Chapter 4 Dimensional Reduction Attack: A True Record of the Modern Corporate Restructuring of the Heavenly Khan
A tense atmosphere, like the impending storm, filled the boardroom. The long table was clearly divided on either side: on one side, the traditionalists, led by the three veterans Zhao, Qian, and Sun, all wore solemn expressions, their eyes revealing resentment and a final, defiant spirit; on the other side, Li Shimin, Wang Yi, and several mid-career executives who had gradually sided with the new core leadership over the past few months. Li Qingyun sat ramrod straight behind her father, clutching a newly released audit report tightly in her hand.
Outside the window, the bright sunlight of early summer in Shanghai shines through, but it cannot penetrate the cold and stagnant atmosphere inside.
“Consultant Li,” Chairman Zhao finally couldn’t hold back, his voice filled with suppressed anger and a barely perceptible bluff, “your so-called ‘operational efficiency optimization plan’ is a complete subversion of the group’s stable structure of decades! Forcibly implementing the digitalization of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), merging redundant departments, and cutting ‘inefficient’ positions… Do you know how much turmoil this will cause? If morale is low, how can you lead the team? Those long-time employees who have been with the group for over ten or twenty years, even if they haven’t made any great contributions, they have still put in a lot of hard work. You think you can just optimize them like that?”
Chairman Qian banged on the table in agreement: "Exactly! And then there's the supply chain. They insist on creating some kind of 'intelligent collaboration platform,' completely dismantling and reorganizing all the channels that were maintained by personal relationships and years of connections, and incorporating them into the system's performance evaluation. This is going to destroy the very foundation of our livelihood! What will our partners who have worked with us for many years think? Business is done between people, not between machines!"
Chairman Sun, speaking from a technical perspective with a touch of expert arrogance, questioned: "You require all projects in the R&D department to be connected to the 'Innovation Funnel Management System,' with resources allocated in stages, and you even want to introduce anonymous reviews from external experts? What a joke! Is innovation something that can be controlled? True technological breakthroughs rely on inspiration and the free exploration of top talent! Your approach will only stifle creativity and turn the R&D department into just another rigid factory workshop!"
The three elders' attacks focused on several core reforms that Li Shimin had recently been pushing forward. These reforms directly targeted the deep-seated problems that had accumulated within the group over the years due to its rapid development: bloated organization, rigid processes, overstaffing, and an over-reliance on personal relationships rather than systemic capabilities. They directly threatened the fundamental interests and comfort zones of these elders and their affiliated factions.
Faced with a barrage of accusations, Li Shimin did not immediately refute them. He even leaned back slightly in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the smooth table, as if enjoying a debate that had nothing to do with him. Only when the other party's voice gradually subsided and the conference room returned to silence, with only the low hum of the air conditioner remaining, did he slowly sit up straight.
He didn't look at the three elders, but instead turned his gaze to the group's logo hanging at the back of the conference room, an abstract design symbolizing connection and growth.
"Chairman Zhao is worried about internal unrest, Chairman Qian is concerned about the collapse of distribution channels, and Chairman Sun is worried about stifling innovation." Li Shimin spoke, his voice not loud, but each word clear and distinct, carrying a peculiar penetrating power, as if he were stating some universal truth rather than offering a defense. "What you all say is reasonable. However—"
He paused, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across the entire room.
"Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; governing a large enterprise is no different." His words sent a jolt through the three people sitting opposite him. "During the Zhenguan era, I... Li Shimin faced the predicament of the powerful and uncontrollable Guanlong aristocracy, whose decrees were difficult to implement beyond Chang'an. How to solve it? Not by simply compromising and appeasing, nor by brutally suppressing. It was by revising the 'Clan Records' to redefine social hierarchy; by promoting the imperial examination system to break the monopoly of aristocratic families; and by perfecting the Three Departments and Six Ministries to ensure smooth implementation of policies and that each department fulfilled its responsibilities. What was needed was a 'law,' a 'measure,' and an 'effectiveness.'"
