Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2932 Don't Test People's Hearts with Money

Actually, Ye Yuze wasn't familiar with some of these people at all. Although they were all veterans, Ye Yuze was so shameless that he really didn't associate with anyone except for a few CEOs.

But through this trip, our relationship became closer, and many of the questions we couldn't understand were answered.

Speaking of which, having worked for most of their lives, who among them who has reached a high-level position is mediocre?
Retirement can be disheartening, as some people are still full of energy and would feel uncomfortable being idle. These people will almost certainly be hired by someone else.

After all, their experience and capital are undeniable. If it weren't for Ye Feng taking over and the company's operations undergoing significant changes, Ye Yuze wouldn't have allowed these people to retire.

Just like Elder Ni, no matter who becomes the successor of the Warrior Group, Elder Ni will not be allowed to retire, because no one can replace him.

And then there's Ivan and Kevin. Don't be fooled by their trip to the retirement community; they're just on vacation. They'll have to go back to work. For people like them, retirement is practically a thing of the past, as they're bedridden.

Of course, in theory you should receive a pension, but your salary will still be paid. The difference is that you will start receiving a pension.

Since they have retired, they cannot be prevented from being rehired by others, and these high-ranking officials all possess some core data of the Warrior Group.

Of course, it's just a concept; they naturally can't grasp the specific data. Just like Tian Qing back then, who was lured by a huge sum of money from an island company and betrayed the core secrets of the Warrior Group, ultimately ending up dead far from home.

Ye Yuze organized this trip partly as a reminder that the Warriors Group will always be your home, and you can contact me if you need anything.

Of course, it will be fine in a few years. With technology updating so quickly these days, in a few years, today's technology will become useless and have no value.

Back in Junken City, Ye Yuze again suggested a vacation at his ranch in California, but everyone declined, as they all had their own plans to keep.

Since there was nothing else to do, Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong were about to fly to Africa. Their two daughters' kingdoms had been making quite a stir lately, and Yang Geyong's two sons were both prime ministers and husbands of Ye Yuze's two queen daughters, so they had naturally wanted to go for a long time.

The lives of the retired elders seemed to have returned to normal, but Ye Yuze knew in his heart that this trip had only temporarily alleviated the problem.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, gazing at the modern city that he and his comrades had built with their own hands, and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.

"Old Ye, what are you thinking about?" Yang Geyong pushed open the door and sat down on the sofa in a carefree manner.

Ye Yuze turned around, his brows furrowed slightly: "I'm thinking, although this trip has strengthened our relationship, it's hard to guarantee that no one will be tempted by outside temptations. Lao Yang, do you know? Recently, several emerging technology companies have been aggressively poaching people, offering astonishing prices."

Yang Geyong waved his hand dismissively: "Our old brothers have fought alongside you for so many years, who would betray the Warriors Group for such a small amount of money?"

"I hope so," Ye Yuze sighed. "But human nature can't withstand the test. Especially when some people have just retired and feel they can still make a big splash."

Meanwhile, in a high-end residential area of ​​Junken City, Li Qing, a former senior engineer of the Zhan Shi Group, was receiving an uninvited guest at his home.

"Mr. Li, our company greatly appreciates your expertise in the field of precision instruments." The middle-aged man in a suit handed over a contract. "This is the compensation package we are offering; please take a look."

Li Qing took the contract, his eyes widening in surprise. An annual salary of five million yuan, plus stock options and year-end bonuses—more than three times his pre-retirement income.

"Mr. Zhang, this..." Li Qing hesitated, "I worked at the Warrior Group for over thirty years. Although I've retired,..."

The man addressed as General Manager Zhang smiled and said, "Mr. Li, the Warrior Group has already put you in retirement, hasn't it? You need to find something to do. Although our 'Innovation Technology' has only been established for a short time, it has the support of international capital and unlimited potential."

Li Qing's fingers tapped lightly on the contract. Since retiring, he had indeed felt lost. At only sixty years old, still full of energy, he spent his days walking the dog and playing chess, a life that left him feeling utterly dejected.

“I need to think about it,” Li Qing finally said.

Mr. Zhang stood up, left the contract and a business card: "Of course, we look forward to your good news. But be quick, many people are eyeing this position."

After Mr. Zhang left, Li Qing sat alone in the living room, struggling internally.

He recalled what Ye Yuze had said during their trip to southern Xinjiang: "The Warriors Group will always be your home. Just come to me if you need anything."

But on the other hand, the generous benefits offered by innovative technologies and the opportunity to return to the forefront of technology also tempted him.

