Although everyone present had a few tricks up their sleeves, I had no intention of delving into them any further this morning.
"That's all for today, but this was just the first wave of culling. There will be more to come, so I trust you all know what needs to be done."
Cao Baming even cast a pointed glance at the leaders sitting beside him, which startled them.
"We've already let so many people go. While the paperwork isn't finalized, our candy team is severely understaffed. What we need to do next is naturally find ways to compensate for this."
This was precisely the issue the high-level leaders were pondering. Soon, one of them raised his hand, tentatively attempting to speak to Cao Baming.
"I have a young man under me with quite a knack for football. I think he'd be perfect for this position. He was supposed to join before, but we weren't short on players then. Now that there's an opportunity, should we let him try out?"
Cao Baming's lips curled into a slight smile upon hearing this.
"You're talking about your nephew, aren't you? I've already looked into his background. Don't try to pull a fast one. I've seen his football skills; he's probably worse than a high school student. If he's dreaming of joining the national team, I suggest he abandon that thought and find another path!"
The leader could only lower his head in resignation, unable to say anything more at this point.
As for matters like this, Cao Baming, who was always well-prepared, wouldn't have come without a plan.
"Don't worry. Regarding this matter, I've personally hired sixty-four scouts to scour amateur teams, youth squads, and high schools and universities across the country for talented players. These scouts will report directly to me, and once I find suitable candidates, I'll bring them here myself."
The higher-ups were instantly filled with a strange and complex mix of emotions.
This guy had gone ahead and hired scouts on his own, even footing the bill. What did this signify? Was he truly planning to take over the team entirely?
Cao Baming's subsequent explanation left them utterly speechless, and they couldn't refute his points.
They were outmatched in argument, and when it came to power, they felt increasingly inadequate.
Cao Baming was now not just a valuable player; with his financial standing, he could practically buy the entire club!
This idea was implicitly approved. Consequently, the selection of the head coach was also handed over to Cao Baming. All their previous efforts were in vain, as their proposals were all rejected that day.
Helpless, the leaders left the meeting in disarray, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness from the bottom of their hearts. They felt as though they had lost control of the team's operations.
With that, Cao Baming felt the negotiation had gone very smoothly. At least, he had rendered the higher-ups speechless. The teammates and players below dared not utter a word. Although some were unconvinced, they were powerless.
At this juncture, Cao Baming sensed a faint sense of control over the entire team, and this was after investing only a minuscule amount of capital.
That evening, back home, Cao Baming lay on his massage chair, closing his eyes in extreme enjoyment as he felt the chair's gentle touch.
He recalled the day's events. It seemed that through one meeting and a round of debate, he had successfully established a preliminary position within the circle of senior leadership and had also removed eight of the most unreasonable and useless individuals.
Furthermore, he had dispatched over sixty hand-picked, reliable scouts across the country to discover fresh talent, and he would personally review the applications for the head coach position.
Looking at it this way, today's gains were indeed substantial!
...
The next day, Cao Baming personally traveled to the city. Coincidentally, a city-level football match was being held, and it was in this area where one of his dispatched scouts had reported a highly talented young player.
Today, he would be playing in the match, unaware that Cao Baming was secretly observing him. He was only eighteen years old and had no thoughts of playing for the Tang Kingdom team.
However, his passion for football was undeniable.
Cao Baming figured he wouldn't be in the Tang Kingdom for many more days. He wanted to use his remaining time to personally witness the prowess of this player, who had been praised so highly by the scout.
Thus, he arrived at the venue wearing a mask to watch the game.
To avoid being recognized and causing any trouble or unnecessary incidents, Cao Baming was heavily bundled up that day.
While he hadn't used any disguise techniques, the extent of his covering would make him unrecognizable to anyone other than a truly devoted fan.
Previously, the scout had already secured him a front-row seat, offering a clear view of the field and a comfortable vantage point.
When Cao Baming sat down, the match had already commenced.
The scout sat beside Cao Baming and pointed to a young man on the field wearing the number 7 jersey.
"See him? His ball-handling skills and speed are rarely seen. You'll notice it shortly!"
Cao Baming's gaze followed, focusing on that player.
"He looks a bit frail!"
The scout nodded. "That's true, his physique is indeed a bit weak. But his other advantages are so outstanding that physical conditioning can be improved through training!"
Cao Baming turned his gaze back to the young man on the field, pondering the scout's words. They held some truth.
Indeed, no player is truly perfect. Even Messi had the natural disadvantage of being short, yet that didn't prevent him from becoming a football king.
As expected, as the match continued, his talent began to overflow uncontrollably. Every touch of the ball was met with cheers from the crowd.
Cao Baming watched intently. His sprinting speed, the speed of his footwork in dribbling, and his reaction time were all top-tier.
In fact, his style of play reminded Cao Baming of someone. This person was currently hailed as the young man with the greatest potential to become the next generation's football king: Kylian Mbappé!