Chapter 157: Natural Leader

'Crazy, Zhou Ming, you really are crazy,'

Du Peng said to Zhou Ming, saying the same thing as Li Chengtong and Ildebald just now, except that Li Chengtong and Ildebald had already left, and only they, along with Su Han, Katerina and the two bodyguards, were left in the room.

'Crazy? I think it's okay, especially compared to the 20 trillion Dota Project itself, we are just a drop in the bucket,' Zhou Ming said.

Du Peng fixed Zhou Ming with a stern gaze: 'There's no one else here, so why are you being so secretive? Do you really think it's a good idea to go back to China now and leave the operation here to Mr. Meta? I know it was my grandfather and Yang Lao who summoned you back, but they didn't say when you had to go back. You can wait a while longer, and it's not too late to leave after things have settled down here!'

'I always thought that I was very impatient, but I never thought that you, Zhou Ming, were even more so than me,' Du Peng added at the end.

Zhou Ming was a little at a loss for words when Du Peng, with his hot temper, called him impatient. However, Zhou Ming did understand how Du Peng and the others were feeling. After all, Zhou Ming himself felt that his decision was a little crazy.

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and said to Du Peng, 'In fact, there is no such thing as being impatient or not. Since I have decided to leave this to Mr. Meta, there is no difference between now and the future.'

Du Peng wanted to say something else, but Zhou Ming preempted him, saying, 'I know what you want to say, but you don't have to say it, because I already said it before at the Manor in the Southern Suburbs. Meita is not only the world's top expert in financial warfare, he is also the creator and head of the Dota Project. Only he understands best how to use the resources we have at hand to earn us trillions or even quadrillions of wealth. Isn't that the most fundamental goal of our coming to Northern Russia?

'Zhou Ming, you did say that before, but handing over so much money to the opponent is always a bit...'

Before Du Peng could finish, Zhou Ming interrupted him, 'Don't have any mental hang-ups, just think of Mr. Meta as the project director we hired at a high salary. As the company president, is there a problem with handing over a project that was originally developed, designed, and implemented by this director back to this director to be responsible for?'

'But how can this be compared?' Du Peng said.

'Why can't they be compared?' Zhou Ming asked in a raised tone, 'Du Peng, you, me, Chairman Tong, President Li, and those Northern Russian businessmen from Irbeldov, we are all directors of this company, and Mr. Maita is the designer and supervisor of this project. It's just that the company he originally worked for was in the West, and his boss was the President of the United States. Now he has no choice but to jump ship and come over to our side.'

Facing Zhou Ming's analogy, Du Peng was stunned and didn't know what to say. Suddenly, the door to the room was knocked on, and Maeta's voice came from outside the door. He asked, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, Mr. Du Peng, I saw Tong Gang and Li Cheng leave. May I come in now?'

Zhou Ming glanced at Du Peng and said, "Mr. Maeta, please come in," after getting Du Peng's nod.

Following Zhou Ming's words, Maita opened the door and walked in. He went straight to Zhou Ming and asked him to sit down. Zhou Ming asked him what was the matter. Maita asked directly, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, you have just told Tong Gang and the others that you are leaving and that you will take charge of this matter, right? Did they all oppose this and did you not have a falling out with them?'

'Mr. Maita is really direct,' Zhou Ming said. 'Indeed, I have just told them about this and they have reluctantly accepted it.'

'Mr. Zhou Ming, you said they have all accepted it?' Mata asked in surprise, his face full of disbelief.

Zhou Ming nodded as if it was only natural and said, "Of course they have accepted it. Why? Don't you want this result, Mr. Mata?'

In response to Zhou Ming's teasing, Mata just shook his head and said, "Not really. I'm very happy that they can accept it, but I just thought that someone in my position would be rejected by them.'

'Mr. Maita, it seems you still don't understand!'

Zhou Ming sighed, sat over to Maita's position, and patted him on the shoulder, saying, 'Mr. Maita, it's true that you were in charge of the Dota Project in the past, and we all suffered a lot under you. To say that we accept your leadership like this, everyone will feel a bit awkward in their hearts, including you yourself, Mr. Maita, who will also be very uncomfortable. This is only natural.'

Zhou Ming's words stopped there and he changed the subject immediately: 'But Mr. Meta, I wonder if you have ever thought that there is no real conflict between the discomfort in your heart and what to do about this matter. We are all men, we cannot be as petty as women, and we cannot say that because we were previously calculating opponents, we do not recognise your abilities and will not accept you to help us. That would be too narrow-minded. What do you say, Mr. Meta?'

Indeed, hating someone doesn't mean denying everything about them. That would be petty. But it's easier said than done.

Maita looked at Zhou Ming, or rather, forced himself to be able to do it. There are many people who can do it, such as those politicians with thick skins and dark hearts, but to convince others to accept it, it is not just a little more difficult than making oneself accept it.

With such thoughts, Maita could not help but praise Zhou Ming, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, you are truly a born leader!'