Three days later, Li Qing signed the contract.
-
Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong flew to Africa, arriving at the kingdom ruled by their two daughters. This small East African nation, under the rule of the two princesses and their husbands, has experienced rapid economic development and social stability in recent years.

"Dad, Uncle Yang!" Ye Yuze's eldest daughter, Ye Rou, personally greeted him at the airport, dressed in a magnificent and elegant outfit.

Yang Geyong's son, Yang Da—who is also Ye Rou's prime minister and husband—followed behind, smiling as he took their luggage.
"Father, Uncle Ye, you must be tired from the journey."

Back at the palace, Ye Yuze was surprised to find that the construction there far exceeded his expectations. It was fully equipped with modern facilities and even had a sizable research team.

“We are developing defense technology,” Yelena explained. “The surrounding situation is not peaceful, so we must have our own defense capabilities.”

Yang Geyong patted his son on the shoulder: "Good lad, you've got potential! You're better than your old man."

At the banquet that evening, Ye Yuze seemed somewhat absent-minded. Yang Geyong noticed his old friend's unusual behavior and had a heart-to-heart talk with him after the banquet.

"Old Ye, you've been restless ever since you got off the plane. What's wrong?"

Ye Yuze sighed: "I received news that Li Qing went to Innovation Technology."

"Innovative technology? That company that's been making headlines lately?" Yang Geyong frowned. "Let Lao Li go. It's normal for retirees to find new jobs."

"But what if I told you that behind the innovative technology is the Japanese Sanyu Group?" Ye Yuze said in a deep voice, "Do you remember Tian Qing's lesson?"

Yang Geyong's expression immediately turned serious. Tian Qing had been a core member of the Warriors Group, but years ago he was bought off by a Japanese company for a high price to steal company secrets, and ultimately died tragically in a foreign land. This was a painful memory for all the veterans.

You suspect Li Qinghui

“I don’t want to doubt any of my old brothers,” Ye Yuze interrupted him, “but we must be vigilant. Before Li Qing retired, he was in charge of the senior management of our latest automotive engine group. Although he didn’t have the core data, his knowledge and experience are enough to help our competitors avoid many detours.”

"So what do you plan to do?" Ye Yuze looked into the distance: "I have already asked the security department to closely monitor the development of innovative technologies. At the same time, I also want to remind all my retired brothers-in-arms—the Warrior Group will always be their strong support. If they have any difficulties, they can come to me directly. There's no need to take the wrong path."
-
Li Qing's work at the innovative technology company went smoothly at first. He was mainly responsible for technical consulting and team training, and the company valued his professional knowledge highly. However, two months later, General Manager Zhang called him into his office.

"Mr. Li, the company is very satisfied with your work." General Manager Zhang handed him a glass of red wine. "Now we have an important project that we hope you can take the lead on."

"What project?" Li Qing asked.

“We want to develop a high-performance engine, similar to the Warrior Group’s ‘E’ series, but with our own innovations.”

Li Qing's hand trembled slightly, and the red wine almost spilled:
"Mr. Zhang, this...this isn't appropriate. I participated in similar projects when I was with the Warrior Group, and there was a confidentiality agreement."

Mr. Zhang laughed: "Mr. Li, you're overthinking it. We don't need the specific data from the Warrior Group; we just hope to use your expertise to help us avoid some detours. Besides, you've already retired, and some clauses in the confidentiality agreement have expired."

As he spoke, Mr. Zhang took a document out of his drawer: "The company is willing to provide an additional budget for this project, and your compensation will be doubled."

Li Qing fell silent. This money was enough for him and his family to live a much better life, and it could even provide a down payment for his children's house abroad. The temptation was too great.

"I'm only providing general technical guidance, not specific data," Li Qing concluded.

Mr. Zhang smiled with satisfaction: "Of course, we respect professional ethics."

However, after the project started, Li Qing found himself getting more and more involved without realizing it. At first, it was just a general discussion of technical principles, but later it gradually involved the design of specific parameters.

Whenever he hesitated, General Manager Zhang would always reassure him by saying, "This is just a general engineering and technical issue."

What made Li Qing even more uneasy was that there were several island-based engineers in the team who were unusually interested in the technical details of the Warrior Group and kept asking some boundary questions.

One evening, Li Qing worked late, leaving him alone in the office. On a whim, he opened a folder on the company server labeled "Market Analysis," only to find it filled with detailed breakdown diagrams and performance parameter analyses of Warrior Group's products.

