Chapter 623: Statement to Tian Shi

I left the Zaocheng Grand Hotel; some small details, about what resources the Cui Family can mobilize,

This matter I'll leave to Yang Tao. Anyway, Yang Tao is idle either way.

I can't care about everything.

I quickly arrived at the Zao Chengshi office building.

I had already communicated in advance with Secretary Qin,

Secretary Qin also explained the situation to Tian Shi.

Tian Shi immediately had me come to his office for a detailed talk.

I arrived at Tian Shi's office, knocked and entered.

Tian Shi was looking at documents.

Tian Shi saw me come in and said, "Jianqiang, have a seat,"

I was looking at the documents from above and below,

How to convert production capacity, eliminate backward basic industry, and develop toward new industries.

This report is written too well; I feel it was written just for our Zaocheng,

Our Zaocheng has been continuously developing by utilizing underground resources these years.

How many years have passed, and how much coal remains underground in Zaocheng to be mined?

Our resources are about to be exhausted.

What to do if they are exhausted?

If a city's development lacks driving force support,

it will immediately become a dead city.

But many of us basically lack this awareness, still believing that Zaocheng's coal can continue to grow and strengthen.

It's truly ridiculous.

Jianqiang, you came at just the right time.

We need to have a good talk.

I smiled,

"Tian Shi, what you're saying, you're talking about big-picture matters; I, on the other hand, just want to chat about some personal affairs."

At this moment, Xiao Long knocked and entered from outside; he was preparing to report something to Tian Shi.

Seeing me sitting in the office,

"Grandpa, you've come. Grandpa, what tea would you like?"

Tian Shi said, "Xiao Long, your grandpa has come, you only see your grandpa now; you didn't even ask what tea I'd like."

Xiao Long felt a bit embarrassed.

I said to Xiao Long, "Xiao Long, I'm casual; if you have something to report to Tian Shi, go ahead; I'll step out."

Tian Shi said, "Jianqiang, no need, Xiao Long, go ahead and say what it is."

"Tian Shi, Zhuang Shi from Huaihai City will come tomorrow for an inspection; I want to ask who will be arranged to accompany Zhuang Shi to inspect some key projects in the city."

"Oh, this matter. Let Secretary Qin look at tomorrow's work schedule; if there's nothing especially important, I'll accompany him the whole way." Tian Shi said.

"Okay, Tian Shi, I understand, grandpa, you guys chat." Xiao Long said and then hurried out.

Soon after, two cups of water were poured for me and Tian Shi.

After Xiao Long left,

Tian Shi looked at me and happily said, "Jianqiang, this child Xiao Long is very sensible; I now have many matters that I let him handle,"

and he handles them very well, truly inheriting your true teachings.

You recommended a very capable young person; I want to thank you sincerely.

I quickly said, "Tian Shi, you're being polite. It's you who gave Xiao Long the work opportunity; otherwise, this kid could only muddle through society."

No matter how capable a person is, without a platform they amount to nothing; I should properly thank you.

"Alright, let's not be polite between the two of us."

"In short, I will properly nurture this child Xiao Long; you can rest assured." Tian Shi said with a smile.

"Xiao Long, treat him as your own child and boldly make use of him. Has Secretary Qin reported to you?" I asked Tian Shi.

"He has reported, so I'm letting you come over quickly to speak clearly in person."

Talk about your ideas.

"I'm all ears to listen." Tian Shi said.

"I dare not; I'm merely stating my ideas to Tian Shi; there may be shortcomings, please also ask Tian Shi to understand more."

"Have a smoke first, then we'll talk." Tian Shi tossed me a cigarette.

Also White General; Tian Shi, influenced by me, also smoked White General.

I looked at the White General,

quickly took out a lighter, stood up and lit Tian Shi's cigarette,

we both lit our cigarettes. After taking two puffs,

I then said, "Tian Shi, regarding the document matter you just mentioned, I also feel deeply moved."

Zaocheng's development over these years truly cannot be separated from coal; it once had the reputation of a coal city,

coal mining here began from the late Qing to early Republican era,

and we established China's first truly modern coal mine.

We introduced many advanced facilities from outside.

I won't go on about that here.

What I want to say is, Zaocheng developed from an unknown small village into today's big city, entirely relying on the support of underground coal resources.

But coal resources are ultimately limited,

With the modernization of mining industry, a coal mine's lifespan from construction to depletion is shorter.

Just as you said, how much resource do we still have left to use? Take Qi He Kuang as an example,

A mine built in the 1970s,

it has been over forty years now,

I asked Mine Director Chen, who has worked at the mine since its construction, and he said Qi He Kuang has only about five good years of mining left; the remaining coal resources are difficult and costly to extract.

Qi He Kuang is just a small mine; compared to Zaocheng Mining Group, it's insignificant.

But have you looked around Qi He Kuang?

Everywhere there are subsidence areas.

These subsidence areas have destroyed good farmland and villages.

Since I took over Qi He Kuang, three villages have already been relocated around it.

If mining continues, more villages will have to be relocated.

The cost of coal mining keeps increasing.

I came to see you today not to report on coal matters.

I also don't want to develop in this area.

The other day, when I saw you, I suggested we find a sustainable path.

This path does not involve playing tricks on resources.

I have been thinking about how to proceed appropriately.

Recently I went to Xue County and suddenly heard something,

that Xue County has a huge historical and cultural industry waiting to be tapped.

The ancestor of cart-making, Xi Zhong, was a native of Xue County,

and the fief of Meng Changjun, one of the Four Lords of the Warring States, lay in Ancient Xue Kingdom,

Ancient Xue Kingdom is today's Xue County.

I saw the city walls left by Ancient Xue Kingdom,

over two thousand years of history have been submerged.

No one has ever mentioned it.

Zaocheng does have history, we just haven't excavated it.

Our development these years has only focused on immediate profit, never considering long-term matters.

Actually, historical and cultural heritage continues to be left behind,

the things here are inexhaustible to excavate.

In Xue County, the situation I saw is that, due to geographical limitations, the city's development remains stagnant.

There is no industry; everything relies on agriculture.

Agriculture can only solve ordinary people's food and clothing needs, letting ordinary people become wealthy,

but there is still a big gap.

I think Xue County is a piece of uncultivated virgin land,

with many places worth developing."

I began to speak at length to Mayor Tian Shi.

And Tian Shi listened with great interest.

I paused briefly.

Tian Shi took a sip of water here,

"Jianqiang, you spoke very well,

it shows you have thought deeply.

I think you are a person with ideas; I had already seen that,

Xue County really needs someone to develop it.

That Cui Chengshan is basically useless; what use is keeping such a cadre?

"Jianqiang, if really necessary, dismiss him."

I quickly waved my hands and said: "Mayor Tian Shi, you misunderstood my meaning; even a skilled woman cannot cook without rice, no matter how capable Cui Chengshan is.

This has nothing to do with Cui Chengshan.

I have already met and talked with Cui Chengshan.

He also has some ideas, but lacks the ability to implement them.

I not only met Cui Chengshan, but also met Cui Rulin.

I expressed all my ideas,

Cui Rulin expressed that she would fully support our development of Xue County.

He is letting Cui Chengshan be further promoted."

"Jianqiang, I don't understand why you protect him when Cui Chengshan is clearly a mediocrity. This guy hasn't achieved anything in Xue County, messes around, and takes bribes. What use is keeping such a person in Xue County?" Tian Shi asked directly, bewildered.