Chapter 264: Full‑Power Operation

Only by fully cultivating our own people can we secure a foothold!

Having made up his mind, Lu Fan put it into practice.

Wang Meng'en works at the Municipal Education Bureau, and Director Di Bin is an old acquaintance, so getting him a deputy Zhengke Level position should be no problem!

Huang Xiaoyu works at the Municipal Public Security Bureau; he and Director Ye Chen are on good terms, so it's basically a matter of a single sentence!

Zhu Jianglin works at the Municipal Personnel Bureau; this one is trickier and requires someone to indirectly convey a greeting to Leng Jiang!

Deng Junchi works in the Municipal Organization Department; just look for Minister Zhang Rongqiu, and it should be fine!

Yang Minghao serves as Deputy Secretary of the Ningyang Political and Legal Committee and has been given a Zhengke Level rank; staying in Ningyang is now of little use to him. Municipal Political and Legal Committee Secretary Chen Zijun follows closely after Secretary Li Mingzhou; he can be asked for help, but whether he'll grant face is uncertain!

After Director Zhang Qianyuan of the General Duty Office is reassigned, we'll strive to get Xia Li promoted!

Ceng Ming can be set aside for now; he secured the position of district chief of the third area of Yingjiang Prison on his own, which pleases Lu Fan greatly.

Du Wenlong has just attained Zhengke Level; he must bide his time and earn achievements, so promotion is not yet in sight.

Once these issues are resolved, we should consider how to pull some personnel from Ningyang to the city—such as a few secretaries from Baishu Bay Township Government, the Education Bureau, the Government Office, and some well‑connected friends. Let them blossom across the various departments of Yingjiang City, making it much easier to obtain any information later.

Coincidentally, the office has several documents transferring to the Municipal Political and Legal Committee; Lu Fan takes the files and delivers them personally to Secretary Chen Zijun's office.

Chen Zijun extends a courtesy to Lu Fan, rises and laughs, "Is the Municipal Party Committee Office really that idle? Does it need the Secretary‑General himself to deliver documents?"

Lu Fan smiles, "It's a good time; I rarely get a chance to report to the Secretary, so I'll take the opportunity to walk around here."

Sitting on the sofa, Chen Zijun says, "If there's nothing, don't climb the Three‑Treasure Hall. I know you're busy; just speak plainly if there's something."

Lu Fan laughs, "Secretary Chen, you're truly understanding, and I do have a request, but I'm really embarrassed to bring it up!"

"Don't be formal with me; we're all 'our own people'!"

"Then I'll muster the courage and say it! Secretary, Deputy Secretary of the Ningyang County Political and Legal Committee, Yang Minghao—do you think he has a chance to train at the Municipal Political and Legal Committee?"

After a brief silence, Chen Zijun, seeming to have weighed it carefully, slowly replies, "There is one opportunity. We hadn't planned to pull staff from the county, but since you asked, we'll give you face. Let him go to the Law‑Based City Office; there happens to be a vacant Zhengke Level post!"

Lu Fan, overjoyed, his face full of surprise and gratitude, says, "Secretary, I don't even know how to thank you. In the next couple of days I'll have Yang Minghao come to report to you!"

Chen Zijun waves his hand, "Let's skip the formalities between us. But to be blunt, if he can't handle the work, I'll have to send him away!"

Lu Fan pats his chest and assures, "Of course. If he makes any slip in his duties, without you sending him away, I'll kick him back myself!"

After a few more words, Lu Fan stands to take his leave; Chen Zijun escorts him to the door, noting that this is treatment befitting a Municipal Standing Committee level!

Back in his office, Lu Fan calls Yang Minghao and recounts what just happened.

Yang Minghao, delighted, says, "Brother Fan, it's great to be able to go to the city. What should I bring that would be appropriate?"

Lu Fan thinks a moment and says, "Gifts must not be omitted, and they should be more substantial than others! Inquire about the market; whether it's his business or not, you can't go without bringing something!"

