Nominal: Starting with an entrance exam for a PhD in Economics at Peking University

Li Dakang's trip to Beijing was for the same reason as Gao Yuliang's—to participate in a short-term training program organized by a ministry, in preparation for his upcoming study of public administration in the United States.

During the road construction controversy in Jinshan County, Yi Xuexi and Wang Dalu took the blame for him. While their actions were motivated by public interest, they were also influenced by pressure from higher authorities. After the road was completed, Li Dakang naturally took over as the county party secretary. A few years later, he was transferred by Zhao Lichun to the Provincial Economic Commission as deputy director.

Upon returning to China after completing his studies, he will assume the new position of Executive Deputy Director of the Economic Commission of Handong Province.

At that time, the Economic Commission was not as powerful as the National Development and Reform Commission would become later. The executive deputy was still a deputy director-general level official, but it was undoubtedly an important stepping stone and springboard for gaining experience. After that, he went to Luzhou to get the director-general level official position and teamed up with his mentor Gao Yuliang, who had also advanced further.

He came to the State Economic Commission today not with a specific project urgently awaiting approval. As worldly-wise as he is, he understands that the key to building relationships lies in cultivating them over time, rather than resorting to desperate measures at the last minute.

Trying to find a savior at the last minute will most likely result in being kicked away by that "Buddha".

Therefore, despite the tight training schedule, he still managed to squeeze in this afternoon to visit. Unlike Gao Yuliang, who would visit casually in the evening, Li Dakang needed to specifically ask for leave to appear at this moment.

He couldn't come at night either—the Economic Commission would have already closed by then, and even if someone was working overtime, a nighttime visit would seem abrupt and against the rules.

After sitting in Director Ning Gaoyuan's office for about fifteen minutes, Li Dakang politely took his leave.

He likely went to other departments with which he had connections to continue his precise and efficient "emotional investment."

Qi Tongwei suppressed the slight ripples that had arisen from Li Dakang's sudden appearance and refocused his attention on the documents and reports before him.

Xu Li still hadn't shown up by the time he was supposed to leave work.

The faint expectation in my heart turned into a very faint disappointment, which was then covered by a calmer reflection.

On the other side, Ruan Lingling seemed to quietly breathe a sigh of relief. Usually, she would stay a little later to finish up, but today she left just before the end of the workday, her steps revealing an eagerness to rush somewhere. She must have gone to use her network of connections to find out what was going on and seek support.

With opportunity hanging overhead, no one can truly sit still.

Qi Tongwei maintained his usual pace, tidying up his desk at a leisurely pace, simply noting down any unfinished ideas, before leaving the office building with the sparse flow of people.

He didn't go straight to Xu Li, nor would he rashly seek out Han Shen.

He needed to return to that quiet dormitory, alone, to carefully weigh all the pros and cons, all the possible paths, all the "costs" that needed to be paid in advance and the "support" that could be obtained in return, on the invisible scale in his mind.

As soon as I stepped into the dormitory building, before my thoughts could even be sorted out, the dormitory supervisor's voice, with its accent, came from downstairs again.

When Qi Tongwei went downstairs again, he saw Gao Yuliang again, but this time with Li Dakang by his side, who was all smiles and had eager eyes.

"Teacher Gao, Director Li, what's going on here...?"

Gao Yuliang explained with a smile: "Director Dakang mentioned you as soon as he came out of your committee. I said you were my student, and he insisted on dragging me over, saying he had to treat you to a simple meal."

Li Dakang immediately chimed in, his tone warm yet perfectly measured: "Director Qi, the State Economic Commission has high standards, and we lower-level staff can only look up to it from afar. Now that we know you, one of our own, are inside, how can we let this opportunity slip by? We must ask you to grace us with your presence and let us share in your glory, to give you a report on our work."

Qi Tongwei repeatedly said he dared not.

The three chatted and laughed as they walked into the nearby Chunhui Restaurant, to the same quiet private room on the second floor.

After a few cups of tea, the atmosphere gradually warmed up. Li Dakang casually brought up the subject: "Director Qi, this afternoon at your place, the atmosphere felt a bit... delicate? Is there some kind of rumor or big move going on in the committee lately?"

Qi Tongwei's heart stirred slightly, and he pondered for a moment. The vacancy of the deputy director was not considered a top secret within the Economic Commission, and it often had far-reaching consequences, with relevant departments and offices potentially undergoing minor adjustments.

Li Dakang had only been in the office for less than half an afternoon, yet he was able to keenly detect this subtle anomaly. Qi Tongwei secretly admired his keen observation skills.

He didn't want to speak too frankly with someone he didn't know well, but Gao Yuliang gently advised him, "Tongwei, unless it's a particularly important secret, Director Dakang isn't an outsider. He's been working on the front lines of the local economy for many years and has a wealth of experience. His perspective on issues might give you some different insights."

Qi Tongwei thought for a moment and realized that there was nothing inherently wrong with the matter, and perhaps he could hear different perspectives from outsiders. So he briefly and clearly explained that the position of deputy director of the department was about to become vacant and the competitive situation he was facing.

