Chapter 383: The True Art of Business Warfare Requires Only Fists

After the mobilization meeting, the Business Department and Marketing Department each split into twelve groups and headed to second and third-tier cities to begin the first step of the plan: merchant signing.

Subsequently, Tan Qing personally led a team to Shanghai to organize promotions and operations in the university town.

War greatly depends on the right timing, location, and human harmony. Changes in these three elements often have serious impacts on the outcome.

With the group buying concept now heated up, and the first wave of funds from other group buying sites depleted, the university town, akin to a fortress, is easy to defend but hard to attack. Therefore, gathering the right timing, location, and human harmony means we shouldn’t miss the chance to stir things up.

Before departing, Jiang Qin gave Tan Qing a nickname: “From now on, you are the Icebreaker Queen, Tan Qing.”

Tan Qing’s mouth twitched: “Boss, can’t I have a nicer sounding name? This one sounds like a monster.”

“Do you think ‘Holiday Nuke’ sounds better?”

“That’s…”

Jiang Qin made a gesture as if grasping a pole and swinging it forward: “Choosing a name is for good luck and to intimidate our enemies. ‘Icebreaker’ is quite suitable.”

Tan Qing pouted: “Wenhao is called ‘Master Chef’ because he cooks well. Lu Feiyu is called ‘Scholar’ because he really did that kind of work. What about me?”

“Do you remember when we first operated group buying by university town units? You were stationed at Linchuan University, leading your team to earn money and develop the market yourself. We were so passionate back then, Tan Qing. No matter how far we go, never forget what you are best at.”

After listening, Tan Qing was momentarily stunned, then she pursed her lips: “Boss, I promise to complete the mission.”

“Go, with my hopes and glory.”

On April 12, Tan Qing led a ground promotion team heading to Shanghai.

Upon arrival at Linchuan Airport, the Linchuan Business Group’s member channel was fully open. It was a smooth journey, with even the luggage being taken away for security and returned personally.

At this moment, half of the Pintuan branch had emptied, leaving only a technology department.

To ensure the feasibility of the mid-term promotional plan, Jiang Qin had the ‘Holiday Nuke’ Nanako recruit another batch of programmers to safeguard the LBS service and merchant management system.

Before mobile devices became widespread, these creations’ effectiveness was limited.

So, Jiang Qin was not in a hurry, but his absolute order was that these two systems had to be mature and reliable.

Besides, Jiang Qin gave Su Nai another secret mission, which was the design and development of the internal management system.

As the national plan unfolds, Pintuan will have more employees and its size will surge within two years. How to efficiently manage the national team and effectively allocate responsibility will almost entirely depend on online systems.

Jiang Qin trusts his people but absolutely forbids the concept of disobedience, which is a taboo.

“Boss, I only looked at the goods management system when I went to the overseas supply chain. But how do we manage people?”

“The names are different, but the principle is the same. As business expands, each city will have a general manager, followed by managers and supervisors, then all frontline market staff, each tier classified.”

Jiang Qin made a stepping-down gesture: “You can think of managers and supervisors as reserve warehouses in a logistics park, while staff are the goods that need constant movement.”

Su Nai thought for a moment then nodded.

“The idle period for group buying websites is ending. All sites are trying to fundraise. Next comes the small capital entry phase. During this period, we mainly focus on second and third-tier cities, staying out of the battlefield. But once big capital steps in, many things will be beyond our control.”

Jiang Qin looked at Su Nai: “I’m fairly poor, can’t defeat those big capitals. At most, I can withstand the second round. Our only chance after the third round is to excel in customer service.”

Su Nai nodded: “I ensure to complete the mission.”

“Get to work, with my hopes and glory.”

Jiang Qin patted her shoulder and turned back to Entrepreneurship Base Room 208.

Dong Wenhao had been planning Pintuan’s campus promotion since last year, but it had been on hold due to the initial wait.

Now, he was leading the content team to fully optimize those pre-prepared plans, planning to support the actions of the Marketing Department and Business Department, to boost Pintuan’s promotion within the university towns.

Online and offline, front and back ends, until mid-April, all initial arrangements were in place.

This operation was the largest in Jiang Qin’s entrepreneurial history, yet it was like the spring rain that day, subtly influential.

Apart from the passionate speech at Longkai Hotel, everyone followed Jiang Qin’s instructions, moving stealthily and continuously diving deeper.

As Jiang Qin predicted, group buying in first-tier cities was fiercely competitive, but in second and third-tier cities, not so much. These local sites dared only linger locally, had small scales, unstable structures, and were financially strapped.

Battling with them was much easier than with the frenzied entities in first-tier cities.

Most importantly, all brands of the Linchuan Business Group unconditionally supported Jiang Qin’s actions, providing money and manpower as needed.

From 2009 to 2010, the joint management model of Xihan Heqing continuously harvested the market, finally contributing its efforts.

By the end of April, brands like Burger King, Xitian, River Hotpot, Qing Pepper Grilled Fish, convenience stores, Vena Hotel, and more updated their advertisements. Based on their original promotions, they added group buying on Pintuan, which was more convenient and cost-effective.

These brands had maintained a shiny image among consumer groups for a year, thus their impact was much greater than TV adverts.

Taking advantage of this momentum, the team sinking into second and third-tier cities began their vigorous street promotions.

But some local gangs didn’t play fair, especially those small group buying sites that adopted a reckless local vs. outsider mindset, openly provoking, “I’m Ye Liangchen from here, what can you outsiders do?”

Consequently, they got beaten.

At this moment, those daily wage promotion staff finally understood, “Wow, so this is how we’re supposed to use what we’ve been trained for these two months.”

What high-end business battles, what commanding from high grounds, what manipulating situations with ease—this story tells us that real business still relies on the hard work of fists!

And unsurprisingly, both the local gangs and the Pintuan promotion team ended up in the police station.

Since the local gang struck first and the quality of Pintuan’s promoters was, well, a bit rascal-like and shameless, and it’s said they even had legal advice from a 985 university’s law professor, the mediation didn’t tip in the local gang’s favor.

A group buying site’s promotion manager in Changsha recalled, “That day, I truly witnessed the pinnacle of playing dirty.”

“Those people cursed a lot but never hit. And when we couldn’t stand it and pushed one of them, we got pinned down immediately.”

“They’ve been trained, damn it, used the Dragon Claw technique, just like Jet Li in ‘The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber,’ like every move and style!”

“But we didn’t resist much, just here for the pay. Not worth risking our lives, just thought, let’s fight if we must, and then we’ll accuse you!”

“Ended up in the police station, and they immediately called a lawyer.”

“Ever seen brawling with a lawyer backing? Turns out, even the lawyer was a university professor!”

“After we left the police station, we reevaluated over dinner and realised, damn, even their cursing was trained.”

“That’s when I knew, we probably couldn’t outplay them.”

“Think about it, all the hot offline brands lately only collaborate with them. Their employees are more rascal-like than ours, what can we do?”

“Still, our boss wasn’t convinced, had us keep an eye on them, and guess what we found?”

“That group was training with five-kilogram weights daily, even had a coach. They were definitely targeting us.”

The first battle in second and third-tier target cities was a success. Taking advantage of the weary idle period, Pintuan successfully set up in Changsha, Wuhan, and Xi’an, slowly nibbling at the local markets with a steady focus on quality service.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qin went to the Western Suburbs Entrepreneurs Club with eight mining magnates, playing golf together.

Linchuan’s mine owners couldn’t compare with the top mining tycoons from other provinces, but even the least wealthy among them started with assets of at least a billion. After policies tightened and mineral resources were nationalized, these owners had nothing left but money.

Jiang Qin called them the ‘Eight Great Kings’ because they were all pillars of the Golden Silkwood Fund, often gathering for tea, chats, boasting, and golf, living comfortably as if without worries.

Speaking of boasting, they truly met their match with Jiang Qin, so the ‘Eight Great Kings’ enjoyed his company.

What’s the fun in holing a golf ball? The real pleasure is the stories you hear while playing.

Most importantly, these eight owners were meticulously selected by Jiang Qin, all culturally literate, ambitious, and keen on trying new things.

Another critical point: these coal magnates were flush with funds but respected professionalism. They invested in multiple Linchuan brands but never interfered in management or operations, an ideal trait.

“Boss Jiang, you’re doing group buying again?”

“Yes, the market seems hot, thought I’d give it a shot.”

“Speak up if you need anything, we men have money to spare.”

“Not yet needed, at least not now. When I do, I’ll definitely ask.”

Jiang Qin sat on an outdoor sofa, leaning on his golf club, smiling as he looked out over the vast green field, his gaze stretching towards the horizon.