Chapter 711

Secretary Hong Tao, also known as Lu Fan.

Lu Fan knew this was not just Municipal Party Secretary Hong Tao speaking offhand; moreover, he had issued an order and regarded it as something that could not be taken lightly—it was a political task that must be completed.

Last year, the grassland's total GDP was 26315 hundred million yuan, an increase of 1688 hundred million yuan over the same period last year, which is not bad. But its ranking is only 21st nationwide.

To move up five places, you need to reach 3.42 trillion yuan, which requires an increase of 7885 hundred million yuan—no small feat. Moreover, the competition won't stand still waiting for you to overtake. So to achieve a five‑place rise, you must plan for a GDP increase of one trillion yuan.

If this goal were spoken aloud, there would certainly be people who sneer and scoff, saying Lu Fan is indulging in wild fantasies and daydreams. But if a person has no dreams, what's the difference between them and a salted fish?

Moreover, the grassland has major moves in investment promotion this year, and it is still confident of achieving a GDP increase of 3000 hundred million yuan by year‑end.

One trillion yuan, the grassland has ten cities and two leagues; spread evenly, each city/league gets 833.33 hundred million yuan—this doesn't seem so unattainable.

Among all regions, Yike City is the only league‑city with GDP over 5000 hundred million yuan, reaching 6365 hundred million yuan and firmly leading the province. Being big, it must shoulder big responsibility; many large projects have landed there this year, assigning it an increase of 1200 hundred million yuan is not excessive; next year its GDP should reach 7565 hundred million yuan.

Jiuyuan City and Qingcheng City have GDPs between 4000 and 5000 hundred million yuan; they're a bit weak, so each should get an extra 1000 hundred million yuan to apply pressure. Especially Qingcheng City, as the provincial capital, it must shoulder its responsibility—5200 hundred million yuan, no question! Jiuyuan City, a traditional industrial stronghold, 5600 hundred million yuan—whip the fast ox!

Ranking fourth, Wuda City has a GDP of 2323 hundred million yuan; its growth rate is the lowest among league‑cities, which is hard to watch. However, being small, putting in effort yields great room for improvement—flip the numbers to 3232 hundred million yuan, which is quite reasonable.

Besides these four places, the total GDP of all other league‑cities is under 2000 hundred million yuan—none are competitive! Even three league‑cities are under 1000 hundred million yuan; the economy is truly sluggish, we must quickly shake off the slump!

Helun City, Zhelimu City, Hetou City, Xi Meng, Yungu City, Qiu ling City, Haiwu City, and Zhelimu City again.

This is the result of Lu Fan's research over an afternoon—breaking down the task and quantifying the target.

This way, the grassland's GDP could reach 37397 hundred million yuan. If this dream comes true, then the grassland provincial capital could simply surpass his hometown Qinchuan Province and rise to 14th place nationwide—Lu Fan might even laugh in his sleep.

However, trying to move up just one more rank is difficult; the thirteenth place's GDP is 47530. The gap is too huge; even with more determination, it's an uncrossable chasm! It's not that the bolder the person, the greater the land's output; economic development follows the rule of accumulating depth before bursting forth.

Qingcheng City No. 1 Middle School and the Ten New Policies.

During the inspection, Lu Fan greeted the teachers busy with back‑to‑school preparations, asking them to look after student welfare and other work, so that children have somewhere to go and something to rely on, contributing to provincial education reform.

When leaving, Lu Fan specially called Zhou Haoshu aside and said softly: "In your new post, you must achieve new results, show a new outlook, fully play the role of the provincial capital city, make greater contributions to the province's high‑quality economic and social development; I give you a dead‑line order: this year's GDP must break 5000 hundred million yuan, and next year strive to step up again, aiming for 5500 hundred million yuan."

Before Zhou Haoshu could react, Lu Fan turned and got onto a Coaster, leaving Zhou Haoshu standing in the wind, flustered.

That's 5000 hundred million yuan—last year it was just over 4000 hundred million yuan; Zhou Haoshu feels enormous pressure, really wanting to say: "I, your servant, can't do it!"

Lu Secretary refers to Lu Fan, which we have already mentioned.

At 3 p. m., Lu Fan went to Yike City Middle School for research; the school has strong teaching staff, a good academic atmosphere and strict work ethic, and the rate of students reaching the first‑tier university line has stayed above 95% for the past two years.

Entering the collective office, Lu Fan told the teachers: "We must care for students as we would our own children, with a parent's heart, making every preparation meticulous and solid, so that children feel at ease and parents can relax. We must implement the province's 'Ten New Measures' in full, letting education benefit thousands of households."

Municipal Party Secretary Zou Benji, Mayor Li Chengjing, and Yi Ke City.

