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

There are no external enemies in Handong now, but Qi Tongwei can "create" enemies.

What he wanted was a formal title.

Once his status is confirmed, this shift in allegiance will be irreversible, and even Teacher Gao will be unable to control it.

Qi Tongwei does not intend to get deeply involved in the political and legal system for the time being.

The place is either filled with corrupt and infiltrated people like Chen Qingquan and Xiao Gangyu, or with useless and potentially harmful "greenhorns" like Chen Hai and Lu Yike.

His gaze fell on the members of the "Han University Clique" within the local system.

In the TV series, the "Han University Gang" seems to consist of only a few members from the political and legal system.

But if there really is only this many people, then the "Han University Clique" is a joke—any member of the Standing Committee or secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission has more than this much influence under their command.

Moreover, Gao Yuliang had been running the business for many years, had served as the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, and had absorbed some of the people who had left after Zhao Lichun's departure.

Of these, Qi Tongwei values ​​the most Dong Dingfang, the current Party Secretary of Lüzhou City.

This person is a core member of the "Han University Gang" in the local area, with excellent ability and qualifications.

Luzhou was Gao Yuliang's deepest base of operations, so taking down Dong Dingfang was of extraordinary significance.

As long as the illusion is created that Dong Dingfang has led the Lüzhou system to his side, Sha Ruijin will inevitably misjudge the situation—he will think that the "Handa Gang" has changed hands as a whole, thus putting more pressure on Gao Yuliang.

Faced with internal and external difficulties, Teacher Gao will have no choice but to accelerate the process of "handing over power".

With that thought in mind, Qi Tongwei no longer hesitated.

He pressed the internal phone:

"Xiao Huang, come in here for a moment."

Huang Qiaosong quickly pushed open the door and entered, his posture respectful: "Governor Qi."

"Contact the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee Office," Qi Tongwei said calmly, but with an unquestionable authority. "Please ask Secretary Dong Dingfang to come to the Provincial Government tomorrow morning. Tell him I have some questions about Luzhou's economic development and would like to hear his report in person."

Chapter 109 Human Heart

Political struggle is never a dinner party, nor is it about everyone being nice to each other.

The total amount of power is finite, and no matter how beautiful the cloaking, it cannot conceal the essence of seizing power from others.

Qi Tongwei's summons to Dong Dingfang was essentially an attempt to seize Gao Yuliang's political legacy.

But this is a reality that Gao Yuliang will realize sooner or later—because in the present Handong, there can only be "Shajiabang" and the future "Qi Family Gang," and a third major force will never be allowed to exist.

Just like the former "Han University Gang" and "Secretary Gang," they were ultimately just branches of the "Zhao Family Gang."

Everything Qi Tongwei did was an open and aboveboard scheme. Even if Gao Yuliang saw through it, there was nothing he could do—unless he was willing to completely break ties and lead the remaining Han University gang to fully join Sha Ruijin's camp.

But that's impossible.

Even when Sha Ruijin's family held absolute power in his previous life, Gao Yuliang never did this.

What Qi Tongwei needed to do was simply to make this teacher realize reality sooner: he had long since lost the right to waver between Sha and Qi and act as a third party.

The "Han University Gang" members are either surnamed Sha or Qi.

There is absolutely no possibility that he will ever bear the surname Gao again.

If the surname is Qi, the gang might still retain the name "Han Da"; but if the surname is Sha, it will have to completely dissipate and merge into "Shajiabang".

---

At this time, Sha Ruijin was conducting in-depth research in Lüzhou and had already met with Yi Xuexi.

As is customary, Dong Dingfang, the municipal party secretary, should have stayed in Lüzhou, awaiting a possible summons from the provincial party secretary.

But Qi Tongwei issued the summons at this very moment, forcing him to choose between Sha and Qi.

Coming to the provincial government means leaving while the provincial party secretary is conducting research in the region, which naturally means siding with Qi Tongwei; making excuses to postpone it means refusing the future governor's summons, which undoubtedly means leaning towards Sha Ruijin.

What they come to report is not important, nor is the reason for the postponement; what matters is whether they come or not.

This is a binary choice, either one or the other.

If Dong Dingfang chooses neither, it would be tantamount to offending both.