He effortlessly applied ancient governance strategies to modern corporate management.
"The long-serving employees that Chairman Zhao mentioned should certainly be properly resettled, with generous compensation and retraining. However, the group is not a charity, much less a retirement home. If a position cannot generate value commensurate with its salary, it is an exploitation of other hardworking employees and a waste of the group's resources. This is what we call 'moderation.'" He looked at Chairman Zhao, his eyes calm and unwavering. "Among the twenty-four meritorious officials of the Lingyan Pavilion, there were also mediocre old men who retired. Did Li Shimin ever allow them to hold positions without performing their duties because of past relationships?"
Chairman Zhao's face paled, and he opened his mouth, but was speechless. How could he not know the story of Lingyan Pavilion?
Li Shimin then turned to Chairman Qian: "Chairman Qian values personal connections and channels, which is a tradition of Chinese business ethics and cannot be entirely denied. However, in today's world of global competition and information transparency, supply chain efficiency is the lifeline. Relying on personal relationships may work for a while, but in the long run, it will inevitably lead to drawbacks, inflated costs, slow response, and even corruption. Establishing an 'intelligent collaborative platform' is like enacting 'laws,' making everything transparent, standardized, and data-driven. Qualified partners will thrive under the new law; those who are mediocre and only want to profit from personal connections should be eliminated. This is not about destroying one's livelihood, but about replacing it with a more robust and fairer one. After pacifying the four directions, how many powerful families were affected by the rectification of officialdom and the investigation of land and household registers? Yet, without such measures, how could we have achieved the prosperous reign of Zhenguan and the full treasury?"
Qian Dong's Adam's apple bobbed, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Li Shimin's words about "investigating land and household registers" were like a cold lightning bolt, cleaving open some hidden corners of his heart that he did not want to touch.
Finally, he looked at Chairman Sun, a faint, almost mocking smile playing on his lips: "Chairman Sun talks about the need for freedom and inspiration in innovation, which is excellent. However, freedom is not laxity, and inspiration is not wishful thinking. R&D investment often amounts to tens or hundreds of millions, all the hard-earned money of shareholders. How can we allow individual 'inspiration' to squander it? 'Innovation funnel management' is about establishing rules and ladders. Brilliant ideas can be poured into the bottom of the funnel, given small seed funding for verification; once proven feasible, investment can be increased step by step. External expert review ensures a balanced perspective, preventing closed-door development and blind confidence within internal cliques. This is not stifling, but guiding and focusing, directing limited resources towards the direction most likely to yield fruitful results. Back then, the Hongwen Academy and Chongxian Academy were established to gather talents from all over the country, ordering them to proofread classics, participate in politics, and formulate laws and etiquette. Wasn't this setting up a 'funnel' and 'platform' for innovative ideas? Does Chairman Sun think that the civil and military achievements of the Zhenguan era were all inspirations that fell from the sky?"
Chairman Sun's face flushed red. Li Shimin's analogy of a national-level cultural construction project to R&D management, with its lofty vision and profound intent, made his "expert freedom theory" seem so pale and narrow.
"As for the hearts of the people," Li Shimin concluded, his voice rising abruptly with an undeniable decisiveness, "true hearts of the people do not come from upholding the old power structure, but from their belief in fair rules, their recognition of the prospects for development, and their following of a leader who can lead them to prosperity!"
He no longer referred to himself as "I," but the lingering echo of the unintentional use of the pronoun "朕" (zhen, meaning "I, the imperial censor"), combined with the overwhelming aura emanating from him, created a suffocating pressure on everyone in the conference room. This was no longer a business consultant presenting a plan, but a monarch declaring his governing principles.
"Digitalizing SOPs ensures that the capable rise and the mediocre fall, providing everyone with a clear path; platformizing the supply chain cuts off gray chains, allowing legitimate profits to benefit truly hardworking partners; and scientificating R&D management ensures that geniuses are not buried and speculation has nowhere to hide." His gaze swept over each attendee with intense intensity. "This is... this is the 'rule of law' that the group must take in the future. There will inevitably be growing pains, but a short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one."
