Chapter 1468
Imperial Envoy
I gave a general overview to Kong Sheng and the others, and that was enough to convey their intentions.
Zhang Yuan suggested that they shouldn't take the largest share, and that the company's leadership should be left to the professionals.
The main focus is on industrial development, not on relying on any one company for survival, so he has no intention of having absolute authority.
Talented people are rare, and their most valuable asset is themselves, so you must never provoke them or push them too far.
Speaking of talent, he looked at the couple in the greenhouse who didn't talk much.
"That's what I was going to ask you two, what have you been saying lately?"
"Your sister-in-law contacted you a few times before, what's her opinion now?"
Dapeng and his wife exchanged a glance and revealed a bitter smile.
What else...?
"Recently, I don't know who spread the word, but now everyone on Sohu knows about our contact with you." Da Peng said cautiously, while observing his expression.
"Which bastard leaked this information?!" Zhang Yuan frowned indignantly.
Gu Yongqiang, dozens of kilometers away, shuddered...
Anyway, I didn't spread it myself, so it's okay to scold me... Zhang Yuan didn't act like he did it himself at all, and started spouting nonsense as soon as he opened his mouth.
"It seems there really are no secrets in this world."
"Speaking of which, I ran into Mr. Zhang from Sohu just a few days ago."
"Which Mr. Zhang?" Upon hearing this, Dapeng became apprehensive.
"It's Zhang Chaoyang, the one I met at Barbie Hsu's wedding."
"Don't you know?"
"know."
"I've heard about it too."
Not only did Dapeng answer, but Li Xue on the other side also nodded in agreement.
Because Wang Xiaofei and Zhang Chaoyang have started a war of words online and are fighting on Weibo.
"He mentioned you to me."
“I said the greenhouse is great, and so many people come to Sohu Video to see you.”
"You should get a better salary," Zhang Yuan said, acting like a close friend.
The means are not important; the goal is.
We have to earn him to go up the mountain!
The smiles in the greenhouse became even more bitter.
What you said is well said, but my boss won't listen to it properly.
After listening, he felt that Zhang Yuan wasn't talking nonsense, because his mentor Zhao Benshan had also complained about Sohu's treatment of him, which was indeed stingy.
The current situation is that Zhang Chaoyang has been feeling unhappy ever since he returned from the wedding.
Upon returning to the company, I summoned my subordinates for questioning, reviewed documents, and investigated the operation of the greenhouse's programs within the company.
With low costs and high returns, the company is gradually opening up higher production permissions and upgrading the level of personnel in the departments that cooperate and coordinate with it.
"It's alright, but not as good as people say." Zhang Chaoyang was still holding his breath after reading it.
"People outside say he's protecting Sohu Video and is the pillar of the platform."
"I don't think it's that big of a deal. No one in our company is indispensable. So many people come and go, and the company is still doing just fine."
Zhang Chaoyang thinks too highly of himself and is stingy and harsh on others, which is why Sohu created the famous "China Internet Talent Training Camp".
A company usually has a series of common problems, which are also its biggest characteristics.
Baidu is like someone who gets up very early for everything but arrives late.
AI, car manufacturing, maps, online forums... he does everything, and he got into it very early on.
The problem is that Baidu is too eager for quick success and instant benefits. It started thinking about monetization as soon as it made some progress and before it had even achieved an absolute dominant market share. Moreover, its monetization methods are often very low-level.
Furthermore, each of the newly developed departments is led by laymen who are actually experts, and these laymen are the confidants of even higher-ups. If things go wrong, they'll only be punished with a few slaps on the wrist.
Sohu, on the other hand, is the opposite. Zhang Chaoyang doesn't have many close confidants, but he can discover talented people and bring in experts from outside to take charge of projects.
But once the matter is settled, he immediately changes his attitude and treatment.
Gu Yongqiang of Youku, Gong Yu of iQiyi, Li Shanyou of Ku6, Han Kun of Miaopai, Chen Yizhou of Renren, and Wang Xiaochuan of Sogou are all veterans of Sohu, and they all left during Sohu's most prosperous years.
If these individuals were still around, Sohu Video and Sohu Weibo wouldn't have ended up like they did.
Why is it that Sohu's scattered efforts are like a sky full of stars, but when gathered together they're just a clump... unable to come together at all?
Or perhaps the boss, Zhang Chaoyang, has a personality flaw.
People from Kingsoft who leave the company are called the Kingsoft Group.
When Alibaba expands beyond its core business, it becomes known as the Alibaba Group.
Those from Sohu who left all had a grudge against Zhang Chaoyang and started their own companies to compete with him for market share.
It's obvious whose fault this is.
