Chapter 100: 99, A Wake-up Call For The World
Taishan Airlines equity transfer completed, the company’s controlling person officially became Fang Wen.
Although there were some minor episodes inside and it made the newspaper, overall it was a happy outcome for everyone.
Fang Wen, who now owns the company, prepared to carry out some reforms to the company.
Fang Wen from the future knew very clearly that the sources of employees’ motivation were multifaceted.
Salary was a very important part, but not all of it.
There were also welfare, career development expectations, corporate culture, and so on.
He had discussed these with Kuang Mingzhu, and Kuang Mingzhu, from a family of generations of businessmen, had never thought her husband had such insights into business.
Kuang Mingzhu was quite approving of these.
In her words: “This is indeed very good. In the past, it took years of effort for my family to train apprentices successfully. Your system has incentives, rational teaching, and cares about everything comprehensively. I can’t think of any reason why someone working at Taishan Airlines would leave.”
Since Kuang Mingzhu accepted this set of future business management theory, Fang Wen simply laid it all out.
He also told Kuang Mingzhu about the future rank promotion model.
“I’ve come up with a set of internal rank promotion systems for Taishan Airlines staff members. They will gain rank promotions based on work performance. Different ranks come with different benefits. As long as they are willing to work hard, they can achieve corresponding rewards.”
Kuang Mingzhu had never heard of a rank promotion system, or rather, the Republic of China didn’t have such a thing at all.
But after hearing what Fang Wen said, she was greatly surprised.
“Sir, you’ve painted a really great picture. Ranks from level 13 to 22, with each level subdivided into A, B, and C sub-levels. Employees promote at least one level per year, but the specific promotion speed depends on individual work performance, ability, and contribution. Capable ones promoting two levels isn’t impossible. The salary benefits for each rank differ greatly too—level 13 is 50 silver dollars a month, level 17 actually reaches 120 silver dollars. I dare say, once you announce this rank promotion system, all employees will be full of vigor. But where did levels 1-12 go?”
Fang Wen smiled without speaking. Where levels 1-12 went, he had wondered before too—why large companies start ranks at 13.
Now as a manager, he understood.
Levels 1-12 don’t exist; they’re for outsiders to see, indicating that every Taishan Airlines employee is a talent, directly skipping levels 1-12.
Also, ranks only apply to employees outside his small circle. People like Shopkeeper Liu don’t need rank evaluations; they are veteran meritorious officials.
After all, there’s no need for even them to compete in rank promotions.
Therefore, they are uniformly level 23 employees.
Taishan Airlines Deputy General Manager Kuang Mingzhu acted swiftly and completed the construction of the new system.
Employees now had complete career development plans.
The rank promotion system, through a non-targeted competition mode, gave all employees a sense of competition, and work motivation correspondingly increased.
Just having motivation wasn’t enough; they needed to continuously learn to enrich their abilities.
The internal employee training mechanism was also being perfected.
Company internal announcement: Employees can receive basic business skills training, firearms shooting training, mechanical repair training, and flight apprentice training, etc.
The others were fine, but firearms shooting training was unexpected for employees. However, since the company allowed them to handle guns, most employees were willing to accept shooting training.
The final change was various considerate welfare systems.
Uniformly customized work uniforms for employees, four sets per year, one for each season: spring, summer, autumn, winter.
Holiday allowances and gifts would be given to employees during festivals.
Employee canteen standardized, employees would receive meal tickets monthly, and canteens at various airports would be uniformly managed by the company’s food department.
This food department would also handle Taishan Airlines’ airline food supply, launching the long-awaited airline meals for passengers.
Taishan Airlines was developing into a sound airline company.
Meanwhile, company Chairman and General Manager Fang Wen stepped back to busy himself with other matters.
More detailed intelligence obtained by Zhao Jiu from a Far East intelligence dealer in Shanghai indicated the subtleties of the current world situation.
The economic crisis that erupted in 1929 swept the globe, causing massive turmoil.
The United States stock market experienced a great crash; by December this year, the index had fallen 84%, with market value losses exceeding 70%.
5000 banks went bankrupt, at least 130,000 enterprises went bankrupt, automobile industry declined 95%.
Total industrial output and national income plummeted nearly half.
Germany, that is, the Weimar Republic, was also in bad shape. As a defeated country of World War I, its economy was already fragile.
