Chapter 405

September 15, the Yingjiang Municipal Party Committee launched the cadre nomination procedure, collected information on vacant positions, after comprehensive assessment considered reserve candidates, and after communication and deliberation formed an initial cadre adjustment plan, then submitted it to the five-person group meeting for study. So, by the time it went to the Standing Committee meeting, the personnel adjustments were already settled; if you tried to intervene then, the yellow flowers would already be cold.

Si Daiqiang learned that there were three vacant positions, but actually there were over ten vacancies; Organization Department Head Zhang Ziqiang wouldn't be that simple—he wouldn't tell him the truth.

As long as Li Ruifang wanted to adjust personnel, positions could be created out of nothing.

September 16, Lu Fan, entrusted by Secretary Li Ruifang, talked with the Bureau Chief of Agriculture, the Bureau Chief of Industry and Information Technology, and the Director of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission; these three were going to leave their posts at year-end or early next year, merely letting them vacate their positions in advance.

This is actually not a good assignment; Li Ruifang couldn't possibly handle it personally, so the task could only be implemented by the Organization Department or the Secretary-General.

Fortunately, Li Ruifang gave the authority, allowing them to be treated as first-rank researchers, which is actually quite cost-effective.

Lu Fan had already mastered this negotiation tactic—nothing more than coercion and inducement; if polite persuasion works, there's no need for intimidation; in short, the organization's intent must be carried out.

The talks went smoothly; under Lu Fan's earnest and heartfelt conversation, the three leaders all had a broad perspective, could well understand the organization's difficulties, each raised a small request to resolve the actual section-level posts for their three 'young children'.

For such 'small matters', Lu Fan could decide, happily agreeing to their 'small requests', and both sides were pleased.

Li Ruifang is a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, able to participate in the province-wide personnel adjustments; after all, Secretary Xu Yongjiang needs the support of the standing committee members, so he gave Li Ruifang a Vice Mayor slot, still in Yinzhou City.

After careful consideration, Li Ruifang intended to do Lu Fan a favor by having him recommend a candidate.

Actually this is also Li Ruifang's helpless move; normally the Vice Mayor is selected from among county party secretaries, but in Yingjiang, Lu Fan's Thirteen Guardians control all the counties and districts; these thirteen county party secretaries are an insurmountable obstacle—whoever wants to control Yingjiang's situation must get rid of them; one cannot confront them head‑on, so the only way is to find a means to push them out.

September 17, after Lu Fan finished reporting his work and was about to leave, Secretary Li Ruifang laughed and said: 'Lu Fan, Secretary Xu Yongjiang strongly supports Yingjiang's work and has given us a quota to recommend a cadre, likely the Vice Mayor of Yinzhou; I intend to select a county party secretary and recommend him to the Provincial Party Committee. Who do you think would be more suitable?'

Lu Fan quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, then replied with trepidation: 'Secretary, I have no suitable candidate to recommend. Besides, I dare not speak recklessly about provincial personnel adjustments.'

Secretary Li Ruifang continued: 'I'm asking you to recommend, not to decide. You've worked in Yingjiang for years and are familiar with the various counties and districts; don't have any reservations—actively help the organization solve its worries.'

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said: 'Alright, I'll offer my rough opinion; if there's anything improper, please criticize and correct me, Secretary. Combining the records, abilities, ages, and achievements of the county party secretaries, I think the Hongqi County Party Secretary Li Chan is relatively more mature; he is also the county party secretary with the longest tenure in the city, and has reached a critical point in his political career—please consider it, Secretary.'

Secretary Li Ruifang nodded and said: 'Okay, then who would be more suitable to serve as the Hongqi County Party Secretary?'

Lu Fan shook his head and said: 'I can't think of a suitable candidate for the moment.'

'What do you think of the Bureau Chief of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Han Tiance?'

Lu Fan immediately replied: 'I just didn't think of it, but Han Tiance has been the Bureau Chief of Housing and Urban-Rural Development for five or six years; before that he worked long-term in the counties and districts, has rich grassroots experience, solid position training, clear work ideas, and strong organizational coordination skills—he is indeed a suitable candidate.'

Secretary Li Ruifang suddenly asked: 'The Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Agriculture Bureau, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and the Industry and Information Technology Bureau are all vacant; why not transfer two county party secretaries back to the city to take office?' Compared to the municipal bureaus, Li Ruifang prefers to control the counties and districts.

Lu Fan weighed the pros and cons and said: 'Secretary, the current batch of county and district party secretaries have a reasonable age structure; they are in their prime and still have room to advance. From the perspective of cadre training, serving on the front lines at the grassroots level is more valued by higher organizations; I personally suggest giving them a few more years to strive. If you really think adjustment is necessary, I will definitely follow the organization's arrangements.'

Secretary Li Ruifang nodded, decided to fall back on a second-best option, and said: 'What you say makes sense; then let's select a county chief to return and serve as the Agriculture Bureau Chief. Which county chief do you think can shoulder this responsibility?'

Seeing that the secretary had made up his mind, not to act would be out of place; Lu Fan thought and said: 'Ningyang Xian County Chief He Jiafeng, what do you think, Secretary?'

'Then let He Jiafeng go to the Agriculture Bureau; I will recommend the provincially managed cadres to the Provincial Party Committee, and for the other candidates you can coordinate with the Organization Department first to get the plan out.'

