Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1257 - Chapter 1257 Chapter 1212 Must Fight Even If Not Willing

Chapter 1257: Chapter 1212: Must Fight Even If Not Willing Chapter 1257: Chapter 1212: Must Fight Even If Not Willing Throughout the entire first lunar month, making my way to President Qiao’s place essentially marked the end of a chapter–all the necessary visits had been made, all who should be seen had been seen, and all the essential exchanges had been made.

In the conversation with President Qiao, I could sense his earnest intentions, and it was clear that his appreciation was undisguised. I knew very well that my own situation was quite special. Since entering politics, I have had good relationships with Comrades Yuan Kangan and Shen Xiuchao. In fact, ‘harmonious’ might be an even more fitting description. But to be truthful, I am unmistakably part of President Qiao’s camp.

This is also why Director Shen has been lukewarm towards me this time. When it comes to the core competition and planning within Jiuding, Director Shen’s opinion is clear, for Shen Guoquan was his handpicked candidate. He’s just one step away from sealing the deal. There’s no way Shen Xiuchao would abandon Shen Guoquan in favor of me, Nie Zhenbang.

Even President Qiao had to make concessions on this matter. Even at President Qiao’s level, there are rules to the game. Without rules, everything would descend into chaos. In arranging the next generation of candidates, though President Qiao has his own thoughts, he couldn’t afford to compromise either. That’s politics for you.

I shouldn’t presume to guess President Qiao’s intentions, but I’ve done everything I needed to do and made all the necessary moves. Now, during the lull on the fifth and sixth days of the lunar month, I also have my own plans.

Having already worked my way from the top down, it’s time to start from the bottom up. On the evening of the fifth day of the first lunar month, at seven o’clock, today, the entire Dynasty Club is unusually displaying a ‘fully booked’ sign.

All of the Dynasty Club was emptied out by me, Nie Zhenbang, for tonight. This evening, it serves as a gathering for the brothers within the circle.

In the great hall, there were no outsiders present; the waitstaff were all carefully chosen for their reliability and trustworthiness.

On the sofas, Liu Kun, Zhao Xinglong, Li Hua, and Yang Anbang were all comfortably seated. Scattered about them were numerous magnates of the economic world, leaders in their respective industries, and without exception, all businessmen. This is the foundation I, Nie Zhenbang, have built up over the years–a network spanning nearly a hundred people and covering various sectors. Indeed, it’s a grand assembly of the business community.

Many of these enterprises are, in fact, secretly controlled by the Tenglong Consortium and are thus my loyal supporters.

“Third Brother, this scene today is quite extraordinary. You clearly have big plans in the works,” Zhao Xinglong commented as he looked around.

Liu Kun, on the other hand, was unusually silent. Unlike Zhao Xinglong, Liu Kun could be said to be one of the earliest to follow me, Nie Zhenbang. Back in the day, the three of us, along with Yang Anbang, had worked together on the Wal-Mart Group. I vividly remember how I followed Third Brother alone into Russia. All of these memories are clear in my mind.

Liu Kun knows me best and understands the most. There is no smoke without fire. Third Brother’s actions are probably not just for his own sake; the main reason likely lies in this year’s Jiuding competition.

Watching Third Brother, Liu Kun pondered and finally spoke slowly, “Xing Long, don’t be so thoughtless. Keep quiet.”

With that, Liu Kun looked at me, Nie Zhenbang, and asked, “Third Brother, is this because of the Jiuding competition?”

As soon as these words were uttered, the room fell silent. The interests of my faction weren’t just about Nie Zhenbang alone. Take now, for instance; this was merely the economic foundation of the group. Most of them were looking up to me, Nie Zhenbang.

Among them, the most prominent figures, like Liu Kun, Zhao Xinglong, Li Hua, and others, were also scions of established families. Their own families were entwined in this as well, and sometimes it wasn’t just a matter Nie Zhenbang could simply give up on.

When Zhao Kuangyin donned the yellow robe to claim the throne, there wasn’t a lack of his subordinates who sought to snatch benefits for themselves. And now, I, Nie Zhenbang, am in a similar situation. Of course, it’s not yet to the point of a full-blown fallout; with President Qiao in power and the overall situation stable, no one can afford to take a hardline approach. Only by competing indirectly can one tread the proper path.

Moreover, this was only a part of it. Within the system, Nie Zhenbang also had a massive team under him. These people, undoubtedly, also hoped that Nie Zhenbang would continue to rise to new heights at this critical juncture.

Such a situation was actually quite normal. I remember, there was once an entrepreneur who said this during an interview with a journalist.

At the time, the journalist asked, “You are already a super-rich tycoon with a net worth of tens or even hundreds of billions. Money is just a number to you, so why do you still work so hard? Why not relax a bit, travel around the world to tourist resorts every year for vacations? Spending time with family, taking care of children, and enjoying the happiness of family life – isn’t that good?”

