Chapter 588

After listening to the report, Tang Bing's expression turned grave, and he said in a low voice: "The grassroots are the frontline of serving the masses, the 'last mile' of implementing policies. Reducing burdens concerns people's livelihood. When grassroots burdens are eased, more 'older brothers', 'older sisters', and 'uncles' won't be stuck in offices, nor need to do useless work that tires them and is unwelcome to the masses. Only when the happiness index rises can more energy be devoted to serving the people nearby, and only then can the people's sense of gain and satisfaction improve."

Comrade Lu Fan's summary was spot-on; through the problems he raised, one can see that grassroots burdens have long existed, with multiple causes intertwined, and truly achieving burden reduction is not an overnight task. It requires adjusting operational mechanisms, harmonizing responsibilities and authorities from multiple sides, joint efforts up and down, introducing concrete measures and strong medicine, to 'unshackle' the grassroots, allowing them to let go and move forward lightly.

I suggest adjusting a batch of leaders who, holding office, do not fulfill their duties, and in their posts, do not perform their responsibilities—this is the root of man-made disasters; the Organization Department should quickly produce a plan.

The secretary's instruction, Lu Fan naturally accepted. But he had a doubt: his report did not intend to adjust cadres; it seemed the secretary wanted to adjust personnel, so he was "making an issue out of nothing."

After the meeting, Lu Fan proactively went to Secretary Tang Bing's office to request instructions on the intensity and scope of adjusting cadres.

Tang Bing instructed: "If the foundation is not solid, the earth will shake and mountains will sway. Reducing burdens at the grassroots concerns the building of the cadre team; only by keeping cadres in an upward, positive mental state can they shoulder responsibilities and perform well in their posts, delivering an outstanding answer sheet for the era."

To reduce burdens for grassroots cadres, we must see real results in practice; some localities' top leaders are precisely the 'main force' increasing grassroots burdens. Only by moving these 'stumbling blocks' aside can grassroots cadres proceed lightly.

Weren't you just in Chaoge City for research a couple of days ago? I heard you didn't give them a good face. Li Yi is the province's oldest Municipal Party Secretary; it's inevitable he has a lax, get-by mindset, not putting heart into work, not being thorough, not in good condition, passively coping, just going through the motions, only aiming to get by, not to excel, with an attitude of merely completing tasks and handling chores, preferring to push away rather than take on, able to delay but not advance. Over time, this will drain the vitality of Chaoge City's cadre team; it would be best to reassign him to an idle post.

Lu Fan nodded and said: "Secretary, you hit the nail on the head, striking the vital point; I will plan it quickly. Please give your instructions on the candidate for the new Municipal Party Secretary."

Tang Bing thought and said: "Deputy Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee Xing Qinzhi is strong in principles, fair in handling affairs, of proper conduct, high in organizational discipline awareness, good at organizational coordination, dares to oppose unhealthy practices, also has grassroots work experience; he is a good candidate; please consider him."

"Okay, Secretary, I will get a comprehensive understanding."

Tang Bing also said: "Director Feng Aiguo of the First Division of the Provincial Party Committee Office, considering the cultivation of young cadres, find him an ideal position to exercise his economic work abilities; Deputy Director Gao Chengyu of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, outstanding ability, adept at economic work, capable of great responsibility; Deputy Director of the Provincial Finance Department..."

Soon after, Tang Bing mentioned six cadres: not only her Deputy Secretary-General and secretary, but also several deputy heads of important bureaus and a deputy Municipal Party Secretary.

Lu Fan could be certain that Secretary Tang Bing was about to be transferred; this was her last-minute personnel arrangement before leaving.

After noting everything down, Lu Fan said: "Secretary, important leadership posts are now one radish per hole; trying to achieve grassroots burden reduction through personnel adjustments, which has never been done before, may require breaking convention and moving cadres around."

Tang Bing said: "Promoting the ability of cadres to rise and fall is an important part of cadre personnel system reform and also a problem to be solved. We should take this as an opportunity to foster a personnel orientation and political environment where the capable rise, the mediocre step down, and the inferior are eliminated, striving to build a high-quality cadre team, always maintaining its vitality and vigor. You take charge, first bring out the plan, then we will study it in detail."

"Okay, Secretary, I will implement this task as soon as possible."

Returning to the office, Lu Fan racked his brains thinking about how to shuffle out six important leadership positions; Municipal Party Secretary Tang Bing had already limited the destinations of these six people in her words, both explicit and implicit—for example, her secretary should be placed as Executive Vice Mayor or a Standing Committee Vice Mayor, and Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary-General Xing Qinzhi should be promoted directly to Municipal Party Secretary.

Although the difficulty is great, the benefits will also be high; the six positions freed up, Lu Fan has considerable say—if you want the horse to run fast, you must give it grass! 'Operator' unmoved, even if you are the top leader, can you still bypass the Organization Department and personally adjust personnel? Moreover, since Secretary Tang is leaving, Lu Fan feels he can thicken his skin—you eat the meat, I drink the soup!

As the old saying goes, 'One person attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven'; another says, 'When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when the wall collapses, everyone pushes.' Lu Fan's gaze naturally turned to the former Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary Li Mingyang's 'faction'; having backed the wrong side, he could only consider himself unlucky.