He paused, then looked at Wang Yi. Wang Yi nodded slightly, her eyes resolute.
Li Shimin spoke again, his tone softening but carrying greater weight: "Previously, the Audit and Supervision Department, in conjunction with external agencies, conducted a review of some of the Group's historical projects and related transactions." He gestured to Li Qingyun.
Li Qingyun took a deep breath, stood up, and distributed the photocopies of the briefing. Her voice was still slightly trembling, but she tried her best to remain clear: "Based on the review results, multiple procedural flaws, prices deviating from fair market ranges, and signs of suspected transfer of benefits were found in projects involving the procurement of raw materials in Southeast Asia, marketing expenses in the North American market, and the transfer of equity in some subsidiaries. The relevant preliminary materials have been transferred to the legal department for compliance assessment."
The data in the briefing was cold and jarring; although no final conclusions had been reached, the implications were already quite clear. Several key links and individuals involved were intricately connected to the networks of directors Zhao and Qian.
Chairman Zhao and Chairman Qian's faces instantly turned from pale to ashen. They finally understood that Li Shimin's previous reforms were not merely business adjustments, but a meticulously planned "cleansing." He used "laws" as a pretext for rectification. Those "traditional practices" they thought they had hidden well had already been thoroughly investigated by the other side, and were being used as a final bargaining chip at this moment when they were collectively launching their attack.
This isn't a business dispute; it's a political purge. The terrifying aspect of this "lower-dimensional attack" lies in the fact that the other side uses a "legitimate strategy" they are completely powerless to resist—rules, laws, efficiency, and the overall interests of the group. They have no room to even struggle.
Looking at his two colleagues' ashen faces, and then at Li Shimin's calm yet unfathomable eyes, Sun Dong felt a sudden surge of relief. He realized that his only flaws were technical conservatism and arrogance; at least his conscience was clear.
"The Group will handle these matters strictly in accordance with laws and regulations," Wang Yi said calmly, taking over the conversation at the opportune moment. "At the same time, the reform plan will be fully implemented as scheduled. Those who have objections may raise them in accordance with the company's articles of association. However, the Group's development direction will not be shaken."
The meeting ended in an almost solemn silence. The elders, no longer displaying their previous aggressiveness, left hastily with their heads bowed, like defeated roosters. They knew that their era had, at this moment, been utterly ended. Li Shimin had not only won the meeting, but had also reshaped the power structure and operating rules of the group in a way they could neither understand nor resist.
"Dad..." After the meeting, Li Qingyun walked to Li Shimin's side, her voice filled with excitement and lingering fear, "That audit report... when did you..."
Li Shimin patted his daughter on the shoulder, but his gaze was fixed on the vast cityscape skyline outside the window. "To govern a chaotic world, severe punishments are needed; to address long-standing problems, swift action is required. Intelligence and timing are both indispensable," he said calmly, as if he were dealing with a trivial matter.
Wang Yi walked over and handed him a cup of warm tea. Looking at the deep and weary expression on his young profile, which seemed beyond his years, she was filled with mixed emotions. She knew that after this battle, Li Shimin's authority within the group would be firmly established, and no one would dare to easily hinder him again. He had demonstrated to everyone, with a textbook example of "defeating destabilizing factors as if it were child's play," what it meant to "handle unstable elements as if it were nothing."
For him, all of this seemed to be nothing more than slightly adjusting the methods he used to govern an empire a thousand years ago and applying them to this modern organization called "the Company".
The Heavenly Khan is indeed the Heavenly Khan. No matter how time and space change, when he decides to seriously reorganize his "territory," his ambition and ability to sweep across the world and bring peace to the land will still make any opponent feel despair.
The sunlight outside the window seemed exceptionally bright at this moment. After weathering a storm from within, the giant ship of the group was finally steered back on course by a pair of strong and ancient hands, accelerating towards a wider sea.
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