Hearing this question, the tycoon smiled and said, “When I started from scratch, I also thought that if I had one hundred thousand yuan, I would be satisfied for life. When I earned one hundred thousand, I began to think about making a million. Once I reached a million, I started thinking about ten million. After getting to ten million, I thought, how great it would be to become a billionaire. When I became a billionaire ten years ago, only then did I realize that, aside from the company, houses, cars, and other real estate, my bank account was actually in the red – I still owed a bank loan. So, I continued to work hard. When I no longer owed anyone any debts, and I thought about retiring to the countryside to give up on my business, that was when I found I could no longer turn back. Today, tens of thousands of people depend on me for their livelihood; I won’t even mention the top management. The middle managers and the workers at the grassroots level are all looking at me. If I stop, tens of thousands will lose their jobs. I can’t face that.”

Actually, this example, though it seems complex, is really quite simple. To sum it up in one sentence, once you’re in the game, you can’t help yourself; Nie Zhenbang’s situation is the same. When he started his career, he wanted to achieve something in the officialdom just like that entrepreneur.

However, as Nie Zhenbang stepped out of Xinli County and came to his current position, just like that entrepreneur, he found it hard to dismount the tiger he was riding. To retreat or shy away would be a disrespect to his own team. Nie Zhenbang’s future and destiny were no longer merely personal matters. Behind him lay the interests of too many people.

After a moment of contemplation, Nie Zhenbang looked up at Liu Kun and said, “Kun, I don’t want to say too much. Just remember one thing. No matter what the situation, we mustn’t underestimate this issue. For now, inaction is better than action. I have my own plans, and those above have their strategies. Anyone who dares to mess around shouldn’t blame me, Nie Zhenbang, for disregarding our brotherly bond.”

Looking at Liu Kun, Nie Zhenbang felt compelled to start giving warnings. Some things were not so easy. There were too many entangled and complex issues involved. A slight misstep could lead to an irreversible disaster.

After a moment of contemplation, Nie Zhenbang spoke slowly, “My problem is actually an age issue. In the last few days, having visited Director Shen, President Qiao, and President Mu, it seems that those above have already reached a clear conclusion. This is quite normal. Now, what I’m considering is not my own issue; the reason I’ve gathered you all here is mainly to think about Ling Baodong’s situation in Yuzhou City.”

Yes, Ling Baodong. Now, he and Li Guohua were in a heated battle, trying to gain momentum for their future positions. Since he no longer had any hope, then, after weighing all factors, the most threatening person had to be taken down.

The affairs within the system had too many variables. The next term was too far off, still twelve years away. Even if only considering eight years, that was still prohibitively long. What could happen in those eight years? Who could guarantee what Ling Baodong would do after joining the inner circle of power? The best course of action was to pull Ling Baodong down.

“I think the third brother’s opinion is very sensible. Ling Baodong himself has never been on good terms with the third brother, and now he’s getting along with Li Guohua splendidly. He is indeed someone we need to be cautious of,” Li Hua pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

Everyone knew that Ling Baodong’s son, Lingxiao, was personally sent to prison by Nie Zhenbang. Ling Baodong spoke nicely, claiming that ‘the law should apply to everyone equally’, and during interviews with journalists, he even made a high-profile declaration that Lingxiao was his son and that he felt deeply pained and regretful for his son’s criminal actions. He also felt sorry for not educating his son properly, which resulted in his son’s reckless disregard for national law. Now that his son had been arrested and was in prison, it was the best outcome for him. He believed in the fairness and justice of the law and resolutely supported and defended the authority of party discipline and national law.

All these words were lofty and seemed just, but they were nothing more than a deception for the public. From this, it was clear that Ling Baodong could take advantage of his son’s imprisonment to promote his image as an upright and selfless individual. This shows that he was extremely good at biding his time. If Ling Baodong were to secure a position in the core of power, it would pose no small trouble for Nie Zhenbang, no matter what position it was.

Moreover, judging from Ling Baodong’s qualifications and track record, it was highly likely that he would take on the role of the second-in-command. If that were to happen, the threat would be even greater. It’s known that the elections are usually led by the departments of the previous second-in-command.

As Li Hua finished speaking, Yang Anbang, Nie Zhenbang’s brother-in-law, and also his brother-in-law in a double sense, slowly said, “I’ve heard that Ling Baodong has a lot of popular resentment in Yuzhou. They say he’s too overbearing and authoritarian. It appears this isn’t just a baseless rumor.”

Yang Anbang’s words undoubtedly represented his stance. They had just started discussing how to suppress Ling Baodong, and he had already pointed out some flaws and directions. What this implied was self-evident. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (NovelFire.net) to cast your vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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