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

Zhao Lichun could no longer hold onto the expensive purple clay teacup in his hand.

With a sharp "crash," the teacup fell onto the thick Persian carpet, splashing scalding tea onto his suit trousers, but he was completely unaware.

Doorway.

Lin Yang was wearing an ordinary blue work jacket and holding a cap with a little coal dust on it.

He did not bring any attendants; Shen Yan and He Yuzhu were left outside in the corridor.

Lin Yang closed the office door behind him.

Those unfathomable eyes, like a bottomless abyss, pierced through the spacious office and silently locked onto Zhao Lichun's face, which had instantly turned ashen white.

Lin Yang remained silent.

He didn't even show any anger.

He walked towards Zhao Lichun step by step with an extremely steady pace.

In the eerily silent office, the faint sound of Lin Yang's leather shoes on the carpet, though barely audible, sounded to Zhao Lichun like the most terrifying death knell in the world.

"President... President..."

Zhao Lichun's voice trembled violently. His legs went weak, and he instinctively wanted to back away, but the desk behind him blocked his way.

The terrifying pressure that had dominated him countless times in the Ministry of Heavy Industry building and in the cowshed in the basement, transcended the distance of time and space, and once again completely enveloped him like Mount Tai pressing down.

Lin Yang walked to the desk and stopped.

He reached out and gently wiped the large mahogany table surface, as if checking for dust.

"This table is even more spacious than my desk at the National Development and Reform Commission." Lin Yang's voice was very soft, without a trace of affability.

"President...you...you came to Handong...why didn't you let me know in advance so I could pick you up..." Zhao Lichun tried desperately to force a smile, but the muscles on his face were terribly stiff, looking even worse than if he were crying.

"To notify you?"

Lin Yang slowly raised his head, and his calm gaze revealed a chilling aura capable of tearing the soul apart.

"Are you notifying me so you can hide your gang of thugs who run rampant in the countryside? Are you notifying me so you can shut up the mouths of the people whose ancestral graves you forcibly demolished and whose legs you broke?"

boom!

It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in Zhao Lichun's mind.

He knew that Lin Yang had already seen it. Not only had he seen it, but he had also seen the dirtiest side of Handong when he was completely unprepared.

"President! Please let me explain!" Zhao Lichun knelt down on the expensive Persian carpet again without hesitation.

This "Chief Steward Zhao," who commanded immense respect in Handong, was now like a condemned prisoner awaiting sentencing, desperately kowtowing on the ground.

"That's for the sake of the project's progress! The Southern Special District is pressing for funding every day! If I don't take decisive action, those troublemakers demanding demolition compensation alone could drag the project out for a year or two! I'm paving the way for your overall goals!"

Zhao Lichun argued desperately, trying to use his outstanding academic record to appease Lin Yang's anger.

"I didn't embezzle! Everything in this office was bought with my own legal allowance! I didn't cross any lines!"

"Bottom line?"

Lin Yang sneered.

He didn't tell Zhao Lichun to get up. He walked around the desk and went behind Zhao Lichun.

Lin Yang slowly leaned down and whispered in Zhao Lichun's ear.

"Do you think that just because you're not greedy for money and don't pocket gold bars, you've upheld your principles?"

Lin Yang's voice was deep and filled with a chilling sense of oppression.

"Spring Begins, you are both too smart and too stupid."

"You abused public power for private gain, using the state's instruments of violence to pave the way for your personal political achievements. You turned the officialdom of Handong Province into your Zhao family's private army. You allowed your vicious henchmen to tear apart unarmed civilians."

Lin Yang slowly straightened up, a hint of extreme coldness flashing in his eyes.

"You think you're paving the way for the greater good? You're digging up the very foundation of this country!"

Lin Yang turned around and looked down at Zhao Lichun, who was kneeling on the ground trembling.

"I, Lin Yang, will not keep a dull knife stained with the blood of ordinary people."

Zhao Lichun suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with terror and despair: "Chairman! You can't abandon me! Only I can handle this mess in Handong! I built those six pithead power stations myself! Anyone else would have been completely unable to manage this system!"

He was making a last-ditch effort, trying to blackmail Lin Yang with his irreplaceable value.

However, he knew too little about Lin Yang.

Lin Yang pulled out a transfer order from his pocket, which he had prepared beforehand and was stamped with the highest-level red seal of the Modern Reform and Development Committee.

He tossed the transfer order in front of Zhao Lichun as if it were trash.

"I saw it clearly." Lin Yang's voice showed no pity whatsoever.

With trembling hands, Zhao Lichun picked up the transfer order. When he saw the handwriting clearly, he was struck dumb, collapsing to the ground as if struck by lightning.

The transfer order was extremely simple:

"In view of Comrade Zhao Lichun, the Executive Deputy Director of the Handong District, for his outstanding contributions to the 'North-to-South Power Transmission' project, the Economic Commission and the Central Committee have jointly decided to transfer Comrade Zhao Lichun to Beijing, effective immediately."

Appointed as Deputy Director-General (retaining ministerial-level rank) to the National Local History Compilation Committee. Must complete the handover within three days and report to Beijing.

Deputy Chief Researcher! Local History Compilation Committee!

This isn't a lateral transfer; it's clearly a direct stripping of him of all real power.

They exiled him to the most remote and insignificant government office in Beijing to retire and wait for death!

From a powerful regional official wielding life and death authority in Handong, he was reduced overnight to a sinecure old man confined to old papers and historical records! This dramatic fall from grace was more painful and despairing than being killed outright!

"No...no! President! You can't do this to me!" Zhao Lichun lunged forward like a madwoman, trying to grab Lin Yang's leg.

boom!

Lin Yang kicked him away. The force wasn't great, but the resolute attitude completely shattered Zhao Lichun's hopes.

"You should be thankful I checked your accounts; you haven't embezzled a single penny of the country's money. Otherwise, what you'd receive today wouldn't be a transfer order, but an arrest warrant from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection!"

Lin Yang looked down at him, his eyes as cold as iron.

"Handong's system can function just as well without you. I will transfer someone who truly understands the law and economics to take over. As for those vicious dogs you've been keeping, Shen Yan and He Yuzhu will name them one by one, and none of them will escape."

Lin Yang turned around and strode towards the mahogany door of the office.