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

The news of Liu Ming's "one-battle legendary performance" in the provincial party secretary's office spread like wildfire throughout the entire provincial party committee compound in an instant.

Some are happy, some are worried.

The delighted were Chu Tiankuo and Wenren Mu, a group of ambitious "reformers." They saw hope in breaking the economic deadlock in Jiangnan Province.

The one who was truly distressed was Luo Binwang, the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, who had been hiding in the shadows and regarded Liu Ming as a thorn in his side.

Building No. 1, Provincial Party Committee Family Compound.

Luo Binwang sat in his study, which was filled with antique calligraphy and paintings, playing with two shiny iron balls in his hands, his face expressionless.

But behind those glasses, in those cloudy eyes, gleamed a cold, sinister light, like that of a venomous snake.

He didn't expect it.

He really didn't expect that.

The son of Liu Jianguo, whom he regarded as an ant and thought he could crush at will, had actually climbed to a position that posed a threat to him in such a short time.

He never expected that even Chu Tiankuo and Wenren Mu, the two top officials in the province, would be so fond of this young man, even going so far as to break with convention and entrust him with important responsibilities.

"What a clever Liu Ming."

Luo Binwang slowly turned the iron bladder in his hand, making a "click-clack" friction sound.

"Courageous, resourceful, and... incredibly lucky."

"It seems that assassination, such a low-down method, won't be enough to deal with him."

"Since that's the case..."

He picked up the red secure phone on the table and dialed a number.

"Hello, is this Xiao Sun?"

"it's me."

"The newly established 'pilot working group' at the National Development and Reform Commission is holding back the funding approval process."

"Reason? Do I need to teach you? Just say that the provincial finances are tight recently and we need to make overall arrangements."

"Also, isn't that kid surnamed Liu the one who likes to go to the grassroots level for research?"

A cruel smile curled at the corners of Luo Binwang's mouth.

"Have your men give him a proper 'welcome'."

"Don't let him have it too easy."

……

A week later.

Tiezhou, a long-established industrial city in northern Jiangnan Province, is known for its heavy industry.

This is the first pilot city for the "transformation of old and new growth drivers" strategy in Liu Ming's "New Policies for Jiangnan".

According to the plan, the provincial finance department will allocate 500 million yuan in special funds to help several old steel plants on the verge of bankruptcy to carry out technological transformation and industrial upgrading.

However, when Liu Ming and her working group arrived here, weary from their journey.

He was greeted not with a warm welcome ceremony, nor with a spirited work report.

Instead, they were cold faces filled with perfunctory attitude and... hostility.

"Deputy Director Liu, you see, it's not that we're not cooperating."

The mayor of Tiezhou City, a middle-aged fat man with a big belly and an oily face, was accompanying Liu Ming in an old, dilapidated workshop that had long been shut down and whose equipment was covered in dust, to "inspect" the work.

He walked along, sighing and groaning, speaking in a bureaucratic tone.

"The main problem is that the city is facing dire financial straits lately. They're barely able to pay workers' wages, so where would they find the spare money for any kind of 'technical upgrades'?"

"We've heard about the 500 million yuan special fund you mentioned. The documents have been issued, but where's the money? We haven't heard a thing!"

"Without money, how are we supposed to work? We can't exactly have to use our mouths to smelt steel, can we?"

Behind him, a group of local officials echoed his sentiments.

"That's right! Deputy Director Liu, you're a high-ranking leader from the province; you don't know the cost of living until you're in charge!"

"Why don't you try contacting the provincial finance department first? Once the money is in place, we guarantee we'll start construction immediately!"

……

A soft nail.

There were obstacles everywhere.

Looking at this group of veteran actors, each with superb acting skills, Liu Ming knew exactly what was going on.

Has the funding been approved yet?

It's been approved.

The signatures were personally made by Chu Tiankuo and Wenren Mu.

But why hasn't the money arrived?

Because it got stuck at some point in the provincial finance department's process.

The person in charge of that part happened to be one of Luo Binwang's old subordinates.

This is a calculated, overt strategy.

I don't oppose your reforms; in fact, I wholeheartedly support them.

But I just won't give you the money.

I want to see what tricks this so-called "unparalleled hero" can pull off without money!

"Okay, I understand."

Liu Ming didn't waste any words with them, she just nodded and turned to leave.

"Huh? Deputy Director Liu, you...you're leaving already?"

The mayor of Tiezhou was taken aback for a moment, then quickly chased after him, "It's almost lunchtime. We've already prepared a welcome banquet for you at the best hotel in the city..."

"I'm not eating anymore."

Liu Ming's answer was simple and straightforward: "There are more important things to do."

After saying that, he got into the car without looking back.

He left behind only the group of local officials who looked at each other blankly, thinking they had successfully "persuaded" the "imperial envoy" to leave.

……

In the car.

Chen Momo, the secretary whom Liu Ming had brought all the way from the High-tech Zone to the province, was so angry that her pretty face turned red.

"Director! They've gone too far! They're a bunch of local bullies! Scoundrels!"

"This isn't a work report; it's clearly a conspiracy to make things difficult for you!"

"Don't be angry." Liu Ming leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes to rest, but there was no trace of anger on her face. "It's not worth getting angry with these people."

"But... what do we do now?" Chen Momo was almost in tears. "The money isn't coming in, the project can't start, and the pledge you made at the Standing Committee meeting... what about..."

"Who said the project can't get off the ground?"

Liu Ming suddenly opened her eyes.

Those deep eyes gleamed with a cunning light, like a hunter's.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number he hadn't contacted in a long time.

"Feed? My great hero, you've finally remembered you have a 'wife who's shared your hardships'?"

On the other end of the phone came Nangong Yao's pleasant voice, tinged with a hint of laziness and teasing.

"Stop being so cheeky." Liu Ming smiled. "I need to discuss a business deal with you."

"Oh? Tell me about it. For Director Liu to personally speak on this, it can't be a small business, can it?"

"It is indeed quite large."

Looking out the window at the towering chimneys billowing black smoke and the faces of unemployed people filled with numbness and despair, Liu Ming's voice became somewhat low.

"Is 500 million enough?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

A long silence.

After a long while, Nangong Yao's voice rang out again, but there was no longer any teasing in it.

All that remained was endless solemnity.

"Liu Ming, are you crazy?"

"What are you going to do?"

"Nothing."

Liu Ming smiled, a smile that was confident and full of undeniable domineering power!

"I just wanted to show some of those self-important 'gods of wealth' in the province what I was doing."

"In this world, some things cannot be accomplished simply by using an official seal."

"He has his own rules."

"I have my own way of playing the game."

He glanced at the dilapidated building not far away, which bore the sign "Tiezhou City Finance Bureau," and the finance director standing at the entrance, smoking a cigarette with a smug look on his face.

A cold, cruel smile curled at the corners of Liu Ming's lips.

He spoke into the phone, enunciating each word clearly:

"Since the public funds can't be disbursed..."

"Then I'll use my own money..."

"...Smash them to death."