Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 491 - 470: Open Strategy

Chapter 491: Chapter 470: Open Strategy

"Win-win is certainly good, and it’s fine even if Northeastern University wins too easily, but the key point is, now that we have a target, how do we achieve it?"

Although Gao Yi wasn’t the kind of person who acted swiftly and decisively, he tended to go with the flow, handling things at his own pace as long as they weren’t urgent. Yet for some reason, he was filled with interest and a sense of urgency when it came to poaching talent.

Now, simply knowing the name Yuri was not enough - how to approach him, how to establish contact, how to persuade the KGB to let him go, and most importantly, how to get Yuri to agree to join?

"Since you’ve told me about someone suitable like Yuri, you must also have a way to get him on board."

Gao Yi looked expectantly at Huang Haisheng, who nodded decisively and said, "There is a way, not necessarily successful, but definitely viable."

"Let’s hear it."

"In this case, an open strategy is better than a secret plot. And the so-called open strategy is to make the KGB offer him up to you voluntarily."

Gao Yi could understand that an open strategy is better than a secret plot, but he couldn’t quite figure out how to implement it.

To learn and grow, one cannot merely passively receive information. One must think for oneself and consider the cause and effect of such actions.

This was a solution from Northeastern University. Taking cues from Huang Haisheng, Gao Yi attempted to come up with his own solution.

"An open strategy, to make the KGB voluntarily offer a person to me? According to the way Russians do business, they need to feel like they have got the better end of the deal, but what does that have to do with an open strategy..."

Gao Yi couldn’t immediately grasp the key point and finally looked at Huang Haisheng, asking, "What kind of open strategy is it?"

"Very simple, just show up with your people in front of the KGB, let them know that your Garden is a top-end organization, where only the best can enter, and once someone enters, there’s significant mutual benefits for the members."

Huang Haisheng paused timely, allowing Gao Yi to think for himself.

There was a feeling of mentoring, with a strong sense of instruction.

After thinking for a while, Gao Yi said, "Hmm, I understand. Seeing others getting in and benefiting, one would naturally want to get in too, or at least to go in and see what’s going on."

"Exactly, curiosity is something all humans share, and among intelligence agencies, it is especially strong. But even stronger than curiosity is the Russian sense of pride."

"Pride?"

Huang Haisheng nodded slightly and whispered, "Russians have strong pride. They are unable to accept the transition from a superpower to a regional power. The saying ’a dead camel is bigger than a live horse’ depends on interpretation. In terms of speed, a newborn foal is faster than a dead camel, and in terms of burden, a newborn foal is bigger than a dead camel. But from the camel’s perspective, even in death, it’s larger in size than the horse. Do you understand the meaning here?"

Not quite adapted to the Northeastern University’s inductive teaching method, Gao Yi’s mind turned for a long time, and he couldn’t quite grasp the key point.

One must know what one knows and recognize what one does not, a principle that Gao Yi still understood.

"I don’t understand."

Huang Haisheng explained patiently, "The camel is already dead, what is there to compare when it’s dead? There’s only size left, right? Russia is that camel, always wanting to be bigger than others. The ’size’ is their only remaining advantage. But to a horse, what’s the point in comparing with a dead camel?"

"Uh, uh, you mean, Russians like to compare sizes with others?"

Gao Yi was still a bit confused, and Huang Haisheng scratched his head and smiled wryly, "No, you’re not following the right logic. The premise of our analogy is based on the subject of Russian pride. I’m not saying that Russians like to compare sizes, but that Russians like to compete. Even in death, they have to compare, to be better than others. This competitive spirit stemming from pride, when manifested on the national level, means that Russia likes to join various international organizations and seeks to play a leading role in them."

With a flash of realization in his mind, Gao Yi’s eyes brightened, "I get it now! Russians can’t stand being excluded. If an international organization operates without Russian involvement, they can’t tolerate it!"

"Yes! That’s exactly it!"

Huang Haisheng nodded repeatedly, then continued smilingly, "The Russian competitive spirit is evident. Even when facing difficulties, they strive to maintain their facade. That is, even in the worst circumstances, Russia refuses to give up support for the South Alliance and continues propping up Syria and Persia. Why? Because these countries are not only Russia’s last regional pillars but also its pride."

It evolved from an individual scope to the entire country because everything Russia does is based on national will and the national personality.

Strategic contraction is the wise decision, but Russia will not contract. Even if it means stubbornly clinging on, they must maintain the grandeur of a great nation.

Gao Yi has now seen the light.

"You mean to say, as long as I take Garden for a walk in front of the KGB, they will have to take the initiative to send someone to me."

