Counterattack starts with controlling probability

There was a roar of applause in an academic hall at UCB.

Li Hao had just finished his thesis presentation on "Quantitative Investment Risk Management". His unique insights and data verification resonated strongly with the scholars in the audience.

Professor Hall, sitting in the front row, nodded slightly, his face full of approval.

A few days later, the paper was accepted and published by a top financial academic journal, causing a sensation in the academic community.

Colleagues praised Li Hao for his excellent combination of business experience and academic theory, and some even predicted that this paper might become a classic case in the field of quantitative investment.

However, behind the glory, there are always people who envy and hate.

As soon as Li Hao walked into the doctoral student public office, he felt that the atmosphere was not right.

The classmates who used to greet him enthusiastically now looked embarrassed and hurried away with their heads down.

Only Liu Xia, who came in later, whispered to him, "Someone has been spreading rumors behind your back lately, saying your paper isn't original."

Li Hao raised his eyebrows: "What rumor?"

"They say you took some old commercial research and reframed it as academic research." Liu Xia bit her lip, clearly worried. "Someone even anonymously reported you for plagiarism."

"Plagiarism?" Li Hao's voice turned cold. "I personally verified the data and models. How could it be plagiarism?"

Liu Xia nodded. "Of course I know your abilities. But the problem is, these rumors have spread widely in the academy, and many people believe them."

A few days later, Li Hao received a formal email from the college informing him that an investigation would be launched into the originality of the paper.

The wording of the email was rigorous, but Li Hao could see that this investigation might have a significant negative impact on him.

"Professor, I have applied for the journal's original verification report and third-party data support, which are sufficient to prove the originality of the paper." Li Hao handed the information to Professor Hall.

Professor Hall took the information and frowned. "There's nothing wrong with your research," he said. "But you have to understand that this kind of reporting isn't necessarily about pursuing academic truth. Sometimes it's about bringing you down and plundering your resources."

"Resources?" Li Hao asked in confusion.

Hall sighed. "UCB's research funding isn't unlimited, especially in a hot field like quantitative investing. Many advisors will secretly push their students to suppress their competitors in order to secure more funding."

After investigation by the college, the source of the report letter was quickly found.

What is shocking is that the mastermind behind the report was Professor Hartman, a mentor who competed with Li Hao for research funding in the same field.

Hartman is a senior scholar in the field of quantitative investing and a powerful figure within the academy.

He tried his best to promote his students' research in the college, trying to seize Li Hao's research direction.

What is even more infuriating is that Hartman even instructed his students to spread rumors of Li Hao's "academic fraud" on anonymous forums, attempting to have Li Hao's paper retracted by the journal and thus lose his influence in the academic circle.

After learning the truth, Li Hao did not choose to confront fiercely, but fought back with data and facts.

He made public the original data and experimental process of the paper, and further explained the research in detail at an academic forum organized by the college.

On the day of the forum, Li Hao faced numerous skeptics with a calm and confident response: "If you believe my research is plagiarized, please raise specific points of doubt. I will be happy to answer all your questions with data and facts."

He presented the data one by one and cited several published papers that were different from his research direction to prove that his research path was completely independent.

The students in the audience were gradually convinced by his logic and data, and applause gradually broke out. Meanwhile, Professor Hartmann's students lowered their heads and remained silent.

After the forum, Professor Hall walked onto the stage and patted Li Hao on the shoulder. "Well done! This time, you not only proved your strength, but also let those who were secretly plotting against you know that you are not so easy to deal with."

Li Hao smiled and said, "Professor, I just think that academia is about evidence. Speaking with facts is the most powerful counterattack."

Hall nodded. "It's good that you think so, but don't let your guard down. People like Hartman won't give up easily. From now on, you have to be even more careful."

……

Professor Hall sat in the college's conference room, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. In front of him was the college's investigation report on Li Hao's thesis.

The report detailed the allegations made by Professor Hartman's team, but there was no hesitation in Hall's eyes.

"I supervised Li Hao's research throughout the entire process. He completed every experimental data set personally, and there is absolutely no plagiarism," Hall said firmly. "I will be responsible for my students and will not allow such egregious behavior to occur in academia."

The dean looked at Hall and pondered for a moment. "Professor Hall, are you sure you want to personally participate in the investigation? This means you will directly conflict with Hartman's team."

"Academics are about pursuing truth, not political games," Hall said calmly. "If proper rules aren't upheld, today it's Li Hao, tomorrow it could be any innocent student."

The dean nodded and said, "Since you insist, I fully support you."

