Reborn as a Noble's Son

Nie Zhenbang’s tone was quite moderate, neither rushed nor slow, and his voice was not loud. However, his words gave the impression of earth-shaking. Director Nie really did not give face to the County Party Secretary Zhang Chu Bin. The development zone planning proposal. The two main aspects, the development zone’s area and the future investment attraction strategy – Nie Zhenbang thoroughly criticized both, finding no merit in them.

However, harsh as his words were, they were indeed reasonable. Even Zhao Kunlun, who didn’t have a good impression of Nie Zhenbang, had to admit that Nie Zhenbang’s planning proposal was indeed much more reasonable. Zhang Chu Bin’s plan indeed seemed somewhat overly ambitious and had not taken into consideration Lixian’s economic bearing capacity. As for high-tech enterprises, Zhao Kunlun may not understand, but he did know that he couldn’t find any reasons for high-tech enterprises to settle in Lixian.

That being said, it would take the sun rising from the west for Zhao Kunlun to support Nie Zhenbang. Zhao Kunlun then began to ponder and spoke up, “I find Director Nie’s argument somewhat inappropriate. The Development Zone is the first Economic and Technological Development Zone at the county level in Xibei, excluding Urumqi. A larger area seems like a full consideration of Secretary Zhang for future needs. The initial land acquisition and demolition costs won’t be much higher than those for six square kilometers. However, if the area is expanded over time, the cost of the surrounding land will inevitably rise, possibly making the total cost much larger. It’s better to plan it all at once.”

Zhao Kunlun’s words were very pleasing to Zhang Chu Bin. Shortly thereafter, Zhao Kunlun continued to speak, “Additionally, we can also consider investing in basic infrastructure in batches and developing it in stages. Wouldn’t this solve the problem? As for high-tech enterprises, I think it’s not impossible. Since it’s a designated Economic and Technological Development Zone, we must maintain its image. If it lacks even some high-tech enterprises, wouldn’t it be ‘all show and no substance?’ As for environmental protection, I disagree, The state is currently emphasizing that everything should center around economic construction, and everything should make way for development, for economic progress. There are lots of highly polluting enterprises, like mining and papermaking. There are still so many such enterprises across the whole country, why can’t we have them in Lixian? With such picky choices, how could we develop the economy? Why bother with the Development Zone?”

Nie Zhenbang, for the time being, could only express his opinions and hope that the central leaders in Jingcheng during the New Year would pay attention to his speech. For himself, Nie Zhenbang will definitely strictly implement it.

At this moment, Sun Kewen also nodded. He approved of Nie Zhenbang’s plan with its detailed and data-driven development blueprint that was highly feasible. However, it seemed somewhat narrow-minded, relatively speaking. Sun Kewen also found Zhang Chubin’s plan, although a bit nebulous, to be in line with Lixian’s development trends. If they’re going to develop it, then they should go big and make a splash.

Then, Sun Kewen thought for a moment and said: “I believe both plans have their merits. I think we could consider a compromise where the proposed area of the development zone is set at twenty square kilometers with an initial development area of six square kilometers. As for inviting corporations, we could each try our best. The practice in Yangwu County is good. Each county official has their own quota, with the effort to invite investment being included in performance assessments. In this way, while putting pressure on all county officials, it would also better promote the development of Lixian.”

Zhang Chu Bin was pleased that two attendees of the secretary’s office meeting had already agreed with him, ensuring his success. As for Nie Zhenbang and Xie Yi, it did not matter whether they agreed or not.

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang firmly said, “Regarding this suggestion, I still stick to my own view and reserve my opinion on Secretary Zhang’s plan.”

Xie Yi and Nie Zhenbang exchanged glances at this point. Regardless of whether Xie Yi agreed or disagreed, it did not seem to matter much anymore. Xie Yi then said with a smile, “The old man has his reasons, as does the old woman. I think both plans are very good. Since I’ve just been appointed to Lixian and am still familiarizing myself with the situation, I will not participate in this discussion. My responsibility revolves around party group awareness and organizational work. As for economic construction, I’m not participating. I abstain.”

Hearing Xie Yi say this, Zhang Chu Bin also started to laugh, and then said casually, “In that case, I think we should get to voting.”

The result of the voting was very clear: three to one, Nie Zhenbang lost decisively. Zhang Chu Bin’s plan was approved at the secretary’s office meeting. However, Nie Zhenbang’s plan was also incorporated into the new plan. Once the new plan is officially adopted and approved at the Standing Committee meeting in a few days, it will be reported to the Bazhou Municipal Committee.

