Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

Night, Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse, Hall No. 1.

It was the same familiar private room, and the same warm yellow wine.

But the atmosphere tonight wasn't as relaxed as it was last time.

Lu Chen drank one glass of wine after another in silence, his usually refined and gentle face now filled with unyielding sorrow and... frustration.

Liu Ming sat opposite him, barely touching his chopsticks, simply keeping him company. He knew that for this extremely shrewd senior brother to call him here late at night to drink alone, he must have encountered some enormous trouble.

"Xiao Ming."

After a few rounds of drinks, Lu Chen's tongue finally became slurred. He put down his glass, his eyes reddening.

"Tell me, am I... a very unsuccessful mayor?"

Liu Ming didn't say anything, but poured him another glass of wine.

"I've been in Ningzhou for three years." Lu Chen chuckled self-deprecatingly, his laughter tinged with bitterness. "I was full of ambition, wanting to turn this place into a reform demonstration zone for the entire province and even the whole country. But what's the result? Apart from the High-tech Zone, which you stirred up, the rest of the area remains the same, lifeless and stagnant!"

"My proposals are always rejected by the Standing Committee for various reasons. The personnel changes I make always seem to disappear into thin air when they reach the Organization Department. I feel like a tiger in a cage, full of strength but constrained at every turn, unable to use it!"

Liu Ming frowned slightly.

He knew that what Lu Chen was talking about was the most fundamental contradiction in the Ningzhou officialdom.

—The “power struggle” between the Party Secretary and the Mayor.

In China's officialdom, the municipal party secretary is the top leader, the helmsman, responsible for making the final decisions. The mayor, on the other hand, is the second-in-command, the executor, responsible for doing the work.

If the top two leaders can cooperate sincerely, the local economy will surely take off.

But what if... the two people are outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds?

The result is endless internal strife and wrangling.

Feng Jiang, the Party Secretary of Ningzhou, is an extremely domineering and controlling "domineering CEO." Although he also wants to develop the economy, he prefers that all development be under his absolute control.

Lu Chen, the mayor who was also a "parachuted" official and full of reformist spirit, naturally became the biggest "unstable factor" in his eyes.

"The provincial party secretary... he put too much pressure on me."

Lu Chen seemed to have found an outlet, and he poured out all the grievances that had been building up in his heart over the past few years.

"He's a good person in every way. He's decisive, capable, and has feelings for Ningzhou. But he's just... too presumptuous and too conservative."

"He always felt that Ningzhou was developing very well, so it should proceed steadily and not engage in any fancy reforms."

"He doesn't understand finance, the internet, or even the concept of 'transformation of old and new growth drivers.' He only believes what he can see: factories with black smoke billowing from their chimneys and truckloads of coal being shipped out."

"I told him that Ningzhou's industrial structure has reached a bottleneck and must be transformed and upgraded! He told me that we must consider the overall situation and maintain stability!"

"I told him that we need to be more open-minded and give young people more opportunities and space! He told me, 'Young people are inexperienced and unreliable!'"

"well……"

Lu sighed heavily and downed the cup of yellow wine in one gulp.

"I feel like we're from completely different eras. I'm like a helmsman desperately trying to steer this big ship onto a new course, while he's the old captain clinging to the anchor and refusing to let go."

"If this continues, forget about reform, I, the mayor, will eventually be sidelined and become a mere figurehead."

Liu Ming listened in silence.

He knew that Lu Chen was telling the truth.

This is also a deadlock that the Chinese officialdom has been unable to untangle for thousands of years.

Reform will inevitably disrupt the old power structure and will inevitably be accompanied by growing pains and risks.

For a regional official like Feng Jiang, who has been operating in his homeland for many years and is used to the idea that "stability trumps everything," any factor that might bring "instability" is intolerable.

"Senior brother."

Liu Ming finally spoke, his voice steady and powerful.

"I understand what you're saying."

"But drinking alone won't solve the problem."

"You need an opportunity."

"A breakthrough point that can demonstrate your determination and ability to reform without touching his sensitive nerve about 'stability'."

"A breakthrough?" Lu Chen raised his head, a glimmer of hope flashing in his cloudy eyes. "Where is there any breakthrough? Everything that could be done, everything that should be done, he has rejected."

"No."

Liu Ming shook her head, her deep eyes sparkling with a light as bright as stars.

"There is one project that he would not only not reject, but would even wholeheartedly support."

"What project?"

Liu Ming stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the city night view outside, which was brightly lit but lacked a "soul".

He slowly uttered a few words.

Those few words will completely change the fate of this city in the coming months.

"Ningzhou...International Marathon"

"What?" Lu Chen was stunned. "A...marathon? Isn't that a sporting event? What does it have to do with the economy?"

"It's a big deal."

Liu Ming turned around, her face once again displaying that confident, almost arrogant smile.

"Senior, have you forgotten what my major is?"

"It's... business economics and development strategy."

"A successful international marathon brings much more to a city than just a few hours of sporting festivities."

"It's the lowest-cost yet most effective city business card!"

"It can, in the shortest possible time, broadcast the city's historical heritage, cultural landscape, and the lives of its citizens to the world via live television and the internet!"

"It can attract thousands of tourists from all over the world, and... potential investors!"

"It can drive explosive growth in all related industries, including transportation, accommodation, catering, and retail!"

"It can make this city the center of attention overnight!"

"This is called 'attention economy,' or 'event marketing!'"

"And all this requires only a few unobstructed tracks and a tiny, negligible security fee."

"The most crucial thing is..."

Liu Ming looked at Lu Chen and said, word by word:

"This project is more theoretical than practical."

"It does not involve land approval, large-scale financial investment, or any personnel changes."

"It won't touch the most sensitive nerve of 'stability' that the provincial party secretary holds."

"He has no reason to refuse."

"And you, you can take this opportunity to legitimately seize control of all relevant departments in the city—the propaganda, transportation, public security, urban management…"

"Let's fight a brilliant battle to turn around the city's image!"

"Let's use GDP data that will dazzle everyone to tell everyone..."

"You, Lu Chen, are not just a scholar who can only talk big!"

"You are a true doer who can bring change to this city!"

……

The entire private room was deathly silent.

Lu Chen sat there blankly.

He looked at his young junior brother, who was talking eloquently under the lamplight, as if the whole world was in the palm of his hand.

He could feel his heart pounding wildly!

His heart, which had become somewhat cold and numb due to endless internal strife, was completely ignited at this moment by an unprecedentedly blazing flame!

marathon……

City calling card...

The Eyeball Economy...

This is simply a brilliant idea!

Why didn't he think of that?

"Xiao Ming..."

He stood up, walked to Liu Ming, and gripped his hand tightly, so tightly that Liu Ming's knuckles turned white.

In his cloudy eyes, the flames of "hope" and "fighting spirit" were rekindled!

"You are truly my... Zifang!"

Liu Ming smiled.

He looked out the window at the vast land, full of opportunities and challenges.

His eyes were as deep as the sea.

"Senior brother, this is just the beginning."

"Wait until this marathon is over."

"The sky over Ningzhou should change color."