Chapter 389: Answering the Call Amid Peril

On December 5, Qinchuan Province convened a debt‑clearing meeting; Governor Hong Tao personally presided and gave an important speech, and the mayors of all cities and the heads of provincial‑direct departments attended.

At the meeting, Governor Hong Tao singled out Yingjiang for criticism. He said: "Up to now, the investigation of each municipal government's debt has been completed. I have carefully examined the debt‑clearing ledger you submitted to the provincial government and found that Yingjiang reported only 2.9 billion, the lowest in the province, which greatly surprises me! I know that Ganshui County and Zhenbei District reported zero debt; I'm aware of that because when Lu Fan was the county party secretary the accounts were already settled, and I also served in Zhenbei District. But what about the other eleven counties? And the city‑direct departments—do they total only 2.9 billion? Zhao Tao, are you just burning paper on a grave—fooling ghosts? Put aside other issues, Ningyang County, Anbao County, Hongqi County—any of them could have debt below 5 billion? This is a serious dereliction of duty! Including other cities, are your fundamentals sound? I'll give you another week to re‑report the debt‑clearing ledger. Any city that tries to conceal the truth will be dealt with severely by the Provincial Party Committee and the provincial government!"

After returning to Yingjiang, Zhao Tao immediately reported Governor Hong Tao's directive to Secretary Li Ruifang, stating that the debt‑clearing work must be given high priority and that the urgent task is to have each county and district report truthfully; otherwise he truly fears Governor Hong Tao will go after him.

Li Ruifang, after hearing, said: "Governor Hong Tao's directive must be strictly implemented without any discount! The City Government must strengthen coordination and must, within a week, fully 'digest' and report the city's debt base. We must explain to each county, district, and department that reporting the ledger does not mean immediate repayment; the provincial government may even issue policies to help us resolve government debt. There is no time to waste, you, mayor, must take charge personally and handle it promptly!"

Having received no help and feeling trapped by a tightening spell, Zhao Tao gloomily returned to his office and asked his secretary to summon Executive Vice Mayor Zhang Rongqiu for a discussion on re‑investigating and re‑assessing the government debt.

Upon hearing the mayor's request, Zhang Rongqiu, with a stern expression, said: "Mayor, if we want each county and district to report the debt‑clearing ledger truthfully, we must give them some guarantee—perhaps not set a repayment deadline after they report, or provide certain funds or policies; otherwise the matter is hard to handle. Moreover, if we report faithfully to the province while other cities hide theirs, we become the 'sitting‑duck', reporting hundreds or thousands of billions, and Yingjiang might end up making a splash nationwide! I think we should first inquire with the other cities before deciding." He was eager for the mayor to be criticized and dealt with; he would certainly shirk work, and he had countless excuses to silence Zhao Tao, leaving him unable to speak his mind.

On December 6, the Yingjiang municipal government held a debt‑clearing conference; Mayor Zhao Tao, in his speech, issued a death‑defying order to all counties, districts, and departments, demanding that they truthfully report government debt within three days, and stressed that anyone who dares to ignore the overall debt‑clearing effort to pursue their own "little tricks" will be dealt with severely by the Municipal Party Committee and the City Government.

After the meeting, the county chiefs gathered together for an afternoon and ultimately decided to report an additional portion of government debt, thereby smoothing things over for the mayor.

Orders are orders, but every task and every document demands strict implementation by the grassroots. Yet the grassroots have their own difficulties; if the debt is exposed in broad daylight, will public opinion explode? Who bears responsibility if problems arise? Who repays the money? Would the mayor repay it for you?

On December 7, the counties, districts, and departments re‑reported the ledger, and the city's total outstanding debt rose to 3.5 billion.

Mayor Zhao Tao, holding the new ledger, was both amused and distressed; the governor had specifically emphasized two days earlier that when cities report the ledger, the mayor must sign and seal, assuming political and legal responsibility, and Zhao Tao could not bring himself to sign this figure.

If the tiger doesn't show its claws, do they think I'm a sick cat? Zhao Tao, flustered, personally called the secretaries and county chiefs of the eleven counties and districts, harshly criticized their work attitude and results, demanding they raise their political stance and must, in accordance with Governor Hong Tao's speech and the provincial government's deployment, report the debt‑clearing ledger without any discount; violators will be dealt with severely.

At the same time, the City Government issued 19 supervision orders to the counties, districts, and the municipal Development and Reform Commission, State‑owned Assets Supervision Commission, and Finance Bureau, requiring that on December 8 they truthfully report the debt‑clearing ledger.

Time waits for no one; the deadline set by the provincial government for reporting the ledger was imminent, so Zhao Tao went back to the Municipal Party Committee to report and requested the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee to activate an accountability mechanism.

But Secretary Li Ruifang did not agree, stating that it is normal for counties and districts to have concerns and that this should not chill comrades' morale; after all, the debt was not created in a single term, and they do not wish to "blow up" during their tenure. To accomplish the tasks assigned by the provincial government, the City Government must further arrange and deploy, tightly grasp the root causes, firmly re‑establish the mindset of "tightening belts," further cut general expenditures, and raise the maximum possible funds to help counties and districts repay, so the city can allay everyone's worries; otherwise it would only be a superficial fix, not a cure.

