On the tenth day of the first lunar month, the news that the City Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Plant had proactively sought a merger could finally no longer be kept under wraps.
It so happened to be the first Monday after the Spring Festival. Dozens of core managers had been gathered for a meeting, and Niu Hongzhang seized the opportunity to launch a sharp interrogation at Lu Zhizhang and Li Ye.
"This is such a major matter. Why wasn't it discussed by the Party Committee beforehand? I only learned about it after receiving a call from higher up asking about it. Even the leaders above knew, while we knew nothing. Is there any discipline left?"
"."
Seeing how aggressive Niu Hongzhang was, Lu Zhizhang smiled. "I can explain that. The comrades from Zhuancheng came to visit during the final two days before the Spring Festival, and during the visit, they expressed their willingness to join us.
We had never encountered such a situation before, so we were still only in the preliminary stages of contact and communication. The character eight did not even have its first stroke yet. How could we report it upward?"
In truth, Lu Zhizhang and Li Ye had reported it to Ma Zhaoxian before the New Year, but at this moment, he did not bring Ma Zhaoxian into it.
A smart manager would not intensify the conflict between his superior and his opponent over trivial matters.
What, you reported it to Ma Zhaoxian but not to me? You two were birds of a feather, colluding together, and neither of you took me seriously as a leader, did you?
But although Lu Zhizhang had humbly offered an explanation, Niu Hongzhang remained dissatisfied.
"Your First Branch Factory has no authority to independently contact or negotiate with outsiders. A matter