Reborn as a Noble's Son

Chapter 588: Chapter 544: The Governors’ Teacher (Fifth Update, Votes Required)_1

At this moment, Qiao Yiren isn’t mincing words, this isn’t a perfunctory meeting. It isn’t a discussion about abstract theories across different levels of party and governmental bodies. In this context, the aim is clear, it is a typical hands-on meeting. Therefore, Qiao Yiren, right now, is being very straightforward, he nods towards Nie Zhenbang, and smiles, “Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, on behalf of Minan Province, I would like to express my gratitude towards all the leaders of our brother provinces and cities for your attention and support. It’s precisely because of this that we are gathered here now. Going forward, I believe that we can have Zhenbang report some basic information about the current status of the Wangtian Highway.”

After a moment’s pause, Qiao Yiren adds, “I believe we all have some understanding of this project through various channels. What I’m suggesting is, let Zhenbang give us an overview first, this way, we have a clear understanding and can move with purpose, isn’t it so?”

No one would object to Nie Zhenbang speaking. Within the system, there’s an old saying, don’t underestimate a young man because he is poor. That is to say, within the system, it’s better to offend an old official, or an old comrade, than to offend a young official recklessly. After all, the prospects of the older officials are typically set in stone, and offending them may not have a significant effect on one’s career development. However, offending a young cadre carries more serious implications. In these times, where fortunes can change rapidly, who knows if a young cadre could suddenly soar high into the sky and become a leader. Offending them could affect not only your own career but also the prospects of your children.

Then again, this is Nie Zhenbang we’re talking about, his father is sitting right there with him. If someone were to disagree with him, it means offending the Nies, both father and son, hence, nobody dares to imagine the consequences.

These people are quite shrewd, naturally, they wouldn’t do such a mindless thing. Nie Zhenbang paused for a moment, seeing that no one expressed any objection, he stood up.

It’s an expression of his attitude. At the full meeting, only the team leaders of the six provinces and cities attended, with their secretaries behind them, who are responsible for the minutes of the meeting. At this moment, he’s considered a junior here. Basic courtesy still needs to be maintained.

Nie Zhenbang then proceeded to address the leaders, “In recent times, as commissioned by Governor Qiao, I made preliminary contact with Vice Minister Yin of the Ministry of Transportation and Vice Director Xu of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Generally speaking, the overall plan designated by the state this time is codenamed ‘7918’.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Nie Zhenbang went on to explain the implications of ‘7918’. All the leaders present, except for Qiao Yiren and his father, were hearing about this for the first time, many were taken aback. The central government’s plan was disproportionately grand. A construction project of more than a hundred thousand miles of highway over the course of thirty years, was an enormous engineering task.

Nie Zhenbang continued, “This time, from the information I have gathered, the Capital City – Hong Kong Expressway is undoubtedly going to be built, after all, it passes through several provinces along the way, and considering the special status of the Donggang special zone, it is indisputable. In terms of horizontal selection, the Shanghai-Tianjin Expressway may have more advantages over the Wangtian Highway.”

If the Shanghai-Tianjin Expressway is chosen, there would be no issues for Bashu Province and Chongqing city, regardless of how the route is planned, these two provinces and cities would be unavoidable. But there would be no implication for the other four provinces. Clearly, this isn’t compatible with the spirit of this meeting.

From the side, Liu Yong, Deputy Secretary of the Hongjiang Provincial Provincial Committee, and Governor, pondered for a short time and asked slowly,”Zhenbang, if that’s the case, then do we stand a chance with the Wangtian highway? Where do we start?”

The question from Liu Yong is quite deliberate. Liu Yong is a classic scholar-like official. He was previously a Vice President at a university, a deputy ministerial-level bureaucrat. Surprisingly, he was transferred to a position in Hongjiang and become the Vice Governor. After a term, fortuitously, he became the Governor of Hongjiang. However, he didn’t change his old habits much, his favorite approach is to scrutinize his subordinates thoroughly.

None of the other leaders present seemed startled, they all smiled and looked toward Nie Zhenbang. At this point, everyone including Nie Guowei wanted to hear about Nie Zenbang’s strategy.

Nie Zhenbang had given this some thought and prepared for it. At this moment, when Liu Yong asked him about it, he remained calm and collected and replied, “I think it’s a matter of attitude.”

There’s a saying in a book called ‘World Manager’ that goes, “Attitude determines everything while details determine success or failure”. Undeniably, the Shanghai-Tianjin Expressway has a distinct advantage as it connects the largest city in China and the most important province in the west. However, we now have a prerequisite advantage. The support attitudes from different provinces along the route of the Wangtian Highway, as well as the attitudes of Bashu and Chongqing, will surely influence the state’s decision through our early operation.

