Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1175 - Chapter 1175 Chapter 1131 One Can Only Rely on Oneself

Chapter 1175: Chapter 1131: One Can Only Rely on Oneself Chapter 1175: Chapter 1131: One Can Only Rely on Oneself Nie Zhenbang finished speaking, straightened his clothes, and maintained his usual calm and indifferent expression, exuding the demeanor of someone in a high position. As the top leader of the provincial party committee, it was essential to possess an unassuming yet confident bearing, and at this moment, in front of Ye Dingbang, Nie Zhenbang was no exception.

Setting aside the familial ties between them and their family backgrounds; considering only their abilities, Ye Dingbang was no match for Nie Zhenbang. Although their names both suggested the ambition of stabilizing or revitalizing the nation, it was apparent that Zhenbang was much stronger.

This was evident from the career progress of the Ye Family’s members. Ye Weibang, the second son, was now serving as a major general and chief of staff in the Yuedong military region, a clear distinction. The difference between a provincial military command and a major military region was incomparable. Not to mention that it had almost become a convention in the military for leaders of major military regions to ascend from the position of chief of staff.

Moreover, in terms of official duties, Nie Zhenbang was the undisputed top leader of Longxi Province, tasked with a significant mission, while Ye Dingbang was merely a member of the provincial standing committee, ranked rather low. There was no comparison when it came to party rank and position.

At this time, Nie Zhenbang could not afford to be obsequious; that wouldn’t be respecting another’s wisdom, but rather a self-inflicted insult. If he acted this way, he probably wouldn’t be able to hold his ground in Longxi.

He had already made it very clear that Longxi was about to face an unprecedented shift and embrace unprecedented development. By saying this, he was effectively informing Ye Dingbang that Longxi had a pivotal role in the higher-ups’ plans. The economic development of Longxi would become the core of Xibei. Furthermore, the possibility of forming a Western Triangle economic circle around Longxi to rival the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta economic circles was not impossible.

Anyone but a fool could see from his assignment that, over the years, he was the only provincial or municipal top leader to join the inner circle, apart from those in the four major municipalities and the provinces of Xibei and Yuedong. This alone was sufficient to demonstrate the dramatic change in Longxi’s status.

Patting Ye Dingbang on the shoulder, Nie Zhenbang smiled and said, “Big cousin, let’s get together more when there’s a chance. Working together in the same province is a rare opportunity.”

“Secretary, certainly, I will definitely seek more advice from you,” Ye Dingbang conceded. He had let go of his so-called pride and concern for face.

Having said that, he realized that with limited capabilities, if he wanted to climb the ranks, he needed to embark on a larger vessel, which held its advantages. Against the wind, it could cut through the waves.

Nie Zhenbang felt somewhat relieved by the change in how he was addressed; it showed that Ye Dingbang had come to an understanding. With this realization, things would be better. With the support of the provincial military command and the military, even though his control over the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Political and Legal Affairs Commission was still rather nominal in Longxi, it was, nonetheless, a good start. Taizu’s words were indeed profound–political power grows out of the barrel of a gun; this was undeniable.

…

The next day of work seemed very ordinary, arriving at the office around 7:50 in the morning as usual. True to form, Xia Gang had already arrived, and the office had been cleaned.

Although the provincial party committee building had dedicated cleaning staff, there was an unwritten rule that the offices of provincial and deputy provincial level leaders typically did not allow cleaning personnel to enter.

The reason was simple: too many sensitive matters were involved. At this level, many matters required confidentiality–provincial economic development plans, personnel adjustments, local policy and legal regulations, and so on–all of which needed to be kept secret until officially finalized and ready for public release.

As a result, the secretaries were usually responsible for the cleanliness of the offices. The state of the office’s cleanliness also became one of the criteria for judging a secretary’s diligence.

As for Xia Gang, Nie Zhenbang was satisfied with him so far. The deliberate probing of Xia Gang the previous night had at least not resulted in any leaks within the province. For the time being, Xia Gang was quite reliable.

That morning, Nie Zhenbang focused on studying the economic development ideas for Longxi Province. The tourism resources in Longxi Province were relatively rich, after all, it has been an ancient capital for a millennium, possessing a deep cultural and historical heritage. Additionally, there were plenty of natural landscapes, traditional customs, and red tourism to consider.

But then again, these were all well-known tourist spots that had already been developed to maturity. The situation in Longxi and along the Hongjiang River was different–Hongjiang was known for its beautiful mountains and clear waters, while Longxi was surrounded by poor mountains and harsh waters. The tourist spots that could be developed had already been exploited, with limited potential for deeper exploration. The path of tourism was blocked.

Other aspects included the automobile industry in Ancient City and energy extraction in Shian City.

However, in light of the heavy responsibilities of environmental protection and management, neither of these were particularly reliable. Oil extraction and the automobile industry were both high-energy-consuming enterprises, especially the affiliated petrochemical industry, which was highly polluting. The key in Longxi was not only economic construction and development on one hand but also environmental protection and management on the other.