The mayor wanted to cry but had no tears; he began to regret coming to Yingjiang, as he neither felt the grip of great power nor anything but constant restraints, and the political arena in Yingjiang seemed to have an invisible wall that kept him from ever integrating. Thinking back to his days as Executive Deputy Director of the Water Resources Department, Zhao Tao felt homesick.

Work could not be neglected; on December 10, carrying a ledger showing 4.2 billion, Mayor Zhao Tao went to the provincial government to report in person to Governor Hong Tao.

As expected, Zhao Tao was reprimanded again!

Looking at the ledger, Governor Hong Tao said coldly: "Even Chengcang City reports a minimum of 58 billion; Yingjiang has only 4.2 billion in debt? Zhao Tao, do you believe this figure yourself? Come, sign a statement of authenticity for me!"

Zhao Tao felt a panic swirl inside; he could not bear the governor's wrath, and hurried to explain: "Governor, perhaps because my tenure is short, comrades have set ambushes for me, and maybe they have their own concerns, which led to only 4.2 billion being reported…"

Governor Hong Tao interrupted: "Zhao Tao, is this your work ability? Or do you treat my words as wind in your ears? Do you realize that your current behavior is dereliction of duty! A dam a thousand li can collapse from an ant hole. For officials who are inactive, slow, or chaotic, the Provincial Party Committee and the provincial government will strictly enforce discipline and law, hold them accountable, and, according to regulations, investigate and punish perfunctory work, falsification, shirking, and passive responses, aiming to eradicate formalism and bureaucracy! I'll give you one final chance: if by next Wednesday you still cannot handle this, I will recommend to the Provincial Standing Committee that you be suspended for reflection, to see the effect!"

"Governor, I will do my utmost to carry out the investigation and assessment, ensuring that the accurate figures are reported to the provincial government on schedule."

"Your words are flowery, but your execution is unbearable to watch. Zhao Tao, talk is cheap; I want real numbers. Work solidly, don't keep floating in the clouds!"

Leaving the provincial government, Zhao Tao's mood sank to rock bottom.

With a dejected mood, Zhao Tao forced himself back to Yingjiang and went to the Municipal Party Committee, the 'bachelor' saying to Li Ruifang: "Secretary, the 4.2 billion debt‑clearing ledger cannot satisfy the provincial government; Governor Hong Tao gave me a severe reprimand today and demanded that we re‑report the ledger before next Wednesday. Please, Secretary, coordinate this vigorously for us!"

Killing someone is only a matter of pointing the head to the ground, let alone this is a task assigned by Governor Hong Tao; Li Ruifang thought it over and said: "Lu Fan has served in counties and districts and knows the tricks of these 'old slicksters'; I'll give him instructions, have Lu Fan cooperate with the City Government to supervise the counties, districts, and departments, and must complete Governor Hong Tao's directive with high quality." After speaking, she called for Lu Fan to come over.

Someone 'picked up the thread', and Zhao Tao felt relieved, especially since it was Lu Fan! Through this period of acquaintance, he had learned that this Municipal Deputy Secretary‑General is not a simple figure; he can 'call wind and summon rain' within the city!

Soon Lu Fan pushed the door open, greeted the mayor, and said to Li Ruifang: "Secretary, what are the instructions?"

Li Ruifang said gravely: "Governor Hong Tao has issued an instruction that the Yingjiang debt‑clearing ledger must be truthfully reported before next Wednesday. Lu Fan, you will cooperate with the mayor to carry out the supervision, and must complete the task on schedule and with high quality. I have a reception later, you don't need to go; discuss the work with the mayor."

Lu Fan replied immediately: "Please rest assured, Secretary, I will cooperate fully with the mayor and finish the work on time."

After stepping out, Zhao Tao said: "Lu Fan, go to your office and have a chat."

Lu Fan smiled and said: "Mayor, let me prepare first and then report to your office."

"Work is urgent, no need for empty courtesies; I'll have some of your good tea!"

"Then please, Mayor, honor us by coming to my place for a meeting!"

Upon entering, Lu Fan personally carried tea and water; after all, he is the mayor, and respecting him is respecting the organization.

"Lu Fan, how do you think this work should be handled?"

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said: "Mayor, the task is formidable and cannot be delayed. I think we should tackle it from these aspects: First, the finance department has a hidden debt system; these debts cannot be concealed, accounting for roughly 60 % of the total debt—I will request the details from the City Finance Bureau shortly. Second, the counties and districts actually know their own debts; if they are not even clear about this, how can they serve as secretaries or county chiefs? We need to make a decisive, hard‑hearted push and 'force' them. Third, observe etiquette before force: for the constantly directing counties and departments, dispatch auditors to investigate so they see the resolve of the Municipal Party Committee and City Government. Fourth, give the counties and departments certain assurances: the ledger must be reported truthfully, but the City Finance Department will not ignore these debts; it will issue policies and allocate funds to help the counties repay. These are my personal thoughts; if anything is inappropriate, please criticize and correct me, Mayor!"

Zhao Tao sighed: "Lu Fan, you truly live up to being a nationally outstanding county party secretary; your grassroots experience is rich, and the four measures are highly targeted. I entrust this work to you!"

If we co‑author it, you'll just pass the buck! But Lu Fan didn't mind; after all, the secretary had already given the order, and the work must be completed.