Chapter 308: The 'Pangu' Project

(To celebrate the official launch of the following two short dramas on the Hongguo Free Short Drama App:
"I Just Clicked Randomly, Why Is My Account All Red?" and
"We Agreed to Play Games, But You Dominated Wall Street!"
An extra chapter today!)
"Chairman Su, we must be very careful about this." The team analyst was the first to react, his voice trembling.
"This is no longer a simple investment. What if... I mean, what if it fails..."
That wouldn't just be Fang Huan's Waterloo.
It would be a massive disaster capable of shaking the foundations of the nation, the consequences of which no one could bear!
"The only good news is that if they operate entirely according to our plan and ultimately lose money, they will bear the direct responsibility themselves.
We are merely 'offering advice.'"
But conversely, what if this earth-shattering gamble concerning the fate of the nation... succeeds?
“Then…we will no longer be just an investment company.” The analyst’s eyes lit up.
“We will become the ‘brain’ of the national financial strategy!
Fang Huan will have an unbreakable national backer worth trillions!”
***
The atmosphere was tense around the huge oval conference table.
This was not an ordinary decision-making committee meeting, but a decision-making meeting personally convened by Wu Jianlin, Chairman and Secretary of the Huaxia Strategic Investment Fund.
All members were present, along with the heads of various core business departments. Even senior advisor Li Donglai could only sit on the sidelines.
The ashtray was already overflowing with cigarette butts.
“Regarding the ‘Pangu’ No. 1 strategic adjustment plan I submitted, I have heard everyone’s opinions.”
Wu Jianlin’s gaze slowly swept across the room, his voice steady and devoid of any emotion.
“I know this plan is very radical, even arguably overturning all our successful experiences of the past few decades.”
He paused, giving everyone time to digest the information.
“But, gentlemen,” his tone suddenly became more forceful,
“Times have changed! We can no longer use old maps to find new continents for the future!
‘Maintaining the status quo’ in the face of the impending great upheaval is tantamount to ‘defeat’!”
“I object!”
Sitting opposite Wu Jianlin was Li Weidong, the company's deputy secretary and general manager.
As the second-in-command and the leader of the company's “conservative faction,” he represented the sentiments of the vast majority.
“Secretary Wu, I understand your urgent desire to seek a breakthrough for the country.
However, your plan is not seeking a breakthrough; it's an unprecedented gamble!”
Li Weidong's voice was loud and firm.
“Clearing out all our strategic assets and shorting the global market.
This not only violates the ‘stabilizer’ and ‘ballast’ role the country assigned us at our inception, but also places the nation's financial security in extreme danger!”
“That's right!” another deputy general manager immediately echoed.
“Although the global market is currently experiencing fluctuations, it is generally trending positively.
As a responsible major power investor, what international consequences will our short-selling and market manipulation trigger?
Who will bear this responsibility?”
A chorus of agreement erupted in the meeting room.
Opposing opinions surged towards Wu Jianlin like a tidal wave.
“Our investment discipline is clearly stated: ‘Absolute safety’ is our first principle!”
“This plan hasn’t undergone any modeling or stress testing; it’s entirely based on the ‘suggestion’ of a private investment company. This is far too hasty!”
“Su Hao is very capable, but can we stake the fate of our nation on one person?!”
Faced with almost unanimous opposition, Wu Jianlin remained silent, simply listening quietly.
After the commotion in the conference room subsided slightly, Wu Jianlin slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but instantly dominating the entire room.
“Gentlemen, what you’ve said makes sense. But have you considered this question?”
He stood up, walked to the large electronic screen, and pulled up an internal analysis report.
“This report, compiled by our top strategic experts in the country over a year, projects changes in the external environment our country will face over the next ten years.
I won’t read it aloud; I believe everyone here understands better than I how weighty every word in the report is.”
The few lines of cold conclusion on the screen plunged the conference room into dead silence once more.
"With our current growth model, we can't outrun the future!"
Wu Jianlin said, emphasizing each word.
"That's why I found Fang Huan, I found Su Hao.
Because only he, only his unreasonable, disruptive approach, has the potential to snatch back a golden 'ten-year window of opportunity' for us, for the country, from the impending global crisis!"
"But that's only a 'possibility'!" Li Weidong retorted sharply.
"To risk 100% turmoil for an uncertain 'possibility'—it's simply not worth it!"
"It is worth it!" Wu Jianlin's eyes suddenly sharpened like an eagle's. "Because I didn't just take his advice."
He took a deep breath and dropped a real bombshell.
"Before meeting Su Hao, I gave a special report on this problem to a leader."
This statement caused a stir among the room!
Everyone knew who Wu Jianlin's "leader" was.
“The leader’s exact words were,” Wu Jianlin’s voice deepened and became more forceful,
“‘In special times, we must allow some special people to use some special methods to solve some special problems.
If anything goes wrong, this old man will stand by you!’”
“Boom—!”
These words exploded in everyone’s minds like a thunderclap!
This was no longer a simple investment decision; it was tacit approval from some kind of “imperial decree”!
Li Weidong and the others’ expressions instantly became incredibly complex.
“Therefore, everyone,” Wu Jianlin’s gaze swept across the room again,
“you don’t need to worry about the consequences of this plan.
As Chairman and Party Secretary, I take full responsibility for this decision.”
He paused, his tone softening slightly.
"Of course, I understand everyone's concerns. Therefore, I propose launching the 'A/B dual-track plan.'
A top-secret 'Pangu' project team, led by Li Donglai, will be established to execute this radical plan, using no more than 30% of the total fund size as initial seed funding."
Li Weidong continued to lead the main team, implementing our existing, prudent strategy.
Two parallel lines, complementing each other.
"If the 'Pangu' plan fails, we can control the losses within an acceptable range. But if it succeeds..."
A fierce flame ignited in Wu Jianlin's eyes,
"Then we will create a brand new future for Xia Kingdom!"
This strategy, combining pressure and support, instantly dismantled the opposition alliance.
Finally, after fierce debate and silent deliberation, the Party Committee voted by show of hands.
The plan,
by a narrow margin,
passed!