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

He wanted to try to reverse Gao Yuliang's fate and save his political life.

Although Gao Yuliang once said that if he became the provincial party secretary, the first person he would "sacrifice" would be Qi Tongwei.

However, the "Director Qi" of the previous life did indeed have huge problems himself.

Regardless of past or present lives, Gao Yuliang's guidance as both a teacher and a father, as well as his support and protection at crucial moments, are all genuine acts of kindness.

Having been given a second chance at life, Qi Tongwei not only aspires to great heights but also harbors a heart of gratitude.

He calmly analyzed the situation and concluded that what could truly bring Gao Yuliang to utter ruin was:

It's not the so-called "Handong clique." Not long after Sha Ruijin was parachuted into Handong, the term "Shajiabang" had already spread like wildfire.

Outside of the Party and without factions, there are all sorts of people. Once you reach a certain level, who doesn't have their own team? Who doesn't have a few trustworthy and capable assistants?

How can someone working alone carry out their duties? This doesn't constitute a fundamental blow.

It's not the Crescent Lake Food City project either.

Gao Yuliang's later statement, "the limitations of history," has, to some extent, defined the nature of this matter.

As for the unreasonable arguments of others at the meeting, Gao Yuliang could have simply scoffed at them and ignored them. His statement that he only followed orders and not the facts was already a sign of his bookishness.

GGKF has been around for decades. If we were to investigate every project from back then by today's standards, how many cadres could withstand the scrutiny?

If Gao Yuliang is severely punished on this ground, it will inevitably cause great panic and turmoil in the entire officialdom, and may even affect the stability of the political situation.

Moreover, the food court was established through a collective decision by the Standing Committee of the Lüzhou Municipal Party Committee, with approval from the provincial government and even relevant approvals from national ministries at the time, making the procedures virtually flawless.

Bringing up old grievances more than a decade later is tantamount to turning back the clock and negating GGKF's achievements.

It's not a matter of male-female relationships. At Professor Gao's level, simple issues of male-female conduct are already trivial matters that can't be discussed openly, unless they involve huge sums of money being transferred or serious power-for-sex transactions.

The most fatal and inexcusable thing is that Gao Yuliang and Gao Xiaofeng concealed their marriage and child from the organization, and the trust fund behind it involving 200 million Hong Kong dollars.

This is a blatant violation of Party discipline and state laws, deceiving the organization, and having unexplained sources of wealth.

If it weren't for this "Achilles' heel," even if Gao Yuliang lost in the political struggle, the worst outcome would be a dignified retirement to the second line, a retirement in the CPPCC, or even, to maintain balance, a provincial-level position as a consolation prize—that's not impossible.

Because Qi Tongwei knew that in his previous life, Gao Yuliang was indeed unaware of many of Zhao Ruilong's and his own specific illegal acts.

Qi Tongwei was also deeply puzzled: With Gao Yuliang's political wisdom and composure, would he really become so obsessed with a "Ming history enthusiast" who had been trained in a short period of time that he was unable to extricate himself, and even risk his entire political future?

Indulging in youthful bodies and engaging in casual flings may be possible, but to get married, register the marriage, and then meticulously conceal it by setting up an overseas trust requires an incredibly strong motivation.

Through his interactions with Gao Xiaoqin and his observations of her indirectly, he gradually ruled out the possibility of "pure love."

If it were truly a soulmate relationship, how could she have kept her lover in Hong Kong for so long without ever caring about her, and be completely indifferent to her sister Gao Xiaoqin, who looks exactly like her, appearing in public and mingling with various businessmen and officials in China?

As for the claim that "the Zhao family demanded a pledge of loyalty," it doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

If Zhao Lichun relied solely on having dirt on his subordinates to control his gang, his methods would be far too low-level and dangerous, and certainly not typical for a politician who has risen to such a high position.

Moreover, in 2012, when they got married, Gao Yuliang was already the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee.

A true "insider" alliance requires subordinates to act as tentacles of power.

Whether you make money or not is your business, and you don't need to send me money. You don't need to care how I make money.

However, on crucial decisions, you must follow my lead; you must execute my orders properly.

This is the reasonable and practical subordinate relationship.

If your superiors want to make money, they will assign you a specific contractor to handle the project.

How much money the contractor gives to his superiors, and how he gives it, is none of your business.

