Volume 3: Fate's Escape (Revised Edition) Chapter 5: The Catfish Plan (Part 1)

  In two days, Long Bao has become familiar with more than a dozen security guards in his dormitory and the adjacent dormitory.

  They are all veterans with some martial arts skills, although they usually work as security guards, but when needed, they can also act as bodyguards. Longbiao is especially fond of Kang Tie, Zhou Qing and Sun Wenquan among them.

  Long Bao also knew his colleagues in the personnel department, and Long Bao felt that the situation in front of him was already awkward.

  If you don't show your talent and ability, it's possible that the originally esteemed Mr. Xue will lose confidence in you, and thus lose the opportunity to get promoted; if you show off too much, you'll definitely become the focus of your colleagues' attention, and everyone will suspect why a middle school student can do work that only bachelors and masters can handle so well, which would undoubtedly go against your original intention of hiding, and may even bring great safety risks, not worth it.

  Last time Shi Wei told me that the photo on the wanted list was from a few years ago, not like me now. But now, I already have clear recent photos left in this company! My safety is because the police chasing me don't have my accurate appearance photo, it's because I didn't let anyone know my true whereabouts. But if I cause the group to make my real photo public because of showing off too much, then I'll definitely have nowhere to hide! The group is so big, who can guarantee that there isn't someone who knows me?!

  If I don't make progress, I have no way out; if I'm too showy and flashy, I won't be safe.

  What a distressing contradiction!

  There's a joke that says: when women get together to talk about their men, the 100-year-old granny sums up all the comments from the other women - "men only tell one lie: 'this child was born from my belly!'", apart from this, those stinky men will tell every other lie in the world.

  I am a man, I lie, I have lied, and I will only ever lie.

  In the end, all human schemes, efforts and motives must be achieved through clever lies! Especially in war, strategy and deception are completely synonymous! Lies are a commonality of humanity, deception is an instinct of humanity, they prevail because they can satisfy certain needs of individuals, achieve certain goals of individuals.

  Let's take a look at this world in our lives, where lies and deception are everywhere. For vanity, for self-esteem, for confidence, for inferiority, to cover up shame, to cover up failure, for self-interest, for oneself, for love, for hate... for countless reasons and purposes, we lie to others and to ourselves, deceiving others and ourselves, yet satisfying ourselves!

  ……

  In the struggles and killings of thoughts and values, ideals and reality, existence and needs, simplicity and cunning, morality and strategy, Long Bao matured decisively in the face of cruel survival competition!

  His painstaking research on Guiguzi and Sunzi led him to enter the sacred hall of profound, sophisticated and wise thinkers, his plots are mysterious and abstruse, yet grandiose!

  Chairman Jin Kuangning and General Manager Xue looked at the research report on Liheng Shoe Factory written by Long Bao independently, and the two sat on the sofa.

  Xue Zong said solemnly to Jin Zong: "Jin Zong, you and I are the most trusted people by Qian Lao. Our mission is to take good care of Li Heng Group, which is Qian Lao's life-long endeavor. However, the increasingly severe complacency has made the already oversized group enterprise sluggish in response. The management and personnel system of the company have shown signs of aging and decline. The overseas market has shrunk dramatically, and the company's advantages have been lost. The stock price of the group in Hong Kong has plummeted all the way down, and its former glory is gone. If things go on like this, I don't know when we can achieve Qian Lao's dream of entering the world's top 500!"

  Jin sighed and said, "Yes, the inheritance of Qian Lao's estate is not something we can interfere with or manage. This time, Qian Lao told me that he already knows his children are interfering with the personnel arrangements in the group enterprise, each refusing to give in, cultivating their own strength with all their might, forming a complex web of relationships, vying for power and profit, and engaging in intrigue and deception, resulting in a gloomy atmosphere among the high-level leaders of the group."

  Xue nodded and said, "Yes, I have long had a strong feeling about this severe threat to the group's good survival and development, and now it is getting more and more intense!"

  Jin Zong said, "Qian Lao is already old, he says he has no strength to personally take charge of the strong rectification, and he can't control the development and deterioration of the situation. Now we can only pin our hopes on us two. Qian Lao looked at your new draft plan for the Carp Project and expressed full support. Qian Lao said that the Carp Project must be used to cleanse the group's blood, brain, and flesh, and must take this opportunity to dig up talent from among the middle and lower-level employees, and must cultivate pillar talents with a strong team spirit. Only in this way can we guarantee the loyalty of our personnel and reduce interference from the top levels of power."