Three days later, the Lixian Standing Committee held a regular meeting. At the meeting, Zhang Chu Bin was very active. As soon as the Development Zone plan was proposed, it was immediately passed unanimously. At this moment, Nie Zhenbang couldn’t do anything about it. This was a compromise born out of helplessness. His plan had been thoroughly altered. And with matters already decided in the secretary’s office, if he continued to oppose them, it would be equivalent to opposing the Development Zone plan, contradicting his very own philosophy. Opposing the Development Zone plan would make him look like someone driven by personal gain.

Seeing that the plan had passed unanimously, Zhang Chubin appeared very pleased right now. Immediately after, he smiled and said, “It seems that developing the Economic and Technological Development Zone is what the people want. Since we’ve decided on it, everyone needs to take action. The propaganda department should do good ideological work, and the land and planning and construction departments should also start preparing steering groups. According to the development plan for the Development Zone, they should start preliminary demarcation and planning preparations. The Land Department needs to take action, work with the relevant towns and villages, and start researching and planning on issues such as the demolition and compensation of villagers’ homes, whether to resettle people locally or elsewhere. We also need a detailed charter. The demolition of residences in an area of twenty square kilometers is a big project, and also a complex issue. For this work, I would like Director Nie and the various departments in the county to implement it together. The Politics and Law, Discipline Inspection, and Fire Department must all do their coordinated security work well. The development zone is the most important issue for Lixian. We must ensure it proceeds smoothly from start to finish.”

At this moment, on the side of the county government office building, Nie Zhenbang appeared somewhat gloomy. Zhang Chubin’s plan was simply too crazy. A total area of twenty square kilometers for the Development Zone, for a county-level Development Zone, could be acceptable. But to expropriate and demolish everything all at once – no one has ever done that.

Initially, six square kilometers, in Nie Zhenbang’s view, was a good decision. If half the land area could be developed within five years, Nie Zhenbang would be quite satisfied. The Development Zone can’t exist just for existence’s sake. The project of attracting investment is a long process. Even if contracts are signed, there’s a difference between the contracted investment capital and the actual investment capital, right?

Now, Zhang Chubin and his people are mesmerized by the thriving momentum of Yangwu County. Can Xibei compare with such a developed province as Jiangbei Province? It’s not the same concept at all.

At this moment, in the county government conference room, Nie Zhenbang sat in the main seat in the middle, beside him were the executive deputy county magistrate Bekri and deputy county magistrate Bayaer, Deputy County Magistrate and Director of the Government Office Li Lin, as well as the heads of various departments such as the Finance Bureau’s Lin Weimin, Public Security Bureau’s Chen Le, Construction Bureau’s Xiong Jianming, Transportation Bureau’s Wei Chenglin, and Industrial and Commercial, Taxation, Planning, Environmental Protection, etc.

After a moment of contemplation, Nie Zhenbang gently said, “Regarding the Development Zone, my overall attitude is supportive. However, I feel that we shouldn’t be too hasty about expropriating lands all at once. We should develop and expropriate simultaneously, which is the routine practice nationwide. This would manage the use of funds reasonably and ensure the sustainable development of the Development Zone without the risk of running out of funds halfway through. Director Wei, the Transportation Bureau could consider extending a new avenue from the main trunk road of Lixian, expanding and hardening the existing Kulixian National Road. Also, the Finance Bureau must strictly monitor the use of funds, no one can touch these funds without my approval.”

Right now, Zhang Chubin is ambitious. Nie Zhenbang understands that under this situation, the only thing to do is to control the funds, to keep the funds in his own hands, not to spend them recklessly. This is what Nie Zhenbang is considering at the moment. If the funds are available, the entire scheme still has potential for development, regardless of its area. As for what enterprises to introduce, that’s no longer Zhang Chubin’s decision to make.

Lin Weimin nodded at this moment. In Lin Weimin’s mind, Nie Zhenbang’s words are commands. When he says not to move, it means not to move. Not even Liu Wenqing could change that, let alone Zhang Chubin.

On this side, as soon as the funding from the Finance department was tightened, Zhang Chubin felt it. Xue Daming even hurriedly ran to Zhang Chubin’s office and urgently said, “Secretary Zhang, something big has happened. Over at the county government, Nie Zhenbang has frozen the development funds. Without his approval, no one can get the funds. This Nie Zhenbang is too audacious.”

As soon as he heard this, Zhang Chubin’s face darkened and he immediately stood up, “Daming, make arrangements, prepare the car, I need to go to the city.”

PS: Damn, I’m incredibly annoyed. Yesterday there was such an explosive growth in monthly votes, and today someone has jumped out accusing me of vote-rigging. Damn it, I’ve been minding my own business and they treat me like a pushover. I swear, from the moment this book was listed to when it ends, other than my own account voting thrice, if I rigged any monthly votes, I’d rather die! Is it right to insult someone like this?

Fellow brothers and sisters, I implore you, cast me a monthly vote. Boost the monthly votes, only a continuous explosion of monthly votes will be our strongest counterattack. (