Put Lin Yanzhou in Charge of the Guangming Peak Project

Li Dakang leaned back on the sofa, scrutinizing Lin Yanzhou with a piercing gaze.

He understood now. Lin Yanzhou did not intend to reject Guangming Peak, but to "remodel" it, operating it in a more refined, more sustainable way.

This was indeed consistent with the philosophy Lin Yanzhou had demonstrated in his remarks at the provincial government.

He weighed it inwardly. If he gave Lin Yanzhou free rein to follow his own approach, the project might advance more slowly. The "speed" he valued above all else would be compromised, and he might not achieve the results he wanted within his term. Without a glittering record of political achievements, his bid for governor would certainly suffer.

But if the project succeeded, its quality and long-term benefits would bring immeasurable returns to the people of Jingzhou and the next leadership team.

As long as he agreed now, the central leadership would surely acknowledge his initial support for the project later, and that acknowledgment would undoubtedly bring even greater benefits.

Moreover, just as he had analyzed earlier, Lin Yanzhou needed political achievements. He would certainly try every possible means to make the project succeed.

As municipal Party secretary, he only had to make his support clear. Once the project succeeded, that share of the credit would be his, no matter what position he held.

More importantly, he saw the possibility of cooperation. What Lin Yanzhou displayed was not a posture of challenging his authority, but the sincerity and ability to solve problems.

"Fortify every step, advance on solid footing," Li Dakang murmured to himself.

"Good! Yanzhou, listening to your words is worth ten years of study!" Li Dakang rose and paced a couple of steps.

"I was a little too impatient for results before, always wanting to create something impressive and show achievements as quickly as possible. But you've opened my eyes. High-quality development is the truly unshakable principle! It's also what those above most want to see!"

He walked over to Lin Yanzhou. "For the Guangming Peak Project, my thinking is that you should oversee the coordination and top-level design, while Ding Yizhen handles the actual implementation!"

"As mayor, it's perfectly reasonable for you to take personal charge of a major economic project. What do you think? Whatever support you need from the municipal Party committee, I'll coordinate it personally!"

To some extent, this proposal was exactly what Lin Yanzhou had hoped for. Only by becoming deeply involved could he pull this potentially wayward project back onto the right track.

But he showed little delight. Instead, he paused thoughtfully and said, "Secretary, this is a major project with a broad scope. Would it be appropriate for me to oversee its coordination and top-level design? After all, this is an overall undertaking settled by the municipal Party committee."

"Why wouldn't it be appropriate?" Li Dakang swept his hand. "You're the mayor. Taking charge of the economy and projects is rightfully your job! Between the two of us, one will steer the direction and the other will handle the actual operation. That's pearls and jade joined in perfect harmony! I believe that with your ability and background, you'll certainly make this project a success-and an outstanding one!"

He deliberately placed a little extra emphasis on "background," but quickly covered it with his enthusiasm.

Lin Yanzhou understood perfectly. Li Dakang had made up his mind to push him to the forefront, while also hoping to draw on the resources behind him.

This was an opportunity, and also a test.

He stood. "Since you trust me, Secretary, I'll give it everything I have. I'll assemble a team as soon as possible to conduct deeper research into the Guangming Peak Project and refine its planning, then produce a more scientifically grounded, feasible proposal for the municipal Party committee's review."

"Good! That's exactly what I wanted to hear!" Li Dakang patted Lin Yanzhou's shoulder with satisfaction. "As for the details, go ahead without holding back! If you encounter resistance, come straight to me!"

Li Dakang gestured for Lin Yanzhou to sit down again and continue their detailed discussion. He took out his cigarettes and offered him one, and Lin Yanzhou immediately lit Li Dakang's cigarette for him.

Their rapport was like that of old friends.

Lin Yanzhou exhaled a puff of smoke. "Secretary, is Comrade Yizhen's backside clean? With a project this big, if something goes wrong because his backside isn't clean, the losses will outweigh the gains."

