidence of circumstances, just dealing with a few bedbugs."

"And there's the arrangement for Comrade Xuewu," Cheng Kaiyuan paused, then said: "In the rumors you mentioned, I'm afraid only 30% can be true, the rest is nonsense."

"30% is true? That is..."

Zhang Shicheng was surprised: "Is Deputy Director Li really going to be transferred to Steel City to take office?"

Although the rumors were said with nose and eyes, and the leader had a few points of recognition, he was still very surprised.

Cheng Kaiyuan leaned back in his chair and sighed: "A thousand soldiers are easy to get, but one general is hard to find."

He gently patted the chair armrest and said: "Steel City is an important industrial production area laid out by the Red Star Factory, the core power of the future, and the production base for foreign trade; this area is too important."

"Comrade Xuewu has work achievements in the fields of industry, economy, and trade; this burden naturally has to be shouldered by him."

"But—Deputy Director Li is also too young!"

Zhang Shicheng was astonished: "A 21-year-old steel rolling mill director?"

"What are you thinking? Didn't I say it? Director Dong is stable."

Cheng Kaiyuan turned his head and looked at his secretary: "The credibility of the rumors comes entirely from the situation and foundation I just mentioned."

"But regarding the appointment of Comrade Wenxue, the factory has arrangements and plans."

Cheng Kaiyuan emphasized: "He must at least lay a solid foundation for infrastructure and production industry in his current position; how could he change generals at this time."

Zhang Shicheng thought for a moment, and the leader's analysis still made sense. Unlike Xu Sinian, Dong Wenxue had been serving as Deputy Director of the Management Committee since last year, and simultaneously held the position of Deputy Secretary.

It's just that organizational activities weren't being carried out now, so the position of Deputy Secretary wasn't mentioned much, but his status within the organization was sufficient.

If he really wanted to return to the Red Star Factory, he would at least have to complete his term in Steel City, or even finish the important projects within his term.

"To put Comrade Xuewu up there, it will take at least two years."

Cheng Kaiyuan explained: "Two years is for Comrade Wenxue, and also for the factory; cadre appointment—how could it be as blind and messy as the rumors say."

"Then... in what capacity will Deputy Director Li go to Steel City?"

Zhang Shicheng asked in a low voice: "Security Group Leader? Director of the Management Office? Or..."

Cheng Kaiyuan glanced at his secretary without answering, although he already knew the answer in his heart; but such words couldn't be said to his secretary.

The previous words were just to teach Zhang Shicheng, to open his mind—it was a kind of cultivation.

Zhang Shicheng wouldn't spread these words outside; even if he did, it wouldn't matter—they were all facts, they were there, not afraid of people talking, it's just that some people didn't stand high enough to see clearly.

But regarding Li Xuewu's future appointment and arrangement, it couldn't be said casually; spreading it would be bad for Li Xuewu, and bad for him too.

Zhang Shicheng was also clever; seeing the leader didn't speak, he knew the question was taboo.

However, the leader was in a good mood today, and having gained the opportunity, he naturally wanted to ask for more advice.

"Leader, I heard that the factory is going to configure cadres for the management team?"

"Hmm, this doesn't count as a rumor; it should count as a prophecy."

Cheng Kaiyuan thought of something, smiled, and said: "I just told you, it's easy for the Red Star Factory to cultivate industrial management cadres, but difficult to cultivate other types of cadres."

Seeing Zhang Shicheng nod, he moved the teacup aside, looked at the file, and said: "It's difficult for the Red Star Factory, but not difficult for the organization."

Yes, it's difficult for the Red Star Factory to cultivate cadres who understand economic management, trade management, financial management, and organizational management; the organization can transfer them from outside to the Red Star Factory.

You say the industrial management cadres cultivated by the Red Star Factory are good, then transfer them away to nourish other industries.

Organizational personnel deployment is just like this, unless the level is not enough, or the level is sufficient.

Li Xuewu's level is not enough, Li Huai De's level is sufficient; they won't easily be transferred away from the Red Star Factory.

Why?

Because both are management cores; Li Huai De is the current squad leader, and Li Xuewu is the squad leader successor cultivated by Li Huai De.

No matter how the above arranges, they won't easily move Li Xuewu, otherwise the Red Star Factory's cadre management sequence will be in chaos.

Anyone who watches basketball knows that NBA teams know how to cultivate core players, and when selecting rookies, they also pay attention to the next generation's core; that's the principle.

Therefore, Zhang Shicheng had already obtained the answer he wanted from the leader's mouth.

The Red Star Factory will have to have people come sooner or later, or rather, the Red Star Factory has always had people coming.

The current management team, except for Li Huai De and Dong Wenxue, and a Xiong Bencheng who doesn't care about worldly affairs, the rest are cadres supplemented within two years—the iron-clad camp, the flowing soldiers.

The Red Star Factory Management Committee, speaking of which, is not full, or rather, not regular.

The Management Committee must have one director, and several deputy directors and committee members.

Adding the director and deputy directors together, according to the Red Star Factory's current scale, there must be at least eleven people.

Compared to the Red Star Factory before the transformation, we know that at that time, the team was the most complete.

Now it's just a product of emergency, or rather, a product created by Li Huai De himself.

In the process of the Red Star Factory's rapid development, when the external situation gradually stabilizes, the higher authorities will naturally carry out organizational supplementation and adjustment to the Red Star Factory.

Precisely because most of the Red Star Factory's current management team are transferred from outside, there won't be a situation of transferring people from the Red Star Factory, but there will definitely be management cadres supplemented to the Red Star Factory from multiple directions.

Otherwise, how could Cheng Kaiyuan say Dong Wenxue couldn't return within two years, and Li Xuewu couldn't leave within two years.

Private nonsense, no matter how you guess, is cloud-covered and foggy, unable to see clearly; only standing from Cheng Kaiyuan's perspective can it be considered clear.

And from the calmness shown by Cheng Kaiyuan, it's not hard to see that he has already prepared for welcoming organizational strengthening and adjustment.

Perhaps for him, this kind of adjustment is an opportunity—an opportunity to break the existing ecological order.

Li Huai De is the only one in power, and the situation of "one pen" needs to be improved.

Look at Li Huai De saving Cheng Kaiyuan once; why does Cheng Kaiyuan still want to divide Li Huai De's power?

This is very normal; Li Huai De saving Cheng Kaiyuan is work, and Cheng Kaiyuan restraining Li Huai De is also work.

The two have no private friendship, but they also have no private enmity.

After the last incident, the two of them took the opportunity to be frank with each other and bottomed out.

For the development of the Red Star Factory, shelve disputes and sprint with all their might.

But there are many people on the road to sprinting, so there are many voices, and when hearts are not unified, naturally someone will help find unity.

Zhang Shicheng learned so much, returned to his desk, held a pencil and drew on the paper, and finally reached a conclusion.

The current Management Committee team must be adjusted and changed, and it is inevitable to increase the positions of deputy directors and committee members.

And currently, sixteen Beijing enterprises and one Fengcheng enterprise are completing mergers, and it is inevitable to integrate at least three deputy directors.

In order to strengthen organizational leadership, the Industrial Department will also arrange for people to parachute in, at most two, at least one.

If it's one person, then Xu Sinian of the Ying City Shipyard will have a chance next year; if it's two, then he still has to wait.

However, no matter how Zhang Shicheng calculated and arranged, he couldn't calculate at what level Li Xuewu should go to Steel City.

It's just that no matter how Zhang Shicheng calculated and arranged things, he never calculated at which level Li Xuewu should go to Steel City.

The leader's inscrutability made him feel even more lost.