He has all the necessary qualifications and permits, and he generally doesn't cut corners. You just need to hand over the project to him in a reasonable and compliant manner.

Even if the company goes bankrupt, as long as you don't take money, you can still find a leisurely job to retire in.

Coercive "pledges of allegiance" are often only used to control pawns who have limited abilities and no other choice.

So why did Gao Yuliang take that step?

It wasn't until Li Yiqing first met Gao Yuliang that his comment awakened him: "The arrogance of the old intellectuals has not yet faded away."

Qi Tongwei suddenly understood.

He got it.

At the time, Li Dakang, a powerful department-level official with outstanding abilities and remarkable achievements, was quickly transferred simply because he did not approve Zhao Ruilong's project.

Although it's a promotion, Luzhou is about to produce results, so he can definitely take it easy for now.

This incident deeply shocked Gao Yuliang.

It brutally shattered his belief in organizational procedures and the power of rules.

He felt immense unease and wavering, and developed an indescribable fear of the "power" represented by Zhao Lichun.

If I'm transferred, does that mean I'll be relegated to the sidelines?

He will eventually compromise with Zhao Ruilong and approve the project.

However, he needed a "reason" that could convince himself and maintain his inner dignity.

Gao Xiaofeng became the perfect "reason" and "fig leaf".

A girl who persisted in studying the history of the Ming Dynasty despite adversity stirred up his remaining romanticism and "salvation" sentiments as a scholar.

He had to package this deal as a love that transcended worldly conventions and was willing to sacrifice everything.

He needed to tell himself: I am not succumbing to power, I have not bent my spine, I still maintain the integrity and sentiments of a scholar, I am just pursuing a noble love that is not allowed in the mundane world.

Only in this way can he barely mend the huge rift between his inner beliefs and his realistic choices.

Therefore, he did not want to stop at a fleeting affair, but wanted to actually get married and make arrangements for his future.

This is a profound psychological self-protection mechanism, a tragic form of self-deception.

After thinking it through, he decided to see Teacher Gao again later.

Arriving at the municipal party committee building by car, the scene was familiar, but the atmosphere seemed somewhat different.

In the outer room of the municipal party secretary's office, he met Luo Xuejun, who was busy at work.

"Xiao Luo," Qi Tongwei said calmly, his tone as usual, "Is Secretary Gao here?"

Chapter 98 The Waters of Canglang

When Qi Tongwei saw Teacher Gao again, he still maintained his refined demeanor, but he keenly noticed the difference—deep in the teacher's eyes was a thick layer of weariness that could not be dispelled. It was not the fatigue of official duties, but a kind of mental exhaustion.

The arrogance he once possessed when lecturing freely on the stage of Handong University and when he held power in Lüzhou has faded away.

This state of being was even more fragile than Gao Yuliang in Qi Tongwei's memory of his previous life when he was under the pressure of Sha Ruijin, the relentless pursuit of Hou Liangping, and the precarious state of the Han University gang.

Because at that time, Teacher Gao's internal logic was self-consistent. Regardless of right or wrong, he had his own set of beliefs to support him, and his spine had not truly bent.

At this moment, under the silent intimidation of real power, he had just made a compromise that went against his principles. The pillar of his heart had cracked, and he was in a stage where his beliefs had been shattered and he urgently needed to find a new "reasonable" explanation to repair himself.

If left unattended, he will slowly sink into his carefully constructed fantasy of "love" and "salvation," thereby completing his psychological reconstruction and self-deception.

Upon seeing Qi Tongwei, Gao Yuliang's face broke into a genuine smile, a smile that even carried a barely perceptible hint of seeking comfort: "Tongwei, you've come."

"Teacher, I'm here." Qi Tongwei replied respectfully, his gaze gentle and focused.

Today, Gao Yuliang was unusually talkative, a stark contrast to his usual sparing use of words and his meaningful remarks.

His thoughts sometimes wandered, and he occasionally repeated himself in his speech. He talked about Qi Tongwei's various policies and measures at the crossroads, and he knew them all in great detail.

He was generous with his praise for those who did well; and for those he thought were inappropriate or had potential problems, he would break them down in detail and analyze them for him, for fear that the students might not understand.

This is by no means Gao Yuliang's usual teaching method.

He has always been like Jiang Taigong fishing, knowing when to stop and leaving the rest to the individual's aptitude.

