Lu Zhen's new office wasn't impressive by Beijing standards—a narrow corner on the sixth floor of the Urban Policy Advisory Council building, overlooking a row of pine trees and a seldom-used courtyard.
But to those who understood politics, the position spoke volumes.
From here, reform narratives were written. From here, city blueprints were redrawn. From here, careers rose and fell without a sound.
And now, Lu Zhen sat among them.
---
A Welcome With Thorns
His induction was swift but tense.
In the conference room, ten people sat along a long rectangular table. Each bore their own agenda, their own patron, their own war to fight.
Some were lifers—engineers turned administrators. Others were political transfers sent by higher-ups.
Lu Zhen introduced himself cleanly:
> "Lu Zhen, 20, recently seconded from the General Affairs Bureau. Prior focus on rural revitalization and transparency reform. I look forward to learning from all of you."
There was polite applause.
Then a voice cut in.
"Such humility for someone who just killed a billion-yuan redevelopment with a single citizen complaint."
It was Zhou Minghao, Senior Analyst, mid-30s, hawk-eyed, and clearly unhappy.
Lu smiled. "Just doing my duty. If the foundations are cracked, it's better to rebuild the drawing board."
A few smirks. A few narrowed eyes.
And silence.
The welcome was complete.
---
System Notification
[New Passive Influence Tier: "Policy Architect (Lv.1)" Unlocked]
> You now have limited input over municipal planning proposals
Gain +5% influence in public-sector negotiation scenarios
Access unlocked: "Subcommittee Shadow Meetings"
---
The Meeting Beneath the Meeting
Later that evening, Lu was approached by a slender woman in a gray suit—no makeup, quiet presence, clean ID badge.
"Mr. Lu, you're invited to the after-session."
She didn't explain. She didn't need to.
Lu followed her through the back hallway to a separate chamber where five individuals were already seated around tea and maps.
This was the real meeting—where real decisions were made.
At the head sat Wei Yuan, deputy to the Council Chair. Veteran. Loyalist. Dangerous.
He gestured to a seat.
"You've stirred water, young man. Some don't like it."
Lu Zhen nodded. "It was dirty water. Better stirred than still."
Wei smiled faintly.
"Fair. Then let's see what you can do. We're redrafting the Southwest Industrial Corridor Blueprint. Three counties. Two billion yuan. You'll be assisting the primary drafter."
Lu accepted without question.
But something gnawed at him.
This wasn't a reward.
It was a test.
---
Behind the Blueprint
That night, Lu returned to his apartment and immediately launched his System Data Engine.
The Southwest Industrial Corridor was a known project, but its sudden reappearance meant someone was trying to redirect funds through "development" into slush.
He scanned property records, old project white papers, and previous drafts.
Then something stood out:
One of the key roads was rerouted in the latest draft to cross through a seemingly empty field.
That land had been purchased last year by a shell company named Jianxing Logistics Ltd., newly registered.
It was a classic land speculation trick:
1. Insider buys cheap land.
2. Project is "adjusted" to boost value.
3. Government buys it back for 5–10x.
Lu checked the shell firm's registration—
It linked back to Zhou Minghao's brother-in-law.
He exhaled slowly.
So that's how it was.
---
Side Mission Activated
[System Mission: "Poison in the Proposal"]
> Objective: Remove corrupt elements from industrial blueprint without alerting higher factions
Bonus: Redirect funds to public-benefit components
Rewards:
Skill: "Strategic Editing (Lv.1)"
Temporary Clearance Boost
Risk Level: Moderate (Exposure to intra-agency factional conflict)
---
A Calculated Rewrite
Lu didn't strike directly.
Instead, he quietly recommended changes using minor citations:
"Topographic instability" in the field
"Local protest history"
"Ecological buffer zone concerns"
He rerouted the development slightly north, citing logistics efficiency and lower maintenance costs.
He also inserted a new component: a state-sponsored vocational training campus, with funding provisions capped at 3% of total expenditure.
The total budget remained identical.
But the ghost land lost value—and the blueprint passed review with overwhelming support.
Zhou Minghao said nothing, but the way he walked out of the meeting—jaw tight, papers clenched—told Lu everything.
Score: Lu Zhen. Quietly.
---
System Update
[Mission Complete: "Poison in the Proposal"]
> Skill Gained: "Strategic Editing (Lv.1)" – Enhances proposal drafting to favor clean funding paths and redirect suspicious flows
Clearance Temporarily Increased (1 week)
Asset Opportunity Unlocked: "Central Vocational Fund Access Node"
---
Financial Moves in the Dark
Later that evening, Lu opened his Hidden Asset Chain and moved quickly.
He used his temporary clearance to get pre-notification of provincial investment batches—and quietly bought two low-cost properties adjacent to the planned vocational campus through his offshore shell firm.
He didn't need to speculate.
He was shaping the future.
And when the campus was announced a month later, his holdings rose by 4.6 million yuan in estimated value.
All perfectly clean.
All utterly invisible.
---
A Disruptive Visit
Three days later, as Lu settled into his new work rhythm, trouble came to him.
A sleek black sedan parked near the courtyard.
A tall woman in a white overcoat and black heels stepped out.
She strode confidently through security without an escort.
The staff whispered.
Fang Qinglan was here.
She entered his office unannounced and shut the door behind her.
"You've been playing well," she said, arms crossed. "Too well. You've attracted attention from outside the province."
Lu Zhen's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"Beijing's Discipline Commission. A Deputy Secretary has been assigned to probe urban planning projects—yours included."
He frowned.
"Am I a target?"
"Not yet. But someone wants you to be. Likely Zhou's faction. You embarrassed them."
Lu was quiet for a beat. Then: "Let them come. I have nothing to hide."
Fang gave a half-smile.
"I know. But perception matters more than reality in politics. Get sloppy, and you'll become their example."
She turned to leave.
Then paused.
"Oh, and Lu Zhen?"
"Yes?"
"Don't get too used to winning. Sometimes losing the right battle buys you the war."
---
Capital Whispers
That night, a friend from his university—now working as a junior aide in Beijing's State Council—called him.
"Lu, what the hell are you doing?"
"Working."
"You've become a discussion topic in the Capital Bureau. You made it into internal digests. Half praise, half fear."
Lu sat silently.
Then: "Good. That means I exist."
The friend sighed.
"Exist too brightly, and they'll cut the fuse. Just… watch your six, alright?"
Lu hung up.
But he smiled.
Because the whispers had reached Beijing.
---
A Night Alone
Later, as he looked out over the capital skyline, the tension began to gnaw at him.
He had money now.
He had influence.
He had dangerous allies.
But he also had a growing list of enemies.
He needed to diversify his position—beyond urban planning.
Beyond development.
He needed a way to touch people, not just land.
And then the System blinked again.
---
New System Track Unlocked: "Public Image Matrix"
> Due to rising exposure and proximity to national discourse, you've unlocked the Public Image Matrix.
You now have "Public Perception Value": measured from 0–100
Current Perception: 37 (Neutral/Competent)
Public Support affects promotion thresholds, media influence, and indirect political protection
Side Quest Unlocked: "The People's Voice" – Initiate a policy discussion with tangible public benefit
---
Chapter Close
Lu Zhen looked at the map of Jingzhou again.
So many roads.
So many futures.
Each line a possibility.
But only some would lead to the dragon's throne.
And he would walk them one careful step at a time, reshaping land, policy, and destiny until even the highest gates of Zhongnanhai would one day open before him.
---
End of Chapter 11