Chapter 299

After Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Zhang Qianyuan came back in, Lu Fan's anger had not yet subsided.

Zhang Qianyuan asked, "Secretary, are you okay?"

Lu Fan said, "Some people are too outrageous and have seriously interfered with the enterprise's construction. Qianyuan, does the Discipline Inspection Commission have any report letters about Yuan Gang?"

Zhang Qianyuan replied without hesitation, "Secretary, there are some report letters about him! Yuan Gang has been a township head, a secretary, a Transportation Bureau Director, and a Deputy County Head. He became a Standing Committee member the year before last. Many people say he is the richest man in Ganshui County. However, he is a division-level cadre and is not within the jurisdiction of the County Discipline Inspection Commission."

Lu Fan nodded and said, "Go with me to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission this afternoon! Regarding the Investment Promotion Bureau case you just reported, my opinion is to dismiss him from both his post and the Party and hand him over to the judicial authorities for serious handling! In a small Investment Promotion Bureau, he was actually able to embezzle more than one million; it is simply unbelievable. This shows how bad the political ecology and business environment in Ganshui are! Qianyuan, you should start from these two aspects and investigate first. In the next two days, I will hold a business environment rectification meeting. Your Discipline Inspection Commission must participate deeply, deal with some people, and warn the cadres of Ganshui!"

"Okay, Secretary, I will arrange it immediately."

After Zhang Qianyuan left, Lu Fan instructed Li Xinbo to hold a meeting tomorrow morning specifically to study optimizing and improving the business environment. He required the involved departments to speak one by one, with each speech not exceeding five minutes, and all Standing Committee members and Deputy County Heads were to attend the meeting.

At 2:30 in the afternoon, Lu Fan arrived at the office of Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Wu Xiaohua.

Wu Xiaohua said with a smile, "I was originally going to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission to report on work this afternoon, but in order to wait for you, I specifically asked Secretary Liu Tuo for leave!"

Lu Fan laughed, "That only shows that Brother Wu values me. I am extremely honored!"

"You never visit the temple without a cause. Tell me, what is the specific matter?"

Lu Fan put away his smile and said, "I want to deal with our county's Deputy County Head, Yuan Gang. Do you have any clues here?"

Wu Xiaohua smiled slightly, "I knew you would come for this sooner or later. I asked Du Wenlong to summarize and organize all the reports involving Ganshui. You can ask him directly. However, to investigate a deputy division-level cadre, Secretary Li must give the word. You understand!"

"Fine, I will go to ask the Secretary for instructions later. I won't make it difficult for you."

Wu Xiaohua added, "As far as I know, the corruption problem in Ganshui is very serious. Although your fiscal revenue is not great, the poorer the county, the more concentrated the power, which leads to corruption, thereby slowing down economic growth; and this further leads to poverty, which in turn leads to even more rampant corruption. Thus, a vicious cycle is formed between poverty and corruption!"

Lu Fan sighed, "I have deep feelings about this! Some leaders and departments keep their eyes on enterprises. They start 'slaughtering the pig' before it's even fattened, causing enterprises to struggle and flee one after another. In the townships, they keep their eyes on the various funds and subsidies for farmers, plucking feathers from every passing goose. They dare to touch any money, making the common people miserable and helpless. If I don't rectify these problems, I really can't stand it!"

Wu Xiaohua advised, "Lu Fan, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Some things will not be achieved if you are too hasty. Governing corruption must be done step by step. If you are too radical, once you arouse the opposition and resistance of the cadres, things will be difficult to handle. You must know that corrupt behavior is often collusion between superiors and subordinates. For a small county, if you investigate a Zhengke-level head or a deputy division-level leader, it might affect the whole situation!"

After chatting for nearly an hour, Lu Fan stood up to say goodbye and went directly to Secretary Li Mingzhou's office.

The Municipal Party Committee Office is Lu Fan's base. After getting out of the elevator, Lu Fan received a warm welcome. Two Deputy Secretary-Generals, Ma Yajun and Wang Jiaming, insisted on pulling him to the office for tea and wanted to arrange a drinking party for the evening.

Lu Fan hadn't treated anyone since leaving the Municipal Party Committee Office, so he entrusted Xia Li to arrange the drinking party for the evening. As for who to invite, he let him decide.

Tan Yin naturally wanted to cut the line for Lu Fan. After the Organization Department Head came out, he took Lu Fan directly into the Secretary's office and diligently brewed a cup of good tea.

Li Mingzhou looked up and said, "If you have something to say, say it. I need to finish approving these documents. I have to go to the province tomorrow to attend the Standing Committee meeting."

Lu Fan sipped his tea and said, "Secretary, the comrades from the Municipal Party Committee Office were pestering me to treat them to a meal. I'm planning to sit with them tonight. Is it convenient for you to go?"

"Human relations are necessary, just don't use high-end cigarettes and alcohol. If I go, they won't be at ease. You guys drink!"

"Don't worry, we are drinking our Ganshui Meishui wine. Good water brews good wine. This wine is truly excellent—clear and transparent in color, mellow and sweet, with a long aftertaste and a unique flavor. It has won many awards and is one of our famous Qinchuan wines, known as the 'Maotai of Qin Bei'! Look, can it be listed as the designated reception wine for the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government? Secretary, you must support the development of local brands. Why don't you replace all your wine with our Meishui wine?"

Lu Fan knew very well that every move of the top leader would attract widespread attention and imitation from the city's leading cadres, and the driving effect was quite obvious. The cigarettes he smoked and the wine he drank often sold out.

Lu Fan knew very well how obvious the top leader's driving effect was; the cigarettes he smoked and the wine he drank often sold out.

