Official Career Storm

Chapter 1573 1573

Zhou Zheng was stunned for two seconds.

Zhang Yan squinted and smiled, seeing his reaction, she said, "What, are you angry? Do you feel like you've been cuckolded?"

Zhou Zheng chuckled lightly and shook his head, saying, "Just a woman."

Then he asked curiously, "How do you know she is involved with Sun Jiajun? If I remember correctly, Sun Jiajun just arrived in Jiangzhou yesterday and started the job today."

"Because I was the one who suggested that she seduce Sun Jiajun."

Zhang Yan said with a half-smile.

Zhou Zheng was a bit surprised and asked, "Why did you do that?"

Zhang Yan replied, "She approached me of her own accord, asking for some advice, so I helped her with a simple analysis."

"You probably don't quite understand her current situation."

"The City Government is now Wu Qiangwei's domain. She offended Song Guanchao, and there's no way Song Guanchao would let her go. And you are far away at the City Committee, it's not possible for you to offend Wu Qiangwei for her. If she doesn't want to be eliminated by Song Guanchao, this is her only path."

Zhou Zheng pondered for a few seconds, then shook his head, saying, "You're not telling the truth."

Zhang Yan raised her eyebrow, Zhou Zheng said, "Come on, tell me, what do you really want by having her approach Sun Jiajun?"

He thought he knew Zhang Yan well enough. Zhang Yan and Shi Qin hadn't really interacted, so how could she bother to strategize for her over a meal?

Zhang Yan slightly parted her red lips and exhaled a puff of smoke towards him, "I just realized, you seem to understand me very well."

Zhou Zheng kissed her lips lightly and wrapped his arm around her slender waist, "After all, we've worked together for so long."

Zhang Yan made a tiny nasal sound and took out her phone, opened a video, and tossed it over.

Zhou Zheng picked it up and was instantly stunned.

In the video, Shi Qin bent down to change shoes, and Sun Jiajun suddenly lifted her skirt and entered her body, ending rather hastily in a few dozen seconds.

"You installed surveillance in his home?"

Upon finishing, Zhou Zheng looked up sharply and scanned the room.

"Stop looking, there's no surveillance at home," Zhang Yan said.

Zhou Zheng cleared his throat awkwardly and asked, "Such a video, doesn't it hold no value?"

Zhang Yan smiled slyly, "That depends on how it's used."

Zhou Zheng was about to ask, but Zhang Yan said, "Provoking a quarrel between Sun Jiajun and Wu Qiangwei is just one of the things you need to do."

Zhou Zheng immediately closed his mouth, wanting to hear her suggestions.

Zhang Yan said, "The provocation mainly aims to affect their relationship. But Sun Jiajun has just arrived and doesn't have enough influence in the City Government. So, even if Sun Jiajun deliberately opposes Wu Qiangwei, it's actually useless because he cannot influence Wu Qiangwei's decisions."

"Therefore, you need to help Sun Jiajun gather a following."

"Secondly, you need to improve your achievements and curry favor with the provincial leaders."

Zhou Zheng smiled wryly, "I have no connections, no backing, the provincial leaders wouldn't give me a second glance."

Logically, after he took the position of City Secretary, provincial leaders should have reached out to him, perhaps invited him to casual meals, or tea.

However, ever since he became City Secretary, not a single Provincial Committee leader had contacted him voluntarily.

This also reflected that even if you got the position of City Secretary, without backing or resources, big shots still wouldn't want to interact with you.

Zhang Yan said, "That's exactly why you need to flatter and please them. If you already had those things, would you need to do this?"

"Opportunities only come to those who are prepared. If you do nothing, opportunities won't fall into your lap automatically."

Zhou Zheng asked, "Do you have any suggestions?"

Zhang Yan advised, "Visit Provincial Secretary Tian when you have time, and Director Zhang of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and try to communicate more."

"Secretary Tian…"

Zhou Zheng frowned, "I remember Secretary Tian and Secretary Gao don't quite see eye to eye, if I visit him and Secretary Gao finds out, it might cause trouble."

Zhang Yan sighed softly, "Even if you don't go, will Secretary Gao esteem you more? Have you forgotten why Secretary Gao promoted you to City Secretary?"

Of course, he couldn't forget.

His position as City Secretary wasn't due to his exceptional abilities but rather because Secretary Gao wanted him to vacate the Mayor's position to bring Wu Qiangwei over.

Hence, he should really thank Wu Qiangwei for his position as City Secretary.

If it weren't for making room for Wu Qiangwei, he might not have had the chance to become the top leader.

"Moreover, it's precisely because Secretary Tian and Secretary Gao don't get along that I suggest you visit him."

This sentence triggered a thought in Zhou Zheng's mind; he vaguely grasped something but couldn't quite catch it.

He frowned, pondering, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yan explained, "When Governor Hou retired, everyone, including Secretary Tian himself, believed that Secretary Tian would certainly succeed him as Governor."

"But in the end, it was Lu Zhizhong who took over as Governor."

"Have you ever thought about why that was?"

Zhou Zheng nodded but then shook his head, uncertainly saying, "Secretary Gao and Governor Hou seemingly didn't want Secretary Tian to succeed."

Zhang Yan agreed, "Secretary Gao and Secretary Tian's governance philosophies don't align, and their views on the future development of Nanjiang Province differ. Their contradictions are irreconcilable, so as long as Secretary Gao remains in power, Secretary Tian stands no chance."

Zhou Zheng asked, "Then why are you suggesting I visit him?"

Zhang Yan said, "As long as Secretary Gao is there, Secretary Tian cannot advance. But what if Secretary Gao isn't there anymore?"

Zhou Zheng's face froze, and he suddenly sat up straight, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yan replied, "Secretary Tian isn't young anymore, if things go by the book, he actually has one last chance to become Governor. But as I said, as long as Secretary Gao is around, he won't achieve that."

"Tell me, Secretary Tian wants to advance, but he's constantly blocked by Secretary Gao. If it were you, what would you do?"

Zhou Zheng stayed silent.

Zhang Yan said, "If it were me, I'd find a way to bring Secretary Gao down."

After a long contemplation, Zhou Zheng asked, "How would you do it?"

"I don't know," Zhang Yan shook her head, "That's not something you or I should be concerned about, I'm merely telling you there's such an opportunity."

"You are a key figure in the Provincial City, and comparatively important to Secretary Tian."

"If you take the initiative to approach him, he definitely won't refuse."

"If Secretary Tian succeeds, then the future of Nanjiang Province belongs to Secretary Tian."

"And you, as an early supporter, may very well be nominated as a Provincial Committee Member, at least from the position of City Secretary."

This analysis made Zhou Zheng's heart skip a beat.

"Am I really that important?" Zhou Zheng asked, "If I were really important, why hasn't Secretary Tian contacted me?"

Zhang Yan sighed, "You were promoted by Secretary Gao, in Secretary Tian's eyes, you are Secretary Gao's person, how could he possibly contact you on his own?"

"True..." Zhou Zheng was so excited he forgot this point.

He pondered Zhang Yan's proposal carefully and became increasingly excited and nervous.

He lit another cigarette, forcing himself to calm down.

However, once calm, a sudden doubt emerged in his mind: why would Zhang Yan make such a suggestion?

He turned his head, looking at Zhang Yan, "Did Secretary Tian instruct you to tell me this?"