Chapter 132

Ji Tao was very clear about these projects from the province. No matter how good the objective conditions below were, if there were no powerful people in the province pushing for them, it would be impossible for them to fall into the county so easily.

Because with such projects, there would inevitably be funding. For such real money, without enough prestige, would the province just allocate it to you?

One project would be one thing, but two or three projects came at once. As far as Ji Tao knew, it seemed there was no such well-connected person in the county, otherwise Shangjun County wouldn't have had no major development for so many years.

You have to know that Shangjun County's GDP last year was only over 400 million, ranking low among the eight counties and one city in the Yulin region. Given Shangjun County's natural conditions, this result should be considered unqualified.

Now that such a person had appeared in Shangjun County, Ji Tao was still quite happy. Although he was temporarily "harmonizing with the light and dust," this didn't mean he had no thoughts at all. If Shangjun County was a stagnant pool, then these few investigation teams could be considered to have stirred up this stagnant pool.

Shan Guozhi knew who the well-connected person in Shangjun County was; he thought it was Zhang Kaishan. But he didn't expect Zhang Kaishan to be so capable, actually getting several projects at once.

He had also pondered who Zhang Kaishan's roots in the province were, but after thinking about it, he couldn't find the key. None of the people in the province capable of getting projects for Shangjun County had a resume related to Shangjun County. There were provincial leaders who had come out of the Yulin region, but they were already near the age limit and shouldn't have such great prestige.

He had also thought about whether Zhang Kaishan was bluffing and had no connections in the province at all. But the three investigation teams this time made him understand that Zhang Kaishan had indeed found roots in the province.

Previously, Zhang Kaishan was just an agricultural deputy county magistrate. Since he wasn't on the same path as Shan Guozhi, he could just be pushed aside. But now it seemed that many things couldn't exclude Zhang Kaishan. No matter how capable Shan Guozhi was, he couldn't ignore both Ji Tao, the County Party Secretary, and the person behind Zhang Kaishan.

Although Shan Guozhi didn't know who was standing behind Zhang Kaishan, whoever it was, it wasn't someone a county magistrate could offend.

Shan Guozhi thought that it seemed a new force would rise in the Standing Committee in the future, and it seemed he would have to share a portion of his interests in the county with Zhang Kaishan.

In short, the three investigation teams sent by the province this time seemed like several large stones thrown into the stagnant pool of Shangjun County, stirring up quite a splash and making the minds of many people in the county active.

By early October, the investigation teams had finished their tasks one after another and returned to the province, and the investigation results were reported to the province one after another.

First, the artificial Eucommia protection forest project in Zhugou Village was approved. The province would allocate a special fund to Shangjun County for this project, to be used exclusively for this purpose, and detailed reports on the destination of each fund had to be submitted to the Provincial Forestry Department.

Next, the approval for Menghuling Township as a pilot unit for agricultural reform was passed. The province would open a special fund account for agricultural industrialization, and agricultural enterprises or cooperatives in Menghuling Township could apply voluntarily, and after verification and approval, the funds would be arranged and distributed to the agricultural enterprises.

As for the construction project of the secondary highway from the county seat to Menghuling Township, the reported budget was also approved by the Provincial Transportation Department. The Provincial Transportation Department would allocate 5.5 million in funding in three installments, also to be used exclusively for this purpose and not to be diverted for other uses.

This 5.5 million in funding suddenly made many construction companies in the county swarm like sharks that had smelled blood, wanting to get a piece of the pie through their own connections. Shan Guozhi and Xu Shixie were also restless.

However, the two of them still had some reason. They knew that this funding was requested by Zhang Kaishan. Even if he wasn't in charge of transportation, it was impossible to bypass him. Anyone who wanted to eat alone would end up choking to death.

Therefore, Shan Guozhi had another talk with Zhang Kaishan. The purpose of this talk was, of course, to divide the cake.

In this talk, Shan Guozhi's attitude was very friendly. He even personally poured a cup of tea for Zhang Kaishan, and it was the strong tea according to Zhang Kaishan's habit.

Bringing the teacup to Zhang Kaishan, Shan Guozhi smiled and said, "Comrade Kaishan, your work this time was excellent. I didn't even expect you to really be able to win the support of the province!"

Zhang Kaishan said, "I just did my best."

