Li Ye had stirred the thorn called "two hundred thousand," and it immediately pierced Niu Hongzhang's heart.
Because more than once before, Niu Hongzhang had wanted to wield the big stick of "righteous cause and proper standing" to order First Branch Factory to obey the main factory's management unconditionally.
But every time, it had come to nothing. First Branch Factory would nominally obey one hundred percent, yet when it came down to a specific order, they would start crying hardship and injustice.
Whenever Niu Hongzhang wanted to call a meeting to discuss forcing it through, someone would smack their lips and bring this matter up.
We only gave First Branch Factory two hundred thousand in total. Over the years, they had already repaid it a hundredfold. If we really make a fuss, won't it chill the hearts of those outstanding cadres and make them lose their drive?
Niu Hongzhang had always scoffed at such talk.
Lose their drive? The hell should I be afraid of them losing their drive? Crack the whip across their backs, and they'll burst out with one hundred and twenty percent enthusiasm.
But no matter how imposing Niu Hongzhang was, he was not the only one who had the final say. His authority had to be exercised through meetings.
Back in Head Factory Director's day, factory meetings had been his one-man show. Going through the motions was enough, and no one dared resist, so they could still keep First Branch Factory under pressure.
But now that Ma Zhaoxian had taken the position, as long as he disagreed, Niu Hongzhang's proposals basically could not pass.
In a show-of-hands vote, more than half the people would lower their heads and abstain. How was he supposed to play that game?
Afterward, Niu Hongzhang had not failed to settle accounts