Chapter 246

After the pleasantries, Lu Fan began discussing work: "Director Chen, the leader mentioned two days ago that the Municipal Party Committee Office wants to select six cadres, including two who were seconded last year. By the end of the year, we can retire two, leaving four vacancies in the quota. Please have the Office of Public Sector Reform resolve this."

Chen Huangji looked troubled, but Lu Fan ignored it. He now had a realization: instructions from the Municipal Party Committee Office are political tasks. If there are difficulties, find a way to solve them yourself!

"Secretary-General, I'll go back and think of a way to resolve the issue before the selection. How does that sound?"

"As long as it doesn't delay the selection, otherwise I won't be able to answer to the leader. Then, thank you, Director Chen!"

After finishing the business, Chen Huangji insisted on treating him to drinks, but Lu Fan politely declined, stating that he would definitely treat him to a meal in a while!

On November 21, the Provincial Party Committee held a Standing Committee meeting.

Before the meeting, Governor Liu Congfeng went specifically to Li Mingzhou's office to communicate regarding the adjustment of Hu Chengwei.

Unexpectedly, Li Mingzhou's attitude was exceptionally firm, stating that Ningyang could not do without Hu Chengwei for the time being, but he could let him go next year.

Since he was only acting on someone else's request, Liu Congfeng did not press the issue.

After the Standing Committee meeting began, the initial agenda items were calm and uneventful, all involving routine work, until they reached the personnel adjustments for the Discipline Inspection Commission, where certain disagreements arose.

Executive Vice Governor Duan Pengfei said: "Secretary Liu Tuo, if individual leading cadres have shortcomings or mistakes, have inappropriate words or actions, or violate work procedures, must they be prevented from ever rising again? I feel that having Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission Lü Taichang serve as the Director of the CPPCC Cultural and Historical Data Committee is going a bit too far!"

Liu Tuo looked up and said: "Governor Pengfei, thank you for your concern regarding the work of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission!"

After saying this, he lowered his head to stare at the documents, with nothing more to add!

The meeting hall fell into a brief silence. Li Mingzhou broke the silence, saying: "Without rules, there is no order! Fulfilling duties and handling work must be done according to the rules. This is the basic requirement for doing all work well, and it is also the most fundamental political quality for leading cadres!

Many tasks are not done well or run into problems precisely because rules are not followed. Take, for example, this recent case of irregular handling of the Yingjiang case, which caused great distress to our outstanding young cadres. If it weren't for Secretary Liu Tuo's timely correction, a young, promising, and capable cadre would likely have been ruined!

Therefore, following rules reflects party spirit and work style, and it relates to the quality of work and the level of duty fulfillment. We must resolutely weed out the black sheep; we absolutely cannot let them remain in important leadership positions because the harm they bring is even greater! I support the opinions of Secretary Liu Tuo and the Organization Department!

Furthermore, regarding Lü Taichang's erroneous actions, was it truly his own reckless behavior? Or was he instigated by others? I suggest that Secretary Liu Tuo must investigate to the end, ferret out the true mastermind hiding behind the scenes, and bring justice to our Yingjiang City!"

Once these words were spoken, they immediately attracted everyone's attention; conversely, no one paid any more attention to the adjustments in the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission.

Secretary Chen Jiazhong said: "If you are wrong, you must admit it; this is the breadth of mind our Party member cadres should have! Secretary Liu Tuo, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission should not avoid the doctor out of fear of the disease or shirk responsibility. Investigate it seriously!"

As soon as the words fell, some people's expressions became somewhat unnatural.

After all the agenda items were finished, Chen Jiazhong asked if anyone had anything else to say. Unexpectedly, Duan Pengfei took this polite closing and said: "Secretary Chen, I'll take a few moments of everyone's time. I am in charge of the Provincial Government Office, and we are currently missing a Deputy Secretary-General. After our assessment, we are quite satisfied with Hu Chengwei, the County Party Committee Secretary of Ningyang County, Yingjiang City. With the consent of Governor Liu, we have already submitted this to the Organization Department. However, Secretary Mingzhou is reluctant to let him go, and the Office is in urgent need of personnel. I would like to ask Secretary Mingzhou to show some leniency!"

Upon hearing this, the corners of Li Mingzhou's mouth lifted slightly, and he said with a smile: "Regarding this issue, I have already explained it to Governor Liu previously. Ningyang is currently in a critical period of economic and social catch-up and surpassing, and in the decisive period for striving to become a strong county in education and a top 100 district in the west! At such a critical juncture, changing generals temporarily is truly inappropriate. For the well-being of the 190,000 people of Ningyang County, I can only apologize to the Provincial Government for the time being!"

He paused, then continued: "However, the fact that our cadres can be favored by the Provincial Government is an honor for both Yingjiang and him personally! Please give me one to two months, and after the New Year, I will personally deliver the talent you need to the Provincial Government!" His voice was firm and powerful, revealing an unquestionable determination.

The matter was left unsettled, and Secretary Chen Jiazhong announced the adjournment!

While the Standing Committee was discussing Hu Chengwei, Du Wenlong quietly arrived at the Ningyang Industrial Park with two cadres. At the same time, cadres from the Municipal Party Committee Inspection Office also secretly arrived at Zhouchuan Town.

County Head Bian Jide walked into the office of County Party Committee Secretary Hu Chengwei and said with a smile: "Secretary, I've come to report something to you."

Hu Chengwei forced a smile and said: "Jide, sit down and talk!" He had already learned the news from the Provincial Standing Committee meeting and felt anxious.

