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

three days later.

West of the street, Sanlihe Road.

Red silk fluttered down in front of a solemn and massive Soviet-style office building.

A brand-new brass plaque, gleaming majestically in the sunlight, was officially hung on the right side of the main gate—"National Commission for Modernization and Development".

There was no noisy commotion, only a powerful force, deep and still, capable of changing the fate of the entire nation, quietly gathering.

Lin Yang, wearing a black trench coat, stood in front of the building.

Behind him stood his core team, who had been transferred with him from the Ministry of Heavy Industry. A young man in his early thirties, wearing black-rimmed glasses and with sharp, piercing eyes, stood respectfully beside him. This was Shen Yan, the newly promoted director of the committee's office and his personal political secretary.

Shen Yan is a top student who graduated from the Department of Economics at Peking University. He has a photographic memory and an extremely keen sense of macroeconomics. He is the "strongest assistant" that Lin Yang carefully selected.

"Chairman, the handover of business operations in all departments has been completed. More than 500 core business personnel transferred from the former Planning Commission and Economic Commission have all taken their positions in their respective departments." Shen Yan reported in a low voice, his tone revealing barely concealed excitement.

"Go in. Today is the first day we power up this new machine," Lin Yang said calmly, taking long strides as he entered this powerful and influential super-organization.

President's Office.

This office was twice the size of the former Ministry of Heavy Industry's office. There were no extravagant decorations, only rows of bookshelves, mountains of economic reports, and a red dedicated telephone line symbolizing the highest authority.

Lin Yang had just sat down behind the large desk when Shen Yan walked in carrying a stack of urgent documents that was at least half a meter high.

"Chairman, these are all major reform and construction projects that have been shelved for the past six months due to unclear inter-ministerial authority." Shen Yan placed the documents on the table. "The comrades in the local areas are going crazy, all waiting for our committee to give the final approval."

Without wasting any words, Lin Yang picked up the top document.

That was a comprehensive project proposal for building the largest coal chemical industry base in China in Handong Province.

The report's annotation column was filled with various conflicting opinions: the Ministry of Agriculture disagreed with requisitioning coastal farmland; the Ministry of Railways stated that it could not lay a dedicated coal transport line on its own; and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange blocked funding for the import of core centrifuges from Germany.

This project sat gathering dust in the drawers of various ministries for a full six months.

The initiator of this project was Zhao Lichun, who had just been parachuted into Handong Province as the executive vice governor and secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee.

Lin Yang glanced at the conflicting annotations, a cold glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. He immediately picked up the red phone on the table and dialed the confidential hotline of the Handong Provincial Committee.

The call was answered quickly.

"I am Lin Yang."

On the other end of the phone, Zhao Lichun's voice instantly transformed from that of a dignified provincial leader to one of absolute respect and ecstatic joy: "Chairman! You've finally taken office! The entire province of Handong has been eagerly awaiting this powerful appointment from you!"

After arriving in Handong, Zhao Lichun deeply understood the complex web of local interests. Despite his shrewd political maneuvering, he still felt constrained at every turn when it came to mobilizing resources across ministries. The coal chemical plant, which he had planned to ignite in Handong, was abruptly halted.

"Spring Begins, enough with the nonsense." Lin Yang's voice was crisp and clear, without any hesitation.

"Regarding the approval of the Handong Coal Chemical Base project, from now on, you won't need to beg and plead with any ministries anymore."

Lin Yang picked up the Parker fountain pen that had been with him for many years and removed the cap.

"On behalf of the committee, I hereby formally approve this project as a key national-level support project! The foreign exchange quota will be fully allocated to you directly from the committee's special reform reserve! For land acquisition approval, the committee will issue a special exemption order, and the local land bureau will unconditionally approve it!"

Lin Yang tapped his fingers twice on the mahogany table, the sound like a hammer striking Zhao Lichun's heart.

"As for the Ministry of Railways, I will personally call their minister."

"You have one month to submit the design drawings for the coal transport line to your desk! Anyone who dares to shirk or delay will be reported directly to the State Council for dismissal!"

On the other end of the phone, Zhao Lichun was so excited that his whole body was trembling violently.

He knew all too well the weight of this approval!

This is not just about solving a multi-billion dollar project; it's also about the China Modern Reform and Development Commission announcing to the whole of China that an economic behemoth with absolute overall control, capable of wielding absolute power, has been officially born!

"Chairman! With your word, even if I, Zhao Lichun, have to peel off a layer of skin from Handong, I will definitely make this coal chemical base produce its first wisp of smoke within a year!" Zhao Lichun made a resounding pledge over the phone.

After hanging up the phone with Handong, Lin Yang's gaze fell on the second document.

This is a top-secret letter requesting assistance submitted by Pei Yihong, the vice governor of Hanjiang Province.

In order to eliminate outdated production capacity, a long-established steel company in Hanjiang Province is preparing to lay off 30,000 redundant workers and administrative staff in one go.

However, local banks, under pressure to maintain social stability, refused to approve the buyout and resettlement payments for these 30,000 people.

Pei Yihong was so anxious on the Han River that his eyes turned red. He was almost surrounded in the office building several times by the backward elements he had incited.

Lin Yang picked up the red phone again without hesitation.

"Receiving instructions from Hanjiang Province, Pei Yihong."

A few seconds later, Pei Yihong's slightly tired but still stubborn voice came through.

"Yihong, this is Lin Yang. Go ahead and do it, even if it means selling everything you own." Lin Yang's tone was resolute, as if he had nothing to lose. "The resettlement funds for 30,000 people will be transferred directly from the special account of the National Modern Reform and Development Commission to the special account of the Hanjiang Provincial Department of Industry before 10:00 AM tomorrow, bypassing the interception by local banks!"

"Tell those diehards that times have changed! Anyone who dares to cling to their secure job and obstruct the rolling wheels of reform will have their head chopped off by the committee's guillotine!"

Upon hearing Lin Yang's reassuring command from Hanjiang Province, Pei Yihong slammed his fist on the desk, his eyes blazing with renewed fighting spirit: "Don't worry, Chairman! With your supplies and resources, I'll blow up those dilapidated blast furnaces tomorrow!"

All afternoon, Lin Yang sat behind that large desk, like a tireless, sophisticated supercomputer.

Under his command, the newly established and massive committee unleashed a terrifying efficiency.