In the later mobile internet era, the most valuable thing Sohu owned became its office building in Wudaokou...
The boss has this kind of personality, and the people below him are panicking.
Upon hearing him say this, an idea immediately formed in my mind.
In addition, there are factions within the company, and judging from the boss's tone, wow.
Whether it's "guessing the emperor's intentions" or "making a fuss over a pretext"
As soon as the news spread that the greenhouse was supporting Sohu Video, his treatment at the company immediately changed.
It hasn't gotten any better!
Terrible.
There's also a saying: "His achievements overshadowed his master."
Your show was a bit popular for a while, but you're just an artist with the company because you're under an artist contract.
Rumors are circulating that you're promoting the platform, so what are we leaders supposed to do?
Will you start climbing all over us in a few days?
Everyone has to think about their own job and their livelihood. As for whether the company is good or not, that's for the boss to worry about. The personal goal is to ensure that one can continue working at the company.
Coupled with Zhang Chaoyang's "crossing the river and burning the bridge" mentality, the middle and senior leaders of Sohu Video were all feeling insecure.
Zhang Yuan's plan was simple: he only needed to say a few words to see how the other side would handle it internally.
Just like Cao Cao's crushing defeat at the Battle of Red Cliffs, there were many reasons for it.
One of these was that they fell for Zhou Yu's counter-espionage plot before the battle, resulting in the execution of Cai Mao and Zhang Yun, two generals skilled in naval warfare.
Zhou Yu's counter-espionage plan succeeded because Cao Cao was inherently suspicious, and the two men were surrendered generals. Under these multiple factors, even if Cao Cao had a slight doubt in his heart, he would rather kill the wrong person than leave a hidden danger before the battle.
In addition, there were also many within the Wei army who disliked these two surrendered generals.
Zhang Yuan: Please don't harm my dear friend's greenhouse. I urge Lord Chaoyang to treat him kindly.
Zhang Chaoyang: Isn't this wrong?
In addition, there was the news that Gu Yongqiang had previously asked someone to spread that the greenhouse wife was going to switch jobs.
And then there was the provocation he gave me on my wedding day.
All things considered, Sohu's already stubborn boss felt increasingly uneasy.
There will naturally be sycophants below who will use others to do their dirty work.
Moreover, the trick was difficult to break because Zhang Yuan hadn't lied at all.
The greenhouse wife came into contact with his company.
He genuinely wanted Zhang Chaoyang to improve the treatment of the greenhouse workers.
The problem is that no matter how I think about it, I feel uncomfortable.
So, the greenhouse's treatment at the company is, if not booming, definitely declining.
Just as the resources and budget that had been starting to pick up were becoming limited again, he immediately realized something was wrong.
Many of his colleagues also mocked him, referring to him as a "pillar of the company."
Praise to death is terrifying.
"This is wrong. How could Zhang Chaoyang do this?"
"A perfectly good person won't listen to good advice." After listening to the other person's "complaints," Zhang Yuan suppressed his joy and said indignantly.
"We must cherish talent, not squander it."
“That’s true. If he really valued talent, there wouldn’t be Youku and iQiyi now.” Zhang Yuan feigned disappointment.
"It's alright...you guys."
Just as he was about to continue speaking, his assistant brought over the phone that had been charging.
Apple's iPhone battery capacity is really inadequate.
"Who?"
"I don't know you, but I said I was looking for you."
The result was a male Chinese voice with a foreign accent.
"Who, which director?"
"Alright, give me the phone, I'll talk to them directly."
"Excuse me, a foreigner is looking for me. You guys eat first." He got up and went outside to answer the call.
For about ten minutes, the people inside the room would occasionally hear him speaking these English words.
"You're back. I'll drink as punishment." Zhang Yuan entered the house, tossed his phone to his assistant, sat down, and picked up a glass of wine.
"What's going on? Why are there foreigners here?" Kong Sheng asked.
"They asked me to act in a movie, saying it was a big one."
To be fair, Keanu Reeves is actually a pretty decent guy.
I introduced him to work shortly after we met.
The Wachowski brothers directed The Matrix.
Now these two are sisters...and they've both undergone gender reassignment surgery.
Back then, the script for "The Matrix" was rejected by major companies. The two brothers, or rather the two sisters, went to great lengths to secure funding, but it became a huge hit.
Actually, while the plot of "The Matrix" is science fiction, it also has some theological elements.
Ordinary viewers might be confused after watching the trilogy and not fully understand what it's about.
The show the two sisters are currently working on is even more amazing; after watching it, the audience has absolutely no idea what it's about.
That is the famous Cloud Atlas!
These two sisters really enjoy this kind of science fiction novel.