At this moment, Liu Yong was listening attentively, thoroughly engaged in Nie Zhenbang’s comparison between the Shanghai-Tianjin Expressway and the Wangtian Highway. Without any hesitation, Liu Yong applauded on the spot, followed by the leaders from several other provinces and cities who also clapped their hands.

That is the kind of character academic officials like Liu Yong embody, they are highly politically astute, but also possess some characteristics of intellectuals.

“Indeed, it’s a classic statement. ‘Attitude determines everything, and details determine success or failure.’ With this in mind, one can hardly go wrong with the Wangtian Highway project,” Liu Yong praised earnestly without hesitation.

The government of Hongjiang Province takes the Wangtian Highway project very seriously. Despite being located in the southern part of the country, surrounded by Minan to the east, Wanzhou to the north, and Yuedong to the south, the economic condition of Hongjiang is subpar, ranking near the bottom nationally. Thus, taking advantage of the Wangtian Highway project could be a significant boost to the economic development of Hongjiang. Therefore, Zhang Tianyue, the Secretary of Hongjiang Provincial Committee, and Liu himself, consider this endeavor quite important.

As Liu finishes speaking, there’s a slight twitch at the corner of Governor Qu Jiantuan’s mouth. Chunan Province, where Qu Jiantuan serves as the Governor, is affiliated with the Zhou family. When Zhou Chen needed to lay low, it was Qu Jiantuan who arranged for him to go to Chunan Province. Although the Zhou family’s influence has faded, Qu Jiantuan has closely linked himself with the Li family.

The Wangtian Highway project is pivotal to Chunan’s development as well as to their own prospects. Both Qu Jiantuan and Zhang Tianyue will undoubtedly fully support it. However, this doesn’t mean Qu Jiantuan would let Nie Zhenbang steal all the limelight.

With Nie Zhenbang making his formal entrance into the provincial-ministerial circle, the implications are quite clear. They can’t let Nie Zhenbang rise unchallenged; otherwise, leaders from other provinces and cities might lean more favorably towards him.

Considering this, Qu Jiantuan smiles and says, “Comrade Nie, I’ve heard tales of your economic prowess. Let me tell you, seeing you in action, it’s far from a rumour. While you were working in New Li City and Liangxi, you established public service reception standards. Could you talk a little about it, especially in the context of economic development and Party integrity?”

Qu Jiantuan finds it hard to believe in Nie Zhenbang’s extraordinary abilities. He views the young Nie as just another privileged youth from a powerful Jingcheng family, devoid of any real merit or talent. He believes that Nie’s accomplishments are merely the fruits of a team working behind the scenes for the Nie family.

The primary reason for choosing Nie Zhenbang instead of another from the younger generation of the Nie family was due to President Yuan receiving him and Vice Chairman Shen looking upon him favorably.

Therefore, Qu Jiantuan decides to put Nie Zhenbang on the spot in front of leaders from six provinces and cities. If Nie loses face, it will save the reputation of the Nie father and son.

Upon hearing Qu Jiantuan’s words, both Qiao Yiren’s and Nie Guowei’s faces darken, fully comprehending Qu’s malicious intent. Nie Zhenbang merely smiles – he was never one to back down from a challenge.

Sitting beside him, Qiao Yiren also says with a smile, “Zhenbang, this is a good opportunity for us to become students again and learn from your advanced management experience.”

The leaders from the Hongjiang Province, Liu Yong, as well as those from Qianzhou Province and Chongqing City, remain silent, merely observing from the sidelines. It’s now up to Nie Guowei to step forward.

Nie Zhenbang nods his head, showing no signs of hesitation. Even though those present are his seniors in terms of age and generation, their official ranks are rather similar, so he doesn’t fear them. Slowly, he replies, “Since Governor Qu has asked me, I won’t hold back. I’ll speak a bit more in-depth, let’s discuss the ‘Three Public’ expenditures, which in essence, is a category of controlling public reception standards.”

As the saying goes, ‘an expert’s touch reveals all.’ The moment Nie Zhenbang speaks, Liu Yong’s eyes light up, and the same reaction comes from Yu Cangzhou, the mayor of Chongqing City, and Zeng Fengchun, the Secretary of the Qianzhou Provincial Committee.

Plainly repeating what they already know wouldn’t elicit such a reaction, as anyone who isn’t a fool can recount their own experiences. However, Nie Zhenbang’s novel approach to discussing ‘Three Public’ expenditures is refreshing, making it clear to the three men that Nie Zhenbang is genuinely talented.

Nie Guowei’s face shows a calm smile, his gaze pointed directly at Qu Jiantuan, a vague hint of a challenge in his eyes.

At this point, Qu Jiantuan’s expression also stiffens somewhat. However, he conceals it well with his political skill and smiles, “The ‘Three Public’ expenditures are indeed an interesting topic. I also have been studying this, I am eager to hear Nie’s enlightened views.” (.)