Chapter 363

September 17, the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department issued documents; Yuan Weiwei eventually left, taking up the post of deputy director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission. Lu Fan and Executive Vice County Chief Guo Tongyu, representing the County Committee and County Government, acted as "our own people" and personally saw Yuan Weiwei off to her new unit.

At ten in the morning, Deputy Provincial Party Secretary Wang Hongtao personally went to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission to see off Director Zheng Bin, Deputy Directors Yuan Weiwei and Cai Lishan as they took up their posts.

In his speech, Wang Hongtao demanded that the Provincial Development and Reform Commission work together to seek development and battle for the fourth quarter!

Lu Fan had read this personnel adjustment document; including the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the vast majority of provincial-level departments had been brought under Wang Secretary's control, and cadres from the Chang'an and Yinzhou factions directly went to various cities, taking over the party secretaries and mayors of six or seven cities, including some important standing committee members.

In terms of strength, no one in Qinchuan Province can surpass him! Secretary Wang openly became the biggest "mountain top" in Qinchuan, yet strangely he feels nothing is wrong, as if it were naturally so!

After the inauguration ceremony, Wang Hongtao privately met Lu Fan in the office of the Development and Reform Commission director, smiling and saying: "I originally thought highly of you and Yuan Weiwei working together, but this time the province underwent the greatest upheaval in history, with shortages everywhere, so we had no choice but to recruit people from the grassroots. The Development and Reform Commission has the most serious corruption problems; Yuan Weiwei is steady, strong in party spirit and principles, and meticulous in work, so we placed him in this unit. Yuan Weiwei told me you have strong objections!"

Lu Fan hurriedly said: "Secretary, Yuan Weiwei is such an outstanding comrade; frankly I would be reluctant to let him go, but as a Party cadre I unconditionally obey organizational decisions and carry out organizational orders!"

Wang Hongtao continued: "I also considered letting you come to the province, but then Ganshui County's development could not be guaranteed. Moreover, I saw your resume—you have held a division-level leadership post for less than three years and need a transition in another division-level post—so I am asking for your opinion: which department would you like to go to?"

Hearing this, Lu Fan felt relieved at once; it turned out the teacher had not forgotten him!

Lu Fan had considered this issue, so he straightforwardly said: "Secretary, many of Ganshui's works have just been launched; tasks need a beginning and an end. I neither want nor can leave Ganshui for the time being. Please give me some more time; in the second half of the year my work focus will be on township industrial development, and I will certainly find a path to prosperity for the grassroots people!"

Wang Hongtao nodded and said: "Power is for the people's use, feelings are for the people's ties, benefits are for the people's gain. The standard by which the people judge Party cadres is whether they truly do solid work for the people. Data can be falsified, but the people's genuine sense of happiness, security, and satisfaction will not lie."

Your achievements in Ganshui are quite good, all watered with hard sweat. You do not care about personal gains or losses, nor pursue short-term benefits, showing political maturity. Since you have made a decision, then work solidly, use development to make up for shortcomings in people's livelihood, so that the dividends of development truly benefit the masses. The organization will certainly not let those who are solid in character, work style, deeds, and performance suffer losses!

After talking for about ten minutes, Wang Hongtao returned to the Provincial Party Committee; these days he will be shuttling back and forth, sending large numbers of leading cadres to new posts.

At noon, Provincial Development and Reform Commission Director Zheng Bin personally hosted a banquet for Lu Fan and the other deputy director's "our own people"; this is a matter of courtesy.

In Yingjiang, Municipal Organization Department Head Zhang Rongqiu was duly appointed Executive Vice Mayor; Municipal Party Secretary Zhang Ziqiang was adjusted to head of the Organization Department; Municipal Development and Reform Commission Director Yang Shaokai was promoted to Municipal Party Secretary; Ningyang County Party Secretary Bian Jide was promoted to Vice Mayor; Municipal Party Deputy Secretary Wang Jiaming was adjusted to Party Secretary of Fuxian County; Ningyang County Magistrate Yang Chuanbei was adjusted to Party Secretary of Ningyang County.

On the way back to the county, Lu Fan's phone was blown up, not stopping for a minute; all these leaders were calling to express thanks.

Plus Anbao County Party Secretary Ma Yajun and County Magistrate Guo Shanbo, Fangzhou County Party Secretary Liu Yuheng, Yanshui County Party Secretary Zhang Yuxuan and County Magistrate Wang Zhikun—unbeknownst to him, Lu Fan also gained a certain foothold in Yingjiang City, and no one can ignore his presence!

Several important posts are still vacant; the city will soon conduct personnel adjustments. Secretary Li Mingzhou has already given Lu Fan "authority," and the next round of adjustments will be the real foundation-building!

Just as he entered the office, Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission Supervision Room Director Liu Yixuan pushed the door open, smiling and said: "Secretary Lu, I'm reporting for duty!"

Lu Fan casually brewed two cups of tea, sat on the sofa, and said: "When you come, it's never good news—spill it!"

Liu Yixuan said: "It really isn't good news; the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission's task force has fed back a clue that your Propaganda Department Director Liu Jingxuan is suspected of illegal and disciplinary violations, and today we will take measures against her!"

"Liu Jingxuan? What problems does she have?" Lu Fan felt doubtful; according to his usual observations, this propaganda department head works relatively actively and seems rather low-key.

"It was brought to light by the Executive Vice Mayor—an affair, and they partnered in some projects involving not a small amount of funds!"

Lu Fan sighed and said: "Since there are clues and this is an issue fed back by the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, we will obey the organizational decision."

That afternoon, the county compound was bustling again, with everyone discussing how the beautiful female department head had been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission.