  Xue Zong picked up the conversation and said, "That's right. With talent, everything else will follow. Talent is the root of Li Heng's true strength. Only then can the group avoid being shaken to its core in various storms. And only then can those shocks from high levels, changes in ownership, and corporate restructuring not harm the group's foundation."

  Jin put the draft of the catfish plan written by Xue on top of the research report on Li Heng Shoes Factory written by Long, and then tapped his fingers, saying to Xue: "Qian Lao told me before I left that if we want to implement the catfish plan, we must do it realistically. The core of the entire plan can be summarized in a few sentences: 'A gentleman would die for his friends.' So, as long as you are a 'gentleman', a talent, and you dedicate yourself to Li Heng, consider Li Heng as your home, Li Heng will give you opportunities, treatment, and prospects! If you are not a 'gentleman' or a talent, then step aside! If you want to cause trouble in the group and do things that are detrimental to the group, then leave Li Heng!"

  Xue nodded heavily and said solemnly: "I hope we can extract the backbone of Li Heng from the Catfish Plan!"

  When logic reaches a certain height, reasonable lies become an excellent strategy.

  In the president's office, President Jin Kuangning, Vice President Xue Guowei, and Long Bao sat on the sofa.

  Jin Gangning, from philosophy to literature, from the West to the East, from ancient times to modern times, from management science to behavioral science, from Zizhi Tongjian to Sun Tzu's Art of War, from the main schools of economics to dissipative structures, mutation theory and coordination theory, Long Bao was talking fluently, without any awkwardness, almost no logical errors, and his views were unique, his thinking clear, his logic clear, and he had a good grasp of reasoning.

  Jin Zong is an old PhD, looking at this calm and unhurried junior high school student with great appreciation. His eyebrows are like sleeping silkworms, his eyes are like bright stars, his nose is like a hanging gallbladder, his lips are like a curved bow, his earlobes are clear and distinct, and his skin tone is slightly dark. He looks to be at most twenty years old, just out of his teenage years. Not bad, not bad at all. Especially that unique insight into Guigu Zizhong's military tactics, which he himself had never heard before.

  Indeed, with a belly full of poetry and books, one's demeanor becomes refined! This is not someone who has read dead books; far surpassing those who only know how to read dead books, without any originality, by several times stronger than those master's and doctor's degrees! Think about it, Qian Laoshi back then started with just a few hundred Hong Kong dollars, and had only attended high school. He completely has a bit of Qian Laoshi's spirit from back then!

  Of course, it can't be compared to the past era now, but this young man with only a junior high school education has completely kept up with the knowledge trend, grasped the essence of various advanced management theories, and most importantly, he has basically understood the secrets of human nature and has excellent atmosphere regulation skills, being able to freely control the situation, be open and reserved at the same time, talk and laugh freely, and be in complete control. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible for him to leave such a deep and good impression on himself in just over an hour!

  It is easy to get a thousand soldiers, but it is hard to find a general! What is a general's talent? This is the great general's talent!

  If you don't have doubts about a person, then use him boldly; if you do have doubts, then don't use him at all. A person like this, even if he's a murderer or a spy, would still be used again without hesitation! Besides, according to Director Xue's report, it's impossible for him to be an industrial spy! Just look at those hands full of calluses, listen to that unstandardized English with a heavy accent, think about his elegant and wise speech like a Confucian scholar who has read all the classics, look into those sincere, wise, and weathered eyes, look at that unique and unmatched calligraphy, he must be able to take on the crucial task in the Shark Project alone!

  Jin Zong thoroughly let go and nodded at Xue Zong to tell Long Bao the contents of the Catfish Plan that he could know.

  As soon as he finished speaking, they didn't expect Long Bao to sink into thought for a moment, and immediately understood the profound meaning of Xue's determination to recruit him despite opposition from others!!

  This is the famous Catfish Effect!

  Wow, I'm just a junior high school student Ao Cheng, and I've actually been treated as the prestigious catfish of Li Heng Group by CEO Jin and CEO Xue! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! An extremely dangerous situation! The best chance to show off, the highest honor for employees!

  He just took a sip of tea, his bright eyes looking at Jin and Xue: "Jin, Xue, are you asking me to be the crucial carp in the group?"