His heart sank—Innovative Technology wasn't developing its own products; it was attempting to copy the Warrior Group's technology!
In Africa, Ye Yuze received an encrypted phone call.

"Mr. Ye, our surveillance has revealed that Innovative Technology is applying for a series of patents that are highly similar to our 'Eagle Eye' system," the head of the security department reported.

"Can you confirm the source?" Ye Yuze asked.

"Not for now, but the timing coincides with Li Qing joining their team."

Furthermore, we detected multiple attempts by Innovation Technology's servers to access our external databases. Although they failed to breach the firewall, they appeared to have a very good understanding of some of our technical parameters.

Ye Yuze paused for a moment, then said, "Continue monitoring and collecting evidence. At the same time, send an invitation in the name of the group to all retired veterans to attend the 35th anniversary celebration of the Warrior Group, especially Li Qing; I want to meet him in person."

A week later, the 35th anniversary celebration of the Warriors Group was grandly held in the Military Reclamation City. After much hesitation, Li Qing still attended. Seeing his old colleagues, he felt both warm and guilty.

In his speech, Ye Yuze reviewed the company's development history and expressed his gratitude to all the retiring veterans. Finally, he changed the subject:
"Fighters, we fought together and built the Warrior Group from a small workshop into an international enterprise. I know some of you still want to contribute after retirement, which is great. But please remember, wherever you go, the Warrior Group will always be your home."

His gaze swept across the entire room, lingering briefly on Li Qing:

"We respect everyone's choices, but we also hope that our old comrades will remember the bottom line of the Warrior Group—integrity and innovation are our foundation. Borrowing from others may save effort, but only independent innovation can take us further."

Li Qing felt his face burning, as if every word was directed at him.

After the party, Ye Yuze specifically sought out Li Qing: "Old Li, how have you been lately? Are you settling into the new company?"

Li Qingqiang tried to remain calm: "It's alright, it's just some technical consulting, much easier."

Ye Yuze nodded: "That's good. If you encounter any difficulties, remember to come to me. The doors of the Warrior Group are always open for you."

These words pierced Li Qing's heart like a needle. After stammering a few words, he hurriedly took his leave.

Back at Innovation Technology, Li Qing approached General Manager Zhang, expressing his desire to withdraw from the engine project and instead take charge of other product development.

Mr. Zhang's smile vanished instantly: "Mr. Li, the project has reached a critical stage. It might not be appropriate for you to withdraw now."

"I just feel that this project is too similar to the products of the Warrior Group, which may cause disputes."

Mr. Zhang sneered, "Mr. Li, don't forget you've already signed a contract with us. If you withdraw now, you'll not only have to return all your compensation, but also pay a huge penalty. More importantly..."

He lowered his voice, "You've provided us with so much technical guidance. If you withdraw now, what will the Warrior Group think of you?"

Li Qing's face turned pale instantly. He finally realized that he had fallen into a carefully designed trap.
-
At the same time, Ye Yuze received a call from Mr. Ni.

“Yuze, I’ve discovered something unusual.” Old Ni’s voice was as steady as ever. “Several patents that Innovation Technology recently applied for are strikingly similar to a technology that we developed internally three years ago but did not disclose. That technology was put on hold due to cost issues, and very few people know about it, including Li Qing.”

Ye Yuze's heart sank: "Can you be sure it was Li Qing who leaked it?"

"We can't be 100% certain, but it's highly likely. What's even more worrying is that they seem to be trying to copy our 'data,' which is our core secret!"

Ye Yuze immediately ordered: "Activate 'Project Shield' and implant tracking code into all technologies that could potentially be copied. At the same time, strengthen the monitoring of innovative technologies. Have Kevin follow up on this matter."

Three days later, the security department reported: "Innovative technology seems to have accelerated its research and development, and a new product is expected to be released next month. Our inside sources have informed us that they have obtained a 'list of key technical parameters' and are working hard to overcome them."

Ye Yuze sighed and said, "Send Li Qing one last message, saying that I want to meet him alone, and he can choose the place and time."

However, Li Qing did not reply. He was already deeply mired in this mess, unable to extricate himself. Innovation Technology threatened him with breach of contract penalties and legal liability, even implying that if he did not cooperate, "someone" would provide the Warrior Group with evidence of his technology leaks.

In a state of extreme anxiety, Li Qing made a fatal mistake—he tried to recall more technical details from his old work notes. Although these notes did not contain core data, they were enough to help the innovative technology team overcome several key difficulties.

I'm begging you guys for your monthly votes at the beginning of the month!