This is overt scheming, the simplest kind of scheming. All you need to do is to show your strength in front of the KGB, say that this is a high-level game where only the ace of cards can enter, and then make it so that there are no Russians inside. The KGB will get anxious on their own, they will want to join in on their own.

Even Northeastern University can’t resist this temptation, leaving Russia with no options but like moths to a flame.

"Yes, that’s it!"

Huang Haisheng nodded and then continued smiling, "But this is just the first step. After all, you can’t directly say to the KGB that you want Yuri. When dealing with Russians, you can’t be the one asking, you have to make them offer proactively, and not just offer, but to push someone at you, to the point that you can’t refuse."

"It’s about playing hard to get."

"Exactly!"

Gao Yi nodded, thought for a while, and said, "I understand, but there’s a problem: the KGB is full of talent, they won’t just send me Yuri right off the bat, right?"

Huang Haisheng spoke earnestly, "Yes, that’s why I said there’s a ten to twenty percent chance, because there are too many variables. However, if you create a specific inducement for Yuri, that is, you tailor-make a demand for Yuri, they will surely think of him."

Gao Yi did not hesitate, saying, "I need to tailor-make a talent profile that they need, and let the KGB fit into it themselves."

"Correct, since it’s an overt scheme, you can frankly tell the KGB what your needs are. For example, who you have to deal with, what kind of talent you need to get something done, and what benefits that person can bring to the KGB. At this point, you can actually introduce a competition mechanism."

These concepts are not new, but they are fresh in this context. Gao Yi hadn’t thought that digging up a person could involve a competition mechanism, so he didn’t catch on at first, "Competition mechanism?"

"Yes, just like in the United States, besides the CIA, there is the Department of Homeland Security, and in the UK, besides Military Intelligence Sixth Department, there is Military Intelligence Fifth Department. KGB in Russia is just a common name, an umbrella term, but now there are actually many factions. Officially inheriting the KGB’s place is the Russian Federal Security Bureau, that is FSB, but besides FSB, there’s also the Russian General Staff Military Intelligence Bureau, which is Glou, and the Foreign Intelligence Bureau, all these factions are very powerful."

Huang Haisheng took a breath and said: "Russians have the typical stubbornness that if you pull they won’t move, and if you push they back away. If you ask them, they’ll look down on you, but if you don’t pay them any mind, they’ll eagerly attach themselves to you. Therefore, you show some strength to the KGB, but then throw the olive branch toward Glou or Foreign Intelligence Bureau. Then the FSB must go crazy. If you don’t take their people, they’ll become anxious with you. That’s the competition mechanism."

Gao Yi couldn’t help but smile and said, "I see, that’s the idea, but this still doesn’t guarantee the Russians will push Yuri out."

"Yes, but that’s all there is to it. If you openly tell the KGB to let Yuri go, believe it or not, the KGB would rather kill Yuri than let you have him."

Gao Yi was also pondering, and he said in a low voice, "Is there any way to make the KGB more proactive in pushing Yuri out? I feel that tailor-making a demand for Yuri to make the KGB think of him is a form of enticement, but since the Russians are like donkeys that go with the grain, I wonder, hmm, can it be done to make them push Yuri out to me?"

Huang Haisheng appeared puzzled and asked, "Push out how?"

Gao Yi sighed and said, "Unfortunately, I’m only good at Kung Fu, but Yuri must be in his fifties now, no matter if he’s good at some kind of fighting or not, at that age, it’s not possible for him to represent Russia and fight me."

Huang Haisheng still looked somewhat puzzled at Gao Yi. He knew that Gao Yi could fight, as the information collected so far indeed suggested Gao Yi was skilled at it.

Moreover, Gao Yi at best was a fighter in the Underworld, but to think he could fight through the entire KGB was a bit overambitious.

"Actually, Yuri is indeed quite capable of fighting. He has no weakness in basic combat and marksmanship, but you can forget about challenging him to a fight; it’s too risky, and it would narrow down your options."

Huang Haisheng advised Gao Yi a few words. Young people like to solve problems with their fists, which is understandable, but still needed to be reasoned with if necessary.

Huang Haisheng sincerely said, "Mr. Gao, with your current status and identity, it’s best to avoid using force if you can. There is no need for it."

"Mm-hmm, I know," Gao Yi said somewhat noncommittally. After thinking, he continued, "We should act on this matter quickly. I’ll get in touch with the intermediary right away, to contact the KGB on this occasion, and I’ll make a trip to Moscow as soon as possible, striving to meet Yuri sooner and get him on our side."

Huang Haisheng smiled and said, "Good, whenever you start your action, we will definitely support you wholeheartedly."