Those Years When I Was Forced to Top the Forbes List

Chapter 325 Walking with Policy

"What does your investment in the Chengdu area have to do with us?"

This is what the leader was thinking at the moment.

But Chen Xuebing immediately started by mocking:

"To be honest, making Chongqing a municipality directly under the central government is like a small horse pulling a heavy cart."

"The initial proposal to establish the Three Gorges Province was shelved. Chongqing had to independently shoulder the heavy responsibilities of reservoir area resettlement and rural poverty alleviation. Sichuan was too large and needed to reduce its administrative burden. In addition, there were no municipalities directly under the central government in the central and western regions. These multiple reasons led to Chongqing's status."

"What kind of waves can such a completely inland city, relying solely on the Yangtze River, stir up?"

"look."

As Chen Xuebing spoke, he pointed to the map on the table.

"In the northwest, it is completely blocked by Sichuan. This is the direction of the ancient Silk Road. If Chongqing's transportation network is to be laid out in the whole country, it is just empty talk without Sichuan."

(Map from 98; newer maps are not allowed to be posted)

"so."

Chen Xuebing drew a line between Chongqing and Chengdu, connecting it to the upper right corner of Aba, and wrote "Railway" on it.

Then circled "Chongqing—Ziyang—Chengdu" and wrote "High-speed rail".

Circle the "Leshan-Chengdu-Mianyang" route and write "Expressway".

Circle the "Panzhihua-Yibin-Luzhou" section along the Yangtze River and write "water transport" on it.

"With one axis and three belts, our satellite new cities are all strategically positioned."

"Hmm," Mayor Huang nodded with his arms crossed upon hearing this statement. "It's a bit more streamlined than the 28 cities we decided on. But why was it moved to Aba? Aba is a vast and sparsely populated area with few main roads, making infrastructure costs very high. Moreover, it covers more than 80,000 square kilometers, making it as large as a small province. It's all plateau. How can it be developed?"

The question immediately hit the nail on the head. Chen Xuebing, keeping his expression calm, replied, "This will be the railway's barrier out of Sichuan in the future. How could we ignore the scenic Qinghai-Tibet Plateau? But we're only working on this line!"

He pointed again to the line that led to the upper right corner of Aba.

"The destination is Jiuzhaigou! The route is the Lanmo Line of National Highway 213! Only with roads can we carry out construction!"

"I looked at the data on private cars in Chengdu, and it has increased fivefold in three years! Jiuzhaigou is such a popular scenic spot, yet there isn't a single proper service area in the 300-kilometer stretch from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou! If we could secure six locations, just the gas stations—PetroChina alone would offer at least a 20% rebate!"

"I also checked the traffic flow along this route. If you set up a car repair shop in the service area, you could earn at least 20,000 yuan a day just by changing tires!"

"We can also offer some special services, such as a drive-in movie theater plaza!"

“A single service area can generate at least tens of thousands of yuan in revenue per day, so six would be close to a million! If Sichuan grants me the operating rights for the service areas along this road, I can first spend 200 million yuan to repair the severely damaged sections of the highway!”

At this point, Mayor Huang started clicking his tongue again.

He had only seen drive-in theaters in American magazines: they use parking lots as movie screening venues so that viewers in different positions in their cars can see clear, realistic, and stable images, and the sound is introduced into the cars via FM signals so that viewers can watch movies while sitting in their cars.

The Sichuan-Tibet Highway is quite lonely; if there were a service area and a movie theater, it might actually become very popular.

People who can make money have a different way of thinking; they've even come up with this idea.

Under normal circumstances, Chen Xuebing wouldn't have such a wild imagination.

But the situation in Aba is so extreme. It is a plateau region with scarce flat land and many roads are winding mountain roads, which are prone to disasters such as rockfalls and landslides.

He wanted to set up several supply depots.

He wanted to build several flat helicopter landing platforms.

Ideally, it should also provide a large amount of electricity.

It also needs to be reasonable.

So, having a comprehensive shopping mall, a service area with a movie theater, and a gas station with a complete generator set to cope with power outages seems to solve all the problems.

This movie plaza can not only accommodate airplanes taking off and landing, but also shelter disaster victims.

Moreover, given the harsh geological environment, he can prioritize safety in this area, and even send people to conduct geological surveys to find several absolutely safe and open locations and strengthen fortifications.

No, we should strengthen construction.

Having six such service areas, with their reasonable locations, would be a beacon of light in the earthquake zone.

"Moreover, the road conditions from Dujiangyan to Wenchuan are terrible. It is prone to rockfalls all year round and is known as the road of death. There is also a section of expressway that connects to Wenchuan. I heard that a gas explosion occurred during the construction of the Dujiangyan-Wenchuan Expressway last year, which brought the construction of China Railway First Group to a standstill."

