Chapter 126: Yang Tian’s Methods (That’s four updates today—please vote to show your support!)

When Yang Tian arrived at Lang Ping's office, Lang Ping was scratching his head; it was evident that he had been under great anxiety recently.

"Mayor Lang!" Yang Tian said with a composed smile.

"Yang Tian, come, sit down!" Lang Ping urged. He immediately dismissed the female secretary at the adjacent desk. Once she had left, Lang Ping asked directly, "Is Cheng Liang targeting that plot of land of yours?"

"Yes! But no matter what happens, I will never give up that land!" Yang Tian replied with a confident smile.

"It’s not up to you! Now that Mayor Luo is backing him, wouldn't dealing with you be a piece of cake?" Lang Ping asked with a bitter smile.

"Could it be that this is no longer the people's world, nor the Party's world?" Yang Tian sneered. He showed no fear, his face revealing a relaxed, self-assured expression.

"Nonsense! If it weren't the people's world, would that mean rebellion? What I find strange is that in Binhai, everyone knows you are my god-brother. For Cheng Liang to target you like this... it seems this isn't just a conflict between you and him; it's Old Luo targeting me!" Lang Ping said indignantly. Since arriving in Binhai, he had made significant achievements, and it was only natural that this had drawn Old Luo's envy.

"In other words, unless we take down Old Luo, I cannot keep my land?" Yang Tian asked bluntly.

"You could say that. Even though Yuan Shan and Zhang Siguo are on your side, if Old Luo truly intervenes, I’m afraid even I cannot help you!" Lang Ping sighed heavily.

"Heh, and you call yourself my god-brother? When trouble hits, you're backing out just the same," Yang Tian teased.

"What kind of talk is that? This situation is particularly tricky; otherwise, I would certainly help you!" Lang Ping said, striking the desk.

"Really? Well, I have a plan. As long as you are willing to act, we can not only save my land but also take down Old Luo!" Yang Tian leaned toward Lang Ping and whispered with a smile, handing him a newspaper.

It was the March 7, 1999, issue of the *Binhai Daily*. On the back page was an article by Mayor Luo Gao titled: "Public Fitness, Creating a Healthy City — On the Study and Promotion of the Teachings of [Falun Gong]."

"What does this mean?" Lang Ping frowned, not understanding Yang Tian's intention.

"Report this article. Strive to get it published in the *People's Daily* and the *Jinwan Daily*. The more influence it generates, the better. Then, just sit back and watch the show!" Yang Tian gave a mischievous grin. He could guess why Luo Gao had published such an article—he had surely been bribed by Falun Gong elements to publish a short piece to guide Binhai citizens into practicing the cult.

Yang Tian’s goal was not to topple Luo Gao; he had no personal vendetta against him, and frankly, he didn't currently have the power to bring down a sitting mayor. He simply wanted to use Lang Ping’s influence to drag Luo Gao into the turbulent waters of the Falun Gong controversy, leaving him unable to protect himself, let alone interfere with Cheng Liang’s affairs. Once that happened, he would deal with Cheng Liang properly.

As for whether Lang Ping would seize the opportunity to finish off Luo Gao, that was irrelevant to Yang Tian. In fact, even without Lang Ping’s intervention, it wouldn't be long before Lang Ping was promoted to Municipal Party Secretary.

"Will this really work?" Lang Ping stared at the paper for a long time, asking skeptically.

"You'll see results in less than ten days! Within these ten days, you must get this article published, and the bigger the stir, the better! Also, please have a word with Bureau Chief Yuan Shan. If Luo Gao forces him to reclaim my land, ask him to hold the line for ten days—ten days is all I need!" Yang Tian calculated. Today was July 12th; the show was about to begin.

"Getting this article published quietly isn't hard, but Old Luo will surely know it was me. Like me, he might not see the trap yet, but the battle between us will be officially declared. Kid, your god-brother is sticking his neck out for you; don't push me into a fire pit," Lang Ping said with a long sigh, his tone grave. He had seen enough political infighting to know the stakes: either destroy your opponent, or face ruin and imprisonment.

"Don't worry. A Vice Mayor willing to stand against the Mayor for my sake—this kindness is like a rebirth. I am too grateful to ever repay you with malice," Yang Tian said cheerfully. Though he knew Lang Ping had his own motives for wanting to deal with Luo Gao, the matter had started because of him, and he was indeed grateful for the help.

