Indeed, with an official like Guan Xun combining forces with someone like Xiang Mingdong, facing a strong executive vice mayor like Liu Zhizhong who was transferred from another county, they definitely needed to prepare a couple of strategies.

They were well aware of Liu Zhizhong's actions in Shanan County. At least for the two of them, it was unfavorable.

How to put it?

Daxi City, and even the whole of Huayang City, was like the Xiang Family's private enterprise. There were quite a few hidden dealings and scandals.

The upright and honest administration that Liu Zhizhong promoted in Shanan County came with its own aura and impact, something that the Xiang Family's forces psychologically could not accept.

So, when Liu Zhizhong took office, Guan Xun and Xiang Mingdong conspired to come up with a precautionary plan. That was to send over an undercover agent to serve as Liu Zhizhong's personal secretary.

In this way, every move Liu Zhizhong made would fall under surveillance.

This undercover agent was Zhang Hui, Guan Xun's maternal younger cousin. He was originally the mayor of a town under Daxi City's jurisdiction, his qualifications were decent, but his abilities were so-so; after all, he was pushed to the mayor's position because of family ties.

Thus, it required replacing the deputy director of the city government office, the previous executive vice mayor's personal secretary. The original executive vice mayor had just moved to the CPPCC, preparing to retire in three years.

However, Liu Zhizhong had some interactions with this deputy director and felt quite good about him, so he did not want to change.

Originally, Xiang Mingdong and Guan Xun thought that as a newcomer, Liu Zhizhong, in this kind of personnel arrangement, would certainly consider their face, and go along with the flow. If he was really dissatisfied, he could just wait a year and a half to replace him.

After a year and a half, Liu Zhizhong's weaknesses would probably have all fallen into their hands.

In their eyes, how can officials have no weaknesses? It's just that some weaknesses are used for transactions, unknown to others.

As a result, Liu Zhizhong's clear refusal to make changes offended both Secretary Xiang Mingdong and Mayor Guan Xun.

He didn't know how to play the game, gave no face, didn't respect the original team!

Thus, the resentment and conflict were formed.

It's just that Liu Zhizhong had just arrived in Daxi City and still had grassroots tasks to carry out, so no conflicts erupted for the time being.

As a young official with a high level of political acumen in officialdom, how could Liu Zhizhong not know that he had offended the two most powerful local forces upon his arrival?

However, he was not afraid!

Through the storms of officialdom over the years, Liu Zhizhong had already been tempered and tested, his psychological resilience extremely stable, and there was nothing he feared.

At this moment, facing the difficulties posed by the local original team led by Xiang Mingdong, Liu Zhizhong remained as stable as Taishan.

Want me to report, is it? Well, I'll just say it then!

Need to make plans, right? I'm not clueless about what to do!

Behind him, that personal secretary, Cao Dingjun, who was the close aide of the former executive vice mayor, felt a bit anxious for this new leader.

Because before the meeting, there was no mention that Mayor Liu needed to do these things, he was completely unprepared!

Liu Zhizhong, when working at the grassroots level, also took Cao Dingjun with him. For this deputy director of the city government office, secretary who handled his executive vice mayoral duties and life, he was quite well-acquainted.

On the whole, this 36-year-old secretary was actually quite good. He had some understanding of officialdom and was decent as a person.

Compared to Hamuer, Cao Dingjun was somewhat lacking, but already quite good. After all, Hamuer was a few years older, with more experience and richer experiences...

```