Qi Tongwei’s reasoning was simple:
Zhao Lichun wanted to be governor.
Jiao Feiyue wanted to be both Provincial Party Secretary and governor.
Fan Zhiwen held only the card of governor; he could hardly give away the seat he was already sitting in to someone else.
How could Zhao Lichun possibly sit by and allow another rival to emerge out of nowhere? He would certainly do everything in his power to stop it.
To put it bluntly, there was no longer any foundation for cooperation between Jiao Feiyue and the Fan-Zhao Faction.
The You-Liang Faction, however, was different. Liang Qunfeng had no such concerns; "If I advance, you can advance with me. If I become Provincial Party Secretary, you become governor." It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Furthermore, there were no messy entanglements below them. Whether it was Qi Tongwei, Zhou Zhengming, or the dark horse Jingzhou Mayor Wang Xuemin, they were still two or even several steps away from the number-two position; there was no need to worry just yet.
There was no need to fret over core factional interests in the short term.
After this explanation, Zhou Zhengming understood. He thought for a moment and then raised a question: Chen Xingchang could replace Jiao Feiyue. Why choose Jiao Feiyue, with whom there was baggage, instead of Chen Xingchang, with whom the relationship was warming up?
Qi Tongwei provided the explanation: "Because Chen Xingchang has a way out. He could defect to the other side at a critical moment. He wouldn’…
Chapter 425