Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

The roar of massive diesel engines echoed simultaneously along the banks of the Baima River.

More than a dozen heavy-duty mobile generators were lined up, with thick black cables extending out like blood vessels, connecting to the main power grid of Hexi District.

Zhou Weiguo stood on the roof of the command vehicle, holding a walkie-talkie in his hand, his eyes fixed on the urban area shrouded in darkness in the distance.

"Close the switch."

The operator pressed the red button.

The current surged along the cable.

It only took a few seconds.

The first streetlight on Hexi Avenue, where only car headlights were flashing, has now come on.

Then came the second lamp, and the third lamp.

The light spread rapidly along the street like toppled dominoes.

Warm yellow light shone from the windows of the residential buildings on both sides.

The shop signs along the street flickered twice before lighting up again with colorful neon lights.

Cheers surged from all directions, converging into a wave of sound.

Many residents opened their windows and waved their arms excitedly as they looked down at the rows of green military vehicles.

Some people ran downstairs and gathered around the generator truck to look at the novelty.

The red banner with white characters hanging on the vehicle was particularly eye-catching: "The close bond between the military and the people illuminates the Hexi District."

Several soldiers in training uniforms were not idle.

They were carrying tool bags, setting up ladders, and inspecting several old transformers by the roadside.

"Auntie, did your electricity meter just trip? Let me go check it for you."

"You're welcome, it's what we should do."

The soldiers' voices were simple and honest.

The media reporters who were originally waiting in front of the district government, ready to film the tragic scene of the "paralyzed city", were all dumbfounded by this scene.

The reporter from Jingzhou Daily stood there stunned for a long time before raising his camera.

My hands are shaking a little.

This material is much more exciting than filming a group of people cursing in the street.

The sound of camera shutters clicking was continuous.

In the footage, a young soldier, his face covered in grease, closes the electrical box, while an older woman next to him stuffs freshly steamed buns into his hand.

The background features brightly lit streets and red banners fluttering in the wind.

In the distance of the scene, across a river, lies the view.

The municipal party committee building, which usually stands majestically, now looks like an abandoned child, standing there in the dark, its outline barely visible.

This striking visual contrast is practically headline material.

Less than half an hour.

A set of photos titled "The Most Beautiful Heroes in Harm's Way: Soldiers Light Up the Night Sky in Hexi" went viral on social media.

Following this, several influential figures shared the related short video.

The tone of the comments section has shifted.

And it changes very quickly.

"This is so heartwarming! The People's Liberation Army is truly reliable!"

"I live in Hexi, and I almost cried for a moment just now. Thank you to the army!"

"Wait, am I the only one who noticed that the municipal party committee building is black?"

"You're right, upstairs. I heard it's because the municipal party committee gave bad instructions and withheld the funds for Hexi District, not even paying the electricity bill."

"Really? Is that really true? That's so unethical?"

"I have a relative in the power supply bureau. It's true that the finance department was holding us back, which forced the military to bring their own generators because they couldn't stand it anymore."

"This is outrageous! For the sake of GDP, they're ignoring even the basic electricity needs of ordinary people?"

"Isn't Li Dakang supposed to be quite capable? Why is he doing something like this?"

Public opinion grew like a snowball.

The criticism was directed at the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee.

The top floor of the municipal party committee building.

The Party Secretary's Office.

Li Dakang sat in the chair behind his desk. The room was dark, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Only the pale light from the phone screen illuminated his gloomy, somewhat frightening face.

His fingers swiped across the screen, and the more he looked, the more his hands trembled.

Every comment felt like a slap across his face.

What "domineering bureaucrats", what "only caring about political achievements and ignoring people's livelihood", what "sending a flashlight to Secretary Dakang"?

Everyone was criticizing him.

"absurd!"

Li Dakang slammed his phone face down on the table.

He grabbed the public opinion report he hadn't had time to read yet, and without thinking, tore it apart with both hands.

With a "hissing" sound.

The file was reduced to fragments, scattered like snowflakes on the dark floor.

Li Dakang's chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath.

He wanted to pick up the red phone and call Zhao Lichun.

He reached out halfway, then stopped.

What did you say?

To file a complaint against Shen Zhong?

Is it true that Shen Zhong privately mobilized troops and interfered in local affairs?

But they were using the banner of "supporting the government and cherishing the people" to help local governments solve their problems.

Moreover, although the reason given for the "radar test" was absurd, there was not a single flaw in the procedure.

This is an open conspiracy.

Shen Zhong, within the bounds of the rules, used his most proficient methods to teach him a lesson.

The title of this lesson is: Some things are more important than your GDP.

Li Dakang slumped back in his chair.

In this battle without bloodshed, he not only lost substance but also lost all face.

Hexi District Government.

He Xia stood by the window, watching the bustling traffic outside resume its normal flow.

The glow of the streetlights shone through the glass onto her.

She could hear the commotion coming from the service hall downstairs; it was staff working through the night to process the backlog of business after the power was restored.

Instead of complaining, there is a vibrant and busy atmosphere.

He Xia pressed her hand against the cool glass, her eyes welling up with tears.

She knew that this was the confidence that the man gave her.

He's using this method to tell everyone: as long as it's the right thing to do, even if the sky falls, someone will hold it up.

Provincial Military Command Operations Center.

The power load curve on the large screen is rising steadily.

Shen Zhong sat at the control panel, toying with the fountain pen in his hand.

His expression was indifferent, as if he were just watching a boring soap opera.

"Commander."

Zhou Weiguo pushed open the door and came in, his face beaming with barely suppressed laughter.

"The director of the Municipal Party Committee Office just called the duty room."

"Oh?"

Shen Zhong didn't turn around, but simply unscrewed the pen cap.

"What did you say?"

"They said they hoped to communicate with us and see if the 'radar test' could be paused for a while."

Zhou Weiguo paused, his tone tinged with mockery.

"I heard that the refrigerators in the municipal government canteen have been shut down, so the head chef won't be able to cook tomorrow morning. There are also a lot of urgent documents waiting to be processed on the computer."

"Have they come to plead for mercy?"

Shen Zhong casually drew a horizontal line on the white paper in front of him.

"Tell them that military exercises are serious scientific tasks that cannot be taken lightly."

"Data collection has just begun. If it gets interrupted, all our previous efforts will be wasted."

Shen Zhong put the pen back in his pocket and stood up.

"Reply to them that the test will continue for a few more days, the exact time depending on the data collection situation."