Chapter 480: with translation of chapter title

Lu Fan said: "Crackdown on organized crime and evil forces concerns the long-term peace and stability of Nanyuan, concerns the people's hearts, under the bright heavens, there is no room for any hideout of evil forces."

Tian Xuan, the information network, transportation and transportation, engineering construction, gambling lending, market circulation and cultural tourism six major industry sectors are the breeding ground for evil forces; the City Public Security Bureau must truly undertake the major political responsibility of cracking down on organized crime and evil forces, strengthen clue screening, with a sense of responsibility of 'never being at ease', launch a 'major sweep' targeting evil forces, deeply strike at umbrellas and break networks, with thunderous means legally punish intentional injury, mass brawls, provocation, forced transactions and other illegal criminal acts, ensure that wherever there is black, it is swept away, and evil is eradicated completely.

One of the City Government's 2023 goals is to create a 'Safe Nanyuan'; the special operation must be carried out with great fanfare and mighty momentum, must establish prestige, establish peace, and establish the people's sense of safety.

Tian Xuan immediately replied: "The Public Security Bureau will strictly implement the Mayor's instructions, immediately arrange and deploy the special operation, implement strict rectification measures, strengthen clue screening and judgment, intensify case investigation and crackdown, advance punishment of corruption and dismantling of umbrellas, accelerate disposal of illicit assets, foster a strong atmosphere, and resolutely eradicate the breeding ground of evil forces."

Using work to test Tian Xuan's attitude, and adding observations over this period, Lu Fan preliminarily determined this person could be used, and thus said: "Tian Xuan, I have an important task I want to assign to you, but it requires strict observance of organizational discipline and adherence to Party principles."

Tian Xuan said without hesitation: "Please, Mayor, issue the order; the Public Security Bureau will surely, with the confidence, determination, and ambition of 'who else if not me', overcome difficulties and accomplish tasks well, satisfactorily completing the task assigned by the Mayor!" He realized the Mayor might be assigning a private matter, a great opportunity to curry favor. Doing ten public tasks well is not as good as helping the leader with one private, shady matter!

Lu Fan stared at Tian Xuan with torch-like gaze, the sharpness in his eyes seeming to pierce his inner heart, his voice low and powerful: "Pay attention to the recent schedule of Secretary Haiyang; I want to know whether he has any plans to go out."

Upon hearing this, Tian Xuan's heart surged with shock, he suppressed the urge to uncover the truth, instantly made a decision, and firmly said: "Okay, Mayor, I guarantee to complete the task!"

Tian Xuan is a smart person; he understands a principle: eyes, only by feigning blindness do they not tear; mouth, only by feigning muteness do they avoid trouble; person, only by being confused can they be free of trouble. Sometimes knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing!

Having decided to board the ship, one must go all in; Tian Xuan said: "Mayor, Secretary Haiyang and Deputy Provincial Governor, Public Security Department Chief Zhang Yuheng are thick as thieves, and they have even served together in a team."

That is indeed a new situation; Lu Fan nodded and said: "We must pay attention to secrecy and concealment, and entrust the matter to reliable people."

"Okay, Mayor, I know the limits, I will certainly not disappoint you!"

In the afternoon, as work was about to end, Vice Mayor Ma Caihong came in to report work; to match the implementation of the rural compulsory education students' nutrition improvement plan, to improve school dining conditions and equip necessary catering facilities, the Ministry of Finance allocated special funds of 1.5 billion yuan to Huayuan Province, the province contributed 500 million yuan as matching funds, and funds will be allocated soon.

Lu Fan calculated: Huayuan Province supplies 18 counties, even if evenly distributed each would get about one hundred million, but Nanyuan is a populous city, surely we should strive for more; thus he said: "Caihong, you take the lead, go to the province to sound out Governor Lei, give it your all, our goal is to secure 200 million, and next week I will accompany you to visit Governor Lei once more."

Ma Caihong said with a smile: "The task of 200 million is a bit heavy; I will go to the provincial capital tomorrow morning and give it my all!"

After work, the Secretary of the Nanzhou County Party Committee, Shen Youqing, waited at the door, inviting the Mayor to a meal.

To undertake a career, one needs comrades' support and to cultivate a cadre of officials; eating, drinking, and more communication are also good, able to unite hearts; Lu Fan does not mind mingling with everyone after work, and he occasionally also plays mahjong with vice mayors and county party secretaries.

January 4–7, the City Government began arranging for each county and district to report project planning; Lu Fan and the various deputy mayors in charge, along with the director of the Development and Reform Commission, would handle two counties/districts in the morning and two in the afternoon, with county/district heads reporting and county/district party secretaries supplementing.

On the morning of the 4th, the first report was from Wolong District; its target was fixed-asset investment growth over 20%, industrial investment growth around 25%, striving to have over 100 projects worth at least 100 million yuan signed and implemented for the year; centering on the central urban area's 'one river, nine gardens, nine zones' layout, it planned ten major urban construction projects worth 16.5 billion yuan, a 12-billion-yuan urban environment comprehensive improvement project, a 6-billion-yuan super-electricity project, a 3-billion-yuan mugwort industry park, rural toilet renovation, steep gully migrant relocation and risk avoidance, dead-end roads, etc.; it planned 175 key projects, would implement 72 provincial and municipal key projects, with total investment around 160 billion yuan.

Mayor Lu Fan commented, as an urban district, Wolong must continuously optimize the business environment, strongly drive investment, vigorously advance key projects, and bear the banner of the city's economic development.

The second was Nanzhou County; it planned to implement 65 provincial and municipal major projects, with annual planned investment of 16.5 billion yuan; it planned 85 local-level projects, with planned investment of 12.5 billion yuan.

Lu Fan emphasized that project planning must closely follow policy investment directions, especially the planning of local-level projects, which in principle must have matching funds from higher levels.

In the afternoon, Dengzhou City and the High-Tech Zone reported; Dengzhou City planned 96 projects, with annual planned investment of 20.5 billion yuan; the High-Tech Zone planned 65 projects, with annual planned investment of 13 billion yuan.

After a full day, the City Government's leaders reviewed the project planning of four counties and districts, and were generally satisfied.

The second day was Wan Cheng District, Zhenping County, Neixiang County, and Xichuan County; Wan Cheng District planned 235 projects, of which 175 were worth at least 100 million yuan, with planned investment around 145 billion yuan; Zhenping County planned 65 projects, with planned investment of 18 billion yuan; Neixiang County planned 68 projects, with planned investment of 14.5 billion yuan; Xichuan County planned 68 projects, with annual planned investment of 19.2 billion yuan.

Lu Fan was generally dissatisfied today; he made separate demands on these four counties and districts, especially those with planned investment under 20 billion yuan, requiring them to increase project planning efforts, and to report separately to him one week later.

The third day was Xinyue County, Tang County, Tong County, and Fangcheng County; their performance was mediocre, Lu Fan made the same demands, and the current planning effort does not pass muster.

On the morning of the fourth day were Xijia County and She County; Lu Fan deliberately left these two counties for last.

Upon hearing that the county chief of Xijia County reported 42 planned projects, Lu Fan immediately interrupted, saying: "As of now, you are the worst county/district I have heard in terms of planned projects; compared to last year, you have made no progress, not moving an inch—is this your attitude in implementing the City Government's work instructions, decisions, and orders? Re-plan, and report separately to me one week later."

When it was She County's turn, County Chief Bai Yunpeng came in alone and first said: "Mayor, leaders, the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security came to our county today for research."

Lu Fan solemnly said: "Understood, get straight to the point and report your county's project planning situation."

So far, all those reporting have been the party secretaries and county chiefs together; Lu Fan also wanted to take this opportunity to understand the work capacity of the county/district party and government leaders, only the She County Party Secretary did not come and has not personally asked for leave from the Mayor. If a deputy department-level or higher leader comes to Nanyuan for research, the City Government arranges leaders to accompany them; that would indicate the research team of the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security is not of sufficient rank, requiring the county party secretary to personally accompany them?

Bai Yunpeng spread out the documents and reported: "Through extensive consultation and collective effort, our county has planned a total of 45 projects, with planned investment of 9.6 billion yuan…"

Lu Fan immediately interrupted, asking: "How many projects have you implemented this year? What is the investment amount?"

This question obviously left Bai Yunpeng bewildered; a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face, his eyes darting, seemingly trying to recall the relevant data. After a moment, he slowly said: "Mayor, our county has planned a total of 68 projects this year, with investment around 12.5 billion yuan."

Lu Fan furrowed his brows, a flash of displeasure in his eyes. He slammed the table and angrily rebuked: "You're just spouting nonsense off the top of your head! Let me tell you, She County this year implemented 27 provincial and municipal key projects, 53 local investment projects, a total of 80, with cumulative investment to date of 153.45 billion yuan. As a county chief, you actually know nothing about the county's key projects and fixed-asset investment—is this how you develop the economy? Is this how you serve the people? This is dereliction of duty!"

Bai Yunpeng lowered his head, not daring to meet Lu Fan's gaze.

Although he is a county chief, Lu Fan gave him a bit of face, saying: "In dealing with work and the masses, one must be wholehearted and sincere, firmly eliminating nonfeasance, malfeasance, sluggishness, and pretense; in one week, you will separately report to me on She County's project planning work!"

The county/district project planning concluded; in the afternoon, Lu Fan and the various vice mayors handled pressing matters at hand, and did not continue listening to reports.

Starting January 8, the City Government used a week's time to centrally listen to project planning from all municipal departments; 36 government work departments and 13 party committee organs (except the Municipal Party Committee Office) each reported their own unit's project planning situation.

Lu Fan and the deputy mayors in charge individually evaluated the project planning situation of 49 departments, and gave severe criticism to the 12 departments for nonfeasance.

On the afternoon of January 15, the City Government convened the 2023 policy-funds project planning competition meeting, studying policies, seizing opportunities, giving full effort to plan projects, striving for more financial support, to provide solid backing for economic struggle and construction.

The Executive Vice Mayor reported on the project planning situation of all counties/districts and departments, and arranged deployment for the next steps.

Mayor Lu Fan, in his speech, demanded that all counties/districts and departments dare to take responsibility, clarify task objectives, seize policy opportunities, strengthen the initiative in fund-seeking, increase efforts to contend for funds, to provide solid guarantee for Nanyuan's economic development; all functional departments must thoroughly understand policies, position themselves globally, focus on shortcomings, actively communicate and coordinate with superiors, and efficiently promote the planning, reservation, and issuance of good projects and related work.

Lu Fan emphasized that the City Government should establish a special task force system, set up an element guarantee task force. Regularly listen to difficulties in project advancement, ensure problems are promptly resolved, to create favorable conditions for smooth project progress; also maintain a monthly reporting system, to 'showcase' the performance of key project work, as an important basis for promoting and employing cadres.