In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 124 Offensive and defensive changes
Fangshi, a state-run hotel.

In the elegantly decorated coffee shop, Lin Zhiyan lay bored on the table, her eyes fixed on her phone.

While eating her cake, Lu Xiaotong asked, "Sister Lin, are you waiting for Uncle Zhao to call you?"

"Hmph, who would wait for his call?"

Lin Zhiyan gave her signature light snort, her expression revealing only a hint of disdain; one might have thought she utterly loathed Lu Zhao.

At first, Lu Xiaotong also had the same suspicion, but now she is certain that Sister Lin is simply a proud and aloof person.

In affluent families like these, children are pampered and spoiled from a young age, and are often reluctant to admit that they are pursuing others.

A strong sense of self-esteem can make them behave in a somewhat awkward or hesitant manner.

Lu Xiaotong thought of some boys from elementary and middle school who liked to tease her and then confess their feelings to her one after another after graduation, which was quite boring.

'Sister Lin isn't being honest enough. When dealing with someone like Uncle Zhao, being direct is always the most effective approach.'

She asked, "Is Uncle Zhao in trouble?"

"big trouble."

Lin Zhiyan smiled and said, "The border garrison he took over faces both opportunities and crises. If no one helps him, he will likely be punished."

She had been keeping an eye on Lu Zhao's situation.

I was quite worried at first, because problems with grain production are no small matter and can easily lead to disciplinary action.

But then I thought, if Lu Zhao doesn't encounter difficulties, how can I make him owe me a favor?

That day, when he met Aunt Ding, she reminded him that Lu Zhao was not a servant of the Lin family, and that the favor of being helped was not a contract of servitude.

In the Federation, it's common for senior officials to mentor junior ones; the relationship between Wu Hou and his secretary is a prime example. He transfers his political assets to a capable subordinate, ensuring the continuation of his influence and providing protection for his family after his death.

If she only mentors him, she won't be able to keep Lu Zhao.

Only by making him owe more and more favors can he stay by your side indefinitely.

This might seem a bit selfish, but everyone has to look out for themselves.

Senior Lu, please don't blame me.

Ring ring ring!
Suddenly, the phone rang. Lin Zhiyan picked it up and saw that it wasn't Lu Zhao. His face visibly fell.

After the call was connected, Zhao De's voice came through.

"Team Leader Lin, I apologize for calling."

"If you have something to say, I'll hang up if it doesn't matter."

“I heard that Lu Zhao has recently run into some trouble, and I happen to have some information that can help him.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyan became interested.

While her connections could certainly solve the problem, a phone call to Cangwu led Liu Hanwen to order the Level 1 group to kick Wei Jiahong.

A temporary municipal executive, he's really taking himself too seriously.

But this is undoubtedly a violation of regulations, and it will become ineffective if used too often. Then Liu Hanwen will nag her again, telling her to stay away from officialdom.

Liu Hanwen never wanted her to enter officialdom; he believed that a peaceful and prosperous life was enough for her.

However, if she can provide sufficient evidence, then it is not a violation of the rules, and Liu Hanwen will think she is capable.

Zhao De said, "Some intelligence about the Wei family's grain can solve Lu Zhao's problem immediately."

"That is indeed very useful."

Lin Zhiyan asked, "What do you want?"

"I would like to ask Miss Lin to be lenient and let me off the hook."

Zhao De adopted a very humble attitude because Lin Zhiyan was indeed the only one who could save him at the moment.

As long as Liu's faction doesn't seek revenge later, Zhao De can still hold an important position thanks to his connection with Chen Wuhou.

Because he is a third-tier transcendent being, and is very likely to break through to the fourth tier.

The Federation has always treated individuals of this caliber with leniency. Even if they make mistakes, as long as they are not matters of principle, no one will make things too difficult for them.

But with the Chen and Liu factions locked in fierce infighting, Zhao De felt he wouldn't be able to weather the storm unscathed.

After a moment's consideration, Lin Zhiyan said, "I can't guarantee whether it will succeed or not."

“Team Leader Lin’s promise is enough,” Zhao De said. “I will help you protect Lu Zhao; you don’t need to do anything.”

Seeing that the other party was so cooperative, Lin Zhiyan smiled and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Mayor Zhao. Remember to inform Lu Zhao when the time comes."

"nature."

The phone hangs up.

Lin Zhiyan pinched Lu Xiaotong's nose and said, "Xiaotong, don't let this slip, or I won't buy you a cake."

"Xiao Tong's mouth is tighter than the Great Wall!"

Lu Xiaotong nodded repeatedly.

As long as Uncle Zhao is alright in the end, that's all that matters. She's still hoping that Uncle Zhao will become a hero one day.
-
July 20th, the threshing ground.

Military trucks brought rice to the village, and soldiers and villagers worked together to unload the bags of rice.

Those who had previously occupied the threshing grounds no longer resisted as stubbornly as before, thanks to the intervention of their respected elders in their respective villages.

Upon seeing this, the person in charge of the grain depot immediately jumped out and shouted, "What are you doing? Don't you know the rules and regulations? Grain needs to be transported by a special fleet of vehicles."

From a federal perspective, setting grain rations often takes into account reserving enough for farmers. However, in reality, there are various informal "taxes and levies," and transporting grain to grain depots is a considerable expense.

Each household has to pay an extra 300 yuan in transportation fees every year. If they don't use the trucking company designated by the grain depot, they will be deliberately harassed, and some will simply be refused entry into the warehouse.

These are matters beyond the jurisdiction of the federal government; they fall under the responsibility of local officials.

Previously, Lu Jinshan was in charge of the Ant Territory.

Although they did not have the right to expropriate agricultural products at that time, the border station did have the right to supervise, because maintaining production activities within its jurisdiction was one of their main responsibilities.

However, Lu Jinshan always bowed and offered a toast to Wei Jiahong. The border guard, with cold eyes, stood at attention and saluted, saying, "Comrade, according to Commander Lu's instructions, all agricultural production within the Ant Ridge jurisdiction will henceforth be the responsibility of the village's grain and farmers' association, while transportation will be arranged by the border station."

"This is Comrade Zhao, a director of the village's grain and farmers' association, who has the authority to guide the work of the grain depot."

Facing the head of the grain depot, Zhao Lizhi subconsciously lowered his head and said in a somewhat humble voice, "Director Li, this is an instruction from the border station..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was immediately interrupted.

The head of the grain depot jumped up and down, saying, "I don't care what your instructions are. The city hasn't issued any documents at all. You need to hire a special convoy to transport the grain into the depot."

The grain depot's biggest source of income each year is transportation fees, which is practically like cutting flesh off its own body!

Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. No matter what rank they are, every household must pay 300 yuan for transportation!
The border guards ignored him and turned to instruct the villagers to continue moving the grain.

As bags of rice were being carried inside, the person in charge went forward to argue, which quickly escalated into verbal abuse and then physical conflict.

The moment he threw a punch at the border guard, he was immediately kicked to the ground.

An auxiliary police officer stepped forward, handcuffed him, and prepared to arrest him on charges of disrupting official business and agricultural production.

Border stations only have law enforcement authority over border defense matters, but public security bureaus have law enforcement authority over civil and public security incidents.

What they're calling assisting in the arrest is now called assisting in the arrest.

If the police station can't accommodate them all, then there are assisted detention services.

Dealing with grain depots is easy; dealing with farmers is difficult.

Within the system, powerful figures can crush officials like ants, but when faced with a powerless old farmer, if the farmer punches you, you can't really fight back.

"Director Zhao, please take charge of the on-site work."

Zhao Zhili came to his senses and looked at the grain director, who was like a dead dog. The arrogant look on the director's face kept flashing through his mind.

Just a while ago, I was humbly offering them cigarettes and gifts, and now they're kneeling in front of me.

Before I knew it, I was in charge of directing the grain depot's operations.

Take two steps, head held high and chest out, take two more steps, full of energy!

Take office at the grain depot!

Meanwhile, similar scenes were unfolding in different parts of Ant's territory.

Some grain depot officials chose to remain silent, some more loyal ones stepped forward, and some villagers stubbornly resisted.

Having saved 300 yuan in grain transportation fees, the farmers believed that Lu Zhao was not just making empty promises and immediately responded with great enthusiasm.

Many times, border guards don't even need to act; a large group of villagers rushes in and overwhelms the opponents.

On one hand, there was Lu Zhao's prestige; on the other hand, power had revealed a small crack to the peasants.

It's like punching a hole in a water-filled balloon; in an instant, everyone rushes towards the hole.

Their actions were not for strangers, but for their relatives who were about to become directors of the village's food and farmers' association, or even for themselves.

The opinion leaders in each village, their faces flushed, shouted orders to their relatives and friends to crush everything in their way.

Lu Zhao looked down at all of this.

Using the power techniques taught by his teacher, he sometimes couldn't help but feel a sense of control over everything.

In the teacher's words: "Humans are like livestock; they must be driven by a heavy load of grain."

If used properly, everyone is a puppet on a string, a puppet of interests, while the one who controls resources is a supreme god.

Power is the path to becoming a god.

He reflected.

There are many things he still doesn't understand, but there's one thing he remembers.

If it weren't for the trust of the people of Ant Ridge, he wouldn't have been able to take the first step.

I must always be vigilant against becoming a power-hungry man who is detached from the masses.
-
That morning, before the sun blazed down, production resumed in the area.

Upon receiving the information, Lu Zhao took the following actions.

First, he received a tip from concerned residents in his jurisdiction and dispatched a patrol team to arrest the Wei's Rice Branch, which was buying rice.

Just then, his eldest uncle went to sell grain and was caught red-handed, but since it was his first offense, he was only verbally reprimanded.

However, for a company like Webster's Rice Division, which directly buys and sells federal rice, seriously undermines the public food system, severely damages federal interests, and is of a heinous nature, this is a serious matter.

The border garrison has the right to investigate and detain personnel.

Second, the border garrison reported the situation to multiple departments in the city, including all departments with relevant authority.

The detention was handled by the city's police department, the rice by the city's agriculture department, and the arrest of the federal official by the superintendent.

To escalate the situation.

If Zhao De originally intended to exchange the intelligence he possessed with Lin Zhiyan, then all of this was predicated on his inability to resolve the grain depot issue.

Now that he has solved it, the preconditions have disappeared.

Attacking Wei's grain reserves at this point would certainly alert the enemy and force them to destroy evidence. However, it would also pressure Zhao De, compelling him to take action against Wei Jiahong.

Conversely, if Zhao De doesn't take action, then so be it.

Lu Zhao was not in a hurry; he wouldn't do anything futile. If he couldn't bring down Wei Jiahong today, he would deal with it in the future.

At the poker table called power, it's not about comparing sizes or winning/losing, but about who makes the first mistake.

Zhao De wanted to control himself, and he cared more about seizing the initiative than about how to bring down Wei Jiahong.

To grasp the momentum and guide the development of events.

After doing all this, Lu Zhao put down the phone, leaned back in his chair, and waited for the situation to change.

He looked at the landline, his voice seemingly able to travel through the unanswered call to Zhao De, dozens of kilometers away.

"Zhao Shizhi, the roles of offense and defense have now shifted."

(End of this chapter)