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

West Second Ring Road in the city.

The National Development and Reform Commission building resembles a silent behemoth, exuding a somber aura in the late autumn morning mist.

Liu Ming stepped out of the unassuming black Hongqi car, carrying a slightly faded tactical briefcase. He glanced up at the huge national emblem and took a deep breath of the cool air.

This is his new battlefield.

Unlike the rough-and-tumble atmosphere of Qingyun County, or the bustling life of Ningzhou, this is the core of China's power structure. Every decision involves trillions of yuan, and every approval determines the rise and fall of an industry.

He strode into the building, his leather shoes clicking rhythmically on the marble floor.

……

"Oh, Director Liu, you've finally arrived!"

In a temporary meeting room of the High-Tech Industry Department, Zhao Ruihu was sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of freshly brewed premium Da Hong Pao tea, with that standard, sickeningly cloying "official smile" on his face.

"I am Zhao Ruihu, the deputy in the department. I should have been at the gate to greet you long ago, but I have several urgent documents about semiconductor approvals pending. Director Lu is pressing me for more information, so I'm really sorry."

Zhao Ruihu apologized verbally, but his buttocks seemed rooted to the spot, and he didn't budge an inch.

His cold eyes swept over Liu Ming, taking her in a quick, smug look. A flicker of disdain crossed his lips as he glanced at her shabby attire.

"You're too kind, Deputy Director Zhao."

Liu Ming replied casually. He glanced around the small meeting room, less than ten square meters in size, where the sunlight was completely blocked by the building across the street, and frowned slightly.

"Where is my office?"

"Oh dear, speaking of which, I was just about to report to you."

Zhao Ruihu put down his teacup, patted his head, and pretended to be extremely annoyed. "We originally reserved the large office on the top floor for you, but the heating pipes in that room suddenly burst a couple of days ago, and water flooded the floor. The cleaning company is currently there repairing it."

"As you know, the department's efficiency is such that going through procedures, bidding, and repairs would probably take at least ten days to half a month."

"How about... you make do in this meeting room for a few days? Or perhaps you could visit our company's archives? It's spacious and quiet there."

Archives?

That means sending the dignified director-general to rummage through old documents?

Liu Ming laughed, a laugh that sent chills down one's spine.

"Deputy Director Zhao, people in Ningzhou say I have a good temper and am an honest man."

Liu Ming slowly walked up to Zhao Ruihu, looking down at him. "But you seem to have misunderstood something. What I, an honest man, hate most is... people trying to show off to me."

"Director Liu, I don't understand what you're saying."

Zhao Ruihu's face darkened, and he said with a forced smile, "I'm only thinking about your work environment. If you feel it's inappropriate, you can talk to the department head about it."

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

Two men in their thirties, dressed in crisp shirts, walked in. They glanced at Liu Ming, offering no even a basic nod, and went straight to Zhao Ruihu.

"Director Zhao, we've finalized the subsidy plan for the 'Great Wall Chip.' When would you like to sign it off?"

"Director Zhao, you still need to review the list of companies that have been approved for entry into the High-tech Zone."

These two individuals are Sun Zhiyuan, the director of the General Affairs Division, and Li Tiande, the director of the First Industry Division.

They called out "Zhao Si" but their eyes swept over Liu Ming almost imperceptibly, with a blatant disregard and contempt.

That was Zhao Ruihu's "dog".

They were telling Liu Ming in this way: In this High-Tech Department, only Director Zhao's words count; you, the newcomer, are just a figurehead.

"Since both section chiefs are here, that's perfect."

Liu Ming turned around, her voice not loud but like a heavy hammer, slamming into the air in the room.

"Go and notify all department heads and above in the entire company. In five minutes, we will have a meeting in Conference Room Number One. I will announce several decisions."

Sun Zhiyuan and Li Tiande exchanged a glance, then couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Director Liu, I'm so sorry."

Sun Zhiyuan said sarcastically, "It's 10 a.m. now. According to our company's schedule, this is 'business training' time. Besides, everyone has reports from the province on their hands, so there's probably no time for any impromptu meetings. How about you issue orders at next week's regular meeting?"

Li Tiande chimed in, "Yes, Director Liu. Our ministry follows procedures, and nobody goes to these kinds of impromptu meetings."

This is a soft nail.

I won't argue with you, I won't make a scene, but I just won't listen to you.

How can you, a lone commander, possibly establish yourself in this building?

Looking at the two clowns, Liu Ming felt no anger, only a pity for the dead.

He stopped wasting his breath on them.

He slowly pulled out a document with the word "Top Secret" printed on the cover from the tactical briefcase.

Then, in front of Zhao Ruihu, he slowly unfolded it.

"The Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the CPC Central Committee jointly issued a special authorization letter granting Comrade Liu Ming the power of veto and the privilege of personnel appointment and removal during the 'National Strategic Technological Breakthrough' period."

Liu Ming's voice was soft, yet it carried a sense of oppression that could penetrate the soul.

"Article 1 of the authorization letter: In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the national semiconductor strategy, Liu Ming, Director of the High-Tech Industry Department, has the highest authority to dismiss cadres at the division level and below within the department without approval."

"boom--!"

Zhao Ruihu, who had been leaning back on the sofa, jumped up as if he had been electrocuted upon hearing these words!