At the dinner table, Lu Fan laughed and said to everyone: "Not long ago, I had a meal with a few comrades from Qinchuan Province and we talked about Yinzhou City. Over the past two years, Yinzhou has been in the limelight, its GDP exceeding one trillion yuan, which is enviable! As fellow resource‑based cities, Yike City must strive to catch up!"

The leadership raised the demand; as the top official, Zou Benji must state his position, and he replied: "Yike City will, under the strong leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, firmly establish a clear orientation and firm confidence in grasping big projects, grasping big projects, and promoting big development; continuously exert effort in big‑scale investment promotion, attracting big players, and launching big moves; actively revitalize idle assets, continually upgrade equipment levels, and strive to build a sound ecosystem where large, medium, and small projects, domestic and foreign, thrive together and grow vigorously, contributing bricks and tiles to the province's high‑quality development."

Lu Fan shook his head and said: "I want to hear something solid—the new team needs a new atmosphere, a new start, new achievements; thinking must be clear, direction unified. I'll give Yike City a beautiful vision: by year‑end GDP reaches 7000 hundred million yuan, and tomorrow we'll aim for 7500 hundred million yuan."

As soon as he said that, everyone was shocked! Only then did they realize the Party Secretary's true purpose in coming to Yike City—it's to put a tight hoop on them!

This is absolutely a major test for Yike City's leadership team; Secretary Lu will surely record this number in his "little notebook," and it can be called the most lethal "evaluation indicator."

As the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Zou Benji gritted his teeth and replied: "Secretary, we will, with a sense of responsibility that strives for every moment, an energetic and proactive spirit, a pragmatic work style, firmly enforce implementation, work hard, work solidly, work cleverly, work through hardship, spare no cost, and high‑quality complete the tasks assigned by the secretary and the Provincial Party Committee! By year‑end exceed 7000 hundred million yuan, next year exceed 7500 hundred million yuan—we will absolutely not betray your trust and expectations! Otherwise, we'd have no face to continue." He knew the task must be taken, cannot be vague, and must also sign a military order; the attitude must be firm.

After hearing Zou Benji's statement, Lu Fan turned his gaze to Mayor Li Chengjing, smiling, and asked: "Mayor, you also need to state your position—does GDP reaching 7500 hundred million yuan give you confidence?"

At that moment, Li Chengjing absolutely could not say no; he had to steel himself and firmly replied: "Secretary, the City Government will, under the leadership of the Municipal Party Committee, establish firm confidence and resolve, strengthen mission commitment, enhance the determination to overcome difficulties, focus on our main responsibilities, and guarantee completion of the tasks assigned by the Provincial Party Committee."

After hearing both of their statements, Lu Fan laughed and said: "Then I'll consider that you two have set up a 'military order' for the Provincial Party Committee! Today I'll make an exception and have a drink—let's count it as an early celebration for you! First, let's agree that in the grassland we must have 'mild‑drunk donkey', and make this an unwritten rule; the whole province should support domestic enterprises through concrete actions."

Originally the secretary's agreement to have drinks was a great thing, but today the "mild‑drunk donkey" turned into an "overwhelming donkey"; each time Zou Benji and Li Chengjing lifted a cup, they felt a tremendous pressure—the growth of GDP is no joke, and at this moment they have no clue what to do.

After the banquet ended, seeing Lu Fan off to his room, the secretary and mayor returned to the Municipal Party Committee with tacit understanding, and began an in‑depth discussion of the 7500 hundred million yuan task, talking until 2 a. m., showing how great their pressure is—it concerns their political futures.

Wuda City and the educational Ten New Policies.

Municipal Party Secretary Guo An, Mayor Dai Junfeng, Deputy Municipal Party Secretary Xu Yaoshan, the Executive Vice Mayor, and Wuda City.

At the gate of Wuda No. 1 Middle School, Lu Fan communicated with parents, asking their views on education reform.

When the parents saw Secretary Lu arrive, they immediately gathered around, chattering nonstop.

One parent said: "Secretary Lu, as long as the college entrance exam and high school entrance exam remain, implementing double weekends, cancelling evening self‑study, and regulating school hours is absolutely not reducing students' burden—it's just making us parents pay to support tutoring agencies."

"Secretary Lu, our income is low—we can't come up with that much tutoring fee!"

"Secretary Lu, the wealthy get one‑on‑one tutoring; we can't even manage a big‑class remedial lesson!"

: ellipsis.

Lu Fan replied with a smile: "I can understand your anxiety; the Provincial Party Committee already considered this issue when formulating policies. Perhaps you don't know, but the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee has already dispatched 12 inspection teams, and each city and county has established over 300 inspection teams to conduct open and covert inspections of paid tutoring across the province. Once discovered, there will be no leniency! Furthermore, all educational support institutions in the province will be shut down, and the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government will certainly employ the strongest, most effective, most practical, most direct, and most thorough measures to make paid tutoring disappear on the grassland."