Chapter 570: The Blade Is Sharpened

Midwinter, a reshaping reform is unfolding across Huayuan land!

On December 18, a mobilization and deployment conference for the province-wide provincial‑direct public institution reshaping reform was held, implementing the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee's requirements and mobilizing the reshaping reform of provincial‑direct public institutions.

Secretary Tang Bing attended and spoke, Governor Liu Linghao presided. Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Organization Department Head Lu Fan explained the "Huayuan Province Provincial‑Direct Public Institution Reshaping Reform Plan."

Reforms of public institutions are not unfamiliar, but a reform labeled "reshaping" is undoubtedly a first. This marks Lu Fan's post as Organization Department Head further breaking and elevating Huayuan's structure. With the convening of this conference, Huayuan's deepening of public institution reform begins to advance in depth.

At the meeting, Lu Fan interpreted: "Courage: reshaping reform starts with provincial‑direct public institutions! What does the 'reshaping reform' target, and why does Huayuan need such a sweeping reform? Because the layout and structure of public institutions are unreasonable, positioning is inaccurate, efficiency low, and there are many small, scattered, weak entities."

Since the issues are structural and positional, they must be addressed from the root, broken at the system level, and established in governance, advancing reshaping reform, structural optimization, functional reconstitution, and invigorating public institutions.

For Huayuan, as the reform enters deep water, problems and resistance will increase, and a "hard‑on‑hard" reform is needed. Choosing provincial‑direct public institutions as the starting point, a sweeping reshaping reform conveys the courage to bite the "hard bone" first, demonstrating the Provincial Party Committee and provincial government's determination and confidence.

This reshaping reform is not a simple "weight‑loss" cutback, but a comprehensive reform that both "slims" and "strengthens." By cutting redundant units, allocating rationally, coordinating efficiently, and sweeping changes, it will maximally remove the "excess flesh" from all provincial public institutions and efficiently serve enterprises and the public's welfare……

Although the meeting atmosphere was tense, everyone still failed to grasp the seriousness of the problem, because Lu Fan continued to keep the reform measures and overall goals confidential; he intends to tackle the provincial‑direct units "one by one" to avoid collective panic among cadres and prevent uncontrollable incidents.

On the morning of December 19, Lu Fan met with Provincial Mining Bureau Director Li Qinggang, Provincial Nonferrous Geology Bureau Director Zhang Wen, Provincial Coalfield Geology Bureau Director Guo Yongting, Provincial Nuclear Industry Geology Bureau Director Wang Hongyu to discuss institutional reform matters, with Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Zhao Lingyun participating.

After everyone arrived, Lu Fan said bluntly: "The mining system's institutions suffer from inaccurate positioning, suboptimal structure, overlapping functions, dispersed and duplicated setups, and a high proportion of small, weak entities. Today I have summoned you for one purpose: to be the vanguard of the province‑wide public institution reform, focusing on resource intensification and efficiency, streamlining institutional staffing, and promoting steady and far‑reaching reform. I hope you will set aside personal gains and losses, prioritize the overall situation, and cooperate with the institutional reform of public institutions without compromise!"

Li Qinggang, acting as the "lead brother," said: "Minister, rest assured, the mining system will keep the overall picture, insisting that everything starts from the enterprise and from work, correctly view institutional function adjustments, and resolutely obey, cooperate, and support the institutional reform." Anyone can utter such polished words; if he saw the minister's resolve and force, he wouldn't be able to say them!

If not, Lu Fan smiled slightly and said: "Comrade Qinggang's lofty integrity is commendable! Let me first outline the province's plan: reform aims to solve the problem of 'some have nothing to do, some have work but no one does it.' The institutional reform leading group decided to integrate the Provincial Mining Bureau, Provincial Nonferrous Geology Bureau, Provincial Coalfield Geology Bureau, Provincial Nuclear Industry Geology Bureau and their 35 subordinate geological exploration units into a 'one bureau, one institute, one group' structure, consolidating the previously overlapping functions into the newly formed Provincial Geology Bureau, gathering the research platforms, equipment, and researchers of several systems into the newly formed Provincial Geology Research Institute, and concentrating related commercial operations into Huadi Technology Group; merging and abolishing all departmental‑level and public institution staff units with fewer than 16 positions, reclaiming 50% of the staffing!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the office fell deathly silent; the four directors seemed frozen by a spell, staring in stunned amazement, faces full of shock. They could hardly believe their ears—was this institutional reform? Such magnitude is almost shocking. They exchanged glances, each seeing disbelief and deep worry in the other's eyes, and the whole office sank into a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

After a while, Li Qinggang felt the mining system could not "wait for death" and said slowly: "Minister, reform is inevitable, we firmly support it, but is this pace too large? Reclaiming 50% of the staffing, I worry the comrades cannot absorb it in a short time, and also…"

Lu Fan immediately cut him off, saying sternly: "Comrade Qinggang, this is institutional reform, a decision and deployment of the Provincial Party Committee, leaving no room for bargaining; it must be executed resolutely without any discount!"

