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

The official document bearing the approval from higher authorities weighed heavily on Zhao Ruihu's heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

The spacious and solemn office of the deputy director was completely silent; the only sound was the ticking of the clock.

Zhao Ruihu slumped back in his leather office chair, feeling as if all his strength had been drained away. His eyes, which were usually sharp and calculating, now stared blankly at the conspicuous and forceful approval text at the top of the paper.

Those who fully cooperate with Liu Ming in carrying out her work and obstruct its progress will be held strictly accountable according to regulations!

His fingertips trembled uncontrollably as he hurriedly picked up the secure internal phone on the table, trying to contact his close colleagues and allies with whom he usually kept in touch.

Several calls were made, but the calls either went unanswered or received a polite but distant official response. Even worse, some people hung up without hesitation as soon as they heard his voice.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down—this has always been the most realistic rule within the system. In the hierarchical and strictly regulated government buildings of the capital, the decisions and attitudes of the higher-ups are the weathervane for everyone's actions. Now that his power has waned, no one is willing to risk getting involved in his troubles.

"It's completely over..."

Zhao Ruihu muttered to himself, his face ashen, his eyes devoid of their former arrogance and brilliance.

At that moment, a series of synchronized, steady, and rapid footsteps came from outside the corridor, approaching from afar with an undeniable formality.

boom--

The office door was pushed open, and two discipline inspection staff members in formal attire walked into the office with calm expressions and stood straight in front of the desk.

"Comrade Zhao Ruihu, please proceed to the main conference room for the meeting." The staff member's tone was calm and composed, without any extra emotion, yet it carried an aura of rigor and solemnity. "Director Liu is presiding over a meeting of all cadres in the department and has specifically requested your attendance."

In the large conference room, all division-level and above cadres of the High-Tech Industry Department were present.

This was the first all-staff meeting held by Liu Ming since taking office. After a series of preliminary work and adjustments, everyone understood the new leader's style of doing things, and no one dared to shirk responsibility in secret, let alone openly comply with orders while secretly opposing them.

Everyone sat upright, each performing their duties and remaining quiet. Everyone composed themselves, even deliberately breathing softly, for fear of crossing the new director's bottom line at this crucial juncture.

Liu Ming sat at the head of the long conference table, dressed in a simple, understated light gray casual jacket, his attire understated and composed. He gently twirled a black fountain pen between his fingers, his gaze calm and serene as he slowly swept over each of the attending officials, taking in their expressions.

Liu Ming only stopped twirling her pen when Zhao Ruihu, looking dazed, was escorted into the conference room by staff and sat forlornly in an empty seat at the end of the room.

"Everyone is present. The meeting shall now begin."

Liu Ming didn't offer any unnecessary pleasantries or empty, lengthy bureaucratic platitudes. Instead, he gently placed a thick stack of special audit reports in the center of the table.

"Over the past three days, I have led a working group to review all of our company's cash flow over the past five years, and at the same time, we have reviewed all the external technical cooperation project agreements signed by our department."

His voice was calm and deep, yet it possessed a powerful penetrating quality, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present and causing the cadres with distracting thoughts to feel a sudden tightness in their chests.

"In the past, the accounting procedures were standardized and the formalities were complete, seemingly meeting all financial approval requirements. However, a deeper look into the flow of funds reveals that many special industrial funds, after being transferred and diverted through multiple layers of third-party companies, ultimately did not reach local science and technology research and development projects."

"We invested special fiscal funds to introduce mature overseas technologies, which should have made up for the shortcomings of domestic industries and helped local scientific research. However, some cooperative projects not only introduced technologies that were outdated in the industry, but also significantly relinquished the leading authority of core projects, resulting in more losses than gains."

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Ming slowly stood up, her gaze sharp and firm, looking directly at the group of cadres in the meeting room who had previously relied on Zhao Ruihu and harbored wishful thinking.

"Positive international cooperation means learning from each other's strengths and making up for each other's weaknesses, and achieving self-reliance and self-improvement; cooperation that involves only compromise and concessions, and abandoning our independent leadership, fundamentally contradicts our original intention of supporting the science and technology industry!"

Inside the meeting room, several department heads who had close ties with Zhao Ruihu and were deeply involved in foreign joint venture projects instantly turned pale, cold sweat pouring from their foreheads. They instinctively turned to Zhao Ruihu for protection, only to find their former patron hanging his head, silent and devoid of any of his former influence.

