Chapter 514 512: Fire Them All

"No, no, no. I can't do something like that."

Hearing Ren Yuejin's blatant attempt to recruit him as a mole, Lao Xu shook his head furiously.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity right in front of you. You miss this, and it's gone for good."

Ren Yuejin continued his temptation, "Do you really want to be a general manager's assistant on a fixed salary for the rest of your life?"

"A brilliant future is right in front of you. Just nod your head, and before long, everything I have can be yours too."

"President Ren, please stop. For the sake of our working relationship, I can pretend I didn't hear any of this. But if you continue, I'll have to report you to General Manager Hong."

"You think I'm afraid of him?"

Ren Yuejin's expression changed in an instant. He boasted arrogantly, "Xingchen Media is what it is today all thanks to me."

"All the top talent in the operations department was promoted by me. Even if Hong Jiantao can't stand me, he can't touch me."

"If you piss me off, Xingchen Media will be nothing but an empty shell in minutes. The only ones left will probably be the janitors and security guards."

"Since you're so eager to leave, then go ahead. Without you, Xingchen Media won't become an empty shell. In fact, it will grow better and better."

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

Hong Jiantao, Mu Lin, and a few others stood right outside the door.

Those last words had come from Hong Jiantao himself.

Ren Yuejin explained with an awkward expression, "President Hong, you misunderstood. I was just joking with Lao Xu."

"The company has treated me well. Why would I take people and leave? It was a joke, all just a joke."

"You might like to joke around, but that's your business. I, Hong Jiantao, never joke when it comes to work."

Hong Jiantao demanded, "Why didn't you carry out my order to retract the articles?"

"Who gave you the right to feign compliance with my orders?"

Realizing Hong Jiantao was truly furious, Ren Yuejin tried to argue his way out. "President Hong, let me explain. I wasn't defying your order. The reason I haven't retracted the articles is that I was thinking about the company's best interests."

Before Hong Jiantao could speak, Ren Yuejin handed him a newly signed contract.

Beneath the contract was a company seal, the ink still wet.

Party A commissioned Xingchen Media to publish a series of articles detrimental to Profound Secret Pharmacy and Su Changyuan.

The total commission was one million.

If Party B failed to act according to Party A's requirements, they would have to compensate Party A for double the total remuneration.

Ren Yuejin said with feigned helplessness, "Take a look, President Hong. I've already signed it with Party A and stamped the company seal. The contract is now legally binding. If we retract the articles, we'll lose two million, and our reputation will take a huge hit."

"So you're saying that no matter what I say, you won't retract the articles?"

Hong Jiantao asked, his voice laced with anger.

"It's not that I won't. I can't."

Ren Yuejin's tone gradually hardened.

"If you can't, then I won't make things difficult for you."

Hearing this, Ren Yuejin sneered inwardly.

He'd thought Hong Jiantao might have some trick up his sleeve, but it turned out he was just an embroidered pillow—all bark and no bite.

Unfortunately for him, Ren Yuejin's disdain lasted only a few seconds.

"I now announce, in my capacity as the company's General Manager, that as of this moment, the company is terminating all employment contracts with you."

"Go with Lao Xu to the finance department to settle your final pay. From now on, you don't need to concern yourself with company matters."

As a former company owner, Hong Jiantao naturally possessed the decisiveness to make ruthless cuts.

Furthermore, with Mu Lin watching from behind, failing to win this first battle after taking office would significantly lower his standing in Mu Lin's eyes.

Hong Jiantao didn't know much about Mu Lin, but that didn't diminish his respect for him.

Setting everything else aside, the tone the richest man, Xiao Longjiang, used when mentioning Mu Lin was enough.

It was enough for Hong Jiantao to understand that Mu Lin was a major figure on par with Xiao Longjiang himself.

It was laughable that Ren Yuejin was still here, barking like a stray dog.

He had no idea how much trouble he'd just stirred up.

Mu Lin himself had given the order to protect Profound Secret Pharmacy and Su Changyuan.

For a bit of petty profit, Ren Yuejin had published dirt on Su Changyuan, which was tantamount to opposing Mu Lin.

"Fine... Fine, Hong Jiantao! You've got guts!"

