"Why are you asking me this question?" Luo Ziling countered.
"If I’m not mistaken, Wang Zhengqiang and Lin Zeping have been desperately rallying supporters recently. After all, the coming period, or even the next year, is crucial. In the past while, their rivalry has been fierce, like a life-or-death struggle," Li Haiyang said seriously. "Many people will ultimately be forced to take sides, and those who choose wrongly will be marginalized. Isn’t it brutal?"
Luo Ziling nodded, agreeing with what Li Haiyang said.
Just now, Ling Ruonan had also said something similar, so he could comprehend what Li Haiyang wanted to convey.
"Then who do you think has a better chance of winning?" Luo Ziling asked again.
"In their struggle, the odds slightly favor Wang Zhengqiang, because he currently has more supporters, and his capabilities are indeed a bit stronger. At least, in terms of strategy in construction, he is more outstanding," Li Haiyang seemed to trust Luo Ziling, speaking quite frankly. "Lin Zeping has solid theoretical knowledge, but he isn’t adept with practical matters. He also doesn’t want to give full control to Wang Zhengqiang, wanting to handle these matters himself. This has deepened his conflict with Wang Zhengqiang, making others unhappy too."
"Are people afraid he’ll monopolize power?"
Li Haiyang nodded in agreement with Luo Ziling’s words, "Indeed, there’s a bit of that! Lin Zeping is a bit too greedy, trying to emulate his predecessors."
"So you think Wang Zhengqiang will eventually replace him?" Luo Ziling asked again.
Li Haiyang shook his head, "That’s not easy. Of course, that’s what Wang Zhengqiang wants."
"Why do you say that?" Luo Ziling found it very strange.
"Because it goes against convention."
"Convention?"
"Yes!" Li Haiyang nodded solemnly, "Think about it, in all these years, when has someone at Wang Zhengqiang’s level ever replaced someone at Lin Zeping’s level?"
After thinking for a moment, Luo Ziling said, "I think there has been!"
Li Haiyang was taken aback, then shook his head, "Don’t think about special periods, just look at personnel changes in recent years."
"Then no, there hasn’t been!" Luo Ziling shook his head, then appeared to have a sudden understanding. "So Wang Zhengqiang can only reach this position unless he makes history."
"Making history is easier said than done," Li Haiyang chuckled, "Therefore, if Wang Zhengqiang can maintain his current position and Lin Zeping steps down, that’s a win for Wang Zhengqiang. If Wang Zhengqiang can take Lin Zeping’s position, then it’s a major victory, a decisive victory, and he might become someone who makes history."
After pondering for a while, Luo Ziling asked Li Haiyang again, "Then who do you think will replace him if Wang Zhengqiang wins and Lin Zeping steps down?"
"It’s not visible right now," Li Haiyang shook his head, "Under normal circumstances, Lin Zeping should serve a term and then hand over to someone else. Judging by their age, you can see such an arrangement. By then, the successors would also be of age and have the credentials."
Luo Ziling nodded lightly, agreeing with Li Haiyang’s analysis.
"Your grandfather, Yang Yuanshan, and Fang Xiang are all unlikely," Li Haiyang said very confidently. "They are all of old age and can’t continue. Moreover, their influence is significant, with previous agreements between certain families that Lin Zeping’s and Wang Zhengqiang’s positions should be given to others, not contended for."
Li Haiyang’s words startled Luo Ziling, piquing his interest further.
Seeing Luo Ziling a bit surprised, Li Haiyang chuckled, "It’s actually quite understandable. Just look at the current rankings and their ages. Your grandfather, Fang Xiang, and Yang Yuanshan are all about the same age, having reached their peak. Wang Zhengqiang, Lin Zeping, and Wu Dongfang should be able to serve for a few more years. These three, barring any surprise, will stay. Chen Ruchang, your grandfather, Yang Yuanshan, and Fang Xiang should all step down, leaving four positions vacant. If everything goes smoothly, Ling Zhengping, Fang Zhonghua, Yang Yunlin, Chen Yining or Chen Yijing won’t immediately rise after their retirement; there’ll likely be a buffer period. The reasoning, well, it can only be understood rather than articulated."
Luo Ziling didn’t grasp the meaning of Li Haiyang’s words, so he looked at him with a puzzled expression, hoping he would elaborate.
"Those people from families closely tied to these major families, with not insignificant influence themselves, might go up," Li Haiyang said calmly. "My uncle Li Jinming, and your Ling Family’s Ling Minglan’s husband Lin Yongchang, Yang Yunlin’s brother-in-law Wu Gengsheng, or a son-in-law of the Chen Family, Wang Hongjun, or a son-in-law of the Fang Family, Li Tianguan, they might all ascend."
Some of the people Li Haiyang mentioned, like Wu Gengsheng, Wang Hongjun, and Li Tianguan, were unfamiliar to Luo Ziling.
However, since Li Haiyang mentioned them seriously, it indicated that these people had uncommon status and position.
He also found it rather interesting how they all belonged to prominent families and were closely related to several major clans.
After thinking it over, he understood that if they weren’t born into these families or related to them, how could they rise to such positions?
People without any distinguished background, with ordinary ancestors, would find it difficult to reach such positions.
Lin Zeping, Wang Zhengqiang, and Wu Dongfang also don’t come from ordinary families; both the Wang and Lin Families have considerable standing, and they have inseparable ties with the other major families.
The Wang Family has marital ties with the Fang, Yang, and Ling Families, though the relations have faded somewhat.
The Lin Family is similar, having closer ties with the Chen Family.
In any case, the situation is very complex, beyond what Luo Ziling can figure out now.
Even Li Haiyang isn’t entirely clear.
Li Haiyang spoke about these matters today to help Luo Ziling understand more, to see the situation more clearly when making choices. After all, Li Haiyang has hopes for Luo Ziling.
Moreover, he hopes Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan can assist the Li Family, helping him reach a higher status.
After listening to Li Haiyang, Luo Ziling understood many things. He decided to go home and discuss these issues with Ling Ruonan.
In these matters, he felt that Ling Ruonan might understand more and have a clearer perspective than Li Haiyang.
Li Haiyang didn’t stop talking but continued along the previous line of thought: "If Lin Zeping is taken down by Wang Zhengqiang, then Wu Dongfang is most likely to rise. This person has always kept a low profile, but he’s very cunning and ruthless. If you deal with him in the future, be very cautious. It’s better to have Lin Zeping stay on than for him to go up."
Li Haiyang’s particularly pointed tone made Luo Ziling frown unconsciously.