Chapter 571

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department Zou Weipeng announced: Comrade Li Qingang is relieved of his posts as Party Secretary and Director of the Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, with another assignment.

The Reform Leading Group announced: Comrade Zhang Wen is responsible for establishing the Provincial Geology Bureau, Comrade Guo Yongting for establishing the Provincial Geology Research Institute, and Comrade Wang Hongyu for establishing the Huadi Science and Technology Group.

At this time, the leaders of the mining system still did not take it seriously, thinking that this reform was just like before, changing the soup but not the medicine.

But after the meeting ended, Organization Department Head Lu Fan did not leave the Geology Bureau; instead, he led the Reform Leading Group directly to guide the mining system's merger and consolidation work, which finally gave the cadres and workers a sense of tension, prompting them to take this reform seriously.

On the morning of December 20, Lu Fan was discussing with Zhang Wen, Guo Yongting, and Wang Hongyu the 'three determinations' plan for the newly established 'one bureau, one institute, one group'—namely, determining the institution, determining the staffing, and determining the functions—when suddenly, former Bureau Director Li Qingang pushed the door open and entered, his face full of resentment, indignant, and said: 'Minister Lu, even if I am dismissed, shouldn't I be notified? Shouldn't I be present? To be dismissed like this, without clarity, how will the cadres and workers of the mining system view me? At least give me some face!'

Seeing this, Zhang Wen hurriedly said, 'Director Li, let's talk it out!' The other two also stood up to persuade him.

Lu Fan stared coldly at Li Qingang and said in a deep voice: 'The ability of leading cadres to rise or fall is an important handle for strict governance of officials; the capable rise, the excellent are rewarded, the mediocre are demoted, the inferior are eliminated. To place a cadre like you, who shirks responsibility and does nothing, in an important leadership post is irresponsible to the organization and the people.'

Li Qingang, throwing caution to the wind, retorted: 'Is it just because I urged a few words for the cadres and workers of the mining system? Is it necessary to blow this out of proportion? Do I no longer have the right to voice opinions? If this continues, will anyone still dare to speak the truth?'

Lu Fan shouted in anger: 'I have never seen such a shameless person! Look at the mining system—you have turned it into a foul mess, almost becoming your 'family domain', appointing relatives, chaotic management, corruption rampant. Do you really think the organization doesn't know about those trivial things you've done? And you dare to bark at me like this? I tell you clearly: you are the biggest worm in the mining system, the biggest 'roadblock' to reform!'

Li Qingang anxiously said: 'Minister Lu, one can eat carelessly but must not speak carelessly; I have devoted my life to the organization and Hua'yuan Mining, with no merit but hard work, I have a clear conscience.'

Lu Fan said disdainfully: 'Whether there is a problem, the organization will have its own conclusion; I recall your wife seems to have emigrated already, right?'

'Minister Lu, we have already divorced!'

Words spoken and deeds done always leave traces! Please leave, do not interfere with the grand plan of reform in the mining system!

Seeing the minister angry, Li Qingang still wanted to argue, but Wang Hongyu hurriedly put his arm around his shoulder, pulling and tugging him out of the office.

As he went downstairs, Li Qingang clearly felt that the cadres and workers of the unit were avoiding him, letting him fully experience the timeless truth—when a person leaves, the tea grows cold; worldly sentiments change; when the music ends, people scatter; one knows one's own warmth and cold!

Back home, Li Qingang sat sullenly on the sofa, the more he thought, the more uneasy he felt; even a carefree future seemed irrelevant—would he himself get into trouble?

The more he pondered, the more anxious he became; Li Qingang suddenly had an idea—to flee! This was something he had previously plotted, and he had made ample preparations.

At midnight, with everything ready, Li Qingang planned to drive overnight to another city to catch a flight, because in Yingjun City he was too conspicuous.

But what he never expected was that, just as he opened the door, someone came from the elevator entrance and asked, 'Director Li, it's so late—are you still going out?'

Li Qingang was frightened to the point of his liver and gallbladder bursting, and he feigned calm, saying, 'I plan to go back to my hometown for a few days; who are you?'

'Director Li, I am from the Discipline Inspection Committee; you may not leave our sight for the time being. Sorry, please understand, it's all for work!'

As expected, his guess was correct; in an instant, Li Qingang felt he was doomed!

December 22, Huayuan Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee announcement: approved by the Provincial Party Committee, Huayuan Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Party Secretary and Director Li Qingang is suspected of serious violations of discipline and is currently under organizational investigation.

When the news came out, the mining system was in panic; many worried they might be implicated by Li Qingang.

As feared, so it came; on December 23, one deputy director, two division chiefs, and three deputy division chiefs of the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources were taken away by the Discipline Inspection Committee, once again causing an earthquake in the mining system!

December 25, the Discipline Inspection Committee came again, taking away one deputy director and two division chiefs, including the Finance Division.

December 27, the Discipline Inspection Committee came yet again, taking away one deputy director and one division chief; the leadership team and middle-level cadres of the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources were almost completely wiped out!

Lu Fan and Zhao Lingyun's strategy is: if there is a problem, investigate it; even if evidence is insufficient, we can investigate while improving the evidence chain; the final result will surely be that no one is wronged!

After this period of vigorous anti-corruption campaign, the mining system's institutional reform faces no further obstacles!

December 28, the 'three determinations' plan for the Provincial Geology Bureau, Provincial Geology Research Institute, and Huadi Science and Technology Group was formed, and the reform effort was unprecedented!