Upon hearing this, Li Dakang's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He immediately put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and adopted a highly persuasive and aggressive stance: "Director Qi, this is a crucial moment! In my opinion, we must act now. You have connections at the top; if you don't use them now, when will you? Opportunities don't wait for anyone; what we should fight for, we must fight for!"

His suggestions were direct and pragmatic, carrying the decisiveness unique to local officials and their unabashed approach to "relationships," and were full of a proactive and aggressive spirit.

Gao Yuliang slowly picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, chewed it carefully, and then spoke slowly, his gaze carrying the prudence and long-term consideration unique to a teacher: "Tongwei, Director Dakang's words make sense. However, you have only been at the Economic Commission for a short time, and your foundation is still shallow. Sometimes, taking a step back and observing a bit, showing others your composure and steadiness, is not necessarily a bad thing. Showing off too early can easily make you stand out from the crowd. Your greatest advantages are your youth, your doctoral degree from Peking University, and your connection with Professor Li. There is plenty of time ahead. Even if this doesn't work out, as long as you work steadily and make some impressive and solid achievements, your importance will naturally be different when the next opportunity comes. The key is to see clearly... which path is most beneficial to your long-term development."

His suggestions were more prudent and tactful, focusing on long-term adaptation to the political environment and the pace of personal growth, revealing the caution and step-by-step wisdom of an academic just starting out in his career.

The two have very different views, but both stem from their profound experiences and philosophies of life.

Qi Tongwei listened attentively, nodding occasionally, his face showing an expression of learning, but he had already made a clear decision in his heart.

He raised his teacup and toasted the two men, saying, "Teacher Gao, Director Li, thank you both for your guidance and care. I have benefited greatly from it and will definitely consider it carefully and act prudently."

But he knew in his heart that he would not follow either of these two ready-made paths completely for the time being.

Li Dakang's "attack" was a bit too hasty, while Gao Yuliang's "defense" was too conservative.

He needs to find a third path—one that allows him to showcase his unique value and actively seek opportunities without appearing reckless or overly reliant on the protection of others.

This requires more sophisticated operations, more precise points of application, and a technique that is as subtle as "a gazelle hanging its horns, leaving no trace."

Moreover, Teacher Gao made a mistake in one of her statements.

Qi Tongwei's greatest asset now is neither his youth nor the prestige of his PhD from Peking University.

His greatest, unparalleled advantage lies in his vision and insight that are two decades ahead of his time. This is the root of his ability to achieve profound insights in silence and build towering empires from humble beginnings.

WTO accession negotiations, the internet boom, the Asian financial crisis, global industrial relocation, the prelude to massive domestic infrastructure construction… the economic landscape for the next twenty years had already been sketched out in his mind, albeit vaguely, yet grandly. Which wave, which opportunity, could he skillfully utilize at this delicate moment, turning it into a stepping stone to unlock the door to promotion?

After the meal, Qi Tongwei politely saw the two off at the restaurant entrance, then turned and walked back to the ministry compound as dusk fell.

The late autumn wind was already chilly, sweeping across the empty road, swirling up the remaining withered yellow leaves on the roadside plane trees, making a rustling, dry sound, like countless whispers.

got windy.

It's time to go back and take a good look at those materials, to re-examine those data and reports. The answer may not lie in relationships or words, but in the undiscovered gaps behind those dry words and numbers.

He's going to find it.

Chapter 40 Guidance Catalogue for Industrial Structure Adjustment

Qi Tongwei's dormitory was piled high with past materials he had brought back from the department. These documents were borrowed by him after the department head, Ning Gaoyuan, had given him permission, and he used them in his spare time to deepen his understanding of the business.

Although document management at that time was not as strict as in later generations, he still adhered to the necessary procedures.

He spread out the thick stacks of files, reports, and project approval records on his desk, like unfolding faded economic war maps.

Tonight, his reading style was completely different from usual.

In the past, he was like a patient archaeologist, meticulously studying every piece of data, every instruction, and even every trace of modification, striving to understand the entire decision-making logic and game process behind it.

But tonight, he no longer bends down to those minute ravines. He straightens up, his gaze sweeping across the entire scene like that of a hawk.

He quickly categorized the materials by province, industry, application date, and final approval result. Soon, several steel project applications from different provinces and submitted around the same time caught his attention.

Case 1: Liaoning Province, an old industrial base renovation and supporting project, applied to expand its annual production line for special steel by 300,000 tons. Local state-owned enterprises were heavily burdened with outdated technology and equipment, but the project aligned well with national and provincial industrial restructuring directions. Approval result: Approved in principle, with partial policy-based loan interest subsidies granted.

Case 2: In a coastal province, a private steel company applied to build a new medium-sized steelmaking project. The company is profitable, has sufficient funds, and has an advanced technology import plan; however, the region's production capacity is already close to the warning line. Approval result: Approval is suspended; it is recommended to optimize the plan or seek cooperation outside the region.

Case 3: A resource-rich province in central China applied to build a new integrated steel enterprise, leveraging its local iron ore resources. While its resource endowment was significant and could create jobs in impoverished areas, the environmental assessment was controversial, and it wasn't the optimal choice considering national production capacity allocation. Approval result: After multiple rounds of supplementary materials and coordination, it was conditionally approved, but with extremely stringent environmental standards.