  Jin and Xue looked at each other in surprise, good guy, really heard one know ten, raised one against three! They didn't tell him about the Catfish Effect or the Catfish Plan, just simply said they wanted to use him as a model for the group's valued talent to give lectures, and have him as a special envoy of the personnel department to sink into various subordinate companies to secretly investigate and evaluate the group's talent, etc., how did he suddenly discover the real core of the Catfish Plan?

  Jin and Xue smiled at each other, indicating for Long Bao to continue. He had already given them too many surprises; let's see if he could keep creating more!

  Long Bao was exceptionally calm and composed, with a broad forehead that seemed to radiate wisdom. His eyes shone with the same dignified spirit as those of ancient knights-errant. In a firm yet moving tone, he said: "Director Jin, Director Xue, I believe in this ancient saying: 'If you treat me like a national scholar, I will repay you like a national scholar.' You have taken such precious time to assess someone as insignificant as myself; this is the greatest honor and recognition I could receive. The only way for me to repay your kindness is to be diligent in fulfilling my duties."

  "I believe that you must have been deeply moved by the current personnel situation of the group, and intend to reform and innovate. Perhaps you already have a complete plan for personnel changes, and intend to use me as a vanguard force and secret weapon to bring out the effectiveness of the carp. I'd like to share with you my recent thoughts and views."

  Although I am not very familiar with the specific situation of the company, from what my colleagues have told me and from looking at past materials from the planning department, it seems that the group has already shown symptoms of a typical large-scale family business. The personnel are not renewed, so there is no room for talent to grow, the complex web of personal relationships has led to the loss of team spirit, there is no unique corporate culture, and there is no authoritative propaganda influence, which has resulted in an inability to shape a unique corporate image, nor can it form a strong group cohesion. The relationship between employees and the company will forever be just a simple labor relationship between employer and employee, with no loyalty from employees whatsoever.

  "The Art of War by Sun Tzu says: 'Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy. All warfare is based on deception.' In fact, we must treat employees as soldiers and the company as an army. Of course, I know that currently, it is impossible for the company to do so. However, regarding this personnel plan, my view is: War is a deceitful art, requiring both orthodox and unorthodox methods, using the real to fake the fake, and faking the real."

  Long Wan noticed that Jin Zong and Xue Zong were listening attentively, without any signs of disgust or aversion, so he continued: "Given the current balance of personnel, it's best not to easily disrupt or break it. Instead, start from the very bottom with all one's might, from the lowest level upwards, using both unusual and normal methods."

  Xue asked with a smile: "Alright, then tell me how to make Qi Zheng Double Down?"

  Long Bao Town said calmly: "The positive troops are the powerful propaganda of the importance of employees to the group, the importance of qualified management talents, technical talents and skilled workers to the group. The personnel work personnel of various subordinate enterprises were organized to formulate a self-recommendation form for grassroots talents, and multiple evaluation forms and examination forms were adopted. Openly and fairly re-examine and evaluate the baseline managers, striving to create a bigger momentum among grassroots employees."

  "Oh, so you mean a large-scale personnel reform?" asked Jin Zong.

  "No, this is just a personnel adjustment at the grassroots level and will not touch the interests of the high-level officials. There won't be any conflict of interest among the high-level officials due to large-scale personnel reform, and it's also justified, so there won't be any opposing voices. This is the first step." Long Bao said calmly, "Since you treat me as a carp, I'll take on the role of a strange soldier, taking some suitable candidates down to the grassroots level, secretly conducting personnel investigations according to the assigned tasks, and following your steps."

  Jin Zong smiled and said, "Hmm, Xiao Ao, it seems that the role of Qi Bing is yours to take on. We want to use you as a model example of a highly valued talent in our group for promotion purposes. What do you think about this?"

  "I personally think that the promotion of me should be within a reasonable range, and not make me an example of personnel special treatment. Otherwise, it may lead to unnecessary trouble. Hehe, in the eyes of some colleagues, I was promoted to headquarters because of my good looks and tall stature. Even if promoting me doesn't require putting my photo on promotional materials... Now many people are saying that I'm a pretty boy and so on. You don't need to investigate the source of these rumors, since they're just rumors, they will naturally be debunked. However, if you publish photos of my appearance, it will definitely have an adverse impact on our plans."

  Xue and Jin smiled at each other. Xue picked up his teacup, took a sip of water, and asked: "Hmm, that makes sense. So, Xiao Ao, how do you plan to carry out your work?"