After Weimar Republic’s von Papen resigned, the new Prime Minister Kurt von Schleicher fully sided with the Little Mustache.
Nearly 5 million workers unemployed or with drastically reduced salaries took to the streets for survival, with demonstrations and fights everywhere.
Workers, landowners, even entrepreneurs and businessmen no longer trusted parliamentary nobility with “von” in their names, turning instead to the Nazi Party with stronger social foundations.
But how could the Little Mustache solve domestic problems? His speeches bewitched everyone, but in the end, he could only relieve domestic conflicts through plunder like Japan.
And in another European country, France.
At this time, France, due to long-term overseas investment surpluses, although affected by the economic crisis, presented a different scene.
France fell into severe deflation; while exports dropped sharply, its currency remained strong, even holding a quarter of the world’s gold reserves domestically.
In the global crisis, current France was, in the eyes of other economic crisis countries, a tempting big cake.
Believing in the rich returns from Japanese invasion of China in Asia, after the Little Mustache came to power, he would also eagerly do the same.
Only by occupying France could the Weimar Republic’s crisis be lifted.
History indeed unfolded that way—a blitzkrieg saved Germany and opened the curtain to World War II.
December 17, 1932.
Fang Wen, with future memory, saw through the outbreak of World War II completely.
Although he knew he couldn’t change any of this, he decided to try.
Write an awakening admonition to alert 400 million compatriots.
He personally wrote this article, then had Kuang Mingzhu polish it.
“Sir, I’ve revised it. Take a look.”
Fang Wen took the paper from his wife and looked at the article revised into Republic of China style.
【A Proclamation to the People, Fang Wen’s Presumptuous Words】
【The war-torn era has arrived, war fires about to ignite, the people must awaken!】
【Since ancient times, the world divides after long unity, unites after long division. Now observing the global situation, storm clouds gather, undercurrents surge, signs of great war appear. Since 1929, the economic crisis like gale and storm has swept the four seas; every country affected, common people displaced, cries of distress everywhere.】
【The United States stock market, once prosperous as brocade, now withered like ash. Index plummeted, market value evaporated, banks bankrupted, enterprises collapsed, automobile industry halted over half. National income sharply reduced, industrial output halved, national fortune in peril.】
【The Western Weimar Republic is even more tossed by wind and rain. Previously defeated in war, economy already weary; now facing economic crisis, adding frost to snow. Weimar government shaky, Prime Ministers changing, Schleicher takes power, fully siding with Nazis. People in dire straits, masses unemployed, resentment everywhere. Nazi Party rises seizing opportunity, bewitching hearts, seeking invasion and plunder as national salvation, truly poison to quench thirst.】
【France’s land, though also affected by economic crisis, preserves itself with rich overseas investment. Yet with strong currency and abundant gold reserves, it is like a beacon in chaos, inevitably coveted. Seeing Japan’s rich plunder from invading China, Weimar Republic will surely follow suit, targeting France next to resolve domestic urgency.】
【We the people must know the hardship of the times, not blindly optimistic. The shadow of world war has quietly descended. We must awaken, unite as one, jointly resist foreign aggression. National rise and fall is the responsibility of every man; we must prioritize the country, think of the nation, overcome hardships together, to preserve homeland peace.】
【May national crisis soon pass, world pacified, common people safe and sound, national fortune prosperous, eternally enjoying peace!】
Fang Wen nodded; his wife’s classical Chinese foundation was much better than his. It looked ready for publication.
He folded the paper, about to put it into an envelope.
“Sir, are you publishing this right away?” Kuang Mingzhu asked.
“Yes. If not now, when?”
“Then leave it to me. You go talk to Neil about the Europe matter.”
“You agree?”
“Seeing what you wrote today, as from a merchant family, I deeply resonate. This world is probably about to be in great chaos. Since you see it clearly, you surely have your plans. I’m willing to maintain the family industries at home, waiting for your return.”
Seeing Kuang Mingzhu support him, Fang Wen was delighted, handed the letter paper to Kuang Mingzhu, and went out himself.
Watching her husband’s departing figure, Kuang Mingzhu showed an admiring gaze, then loudly said: “Chun Cao, Qiu Ju, go call our family people. I have tasks for them.”
The ones Kuang Mingzhu called were the Kuang Family shopkeepers and employees she brought as dowry, also her foundation for standing firm at Taishan Airlines.
