Chapter 544

At 10 a. m. on August 19, Lu Fan was in the office handling a talk with Deputy Secretary Wang Hong when the phone rang.

Seeing that it was actually a call from Deputy Minister Wang Zhaowen of the Organization Department, he hurriedly answered, saying, "Hello, Minister!"

Wang Zhaowen said with a smile, "Lu Fan, congratulations! The department meeting just passed, and we are now truly colleagues! The documents will be issued today; in a few days I may go to Huayuan, and then we can have a good chat."

Lu Fan replied, "Thank you, Minister. Tomorrow I will surely prepare tea and listen to your teachings."

Although the phone volume was low, Wang Hong still caught some key words. After Lu Fan hung up, he excitedly said, "Congratulations, Secretary! I never expected it to be the Organization Department!"

It will be announced tomorrow; there's no need to hide this meeting either. Lu Fan said with a smile, "It's all work, just different in nature; the Organization Department might just require a bit more attention!"

Wang Hong happily said, "Everyone thought the Secretary would go to the provincial government, but I never expected such a big change—stepping directly onto the Standing Committee. I am genuinely happy for the Secretary!"

Lu Fan said, "I'm going to the provincial level; the Nanyuan City Municipal Party Secretary position won't be relinquished for now, but I have no ability to be in two places at once. My main focus will be on the Organization Department; you will preside over the Municipal Party Committee's work, and you must fully assist Mayor Xianghai. This year's most important task is to push for a trillion-yuan GDP. I can say this in advance: if the task isn't completed, you will stay put."

Coming from the mouth of the soon-to-be-assumed Organization Department Head, this is a settled matter! Wang Hong hurriedly said, "Please rest assured, Secretary; we will firmly hold the 'rear base', devote ourselves to developing the economy and maintaining stability, and we will not rest until we achieve the trillion-yuan goal."

Lu Fan solemnly said, "After taking charge of organizational work, I still hold to that saying: judge heroes by performance, rank seats by contribution, employ cadres based on performance, establishing a clear personnel orientation where the capable rise, the average step aside, the mediocre are demoted, and the inferior are eliminated, so that those who want to act and dare to act have opportunity and vigor, and those who can act and are willing to act have a stage and a position. That set of crooked ways won't work with me."

Soon, Governor Liu Linghao's call came through. Lu Fan signaled Wang Hong to step aside, then answered the phone.

"Lu Fan, I never expected Lingyun to go to the Discipline Inspection Committee, and you actually ended up in the Organization Department!"

Lu Fan replied, "I just received the news and am also surprised, but unfortunately I cannot carry out work under your direct leadership. However, once I go to the provincial level, I will be able to frequently listen to the Governor's teachings, submitting early reports and late updates; Governor, please don't find me bothersome."

"Just now Secretary Tang Bing and I exchanged views; you cannot let go of the work in Nanyuan for now—at least we must first achieve the trillion-yuan GDP this year; this honor cannot be simply given away!"

"Thank you for the Governor's concern and support; I have great confidence in pushing for the trillion-yuan goal!"

"Alright, let's talk more when we meet tomorrow!"

Around eleven o'clock, Mayor Su Xiang Hai rushed to Lu Fan's office, his face full of excitement, saying, "Congratulations, Secretary! Congratulations, Secretary!" It looks like he is even happier than Lu Fan. This is normal, as the Organization Department Head has greater speaking power in personnel matters, making his chance of succeeding as Municipal Party Secretary even higher.

Lu Fan said with a smile, "It's all for serving the people, nothing to congratulate about. Just now I also mentioned to Wang Hong that after going to the provincial level, I will have to juggle both sides; for the work in Nanyuan I can only grasp the overall direction, while the specific work must be led and overseen by you. You need to focus on the key points; pushing for the trillion-yuan GDP is the primary task, followed by medical reform, education reform, Zhongjing National Medical University, employment, sponge city construction, special petition work, the hundred-day campaign to tackle stalled buildings, and some livelihood projects; you must report progress to me every week."

Su Xiang Hai said bluntly, "Please rest assured, Secretary; if there are any issues, I will promptly report and update. Every Friday afternoon I will go to the Organization Department to report work to you. Once the high-speed rail is open, traveling from Nanyuan to the provincial capital will also be very convenient—a one-hour drive—so you can return at any time to guide work."

"No ability to be in two places at once—after going there, won't I need some time to get familiar with the work? Within one or two weeks I estimate I won't be able to come back, so you'll have to bear more responsibility for Nanyuan's affairs!"

In the afternoon, the news of Secretary Lu's promotion to Organization Department Head gradually spread; for a moment, streets and alleys, government units were all hotly discussing this matter—it could be said the whole city was rejoicing.

Leading cadres beamed with joy, feeling as if spring had arrived. Our 'big boss' going to manage the Organization Department—what news could be more exhilarating than that?

The Organization Department is the organ that controls the appointment, removal, and allocation of cadres throughout the province; Secretary Lu's going there means everyone will have more opportunities and possibilities, after all, 'those near the water get the moon first,' and 'flowers facing the sun easily bring spring.'

While everyone looked forward to a bright future, they threw themselves into their work with vigor, because the leading cadres of Nanyuan all knew that Secretary Lu values work above all; if you cannot produce results, you'll be told to 'stand at ease'!

As quitting time approached, all the Standing Committee members came to offer congratulations; the corridors of the Municipal Party Committee were filled with the heads of each county and district and municipal departments, everyone's faces beaming with smiles, chatting enthusiastically, as if they themselves had been promoted.

