Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

After getting familiar with his assigned work at the provincial government and meeting with some officials from directly affiliated departments.

The following evening, Zhou Chuyi summoned Zhao Dehan, the only person in the Han Dong officialdom who could be considered entirely his own.

When Zhao Dehan came in, Zhou Chuyi, who was sitting on the sofa, turned around.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes were sharp as he looked at Zhao Dehan and said, "Sit down, Mayor Zhao."

Zhao Dehan sat down somewhat awkwardly, glanced at Zhou Chuyi, and then sat up straighter.

After what happened in the capital, Zhao Dehan knew that from now on, he was inextricably linked to Zhou Chuyi.

If he dares to have any disloyal thoughts, Zhou Chuyi and his superiors can make him work for the government at any time.

Therefore, after arriving in Handong, he was clear about his own role.

Zhou Chuyi sat down in the chair opposite him, and without exchanging pleasantries, went straight to the point.

"You have already reported to Guangming District, Jingzhou City. Before you officially start your work, there are some things I need to make clear to you."

Zhao Dehan nodded and took out his notebook from his bag.

Zhou Chuyi waved his hand: "No need to remember. Just keep what I said to you today in your mind, but don't write it down."

Zhao Dehan felt a chill and put the notebook back into his bag.

Having served under this leader in the ministry for so many years, he knew the leader's style well.

He may be easygoing in ordinary times, but when he gets serious, every word he says has a profound meaning.

He focused all his attention on looking into Zhou Chuyi's eyes.

"Your work environment in Jingzhou City and Guangming District will be very complicated."

Zhou Chuyi spoke slowly, as if he was thinking as he spoke.

"Li Dakang, the Party Secretary of Jingzhou City, you should know something about him; he's a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee."

"The head of the secretaries' clique, who has been deeply involved in the officialdom of Handong Province for many years."

"This person is very capable and has a strong personality. He is also known as the 'Handong Non-stick Pan.' If you work under him, you should be prepared."

Zhao Dehan nodded. He had done some research before coming to Handong and had some understanding of the main leaders and cadres of Handong Province.

Li Dakang is indeed, as outsiders say, a leading cadre with great political ambition and personal will.

He is decisive and uncompromising in his work, has extremely high expectations of his subordinates, and is very unkind to them.

Moreover, while his subordinates kept getting into trouble, whether in Lincheng or Jingzhou, he remained completely unscathed and continued to rise through the ranks.

The nickname "Handong Non-stick Pan" is truly fitting.

"The situation in the Bright District you're going to is even more special."

Zhou Chuyi stood up, walked behind his desk, took out a folder from the drawer, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Zhao Dehan.

"These are the GDP and fiscal revenue data for Guangming District for the past three years. Take a look at them first."

Zhao Dehan took it and examined it carefully. Guangming District is a strong economic district in Jingzhou City.

For five consecutive years, it has ranked first in the city in terms of GDP, and the second place is far behind Guangming District.

The fiscal revenue data also looks good, with annual growth.

However, the problem lies in the excessively high proportion of revenue from land sales.

For the past three years, land transfer fees have accounted for more than 70% of fiscal revenue, which is clearly unsustainable.

"Have you noticed the problem?" Zhou Chuyi asked.

"We rely too heavily on land revenue," Zhao Dehan said.

"Not just this." Zhou Chuyi sat down again opposite him.

"Ding Yizhen served as the Party Secretary of Guangming District for four years, during which time he sold off almost all the land in Guangming District."

"Land prices have skyrocketed from two million to six million per mu, but look at how much cash is left in Guangming District's fiscal accounts. Is this reasonable?"

Zhao Dehan reviewed the data again.

A district whose GDP consistently ranks first in the city, with annual fiscal revenue of several billion yuan.

Land transfer fees often reach tens of billions of yuan, but the Guangming District's fiscal accounts have almost no surplus funds, which is indeed very abnormal.

He thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "You mean, Ding Yizhen took the money?"

Speaking of Ding Yizhen, Zhao Dehan's face flushed slightly.

Ding Yizhen even gave him over ten million, but he never expected to have to come and fill the hole left by him.