As a mentor, Professor Hall asked the college to open up the tracing authority for the report letter, and worked with several trusted professors to analyze the data and evidence.

They found that the report submitted by Hartman's team was full of loopholes and even had obvious signs of data tampering.

"The data distribution here doesn't match Li Hao's research at all," Hall said, pointing to a set of charts on the screen. "This is clearly fabricated."

"What's even more interesting is that these falsified data were used in some internal laboratory tests," another professor added. "This suggests that the whistleblowing was not only planned, but may even be an attempt to cover up their own problems."

Hall sneered: "It seems that Professor Hartman has shot himself in the foot this time."

The college held a special academic meeting for this purpose, inviting the whistleblower to have a face-to-face discussion with Li Hao's team.

The conference venue was packed, and the students and professors of the college all wanted to see how this storm would end.

Hartmann brought his students to the stage and calmly presented the so-called "evidence."

He deliberately used complex terminology and obscure diagrams in an attempt to confuse his audience, but Professor Hall remained calm throughout.

When it was Hall's turn to speak, he directly presented a report that had been verified by multiple parties, dismantling Hartman's team's "evidence" one by one.

Every vulnerability is clearly marked and every error is explained in detail.

"Is this so-called evidence of plagiarism?" Hall's voice was calm but forceful. "This isn't academic discussion; it's blatant malicious attack and data manipulation."

Hartmann's expression gradually turned ugly, and the students behind him lowered their heads and dared not speak.

After the meeting, Li Hao approached Professor Hall and said, "Professor, this time I'm so grateful to you. If you hadn't stepped forward, it would have been difficult for me to prove my innocence."

Hall smiled and waved his hand. "Academia has never been about who has more power, but who has stronger data. Li Hao, if you really want to thoroughly respond to these people, why not use a more powerful paper to leave them speechless?"

A glint of light flashed in Li Hao's eyes: "Professor, I understand."

In the next few days, Li Hao devoted all his efforts to further expand his previous research, combining it with a wider range of data and experimental methods to write a brand new paper.

This paper not only improves the original research, but also proposes a new quantitative investment strategy framework, filling a gap in the field.

After completing the paper, he submitted it directly to another international journal with higher influence, and it quickly passed the review and was recognized by the top academic community.

When Li Hao's paper was published, a wave of heated discussion once again erupted in the academic community.

Many people who once doubted him had to admit that the quality and innovation of this paper far exceeded their expectations.

Hartman's team was warned internally by the college and asked to make a public apology because of the previous reporting incident.

"Li Hao, this time you not only proved yourself, but also let the entire college see what true academic spirit is." Professor Hall said with a smile.

Li Hao nodded, his tone firm: "Academia needs more fairness, and I will use my actions to make those people understand that conspiracy will never defeat truth."

Although the storm is over, Li Hao's academic career at UCB has just begun.

His goal is to stand on a higher academic stage and ensure that those who try to suppress him will never catch up with him.

"Brother Hao, are you done?" Liu Xia's voice came from not far away.

Li Hao looked up and saw Liu Xia standing under a streetlight, two cups of coffee in her hands, a faint smile on her face. Li Hao took the coffee and walked side by side with her.

"It's so late, why don't you rest?" Li Hao asked as he took a sip of coffee. The warm liquid dispelled some of his fatigue.

"You can be busy until so late, can't I chat with you?" Liu Xia's tone was light, but there was some complicated emotions hidden in her eyes.

The two chatted casually about some academic trivia until Liu Xia suddenly fell silent.

Li Hao noticed her strangeness, stopped and looked at her sideways: "What's wrong with you?"

Liu Xia hesitated for a moment, lowered her head, and kicked the stones on the ground. Her voice was much lower than usual: "Brother Hao, if one day... someone did something bad to you, but that person had no choice, would you forgive them?"

Li Hao frowned slightly: "What do you mean? Liu Xia, are you hiding something from me?"

Liu Xia raised her head with a hint of panic in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She smiled and said, "Nothing, just asking casually. You've been under a lot of pressure lately, so I wanted to find a topic to distract you."

Li Hao stared at her for a few seconds. Although he did not continue to ask questions, a hint of doubt appeared in his heart.

After the two separated, Liu Xia stood in the open space on the campus and whispered to herself, "I'm sorry, Brother Hao, there are some things... I can't tell you right now."

At this moment, a strange text message was quietly sent to her mobile phone, with only one sentence on the screen:

You must attend the next meeting, or you will bear the consequences.

Liu Xia's hands unconsciously clenched the phone, and a trace of struggle and complexity appeared in her eyes.