...

With the departure of the two Volga sedans, Zhou Ming and the others left the southern suburban manor. Maita had to stay in the manor because the FBI agents were still waiting to arrest him. This was not to say that the southern suburban manor was very safe. After all, this was still the property of a diplomatic institution. The FBI was afraid of causing diplomatic disputes if they arrested someone here directly. In addition, as a separate villa of the consulate, it was impossible that there would be no security measures at all.

It is precisely for these reasons that it is always relatively safer for Meta to stay here than anywhere else. If Meta followed Zhou Ming and the others to the hotel, he might be kidnapped by the FBI that night.

Back in the hotel room, Zhou Ming was getting ready to take a shower. Su Han asked him while helping him take out his clothes, 'Zhou Ming, are you really sure about this?'

Zhou Ming took the clothes and said, 'Of course. What do you want to say, Han?'

Su Han thought for a moment and said, 'Zhou Ming, I remember what you once told me: the most unreliable thing in the world is human nature.'

Zhou Ming nodded and said yes. Su Han then asked, 'So now Zhou Ming, you are handing over such a large sum of money from the Swiss bank to Mr. Meta, asking him to help you handle things here. Aren't you betting on his character? But you also said that this is the most unreliable thing in the world...'

Su Han didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was very clear. The reason she didn't finish was because she saw Zhou Ming's eyes. Zhou Ming asked her, 'Xiao Han, did you want to ask me this question when we were at the Nan Jiao Manor?'

Su Han lowered her head and said, 'I know that there were a lot of people there, so it's not a good idea for me to ask you.'

Zhou Ming reached out and hugged Su Han and said to her, 'Xiao Han, I don't mean to blame you in any way.'

Saying this, Zhou Ming pulled Su Han to sit down and put her clothes on the bed: 'In fact, Xiao Han, what you just said is very correct, and this is also the most fundamental reason for the concerns of Li Chengtong and Du Peng. I also understand that in this kind of thing, you can't rely on people's hearts, but Xiao Han, do you really think that I have bet all my chips on the character of Meta?'

Su Han looked at Zhou Ming blankly, her big eyes not quite understanding. Zhou Ming continued to explain: 'So, why do you think it was you, me, and Du Peng who took the car back to Hotel No. 1?'

'Of course it was because we live here, and the FBI agent is still wanted...'

Su Han answered off the cuff. As she said this, her eyes immediately lit up as she looked at Zhou Ming and said, 'Zhou Ming, are you saying that he can't leave the Manor in the southern suburbs?'

Zhou Ming nodded and said, 'This is part of the reason. Of course, it doesn't mean that the FBI will be here to arrest him for the rest of his life, but at least they will be here for a while. He won't be able to leave the Southern Suburbs Manor anytime soon. Besides, even if he does get out, it won't do him any good. Have you forgotten the new accounts that I have set up in the Swiss bank and transferred the money to? In other words, any use of this money will have to be approved by me.'

'I see. That's great!' Su Han said happily, shaking off her previous gloom.

'Of course, otherwise do you really think I would only rely on the character of someone who was once my rival? I'm not doubting what Mr. Meta will really do, but one should never be suspicious of others. I'm a businessman, not a living Buddha who saves the world.' Zhou Ming said.

Su Han nodded thoughtfully and said, 'So the reason you didn't tell Tong Gang and Li Cheng is that you were worried they wouldn't be able to play their parts well. If Meta found out that you were still guarding against him, it would make him feel very uncomfortable, right?'

Zhou Ming scratched his head embarrassedly and said, 'That's right. After all, I was the one who made such a big deal of it before, and I also praised his character to the skies. If I still guarded against him, wouldn't I be slapping myself in the face? What do you think, Han? Am I becoming more and more cunning as a businessman?'

Su Han, however, shook her head resolutely: 'No, Zhou Ming, you are using people wisely, which is the way of kings!'

'What do you mean by using people wisely? I'm just lazy,' said Zhou Ming. 'I don't want to do everything myself, especially with this financial battle. There are all kinds of data in it, and instead of giving myself a headache, I might as well just throw it to someone capable. That's how I came up with Mr. Meta.'

'I think that's what makes you a natural leader!' Su Han continued, 'Zhou Ming, think about it. Back when you were at the factory, didn't the workers always say that the factory leaders were incompetent? But even if the factory leaders were incompetent, they could at least organise the workers to work together, and that was the most important thing.

'Now you are the same, Zhou Ming,' Su Han said, "There are no all-rounders in this world. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. No one can do everything. So what should you do if you can't do it yourself? Just find someone who is good at it and put them in charge, and then supervise the person in charge to make sure they get the job done. This is the way to get the best out of people: the top person uses their brains, the middle person uses their energy, and the bottom person uses their strength.'

Su Han looked at Zhou Ming in admiration and said, "Zhou Ming, if you really can do everything, I would be worried. You can use people like this, and that is the true king of the strongest!'