Seeing the success of the Chinese market, they wanted to make money and have already secured $1000 million from Newland Field, an investor in China.
They even wanted to make it a co-production, but Lao Han rejected it because it didn't meet the standards at all.
The Wachowskis happened to ask Keanu if he wanted to film it, and the guy recommended himself to him.
He's quite loyal, but he's completely uninterested.
"They said they were looking for Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, and Hugh Grant to star in it."
"You want me to play a supporting role."
"Wow, that's incredible." Li Xue's eyes widened, and upon hearing the names of these Hollywood big shots, she sobered up a bit.
"Tom Hanks is amazing, a real big star," Da Peng chimed in.
"You're so lucky to be able to act with him."
"How about we all raise a toast to celebrate Mr. Zhang's continued success overseas?"
"Put it down, put it down." Zhang Yuan slammed down his wine glass. "What? I'm not going."
"Such a great opportunity, with so many big names, why aren't you going?" Da Peng was deeply surprised.
"Yeah, with so many big brands, I'd be there just to be someone's accessory."
"Going there won't make me stand out, so why bother going?"
Furthermore, the quality of the film "Cloud Atlas" itself is not very good.
He wasn't saying it was bad, not that the film itself was bad, but that as a commercial film, it was a failure.
Not only was it a box office failure, but the story was also poorly told.
Putting everything else aside, even though they're both science fiction, why is it that everyone can understand Nolan's "Inception"?
He could also make very complex films, but Nolan finds a way to present the story in a way that audiences can accept.
Adapting science fiction novels and creating science fiction screenplays are technical tasks.
For audiences, the first requirement for directors when watching science fiction films is that they "speak in a human language".
Zhang Yuan remembered that Zhu Zhu was in this film because this older sister was involved in foreign circles and was quite old-fashioned.
This is also a common problem in China.
This woman comes from a family with an even stronger background than Han Xue; she's considered a high-class person in the country.
As a result, when you're abroad, foreigners don't treat you like a human being at all.
Furthermore, many wealthy and powerful people in China accept this premise: that we are inferior to white people, and it is an honor for us to be treated as their toys.
This woman isn't as despicable as those others. She's signed with CAA agency, but she also gains access to Western social circles by moving between different men.
The movie "Cloud Atlas" made all Asians look incredibly ugly with their makeup and costumes.
Go if you want, I'm not going to cater to you.
"If I want to act, it has to be a major role in a big production."
"Going around fawning over foreigners is shameful and disgraceful to our country."
"What bullshit foreigners! They all obtained their abundant resources through burning, killing, and looting. I wouldn't even bother playing with them."
After hearing this, no one in the greenhouse dared to speak.
When other actors say this, it's just sour grapes; they're sour because they can't go themselves and are making excuses.
If Zhang Yuan said that, then it was true.
He had met many colleagues in the domestic entertainment industry, but this was the first time he had ever spoken and acted so assertively towards foreigners.
"The premise of work is that your partners must treat you as an equal," Zhang Yuan said, glancing at the greenhouse he was admiring.
"Don't be fooled by the fact that the Wachowskis are a big director. They pay me little and give me little screen time. They're just trying to get something for nothing, and I'll still ignore them."
"What kind of big director is he? He may be a big director today, but he'll be nothing but a nobody tomorrow. What's the big deal?"
"I have the same attitude no matter where I work."
After listening, Dapeng pondered for a moment... Was he talking about me?
Sohu pays little and offers few opportunities. Don't be fooled by its current status as a giant; it might collapse any day... Da Peng understood what he meant.
What do you call this attitude?
That's what you call having real ability!
"Where were we... Oh right, sister-in-law, why don't you come and try working at our company first?"
"Especially recently we collaborated with Zhejiang TV on a music program, and we will be in contact with a large number of musicians afterward."
"I need your help."
“I agreed on her behalf,” Dapeng quickly replied.
I came here today for this very reason.
They were so enthusiastic before, but we kept making excuses, afraid that Zhang Yuan wouldn't be happy.
Now, as soon as he hears a topic, he quickly takes it up.
"And what about you? Did your wife agree for you?"
"You two are cross-guaranteeing, right?" Zhang Yuan asked, seemingly joking, but actually staring at him.
“Then we can provide cross-guarantees,” Cheng Hao said. “I’ll keep an eye on him and make sure I don’t interfere too much with your creative process.”
"If you're not happy about giving me the money, I'll help you get it."
"What else is there to say?" Dapeng raised his cup and clinked it together forcefully.
"Brother, I'll work for you from now on!"
His face flushed red, he tilted his head back and started drinking.
The table was full of people before they dispersed.