Li Mingzhou smiled and said, "You handle it. Tell the Government Affairs Bureau yourself."

"Thank you for your support, Secretary! I came to see you today to deal with someone: our Standing Committee member and Deputy County Head, Yuan Gang!"

Unexpectedly, Li Mingzhou asked directly, "After taking him down, who do you plan to use?"

Lu Fan hadn't really considered this question and could only say, "Secretary, what I thought was to take him down first and then consider it."

"Plan before you act, know when to stop to gain something. Everything has its method; you cannot be chaotic! Don't work hard for nothing and end up making a wedding dress for someone else! Does Yuan Gang not support your work?"

Lu Fan replied, "That's not it. You know our silicon carbide project, which I managed to get from Secretary Wang Hongtao's brother with great difficulty. This Yuan Gang used his power to demand earthwork jobs from them, and at a price higher than the market price. Now he is even more insatiable, and his hand is stretched even further. The enterprise is angry! Moreover, Yuan Gang has a great reputation in Ganshui; folklore says he is the richest man in Ganshui!"

Li Mingzhou put down his pen and said, "Governing corruption requires solid evidence. Since you want to move against him, let the Discipline Inspection Commission investigate first. I will give instructions to Wu Xiaohua on this matter, and you can connect with him specifically. In the county, taking down a Standing Committee member and Deputy County Head will have a huge impact and may involve a large group of people. You must be mentally prepared. At the same time, you must have control over the situation in the whole county and cannot affect the normal development of work."

Lu Fan nodded and said, "Secretary, I will not act rashly."

After discussing work, Lu Fan stood up to say goodbye. Li Mingzhou said, "I have guaranteed the Qinchuan Petroleum project to the Provincial Party Committee, so there must be no problems! Oh, by the way, come back to Jingcheng with me next weekend; my mother is celebrating her 70th birthday!"

"Okay, Secretary. What gift do you think is appropriate for me to prepare?"

"Put your heart into your work. Let Zimei prepare the gift."

At 7:00 in the evening, Lu Fan hosted a banquet for his colleagues from the Municipal Party Committee Office at the Yingjiang Hotel. The large private room for more than 20 people was full, and basically all leaders above the deputy section level were present.

The banquet officially began, and Lu Fan delivered a short and sincere speech. He thanked everyone for their support of his work all along and expressed that they should visit each other often in the future!

Subsequently, sumptuous dishes were served one by one, and accompanied by laughter, the atmosphere was quite lively.

Lu Fangu is the County Party Committee Secretary, which can be described as young, promising, and having a boundless future. As long as his official career does not encounter major setbacks, his colleagues in the Municipal Party Committee Office will be the supporters he values, and Lu Fan will also be their political resource.

On the morning of March 19, the Ganshui County Party Committee held a county-wide business environment construction work promotion meeting, presided over by County Party Committee Secretary Lu Fan.

At the meeting, the County Development and Reform Bureau reported on the construction of the business environment in the whole county, existing problems, and work suggestions; various units spoke around their own work regarding the progress of business environment work, existing problems, and next steps for promotion.

After listening to the reports on the relevant situation, Lu Fan said, "After listening to your reports, it seems that everyone has done a lot of work, but the business environment in our county remains the same, with basically no improvement!

Comrades, the business environment is the soft power of a city and also the core competitiveness of high-quality economic development. Everyone must clearly see the shortcomings and weaknesses in our county's business environment. It can be said that when enterprises and ordinary people handle affairs, 'eating, taking, carding, and demanding' are everywhere, and deliberate obstruction is ubiquitous. Enterprises simply don't know what policies they can enjoy. The frequency of inspections is too high, and multi-headed law enforcement, repeated law enforcement, and frequent law enforcement make enterprises miserable and exhausted. The high threshold for loans makes it as difficult as ascending to heaven for enterprises to raise funds, and so on. These are all problems that exist in our reality.

What is even more heartbreaking is that some leading cadres and law enforcement departments have actually reached out their black hands to enterprises and project construction! Not only do they demand projects from enterprises, but they even set prices themselves, completely ignoring market laws and principles of fairness! This behavior is simply a trampling on the dignity of the Party's government! I want to ask, where is your Party spirit? Do you still want any face?"

Lu Fan's palm slammed heavily on the table, his eyes full of anger, his gaze directed straight at Yuan Gang, as if he wanted to see through him!

The entire conference room fell into a dead silence. Everyone was like an old monk in meditation, looking at their noses, mouths, and hearts!

At this time, Yuan Gang's face was flushed, full of indignation and dissatisfaction, but he was helpless. Lu Fan did not name him, and in the end, he lowered his arrogant head.

Lu Fan continued, "Comrades, the governance of the business environment must be a long-term effort. We must build a government environment that is 'more efficient in handling affairs,' firmly establish the 'waiter' consciousness of serving enterprise development and project construction, vigorously promote the 'decentralization, management, and service' reform, continuously promote 'reducing links, reducing materials, reducing time limits, and optimizing services,' and achieve 'minimalist' approval of certificates and licenses and 'extremely fast' handling of procedures, further improving the convenience level of government services. Let enterprises operate with peace of mind and develop with confidence, and effectively build Ganshui into a high-quality fertile soil for serving enterprise development!

I clearly tell everyone that the County Party Committee and the County Government will use iron determination and iron wrists to draw swords against all stubborn diseases of the business environment and perform surgery on all blockages and difficulties. Whoever dares to reach out randomly to enterprises and the masses is the enemy of me and the 100,000 people of Ganshui, and I will definitely chop off that 'claw' of yours!"