This is the law of cause and effect.

Zhou Chuyi glanced at Zhao Dehan and roughly knew what he was thinking.

"Your situation is settled. Just behave yourself from now on and don't overthink it."

Zhao Dehan nodded quickly.

"Let's continue talking about Guangming District. Ding Yizhen is just the secretary of the district. Above him is Li Dakang."

Zhou Chuyi's tone was calm, but his words carried great weight.

"Ding Yizhen was promoted by Li Dakang. Whether Li Dakang knew what Ding Yizhen was doing in Jingzhou City or not, nobody knows."

"The entire Handong district operates on a secondary fiscal system; all the money in their district is handed over to the city."

"Ding Yizhen's corruption is certain. Li Dakang may or may not have known about it, but he probably didn't care."

"But Li Dakang definitely knows where the money from the Guangming District's finances went."

"Ding Yizhen dared not and could not possibly pocket the money that went into the treasury."

"Now you need to go to Guangming District, but the district has no money. The Guangming Peak project is currently stalled due to Ding Yizhen's escape."

"If you want to get things done, the first thing you need to figure out is where the money went."

"You need money to get things done."

Zhou Chuyi nodded slightly, his fingertips lightly tapping the table.

The complex situation in the entire Bright District was slowly revealed, each word clear and each sentence hitting the nail on the head.

"Also, you need to adjust your mindset."

"You are taking over Ding Yizhen's position as the Party Secretary of Guangming District."

"This position was originally something that Sun Liancheng, the head of Guangming District, had longed for and hoped for for many years."

When mentioning Sun Liancheng, Zhou Chuyi's tone was completely unbiased, but rather carried a sense of objective certainty.

"Many people outside the government, including those in Jingzhou, felt that Sun Liancheng was lazy, inactive, and indifferent to governance."

"I feel that despite holding the position of district head, he has no ambition and only knows how to shirk responsibility and deal with his work perfunctorily."

"But let me tell you, Sun Liancheng is a rare example in the entire Guangming District, and even in Jingzhou City, of a pragmatic cadre who is incorruptible, clean in his work, and dedicated to his duties."

These words completely overturned Zhao Dehan's preconceived notions, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He had no idea where Zhou Chuyi got the information to know about the situation in Guangming District.

Even the district head, Sun Liancheng, was so certain of what kind of person he was, but he didn't dare to think too much about it and quietly listened to the follow-up arrangements.

Zhou Chuyi continued to explain the situation of Sun Liancheng and Guangming District in a clear and organized manner.

"Sun Liancheng has earned his current reputation because he is criticized for being lazy and ineffective in his governance."

"The root cause has never been himself, but rather two people and a distorted power system—Li Dakang and Ding Yizhen."

"Li Dakang, the Party Secretary of Jingzhou City, is known for his domineering and autocratic style, and is a notorious one-man show."

"They only care about GDP and have no interest in political achievements or data. In order to boost the economy and create a model city, they are willing to overdraw the future of the local area and exploit grassroots cadres."

"And Ding Yizhen, the embodiment of Li Dakang, gained Li Dakang's deep trust because of his outstanding ability to attract investment."

"For many years, Ding Yizhen relied on Li Dakang's absolute authority."

"He held absolute power in Guangming District, controlling all core authority over project approvals, land transfers, and fiscal allocations."

"Sun Liancheng, as the district head, was nominally the second-in-command, but in reality, he was completely sidelined."

"They have no right to interfere in personnel matters, finances, or projects; they can only passively execute orders, clean up the mess, and assume responsibility."

"Ding Yizhen enjoyed immense prestige and amassed a fortune, with all the credit attributed to him."

"If any problems arise or something goes wrong, all the responsibility and blame will be placed on Sun Liancheng."

"Now Ding Yizhen has fled overseas in a panic and has completely run away."

"Leaving behind the unfinished Guangming Peak project, depleted land resources, empty financial records, and a host of unresolved conflicts and hidden dangers."

"Li Dakang is always good at shifting blame and only cares about the results, not the process."

"The heavy responsibility of being the chief commander of the Guangming Peak project was forcibly placed on Sun Liancheng immediately."