At 5:30, Lu Fan walked out of the office, smiling at everyone: "Are you all just idling? Have the projects been entered into the system and statistics? Is the third-quarter GDP growth rate fine? Have the stalled buildings all been dealt with? Go do what you need to do, don't linger here. I tell you, in the year-end evaluation, you will speak with your results; who dares to give me slacking and stepping aside and still wants to advance? Break it up, all of you disperse—I've taken your sentiments to heart; now go get to work."

Everyone chattered: "Secretary, rest assured, we won't hold you back." "Secretary, just watch—we won't slack off." "Secretary, congratulations!"...

Back in the office, Chen Haohao 'again' delivered several documents; this was his sixth time coming in this afternoon—Lu Fan certainly couldn't be unaware of his thoughts.

"Haohao, stop loafing around! I'm going to the provincial level; you stay in the city, responsible for upward and downward transmission. First serve as Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee for a while, settling the section-level rank. During this time, think carefully; by year-end, tell me whether you want to work in the provincial level or go to the counties for training."

Chen Haohao had already thought it over, and immediately replied, "Secretary, you often say that only by going to the grassroots oneself can one truly understand the hardships and toil of the front line; I want to work in the counties."

Lu Fan nodded and said, "You're still young; the grassroots is the fertile soil for tempering cadres, and it also provides a broad stage for the vast cadres to display their talents, achieve merit, and establish careers. A large number of work tasks are at the grassroots, and a large number of contradictory problems also arise and are resolved at the grassroots; frontline grassroots cadres directly manage and do the work. One could say that without the exhaustive efforts of frontline cadres, there would be no stable development of rural society. Going through more tempering and setbacks, it's hard for your experience to not be rich, your experience not to increase, and your ability not to improve! After the year, go to Xichuan to preside over county government work."

Back in the office, Chen Haohao closed the door, unable to contain his excited heart and trembling hands, dancing excitedly with hands and feet! After years, his daughter-in-law finally became a mother-in-law!

At 7 p. m., after dinner, Lu Fan headed for the provincial capital, accompanied by Secretary-General Dou Zhengyang.

Along the way, seeing Dou Zhengyang's hesitant expression, Lu Fan proactively said, "Zhengyang, if a suitable opportunity arises, you should still go work in the government."

Dou Zhengyang hurriedly replied, "Whatever you point east, I'll strike east; whatever you point west, I'll strike west—I'll follow your arrangements, Secretary!"

"Wait for the opportunity; after I go, I'll first need to get familiar with the situation."

"Secretary, I'm not in a hurry; Nanyuan still needs someone to keep an eye on it!" Dou Zhengyang truly understood what it means to "lean on a big tree to enjoy the shade," and this is also the shared sentiment of Nanyuan's leaders at the section level and above.

Upon entering the provincial capital, the two found a hotel near the Provincial Party Committee to rest; tonight they need to replenish their energy.

Lying in bed, Lu Fan began preparing his speech for tomorrow, intending to be concise and brief; he believed that keeping a low profile as the Organization Department Head is the way to go.

Past ten o'clock, the phone rang; after checking the number, it was Li Lao's landline, and he hurriedly answered, saying, "Grandpa, aren't you resting yet?"

Li Lao said, "Xiao Fan, you're taking office tomorrow; I want to have a chat with you."

"Please give me your guidance, Grandpa; I will surely listen attentively to your teachings."

"Xiao Fan, the ancients said, 'Those with both courage and strategy are supreme generals; those with strategy but no courage are capable generals; those with courage but no strategy are reckless generals; those lacking both courage and strategy are useless generals.' The Organization Department Head cannot be 'without wisdom and strategy'; if one does not think proactively or act positively, one will merely become a yes-man who just echoes others, and over time this will not only deviate from the original aspiration and mission, but also corrupt the clean and upright political ecology of earnest responsibility."

Take Han Xin as an example: skilled at flexible use of troops, yet lacking political acumen, he ultimately met an untimely death. For the Organization Department Head of the new era, wisdom and strategy are both crucial. Facing various complex situations, you need not only the wisdom to break through deadlocks and open new horizons, but also the strategy that does not fear risk.

The 'yes-man' appears 'rule-abiding and obedient,' but in reality is 'without wisdom and strategy.' You must put in the hard work of struggle, using a strategic and holistic perspective to diligently forge your wisdom and cultivate your strategy, devise many innovative plans, launch many innovative moves, and do many innovative things; when faced with personnel struggle tests, you will straighten your spine, and there is nothing to fear.

The Organization Department Head cannot seek profit and avoid harm, nor can he lack the courage to take responsibility, be inept in action, seek shortcuts, or shift with the wind. When encountering obstacles, if he stalls or flees from difficulties, his overall evaluation will not be high.

I hope that in the position of Organization Department Head, you find your proper place and fulfill your duties, take initiative in assuming responsibility and acting proactively, striving to become a 'purifier' of the political ecology; do not be timid, for managing cadres is the duty entrusted to you by the organization.

Lu Fan said wholeheartedly convinced, "Grandpa, I understand your meaning; in my work I will surely fulfill my duties and dare to take responsibility, look at the big picture while staying grounded in my role, find the right position, master the art of cadre management, hold high the banner of fairness and integrity, and conscientiously carry out my responsibilities—doing what should be done and refraining from what should not."

"Xiao Fan, go to sleep early, replenish your energy, hide your brilliance and nurture obscurity, accumulate strength and await the outbreak! I believe you will surely do well as the Organization Department Head!"