"It's like this: two cadres from our county are going to participate in the selection for the Municipal Government Office, and both are at the deputy section level. To give them better development prospects, can we give them a boost and promote them on the spot so they can participate in the selection with the status of a section-level cadre?"

Hu Chengwei smiled and said: "This is Lu Fan's idea, right? Since going to the Municipal Party Committee, you've started being formal with me. Does such a small matter need you to pass a message? It doesn't take up Ningyang's quota, we don't have to pay their salaries, and it allows our comrades to have better development prospects—three birds with one stone, why not do it? I fully agree! Handle this as a special case; let the Organization Department go through the procedures. Don't delay the selection for these two comrades!"

"There's also Du Wenlong from our County Discipline Inspection Commission, who has the same issue."

"Then resolve that one together as well; it's all good news!"

"I thank the Secretary on their behalf!"

Hu Chengwei suddenly asked: "Jide, what do you think about the project at the Trading Center? Secretary Mingzhou is very dissatisfied. Is there any way we can make up for it?"

"Secretary, I think you should go and explain it to Secretary Mingzhou yourself. It's all for the sake of work. The city has given us such heavy tasks; if we don't do it this way, the growth rate of key projects won't go up!"

"Sigh, who's to say otherwise? I'm in a position where I have grievances I can't voice!"

Bian Jide thought to himself: Forget it, you should explain the situation of the fund usage clearly first!

In the afternoon, Li Mingzhou returned to the Municipal Party Committee to attend the fourth-quarter economic scheduling meeting.

At the meeting, Secretary Li Mingzhou stated in his speech that as the end of the year approaches, some counties, districts, and departments have begun to engage in fraud regarding the construction of key projects. Taking the Ningyang Trading Center project as an example, he severely reprimanded Hu Chengwei.

This was the first time Secretary Li Mingzhou had expressed dissatisfaction with a specific person or task in a public setting. Many smart people immediately realized the seriousness of the problem and also saw that an opportunity had arrived.

After a day of investigation, Du Wenlong had mastered a large amount of material. These matters were as clear as if they were laid out in the open; anyone with a bit of brains could see that there were serious problems, and they simply couldn't withstand an investigation!

However, because the public has long held the philosophy of "the people do not fight with officials," and because the money being squandered wasn't their own, they simply chose to look away and avoid the trouble!

This made some leaders become even more unscrupulous and daring, using any means necessary to satisfy their own selfish desires.

On November 22, Du Wenlong came to the Ningyang County Agriculture Bureau and requested that Director Shi Qiancheng cooperate with the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation by providing the project materials and accounts for the Agricultural Products Trading Center.

Not long after, people from the Municipal Party Committee Inspection Office also arrived, and it was for the exact same purpose!

Shi Qiancheng was terrified and honestly provided the project-related materials, reporting the matter to the County Party Committee and County Government immediately.

Hu Chengwei was so anxious that he paced back and forth in his office, feeling as if disaster was imminent.

After thinking it over, he dialed the number of Executive Vice Governor Duan Pengfei.

After understanding the situation, Governor Duan realized that Li Mingzhou was about to take action against Hu Chengwei!

Yingjiang City is Li Mingzhou's territory. Duan Pengfei felt helpless, so he offered a few words of comfort to Hu Chengwei and warned him that he must not say what he shouldn't say, then hung up the phone, leaving Hu Chengwei to his own fate.

This is the tragedy of a small figure! In Ningyang, Hu Chengwei was the absolute authority, whose word was law. But to provincial-level leaders, he was just an insignificant pawn; if he broke, he broke—it was irrelevant and of no great consequence!

County Head Bian Jide realized that the opportunity had truly arrived and immediately headed to the Municipal Party Committee, intending to find an opportunity to report his work to Secretary Li Mingzhou.

But while going downstairs, Bian Jide saw Hu Chengwei getting into a car, so he hid and set off ten minutes later.

After obtaining the project materials, Du Wenlong compared them with the invoices that had been entered into the accounts and went to the site for verification. The result was that over 4 million in invoices were found to be falsified, and there was not a trace of construction to be seen on-site. The problem was very serious!

After Lu Fan learned of the situation, he immediately reported it orally to Secretary Li Mingzhou.

Li Mingzhou instructed: "To clear out corruption, one must be prepared for the unexpected and take precautions. We must also execute one to warn a hundred, leaving the ant-like corrupt officials with nowhere to hide. Have Wu Xiaohua come over; let's use this project as a breakthrough point and investigate it!"

When Lu Fan came out, he happened to run into Hu Chengwei, who was waiting at the door, and gave him a polite greeting.

Carrying deep regret, Hu Chengwei pushed open the door to Secretary Li Mingzhou's office with great difficulty!

Gently closing the door and walking to the opposite side of the desk, Hu Chengwei said sincerely: "Secretary, I have come to admit my mistakes to you!"

Li Mingzhou put down the pen in his hand, leaned back in his office chair, and watched Hu Chengwei quietly without speaking.

"Secretary, in my work, because I was eager for success and acted on impulse, I committed some principled errors, which brought great negative influence to Ningyang..."

Hu Chengwei spoke incessantly about his mistakes and reflections for a full ten minutes, but Li Mingzhou, sitting opposite him, remained silent throughout, only looking at him coldly.

Some things can be forgiven, but some things absolutely cannot be tolerated! Li Mingzhou had made up his mind to suppress this person!