Mastering the Sword Manual, sweeping across the globe

The meeting room was small, and both sides of the long table were packed with people.

On the left are the heads of the Municipal Government Office, Development and Reform Commission, Finance Bureau, Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, etc., and on the right are the heads of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Transportation Department, Urban Management Bureau, etc.

There were two empty seats at the end of the long table, reserved for the provincial liaison group.

Upon seeing Chen Deshou enter, everyone stood up in unison.

"Sit down." Chen Deshou waved his hand and walked to his seat.

The person from the municipal government office spoke first: "Your Excellency, the comrades from the provincial liaison group said they won't be coming today, and they want us to hold the meeting first. Just report the spirit of the meeting to them."

Chen Deshou nodded: "Then let's begin."

I opened the notebook in front of me; there were only a few lines on it, which I had written in the office just now.

His handwriting was messy, and there were parts that even he himself couldn't quite recognize.

"I've called everyone here today for just one thing," Chen Deshou said in a low voice, not wanting to waste any more energy. "I don't need to elaborate on the current situation in Y City. Everyone knows about the provincial cancer hospital. Everyone knows about the highway traffic jams. You've probably heard about the hotel price hikes..."

“These things are all more urgent and more life-threatening than the last. But the most life-threatening ones are not these.”

"The worst thing is—we have no one left."

There was a moment of silence in the conference room.

Director Liu of the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

Chen Deshou continued, "The Cyberspace Administration has been on duty since day one, without a single day off. The Market Supervision Bureau has received over a thousand price complaints in the past few days, and the staff are practically exhausted. The Urban Management Bureau and the Street Offices are all working non-stop. I approved some overtime pay the day before yesterday, but problems that can be solved with money aren't the problem. The problem is—we don't have enough manpower."

He looked in the direction of the director of the Cyberspace Administration of China.

"Old Sun, how many more people can you transfer over there?"

Sun Deming, the director of the Cyberspace Administration of China—46 years old, who has worked in propaganda for 23 years and whose hair is already half white—smiled bitterly: “Prefect, we’ve mobilized everyone we can. The people in the public opinion monitoring team haven’t been home for three weeks, even the head chef in the canteen has been pulled away to help read comments… If this continues, my colleagues are thinking of approving more money to buy more air freshener, it really stinks.”

Chen Deshou then looked at the Director of the Market and Trade Bureau.

"Old Qian, where are you guys?"

Qian Mingyuan, director of the Market Supervision Department, shook his head: "This morning alone, there were more than 200 complaints in the city, and there are also issues with prices, measurement, food safety... all kinds of problems are coming at us at once. If this continues, we won't even have to wait for out-of-town guests to cause trouble; our own people will be the first to collapse."

Chen Deshou nodded.

"There should still be some, right?"

“Prefect, the pressure on my side is no less than anyone else’s.” Ma Guoqiang, director of the Urban Management Bureau, stood up: “In the past few days, too many people from other places have flooded into Y City, and the number of street vendors has increased several times over. The train station, the bus station, the entrance of the Cancer Hospital, and downstairs of major hotels—there are stalls everywhere. Food, drinks, daily necessities, and even vendors selling power banks, small stools, and quilts, you name it.”

He took a breath and continued, “When our people go to persuade them, one group leaves only to be replaced by another. When we try to seize their vehicles, they argue with us, and once they start arguing, a crowd gathers around. They raise their phones, and the internet starts spreading rumors like ‘Y City’s urban management officers are bullying outsiders.’ If we don’t seize them, the sidewalks are completely blocked, and local residents are bombarding us with complaints. And then there are those illegally parked shared bikes and private cars. We’ve been issuing parking tickets until our hands are sore, but as soon as we turn around, the parking area is full again.”

Chen Deshou nodded.

"Prefect, we can't keep up either," said the head of the sanitation department—just back from the front lines, still in his work clothes, cuffs dusty—standing up, his voice visibly weary. "The amount of garbage collected yesterday more than doubled compared to last week, especially around the cancer hospital, the train station, and commercial areas. The trash cans are overflowing, and even with three shifts, we can't keep up. Water trucks and sweepers are all out, but there are too many people on the streets; the trucks can't move at all. Many sections have to be swept manually."

"And then there are the public toilets. With such a large flow of people, there simply aren't enough public toilets, and the queues stretch out onto the street. We temporarily brought in a batch of portable toilets, but the cleaning service can't keep up, and the public's complaint hotline rings from morning till night. If this continues, we won't even have to wait for outsiders to complain; the locals will be the first to curse us to death."

