Evening.

Song Guanchao arrived at the restaurant early, and when the cold dishes were served, Jiang Yuan arrived.

"District Chief Song, how have you been?"

Jiang Yuan came over and shook his hand.

Song Guanchao vaguely remembered the first time Jiang Yuan invited him to dinner.

It was at the most luxurious club in Lingjiang, and besides him, there was his secretary and two businesspeople.

At that time, Jiang Yuan still held the speech power of the city government.

But times have changed, and now Jiang Yuan is like a deflated balloon.

The power in his hands has been fragmented, and his position can't be promoted.

It's expected that he will stay in the Deputy Mayor's position until retirement.

During the meal, Jiang Yuan talked about everything but didn't get to the point.

Song Guanchao also didn't rush him. If he wanted to go around in circles, so be it.

About seventy percent full, Song Guanchao put down his chopsticks and sipped tea to rinse his mouth.

Jiang Yuan's face turned slightly serious and asked, "District Chief Song, how have I treated you during your stay in Lingjiang?"

Instead of responding directly, Song Guanchao smiled, "If Mayor Jiang has something to say, please go ahead."

Jiang Yuan nodded, "Could you tell Liang Hao to give up the position of mayor?"

Song Guanchao squinted and shook his head, "Mayor Jiang, you must be joking. I don't have the authority to do that."

"Besides, Mayor Liang has been holding on for years, and he's finally seeing the end in sight. Why should he just give it up?"

Jiang Yuan said, "I'll give him the Deputy Mayor position, how about that?"

Song Guanchao still shook his head.

This guy is dreaming.

A Deputy Mayor, a second-in-command, how could it compare to being the Mayor?

Jiang Yuan took out a letter and placed it in front of him: "This is encrypted currency worth twenty million."

Tsk, quite the bold offer.

It seems he's really anxious.

It's understandable.

In earlier years, he stayed in the Deputy Mayor's position, even when given the chance, he didn't actively seek promotion.

This was because, at that time, even as the Deputy Mayor, he wielded absolute power in the city government; even Zheng Bihui had to look at his mood.

But times are different now.

His power as Deputy Mayor has greatly diminished.

The entire Lingjiang officialdom has undergone a major reshuffle.

If he wants to continue to hold power, he must secure the mayoral position.

"For the next Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Committee, I'll vote for you!" Jiang Yuan played his final card.

Yet, Song Guanchao still shook his head.

Jiang Yuan's face turned a shade darker.

The conditions he offered were not inadequate.

But even so, Song Guanchao was unwilling to make concessions.

"Mayor Jiang, you shouldn't be coming to me for this matter. I'm just a lowly district chief. How could I influence Mayor Liang's decision?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

Jiang Yuan grabbed the teacup and forcefully drank from it, speaking in a heavy tone: "District Chief Song, are you determined to oppose me?"

Song Guanchao feigned surprise, "What is Mayor Jiang saying?"

Jiang Yuan said, "Governor Hou is retiring, did you know?"

Of course, Song Guanchao knew, but he still feigned surprise: "I really didn't know."

Jiang Yuan said, "Do you know who the next governor is?"

"I don't know."

"Secretary Tian."

"Oh?" Song Guanchao furrowed his brows.

Jiang Yuan said, "If you help me now, my promise still stands. All I want is the mayoral position, nothing more."

"In Lingjiang, you and I are friends, not enemies. I don't want to make enemies, and I believe you don't either."

Song Guanchao sipped his tea, his eyes flickering.

Jiang Yuan first offered a carrot, then a stick.

Everything revealed his determination to secure the mayoral seat.

However, whether his stick has any deterrent power depends on whether Secretary Tian really can become the next governor.

At least as of now, Song Guanchao hadn't heard anything to this effect, but Jiang Yuan didn't seem to be lying either.

"Liang Hao is currently only a Vice Mayor; let him stay as a Deputy Mayor for a few years. Once I retire, the mayor's position will surely be his, why rush it?"

Jiang Yuan's tone softened again, reasoning with him emotionally and logically, hoping to persuade him.

However, it was clear he expected too much.

"Mayor Jiang, I'm just a district chief; I really can't make decisions about such matters. You shouldn't be looking for me; you should look for Secretary Qu."

"Didn't you say Secretary Tian is going to be the governor? Why don't you have Secretary Tian give Secretary Qu a heads-up?"

"Lingjiang's Standing Committee meeting hasn't even been held yet; it wouldn't take much for Secretary Tian to give a heads-up. I'm sure Secretary Qu will give Secretary Tian this face."

The more he talked, the darker Jiang Yuan's face became.

"Oh, it's getting late, I must be heading back. The doctor said I haven't fully recovered yet, must rest early and not stay up late. Mayor Jiang, enjoy your meal. I've already paid the bill."

Song Guanchao left a smile as he left the private room.

After he left, Jiang Yuan didn't angrily pound the table. Instead, he lit a cigarette and smoked, expressionless.

...

On the way back, Song Guanchao pondered over and over, unable to understand why Jiang Yuan sought him out.

What made him think that Liang Hao would listen to him?

The relationship between himself and Liang Hao wasn't as clear to outsiders.

Yet he had an inexplicable confidence, believing that he could decide Liang Hao's future.

It was understandable that Song Guanchao, being involved, couldn't see the big picture.

But from Jiang Yuan's perspective, what he saw was entirely different.

In Jiang Yuan's view, whom Qu Xiangru and Wu Qiangwei truly wanted to nurture wasn't Chu Xiao'e, nor Liang Hao, but Song Guanchao!

By appointing Chu Xiao'e as Deputy Secretary, promoting Zheng Bihui to City Secretary, and assigning Liang Hao as Mayor, everything was about safeguarding Song Guanchao and paving the way for him!

Therefore, if he wanted to secure the mayoral position, talking to Liang Hao was pointless, and so was talking to Qu Xiangru.

Only by persuading Song Guanchao could there be a change.

However, Song Guanchao was resolute in his attitude.

Faced with his monetary bait and future promises, he didn't waver in the slightest.

Jiang Yuan was very angry, extremely angry.

When he first heard about Chu Xiao'e becoming Deputy Secretary, he thought Wu Qiangwei and Qu Xiangru wouldn't interfere with city government affairs.

Never did he imagine these two women were planning to completely rewrite Lingjiang's political landscape, leaving no room for him at all.

Jiang Yuan felt he had already conceded enough.

They wanted the Judicial Bureau; he gave it.

They wanted the Commerce Bureau and the Finance Bureau; he gave those too!

But now, even the mayoral seat they want to occupy!

Once Liang Hao becomes mayor, he, the once de facto head of the city government, will be completely relegated to history.

His era will be over.

After finishing a cigarette, Jiang Yuan glanced at the time, then found Secretary Tian's number and dialed it.

Secretary Tian was his last hope.

But whether Secretary Tian could change this reality, whether he would be willing to help him, Jiang Yuan wasn't sure.

But regardless, he had to make this call because it concerned his future.

"Hello, Secretary Tian, are you resting?"

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