Even in Nie Zhenbang’s eyes, environmental governance was more important than economic development. After all, from the beginning, he had made a name for himself doing just that. Sustainable development, the Xinli Miracle, the WangHai Model — these were his trademarks, and the development of the Hongjiang River was nothing short of exemplary. Upon arriving in Longxi Province, of course, there was no way he could let his own trademarks be tarnished.

The only thing that could be considered in Longxi at the moment was the development of industry and high-tech industries. How to achieve a balance between development and the environment was a problem Nie Zhenbang had to face, as well as one he needed to consider.

“Xiaoxia, go down to the archives, and bring me the statistical data on industrial data from the province for the past three years,” he ordered through the intercom phone after pressing the hands-free button, instructing Xia Gang.

From the other side, Xia Gang’s voice came through: “Okay, Secretary.”

In less than ten minutes, Xia Gang walked in with a thick stack of documents. Following him, Liu Xiaomin also came in, carrying another stack of documents in her hands.

Seeing Liu Xiaomin, Nie Zhenbang also stood up.

“Secretary, I just happened to run into Xiaoxia. I heard you needed the industrial data files. I didn’t have anything else to do, so I helped him out. There were quite a lot of materials; it was really difficult for him to carry them all by himself. Instead of making another trip, I helped carry some,” Liu Xiaomin said with a smile.

“Xiaoxia, quick, take the documents from the Secretary-General,” Nie Zhenbang directed as he personally went over to the water dispenser and brewed a cup of tea for Liu Xiaomin, “Comrade Xiaomin, you have worked hard. Have some tea.”

Liu Xiaomin was truly a marvelous person; it seemed she always managed to make her presence known at critical moments. This woman had a kind of innate acumen. There was a reason she had made it this far.

Liu Xiaomin did not really sit for too long. She could perceive from Nie Zhenbang’s attitude and tone that the leader did not want her lingering and getting in the way, which would be unwise. By coming over and making herself seen, she had made a deep impression on the leader, and that was enough.

Haste makes waste. It was unrealistic to think of securing the position of Secretary-General in such a short time. More importantly, one had to demonstrate genuine performance. Liu Xiaomin had no doubts about this. She was no longer some greenhorn. Nor could she become a close confidant just by uttering a few words of loyalty. Familiarity was a process. Daily performance, regular work, and the attitude displayed at work — all these were the standards by which one was judged.

Liu Xiaomin was not in a hurry. As far as she could see, Nie Zhenbang had no intention of replacing her. Liu Xiaomin understood that this was her opportunity, and whether or not she could seize it depended on herself alone — no one else could help. The same went for Xia Gang. Each person had to walk their own path.

“Secretary, I’ve heard that there has been news from Jinan City, the Zhao Clan Group case. The special task force has made significant breakthroughs. The provincial department has obtained key evidence,” Xia Gang spoke up after Liu Xiaomin left.

Startled, Nie Zhenbang was somewhat surprised. Xia Gang’s work as a secretary was indeed increasingly outstanding. Besides the dedicated work a secretary had to undertake, it was indispensable for a secretary to act as both the leader’s voice and ears. Sometimes, when a leader did not find it appropriate to speak openly, they needed the secretary to spread the word. At other times, when the leader could not conveniently inquire about some outside news, they needed the secretary to convey it.

Of course, this involved the distinction of a secretary’s ability. A good secretary did not need hints or explicit instruction from the leader to handle these matters well. Undoubtedly, Xia Gang’s performance was satisfactory in this regard.

After pondering for a moment, Nie Zhenbang remained silent. The case of the Zhao Group of Jinan City was bound to have leads, but as for the breakthrough rumored to be significant, that might not be the case. If there had truly been a breakthrough, action would certainly have been taken against Zhao Santai and his son of the Zhao Clan Group. As of now, no such concrete information had reached him, suggesting that even if there had been a breakthrough, it was not likely to be substantial.

“Hmm, Xiaoxia,” Nie Zhenbang slowly began, “take note that tomorrow, remind me, I need to have a conversation with Secretary Jianguo of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.” It was time for him to touch base with Guan Jianguo.

With the case being investigated, it was also time for him to make a statement of support. Otherwise, some nefarious characters would probably be eager to leap out of the shadows.

That afternoon, in the office, he received Director Zhang Hao from the Civil Affairs Department. Nie Zhenbang asked in detail about some issues concerning civil affairs work. The rest of the time, Nie Zhenbang was occupied with reviewing industrial data.

After an afternoon of work, Nie Zhenbang felt quite moved by his insights. The situation in Longxi was neither good nor bad, and his own position turned out to be rather awkward. Support from above was at the policy level — in blunt terms, it was like a blank check. In the end, like Ye Dingbang, Liu Xiaomin, and Xia Gang, everything still depended on him.

Outside, Xia Gang walked in: “Secretary, it’s five o’clock. You promised Director Li from the Publicity Department that you would attend a dinner at her home tonight.” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for it with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets on . Your support is my biggest motivation.)