"This is impossible! This is against the rules! How could the Organization Department give you this kind of authority?"

Sun Zhiyuan and Li Tiande's faces turned deathly pale in an instant. The fear that emanated from their very bones made their calves tremble.

Liu Ming ignored Zhao Ruihu's roar.

He stretched out his long, slender fingers, pointed at Sun Zhiyuan, and then at Li Tiande.

"Sun Zhiyuan, Li Tiande."

Liu Ming's eyes were like a cold sword drawn from its sheath.

"From this moment forward, you are fired."

"It's not suspension, it's not transfer. It's dismissal, expulsion from public office, and a permanent record in your personnel file, making you ineligible for employment."

"reason?"

Liu Ming sneered and tossed a stack of photos and bank statements out of her bag.

"During the approval process for the 'Smart Ningzhou' project, you colluded with foreign investors and leaked core national parameters. Do you think this is enough to keep you locked up in Qincheng Prison for life?"

Sun Zhiyuan looked at the photos, made a gurgling sound in his throat, dropped the folder in his hand with a "thud" to the ground, and collapsed like a lump of mud.

Li Tiande knelt down and tried to grab Liu Ming's trouser leg, but Liu Ming kicked him away.

"Liu Ming! You're abusing your power!"

Zhao Ruihu went mad. He slammed his fist on the desk, pointed at Liu Ming's nose, and roared, "You launched a massive purge as soon as you took office! Do you even respect the Party Committee of the Ministry? Do you even respect Secretary Luo?! I'm telling you, I'm going to sue you! I'll make sure you don't stay as director until tomorrow morning!"

Liu Ming looked at the furious Zhao Ruihu and suddenly smiled.

He took a step forward, and the imposing presence of his height instantly enveloped Zhao Ruihu.

His eyes, truly belonging to a "Shura," were fixed on Zhao Ruihu's face, which was twisted with extreme anger.

"Zhao Ruihu".

Liu Ming's voice became unusually gentle, yet it carried a chilling, bloodthirsty quality.

"Do you think that just because you have a good father and a good uncle, I can't touch you?"

"Your surname is also Zhao."

"Back in Ningzhou, when your younger brother Zhao Ruilong begged me to let him go, he cried even louder than you are now."

Zhao Ruihu's pupils suddenly contracted, and the fear that came from the depths of his soul made him swallow back the curse that was on the tip of his tongue.

"You...you..."

"You're a deputy too."

Liu Ming reached out and gently patted Zhao Ruihu's pale face.

The movements were as gentle as if soothing a dying cat.

"Do you think you have the right to bang on the table with me here?"

"Want to roll around together?"

"If you want, I can grant your wish right now."

"I have those shady 'overseas fund' transaction records between you and Luo Binwang, right here on Old Lin's desk. Why don't you give him a call now and ask him if he wants to see you working in the ministry or building a dam in prison?"

Zhao Ruihu was stunned.

Looking at Liu Ming, he felt as if he were not facing a person, but a devil who had crawled out of hell and had calculated every pore of his body.

His proud background and his carefully cultivated network of relationships.

At this moment.

Faced with Liu Ming's absolute strength and unreasonable "privileges".

It's as fragile as a piece of waste paper burning in a fire.

Zhao Ruihu's hands were trembling violently.

He opened his mouth, sweating profusely, but couldn't utter a single word.

He lost.

They were utterly humiliated.

Originally intending to give the new director a "baptism of fire," he ended up having his two most capable henchmen pulled out without even making a sound.

"Old Chen, drag these two pieces of trash out."

Liu Ming sat back down on the main sofa that originally belonged to Zhao Ruihu, and calmly called out to the door.

Two tall, black-clad bodyguards walked in and dragged Sun Zhiyuan and Li Tiande towards the elevator like dead dogs.

The screams echoed in the corridor, waking up the cadres who were still "studying professional skills."

Liu Ming picked up the Da Hong Pao tea that Zhao Ruihu hadn't finished drinking from the table and casually poured it into the money tree bonsai next to him.

"The tea is too hot."

He looked at Zhao Ruihu, who was completely paralyzed in front of him, and a wild yet profound smile appeared on his lips.

"Deputy Director Zhao, you just said... the heating pipe in this office burst?"

"No...it didn't explode...I must have misremembered...I'll have someone move it right away...right away..."

Zhao Ruihu bowed, looking as humble as a eunuch.

Liu Ming leaned back in her chair, her eyes as cold as knives.

"Since it didn't explode."

"Then before eight o'clock tomorrow morning."

"I want to be in that office on the very top floor of this building, where all the department heads are waiting for me."

"What if one is missing?"

Liu Ming paused, each word sounding as if it had been pulled from an ice cellar.

"Why don't you go with them to the prison... for a team-building activity?"

Zhao Ruihu was sweating profusely and didn't dare to say a word. He rushed out of the office as if fleeing.

Liu Ming sat on the sofa, looking out at the bustling city, and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

he knows.

This is the real... start.

The Zhao family? Luo Binwang?

This is just the beginning.

"Erniu, get me a fresh cup of tea."

Liu Ming closed her eyes, a ruthless glint in her eyes.

"The water here... is indeed quite cold."