Qi Tongwei's office.

Huang Qiaosong knocked gently on the door and came in: "Governor, the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee Office replied that Secretary Dong is currently presiding over an important meeting, but will definitely come to report on time tomorrow."

Qi Tongwei nodded slightly.

This response, while seemingly making a choice, actually leaves room for maneuver—it is not a direct commitment from Dong Dingfang himself.

If Dong Dingfang were determined to join Sha Ruijin's camp, he would have countless ways to refuse: important businessmen, sudden illness... the reason never mattered.

He could even preemptively visit Sha Ruijin, who is currently in Luzhou, tonight.

Qi Tongwei did not urge him, but let the matter develop naturally.

Everything depends on whether Dong Dingfang comes tomorrow.

He knew that Dong Dingfang might call Gao Yuliang for instructions.

That depends on whether this municipal party secretary is smart enough.

---

The Luzhou Municipal Party Committee Building, the office of the Municipal Party Secretary.

Luo Yunsong, director of the municipal party committee office, put down the phone, looked at Dong Dingfang standing by the window, and said in a low voice, "Secretary, we have replied as you wished."

Dong Dingfang lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and the smoke blurred his view out the window.

Luo Yunsong asked cautiously, "Secretary, are you... going to the provincial capital tomorrow?"

"I don't know," Dong Dingfang said, his voice trembling.

"If you're not going, you'd better explain the situation to Governor Qi as soon as possible, otherwise..." Luo Yunsong didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Dong Dingfang laughed, a bitter and insightful smile in his eyes: "What do you think this is? This is the most dangerous kind of choosing sides. As long as I don't go to the provincial capital tomorrow, even if I speak eloquently to Governor Qi on the phone, I will still become his enemy. What difference does it make whether I notify him earlier or later?"

Luo Yunsong remained silent for a moment, then said, "How about... we report this to Secretary Yuliang? And ask Secretary Yuliang to step in and ease the tension?"

"If I call Secretary Yu Liang and have him communicate with Governor Qi on my behalf, perhaps we can temporarily avoid having to take sides," Dong Dingfang said, exhaling a smoke ring.

"Shall I contact Secretary Yu Liang's secretary, Director Luo, now?" Luo Yunsong asked tentatively.

"Wait a minute," Dong Dingfang waved his hand. "Let me think about it."

Luo Yunsong stopped talking and stood quietly to the side.

Only the slowly rising smoke and the ticking of the clock on the wall remained in the office.

Dong Dingfang chain-smoked, his brows furrowed, a complex light flickering in his small, round eyes.

After seven or eight cigarettes had burned out, the office was filled with a cloud of smoke.

Dong Dingfang finally stubbed out the last cigarette butt in the ashtray, squinted his eyes, and slowly spoke:

"I won't call Secretary Yuliang. I'll go directly to the provincial capital tomorrow."

Luo Yunsong's body trembled almost imperceptibly. His future was already intertwined with Dong Dingfang's, and this decision would determine his own.

His throat was a little dry: "Secretary...have you made up your mind?"

Dong Dingfang leaned back in his chair, his narrowed eyes gleaming with a sharp light:

"There are now only three paths."

"First, I should immediately go to Secretary Sha Ruijin, who is currently on an inspection tour in Luzhou, and side with him directly. But I was promoted by Secretary Yuliang, and to switch allegiance without his approval would be to betray my master. Besides, the 'Han University Clique' label is too deeply ingrained in me, and I will always be a 'stepmother' under Secretary Sha.' Good opportunities will never come my way."

"Second, contact Secretary Yuliang and ask him to help me maneuver so I don't have to take sides for the time being. But the price is that in this major personnel reshuffle, I will completely lose my autonomy and can only follow Secretary Gao. But Secretary Yuliang will also be retiring soon, and no matter where I am assigned, I will not be a core member. This path is slightly better than the first one, but only by a small margin."

He paused, his voice lowered, yet all the more resolute:

"Third, I'll be the first to side with Governor Qi. Governor Qi has a bright future, and by joining him first, he's likely to reward me handsomely. Most importantly—I believe that Governor Qi is Secretary Yu Liang's most prized disciple, and he's the most likely to inherit the 'Han University Clique.' In this way, I won't be considered a traitor, but simply going with the flow."