Hearing Lin Yanzhou's words, Li Dakang sank into thought. The secretary of the discipline inspection commission had forwarded some materials for him to read, and now he could not be certain whether Ding Yizhen was clean.

"Comrade Yanzhou, have you heard something, or do you have any thoughts? It's just the two of us. Whatever it is, feel free to speak plainly."

"Secretary, have both the discipline inspection commission and the anti-corruption bureau investigate him, to see whether he meets the standards for clean governance, just in case. This project must succeed. Its leadership team has to be solid and reliable."

Li Dakang did not respond, merely lighting another cigarette. After he finished it, he said, "We'll do as you suggest. Have the discipline inspection commissions and anti-corruption bureaus at both the provincial and municipal levels investigate him."

"Also, you can adjust the project leadership team whenever you need to. As long as you deliver results, I'll support you. But I hope you'll pick up the pace. You know I've been in Jingzhou for quite some time. I hope to have a good outcome by the time I leave office. As long as the results are moving in the right direction, I'll support you in everything."

Lin Yanzhou knew Li Dakang had laid his cards on the table. What he wanted was political achievements. As long as something could deliver those achievements, he could sacrifice anything.

Seeing that the cigarettes on the table were almost gone, Lin Yanzhou took a white pack with a five-pointed star printed in the center out of his pocket.

Li Dakang had seen these cigarettes in Zhao Lichun's office. Back then, Zhao Lichun had brought back half a pack from an old leader's home in Yanjing and given him one to smoke.

Lin Yanzhou offered him a cigarette, and he hurriedly lit it, no longer caring whether his stomach could handle it after he had just smoked two packs in succession.

After taking a deep drag, he recalled the taste of the one he had smoked before. That flavor had left a deep impression, so he recognized it immediately: these were special-supply cigarettes.

Li Dakang chuckled and teased him. "Comrade Yanzhou, you had cigarettes this good, and you didn't bring them out earlier? I smoked one a few years ago. It left quite an impression."

Lin Yanzhou had taken out this pack to tell Li Dakang: rest assured, the depths of my background are unfathomable. After all, once people reached their provincial-ministerial rank, they generally had opportunities to see special-supply cigarettes.

"Secretary, that was my fault. I was smoking your cigarettes and forgot for a moment. I brought you two packs of cigarettes from Yanjing." With that, he took two packs of special-supply cigarettes from his briefcase and handed them to Li Dakang.

The look in Li Dakang's eyes changed at once. One cigarette and two packs were entirely different matters. These cigarettes were special-supply items. Only members of Lingyan Pavilion received an unlimited supply; everyone else received limited quantities.

Since Lin Yanzhou could produce two packs, his initial judgment was that someone in his family might well be a member of Lingyan Pavilion. Given his surname, Lin, there were three Lin families in Lingyan Pavilion. He did not yet dare judge which one it was, but any of those three families was an existence he had to look up to.

He immediately put away the two packs on the table, afraid Lin Yanzhou might change his mind and take them back.

The two exchanged a few more thoughts on their preliminary approach to the work, and the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

In the car back to the municipal government, Lin Yanzhou closed his eyes to rest, but thoughts churned through his mind.

The extent of Li Dakang's "delegation of power" and "support" had exceeded his expectations. This was certainly a good thing, but it also meant he had officially stepped into the teeth of the storm surrounding Jingzhou's largest project.

Success would establish his position in Jingzhou in a single stroke, and might even bring enormous political benefits, as Li Dakang hoped; failure could consign him to eternal damnation.

"Sir, back to the office?" his driver, Wu Jun, asked quietly.

Lin Yanzhou opened his eyes. "No, let's visit the Qingshui River pollution remediation site. Notify Luo Yong from the environmental protection bureau and Cheng Du from Guangming District. Have them meet me there at the arrival time shown on your navigation."

Then he called Li Ze and told them to continue discussing the Guangming Peak Project in depth. As soon as he returned from the Qingshui River, he wanted to hear their understanding of the Guangming Peak Project.