Ren Yuejin, trembling with rage, provocatively shoved past Hong Jiantao.

Stepping out into the main office area, Ren Yuejin roared, "Everyone, stop what you're doing! Our new General Manager has it in for me and wants to fire your boss! Tell me, what should I do?"

"That Hong is going too far! Everyone knows the company is where it is today because of our boss."

"If he dares fire our boss, then we'll all quit too!"

"General Manager Hong, you must retract your order, or we'll all resign together!"

Shortly after Ren Yuejin finished speaking, a few of his loyal cronies immediately started inciting the employees to resign en masse.

One by one, they threatened Hong Jiantao to force him to take back his decision.

Mu Lin stood to the side, watching with great interest.

'The scheming and backstabbing in the workplace is every bit as intense as a conflict between Martial Artists.'

He was curious to see just how capable this person, hand-picked for him by Xiao Longjiang, really was.

"Since you want to stand or fall with your director, I'll grant you your wish."

Hong Jiantao stated unequivocally, "Any employee who wants to leave can go to the finance department to settle their wages."

Instantly, the office fell silent.

The operations department had dozens of employees. Did Hong Jiantao really dare to fire them all?

Even Ren Yuejin started to panic.

He thought that if everyone stood together, they could force Hong Jiantao to retract his decision and admit defeat.

He never imagined Hong Jiantao would be so stubborn.

He would rather fire all of them than back down.

"Hong Jiantao, you will live to regret today's decision!"

Ren Yuejin waved his arm. "Let's go."

It had to be said, despite his terrible character, Ren Yuejin had a strong ability to rally people.

At once, all the employees stood up and followed Ren Yuejin towards the finance department.

The once-crowded work area was now left with only Mu Lin, Hong Jiantao, and Lao Xu.

Lao Xu asked, "President Hong, are you really going to fire them all?"

"It's not that I want to fire them. It's that they're dead set on opposing me."

Hong Jiantao said with a straight face, "From now on, you will be the acting director of the operations department. As for the missing personnel, they will all be in place before this evening."

Lao Xu hadn't been in the office for long before the others arrived outside.

Hong Jiantao had heard the conversation between Lao Xu and Ren Yuejin loud and clear.

He was very pleased to hear Lao Xu refuse Ren Yuejin's attempt to win him over.

Appointing an honest man like him as the operations director might mean he was a bit lacking in ability, but that didn't matter.

As long as the people under him were competent, it would be fine.

Lao Xu never imagined he would be the one to benefit the most.

After the turmoil, he had suddenly become the director of the operations department.

Hong Jiantao composed himself slightly and said with a smile, "Mr. Mu, I guarantee I will resolve this PR crisis as quickly as possible."

"You don't need to prove your loyalty to me. I trust your abilities."

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "You fired them all and said new people would arrive before evening. Are these people your former subordinates, by any chance?"

"Mr. Mu, your foresight is truly godlike. That is indeed the case."

Speaking of his former subordinates, Hong Jiantao's face filled with pride.

After his company was dissolved, everyone went their separate ways, but their relationships didn't fade.

Every so often, someone would organize a reunion.

At these gatherings, they were as close as family.

Hong Jiantao was confident that with a single phone call, his former subordinates would all report for duty before evening.

As it turned out, Hong Jiantao had not misjudged them.

At four in the afternoon, cars of various brands gathered in the parking lot.

Dozens of men and women got out of their cars and took the elevator up to the operations department's office area.

From the moment they started walking in, Hong Jiantao wore a smile.

He greeted each person warmly.

"Bai Yong."

Once everyone had found a seat, Hong Jiantao called out a name.

A portly man in his thirties stood up.

"Boss, what are your orders?"

"Same as the old days. Set up the battlefield. I'm about to lead you into a tough fight."

"The brothers have been waiting for this day for years."

Bai Yong immediately made a call to order energy drinks and fast food.

Hong Jiantao picked up a whiteboard marker and clearly wrote several key strategies on the board.

The employees were divided into three groups. The first group was responsible for suppressing public opinion online.

The second group was to search for the identity and dirt on the person behind the scenes.

The other group would contact the heads of various websites by phone.

Before seven in the evening, each group was to report and compile their findings for Hong Jiantao.