Shan Guozhi didn't beat around the bush: "Comrade Kaishan, regarding this road from the county seat to Menghuling Township, do you have any thoughts on which construction company to hand it over to? My opinion is to divide the project into several sections and subcontract them to several construction companies. What do you think? Of course, the county must value your opinion."

Shan Guozhi's meaning couldn't be clearer. Such a large project couldn't be eaten by one person. Divide it into several sections so everyone has a share. Of course, since you, Zhang Kaishan, requested the money, you can take the largest piece.

For example, if the construction company designated by Zhang Kaishan got a project section worth about two million, according to convention, Zhang Kaishan could personally get at least 200,000 in benefits. In 1992, this was already a huge sum of money.

Zhang Kaishan said, "County Magistrate Shan, the province attaches great importance to the construction of this road this time. The provincial leaders have repeatedly said that this road must ensure quality. This is a supporting project for the Menghuling Township agricultural reform pilot project. If quality issues arise, our county will have to be held responsible!"

Hearing Zhang Kaishan's stiff tone, Shan Guozhi's expression became somewhat unpleasant. What do you mean by saying this? Using provincial leaders to pressure me? If quality issues arise, what responsibility will the county have to bear? Could it be that doing as I say will lead to quality issues?

Shan Guozhi really wanted to lash out, but thinking of the person behind Zhang Kaishan, he held back. He squeezed out a smile and said, "Comrade Kaishan, if you have any better opinions, you can bring them up."

This was bargaining. You, Zhang Kaishan, might not be satisfied with this distribution plan, so you can propose another one. You eat the meat, and we should at least get to drink some soup.

Zhang Kaishan said, "County Magistrate, the province's opinion is that this project should be put up for public bidding. From the construction companies participating in the bidding, select the one with the strongest strength to build it. Subcontracting is strictly prohibited, and the project quality must be strictly supervised throughout. During the bidding process, people from the Transportation Department will come to supervise."

Shan Guozhi's face fell instantly. Public bidding? And people from the Transportation Department coming to supervise? Is your brain broken? Isn't this blocking everyone's path to wealth? Don't you know that blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents?

Shan Guozhi said, "Did the province really say that?"

Zhang Kaishan said, "Yes, County Magistrate. Originally, I also wanted to find a few companies in the county to do this project, but the provincial leaders really attach great importance to this project, so it must be done this way."

Shan Guozhi looked at Zhang Kaishan suspiciously, and Zhang Kaishan looked at him calmly. Shan Guozhi looked for a long time but couldn't see any tricks.

If it really was the meaning of the provincial leaders, then Shan Guozhi had no ability to oppose it. Besides, he hadn't put in any effort for this funding, so he didn't have much say.

Therefore, Shan Guozhi could only nod and say, "If we are going to have public bidding, then we must ensure it is open, fair, and just. There must be no backroom deals..."

Looking at Shan Guozhi's righteous face, Zhang Kaishan only felt a wave of nausea in his heart, but he could only nod and say, "We will definitely strive to be open, fair, and just!"

After the news that the road to Menghuling Township would be put up for public bidding spread, those "connected companies" were suddenly stunned. When did they ever need public bidding to get projects before? Didn't they always get them through connections?

In the early 1990s, the Bidding Law had not yet been introduced, so projects at that time did not require mandatory bidding. Even if bidding was held, there were many backroom deals. This was the soil for the survival of those connected companies. But this time, there was actually someone from the Transportation Department coming to supervise the bidding process. How could there be backroom deals?

Regardless, they couldn't watch such a big piece of fat go uneaten, so in private, many people started to make small moves.

That night, Su Xinghui called Xu Xiaoguang in his office to ask how his bidding documents were coming along. Xu Xiaoguang told Su Xinghui that Qian Hongye had actually found his father, saying something about hoping to cooperate with Haimin Construction Company to let Hongye win the project, and then the two companies would do it together.

Su Xinghui laughed as soon as he heard it. Qian Hongye had some ideas; he even knew to find someone to accompany the bid at this time. He asked Xu Xiaoguang how his father had answered.

Xu Xiaoguang said his father had of course refused. Qian Hongye actually turned hostile on the spot, saying that if Xu Haimin opposed him this time, he would guarantee that Haimin Construction Company wouldn't be able to get a single project in the future, not even subcontracted work.

Su Xinghui told Xu Xiaoguang not to pay attention to Qian Hongye, just to prepare their own bid well. Qian Hongye had no strength, so no matter how much he jumped around, it would be useless. ===== CHAPTER 134 =====