"Haha, good! You're becoming quite the smooth talker! Then let us declare war. If he doesn't respect my god-brother, he doesn't respect me, Lang Ping!" Lang Ping laughed heartily, his resolve hardening.

After leaving the office, Yang Tian ran into his adversary, Cheng Liang, at the entrance of the municipal building. Accompanied by his butler, Old Li, they were heading inside with briefcases—clearly to see Luo Gao.

"Yo, isn't this Boss Yang? What’s the matter? Can't keep your land, so you're here to pull strings at the municipal bureau?" Upon seeing Yang Tian, Cheng Liang wore the smug expression of a victorious general mocking a fleeing commander.

"Hurry up and deliver the money to Mayor Luo. His villa in the West District is waiting for funds to finish renovations!" Yang Tian shot him a glance and walked away, laughing inwardly. *Idiot, who delivers bribes directly to a government office building?*

"You brat, you're still acting arrogant? In a few days, I'll make sure you can't even cry!" Cheng Liang adjusted his clothes, feigning composure, and spoke coldly.

A few days later, Luo Gao’s article advocating for the study of Falun Gong began to circulate everywhere. First, the *People's Daily* gave it a sub-headline: "A Certain City Mayor Advocates for the Study of [Falun Gong]; On the Role of Government Departments in the Construction of Urban Spiritual Civilization."

The *Jinwan Daily* gave it a front-page headline: "Studying [Falun Gong]: Is the Mayor Advocating Self-Cultivation or Religious Belief?" Other minor papers and media outlets scrambled to report on it, as the Falun Gong issue was intensifying, and public opinion remained divided.

Though this didn't immediately cause a direct hit to Luo Gao, he began to panic. He suspected Lang Ping was behind it but couldn't fathom the reason, feeling as if he had been swept into a powerful current where the only outcomes were either fame and fortune or a disastrous downfall.

Lang Ping called Yang Tian repeatedly, saying that Luo Gao was in poor spirits, skipping bureau committee meetings, and frequently running to the provincial capital, seemingly to pull strings. Lang Ping himself was on edge; he knew he had poked a hornet's nest.

Yang Tian remained relaxed, urging Lang Ping to stay calm and wait—the show was about to start. He was awed by Lang Ping’s ability to generate publicity; he had managed to get a small article into the official press. Surely, provincial and higher-level leaders had seen it. Luo Gao was finished.

On July 22, 1999, a Falun Gong practitioner in Binhai’s Dongcheng District died during practice.

This event exploded like an atomic bomb across the country. The nation was shocked, and the true face of the cult began to surface. Simultaneously, reports poured in; according to authorities, there had already been 136 incidents of death, suicide, or self-mutilation by practitioners prior to July 22.

The central government took the matter extremely seriously, and major media outlets exposed the cult's deceptive nature. Directives were issued demanding that all levels of government guide citizens to resist Falun Gong. The provincial government paid close attention to the Binhai incident, ordering the municipal bureau to prevent any recurrences.

Mayor Luo Gao panicked. He finally understood why Lang Ping had made such a fuss over that article.

With the organization essentially labeled a cult, and he, a mayor, having failed to identify its nature—not to mention having actively promoted it—his career was over. He would likely face disciplinary action.

Lang Ping finally understood Yang Tian’s brilliant strategy. Beyond his admiration for the cleverness of the move, his political experience told him exactly what to do. Soon, major media outlets began publishing articles like "Mayor Promotes [Falun Gong]" and "Guidance or Entrapment?", with many pointing fingers directly at Luo Gao.

Luo Gao was caught in the massive vortex of the Falun Gong scandal, becoming an enemy of the people. Former allies distanced themselves, loudly vowing to fight the evil cult. Others defected to Lang Ping’s side, providing evidence of Luo Gao’s corruption and pushing him onto the trial bench.

Simultaneously, Lang Ping was appointed as the Municipal Party Secretary and Mayor, taking full control of Binhai. His primary task was to expose the crimes of the cult and restore social stability.

For Binhai, this was a massive upheaval. Yet, except for Lang Ping, no one suspected that this entire transformation had been orchestrated by a high school student. Even Lang Ping was shocked; Yang Tian’s timing had been impeccable, making the struggle so simple and swift. Luo Gao had been unhorsed almost in the middle of a conversation.

While amazed, Lang Ping also felt a sense of dread. With such tactical prowess, few in the city or the entire province could compare to Yang Tian. If he were to enter politics, what kind of storms would he stir up?