But this uproar quickly subsided, because the people of Ganshui have seen plenty of "the world" in the past two years; six or seven county-level leaders have been taken away, so it's nothing surprising!

After work, Lu Fan returned to Yingjiang, intending to report work to Secretary Li Mingzhou; he already had a preliminary idea in mind regarding the personnel adjustments.

Upon arriving at the Municipal Party Committee compound, he indeed saw the light on in Secretary Li Mingzhou's office.

Going upstairs, he saw that Secretary Tan Yin's office still had people queuing, waiting to report work to the secretary.

No wonder, the whole city knows that the Municipal Party Committee is about to carry out a major personnel adjustment.

In recent days, Mayor Sun Weidong has not stepped out of his residence, keeping a low profile down to the dust.

Actually, Sun Weidong himself cannot understand why, after he and Secretary Wang Hongtao turned themselves in, no measures have been taken against him until now—has he just gotten away with it?

After seeing Lu Fan, Tan Yin invited him into the neighboring office and enthusiastically served tea and water.

Lu Fan asked: "Secretary, have you had lunch?"

Tan Yin shook his head and said: "Nobody in the office has stopped all day; at noon they ate a bit at the stove, and in the afternoon they didn't go out."

Lu Fan furrowed his brows and said: "You should get something to eat!"

Tan Yin hastily explained: "Secretary Lu, I asked for instructions, and the secretary said he has no appetite."

"No appetite still need to eat—health is important!" Having said that, Lu Fan directly called Xia Li, asking him to bring over a bowl of lamb noodles, to be personally made by Chen Tianhao.

After waiting for Municipal Compilation Office Director Chen Hongji to come out of the secretary's office, Lu Fan had Tan Yin block everyone behind him, then he himself entered carrying a lunch box.

"Secretary, people are iron, rice is steel—health is important!" Having said that, Lu Fan opened the lunch box and placed the lamb noodles in front of Li Mingzhou.

Li Mingzhou smiled, picked up his chopsticks and began eating, while saying: "This year really is a tumultuous autumn; today the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission fed back a clue that United Front Work Department Head Hao Chaoyang has serious problems, and he will be placed under shuanggui tomorrow; I have arranged for Public Security Bureau's Ye Chen to keep an eye on him this afternoon."

"I heard that over 200 people have been arrested in the province?"

"In the end it will certainly be more than that; if we dig deeper, no one can remain untouched—it all depends on how Secretary Wang Hongtao controls the scale. After this upheaval, the political landscape of Qinchuan Province is set!"

"Secretary, lately there's talk that Governor Liu is leaving; do you think Secretary Wang has a chance?"

"This is quite delicate; his support is high. The problem now is that he has served only a short time at the vice-ministerial level and hasn't yet reached the promotion red line. But if the superiors indeed want to use him, they could first appoint him as Party Group Secretary, then let him preside over work—everything depends on human effort!"

After eating a few more bites, Li Mingzhou put down his chopsticks and said: "Go on, tell me your thoughts."

Lu Fan took out his notebook and reported: "Secretary, this afternoon our propaganda department head was placed under shuanggui by the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission. I plan to promote the Party Secretary of Chengguan Town to head of the propaganda department, and let Jia Dahua serve as a standing committee member of the County Committee while also being Party Secretary of Chengguan Town; that way the number of standing committee members will become even."

Li Mingzhou nodded and said: "Fine, it's no problem; we're all here to work, odd or even doesn't matter, we can adjust later."

Lu Fan continued: "I intend to recommend Municipal Compilation Office Director Chen Hongji as Ningyang County Magistrate, and recommend Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission's Standing Committee He Jiafeng as Magistrate of Xiuyan County!"

"Okay, that's fairly sound, acceptable; I've noted it—please continue."

"Recommend Municipal Judicial Bureau's Office of Law-Based Governance Deputy Director Zeng Ming as Party Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of Zibei County, Municipal Political and Legal Committee Comprehensive Section Chief Yang Minghao as Party Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of Hongqi County, and recommend Municipal Party Committee Supervision Room Director Xia Li as Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee…"

Lu Fan recommended nearly twenty cadres in one breath, including some personnel adjustments in the Municipal Party Committee Office; Li Mingzhou accepted them all in full, making Lu Fan overjoyed and also greatly relieved.

Starting the next day, Lu Fan stopped pondering personnel matters, devoting all his energy to work; accompanied by County Party Committee Office Director Li Xinbo, he went deep into all townships to check on industrial development.

All townships sprang into action with twelve-tenths spirit, displaying to Secretary Lu their proud achievements this year.

Entering Stone Bridge Town, Old Mountain Town, and South Gully Town, Lu Fan saw the masses in groups of three or five busily planting medicinal herbs—some inserting seedlings, others mounding soil; the procedures were familiar and orderly, a scene of bustling vigor.

Party Secretary Zhang Bin of South Gully Town reported: "Secretary, our town has completed dry-field planting of 5,000 mu mainly of codonopsis, forsythia, and scutellaria; total output is expected to exceed 500 tons, output value to surpass 35 million yuan; we have established 18 professional cooperatives, the medicinal herb industry chain is just taking shape, and with the county committee's help we have signed purchase contracts with listed enterprises, expecting the average income increase per rural household in the town to be over ten thousand yuan!"

Lu Fan laughed and said: "Your town's work is quite good; you have fully mobilized the masses' enthusiasm, relying on the advantage of rich land resources, you have seized the opportunity to develop medicinal herbs, realizing a path to wealth from nothing in medicinal herbs; South Gully is now the county's largest medicinal herb planting base, and I am very satisfied. Next, we need to help the masses turn these medicinal herbs into cash, achieving real, tangible income growth."