After seeing everyone off, Zhang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.
All that work wasn't for nothing.
"Don't blame me for being ruthless; market competition is just that cruel," he muttered to himself in the darkness.
You can't have anything if you don't fight; you can only succeed by competing with others.
The next day he was in a good mood, as the greenhouse's wife had come to the company to discuss the details of her employment.
However, after sobering up, he slightly regretted his heartfelt declaration of loyalty the night before.
He talked too much when he was drunk, leaving himself no way out.
So I discussed with him about leaving a few months to finish the programs I had on hand and properly hand over my work, so that I could do right by Sohu.
A day or two later, just as Zhang Yuan was preparing to go overseas to promote "Fast & Furious 5," the car Toyota had ordered for him arrived. It still needed to be driven around overseas before it could be transported back to China.
He inquired around and found out that after shipping the goods back to China, he would have to pay more than 100 million yuan in taxes and fees before he could put them on the road.
Meat hurts.
Just as he was wondering whether he should ship it back to China, Shu Chang called him again.
"Brother Yuan, I've arrived in Hengdian."
"I've already been to Dongyang Huanyu's office."
"That's good. I spoke with Yu Zheng, and he should be able to receive you," Zhang Yuan replied calmly.
“They wouldn’t let me in,” Changchang said in a resentful tone.
Zhang Yuan: ...
"Stay here for now, don't rush back. I'll find someone to help you."
He called Yu Zheng again, this time with a much more serious attitude.
"It's quite difficult to get into your company."
"Should I come find you myself?"
"No, it's a misunderstanding. I'm not at the company; I'm out on set. It must be a communication breakdown with the people at the company." Yu Zheng continued to soften his tone, repeating the same old words.
"Let me tell you, this is the second time."
"I don't want a third time."
After saying that, he hung up without saying anything more.
Instead of having Shu Chang go to the other company, they called Brother Long.
“You’re looking for someone… never mind, you take your people and go to Hengdian yourself.”
"Find Shu Chang and go with her to check the accounts."
"If someone tries to stop you, just do what you can."
"I thought they had learned their lesson and would remember it, but it seems some people just need a bit of intensity."
"How many people do you need to bring?" Brother Long asked seriously.
It's not easy to understand this.
Because he was the boss's bodyguard and a high-ranking executive at the security company, they sent him personally.
In addition, there's Shu Chang, the "imperial envoy".
Aside from Zhang Yuan personally going, the personnel level has been raised to the highest level.
"It's just an audit, not a war."
"One van is enough, and it's convenient for getting around."
"The main purpose is to scare the other party into being obedient for a while, settle the accounts, and then part ways without having to deal with this kind of trouble again."
I'm currently in talks with Daylight Entertainment, and we won't miss you!
Let Brother Long use this "imperial sword" to find the "imperial envoy".
He then called Zhao Decai, who was doing very well on construction projects in the south.
He was also a shareholder when Dongyang Huanyu was invested in at the time.
"what?"
"Such a thing is true?"
After hearing this, Fatty Zhao cursed in his hometown dialect.
"It's such a hassle to make such a small amount of money so complicated."
"Yes." They both felt it wasn't worth it.
Because they have other ways to make money, but for Yu Zheng it's everything.
"I'm not going to steam buns, I'm just trying to save face. It's not about the money."
Zhao Decai said while smoking.
"Listen to me, I'll find a hole on the construction site and throw him in."
“Pour cement slurry in, and it will be just above your ankles. He even confessed to peeping at people bathing when he was a few years old.”
"Or I could have someone stage a minor car accident."
Zhang Yuanxin asked, "Are you sure it was a minor car accident?"
You know, this is what I hate most.
"Don't be so violent, be civilized."
“We’re all rich now, we can’t resort to these kinds of tactics anymore.”
"That's just pretending to be a hypocrite," Fatty Zhao said bluntly.
"That's still better than taking off your clothes and becoming a beast."
Zhang Yuan accepted Cheng Hao's "education" and tried his best to avoid violent behavior to prevent getting into trouble.
"If you ask me, even if he's ruthless, we should still uphold righteousness."
“Once the accounts are settled this time, we’ll withdraw our investment and let him run it himself.”
"Clearly severing ties will make it easier to settle scores later."
"It would be a piece of cake for me to trip him up."
"But we still need to get the money."
"Fine, fine, whatever you want. You're getting all coy after not seeing me for a while."
The former coal mine owner looked down on his "civilized" manner.
He felt that Zhao Decai's plan, while seemingly low-cost, was actually high-risk.
I'm a man who wears shoes now; I can't always do things barefoot.
Hopefully so… (End of Chapter)