Name: My father is Zhao Dehan, and I hope he will become a dragon!

The provincial party committee compound is shaded by plane trees.

Zhao Dehan now lives in a standard house for deputy provincial-level officials—a detached house with a yard, and a guard post a hundred meters away, which is both prestigious and understated.

Several magnolia trees in the yard have just sprouted buds. The spring chill has not yet dissipated, but they already show a hint of new life.

Zhao Dehan is now a very popular figure.

Upon arriving in Handong Province, the issue of faculty and staff salaries was easily resolved, as well as the conflict between Dafeng Factory and Shanshui Group.

Parachuted-in cadres, rescue-style cadres.

Zhao Dehan wielded an astonishing amount of power.

The Audi stopped.

Zhao Chongming came out: "Dad!"

Zhao Dehan pointed to a young man beside him and said, "Chongming, this is Secretary Chen!"

"Hello, Secretary Chen!" Zhao Chongming shook hands with Secretary Chen.

Secretary Chen greeted him politely, "President Zhao!"

They exchanged pleasantries for a short while.

Zhao Chongming then went home with Zhao Dehan.

After dinner, the father and son sat in the living room.

Zhao Dehan, wearing a gray cashmere sweater, brewed a pot of Longjing tea, while Zhao Chongming leaned back on the sofa, playing with a Nova prototype in his hand, and recounted his meeting with Li Dakang that day with a smile.

"It seems that Li Dakang still supports us!" Zhao Dehan nodded.

"That's obvious. I'm giving him political achievements; it'll only benefit him!" Zhao Chongming smiled. "Besides, I'm not just an ordinary real estate businessman; I'm a legitimate manufacturer. The economic impact I can generate will be substantial!"

At this point, Zhao Chongming smiled and continued, "As long as the industrial park is established, as long as Guangming District brings hope to people, Dad, you won't have to worry about zero land transaction volume anymore. Your position as vice governor will be completely secure!"

A hint of anticipation appeared in Zhao Dehan's eyes.

Although being a director in Beijing is quite nice, the work isn't tiring, and there are plenty of people coming to give you money.

However, on the other hand, it's also good to be able to serve more people.

Nowadays, Zhao Dehan is increasingly enjoying the feeling of having great power. He didn't feel it when he was in the capital, but now, he can hold a meeting and say a few meaningless words, and immediately receive a round of applause.

Like a little sun in Handong.

At first, Zhao Dehan wasn't quite used to it, but now he's starting to enjoy it.

"Dad!" Zhao Chongming asked, "How are things on your end?"

"Sha Ruijin contacted me today."

Zhao Dehan spoke calmly, "We plan to go to Lincheng for an inspection the day after tomorrow."

"Lincheng?" Zhao Chongming looked up. "That old industrial base?"

"Yes." Zhao Dehan nodded: "It used to be a mining site, but now it's become a tourist attraction. Li Dakang used to be the Party Secretary of Lincheng City!"

"He's dragging you along to investigate Li Dakang!" Zhao Chongming laughed. "The fact that he's dragging you along means he trusts you!"

"That's the idea!" Zhao Dehan pondered for a moment, then said, "Speaking of which, Li Dakang's abilities are quite impressive. Lin City's GDP was among the lowest back then, but he managed to get it into the top three!"

"Yes, that's true for many resource-based cities. Once the resources are gone, the city collapses. His ability to develop a resource-based city that has been hollowed out is remarkable!" Zhao Chongming agreed with this.

Zhao Dehan pondered for a moment, then added, "I also met with Governor Liu today."

"What did Governor Liu say?"

Zhao Chongming's eyes flickered slightly.

In the original story, Governor Liu was about to retire and basically didn't show his face much. But who can say that this governor who was about to retire didn't have any ability?

"Um."

Zhao Dehan lowered his voice: "It was nominally a 'work exchange,' but I took the initiative to talk to him for two hours. Governor Liu has suffered these past few years—being suffocated by Gao Yuliang despite holding the title of governor."

He paused, his tone grave: "I've reviewed the minutes of provincial government meetings from the past five years—major decisions were basically made by Gao Yuliang. Even Governor Liu's power to make personnel recommendations has been sidelined. The Han University clique has been controlling everything for quite some time now."

Zhao Chongming wholeheartedly agrees with this point.

Gao Yuliang's Han University clique consisted entirely of his former students and associates, forming a natural group based on teacher-student relationships. Furthermore, his past success in currying favor with Zhao Lichun in Lüzhou propelled the Han University clique to new heights in their careers, demonstrating that the power dynamics operated from the bottom up.

With so many former students and officials gathered together, they outwardly obey but inwardly defy your orders, Governor Liu. You really have no way to deal with them.

Sha Ruijin was ultimately able to deal with Gao Yuliang for two reasons: first, he carried the highest order from the capital, wielding the imperial sword; second, he won over Li Dakang, using the secretariat to deal with the Han University gang.

This is how parachuted-in cadres usually do things.

Pull one faction and attack the other.

Zhao Chongming put down his phone and sat up straight: "So, Governor Liu wants to promote you to a higher position?"

"It may not be about helping."

Zhao Dehan shook his head: "But he needs someone to inherit his political legacy. He hasn't cultivated a successor himself, and he's unwilling to retire now that he's about to step down."

Zhao Chongming smiled: "It seems that your performance on Dad's side has won Governor Liu's approval!"

Zhao Dehan said, "You could say that!"

Zhao Chongming stood up and analyzed as he walked:

"First, we must get close to Governor Liu. Although he has stepped down from his post, he still holds three things in his hands:"

First, many people in the provincial government system were his former subordinates, and these were political resources that could be utilized.

Secondly, the provincial CPPCC and the provincial people's congress still have influence;

Thirdly—and most importantly—he possessed a list of cadres "suppressed by Gao Yuliang." These people are your future core group, Dad.

I definitely can't join the Han University gang; if I did, I'd just be subservient to Gao Yuliang.

The secretariat won't work either; Li Dakang won't be convinced by you. You might be more like Sha Ruijin.

So, it's Governor Liu.

Zhao Dehan nodded slightly.

"Secondly," Zhao Chongming continued, "who he wants to promote, you should discuss it with him. Tell him that Gao Yuliang's list is not quite reasonable and should be adjusted. You've just arrived in Handong Province and are not yet familiar with all of this. Why don't you ask Governor Liu for advice? Don't be too blatant!"

"It's easy for Governor Liu to choose people, but how can we guarantee their promotion?"

Zhao Dehan frowned: "Sha Ruijin has frozen all personnel appointments."

"It is precisely because of the freeze that there is room for maneuver."

Zhao Chongming sneered: "Gao Yuliang is eager to unfreeze Qi Tongwei's group, but Sha Ruijin is unlikely to give in. At this time, if someone proposes 'replacing the old with the new'—for example, replacing the opportunists in Gao Yuliang's faction with pragmatic cadres recommended by Governor Liu—do you think Sha Ruijin would consider it?"

Zhao Dehan's eyes lit up, and then he said, "Gao Yuliang won't agree!"

"This is the third one!"

Zhao Chongming looked directly at his father: "He will agree. It's impossible for Gao Yuliang to remain completely inactive after freezing the list. He'll try to win you over, hoping you can help him unfreeze it. Then you can take the opportunity to ask Gao Yuliang to give you some of the spots!"

"This is an exchange of political resources!"

Zhao Dehan looked at Zhao Chongming with shining eyes: "Good son, it's such a pity you're not an official!"

"No thanks! I'm not used to these bureaucratic rules. I prefer to be free!" Zhao Chongming laughed.

Father and son exchanged glances, their understanding unspoken.