Chapter 1382: Chapter 477: Comprehensive Takeover of Portugal
"Elite schools?" Salazar couldn’t quite understand Donnie’s meaning for a moment, which was something that frustrated Salazar because he had always seen himself as highly intelligent, yet when faced with Donnie, Salazar always felt he couldn’t keep up with Donnie’s ideas.
Donnie laughed and said, "When there are compliant citizens, there should be people to manage them, so these 10 elite schools only accept children from Portugal’s aristocrats and top wealthy families. The education they receive is entirely different from what the students in those 100 schools receive. The students in those hundred schools receive education that emphasizes compliance, while the students in those 10 elite schools receive education that focuses on management.
Above these 10 elite schools, there is one aristocratic school, where the education provided is of a ruling nature; only the descendants of the absolute elite in Portugal can study here!"
Salazar’s eyes widened as he fully understood Donnie’s meaning. Donnie was essentially categorizing the Portuguese population into distinct classes.
If such an educational model took shape, then Portugal would become a country with a highly rigid class structure, where the children of workers would always be workers, the children of elites would always remain elite, and the children of the top families would permanently maintain their status.
By this point, Salazar didn’t even know how to describe Donnie’s idea. From the perspective of the nation of Portugal, it was certainly not a good development, but from the standpoint of the rulers, aside from Donnie’s involvement, everything else seemed justifiable!
"Mr. Block, regarding your idea, I am..." For a moment, Salazar was at a loss for words to describe his feelings, but he still said, "I must report this matter to President Carmona!"
"Of course!" Donnie said with a smile.
Salazar hurriedly left Donnie’s room, and as he left, various thoughts were racing through his mind.
After Salazar left, Westglenn scratched his head and said, "Boss, I sort of understand your point, but isn’t such a plan too costly? I just did a calculation, and including the elite schools and the aristocratic school, we’ll need to spend at least 30 million US dollars annually. If we add construction and other expenses, the initial investment would require 30 to 40 million US dollars!"
Bobby Mozelle looked at Westglenn with some envy; he envied Westglenn’s manner of speaking with Donnie, being someone who had been with the boss from the start.
Donnie knew that Westglenn was viewing the elite and aristocratic schools as charitable endeavors.
"Who told you that elite schools and aristocratic schools are free?"
At this point, Donnie paused for a moment and explained to Westglenn, "There are two things you didn’t understand. Free is good for ordinary people and the poor, but for the wealthy, truly wealthy people, they detest free things. They would disdain our elite education if their children have to follow the same system as ordinary children. So elite schools and aristocratic schools must charge tuition, and not just charge, but charge very high fees; the fees for elite schools must be at least ten times those of ordinary schools, as for the aristocratic school...let’s put it this way, if you have children in the future, and by that time, Portugal’s education system is operating according to our plan.
Would you send your children to attend an elite school?"
Westglenn immediately shook his head and said, "Of course not. My children must attend the aristocratic school!"
Donnie laughed, "That’s it, nobody wants their family status to decline. Ordinary people aspire to become elite, and the elite aim to enter the aristocratic realm, so our fees will no longer be something they can control.
But now, the most important thing is to get Carmona and Salazar to agree to this!"
Westglenn at this moment laughed, "I understand, you’re suggesting that we offset the expenses of ordinary schools with the fees from elite and aristocratic schools!"
Donnie nodded, "Exactly, and not just that, if Carmona and Salazar agree to our proposal, by then you can even initiate fundraising from these wealthy merchants in Portugal, offering them some convenient terms, like if they reach a certain donation amount, their children can be admitted to elite or aristocratic schools without exams, or propose guarantees to their families that regardless of any future business failures, their third-generation or fourth-generation descendants can still enter elite schools.
How do you think these people will react?"
Bobby Mozelle said, "They might resist, but they might comply as well!"
Donnie laughed, "They can resist all they want, just revoke their children’s admission eligibility, and deal with those who resist; you don’t need me to teach you how to do that.
Of course, it’s not just about using a big stick; there must be rewards too. That means ensuring that future recruitment for Venus Investment Bank and Breton Commercial Bank gives priority, or exclusively considers students from these schools, and within the company itself, you need to establish a hierarchical employee system, giving them the illusion of upward mobility, while students from different-level schools will be offered different levels upon graduating and joining the company."
Westglenn nodded repeatedly as he listened; he thought Donnie’s points were excellent.
However, Bobby Mozelle asked, "Won’t this bury some real talents?"
Donnie looked at Bobby Mozelle and calmly said, "Bobby, among your colleagues back in the day, your abilities weren’t the most outstanding, but do you know why I entrusted you with the important responsibility of overseeing Portugal?"
Bobby Mozelle was taken aback by Donnie’s sudden question and then shook his head, "I don’t know."
Donnie smiled, "Because you are more loyal than those with outstanding abilities. Venus Investment Bank and Breton Commercial Bank hold a monopoly in Portugal’s business world, so even if your abilities aren’t exceptional, you can still manage Venus Investment Bank and Breton Commercial Bank’s standing in Portugal very well.
There is never a shortage of outstanding talents, but what is always lacking is loyal subordinates. I hope you understand this principle!"
Bobby Mozelle felt a bit awkward, being told by Tang Fei that his skills weren’t the best, but he felt a bit proud, too, because Donnie called him loyal!
"I understand, boss; I will work hard to absorb everything you’ve said!"
Westglenn, worried, asked Donnie, "Boss, although we’re discussing this so positively now, will Carmona and Salazar agree to our demands?"
Donnie got up, went to the room’s floor-to-ceiling window, looked at the scenery outside, and said with a smile, "Whether they agree will depend on the situation in Mexico; I reckon that Aguirre and Escovar’s armies are reaching their limits by now."
Meanwhile, Salazar had also arrived at Belém Palace, meeting Carmona to relay Donnie’s proposal to him!