"Effective immediately, the High-Tech Industry Department will comprehensively adjust its work development direction."

Liu Ming lightly rested her hands on the table, her calm and sharp aura enveloping the entire conference room, which fell silent.

"The previous work model of over-reliance on external technology and blindly accommodating the conditions of foreign cooperation will come to an end. The senior management has now officially approved the ten-year revitalization and development plan for local science and technology that I submitted. From now on, all special research funds of the department will be given priority to domestic enterprises that conduct independent research and development, to make every effort to overcome the shortcomings of domestic technology and consolidate the foundation of the local science and technology industry."

"If anyone continues to disregard the department's development plan and submits cooperation proposals that are detrimental to the development of local industries and favor foreign partners for approval..."

Liu Ming glanced sideways at the conference room door, a cold smile curving her lips.

"The discipline inspection team will be on duty at all times, and will investigate any violations of regulations in accordance with the law, without any leniency."

There were no harsh words or excessive emotional outbursts, yet this firm and straightforward statement was enough to intimidate the entire audience.

Liu Ming has always disdained playing games with workplace parasites. Only by presenting solid evidence and adhering to clear and strict work bottom lines can the bad practices within the department be thoroughly eliminated and internal obstacles hindering the development of local science and technology be removed.

"Director Sun, Director Li."

The sudden roll call made the two middle-aged cadres freeze instantly, hurriedly stand up, their faces pale and bloodless.

"The joint venture project for the lithography machine light source, which you two were in charge of, has questionable fund flows and multiple irregularities in your performance of duties. You do not need to report on your work at this meeting; you only need to cooperate with the disciplinary inspection team outside the door to complete a special inquiry."

As soon as the words were spoken, two disciplinary inspection staff members entered the scene and accompanied the two individuals as they left to cooperate with the investigation. The entire process was standardized and conducted in accordance with regulations, without the slightest delay.

The entire audience fell silent, no longer harboring any hope.

Make a show of force, enforce rules and regulations, act decisively and prudently, and maintain a firm stance.

The meeting concluded in an extremely solemn atmosphere, with no one raising any objections. Everyone looked at Liu Ming with heartfelt reverence and obedience.

All attendees left, leaving only Liu Ming and Zhao Ruihu slumped in their chairs in the empty conference room.

Liu Ming slowly walked up to him, looking down at the deputy director who used to be a powerful figure in the department and always targeted her.

"Now all your trusted confidants have left, and your authority has been gradually stripped away. You have no one left to rely on, Deputy Director Zhao." Liu Ming's tone was calm, but it hit the nail on the head. "The connections, channels, and backers you relied on in the past have all become useless."

Next, all you need to do is stay in your position and watch the department gradually get back on track, seeing all the old non-compliant issues being resolved one by one.

Zhao Ruihu's body trembled violently. He suddenly raised his bloodshot eyes, filled with resentment and anger, but he had no ability to refute or retaliate. He could only clench his fists helplessly.

As evening falls, the afterglow of the setting sun bathes the streets of the capital, gilding the entire city with a warm, gentle golden hue.

Liu Ming returned to her office and gently pressed her aching temples. The internal rectification of the department's atmosphere and the clearing of existing problems were basically completed. After clearing away internal obstacles, the real battle to promote the revitalization of local science and technology would begin.

Knock knock—

There was a gentle knock on the door, and Secretary Chen walked slowly into the office, holding a simple and elegant paper invitation in his hands.

"Director Liu, this invitation was just delivered by a special person." Old Chen respectfully placed the invitation on his desk. "Mr. Lin sent someone to deliver it. He's hosting a family banquet at his private residence in Xishan tonight to welcome you and celebrate your successful stabilization of the department's work."

Liu Ming's gaze fell on the invitation, and a slight change in her expression occurred to her eyes.

Senior figures in high positions would never host a banquet for no reason; this family dinner must have a deeper meaning.

"Who are the guests at the banquet tonight?" Liu Ming asked.

Old Chen lowered his voice, his tone somewhat solemn: "Besides Elder Lin, the leaders in charge of the financial system, as well as senior executives of several core departments, will all be present. They were all personally invited by Elder Lin."

Liu Ming slowly leaned back in her chair, a meaningful smile slowly spreading across her lips.

The internal turmoil has been settled.

Next, it's time to confront the key figure in this city who truly controls the overall situation and strategizes effectively.