At this moment, this almost "nanny-like" imparting of knowledge is more like an emotional projection, an unconscious behavior of confirming one's own value and seeking inner peace by wholeheartedly "teaching" one's favorite student.

Qi Tongwei's eyes felt slightly warm.

He could tell that Gao Yuliang knew everything about his every move at the crossroads, even the smallest details.

This extraordinary attention and investment is especially valuable given the current situation where the individual is under heavy workload from the municipal party committee and pressure from Li Dakang.

The conversation gradually drifted to the old days of Handong University.

Gao Yuliang seemed particularly nostalgic at this moment, rambling on about people and events from the past, lost in his memories.

Qi Tongwei listened patiently throughout, occasionally echoing his words, but inwardly he was calmly waiting for the most opportune moment to intervene.

For a scholar-type leader like Gao Yuliang, who places great importance on dignity and self-respect, even the best advice must be wrapped in layers of tact and gentleness, so as not to hurt his self-esteem, which is being sensitively rebuilt.

If he were to realize that the embarrassing truth of his "bowing down" out of fear of power and even falling into a "honey trap" had been seen through by his most favored student, his beliefs, now unstable, might lead him to extremes—such as resigning or proactively "confessing" to the disciplinary committee to seek inner peace.

The conversation naturally turned to the history of the Ming Dynasty.

Whether it's Wu Huifen's profession or Gao Yuliang's personal interests, this is an area that cannot be bypassed.

"I remember you once analyzed how the 'mentor' system in the Ming Dynasty was actually a breeding ground for factions," Qi Tongwei said, offering timely guidance.

Gao Yuliang was indeed mobilized and used this topic to explain how the special interests and emotional ties formed between "mentors" and "disciples" in the Ming Dynasty officialdom transcended mere academic inheritance and evolved into a stable political alliance.

"The most famous master and disciple pair in the Ming Dynasty was probably Xu Jie and Zhang Juzheng."

“That’s right. Both the master and apprentice were prime ministers of different generations, and both took control of the central government during times of crisis, with far-reaching influence.” Gao Yuliang’s interest was drawn to more specific historical figures.

"How does the teacher evaluate these two people?" Qi Tongwei asked calmly, as if it were a routine academic inquiry.

After a moment's thought, Gao Yuliang replied fluently: "Xu Jie was known for his forbearance and political maneuvering. He was able to remain subservient to Yan Song and his son for a long time, secretly accumulating power and collecting evidence of their crimes. In the end, he joined forces with the eunuchs in the inner court and the upright officials who spoke out against injustice, and brought down the great villain in one fell swoop. After taking power, he focused on eliminating Yan Song's corrupt practices and appointed capable officials such as Zhang Juzheng and Hai Rui, laying an important foundation for the later Longqing New Deal and even Zhang Juzheng's reforms."

He paused, then continued, "As for Zhang Juzheng, his methods were even more ruthless. He befriended Feng Bao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, to consolidate his power in the outer court with the support of the inner court; he expelled veteran officials such as Gao Gong to ensure the smooth implementation of reform orders; he even went so far as to suppress dissent and control censors to manage public opinion. These methods were certainly not aboveboard. However, he implemented the 'Single Whip Law' and the 'Performance Evaluation Law,' rectified officialdom, replenished the national treasury, and appointed generals such as Qi Jiguang to strengthen border defenses... He was indeed a reformer through and through, and he contributed to the survival of the Ming Dynasty."

Qi Tongwei pressed further, "These two men are hardly 'honest officials' in the traditional sense. In your opinion, do their merits outweigh their demerits, or vice versa?"

He deliberately avoided simple moral labels and went straight to the more complex historical evaluation dimension of "merits and demerits".

A thoughtful look appeared in Gao Yuliang's eyes, his gaze flickering slightly, clearly indicating that this question had touched upon some of his current emotions.

He said slowly, "Overall... I think the merits outweigh the demerits. In difficult times, to accomplish extraordinary things, sometimes... it is inevitable to use extraordinary means."

Before he could dwell on it, Qi Tongwei immediately asked the real question he had prepared: "Teacher, I have a question that has been bothering me for a long time, and I've always wanted to ask you about it."

Gao Yuliang's thoughts were interrupted. He looked up at him and smiled, "Oh? What's bothering you? Please speak freely."

Qi Tongwei sat up straight, his tone sincere but slightly heavy: