Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

"I'll handle the policy. Get the team ready."

Shen hung up the phone and immediately dialed a second number.

"Hello, who is this?" came a slightly aged but strong voice.

"Dean Li, I feel deeply troubled."

The voice on the other end of the phone immediately changed, becoming familiar and cheerful. "General Shen! You're a rare guest. Old Xu was just talking about you a few days ago. What brings you here to call me?"

The director of the Materials Research Institute under China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and a former subordinate of Mr. Xu.

"Dean Li, are you still looking for a city to locate your carbon fiber composite material mass production project?"

"Yes. The project's annual output value is estimated to be over 1.5 billion yuan, and it belongs to the high-end materials that the country is focusing on supporting. Several provinces are eyeing this lucrative opportunity, and each one is offering increasingly higher conditions."

"Let's go to Luzhou. Luzhou has an existing chemical industry base and skilled workers. I want this project."

Dean Li was silent for two seconds. "General Shen has spoken, and I won't back down. The carbon fiber project can be included in Lüzhou's candidate list. But I have to be responsible to the institute; Lüzhou must provide supporting policies at the provincial standard."

"No problem. Wait for my message."

The phone hangs up.

Shen Zhong pressed the intercom button on the table. "Wei Guo, come in."

The door opened, and Zhou Weiguo walked in, standing ramrod straight.

"Within ten minutes, compile the geological survey report, logistics conditions list, and water, electricity, and gas infrastructure indicators for the Lüzhou Development Zone."

"Yes!" Zhou Weiguo turned and left.

In less than two hours, a top-secret military encrypted data packet was sent to Shen Zhong's terminal through a special channel.

Shen Zhong packed the documents and sent them to Huarui Heavy Industry and the Materials Research Institute respectively.

After doing all this, Shen Zhong dialed He Xia's number.

"Are they still working overtime in the building?"

"Yes," He Xia's voice came through the receiver, still flipping through documents.

"Prepare three targeted investment promotion plans and draft supporting policies. The first is for heavy machinery manufacturing, the second for new materials research and development, and the third for new energy batteries." The speaker spoke rapidly, his voice heavy with emotion. "Produce them to the highest standards for a national-level new area. I need to see them finalized within forty-eight hours."

He Xia's pen stopped. "You want to bring in the leading companies in these three sectors?"

"I'll dump the shares. You just take over. Go for it." Shen Zhong said and hung up the phone.

On the top floor of the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee building, He Xia put down her phone. She stood up and pushed open the office door.

"Notify the top officials of the Development and Reform Commission, the Commerce Bureau, and the Planning Bureau to hold a meeting in Conference Room 2 in ten minutes. No one is allowed to take leave." He Xia's voice was clear and firm, sweeping away the oppressive atmosphere of the day.

Handong Provincial Military Region.

Shen Zhong leaned back in his chair and finished reading the last set of historical economic data for Lüzhou on the screen.

He picked up his personal cell phone from the table and dialed the fourth number.

The phone rang twice.

After the call connected, the other party did not introduce themselves, but instead spoke in a tone tinged with respect: "General Shen, it's been a long time. What are your orders?"

Founder of Trina Solar Group, China's largest private new energy enterprise.

"Luzhou in Handong is in need of a super battery factory. Bring your team to take a look."

……

The Provincial Party Committee compound in Handong, the office of the Provincial Party Secretary.

Sha Ruijin stood by the window, gazing at the pitch-black night outside. His trip to Lüzhou had given him insight into He Xia's true nature. A woman outwardly gentle but inwardly strong, it would take at least three months to force her to submit using conventional economic indicators.

But he didn't want to wait three months. Too long, and anything could happen. Shen Zhong could make a move at any time within the military region.

He returned to his desk and pressed the intercom.

"Secretary Guofu, come to my office."

Five minutes later, Tian Guofu entered the house carrying a black briefcase.

Sha Ruijin did not offer him a seat. "Guofu, conventional methods are too slow. The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection should dispatch its best personnel to Luzhou immediately. We cannot only look at the economy; we need a comprehensive examination."

Tian Guofu gripped the handle of his briefcase tightly. "Secretary Sha, what's the official reason?"

"Investigate the selection and appointment of cadres and the approval of major projects. Qian Shouyi left such a mess in Luzhou, I don't believe He Xia can keep things completely clean during her time in charge." Sha Ruijin's glasses reflected the cold light of the table lamp.

"Understood. I'll arrange it tonight."

At nine o'clock the next morning, an unlicensed Toyota Coaster van parked at the entrance of the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee compound.

The first inspection team of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection consisted of six people. The team was led by Tian Guofu's capable subordinate, the director of the Second Supervision Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

They carried three oversized black briefcases with combination locks and walked directly into the municipal party committee building.

Office of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary.

He Xia was reviewing the draft investment promotion plan that the Bureau of Commerce had just submitted. The director of the Municipal Party Committee Office knocked and entered, his face pale.

"Secretary He, the provincial discipline inspection commission's inspection team has arrived. They have ordered the sealing of all files belonging to the municipal party committee's organization department and finance department."

He Xia's gaze never left the documents. "Arrange for them to work in the third-floor conference room. All departments must cooperate unconditionally with the investigation. You need to coordinate well and avoid any resistance."

The director paused, taken aback. "Aren't you going to see him?"

"I have more important work to do. Go ahead and get it done." He Xia signed her name and handed the document to the director.

As soon as the inspection team arrived, they immediately retrieved all meeting minutes and financial approval records since He Xia took office.

In the conference room, six people were engrossed in searching.

"Focus on those two livelihood projects she approved, check for any flaws in the bidding process and any issues with the flow of funds," the team leader instructed.

Four hours later.

"Team leader, the approval process for the livelihood project perfectly avoided all pitfalls, the open bidding process was compliant, and all funds were deposited into a supervised special account. There are no problems whatsoever."

The team leader frowned. "Investigate personnel. Investigate all the personnel files she's touched since she took office."

It was 3 PM. A disciplinary committee officer approached with a file. "Team leader, we've made a discovery. One of the executive deputy district heads promoted by He Xia is named Li Ming. He previously served as the deputy director of the office under Qian Shouyi for two years. He belongs to the high-risk group of people promoted despite having problems."

The team leader's eyes lit up, and he immediately dialed Tian Guofu's number.

In the provincial party committee compound, Tian Guofu finished his phone call and immediately reported to Sha Ruijin.

After listening, Sha Ruijin tapped his fingers twice on the table. "Follow this line of inquiry. Expand the scope of the investigation to cover all personnel changes since He Xia took office. We must find evidence of any transfer of benefits."

Office of the CPC Luzhou Municipal Committee.

He Xia held her water glass, looking out at the gloomy sky. She took out her specially made phone and sent an encrypted text message.

"The Discipline Inspection Commission has arrived; they're investigating personnel matters."

Ten seconds later, the screen lit up. The heavy reply contained only four words.

"Normal cooperation."

The military region of Handong Province. Shen Zhong put down his phone and picked up the dedicated line to call Liu Changchun.

"Governor Liu, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection has gone to Luzhou."

On the other end of the phone, Liu Changchun's hand, which was reviewing documents, stopped. The old fox's mind raced. "General Shen, Secretary Sha didn't discuss this matter at the Standing Committee meeting; he gave the order directly."

"I don't care what orders he gives. You keep an eye on the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection's movements for me. Things must not get chaotic in Luzhou." The deep voice was completely flat.

"Understood. I will have the Provincial Government Office keep a close eye on this," Liu Changchun immediately replied. He knew very well who his current political ally was.

8 PM. Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Tian Guofu sat in his office with the second report that the inspection team had just faxed to him in front of him.

He read the report over and over again three times, and each time he felt a chill run down his spine.