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

The convoy slowly drove away from the county town in the morning mist.

As the jeep drove onto the highway leading to Ningzhou, the sun was just rising on the horizon. A thousand rays of golden light pierced through the clouds, painting the entire sky a magnificent gold.

The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat somber.

Lei Tie drove the car, his eyes red-rimmed, without saying a word.

Liu Ming sat in the passenger seat, watching the scenery rushing past the window, and fell silent.

Parting is always sad.

Even though he was a special forces king who had seen life and death many times.

Just then, Liu Ming's phone vibrated with a text message.

It came from an unfamiliar number.

[Xiao Liu, this is Lao Fan. There are some things I didn't have the heart to say yesterday in front of so many people. Now that you're gone, this old man still wants to take advantage of his seniority and chat with you for a bit.]

Liu Ming's lips curled up slightly. This old fox.

He opened the text message and continued reading.

[The waters of Qingyun County, though murky, are still shallow. You're skilled, powerful, and clever, which is why you've managed to wreak havoc here, even tearing a hole in the sky.]

However, things are different in the city.

Ningzhou is a true den of dragons and tigers. The people there are all ancient, cunning monsters. They don't play games of fighting and killing, nor do they see things in black and white.

They operate on rules, personal connections, open schemes, and the art of flattery to destroy.

There, fists alone won't get you anywhere.

If you assault a section chief, the next day you might find over a dozen reports accusing you of "abusing violence" on the provincial discipline inspection commission's desk.

[You've cut off a bureau chief's source of income; next month, a "working group" might be parachuted in to investigate your "lifestyle" issues.]

There, everyone wears a smile. But behind that smile might be a knife ready to stab you in the heart at any moment.

Your move to the Municipal Youth League Committee is clearly a demotion in disguise; someone wants to put you on the back foot, to wear down your rough edges, to turn this fierce tiger into an obedient cat.

So, Xiao Liu.

Once you arrive in the city, remember one word—**patience**.

Put away your fists, hide your sharpness.

Observe more, listen more, and learn more.

First, learn how to survive at that poker table. Then figure out how to flip the table.

"I'm just an old man with no great abilities; all I've managed in my life is to retire as a vice chairman. The only thing I can teach you is this little bit of 'survival' experience I've gleaned from witnessing the ups and downs of officialdom over the past few decades."

That's all I have to say. Take care of yourself.

By the way, the tea from the union is pretty good. If you'd like some, just give me a call and I'll send it to you by express delivery.

……

The long passage, devoid of any flowery language, is filled with the most simple and sincere wisdom and concerns of this "living fossil of officialdom."

Liu Ming stared at the text message for a long time without saying a word.

He knew that what Lao Fan said was true.

Ningzhou and Qingyun County are battlefields on completely different levels.

In Qingyun County, he can act decisively and resolve problems in the most direct and forceful way.

Because the "enemies" here are too low-level.

Their methods are nothing more than thugs, thugs, and cronies.

These things are utterly insignificant in the face of absolute power and background.

But it's different in the city.

Those who manage to secure a place in that pyramid of power are all formidable individuals.

What they're better at is using the "rules" to outmaneuver you.

It is an invisible net woven from human relationships, interests, and factions that traps you tightly, leaving you powerless, unable to reason, and ultimately suffocating you to death.

It seems I underestimated things before.

"What's wrong, Brother Liu?"

Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a while, Lei Tie couldn't help but ask a question.

"It's nothing."

Liu Ming put away her phone, her face regaining its calm and composed expression.

But a hint of unprecedented solemnity flashed in his deep eyes.

He heeded the old fox's advice.

Fists are certainly important.

But in that "arena" of Ningzhou, survival and victory are paramount.

More importantly, it's about... **political maneuvering**.

He silently saved that text message.

Then, he looked up at the massive steel forest in front of him, whose outline was already faintly visible in the morning light.

Ningzhou City.

He knew from the moment he stepped into that city.

A new battle, a hundred times more dangerous and exciting than the one in Qingyun County, is about to begin.

"Old Lei."

"Um?"

"Once we get to the city, take me to the Jiangnan Provincial Alumni Association of Tsinghua University."

"Alumni association?" Lei Tie was taken aback.

"Right." Liu Ming nodded. "When you go to the city to fight, you have to pay your respects first, find a few... senior brothers and sisters, and chat with them."

He smiled, a smile like that of a cunning fox about to dive into a fishpond.

He remembered Old Fan's advice.

The fist must be withdrawn.

But the knife needs to be sharpened to a brighter shine.