January 4, the first working day of the new year, the Huayuan Provincial Geology Bureau was inaugurated; the Provincial Geology Research Institute and Huayuan Huadi Science and Technology Group Limited Company, both under the bureau's management, were also inaugurated simultaneously, forming the new pattern of 'one bureau, one institute, one group'.

At the meeting, Standing Deputy Leader of the Provincial Institutional Reform Leading Group Lu Fan personally unveiled the plaque for the newly established department and delivered a speech.

Lu Fan spoke passionately: 'In the 1950s, the predecessors of the Provincial Coalfield Geology Bureau, Provincial Geology Mineral Prospecting and Development Bureau, and Provincial Nonferrous Metals Geology Mineral Bureau were successively established. The geological forces achieved glorious feats; 30,000 geological elite soldiers, after decades of hard work, composed a magnificent poem of seeking resource treasures. The Ping Shan coalfield, Xiao Qinling gold mine, Wu Yang iron mine, San Men bauxite deposit, natural alkali deposit… one after another world-class and national-class mineral deposits were discovered successively, the nation-leading mineral reserves kept growing, providing an endless supply of 'industrial grain' for the formation of Huayuan Province's industrial system and economic development, and making a contribution to Huayuan for the security of national energy resources!'

Today, we reorganize the geological 'Huayuan Army'; this is the requirement of institutional reform for public institutions, an urgent need to enhance their service and guarantee capabilities, and a necessary condition for advancing the modernization of Huayuan.

The reform and reorganization shoulder heavy responsibilities; transformation and development will achieve new merits. Starting today, our province's geological work will stand at a new historical starting point; the new geological management structure will be further optimized, functions made clearer—from 'slimming down' to 'getting fit', from 'physical change' to 'chemical reaction', from 'changing outward appearance' to 'being reborn'—the Huayuan geological and mineral personnel will, with high spirits, play a more important role in serving ecological civilization construction, guaranteeing energy and resource safety, preventing and treating geological disasters, promoting scientific and technological innovation, and advancing the geological industry.

Finally, Lu Fan demanded that within one week the new institution must operate normally, all cadres and workers must be adjusted to their posts in place, those whose posts are adjusted must swiftly change roles, quickly enter working condition, and fully demonstrate the loyalty, integrity, and responsibility of Huayuan's geological and mineral personnel; if anyone does not follow the overall situation or cooperate with reform, the Reform Leading Group will personally handle it.

Thus, the reform of the mining system was preliminarily completed: 35 geological survey-type public institutions were integrated into 'one bureau, one institute, one group', staffing was reclaimed by 40%, leadership posts were streamlined by 25%, and the anti-corruption struggle continues to deepen.

The first shot of Huayuan's public institution reform has been officially fired, astonishing the world; at the same time, it makes other provincial-level departments tremble, especially the leaders, who worry they might become the next Li Qingang, while the cadres think it doesn't matter—work is work wherever you do it.

January 5, Lu Fan reported the personnel adjustment plan to Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary Li Mingyang, mainly involving the Organization Department, Zhoujiakou City, and Nanyuan City. This is a necessary organizational procedure, also the duty and authority of the deputy secretary; if he does not sign, the plan cannot go to the Standing Committee.

After hearing Lu Fan's report, Li Mingyang tactfully raised a doubt, saying: 'I agree with Yang Jianjian going to the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department and the Zhoujiakou Organization Department head going to the Ministry of Agriculture, but adjusting Gao Shuo to be the Zhoujiakou Municipal Party Committee Organization Department head—should we reconsider? In recent months, cadre adjustments in Nanyuan City have been too frequent, with many comrades complaining; we ought to pay attention to the impact accordingly.'

Lu Fan replied lightly: 'Secretary, what I want is to establish a orientation toward solid work and real achievements, focusing on political quality, sense of responsibility, conduct and integrity, and work results, so as to form a clean and upright ecosystem for selecting and employing people. All work in Nanyuan City ranks among the forefront of the province, thanks to the emergence over the past two years of a large batch of outstanding leading cadres, promoting the virtuous without avoiding nepotism, the key being openness and transparency. If you have a more suitable candidate, Secretary, you can put him in the candidate list; having one more choice is better, after all, the final decision still needs approval by the Standing Committee.'

Li Mingyang said calmly: 'Add the head of the Second Division of the Provincial Party Committee General Office; he has strong organizational coordination abilities…'

'Okay, Secretary, I will follow your instructions.'

January 7, Secretary Tang Bing convened a five-person group meeting to specially study institutional reform and personnel adjustment work.

Regarding the candidate for Deputy Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department, Yang Jianjian was approved without controversy, after all, it is Lu Fan's 'turf'.

Zhang Wen serves as Director of the Provincial Geology Bureau, Guo Yongting as President of the Provincial Geology Research Institute, and Wang Hongyu as Chairman of the Huadi Science and Technology Group; this had been previously reported by Lu Fan, there is no controversy, and it was unanimously approved.

The heads of the Provincial Transportation Department and the Provincial Market Supervision Administration were exchanged; this is for planning the next step of institutional reform, Secretary Tang Bing expressed support, and it was also unanimously approved.

The Deputy Director of the Provincial Industry and Information Technology Department, Cai Jieze, was adjusted to become the Executive Vice Mayor of Zhoujiakou City, and the head of the Zhoujiakou Municipal Party Committee Organization Department was adjusted to become Deputy Director of the Ministry of Agriculture; likewise, there was no controversy.

Finally, regarding the candidate for the head of the Zhoujiakou Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, Governor Liu Linghao immediately expressed his position, unreservedly supporting Nanyuan City Vice Mayor Gao Shuo.

Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Zhao Lingyun likewise said Gao Shuo is more suitable, and Lu Fan will naturally support his own opinion.