Qingzhou’s capable reformer Chen Qiming is transferred to Handong at a critical moment to serve as Executive Vice Governor. With his iron-fisted style and willingness to break old rules and build anew, he has repeatedly achieved outstanding results in local reforms, revitalized struggling regional economies, and proven exceptionally adept at overcoming deadlocks.
Sha Rui specifically transfers him to Handong, hoping to use his forceful approach to break the province’s entrenched power structure and address years of accumulated problems.
This personnel change instantly throws the balance among Handong’s various factions into turmoil. Gao Yuliang and Chen Qiming share a former teacher-student relationship. On the surface, Gao warmly tries to win him over and deliberately shows him favor, but in truth he is scheming to use their connection to strengthen the foundations of his own faction.
Torrential rain pours through the night, and the atmosphere is oppressive and stifling. With his keen instincts, Qi Tongwei knows the situation has changed dramatically. He stops lying low and watching from the sidelines, making an urgent call in the rain to put plans and defenses in place overnight.
Beneath the heavy curtain of rain, the various factions secretly gather strength and face off. A deep power struggle that will overturn Handong’s established order has officially begun.