These people would follow her instructions, go to the city, find major newspapers in Shanghai, publish this awakening admonition in all newspapers, ensuring release tomorrow.
Fang Wen left home to discuss the Boeing global flight with Neil.
Neil now rented an office in Shanghai’s American concession, with nothing much to do all day, living the drunken and debauched life he dreamed of.
Fang Wen couldn’t go to Shanghai, so he went directly to the company office and called Neil.
Phone connected.
“Neil, come over. It’s about the matter we talked about last time.”
“Fang, you agree. This will be dangerous. I personally don’t suggest you go; after all, you’re my best business partner. I shouldn’t have told you.”
“Don’t nag. Bring all the things to bring, we need to discuss details.”
“Alright.”
An hour later, Neil drove over.
Now he, with commissions from two Boeing 247s plus tung oil business spreads, even splitting evenly with Fang Wen, was a small tycoon in Shanghai.
Thus, his entire outfit was changed.
Tailor-made fitted suit, gold watch, slicked-back hair full of pomade, small round sunglasses, cigar in mouth.
Seeing Fang Wen, Neil tossed the cigar and opened his arms.
“Fang, my dearest partner, without you, I wouldn’t have this life. Thank you so much.”
Fang Wen stepped back half a step, rejecting the hug.
“I’m not used to this intimate way. Don’t do it in the future either.”
“Alright. Let’s go up and talk.”
The two went up to the Taishan Airlines General Manager’s Office, and Neil opened his small leather suitcase.
He took out posters and a few sheets of paper from inside.
Began introducing.
“These were sent over by sea vessel, combined with the telegram I received. The company’s activity plan is like this.”
“Because this year our country’s Army Aviation Corps received the first batch of P-26 fighter jets with good feedback, it also attracted attention from other countries’ militaries. Including your Republic of China Government, which also expressed procurement intent to us Boeing.”
“Trade-type military aircraft same as P-26 have been prototyped, structurally largely consistent, but parties are still concerned about actual performance of military aircraft, needing more effective demonstration to convince them.”
“Since main target clients are from Asia, the company formulated an ultra-long-distance cruise performance starting from Asia to prove our military aircraft’s performance.”
After hearing Neil finish, Fang Wen looked at the posters and other information.
Asked: “Can they meet what I requested?”
“No problem. Company communicated with Foreign Ministry; can provide assurance for your cruise through diplomatic channels. That is, your cruise transfer airports will be contacted by our country’s diplomatic embassy staff. If you agree, you’ll get an employment agreement signed jointly by Boeing and Foreign Ministry, making you temporary hired diplomatic personnel with equal rights.”
Neil’s words moved Fang Wen.
What he worried about was landing; Central Asia this era was very chaotic, going rashly without preparation was suicide.
Having temporary United States diplomatic identity could well solve this.
But there were still many details to discuss, couldn’t be careless.
He continued questioning.
“What is your designed flight path? How do I contact local embassy staff for en route landings? How to solve mid-way supplies? Can my Shrike Hao carry machine gun and ammunition?”
These questions were all important; if unsolvable, Fang Wen needed to reconsider.
Neil nodded, seriously replying:
“We’ll talk flight path last. First, how to contact local embassies. You need a radio telegraph transmitter-receiver. Except for the first transfer airport, during other stops, you can use it to telegraph contact local embassies. Of course, this is for emergencies, when you can’t find our embassy staff or don’t know how to reach the embassy. Thus, you need to master sending telegrams skill.”
Sending telegrams was a skill Fang Wen had long mastered.
But he couldn’t say so on the surface; he nodded in agreement, saying he would learn telegraphing.
Neil continued: “Mid-way supplies, considering you don’t speak local languages, will be handled by embassy staff for you. Just communicate in English with embassy staff. As for machine gun on Shrike Hao, no worry. This cruise mainly demonstrates aircraft’s various performances, including weapon system. After landing at transfer airports, our embassy staff will accompany local military representatives to view your aircraft, to familiarize with P-26 series aircraft.”
Fang Wen nodded; this was the true purpose of Boeing’s cruise propaganda—to directly sell to militaries of en route countries via the cruise.
That was fine; the more Boeing Company and United States military needed him, the smoother this flight to Europe would be.
Finally, what Fang Wen cared most about: the Asia to Europe flight path design.