"Yes, the Dongjiashan Tunnel experienced a sudden gas outburst and explosion during excavation. Construction in high-gas areas is indeed very difficult."

Mayor Huang also heard about this.

Chen Xuebing continued, "If the Sichuan Development and Reform Commission also grants me the operating rights for the service area on that section of the road, I can advance the funds and arrange for a professional tunnel team to go in and work on it. If the funding can be secured, I can complete all the repairs."

This is the second golden passage he left for the earthquake zone.

Highways are not like ordinary roads; they are much higher in standard. The completed highway network is much more robust than ordinary road sections, and the routes have undergone safety surveys. The road surface is also wider, so it is not easy to be completely blocked in the event of a disaster. Even if one side is blocked, the guardrail can be removed and people can walk on the other side.

Mayor Huang was shocked: "Advance payment? Highways are not cheap!" Chen Xuebing smiled calmly: "I've inquired. The total length is only about 20 kilometers, and the construction cost is 120 million per kilometer. My cost is less than 120 million, at most 100 million."

Wenchuan is very close to Chengdu and Dujiangyan. However, Wenchuan County is adjacent to Aba Prefecture and does not have the strong background subsidies of Chengdu, which caused the highway, which should have been completed in 2007, to be delayed for several years.

The key point is that this road ends in Yingxiu Town.

If it were the main expressway from Chengdu to Wenchuan, which is nearly 100 kilometers long, he would definitely be powerless to do it. But the 25.8-kilometer section from Dujiangyan to Yingxiu, which China Railway First Group has already completed, he can definitely finish the rest.

Mayor Huang, upon hearing this and looking at the enormous map, could hardly believe it.

"You're spending so much money on Aba, a relatively remote area. How much are you planning to spend on the entire economic development zone? Who will you ultimately ask for the money from?"

Chen Xuebing's lips curled up in a smile.

“I didn’t find work for myself. I started with real estate planning to enter the comprehensive urban redevelopment. Other surrounding projects are also done around the needs of basic housing demand and the requirements of the Western Development policy.”

He then had someone bring over a real estate development brochure, and began to explain it line by line:
"We're acquiring land using the 'satellite new town' model for urban clusters! In Chengdu, the core of the city, we're planning to acquire two large-scale integrated community projects, each with no fewer than 3000 households! We aim to create benchmark communities for Chengdu's future! We've even thought of names: 'Gu'an Tianfu Huating' and 'Gu'an Jincheng No. 2'—we're all about grandeur and a strong reputation!"

"Around Chengdu, the four core growth cities of Mianyang, Deyang, Ziyang and Meishan will each have 3-4 interconnected development clusters, each containing 2-3 adjacent plots, forming the prototype of a mini new city! The plot ratio will be controlled at 2.5-2.8, emphasizing living comfort and shared amenities."

"As the western gateway, Ya'an has two large-scale ecological communities."

"As for Aba," Chen Xuebing paused, his tone becoming unusually firm, "we need to secure one strategic bridgehead project each in the prefectural capital of Ma'erkang, and the transportation hub towns of Wenchuan, Maoxian, and Songpan! And we must incorporate the design concept of a 'Plateau Emergency Support Center'!"

"Furthermore, we are building a Gu'an Community Benefit Plaza for each 'Satellite New Town' project, including a standardized farmers' market, a community activity center, and a basic medical station. We also promise to upgrade the main connecting roads in the streets and areas where the projects are located! We want local governments to see that introducing Gu'an is not just about selling land and collecting taxes, but also a catalyst for comprehensively improving the city's appearance and accelerating regional development!"

"We will transfer the Gu'an Huimin Plaza if the government pays for it; otherwise, we will organize a team to operate it ourselves. For other things, we will try our best to apply for subsidies. According to the 'Outline for Non-War Military Operations of the Army' published by the government, the central and western regions, as strategic rear areas, should promote military-civilian integration emergency points. The warehouse of Huimin Plaza and the underground parking lot of the community will serve as emergency reserve material warehouses. The Armed Forces Department will provide 30% of the construction funds. Of course, there are construction requirements. We plan to integrate special steel into the building, which will meet the requirements."

“根据《西部开发重点工程名录》第27条，「川西北防灾减灾体系2006-2010」对抗震建筑达到一定要求的给予每平方200-400元补贴。”

"We are still compiling other relevant policies. There are at least twenty subsidy policies in the Western Development Strategy that are worth studying."

"In general, we aim to acquire land parcels with pre-approved plans, implement policy-driven projects, strive for lower land transfer fees, simplify approval processes, and ensure rapid construction and occupancy—starting construction immediately upon land acquisition!"

Mayor Huang listened for a while, but still asked with some doubt: "Real estate prices are fluctuating a lot now. Real estate developers are hoarding land and waiting for prices to peak before selling. You are building quickly and moving in quickly, so the real estate premium is not high. You rely on the industry's basic profits and policy subsidies?"

