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

"Go back and tell that old bastard in your family who's surviving by betraying everyone's interests."

Liu Ming's voice, carried on the cold autumn night wind, was like a chilling current sweeping in from Siberia, devoid of any human warmth.

"This is a debt from ten years ago. I, Liu Ming, am here to settle it."

Zhao Ruihu collapsed onto the asphalt road, crawling backward on all fours. His usually well-maintained face, always adorned with an arrogant smile, was now twisted like a crumpled piece of paper.

Fear. A fear that seeps into your very bones.

He looked at the young figure who had gotten back into the black Audi and felt that it wasn't a person, but a demon that had crawled out of hell to claim lives.

Liu Jianguo. These three words are an absolute taboo within the Zhao family. The bloody power struggle of that year, and the black money stained with the blood and sweat of tens of thousands of workers in Jiangnan Province, are the cornerstones upon which the Zhao family can now wield power in this city.

He thought the fire had burned away all traces. But who could have imagined that ten years later, the orphan they considered an ant would transform into a powerful minister wielding the Emperor's sword and march directly into their stronghold!

"Buzz—"

The black Audi A6 didn't stop for a moment, its wheels crushing the scattered Ferrari carbon fiber wreckage before speeding away.

Only when the two scarlet taillights completely disappeared at the end of the tree-lined road did Zhao Ruihu seem to regain the ability to breathe. He gasped for breath, his expensive custom-made suit already soaked with cold sweat.

"Tiger...Brother Tiger, should we call the police?"

The henchman next to him, who had wet his pants in fear, came over, his teeth still chattering.

"Call the police, you son of a bitch!"

Zhao Ruihu suddenly stood up and delivered a resounding slap across the face, sending his henchman spinning halfway around. "He holds my Achilles' heel! You want me dead already?!"

He trembled as he pulled out his specially made encrypted phone from his pocket, his fingertips shaking wildly as he dialed a number he rarely made.

That was the true pillar of the Zhao family, the old patriarch who, despite retiring to the second line, still had deep connections in various ministries.

The call was connected.

"Grandpa! Something terrible has happened! That newly appointed director of the High-Tech Department, Liu Ming... he's Liu Jianguo's son! He smashed my car in front of everyone today and said he's coming to collect a debt from ten years ago!"

Zhao Ruihu, as if grasping at the last straw, cried out in a desperate voice, "Grandpa, please call the higher-ups quickly and find a reason to get rid of him! If he keeps investigating like this, our Zhao family will be finished!"

There was a deathly silence on the other end of the phone.

He lacked his usual composure and shrewdness, and showed no anger at the humiliation suffered by his descendants.

A full half minute passed before a heavy, even desperate, panting sound came from the receiver.

"Take him down?"

Old Master Zhao's voice was as aged as a withered tree about to die, conveying a deep sense of powerlessness.

"You idiot. Do you know that just half an hour ago, that old madman Lin Zhentian personally went to the office building in his military uniform and wheelchair?"

"What?" Zhao Ruihu was struck dumb.

"Old Lin slammed his fist on the table and spoke. He said Liu Ming was our darling, and anyone who dared to lay a finger on her would have their home raided by his own guard company! He was drawing a red line for the entire circle!"

The old man's voice suddenly rose, accompanied by a violent cough.

"You want me to deal with him now? Do you want our Zhao family to die sooner than possible?"

The mess Liu Jianguo left behind has now become the most fatal death warrant in his son's hands! "From now on, you're going back to that courtyard house and confined to your quarters! You're not allowed to go anywhere without my permission!"

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The call was abruptly ended.

Zhao Ruihu froze, phone in hand. In that instant, he felt as if his proud family background and the powerful connections he had made at the dinner table had all crumbled into dust.

Old Master Lin personally endorsed it. This demonstrated the absolute trust of the higher-ups, and also the irrefutable evidence of the bloody case that could condemn them to the deepest abyss.

This isn't some "outsider" you can just mold at will! This is clearly a prehistoric dragon that has opened its blood-red maw and is ready to devour everything!

……

That night, the second-generation elite circle was completely in an uproar.

The video of Zhao Ruihu being trampled underfoot by Liu Ming outside the horse farm and his million-dollar LaFerrari being crushed into scrap metal by an armored vehicle, although not circulated on the public internet, spread wildly in those secret private WeChat groups and high-end clubs.

Those arrogant young masters who usually looked down on others and considered themselves "the chosen ones of heaven" felt a chill run down their spines when they looked at the man with piercing eyes in the video.

"He even dares to trample on the eldest son of the Zhao family. This guy really doesn't take the rules of Yancheng seriously."

"Rules? They hold the power of life and death over projects worth hundreds of billions."

"I heard that with his skills, he took down eight of the Zhao family's top bodyguards in three seconds. He's not an official, he's practically a human weapon."

Awe. An unprecedented awe.

In the eyes of these spoiled brats who are used to using their family background and connections to intimidate others, Liu Ming, an "outlier" who is unyielding and possesses absolute violence and top-level power, is the nightmare they least want to face.

From this day forward.

The name "Liu Ming" has become an absolute taboo in the circle of young men in Yancheng.

No one dared to loiter in front of the High-Tech Industry Department building anymore. No one dared to joke about that "young director" at drinking parties anymore.

Even in the most upscale nightclubs, the moment someone mentions the name of the National Development and Reform Commission, these arrogant second-generation rich kids will subconsciously lower their voices and look around.

Because they knew. That man was truly capable of killing.

……

The morning sunlight shone on the National Development and Reform Commission building, giving this solemn building a golden glow.

Liu Ming sat at the large desk, holding the iconic enamel mug in her hand.

On the table were several newly approved documents regarding the allocation of funds for domestic carbon-based chip research and development.

Without Zhao Ruihu's covert interference, and without the red tape and bureaucratic buck-passing, Liu Ming's will was fully implemented in the High-Tech Division.

Those academicians who are truly engaged in scientific research no longer have to fawn over bureaucrats for a few million dollars in funding.

"Director, Deputy Director Zhao took sick leave today. He said he suffered a sudden heart attack and was hospitalized." Chen Mo walked in, his tone carrying an undisguised sense of satisfaction.

"Are you sick?"

Liu Ming took a sip of tea, a cold smile curving her lips.

"This disease came at just the right time."

He stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window. Outside the window was a bustling street, where our hearts beat their strongest.

The Zhao family's retreat was within his expectations. But this was only the beginning.

In that lavish feast of illicit gains back then, the Zhao family was merely one of the fattest hyenas. The comprador capitalist group that was truly hiding behind the scenes and orchestrating everything would never obediently surrender just because of his warning.

They are surely brewing an even more deadly counterattack in the shadows, one that could strike with deadly force.

"Let the storm rage on!"

Liu Ming gazed at the traffic outside the window, her eyes deep and unfathomable.

"It's time for the sky over Yancheng to be thoroughly cleaned up."