Lu Fan recalled that when he served in Ningyang, a bureau chief once said, 'Without background, don't become an official; even if you fluke a promotion, good things won't come your way, no one will remember you, and at a critical moment, no one will speak for you—you'll be the one who "takes the blame", all because you're a "motherless child".

Although no vice-chair position was vacant at the Provincial CPPCC, one could add a Party Group member, effectively securing a spot for the next term; Lu Fan planned to transfer Municipal Party Secretary Li Yi of Zhaoge to the Provincial CPPCC, which would not be considered 'mistreating' him, and the natural choice for the new Municipal Party Secretary would be Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary-General Xing Qinzhi.

The deputy director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and the deputy director of the Provincial Finance Department, once they go down, need to be given a Municipal Party Committee vice-secretary or mayor position; these two are already difficult, and adding another Municipal Party Committee vice-secretary to be promoted requires shuffling out three mayoral positions, which gives Lu Fan a headache.

Left with no choice, Lu Fan went to the office of Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Zhao Lingyun to 'drop by'.

Upon seeing Lu Fan, the cadres of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee each greeted him politely with 'Hello, Minister!'.

The secretary quickly walked out of the office and respectfully escorted Lu Fan to the secretary's office.

After entering, Zhao Lingyun rose to greet him, personally made tea, and said with a smile, 'You don't come to the Three Treasures Hall without reason; speak your business first, then we can have a drink or two after we finish talking.'

Lu Fan took a sip of tea, set down his water cup, and said: "The leadership has arranged a 'big task'; we need to free up three mayor positions; I've come to you for help."

"You're leaving? Arranging people around you?"

Lu Fan nodded and said: "Eight or nine out of ten, the deputy secretary-general and secretaries will have to be moved aside, and there are also several important deputy positions."

Zhao Lingyun replied: "You mean taking down how many?"

"Otherwise? I can't conjure mayors out of thin air; do you have any leads?"

"You ask if there are leads? As long as we resolve to investigate, who could escape? But 'handling people' always needs a purpose."

Lu Fan said: "How about the mayors of Yiyang City and Diqu City?"

Zhao Lingyun thought a moment and said: "Li Mingyang's people pose no big problem, little resistance, can be dealt with; and another one? None are without source or root, none are easy to move."

"Pick one from the provincial department?"

"Then the Agriculture Department!"

Seeing that they were of one mind, Lu Fan said: "The secretary is urging haste; we shouldn't delay; let's act quickly!"

Zhao Lingyun asked: "Moving these people requires the secretary's approval. Should I report it, or should you?"

"'If you're not in the position, you shouldn't meddle in its affairs; I can't overstep, so you should report it. Lingyun, thank you!'"

Zhao Lingyun laughed and said: "Thanks for what? It's mutual benefit; I'm just worried about lacking political achievements."

The next morning, Municipal Party Secretary Li Yi of Chaoge came to the provincial Organization Department; the minister wanted to talk with him.

After meeting, Lu Fan, without changing expression, asked: "Comrade Li Yi, I looked at the file—you are the oldest-serving municipal party secretary in Huayuan, having toiled diligently all your life in revolutionary work!"

Hearing this, Li Yi's heart sank, he realized something, but still strove to say: "Indeed, I've been in office a long time; fortunately my health is still good; no matter what, I must stand firm in my final post!"

Lu Fan said: "Your contributions are seen and remembered by the provincial Party Committee; the organization will not let honest people suffer. The leading officials have proposed sending you to the provincial CPPCC to settle deputy-ministerial benefits and secure a position in advance."

Seeing Li Yi silent, Lu Fan continued: "Staying too long in one place is never good. The provincial Discipline Inspection Committee has fed back many problems, all of which I have suppressed. The Organization Department is the home of cadres; naturally we must back those who get things done. Who in the work process doesn't make a mistake? Comrade Li Yi, sending you to the CPPCC is actually for your protection; I hope you can understand the organization's painstaking efforts."

Even if it goes against his wishes, there's nothing to be done; Li Yi sighed and said: "Thank you, Minister, for your concern and care; I will obey the organization's decision and uphold its authority."

After settling the difficult Li Yi, Lu Fan went to the provincial Party Committee to report to Secretary Tang Bing.

Tang Bing said: "Letting more young cadres take up higher, better, more important posts is an important measure to optimize the cadre team structure and motivate young cadres to strive. Having the older comrades step down is a work necessity and unavoidable; I agree to Li Yi going to the provincial CPPCC."

Then she added: "Lu Fan, the Discipline Inspection Committee has reported corruption leads on several comrades; the provincial Party Committee's consistent stance is to uphold no forbidden zones, full coverage, zero tolerance in punishing corruption—no matter who is involved, we must investigate to the end, punish severely without leniency, and win public trust through actual results. You should coordinate with the Discipline Inspection Committee and plan ahead for candidates to fill vacant posts."

"'Okay, Secretary, I will promptly coordinate with the provincial Discipline Inspection Committee and stay updated on developments.'"

Tang Bing suddenly said: "Lu Fan, I may not be able to stay in Huayuan much longer; thank you for your support of my work!"

Lu Fan hurriedly said: "I should be thanking you for your meticulous cultivation and care; without your strong support in work, I would not have achieved my current results. Moreover, working with you, I have benefited greatly and gained much. No matter when or where, if you give an order, I will not shirk and will give my all."