"That's how real estate works; this is comprehensive urban redevelopment!"

Pointing to the map, General Manager Chen exuded a commanding presence: "For this project, we need to build a complete team. Next, we'll be playing the BT and BOT models, cooperating with the government through self-construction—government buyback, or even self-construction—self-operation—transfer upon expiration, to enter the ranks of mega-scale infrastructure contractors!"

Mayor Huang instantly understood the young man's lofty ambitions, but also gave him a strange look that seemed to offer a hint of warning:
"This kind of business model poses a significant risk to the government."

He naturally understands the thoughts of politicians.

He likes businessmen like Chen Xuebing, who have never given him a single penny, but that doesn't mean everyone does.

Chen Xuebing chuckled, “There are definitely risks involved. So our policy departments not only need to study subsidies, but also the risks of government changes and regulatory shifts, and understand diversified judicial protection. If we encounter any rogues, we will sue them. In the future, Changzheng Capital will also establish an authoritative financial rating agency in Hong Kong and overseas to downgrade and publish the credit ratings of certain long-term debtors. If this causes difficulties in social financing, then they should think about their own reasons. Of course, we are naturally willing to cooperate with trustworthy and promising partners like Mayor Huang for the long term.”

Mayor Huang was once again favored by General Manager Chen, and he chuckled inwardly, but said seriously on the surface, "You shouldn't even think about going against the government; you'll suffer the consequences!"

He dares to even think about rating government agencies' creditworthiness, but if such an institution were located overseas, and if Long March Capital truly achieved international credibility, it would likely be a sword of Damocles.

"Hehe." Chen Xuebing looked relaxed: "How could we go against each other? Legal disputes won't affect personal relationships. Even if we sue a certain unit, I'm still willing to make friends with the leaders. We can fight and talk at the same time. Only when we have equal legal status can we talk calmly. Even if we can't make friends in this term, there's always the next term."

After a few lighthearted banter, his expression turned serious:
"However, Mayor Huang's reminder is correct. Cash flow is a major issue. We are currently using social capital, so we need to consider the repayment cycle and the cost of capital. We will still do the traditional real estate business, but we will also quickly accumulate our own capital to invest in the construction of major national projects. I believe that as long as we have the same development goals and everyone looks in the same direction, the vast majority of leaders will gain political achievements and prestige, the masses will benefit, and the government will also get returns. We have a basis to become friends."

Chen Xuebing had one more thing he didn't say.

Most importantly, only by becoming a company with widespread social prestige and substantial capital can one be unafraid of lawsuits, and others will not want to sue them.

Mayor Huang's thoughts returned to the main point: "The Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle you mentioned... from what I see now, there's only Chengdu, not Chongqing."

"How could it not be?"

Chen Xuebing pointed to the map and drew a large circle around Sichuan and Chongqing, then said:
"As I said at the beginning, Chongqing is located in a small area, so it's very difficult for it to expand its domestic and international transportation network!"

"The Chengdu area aims to become a transit hub for Chongqing! Establish the 'Chengdu-Chongqing' brand!"

He walked to the map and pointed to Chengdu: "The Qingbaijiang Railway should be established as a railway port! Goods should be transported to Europe via freight trains using Chongqing International Port's qualifications! A multimodal transport system should be established, linking ports such as Luzhou and Yibin to form a multimodal transport system along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River!"

Then, pointing to Ziyang, the city between the two, his voice gradually rose: "High-speed rail line! Build shared logistics warehouses on the land surrounding Ziyang Station! Goods from Chongqing can be transferred to Sichuan via water and land transport!"

"Goods and transportation between Sichuan and Chongqing can be intermodal through this transit station, thus opening up the inland routes, right?"

"International freight trains! Customs clearance is completed upon departure from Chongqing, and goods exit directly through the Chengdu port, reducing transit time by at least 12 hours!"

"Chongqing's advantageous industries, such as automobile manufacturing and auto parts, as well as the export of high-value-added products like electronic terminal products that are currently being planned, will be directly shipped to Europe via the China-Europe Railway Express!"

"Chengdu has gathered consumer electronics, equipment manufacturing, and other goods from within Sichuan Province to supplement the cargo volume for Chongqing's regular freight train services!"

"The establishment of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle is a great opportunity to break down Chongqing's transportation barriers, which will benefit both sides! With Sichuan, Chongqing can be directly connected to Kunming and the Northwest, and Chongqing can connect with Zunyi and also connect to Guizhou! The entire Southwest is now a unified whole!"

"Now, on behalf of Chongqing businessmen, I am investing over 10 billion yuan in Sichuan, which is Chongqing taking a substantial first step towards cooperation!"

"I'll be the pioneer for Chongqing in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle!"

(End of this chapter)