"Brother Fan, got it. I'll go to the Municipal Political and Legal Committee this afternoon."

After work in the afternoon, Lu Fan goes to Secretary Li Mingzhou's office, reports, and says, "Secretary, I've thought carefully over the past two days about the matters you assigned; the Ningyang situation is rather special…"

Li Mingzhou interrupts, "Get straight to the result!"

Lu Fan, a bit embarrassed, simply says, "I'd like to recommend Deputy Secretary Yang Chuanbei as Ningyang County Chief, Ningyang Deputy County Chief Guo Tongyu as Ganshui County Organization Department Head, General Duty Office Director Zhang Qianyuan as Ganshui County Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary, and County Health Bureau Director Li Daqiang as Ningyang Deputy County Chief."

Li Mingzhou thinks it over; apart from Yang Chuanbei as county chief, the others are minor and can be decided by the city, so he says, "Bring the list over, summon Rongqiu. At four p. m., have Yang Chuanbei come to my office."

Lu Fan, gathering courage, says, "Secretary, I have another improper request!"

"Speak!"

"The Leisure Learning Award of the Municipal Science Association has been double‑regulated; I'd like to recommend Ningyang Deputy County Chief Liu Guannan for this important role!"

Li Mingzhou smiles and asks, "Do you have a grudge against him?"

Lu Fan drops the pretense, laying it out, "When I nominated him for deputy county chief, he colluded with some people to report me!"

Li Mingzhou nods, "I recall that. At the time, Hong Tao, Secretary of Yinzhou, even called to vouch for you! The Science Association is a quasi‑public institution and fairly important; let the Vice‑Chairman of the Family Planning Association go to the Science Association, and let Liu Guannan go to the Family Planning Association to make use of his remaining energy!"

Lu Fan feels a surge of admiration; the old man truly has a grand disposition!

A short while later, Municipal Organization Department Minister Li Zhang Rongqiu arrives at the Secretary's office and asks, "Secretary, any instructions?"

Li Mingzhou hands over the list Lu Fan prepared and says, "Take a proposal to the five‑person group meeting. For Yang Chuanbei's appointment, coordinate with the Provincial Organization Department as soon as possible."

"Understood, Secretary, I'll handle it immediately!"

Lu Fan's handwriting is easy to read because it's very neat.

Afterwards, Zhang Rongqiu goes to Lu Fan's office for a sit‑down, hoping to gauge his stance.

But Lu Fan only acknowledges that it was the Secretary's dictation that he recorded.

Seeing Zhang Rongqiu about to leave, Lu Fan says, "Minister, may I recommend a talent for you?"

Zhang Rongqiu smiles, "As long as they're talent, feel free to recommend!"

"Your subordinate, my classmate, Deng Junchi!"

"I have some recollection, fine, I'll note it."

"Minister, thank you!"

Zhang Rongqiu chuckles, "Don't mention it! You owe me a drink!"

"I'm ready whenever the Minister summons me!"

At 3:50 p. m., Ningyang County Committee Deputy Secretary Yang Chuanbei rushes to the Municipal Party Committee, first arriving at Lu Fan's office; without a word he tries to hand over a "document bag" that's extremely heavy, but Lu Fan firmly refuses it!

Half an hour later, Yang Chuanbei, flushed with gratitude, comes to Lu Fan's office and sincerely says, "Lu Fan, I won't thank you for this great kindness; I'll remember it for the rest of my life!"

Lu Fan smiles, "Old leader, it's your ability and seniority that's standing there; I merely tapped the side drum, nothing worth mentioning!"

"No need for words of thanks; let future actions speak!"

In the afternoon, Lu Fan treats Public Security Bureau Director Ye Chen to a drink and finalizes the matters concerning Liu Jin Zhu and Huang Xiaoyu.

Mid‑March, the Municipal Party Committee holds a five‑person group meeting to study the personnel adjustment plan submitted by the Organization Department, essentially led by Li Mingzhou and Deputy Secretary Guo Zhitao, with Minister Zhang Rongqiu "taking the knife," virtually ignoring Mayor Sun Weidong throughout!

