Chapter 117: The Blackening Trilogy

Two days later, inside a KTV room.

The huge private room had a large screen that wasn’t playing music videos but was showing news from the Magic City TV station.

Sitting on the sofa in the room were two middle-aged men.

One of them, a man with a sinister face, watched as Magic City’s top leader warmly shook hands with Du Qiu on the screen, his eyes flashing with cold light.

“Brother-in-law, why would the top leader suddenly inspect Dream Technology? And why is he bringing the Planning Bureau’s Chief Xin along? Does this mean that piece of land…”

The sinister man picked up a glass from the coffee table, drained the whiskey in one gulp, and then put the glass down with a heavy “thump.”

“Zifeng, this must be Ning Yuzhe’s doing. Relying solely on Du Qiu, a young upstart, could not have possibly secured the top leader’s presence,” said the man referred to as Zifeng—none other than Huang Zifeng, the finance director and former superior to Qin Yun from the shipyard!

And the sinister man was Fu Guochen, chairman of Xingyu Electromechanical.

Huang Zifeng poured more liquor into Fu Guochen’s glass and then said, “It’s a pity. I had already negotiated with President Gong of Dadi Group for them to take the lead in securing the land while we siphoned off funds to get a slice of the pie.”

Fu Guochen also spoke with some regret, “The original plan for that area had no intention of changing. We meddled and modified it, but that won’t count now.

The idea you proposed, which was to kill three birds with one stone – to give Du Qiu a taste of what it’s like to offend others, to cut off the support Ning Yuzhe and I were fighting over, and to carry out a real estate project as an afterthought.

Who would have expected Ning Yuzhe to be able to have the city’s top leader speak up on his behalf? It seems we underestimated Du Qiu’s importance.”

Huang Zifeng raised his glass to Fu Guochen, took a sip, and then spoke deliberately, “Brother-in-law, since Du Qiu is important, then let’s find a way to take him down directly.”

“Do you have a new idea? Your previous plan to smear Du Qiu’s reputation online using big V’s didn’t work.”

Huang Zifeng, leaning back on the sofa, smiled and said, “That was just an appetizer. Smearing a scholar who has already achieved a certain level of accomplishment and reputation, especially now with the endorsement of this top official, requires careful groundwork in all aspects.

Start with some plausible yet questionable incidents to make people start doubting their established perception of the target.

Then gradually introduce certain events from the periphery to associate with the target, reinforcing the doubts in the minds of the people.

Finally, deliver a fatal blow with a shocking event to completely overturn the established image of the target in people’s minds.

If this trilogy is well executed, we don’t have to do anything else. It will end up being a situation where the walls fall and everybody pushes.”

“Mm, that makes sense in theory, but how do you plan to implement this?” Fu Guochen asked with interest.

Huang Zifeng spoke, “It’s already in progress. First, there’s the big V online blackening of Du Qiu for plagiarism. Then there are those companies from Japan collectively suing Dream Technology for intellectual property infringement.

These are all creating counter-evidence to the image of Du Qiu as an inventor and renowned scholar…”

Fu Guochen suddenly cut him off, “Zifeng, your method is good, but it’s too slow. By the time you carry out these things one by one, the position of the chairman of the conglomerate would have fallen into the hands of Ning Yuzhe.

By that time, even if I defeat Du Qiu, what use will it be?”

Huang Zifeng sighed slightly, as his brother-in-law was always impatient.

“Brother-in-law, let me ask you, if Ning Yuzhe becomes the chairman, what position would you hold in the conglomerate?”

Fu Guochen said with an unexpected expression, “What else? If I don’t apply for a transfer, I’d definitely be given a vice-chairman position or might even be appointed as the general manager.”

“What if Ning Yuzhe brings Du Qiu into the conglomerate, like you’ve heard, planning to let Dream Technology join the board as a shareholder with their technology? Wouldn’t that make Du Qiu a director of the conglomerate?”

“That’s right, that’s what Ning Yuzhe’s plan entails.”

Huang Zifeng said, “Haven’t we been scheming to win over the conglomerate’s board members for a long time?”

Fu Guochen spoke with some impatience, “That’s useless. The board has seven seats, and he, like us, has two allies. Now with Du Qiu, he’s already in an invincible position.”

Huang Zifeng chuckled, “That’s why defeating Du Qiu is essential. If something happens to Du Qiu and we gain control over Dream Technology, then wouldn’t the person representing Dream Technology as director be from our camp?”

“Are you thinking that far ahead?” Fu Guochen was somewhat moved.

Huang Zifeng’s plan was already contemplating the scenario where Fu Guochen would lose the chairman position and then work with Ning Yuzhe in the conglomerate, eventually gaining control of the conglomerate by taking over Dream Technology.

“You must anticipate defeat before seeking victory. This has always been my principle. Brother-in-law, you are younger than Ning Yuzhe, and the future in replacing him is a sure thing.”

Fu Guochen shook his head, “Zifeng, you haven’t been back in the country for long.

You don’t understand. I can’t afford to lose this time. If I lose, my subsequent transition to a political career is almost over.

I might end up in this conglomerate for life. I’m not content with that, so you need to think of a faster way.

It’s already November, and I estimate that things will be settled around the Chinese New Year. Therefore, you must take care of Du Qiu before the Spring Festival.”

Huang Zifeng closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, the room turning very quiet.

After a while, Huang Zifeng opened his eyes and said, “Then we’ll take a risk. I’ll arrange it as soon as possible. We’ll have a result by the beginning of January at the latest.”

“That’s good. Brother-in-law, I’ll leave this matter to you. By the way, since you are from the shipyard, which is a key national security unit, try to avoid contact with Kosuke Yasushi whenever you can.”

“I understand. If I really need to meet him, I’ll just run into him here at this KTV. This is our territory, no need to worry.”

Fu Guochen waved his hand, “This place isn’t suitable either! Don’t you understand the situation now?

The oversight on management personnel in state-owned enterprises is getting stricter. Luckily you listened to me and registered this place under someone else’s name.

I told you before, working at the shipyard is not the same as working for an international corporation abroad. Especially, try to steer clear of any romantic entanglements!”

“Brother-in-law, I’m not married. Isn’t it normal to date?” Huang Zifeng retorted.

At this moment, he seemed to have lost the composure he had while scheming.

“You’re not getting any younger, and your sister is worried about your marriage. Ever since she found her brother, you don’t know how much she wants you to continue the family line for the Yue family.”

“I got it, brother-in-law.”

++++++++

In a Japanese-style street in Magic City, inside an izakaya.

“Kosuke-san, your joint lawsuit this time was executed brilliantly.”

Kosuke Yasushi shook his head, “Not very effective. The people of Tang Country are inherently hostile towards us Japanese. The online public opinion in Tang Country sides with Dream Technology.

This matter has also seen very few reports from well-known Tang Country media, for fear of being criticized as traitors to their country.

As for the Intellectual Property Court in Magic City, they’ve been very evasive, continuously demanding us to provide various proofs.

As for our own courts, they have already organized a legal team to respond to the lawsuit. We may not gain much from it.

Mr. Yamamoto, please consider how to turn this unfavorable situation around.”

The person sitting opposite Kosuke Yasushi was a fifty-something man with a twenty-something woman sitting beside him.

Yamamoto Masaki smiled, “You’re being too polite, Kosuke-san. Haven’t you contacted Fu Guochen’s brother-in-law, Huang Zifeng?

For the current situation with the joint lawsuit, Huang Zifeng should have further moves, right?”

Kosuke Yasushi was stunned and then said with a bitter smile, “You really do deserve to be from the Prime Minister’s Intelligence and Observation Office, nothing escapes your notice.”

“Let’s hear it, what are his arrangements?”

“He plans to gradually blacken Du Qiu’s name, eventually using a criminal charge to send him to prison and use Tang Country’s judicial system to trap this dragon.”

“That’s a good plan. Tang Country scholars have a very unfavorable social reputation these years; it’s easy to frame Du Qiu and send him to prison. Plus, the public opinion will be one-sided.”

Yamamoto Masaki clapped his hands gently and continued, “Huang Zifeng is not only called the ‘Fox of Tang’ in the financial market, he is also clever in these matters.”

Then he suddenly turned to look at the woman beside him, “Aki, what do you think about your former protege’s idea?”

Akita Minghui’s face was cold as she said, “Too slow!”

Kosuke Yasushi’s eyes flashed as he asked, “Does Miss Akita have a quicker and better method?”

“Kill Du Qiu, and the problem is solved.”

Thank you to “Still Not Found” for the 100-coin reward! Looking for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets!