Chapter 602

Ma Yuze left in a huff, and Lu Fan simply wanted him to understand who was senior and who junior, who led and who followed!

The Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee handles the daily affairs of the Provincial Party Committee, and the General Office naturally falls within its jurisdiction. Department-level official Lu Fan does not intend to meddle too much, but when it comes to personnel adjustments at the department level and above, you cannot just act arbitrarily—otherwise what's the Organization Department for? Even if Provincial Party Committee Secretary Wang Jingchen wants to use someone, that's still communication among leaders; the Secretary-General isn't senior enough to interfere!

Thinking that Lu Fan would not step down as Organization Department Head in the near future, Wang Jingchen returned to Huayuan and began personally planning the cadre adjustments.

Regarding this adjustment, Wang Jingchen had it all figured out, because he "showed mercy," handling some leading cadres with "an open net," thereby winning the favor of Tang Bing, Liu Linghao, and Luo Jun Municipal Party Secretary Li Jinran.

Recently, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee dealt with the positions of the Provincial Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department director, Luo Jun vice mayor, Provincial Human Resources and Social Security Department deputy director, Xinzhong vice mayor, and others—12 people in total. Among them were several posts with "substance." If planned well, a large batch of "reliable" cadres could be moved into important posts, thereby demonstrating the authority of the top leader.

As Provincial Party Secretary, Wang Jingchen will never lack talent; countless cadres in Huayuan will vie to curry favor. Based on the vacant posts, he carefully selected and drew up a list involving 24 people—not only to fill vacancies but also for subsequent adjustments, truly "covering all bases."

After making the decision, Wang Jingchen summoned Lu Fan to his office and said, "Deputy Secretary Zhou Xi has repeatedly stressed at meetings that we must earnestly fulfill the Party Committee's leadership responsibility, especially that the top leader should devote more time and energy to organizational work. We must persist in combining strict education, strict management, and strict supervision to correct the phenomena of laxity and leniency in cadre management."

In this regard I have indeed fallen short; I will self-criticize and make corrections. Currently there are 12 vacant important leadership posts. The Provincial Party Committee must establish a correct personnel orientation, closely combine with Huayuan's actual situation, promptly identify good cadres, and employ them rationally.

What makes a good cadre? One must be politically steadfast, reliable in major tests and critical moments; must be hardworking and pragmatic, diligent and dedicated, skilled at planning and accomplishing; must dare to shoulder heavy responsibilities, being the "tough grass" and "pure gold" of the era; must be strict with oneself, practice clean governance, and maintain lofty spiritual aspirations and moral integrity.

When the Organization Department studies candidates, it must combine strengthening Party leadership with actively promoting democracy, fully leveraging the Party Committee's leadership and gatekeeping role in cadre selection and appointment, and with an open vision broadly attract talent; it must increase efforts to cultivate and select young cadres, give them more responsibilities, and assign more to important posts for training. It must selectively recruit a batch of cadres who speak politics, understand economics, are good at management, and emphasize Party building.

After beating around the bush, Lu Fan finally understood his meaning and said in one sentence, "This time I will speak up in the adjustment!"

Who doesn't know how to speak officialese? Lu Fan replied, "Secretary, your perspective is lofty and hits the nail on the head; indeed we must let the capable rise, let those who dare to take responsibility at critical moments rise, and let those with outstanding performance rise. We must sideline those who say one thing and do another, who disregard objective laws and act blindly, who cross red lines and bottom lines, and who shirk responsibility in the face of reform, letting a correct personnel orientation lead the way toward entrepreneurship."

……

After twenty minutes, Wang Jingchen grew a little impatient and said, "In this personnel selection, we must dare to break through hidden barriers, not adhere to seniority, embody the good orientation in cadre adjustments, and give those who want to get things done, can get things done, and succeed a stage to display their talents."

Deputy Director Lu Dongxu of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau is in his prime, proficient in his work, highly enthusiastic and energetic, with a strong desire to undertake and start ventures—what do you think of him serving as director of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department?

Lu Fan thought and replied, "In my impression, provincial-level departments hardly ever promote deputy posts to principal posts; if the Secretary thinks him suitable, the Organization Department can list him as a candidate when drafting the plan! The Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau bears great responsibility—could we perhaps select one or two candidates from among the Municipal Party Deputy Secretaries or Executive Vice Mayors? This would further broaden the scope of personnel selection."

Wang Jingchen said with a blank face, "We must further emancipate our minds, overcome and discard the inertia in personnel selection, employ talent as needed and use people like tools, not sticking to one pattern! Having multiple options is also fine; first bring me the proposal."

Deputy Director Yang Ping of the Provincial Party Committee General Office has held a deputy bureau-level post for five years, with good feedback all around; do you think he can handle the post of Deputy Secretary of the Yingtian Municipal Party Committee?

Lu Fan pondered briefly and said, "To be frank, I don't know this person well; I only know he's always managed logistics departments. I will promptly have the Organization Department conduct a comprehensive investigation of him."

Wang Jingchen nodded and said, "Director Xia Yinghong of the Legislative Division of the Provincial Justice Department has strong business ability and outstanding work performance; he can be seriously considered for promotion to director of the Xinzhong Public Security Bureau."

"I will promptly seek the opinions of the main leaders of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the Public Security Department."

……

In one breath, Wang Jingchen arranged candidates for the 12 vacant posts and even proposed specific persons for subsequent adjustments, leaving Lu Fan astonished—was he planning a solo performance? If we follow his opinion and draft the plan, could it smoothly pass the five‑person group meeting and the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee? Where does he get the confidence to "eat alone"?

As the afternoon was nearing quitting time, Lu Fan went to the provincial government to seek Governor Liu Linghao's opinion on the cadre adjustment work.

Unexpectedly, Governor Liu Linghao straightforwardly stated that this personnel adjustment would mainly follow the Provincial Party Committee's opinion, with no demands from the provincial government side.

Although Lu Fan harbored doubts, he couldn't be too blunt in asking; he could roughly guess why the governor stayed silent—compromise is the soul of politics.

The top leader indeed possesses an unmatched advantage; centralized, unified leadership is the supreme political principle and fundamental political rule. In Huayuan Province this means upholding Wang Jingchen's authority—at the very least on the surface—and ensuring that the work he arranges must be completed.

As the saying goes, opportunity favors the prepared mind; if you lack intention, opportunity forever lies in the future; if you have intention, opportunity is everywhere. Those windfalls from heaven are never anything but the result of prior thorough preparation by those whom luck favors. A diligent person makes opportunity for himself.

Ximeng League Chief Men Junhao is undoubtedly a purposeful person, relying on the appreciation of senior leaders to rise from a township to his present position; the hardships involved need not be told to outsiders.

There's a joke about this line of work: three things to fear—first, fearing a widow sleeping alone because there's no one above; second, fearing a prostitute sleeping around because the superiors keep changing; third, fearing sleeping with one's own wife because one's own people are messing with each other.

Since the senior leader retired, his career path has not only stalled but also faces a huge crisis, because with no one above he may well have to make way for others. Recently a rumor has it that the Provincial Party Committee intends to transfer him to a provincial‑level department, likely still unable to hold a principal post. Men Junhao clearly knows, "No wind, no waves."

After the National Day holiday, the affair of Yun Lianfeng caused an uproar in Grassland Province; Men Junhao naturally heard about it, but such a major matter was beyond his involvement.

It was said that Yun Lianfeng provoked Huayuan Provincial Party Deputy Secretary Lu Fan, harassing Lady Lu's female relatives in a restaurant; Men Junhao did not become a mere "spectator," but instead pondered whether he could use this to connect with Lu Fan. After all, that is the nation's youngest provincial party deputy secretary, with a future plainly vast!

Under normal circumstances he wouldn't even have a chance to "hit on" Lu Fan, but since the Yun Lianfeng incident occurred in Ximeng, as league chief Men Junhao expressing an apology is surely permissible, right?

After long deliberation, Men Junhao made up his mind, gathered his courage, and dialed the landline of the Comprehensive Division Two of the Huayuan Provincial Party Committee General Office; those familiar with the system know that Division Two generally serves the deputy secretary.

Section Chief Hou Wenwei answered the phone and said, "Hello!"

"Hello, I am Men Junhao, chief of the Ximeng League of Grassland Province, and I wish to report my work to Secretary Lu Fan."

Although he holds a mayor‑level rank, Hou Wenwei courteously replied, "All right, I will consult the leadership and get back to you."

"Thank you!"

After hanging up, Hou Wenwei went to the leader's office to report.

Lu Fan thought it over; although he didn't know the purpose, he agreed to speak with Men Junhao.

Soon after, Lu Fan's landline rang; he picked up and said, "Hello!"

Men Junhao respectfully said, "Secretary Lu, I am Men Junhao, chief of the Ximeng League."

"Hmm, Comrade Junhao, what do you need from me?"

"Secretary Lu, regarding the vicious incident that occurred in Ximeng during the National Day holiday, I feel deeply ashamed; on my own behalf I express my most sincere apologies to you. If there is anything I can do, please feel free to order me—I will certainly do my utmost."

Lu Fan replied blandly, "It's all in the past, not a big deal; just handle it normally, and don't let law‑breakers get away with it!"

Men Junhao sighed softly, "Secretary Lu, as far as I know, the prison has dealt with 16 leading cadres, but Yun Lianfeng dares to be so arrogant and lawless, to do evil knowing the law—his backing certainly isn't a mere small prison. It's only because I am insignificant and lack influence that I can't do anything for you."

"Thank you for your goodwill; I believe Grassland Province will handle this matter well." In this first call, Lu Fan naturally wouldn't go into deep talk, merely giving a few perfunctory replies before ending the conversation.

Hearing the busy tone on the phone, Men Junhao fell into deep thought. Since there was nothing to do at his unit anyway, he simply went to Yilin City for research, meanwhile checking what had happened that day.

Arriving in Yilin City, he did not notify the local government but went straight to the "Yuan Cang Lang Meng" restaurant to find out the situation.

The owner, Tuli Gu'er, had long realized his restaurant had seen a major incident; today, with a senior leader coming to inquire, he readily pulled up the video from that night.

Seeing in the video that Lu Fan's wife fearlessly stepped in to block a slap aimed at the woman beside her, he immediately realized that woman was no ordinary person.

Thus, Men Junhao became interested, directly copied a copy of the surveillance video intending to take it back for study; at the same time he arranged for his secretary to obtain public security and traffic surveillance footage.