Luo Yunsong still had concerns: "But after all, we haven't gotten Secretary Yuliang's tacit approval... What if Secretary Yuliang ends up handing the Han University gang over to Secretary Sha? In political struggles, it's not uncommon for fathers and sons to turn against each other, and the mentor-student relationship between Secretary Yuliang and Governor Qi may not be reliable."

Dong Dingfang shook his head, his gaze sharp:

"What if I report this to Secretary Yuliang and he disagrees? That's where my value lies now—pretending not to know the deeper meaning, directly forcing things to a head, and thus influencing the entire Han University faction to change course. That's the real bargaining chip I can use to extract an extraordinary return from Governor Qi!"

He stood up, his tone resolute:

"It's settled then. Tell all the office staff who might have overheard the news to keep quiet. Have the driver pick me up first thing tomorrow morning. Postpone all morning plans. I'll let you know whether I'll be back in the afternoon."

"Yes, Secretary." Luo Yunsong nodded emphatically.

---

The next morning, in Gao Yuliang's office at the Provincial Party Committee building.

Xiao Gangyu is here again.

He sat on the sofa, looking uneasy, with beads of sweat even forming on his forehead. Qi Tongwei's reprimand of Chen Yanshi had already terrified him. The old grudge between the Liang family and Qi Tongwei ran even deeper, and he feared that this fire would spread to him.

The night Ding Yizhen escaped, he came to Gao Yuliang hoping to ask him to intervene and smooth things over, but he ended up getting involved in the aftermath and "dealing with" Ding Yizhen's affairs.

Under his "guidance," the provincial department is trying to characterize Ding Yizhen's death as a "traffic accident."

That night wasn't entirely fruitless.

But that day was interrupted by Ding Yizhen's matter, and yesterday Qi Tongwei specifically asked Liang Jin to give Chen Yanshi "ideological education," which made the entire Liang family very nervous, fearing that Qi Tongwei had planted some deadly trap.

Liang Qunfeng is nearly eighty years old. After retiring, his energy and spirit quickly collapsed. Now he lives in a nursing home, and sometimes he can't even recognize his children. He looks like he might receive an obituary at any time.

The two Liang brothers, being utterly useless, brought their entire family to Xiao Gangyu's house to plead their case, begging him to ask Gao Yuliang to intercede on their behalf—to help ease tensions with Qi Tongwei, considering that Liang Qunfeng had once pushed Gao Yuliang.

As long as Qi Tongwei speaks up, and as long as they have the means, any condition is negotiable.

So, Xiao Gangyu came again.

After closing the door, he said with a bitter face, "Secretary Yuliang, I really have no other choice. Liang Yu and Liang Jin's entire families are crammed into my house crying. The women are crying and the children are making a fuss, it's giving me a headache. Could you... could you find an opportunity to talk to Governor Qi?"

Gao Yuliang put down the documents in his hand, took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and said with a hint of imperceptible fatigue in his voice: "Look at you, in such a hurry. Is this something that can be rushed? How can I bring it up without a suitable opportunity? Am I supposed to just grab a pack of cigarettes and go? He's the governor, not a town mayor."

Xiao Gangyu rubbed his hands: "I'm really at my wit's end. Now Governor Qi has arranged for Liang Lu's second brother to give Chen Yanshi 'ideological education,' and Liang Jin is now trembling with fear, afraid that there might be some traps involved. She took a cold bath in the dead of winter, caught a bad cold, and asked for leave to avoid it. But this is not a long-term solution! Governor Qi won't budge, and the Organization Department is waiting for him. At most, he can take another cold bath in a week."

Gao Yuliang put his glasses back on, his tone returning to its usual calm: "This is his job. As long as he performs his duties diligently and does his job well, what problems could there be?"

Xiao Gangyu nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I understand the reasoning. But they're all terrified, how can they listen to anything? Liang Jin even said that if Governor Qi doesn't let them go, they'll go to my father-in-law's nursing home and cry that they can't go on living. They even... they even said that if Qi Tongwei really lays a hand on them, they'll carry the old man to the provincial party committee compound to demand justice!"