“Alright, you all go back now. Tonight, I will visit each of you, starting with the senior managers, and then moving on to the middle-level managers.” Zhang Bo also stated his final plan, as he had to personally create the point of conflict that would eventually incite a clash between the two sides.
At the same time, Zhang Bo also revealed the most crucial small plan within his detailed scheme: “Also, tonight, the senior managers of your senior management and the senior managers of the middle-level management should meet each other. Don't let things get too tense. I'll mediate a reconciliation. Our main goal is to capture the remnants of the Diesel Company, how about that?”
Upon hearing Zhang Bo's words, the senior managers and middle-level managers exchanged glances, seemingly having realized something. They then nodded in unison and said, “Since Mr. Zhang Bo has said so, then so be it.”
However, what they truly thought in their hearts was completely different; instead, they sensed a glimmer of opportunity.
An opportunity to stall for time.
“Capture the remnants of the Diesel Company?” The representative of the senior managers' lips curled slightly, and he squinted at the leader of the middle-level managers, thinking coldly, “But aren't those remnants of the Diesel Company right here? Tonight, under the pretext of capturing the Diesel Company's remnants, we'll thoroughly deal with these damned middle-level managers and let them know who the true highest managers are!”
The conflict today, on the surface, appeared to be a stalemate between the senior managers and the middle-level managers. But precisely because of this, they, who were nominally the senior managers directly overseeing these middle-level managers, fighting to a draw and then tacitly retreating, essentially meant that these senior managers were already powerless against the middle-level managers.
For the Blue Star Humans, it wasn't the middle-level managers who failed; precisely because of this current stalemate, the Blue Star Humans instead believed that the middle-level managers had succeeded.
After all, a stalemate should not have occurred for the senior managers.
For the senior managers, what they should have done was to decisively eliminate these middle-level managers, achieve victory, and then sweep them out like garbage. This was the expected scenario and concept in the minds of the Blue Star Humans.
The current situation simply could not happen.
Therefore, for the senior managers, this was a huge failure, and thus, an unbearable humiliation for them.
Compared to the middle-level managers who needed a pragmatic attitude, the senior managers should inherently be high and mighty, even with a touch of mythical aura. Otherwise, why would those below obey them?
However, the thoughts of this senior manager representative were quite dark, and the middle-level managers shared the same idea.
“The remnants of the Diesel Company are truly a good excuse; this is simply perfect.” The representative of the middle-level managers also intended to use the excuse of the Diesel Company's remnants to deal with these senior managers and their lackeys.
So, the two exchanged glances, both smiling as they continued to eat the food in their bowls.
It was as if they had agreed to Zhang Bo's proposal, quietly began to eat, then temporarily shook hands and negotiated, focusing on the task of investigating the remnants of the Diesel Company and ceasing their internal strife.
But in reality, it was impossible for them not to engage in internal strife.
When core interests were involved, if they didn't continue to fight, they would be swept out. This was a very realistic example. No one wanted to be swept out, so they had to fight.
After all, for them, they were originally deceived by false intelligence, and everything was based on Zhang Bo's claim about the remnants of the Diesel Company.
They simply did not understand the truth.
Therefore, they also had no idea that the current situation was actually instigated by Zhang Bo, and that an even greater crisis was about to erupt outside. For these Blue Star Humans, their current actions were effectively handing a crucial weapon to their enemies, and they remained blissfully unaware.
Perhaps even if they discovered it, they wouldn't care, because the ecological positions of senior managers and middle-level managers inherently represented a relationship of absolute leadership hierarchy. Once this leadership shifted, it would become a struggle for the most fundamental and profitable power.
Countless powerful forces ultimately collapsed due to internal strife caused by power struggles.
The current conflict between these senior managers and middle-level managers had already touched the foundation of the Blue Star Humans in Deherim, and even the fundamental security foundation of Deherim.
There was simply no chance or possibility for reconciliation between the two sides.
Unless one side was willing to withdraw.
But it had already come to this point, who would be willing to withdraw? That was simply impossible.
Zhang Bo understood this, and these Blue Star Humans also understood it very well. Both the senior managers and middle-level managers were already well aware that their conflict could not be reconciled and would eventually erupt into an absolute battle again due to the clash.
This was absolute.
“Alright, since you've finished eating, you can go back first. Next, I'll go to the senior managers' side, and then to you middle-level managers. Remember to prepare some high-quality honey water for me then; I'll be thirsty, after all, I've been talking so much today, I just want to drink something to soothe my throat.”
Zhang Bo smiled at both sides and waved his hand, signaling that they could leave.
The two of them stood up and respectfully complimented Zhang Bo a few more times before leaving Zhang Bo's town residence and heading towards their own strongholds.
At this moment, outside the window, only the sunset remained, and even the sunset had only a tiny sliver of light waves left, stubbornly emitting faint yellow rays, struggling not to set behind the mountains and let darkness descend.
Zhang Bo also understood that it would be dark soon, and after dark, it would be time for the Skeleton Legion of the Black Arrow Tower Seventh Dynasty to attack Deherim.
The grand plan was about to begin, and he had no intention of hesitating here any longer. He had to act quickly for the sake of the grand plan.
However, Zhang Bo did not intend to go directly to the senior managers or middle-level managers right now.
“Let's go then.” Zhang Bo stood up directly and left his town residence, walking towards a town residence not far away.
And that was not the town residence of the senior managers, nor was it the town residence of the middle-level managers, but Zhang Caidong's town residence.
That was Zhang Caidong's room.
Soon, Zhang Bo arrived at the door of Zhang Caidong's town residence and directly knocked twice on the door.
“Coming.” A response immediately came from inside, but it wasn't Zhang Caidong. When the door opened, a Swadian Militia walked out and, seeing that it was Zhang Bo, respectfully nodded to him and said, “Mr. Zhang Bo, you have indeed come. Lord Zhang Caidong is waiting for you inside. Please follow me.”
This Swadian Militia had obviously received instructions beforehand, so he was not surprised by Zhang Bo's arrival.
Zhang Bo was also not surprised that he knew of his arrival and was waiting there beforehand.
He just nodded and followed the Swadian Militia's steps.
Then he entered the town residence.
At the same time, after he entered, the other two Swadian Militia guarding the door immediately re-closed the door and locked it with the bolt from the inside.
When Zhang Bo arrived in the town residence's reception hall, Zhang Caidong was sitting there, quietly waiting.
“Cai Dong, I'm here.” Zhang Bo walked over, patted Zhang Caidong's shoulder, and sat down on the chair next to him. There was an empty chair, clearly prepared for Zhang Bo.
“Bo Ge, I have a feeling something isn't right.” Zhang Caidong suddenly spoke at this moment, his tone somewhat grave.
This sentence made Zhang Bo's heart skip a beat.
Looking at Zhang Caidong's serious and solemn expression, Zhang Bo couldn't help but reveal a formal smile, tinged with falsehood: “What isn't right? Or do you feel unwilling because the remnants of the Diesel Company haven't been caught yet?”
Zhang Bo steered the conversation towards the remnants of the Diesel Company, as this was the biggest key point of the plan. It was also the only very rationalized demand.
Without the excuse of the Diesel Company's remnants, the senior managers and middle-level managers among the Blue Star Humans would not have easily engaged in such a conflict.
“Before, everything was fine, and there was no mention of the Diesel Company's remnants. Suddenly, there were remnants of the Diesel Company. I'm very puzzled.” Zhang Caidong suddenly looked up at Zhang Bo, his expression also a bit off: “Moreover, before, those senior managers and middle-level managers didn't have such a big conflict. Suddenly, both sides are already at loggerheads. I really can't imagine why they would suddenly become like this.”
Zhang Caidong spoke frankly, and at the same time, he looked up at Zhang Bo beside him, his tone changing slightly: “Bo Ge, what exactly is going on? You're not hiding anything from me, are you?”
He instinctively sensed some things going on, but his real-world emotions did not allow him to admit this situation, so he chose to speak frankly and also hoped that Zhang Bo would give him an explanation.
“Don't think too much. Can I still lie to you about anything?” Zhang Bo, however, still smiled faintly, appearing nonchalant: “You know, the Diesel Company has been destroyed, of course, some remnants will be left behind. Aren't these remnants hidden pests? Do they need to be found and completely eliminated?”
“But now there's a situation of command confusion between the senior managers and middle-level managers. They're starting to engage in internal strife, and someone has already passed the word to me, hoping for a war-like clash between the two sides.” Zhang Caidong's face showed entanglement and considerable helplessness: “If a real battle, a civil war, breaks out, it will be unacceptable for us, and Shen Mu will definitely investigate this matter there. Do you think you can really hide your instigation from them?”
“Of course, it can't be hidden, but I did indeed receive a mission from Lord Shen Mu to investigate the remnants of the Diesel Company, and then I distributed this mission. What they do themselves is their business. Isn't that right?” Zhang Bo still had a faint smile on his face at this moment, showing no sign of admitting fault, and at the same time, he looked at Zhang Caidong, advising him as if speaking frankly: “This matter was all done by me in the end, and it has nothing to do with you. Cai Dong, isn't this allowed?”
Zhang Bo acted as if he was taking all the blame, completely considering Zhang Caidong. This made Zhang Caidong feel increasingly annoyed and a bit tired.
“That's not how it works, Big Brother Zhang Bo.” Zhang Caidong looked up at Zhang Bo, this big brother who had saved him many times and treated him very well. His heart grew even more weary: “I know you're doing all this for my own good, but if Lord Shen Mu really investigates and holds you accountable, your future in Deherim will be completely ruined. You should know that the internal strife between the senior managers and middle-level managers will definitely affect the entire Blue Star Human command system, leading to a significant decrease in the spiritual energy received by Deherim every day. And before, both the Green Leaf Group and the Diesel Company valued spiritual energy highly. Even the domineering Diesel Company ordered its employees not to harass the Blue Star Humans, and if it led to a decrease in spiritual energy fluctuations, they would even directly punish those Diesel Company employees who dared to violate this rule.”
“I know, so all these things were done by me.” Zhang Bo's smile on his face at this moment, seeing that Zhang Caidong hadn't discovered his grand plan or that he was a spy for the Green Leaf Group, made him breathe a sigh of relief. However, his face still wore that false smile: “Everything was done by me, isn't that allowed? Zhang Caidong, as long as you are still in the position of general manager, as long as you are still here, then I can always regain my status, isn't that right? Even if Lord Shen Mu no longer trusts me, but you trust me, isn't that enough? Those senior managers fought alongside you back then, but the greatest contribution was yours, not theirs. And now they have taken away your authority, and those middle-level managers want to replace them, they want to find a new backer, and the best backer is you. Isn't this allowed?”
Zhang Caidong fell silent.