"But… Minister, can we proceed step by step…"

Zhao Lingyun interrupted: "Li Qinggang, let me enlighten you: the 'Four Subordinations' are the fundamental political discipline, a written rule, a work convention, and our greatest political, organizational, and institutional advantage!"

"You must unconditionally uphold the 'Four Subordinations,' aligning your thoughts, actions, and conduct with the Provincial Party Committee, matching, and drawing close, embodying responsibility, accountability, and diligence in your post, ensuring effective implementation of the Party Committee's decisions, rather than presenting difficulties to the organization, filing papers, playing tricks, being clever, or making petty moves! If you cannot do it, I will recommend to the Provincial Party Committee to replace you!"

These words rang in Li Qinggang's ears like a flash of lightning; a chill surged up his spine and instantly spread through his body, making him shiver, unable to utter a single word, his heart filled with fear and panic.

Lu Fan is fully aware that such a massive reform will inevitably affect a large group's interests; to proceed smoothly, a good start and solid footing are needed, and the methods must be forceful.

Li Qinggang has been rooted in the system for over 30 years, with extensive vested interests; he is the mining system reform's biggest "stumbling block" and also the best "example to warn others." Now he voluntarily sticks out his "head"; not cutting it would betray his "good intentions"!

Lu Fan said lightly: "Since Comrade Qinggang's energy is limited and he finds this work fraught with countless difficulties, the organization naturally will not force a duck onto a perch or make the strong do the impossible. Moreover, you are an elder of the mining system with many old connections, subordinates, and friendships; it would be hard to lose face, right? That's human nature, we understand. How about we first transfer your 'inventory' to the Organization Department, then find a more suitable position for you to let you exert your remaining heat."

"Huh?" Li Qinggang hurriedly said: "Minister, I can overcome the difficulties, I firmly support the institutional reform…"

Zhao Lingyun shouted angrily: "One moment you claim difficulties, the next you say it works; do you still have any Party principle? Treating organizational decisions as a joke? You need to study the 'Disciplinary Punishment Regulations' properly! Get out, and don't embarrass us here!"

Li Qinggang rose tremblingly, wanting to explain something, but after seeing Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Zhao Lingyun's sharp gaze, he left the office with a bitter expression, extremely unwillingly.

After stepping out, he paced anxiously back and forth in the hallway, restless and disoriented. Once he calmed down, he immediately went to find Secretary Tang Bing.

In the office, the remaining three directors became completely obedient, and Lu Fan directly assigned: "Comrade Zhang Wen, you are responsible for establishing the Provincial Geology Bureau; Comrade Yongting, you are responsible for establishing the Provincial Geology Research Institute; Comrade Hongyu, you are responsible for establishing Huadi Technology Group. Merge and abolish all departmental‑level and public institution units with fewer than 16 staff, reclaiming 50% of the staffing! Do you have confidence in completing this task?"

The wise know the times, and at such a moment they could not utter a single "no." Naturally they responded resolutely, answering affirmatively.

Lu Fan continued: "The reform leading group will set up a guiding team; tomorrow it will officially move into the mining system to launch institutional reform. If you engage in shirking, perfunctory responsibility, obstruction, laziness, or any inaction or slow action, the organization will deal with it sternly!"

The three took their orders and immediately threw themselves into the mining system's grand reform plan.

This reform may not be a boon for others, but for them it is mostly an opportunity.

After queuing into the Secretary's office, Li Qinggang began to "cry" about his grievances.

After hearing a few sentences, Tang Bing, with a grim face, said coldly: "Without organization, without discipline, you will await organizational handling!"

"Secretary…" Li Qinggang still tried to argue.

Tang Bing barked: "Out!"

After leaving the office, Li Qinggang, disheartened, went to the provincial government to try his luck, and naturally met a wall of disappointment.

Leadership support is the key to reform success; the full backing of the Provincial Party Committee and provincial government is Lu Fan's greatest confidence!

On December 21, the provincial reform leading group entered the mining system, fully launching pilot work, with Provincial Organization Department Head Lu Fan personally leading the team.

At two p. m., the leading group convened a meeting of the entire system's leadership team, attended by cadres at the department level and above.

Organization Department Head Lu Fan personally mobilized and deployed, emphasizing in his speech that pilot units must strictly observe political discipline, organizational discipline, institutional staffing discipline, cadre personnel discipline, financial discipline, and confidentiality discipline; they must obey the overall situation and ensure that institutions, responsibilities, and personnel are adjusted on schedule.

Lu Fan demanded that during the reform, adjustments to institutional staffing and personnel transfers of the involved units be frozen, sudden promotions of cadres or sudden spending strictly prohibited, asset clearing and verification work properly done, and state‑owned asset loss strictly prevented.

It is strictly forbidden for anyone to intervene in public institution reform or institutional establishment in any manner. The working group will strengthen supervision and accountability, sternly investigate violations, and hold responsible persons accountable according to law and regulations.

Until this meeting, Lu Fan still had not disclosed how extensive the reform would be; only when the plan is unveiled will the truth become clear.