Chapter 34: Soft Power and Skillful Maneuvering
Time: During the ongoing negotiations
Location: Partner's Conference Room
The atmosphere in the conference room was suffocating, as though a storm was about to break. General Manager Liu, the representative of the partner company, sat at the head of the table, flipping through the materials Zhang Liang had handed over with an air of disdain. Suddenly, he let out a cold laugh, a sharp sound that cut through the tense silence like a bolt of lightning. "You make it sound so easy," Liu sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Cost reduction isn't that simple. Do you think I'm a fool, easily deceived? You're just trying to buy time," he said, throwing the materials aside casually. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes filled with skepticism and contempt.
Zhang Liang's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly steadied himself. A warm smile spread across his face, as gentle as the sunlight in spring, attempting to ease the tension in the room. He replied slowly, playing along with Liu's remarks. "General Manager Liu, you are a seasoned expert in this industry. After years of experience, I'm sure you've seen it all. As for us, we're still rookies, just starting out and there's a lot we can learn from you. We come here with complete sincerity, seeking your advice." Zhang Liang slightly bowed, his manner humble and respectful, leaving no room for criticism.
"Take the raw material procurement process, for example," Zhang Liang continued, rising from his seat and walking over to Liu, holding up the document with a calm demeanor. "If we integrate our supply chain and purchase in bulk, we can reduce costs by at least 15%. With your experience, if this process were handled by you, it would undoubtedly be even more effective, and profits would rise as well. That would be a huge win for both of us." His voice was steady, his gaze sincere, fully invested in convincing Liu of their genuine intentions.
Just then, the door to the conference room swung open with a loud bang, and an assistant rushed in, whispering urgently in Liu's ear. Liu's expression instantly darkened. He shot Zhang Liang a glare, his teeth clenched in anger. "You really have some nerve! I've just received word that your competitors are spreading rumors in the market, claiming that working with you is a huge risk. A lot of potential clients are starting to hesitate! Is this your doing?"
Zhang Liang's heart lurched in surprise. He hadn't anticipated the competitors making a move at this critical moment. But he quickly regained his composure, hurriedly responding, "General Manager Liu, please don't misunderstand! Our company has always prided itself on integrity, and we would never engage in such underhanded tactics. It must be the competitors trying to sabotage our efforts, deliberately spreading rumors to derail our success." As he spoke, his mind raced to come up with a counterstrategy, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Just as the tension reached its peak, Zhang Liang's phone buzzed with a mysterious message: "I can help you with the rumors, but you have to agree to one condition." Zhang Liang stared at the message, his mind filled with questions. Who was this mysterious person? Why were they offering help? But there was no time for doubts now. He quickly replied, "What condition? If it helps solve the problem, I'll do whatever it takes."
After sending the message, Zhang Liang took a deep breath and turned back to Liu. "General Manager Liu, though we've encountered some problems, this only highlights the value of our partnership. If we back out now, we're simply playing into the competitors' hands. Let's find a way together to weather this storm and show them that our cooperation is unbreakable." His eyes were filled with determination and resolve, trying to reignite Liu's confidence in their collaboration.
Zhang Liang's calmness was, in part, thanks to the guidance he received from the "Dao De Jing System" in his mind. The system, like his secret weapon, always seemed to provide insights at critical moments. In this case, the system suggested that he "use softness to overcome strength." In simple terms, this meant that when dealing with a tough opponent, he should not confront them directly, but instead use a gentle and clever approach. Like water, which seems soft yet can wear away stone over time. Instead of countering Liu's hostility, Zhang Liang chose to speak humbly and frame the situation in terms of mutual benefit, applying this principle of "soft power."
Liu listened to Zhang Liang's words, his expression softening slightly as he fell into deep thought. He studied Zhang Liang, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "You make a good point. But I still need to think it over; after all, this is no small matter. You can go for now, and I'll contact you once I've made my decision."
Zhang Liang knew that, while he hadn't convinced Liu yet, he hadn't made the situation worse either. This was a step in the right direction. He nodded slightly and said, "Thank you, General Manager Liu. I look forward to your response. No matter what, I hope we can continue working together to create even greater value." With that, he and his assistant left the conference room.
As they exited the building, Xiao Li couldn't hold back his excitement. "Zhang Ge, you were amazing in there! Even with all of Wang's hostility, you stayed calm and handled it like a pro. I think we've got a real chance this time!"
Zhang Liang smiled and patted Xiao Li's shoulder. "Don't get too ahead of yourself. This is just the first step. Liu hasn't fully agreed to continue the partnership, and there's still work to be done. But as long as we remain calm and stick to our principles, I'm confident we can achieve our goals."
Summary: In this chapter, Zhang Liang faces a tough challenge during the negotiation with the partner company. He skillfully handles the representative's hostility and the competitor's interference by using a carefully prepared cost optimization plan and employing the principles of "soft power" from the Dao De Jing system. While Liu is not fully convinced, he is intrigued and willing to reconsider the collaboration. In the next chapter, what will Liu's final decision be? Can Zhang Liang convince him to continue the partnership and secure the deal? Stay tuned for the next chapter.