Case 4: Another province with similar resources, almost identical conditions, but the application was submitted six months later. Approval result: Not approved.

Qi Tongwei's fingers slowly traced over these approval comments, his brows gradually furrowing.

The conditions were similar, and the latter even seemed to have more prepared materials, but the results were completely different.

He shook his head slightly. This cannot be explained by simple "corruption," but by a deeper imprint of "rule by man."

The approval criteria often fluctuate depending on the "human" factor: the strength of local efforts, the care taken by the staff in polishing the materials, the timing of the submission (whether it coincides with a policy "hotspot" or a "red light"), and even some subtle "balancing" techniques.

Sometimes, a project that was originally at the critical stage is approved due to personal connections or pressure, which inadvertently closes the door to those with better qualifications, because opening it again would be tantamount to opposing the policy.

At this time, although there were many "notices," "decisions," and "provisional regulations" on industrial policies, most of them were "patches" for specific problems or industries, lacking a systematic framework that is comprehensive, clear, transparent, and has long-term stable expectations.

The excessive discretion of approvers leads to unstable local expectations, and there is a lack of rigid and universally recognized standards for industrial upgrading and exit.

Systemic framework...

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Qi Tongwei's mind! He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the cramped dormitory room.

Fragments of information from his past life were rapidly piecing together. He remembered that around 2005, the country issued a landmark document—the "Guidance Catalogue for Industrial Structure Adjustment"!

This catalog clearly categorizes thousands of industries into "encouraged," "restricted," and "phased-out" categories, providing a unified, transparent, and predictable "guideline" and "negative list" for investment, approvals, policy support, and even corporate strategies nationwide!

That's it! From then on, China's industrial policy management truly entered a new stage of "systematization, list-based approach, and transparency".

It's only 98! The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will not be established until 2003, formed by merging the former State Planning Commission and the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System, among other institutions—this year the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System was just downgraded to the State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System.

The current State Economic Commission will also be dissolved in the future institutional reform, and some of its functions and personnel will be incorporated into the newly established National Development and Reform Commission.

So... could the State Economic Commission take the lead in proposing or even initiating research on the conceptual framework and preliminary studies of the "Guidance Catalogue for Industrial Structure Adjustment," which was supposed to be issued seven years later under the leadership of the National Development and Reform Commission?

Absolutely possible!

Qi Tongwei quickly recalled the "three-fixed" plan for the functions of the Economic Commission. It clearly included: "Researching and formulating industrial policies, guiding industrial restructuring... formulating relevant policies for adjusting the industrial structure..."

Proposing the establishment of a systematic guidance catalog for industrial restructuring is not only an inherent part of fulfilling this core function, but also a forward-looking advancement!

If this suggestion is adopted, even if it is only the initiation of preliminary research, it will signify a major leap forward in industrial policy management thinking. For China, which is deepening reform and opening up and urgently needs to improve the modernization level of economic governance, its significance is self-evident.

As the original proposer of this groundbreaking suggestion, Qi Tongwei felt his heart racing.

Even if the massive drafting, argumentation, and coordination work that followed was not his responsibility (that would require higher-level leaders and expert teams), his identity as the "suggestion initiator" was enough to leave a significant mark on his record.

This will be a significant "original contribution" to his political career.

When evaluating him, his superiors will not only see his "bravery," "diligence," and "high academic qualifications," but also his "forward-looking strategic thinking" and "ability to identify key issues in the system and mechanisms."

Such an evaluation, like the loyalty and courage symbolized by "being shot three times at Lone Eagle Ridge," will become a shining label accompanying him throughout his political career, and its value is immeasurable!

With a surge of passion, Qi Tongwei immediately grabbed a pen and paper, ready to write down the title of his suggestion.

Just as the pen tip was about to touch the paper, he suddenly stopped.

A thought, like a ghost, surfaced: Should I wait a few more years? Wait until I'm in a higher position and have more influence before proposing it? That way, perhaps I could reap more direct and greater personal political gains from this "grand idea"...

This thought made him feel a moment of shame.

He raised his hand and slapped himself.

Was being reborn merely a means to climb the social ladder faster? If this catalogue concept could be realized sooner, what a positive impact it would have on the nation's industrial upgrading, resource optimization, and reducing rent-seeking in the approval process! This is a major event that benefits the country and its people!

If we can make a real contribution to the country and the people, what does it matter if our personal promotion is slowed down a little?

Moreover, even if I were to reach the position of section chief or even higher a few years later, I would still mostly be playing a supporting role in such a grand policy project.

Now, even though an individual's direct control is weak, the "first act" is equally valuable and may be more helpful in breaking through the current predicament and winning the favor of superiors.

The pros and cons are not simply a matter of weighing gains and losses.

Moreover, you still have so many chips in your hand regarding the future. Only the worst players would hold onto their big cards so tightly.

Now is the time to play this card.

With his thoughts flowing smoothly, all obstacles disappeared. Qi Tongwei laid out the letter paper, took a deep breath, and wrote the title in steady, powerful handwriting: