In name only: The land of Handong, I shall rule its fate.

Lin Zhiyuan had Zhou Han arrange a meeting early in the morning with Li Dakang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Handong Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee.

"Secretary Dakang, please have a seat."

Lin Zhiyuan smiled warmly, "I've called you here today to discuss something."

"Governor Lin, please speak."

Li Dakang sat upright, looking alert.

He was a little unsure of Lin Zhiyuan's intentions. Moreover, compared to himself, who had been a member of the Standing Committee for less than four years, Lin Zhiyuan had already become the executive vice governor of the neighboring Donghai Province eight years ago.

"Jingzhou is the provincial capital of Handong."

Lin Zhiyuan got straight to the point, "I plan to establish Jingzhou as the true economic powerhouse of Handong."

Li Dakang's eyes suddenly lit up.

Jingzhou was his territory, his stage for showcasing his political achievements. If Lin Zhiyuan really intended to vigorously develop Jingzhou, it would undoubtedly be fantastic news for him.

With Lin Zhiyuan's arrival, the governorship of Handong is out of the question, but a transfer to another province is still an option!

Even the forced smile on his deathly face seemed more genuine.

"Governor Lin, Jingzhou has a very good foundation, like the Guangming Peak project in Guangming District, but the budget..."

"You need to get an additional budget approved, right?"

Lin Zhiyuan smiled and replied, "Secretary Dakang, the budget isn't a problem. But what I need isn't your current Bright Peak project."

"So what you want is..."

Li Dakang's heart sank again. Was this new guy trying to steal his thunder?

"Secretary Dakang, before answering your question, I'd like to ask you one first."

Lin Zhiyuan stood up straight, meeting those terrifying, dead-fish eyes in unwavering gaze. "You, this renowned pioneer of economic reform in Handong, do you really know how to run an economy?"

Li Dakang's face darkened instantly, and he slammed his fist on the table. "Governor Zhiyuan, did you call me here just to humiliate me?"

"When I, Li Dakang, was in Lincheng, Lincheng's GDP jumped from the bottom of the province to the second highest. After I came to Jingzhou, Jingzhou's GDP ranked first in the province for three whole years."

"The issue of food and employment for the 6.8 million people of Jingzhou rests on my shoulders."

"I'd like to ask you a question, Governor Zhiyuan: If I, Li Dakang, can't manage the economy, then who in the entire Handong province can?"

When it comes to his area of ​​expertise, which forms the basis of his livelihood, Li Dakang goes all out and doesn't hold back at all.

"and then?"

Lin Zhiyuan's three casual words struck Li Dakang's heart like a heavy hammer.

Bloodshot veins appeared in Li Dakang's eyes.

"Secretary Dakang, there are reasons for what happened in Jinshan County, so I won't go into details for now."

"Lincheng's transformation from wasteland to new life, the renovation of mining pits, and the introduction of electronic information, green agriculture, and fintech parks are indeed impressive. However, a corrupt deputy mayor has brought Lincheng's economy back to its original state. Isn't this kind of economic reform just a false prosperity?"

"And then there's Jingzhou today..."

Lin Zhiyuan tossed a file folder over, "Jingzhou has a long history and is the capital of Handong Province. Would anyone else have done a bad job if they had taken over? But now, not only is Luzhou eyeing us and about to overtake us, but Jingzhou is also likely to become the next Lin City."

"This…"

The moment Li Dakang opened the file bag and saw the report inside, his pupils contracted sharply.

Each report and photograph is evidence of Ding Yizhen, the chief commander of the Guangmingfeng project, extorting money, accepting bribes by abusing his position, and his overseas accounts. At the end, there are several different passports, all belonging to Ding Yizhen.

Clearly, the other party was prepared to pack up and run away at any time.

"Ding Yizhen!"

Li Dakang practically spat out those three words through gritted teeth, his anger blazing: "How dare he? How dare he!"

With the Lincheng incident as an example, if another one happens in Jingzhou, his political future is essentially over.

But if we take down Ding Yizhen now, who in Guangming District can deal with those annoying investors? Sun Liancheng, the one who goes home to stargaze after get off work?

Not to mention Guangming District, there isn't another suitable one in the entire Jingzhou. They don't have Ding Yizhen's ability to navigate social situations skillfully.

"It seems Secretary Dakang still hasn't understood what I really meant?"

Lin Zhiyuan said disappointedly.

"Governor Zhiyuan..."

Li Dakang's lips trembled. To be honest, he was jealous of Lin Zhiyuan, hating that Lin Zhiyuan had taken his position as governor. However, he also acknowledged Lin Zhiyuan's resume and qualifications.

This is a mutual appreciation between pioneers in the economy.

"True economic prosperity lies in a healthy and complete industrial structure, and true prosperity will not collapse because of the absence of one person."

Lin Zhiyuan rested one hand on the table, leaned forward, and while his face still held a refined smile, it revealed a wolf-like aggression.

"I have seen your three-pronged approach to reform in Jingzhou: real estate, finance, and industry."

Lin Zhiyuan bluntly stated, "But all three have problems."

"I know that Governor Zhiyuan is a well-known economic planner in the East China Sea and the Han River region, and he also works at the National Development and Reform Commission. Please give me your guidance, Governor Zhiyuan."

Li Dakang gritted his teeth.

This is almost a complete denial of his work, but now he can only grit his teeth and humbly ask for advice.

"The proportion of real estate agents is too high. In other provinces, the proportion of real estate agents is 6-12%, but in Handong it is as high as 18%, and in Jingzhou it is even higher."

"Even in Shanghai and Beijing, where land is incredibly valuable, this is outrageous."

"This seemingly prosperous real estate market is built on a constant cycle of demolition and reconstruction. If it stops one day, the economy of the entire city and even the entire province will naturally collapse."

Lin Zhiyuan's words were all precious.

"Secretary Kekang, have you ever wondered why so many people are willing to come to Jingzhou and Handong to develop their careers?"

"Because this place offers development opportunities they don't have in their hometowns, but does Jingzhou really have enough foundation to accommodate so many people's development?"

"Real estate is the cornerstone of a city's development, but it is only a cornerstone. If it doesn't bear enough fruit, then no birds will come to pick the fruit."

"And the financial problems stemming from real estate, I won't go into that now."

Lin Zhiyuan sipped his tea to moisten his throat, tapped the table, and steered the conversation back to the Guangming Peak project, "So, can the Guangming Peak project, with an investment of 28 billion, really support the future development of Jingzhou?"

Li Dakang's face was completely drained of color, and his lips were pale.

"What's the point of a CBD?"

Lin Zhiyuan dipped his finger in the tea. "What I want to create is a ring-shaped industrial park economic belt. Centered on Guangming High-tech Zone, it will radiate to surrounding districts and counties, forming an industrial cluster."

Lin Zhiyuan's eyes were piercing: "Secretary Dakang, industry is the foundation of a strong nation. Only in this way can we firmly lock the population in Jingzhou and establish Jingzhou's unbreakable economic barrier."

Li Dakang's heart was racing.

He certainly understood what Lin Zhiyuan meant.

"Governor Lin, what do you need me to do?"

Li Dakang's breathing was heavy, and his voice carried a hint of flattery and ingratiation.

As long as there are political achievements, it doesn't matter who you work for.

Lin Zhiyuan smiled.

He knew that Li Dakang had taken the bait.

"I can increase the budget for the Guangming Peak project through the provincial government."

Lin Zhiyuan's voice suddenly turned serious, "But Secretary Dakang, I need to ensure first that this project is healthy, that it's fertile soil capable of bearing abundant fruit, not barren sand."

"Governor Lin, Ding Yizhen is a..."

Li Dakang subtly changed his form of address, adopting a respectful expression, "I confess to you and to the organization that I know this person has some problems, but he is the only person in Jingzhou who can handle this matter well."

"My original intention was to wait until Guangmingfeng was released from prison, then promote him in name only, secretly take him down, and prevent the impact from spreading."

"So I've been holding him back and haven't let him become a member of the municipal party committee standing committee."

As is customary, Guangming District consistently ranks first in GDP, and it's impossible for a district party secretary who also serves as the vice mayor not to be included in the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Li Dakang knew he couldn't cover this up any longer.

After all, Ding Yizhen was constantly using the guise of "the incarnation of Secretary Dakang," and with the evidence in Lin Zhiyuan's hands, it was enough to kill the Guangming Peak project before it even got off the ground.

"understand."

Lin Zhiyuan nodded slightly. "Secretary Dakang, I understand your actions and I won't comment on them, but you must keep an eye on the person. The embezzled funds transferred overseas can be recovered slowly, but the person cannot escape."

"His power must also be locked up."

"Lock it?"

Li Dakang's expression changed again.

"Yes, lock it."

"Increase the authority of Deputy Commander-in-Chief Sun Liancheng so that he can check and balance Ding Yizhen. The current Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Jingzhou, Zhang Shuli, is too weak and must be replaced. Keep a close eye on Ding Yizhen's every move."

Lin Zhiyuan then tossed out another file folder, which contained evidence and a list of bribes that Zhang Shuli had secretly accepted under the guise of an investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Li Dakang gasped.

This Lin Zhiyuan is even more ruthless than he imagined.

Moreover, replacing him with a hardliner as the secretary of the Jingzhou Discipline Inspection Commission would also serve as a check on him.

After all, he himself was the most lawless person in Jingzhou.

But now…

Lin Zhiyuan had his Achilles' heel, and the reason was so perfectly legitimate that he couldn't refuse.

"As for the others, we'll take a look at them in person."

Lin Zhiyuan stood up. "Secretary Dakang should be free today, right?"