“Prefect, we’re also in a real bind,” the general manager of the bus company stood up as well. “Passenger traffic has skyrocketed these past few days, every bus is packed, and it’s impossible to squeeze on. We’ve temporarily increased the frequency of buses and deployed all the spare vehicles, but we still don’t have enough drivers. Many drivers have been working overtime for several days in a row. If this continues, the safety risk of fatigued driving is too great.”

"There are also taxis and ride-hailing services. Out-of-town customers are unfamiliar with the roads, and there are countless complaints about drivers taking detours, refusing passengers, and not using meters. When our staff goes to handle these issues, before we've even finished investigating one company, we receive several new orders. The transportation management department has mobilized all its staff, but we still don't have enough manpower."

Chen Deshou nodded again, gesturing for them to sit down.

Then, Chen Deshou waved his hand, signaling the other comrades who were full of complaints not to stand up for the time being.

“We don’t have enough manpower,” Chen Deshou said, closing his notebook. “I have an idea.”

He stood up, walked to the whiteboard, and picked up a marker.

"First, starting now, Y City will abolish the internship period within the system."

A low buzzing sound filled the conference room.

Chen Deshou didn't turn around and continued writing on the whiteboard.

"All newly recruited civil servants and public institution employees who are still in their probationary period will start working immediately. All probationary period assessments, defenses, and papers are cancelled. Start working first, and complete the formalities later. If anyone has any objections, let them come to me."

After writing those words, he turned around and looked at Director Liu of the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau.

"Director Liu, you are in charge of this matter. Within three days, submit the list of all interns, their positions, and contact information to the Municipal Government Office. Three days later, I want to see these people at their posts before 8:00 AM."

Director Liu opened his mouth, "Prefect, this...this is against regulations. Article 32 of the Imperial Officials Law clearly stipulates—"

“Regulations are made by people,” Chen Deshou interrupted him. “The province has given its approval, and Y City is now in a special state.”

Director Liu fell silent.

Chen Deshou then turned to the whiteboard and wrote the second line of text.

"Second, starting now, all government offices and institutions in the city will implement a last-place promotion system."

This time the buzzing sound was louder.

Someone whispered something, but was pulled back by the person next to them.

Chen Deshou didn't turn around; he tapped his pen on the whiteboard, writing each word slowly and deliberately.

"Anyone who fails to perform their duties effectively, receives repeated complaints from the public, or makes mistakes in their work will be promoted to the health departments of various counties and districts, or directly promoted to the municipal health system."

Some people had expressions of disbelief on their faces, some stared down at their desks, and some exchanged complicated glances with their colleagues.

Director Sun of the Civil Affairs Bureau coughed lightly: "Prefect, this promotion..."

"This is not a demotion in disguise," Chen Deshou clarified. "The rank will be raised by one level, the salary will be based on the new position, and the position can be chosen freely! The municipal health system is expected to face a shortage of manpower in the future, and a large number of enterprising cadres are needed to fill the gaps. Since these people are not doing well in their original positions, they will be moved to a place where they are needed more to shine."

That's true!

Since you guys are all incompetent, you might as well be someone else's outlet for your frustrations!

That's quite an achievement!

"Third, starting now, all auxiliary police officers, assistants, and contract workers in the city who are willing can participate in a unified examination. The internship period is three months. If they pass the internship, they will be directly admitted to the permanent staff."

The city government staff quickly jotted down notes in their notebooks.

Chen Deshou didn't turn around. He drew a line under the words "directly enter the establishment" with the tip of his pen before turning around.

“These people were already working on the front lines, doing just as much work and taking just as many risks as those on the payroll. Now, in these special times, we should give them what they deserve.”

He looked at the head of the ceremonial affairs department of the prefectural government.

"Old Wang, you guys come up with a plan for this. The exam content shouldn't be too complicated—basic regulations, business knowledge, and political theory—just enough. Focus on practical skills and usual performance. Recommendations from each unit will carry weight, but we must prevent favoritism... Hmm, the disciplinary department will keep an eye on it."

Wang, the head of the department, nodded and made a few notes in his notebook.

Chen Deshou then turned to the whiteboard and wrote the fourth line of text.

"Fourth, starting now, Y City will cease processing retirement procedures for those within the public sector."

The buzzing sound was even louder than before.

Someone couldn't help but speak up: "Prefect, this—"

Chen Deshou raised his hand, silencing all sounds.

Keep writing.

"All those who have reached retirement age will have their retirement postponed. The retirement date will be announced later. Those with poor health will be assigned to relatively easy positions such as logistics, archives, and on-call duties. Those with good health will be assigned to wherever there is a shortage of personnel. Each unit will develop its own plan and submit it to the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau for record-keeping."

After finishing writing, Chen Deshou turned around and glanced at everyone present.

“I know what you’re thinking. If you want to talk, go look at the cars stuck in traffic at the highway exit, look at the patients crammed into the corridors of the cancer hospital, and listen to the complaint calls at the market supervision bureau. Tell me, is this the time to talk about rules?”

No one spoke.

Chen Deshou waited five seconds, then turned around and wrote the fourth line.

"Fifth, starting now, Y City will collect the addresses, phone numbers, and various contact channels of all retired personnel."

"Those we can contact, recall them now and assign them to new positions immediately. Those in good health should go to the front lines, and those in poor health should go to logistics. Their salaries and benefits will be paid according to the on-the-job standard, and overtime pay will be calculated as usual. If anyone has any objections, let them come to me."

"They have all raised their fists and sworn oaths. The time has come for the court and the people to test them!"

Isn't this a special case? Aren't you even denying me the opportunity for medical retirement?

Nobody's going to have an easy time!

After writing this line, Chen Deshou put down his pen and turned around.

"What if we can't get in touch with them?" someone asked.

Chen Deshou looked at that person.

It's Old Sun from the Civil Affairs Bureau.

“We can’t get in touch with him,” Chen Deshou said calmly. “All retirement benefits will be suspended for three days.”

The meeting room fell completely silent.

It was so quiet you could hear the hum of the air conditioner vents, the sound of traffic coming from afar outside the window, and the sound of someone swallowing.

“Prefect,” Old Sun began, his voice a little dry, “this…this is no small matter…”

“Three days later,” Chen Deshou interrupted him, his voice still calm, “report it to the disciplinary department.”

110 National Healthcare System

After delivering the forty-eighth order, the sun was already high in the sky.

Zhang Qiliang landed at the station entrance and pushed open the glass door.

"Hello, Uncle Ming!"

A crisp voice rang out from the corner.

Zhang Qiliang turned his head away, and Xiao Bin jumped off the old sofa, clutching something in his hand, his face beaming with a smile that revealed his two missing front teeth.

"Hello, Brother Bin," Zhang Qiliang placed the insulated box against the wall, "Where's your uncle?"

"My uncle ran off to pay a bill and told me to wait for him here," Xiao Bin said, running up to Zhang Qiliang and holding something above his head. "Uncle Ming! This is for you!"

It's a pair of sunglasses.

Zhang Qiliang took it and examined it from all angles.

The frames are matte black with sharp lines. The temples are much wider than those of ordinary sunglasses, with the ends slightly tapering inwards. The part that touches the face is covered with a layer of soft rubber.

Zhang Qiliang put on his sunglasses and adjusted their position—the temples fit perfectly against the curves of his cheekbones, neither too loose nor too tight, as if they were custom-made.

"Is it pretty?" Xiao Bin tilted his head back, his eyes sparkling.

“That’s cool,” Zhang Qiliang nodded. “Those glasses are quite sophisticated.”

"Windproof goggles!" Xiao Bin's voice was crisp and urgent. "Uncle said that you fly so fast, the wind must be very strong, and your eyes might be uncomfortable. He gets uncomfortable when he rides his motorcycle fast... Wearing these will prevent that!"

Zhang Qiliang pushed his sunglasses up and looked down at the little guy.

"Why did you think of buying this for me?"

Xiao Bin scratched his head: "This wasn't originally what I bought... I bought sunglasses before."

"sunglasses?"

"Yes!" Xiao Bin nodded. "Last time we were fishing, I noticed you were always squinting, Uncle Ming. I thought it must be because the sun was too strong and hurting your eyes..."

Zhang Qiliang listened with a smile.

That was a nap.

If you're skilled in fishing, do you really need to keep your eyes open and watch the float?

"Then I saw you fly away on my phone right after the shipment was shipped!" Xiao Bin continued, talking to himself, "My uncle said you flew incredibly fast, faster than an airplane! When I looked at them, I realized my sunglasses were no good; the wind was so strong, they'd blow them away! So I quickly returned them and bought these new windproof glasses... and then, I was two days late..."

At this point, Xiao Bin suddenly felt a little embarrassed: "...I don't have much money, I only get two yuan for washing the dishes..."

"Haha," Zhang Qiliang laughed, reaching out to ruffle Xiao Bin's hair. "So, how about going fishing today?"

Xiao Bin suddenly looked up, his eyes wide open: "Really?!"

"real."

"Really?!" Xiao Bin jumped up and down, then suddenly stopped, his excitement fading by half. "But... I didn't bring my fishing rod..."

"Is that necessary?" Zhang Qiliang blinked.

Xiao Bin paused for a second.

Then he smiled, revealing his two missing front teeth, and nodded vigorously: "Mm!"

Half an hour later.