  Long Bao lowered his head in contemplation for a moment, then raised his bright and spirited eyes to look at Jin Zong and Xue Zong. With a seasoned tone, he said: "Since I am a special soldier, I should have the demeanor and characteristics of a special soldier. What's special about me is my work experience and the secret missions I've undertaken. When I go to the grassroots level, many people will definitely want to learn about my experiences, and I will inevitably discover many talented individuals who are unable to display their abilities due to circumstances. I will write evaluation reports one by one, and I will also discover many secrets about the internal operations of subordinate enterprises, perhaps even including some leaders' improper behavior."

  Xue Zong nodded frequently and said: "Yes, strange and normal are used together, knowing oneself and others, the enemy is clear and I am hidden. What's the second step?"

  "The second step was to take decisive action based on the information gathered from various channels, and to seize real evidence. Sweeping away the leisurely strolls of the web, I arrived at a lush green grassland by the East Lake, sat down."

  Drinking beer after drinking white wine is even more refreshing!

  A glass of ice-cold beer, like the snow water from the top of Mount Tian, flows down from the top of my head, and in this September where the heat has not dissipated yet, I feel comfortable all over, especially with my intimate lover tightly by my side, that refreshing feeling!

  In the restaurant, the unpleasantness and annoyance in his heart had long been washed away by the white wine. At this time, Haitao was chatting and laughing with everyone.

  Haitao laughed and said to Shi Wei with a playful tone: "Shi Wei, your report on the morality of uniforms and identity at the dinner table was truly impressive! You completely showcased your extraordinary talent and wisdom! I didn't expect that you, a henpecked husband, would have such profound insights. You're really worthy of being my iron brother! Come, let me toast to you!"

  Shi Wei was extremely pleased, able to receive such a high evaluation from Hai Lao Da. This is the first time since Pangu opened up the sky and earth! Especially in front of those girls, it's even more face-saving!

  Shi Wei made a face at the girls, clinking his beer bottle against Haitao's loudly, then turned to Haitao and said: "Afraid of your wife? What's wrong with being afraid of your wife? A wife is not just for loving, but also for fearing! Without fear, where's the affection, where's the gentle comfort? Haitao, I won't be like you, always getting into trouble on my own! Hehe, and I really don't know what Bao Bei Fen likes about you!"

  Another burst of crazy laughter, Wu Qingfen and Du Ci were already women, with some openness in their subconscious, also joining in the fun. However, Jing'er was still a standard yellow flower maiden, her powdered face had a few shades of shy blush under the moonlight.

  Haitao felt that Shi Wei's speech at the dinner table made him feel relieved in his heart, and he asked Shi Wei to improvise again.

  Shi Wei stood up, raised his beer, and with a thousand-year-old cheap man's demeanor, turned around the crowd in a circle. In an exceptionally heavy tone, he spoke with feigned sadness: "You kind-hearted laborers! How can your simple background, your honest living, and your sincere character possibly have such a profound understanding of the uniform identity and power identity in society? How can your simple yet sacred souls possibly comprehend the ugliness of those complex moral natures? How can your limited vision possibly understand the shameless and extreme means used by those despicable people?"

  Without a public opinion system that is upright, fair and open to supervise, power will run amok on the land, take root, sprout and spread its branches; without a monitoring agency for honesty and integrity that is firm and powerful and will not retreat, those in power will indulge in wantonness, using every trick in the book to extort and blackmail. Justice and baseness are intertwined, how many boundaries can be clearly seen? Power dominates power, strength distinguishes opponents, subordinates obey superiors.

  "The inferior ones lick the toes of the superior ones with all their might, and the superior ones trample on the souls of the inferior ones with pride. The morality of those who wear uniforms has been distorted, and means have become necessary to satisfy those needs! Every behavior is practiced for a specific reason, because there is more giving so there is dedication, because there is getting so there is more repayment!"

  "What is service? I am one of the people, so serving myself is serving the people! The absurd logic of the absurd ones may be absurd, but it's not unreasonable. Haven't you seen that - same work, same labor, the difference is only in the category of labor and work, why do they possess more material things than us who don't have uniforms, identity or rights? Is their labor intensity even harder and more difficult than ours?"

  "We are the masters, they are the servants, we are the taxpayers, they are the officials, we are the farmers, we are the individual households, we are the workers. They protect us, manage us, educate us, regulate us, restrain us. Some of them serve us with sincerity, some serve us with greed, some serve us with arrogance. We support them with our blood and sweat, but they stand high above us. They use bright, dazzling, and glorious language to decorate their self-proclaimed moral integrity!"

  "We are humble, we are helpless, we are powerless, and forever can only bow under their authority, either crying out to fate, or lamenting life, or submitting to manipulation, or pleading for injustice, or struggling with strength, or imitating examples! Or using the most secretive, most urgent, most yearning, most sorrowful, most pitiful voice to long for Judge Bao in the difficult living space!"

  "Our demands are actually very few, really very few, almost negligible. We just need fairness! Is this a ridiculous luxury?"

  Clap! Clap! Clap!

  Everyone was deeply moved and thoroughly touched by Shi Wei's impromptu speech!

  Du Cui's eyes, filled with infinite love, were wide open to the limit, as if not doing so would be unable to express her admiration for Shi Wu San and her pity for him.

  Jing'er really didn't expect Shi Wei to have such a talent for being world-weary and cynical, because in her eyes, Shi Wei was just an ordinary man with a sense of humor, who although was worldly, didn't lose his dignity, although mediocre, didn't lose his nobility, although funny, wasn't boring, although clever, wasn't lacking in generosity, and although humble, didn't lack elegance. But it seemed like he shouldn't be able to say such profound words!

  Her eyes, slightly puzzled and cunning, stared at Shi Wei, looking at his complacent and self-satisfied appearance, and suddenly asked out of the blue: "Shi Wei, didn't you say these words? Where did you plagiarize them from? Confess! Surrender your arms and I'll spare your life!"

  Shi Wei's smile suddenly stiffened, and he awkwardly scratched his head with his right index finger, dryly laughing: "Ah! You've actually guessed it all! Are you still a woman without brains?! Ah, these things were written by Long Lao Liu on rough paper. I saw how beautiful the words were, so I confiscated them from him. I have to collect them well and memorize them thoroughly. I didn't cheat you guys! At most, I just recited it once in front of you under someone else's name. Although it's an infringement on Long Lao Liu's intellectual property rights, but anyway, you won't pay me any manuscript fees, right?... Belly, if you pinch my ear again, I'll turn against you!"

  Just then, Haitao's phone rang!

  Look at the number, oh, it's Dad's!

  After a few sentences of family affection, Dad said: "Haizi (Haitao's nickname), just now someone called and asked me to tell you that he is waiting for you on the computer network. He wants you to go online if you have time. I asked him who he was, but he didn't say, just said I had to tell you, so it's up to you!"

  This must be Lao Liu! They rushed to a high-end internet cafe near the Provincial Museum, rented a private room and went online.

  Shi Weishun bought a Xinzhou mobile phone card with a brand new number, and didn't need to register his ID.

  Shi Wei logged into QQ, damn it, a bunch of ads, no messages, no information, but familiar MM's were all in the friend list! Search for "Soft Rib", this is Long Bao's codename last time they contacted. Last time after contacting, Shi Wei deleted his old QQ number as instructed by Long Bao.

  No one has found Long Bu's nickname! Not online! Then where is he?

  Shi Wei thought for a moment, then immediately logged onto the chat website. After several twists and turns, he arrived at the **chat room!

  As expected, "Soft Ten Ribs" is still there!

  Shi Wei decisively and without hesitation named himself "Deflated Three Wearing a Condom", and immediately sent a private chat request to this "Deflated Tenth Rib"!

  Five pairs of eyes were fixed on the computer screen, tightly surrounding the computer, breathing rapidly.

  Come on, come on! How can this internet speed be so slow?! Still using ADSL?! Still broadband?! Unbelievable!

  Shi Wei wore headphones and deliberately plugged the earpiece into the computer speaker jack, using the microphone to speak, so everyone could hear.

  The other party did not reject the private chat request.

  It seemed like a long time had passed when the familiar voice came from the loudspeaker: "Hello, is that Old Big and Old Three? This is Old Six."

  "Old Six, it's me, Shi Wei! There's also Hai Lao Da, Duzi, Bao Bei Fen and Jing Er here!"

  "Hello everyone!"

  Shi Wei said urgently: "Lao Liu, don't worry, we're in a private room at the internet cafe, no one knows! Where are you now?"

  It seemed to have paused for ten seconds before the voice came out: "I'm in Huizhou now."