'Okay, Secretary, I'll get on it right away!'

Returning to the office, Lu Fan personally called the Hongqi County Party Secretary and Ningyang Xian County Chief He Jiafeng, asking them to come to the Municipal Party Committee.

Zhenbei District Party Committee Secretary Si Daiqiang planned several district-level key projects, went to the province to seek funds, actually to vie for the Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary position for himself.

Si Daiqiang moves freely in the provincial government, after all he used to be a big shot here, and moreover he's extremely influential!

Arriving at the office of Governor Niu Qianhua, Si Daiqiang set down the tea and said respectfully: 'Governor, I'm here to report on work.'

Governor Niu Qianhua put down his pen, smiled and said: 'You've done well in Zhenbei District, not betraying Secretary Hong Tao's trust; you're not here to ask me for money, are you?'

Si Daiqiang replied: 'Governor, you have a godlike grasp of affairs; Zhenbei District has firmly established a clear orientation of focusing on major projects and grasping major projects, insisting that everything revolve around projects and everything focus on projects; we have planned at high standard the mountain channel residential environment comprehensive governance project, involving the treatment of 10 mountain channels, with 25,000 households and over 75,400 residents; we earnestly hope for strong support from the province.'

Governor Niu Qianhua looked over the project document and said: 'The idea is good; the mountain channel residential environment comprehensive governance is an important people's livelihood project and a people's hearts project; the central government also has related supporting funds and policies; this work is overseen by Comrade Guishan, and I will give him instructions. During the project's implementation, Zhenbei District should focus on the water, electricity, road, gas, etc., that the masses care about, precisely match infrastructure and public service facilities, and promote effective connection between the mountain channels and the city's overall development.'

Si Daiqiang exclaimed delightedly: 'Thank you for the province's strong support; I will surely implement the project vigorously and in order, ensuring every penny is spent on the cutting edge, and ensuring the project quality can withstand historical scrutiny.'

Governor Niu Qianhua laughed and said: 'As long as you put your mind into your work, I will certainly support what ought to be supported.'

After exchanging pleasantries, Si Daiqiang tentatively asked: 'Governor, there have been rumors lately in the city that our Deputy Secretary Guo Zhitao is going to be transferred?'

Governor Niu Qianhua nodded and said: 'That's true; it's basically decided, and barring any unexpected events he'll go to Tongzhou City. What, do you have an idea?'

'Governor, a soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier; if I could also serve as the Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary, I could better serve Zhenbei District.' Si Daiqiang clearly expressed his thought: he wants to be deputy secretary but also not give up Zhenbei District.

Governor Niu Qianhua asked: 'Have you reported this idea to Secretary Hong Tao?'

Si Daiqiang truthfully replied: 'Not yet; I'm afraid the secretary will criticize me for being greedy for more after gaining a foothold.'

'Wanting to advance shows you have ambition; what's there to be afraid of saying? If Secretary Hong Tao hasn't given instructions, I alone can't change the situation, and you know some things as well.'

'Governor, I plan to go later to report work to Secretary Yixiao and Minister Guoqian.'

'Daiqiang, the Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary position is very important; if you want to achieve your wish, you must have comrades unite and strongly push for it, otherwise the chances are slim. As far as I know, Secretary Xu Yongjiang already has a candidate, and his connections are not weak. If you can't bring this up, shall I ask Secretary Hong Tao on your behalf?'

'Would that work? Would the secretary criticize me?'

'There's nothing wrong with that; wanting to advance is a good thing!' Having said that, Governor Niu Qianhua dialed Wang Hongtao's number.

After ringing for more than ten seconds, the call connected, and Wang Hongtao's familiar voice came through: 'Qianhua, it's rare for you to call me; what's up?'

Governor Niu Qianhua quickly said: 'I sincerely accept the secretary's criticism; I will definitely report more often in the future, just afraid of disturbing the secretary's work.'

Wang Hongtao laughed and said: 'Alright, speak of matters; I still have a meeting later.'

'Secretary, the province is about to conduct personnel adjustments; Secretary Xu Yongjiang proposes placing Yingjiang Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Guo Zhitao in the position of Tongzhou City Mayor, which would vacate the Yingjiang Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary post. Daiqiang has done well in Zhenbei District, widely praised by cadres and the masses; I want to recommend Daiqiang to concurrently serve as deputy secretary, to shoulder some responsibility and be trained in an important post, which would be more beneficial for the growth of young cadres.'

'Adding some responsibility is fine, Qianhua—whether it's love or hatred, strict management is true affection! You should pay more attention to Daiqiang; when young cadres first get a taste of authority, they sometimes fail to uphold disciplinary and legal boundaries, cannot withstand the corrosion of sugar-coated bullets and become corrupt. You need to strengthen daily management of him, often pulling at the sleeves, lifting the collar, promptly trimming branches and leaves to prevent disease and harm.'

'Please rest assured, Secretary, I will keep him firmly under control! The matter of Daiqiang's position adjustment requires the support of Secretary Yixiao and Minister Guoqian; should the secretary give them instructions, or should I communicate with them?'

Wang Hongtao said: 'I'd better not interfere; you communicate with them. Qianhua, we must unite comrades—only when everyone twists into one rope, combines into one force, and unites in one heart can we get things done well and safeguard the interests of Qinchuan.'