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

Lin Yang's eyes instantly turned incredibly cold, as if he could see through Zhao Lichun's soul trajectory for the next few decades.

"In Handong, you can play politics, but you must never cross the nation's industrial bottom line! You must never tolerate your subordinates devouring the people's blood and bones! The power in your hands is for promoting economic development, not for enriching your Zhao family!"

"If one day I find out that you've become a local tyrant in Handong, a corrupt parasite who only knows how to plunder..." Lin Yang slowly leaned close to Zhao Lichun's ear and said, word by word, "I was able to pull you out of the cowshed back then, and in the future, I can also personally send you to the execution ground. Do you understand?!"

Cold sweat poured down Zhao Lichun's forehead like a waterfall, instantly soaking the back of his crisp shirt.

He knew Lin Yang's methods all too well. In front of this man, any pretense or sophistry was futile.

"I understand! Lichun swears to the heavens that when I go to Handong, I will do my utmost and follow the minister's lead! I will never dare to take a single penny of the country's wealth!" Zhao Lichun suddenly stood up straight, bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, and his voice was filled with absolute awe and fear.

Lin Yang snorted coldly and turned his gaze to Pei Yihong.

"Yi Hong".

Pei Yihong strode forward, his face resolute.

Lin Yang picked up the middle file folder and handed it to him.

"Hanjiang Province. An old heavy industrial base, even more outdated than Northeast China, with severely aging equipment, redundant workers, and enterprises heavily indebted. It's a powder keg ready to explode at any moment." Lin Yang looked at this pure industrial warrior. "Your appointment is Vice Governor of Hanjiang Province, concurrently serving as Director of the Provincial Commission of Industry and Information Technology."

Pei Yihong accepted the appointment letter with both hands, his eyes not filled with joy at the promotion, but with a burning fighting spirit.

"Minister, I've studied the situation in Hanjiang. The major state-owned steel mills and machinery factories are bloated and overstaffed. To save them, we need major surgery," Pei Yihong said through gritted teeth, clutching the file folder tightly. "However, too many workers are involved, and the local government is afraid to make any moves, fearing it will trigger mass incidents."

"That's why I sent you!" Lin Yang's voice rose a few decibels, carrying an overwhelming momentum.

"I don't want you to be the nice guy! I want you to be the villain! If the heavy industry along the Han River doesn't undergo radical reforms, it will be completely eliminated sooner or later. Once you get there, smash all those outdated blast furnaces! Lay off all those redundant employees who are just drawing salaries without working! Introduce new equipment, implement a contract system, and implement performance evaluations!"

Lin Yang looked at Pei Yihong with absolute trust in his eyes.

"If anyone in the local area dares to obstruct you, use the official document from the Ministry of Heavy Industry to suppress them! If that doesn't work, call me directly, and I'll have the military region step in to protect you! Yi Hong, reform will inevitably involve bloodshed, and people will inevitably curse your ancestors for eighteen generations. Can you bear the blame for that?"

Pei Yihong suddenly straightened his chest, his eyes slightly red, but he laughed with unusual boldness.

"Minister, I, Pei Yihong, am not afraid of death, so why would I be afraid of being scolded? Rest assured, if the heavy industry along the Han River cannot be saved, I will jump into the Han River and feed the fish! I will absolutely not let you down!"

"Okay!" Lin Yang nodded heavily.

Finally, Lin Yang turned around and looked at Chen Feng, who had remained silent all along.

Chen Feng was the person who had been by Lin Yang's side the longest. From a greenhorn guard staff officer, he had risen all the way to a position equivalent to the chief steward of the Ministry of Heavy Industry. His loyalty to Lin Yang was etched into his very bones.

Lin Yang picked up the last file folder and walked up to Chen Feng.

He didn't hand it over immediately, but instead gave Chen Feng a deep look.

"Chen Feng, now that you're gone, I don't even have a caring person to make tea for me anymore." Lin Yang's tone was unusually warm.

Chen Feng's eyes instantly reddened. He lowered his head abruptly, his voice choked with emotion, "Commander... I don't want to leave. I want to stay by your side and stand guard for you for the rest of my life."

"Nonsense," Lin Yang said softly, shoving the file folder into Chen Feng's arms.

"The most important gateway to the country right now is in the south." Lin Yang walked to the map and pointed to the special economic zone on the coast of the South China Sea—City, and the neighboring East China Sea Province.

"You've been with me and seen far too many top-secret information. Your intuition and counter-surveillance skills are the best among these people. Your appointment is: Standing Committee Member of the Donghai Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and concurrently Director of the Provincial Public Security Department!"

Chen Feng abruptly raised his head, his face filled with shock. The Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the Director of the Public Security Bureau—this was a figure with absolute power, controlling the entire Donghai Province!

"Donghai Province is right next to the Special Economic Zone, and it is the forefront of our opening up to the outside world." Lin Yang's gaze became deep and sharp. "As the country opens its doors, foreign capital and technology will pour in, but at the same time, foreign spies, gangsters, and smugglers will also swarm in like flies. The waters there are even deeper than in Handong."

Lin Yang turned his head and stared intently at Chen Feng.

"I'm sending you to the East China Sea with two core missions. First, make the security and counter-espionage network in the East China Sea province an impenetrable fortress! Any hostile forces that dare to cause sabotage in our country will be crushed on the spot!"

"Secondly," Lin Yang lowered his voice and spoke in code only the two of them could understand, "Lou Xiao'e's 'Ocean Trading Group' in Hong Kong has begun to acquire large quantities of high-precision machine tools and special metallurgical equipment that are subject to Western embargoes. These devices will arrive at ports in Donghai Province and the Special Economic Zone through various clandestine channels."

"You must utilize the public security and coast guard forces under your control to provide absolute security cover for this 'Hong Kong special line.' No matter how the local customs inspects it, no matter what obstacles arise, this batch of equipment must be transported intact to the major military factories on the mainland! Understand?"

Chen Feng gripped the file folder tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white. He finally understood the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. This wasn't just about becoming the head of a provincial public security bureau; it was about becoming the highest-level gatekeeper of the technological lifeline for the new China's heavy industry!

"Don't worry, sir! As long as I'm here, the equipment will be there! The border defense line of Donghai Province is my lifeline, Chen Feng's lifeline!" Chen Feng stood at attention and gave a perfectly standard military salute.

Looking at his three beloved generals who were about to go to various places and become regional officials, Lin Yang took a deep breath and slowly suppressed the excitement in his heart.

"Alright. All official business is settled. Tonight, I've hosted a family banquet at Yuquan Mountain to see you three off." A smile finally appeared on Lin Yang's face. "Zhu Zi and his father will be cooking themselves, and Old Li will be coming too. Tonight, we won't leave until we're drunk."

Night falls, at Building No. 6, Jiazi, Yuquanshan.

This small Western-style building, which has witnessed countless historical choices, is brightly lit tonight, and the air is filled with an exquisite aroma that makes one's mouth water.