Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

The winter snow of 1978 gradually melted, and the spring breeze of 1979, carrying a warmth sufficient to melt the ice of the entire land, blew into Beijing in a mighty torrent.

This is a year destined to leave a strong mark on history.

With the successful convening of the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee, the nation's focus shifted dramatically and irreversibly to economic development. The long-closed gates of the country finally began to slowly open a crack along the southern coast.

As spring thunder rumbles, all things begin to grow.

Inside the Minister's spacious and solemn office at the Ministry of Heavy Industry.

Sunlight streamed through the clear glass windows, illuminating the enormous national administrative map that occupied an entire wall.

Lin Yang was wearing a neat white shirt with the cuffs slightly rolled up. He stood quietly in front of the map for a full hour, his hands behind his back.

His gaze traveled from the heavy industrial corridor of the north, down into the heart of the Central Plains, and finally settled on the southeastern coastal region, a territory about to undergo earth-shattering changes.

The overall situation is settled, and the central command is stable.

Over the years, he has issued orders from this office, using an iron fist to protect the nation's industrial base and preserve countless scientific research projects amidst storms. Today, the Ministry of Heavy Industry has become the most core and powerful engine driving this massive national machine.

But Lin Yang knew very well that the real contest had only just begun.

No matter how smoothly government orders are implemented in Beijing, they are ultimately just empty words if they are not put into practice at the local level. As economic development unfolds across the country, local powers, established interest groups, and rigid bureaucratic systems in various provinces and cities will inevitably become huge stumbling blocks to the nation's rapid development.

He needs to unleash the sharpest blades at his disposal across the entire nation.

We must sever those deeply entrenched local interest networks and establish a truly new industrial and economic order.

"Knock knock".

There was a gentle knock on the office door, a steady and familiar sound.

"Come in." Lin Yang didn't turn around; his voice was deep and resonant.

The door was pushed open.

Zhao Lichun, Pei Yihong, Chen Feng.

These three powerful figures, whose mere presence in the Ministry of Heavy Industry could make the factories and mines below tremble with a stomp of their feet, filed in one after another.

Zhao Lichun was dressed in a well-tailored dark blue Zhongshan suit, his leather shoes were spotless, and his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses revealed the unique depth and shrewdness of a politician.

Pei Yihong was still dressed as a decisive and efficient industrial warrior. His gray jacket even had a faint smell of machine oil on it, which was proof that he had just returned from inspecting the Shougang site.

Chen Feng, dressed in a crisp black casual suit, stood tall and straight, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, always maintaining the absolute vigilance of a guard.

The three entered the office and stood neatly behind Lin Yang, none of them speaking first.

An unusual sense of solemnity permeated the air.

Having followed Lin Yang for many years, they knew this iron-fisted minister's temperament all too well. Today's method of summoning him—without having his secretary pour tea or sit at the conference table—signified a major strategic deployment.

Lin Yang slowly turned around, his deep gaze sweeping over the faces of his three right-hand men one by one.

A stubborn soul unearthed from the coal yards of the southern suburbs, a political genius forged in the cowsheds of the basement, a loyal guardian fought for amidst gunfire.

"How many years have you been following me?" Lin Yang walked to his desk, picked up a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes, and took out a cigarette.

Chen Feng immediately stepped forward, took out a match, struck it with a "snap," and used both hands to protect the weak flame as he lit Lin Yang's cigarette.

"Reporting to the Minister, I've been with you the longest. I've been your secretary in the General Office since you first took over the Ministry of Heavy Industry, which is almost fifteen years," Chen Feng replied respectfully, taking a half-step back.

Zhao Lichun pushed up his glasses and lowered his head slightly: "I've been working for the minister for thirteen years now. If the minister hadn't promoted me from the archives back then, I, Zhao Lichun, would probably still be an unknown copyist."

Pei Yihong straightened his back and said in a loud voice, "My life, Pei Yihong's life, was given to me by the minister three years ago at the coal mine in the southern suburbs of Fengtian. Three years and four months!"

Lin Yang took a deep drag on his cigarette, the bluish-gray smoke rising slowly in the sunlight.

"Fifteen years, thirteen years, three years." Lin Yang flicked his cigarette ash, his tone revealing a calm composure born of experience. "Over the years, in Beijing and in the Northeast, you've shielded me from open and hidden attacks, investigated messy accounts for the country, killed people, and shed blood. Your contributions are recorded in the ministry's files, and I, Lin Yang, remember them in my heart."

Upon hearing this, all three felt a sudden jolt in their hearts, and an indescribable premonition surged within their chests.

Lin Yang walked behind the large mahogany desk, but instead of sitting down, he took out three heavy, top-secret kraft paper file folders from the drawer.

Snapped.

Three file folders were placed heavily on the table.

"But fledglings must leave the nest, and tigers must return to the mountains." Lin Yang placed his hands on the table, and his aura of authority, like a collapsing mountain, instantly enveloped the entire office.

"The situation in Beijing is now largely settled. The Ministry of Heavy Industry has been established, and various rules and regulations have been perfected. The three of you are all capable leaders who can stand on their own. It would be a waste of your abilities and a waste of national resources for you to continue to stay by my side as directors or managers."

Lin Yang's gaze was like two cold lightning bolts, piercing straight into Zhao Lichun's eyes.

"Beginning of Spring, step forward."

Zhao Lichun took a deep breath, suppressing his wildly beating heart, and strode to his desk.

Lin Yang picked up the leftmost file folder and handed it to Zhao Lichun.

"This is the appointment letter jointly issued by the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China." Lin Yang's voice was flat, yet it exploded in Zhao Lichun's ears like thunder. "Starting tomorrow, you will no longer be the Director of the General Office of the Ministry of Heavy Industry. Your new position is Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee of Handong Province, Executive Vice Governor of Handong Province, and concurrently Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of Jingzhou City!"

boom!

Zhao Lichun's mind went blank for a moment. No matter how deep his cunning was, he could not hide the ecstasy and shock that burst forth from his eyes.

Handong Province! It's one of the top five most populous and resource-rich provinces in the country! Jingzhou City is the political and economic heart of Handong!

To directly appoint him, a bureau-level cadre from a ministry, as a member of the provincial party committee and executive vice governor of Handong, is not only a promotion of two ranks, but also a direct placement on the throne of a "regional governor"! What a terrifying influx of political resources!

Zhao Lichun took the file folder with trembling hands, his voice hoarse: "Minister... this... this burden is too heavy, I'm afraid..."

"Fear? Is that word even in your dictionary, Zhao Lichun?" Lin Yang sneered, interrupting him.

Lin Yang walked around the desk and stood in front of Zhao Lichun, lowering his voice and giving a chilling warning.

"Handong is a good place, with coal, steel, and vast plains. But it's also a bottomless cesspool. Local clan forces and old local aristocrats are deeply entrenched. I'm sending you there so that you, this blood-stained poisoned blade, can completely tear open Handong's bureaucratic system!"

Lin Yang reached out and patted Zhao Lichun's shoulder heavily. This seemingly casual pat made Zhao Lichun's knees buckle slightly.

"Lichun, I know you're incredibly intelligent, and I know your thirst for power is greater than anyone else's. I've set up a stage for you in Handong; you can use your cunning to cultivate your own faction. But listen carefully!"