On March 16, the Municipal Organization Department set up eight inspection teams dispatched to various counties, districts, and municipal directly‑subordinate departments; Ningyang is inspected jointly by the province and the city because its county chief is a provincially‑managed cadre.

On March 18, the Municipal Public Security Bureau reshuffles internally: Liu Jin Zhu, taking his case, is transferred back to the municipal criminal police detachment as deputy commander; Huang Xiaoyu is promoted to deputy section chief of the Economic Investigation Detachment.

Immediately thereafter, Deng Junchi is promoted to deputy section chief of Cadre Division II, Wang Meng'en to deputy section chief of the Personnel Section of the Municipal Education Bureau, and Zhu Jianglin to deputy section chief of the Salary Section of the Municipal Personnel Bureau.

Zhu Jianglin is the person Deputy Secretary‑General Li Guanglei introduced to Municipal Personnel Bureau director Leng Jiang; he is responsible for coordinating the bureau.

Now the brothers and classmates have all made pleasing progress, even though the positions are only deputy section chief or section chief, they still cannot be called "officials" in the city!

However, the road of officialdom is long, like scaling a high peak; it requires steady steps, each footfall solid. Every step is to accumulate strength and prepare for the next promotion.

Lu Fan helped everyone enormously; the brothers wanted to thank him, but he "coldly" refused, and instructed everyone to stay low‑key, especially in recent days, keep their heads down in the dust and not cause any trouble!

On March 24, the Municipal Organization Department issued a document; Yang Chuanbei got his wish, becoming Deputy Secretary of the Ningyang County Committee and being nominated as the candidate for County Chief. Guo Tongyu and Zhang Qianyuan went to Ganshui County in high spirits to take office, seizing the two "thrones" of Organization and Discipline Inspection!

After Li Daqiang became Deputy County Chief of Ningyang County, he went to the Municipal Party Committee at once to express thanks to Lu Fan, also carrying a thick briefcase!

Lu Fan sighed, "County Chief Li, we've known each other for nine years; don't use this to insult our friendship! You are the one I recommended to the secretary; I sincerely hope you can do something, and not let the Ningyang Education 'signboard' collapse!"

Li Daqiang said resolutely, "Rest assured, I will follow in your footsteps, work steadily and firmly, guard the Ningyang education front, and not let your hard work be in vain!"

But while some rejoice and some lament, Liu Guannan became the most wretched of all!

During the assessment it was fine, according to the talk about a deputy position in a municipal direct department, but after the document came out, why was he sent to the Municipal Political Consultative Conference? He's just a deputy director of a committee! Damn, I'm still young, why go to that bird‑brained unit? This deputy county chief has only been in the post for a few days, hasn't even recouped? How can one live like this!

Liu Guannan, dissatisfied, ran to the Municipal Organization Department, found Director Zhang Rongqiu, and demanded an explanation.

Explanation? You think you're a hammer! Zhang Rongqiu scolded sternly: "Party cadres must be able to rise and fall; you cannot be picky and haggle with the organization!"

Don't think the Political Consultative Conference is a powerless "clear‑water office" and that taking a deputy post makes you "a step shorter" than others; it is one of the four major bodies, able to fully participate in state affairs, represent the many committee members to voice the people's demands—its mission is glorious and arduous!

The Party constitution stipulates that "individuals submit to the Party organization" ranks first among the "four obediences" of democratic centralism, so Party cadres must consciously obey the organization's assignments, transfers, and arrangements.

If anyone is dissatisfied with the organization's allocation and causes trouble or quits, I think the Organization Department and Discipline Inspection Committee need to investigate seriously and handle it sternly! His tone was severe and resolute, his eyes showing unquestionable authority.

Thus this spineless scoundrel fled the Organization Department in terror, helplessly went to report to the Political Consultative Conference!