Chapter 669: with translation of chapter title

Wang Jianming (person), secretary (title). Also maybe "I" not needed.

Lu Fan smiled and said, "Old classmate, Haiwu City has done well in all aspects of work this year. You need to change your 'position' to play a greater role! For the development of the grasslands, publicity work is paramount and indispensable. I have recommended to my superiors that you serve as head of the Propaganda Department. What do you think? Do you have confidence?"

Wang Jianming replied without hesitation, "I am a brick of the organization; whatever the secretary needs me to do, I will do. Although I have not been specially responsible for publicity work, I can learn it, and I guarantee I will not delay the secretary's grand plan."

Lu Fan said, "Next, I will focus on developing the economy; the publicity, ideology, and culture front must revolve around the center and serve the overall situation, creating a strong atmosphere of planning development and pursuing careers throughout the grasslands, implementing work in detail, building a grassland cultural brand, cultural tourism industry, and local specialty products; the task remains heavy."

"Secretary, starting today I will earnestly study my work, surely play the role of lookout in economic publicity work, constantly improve media literacy, actively feed information to the media, exert the functions of a stabilizing drum and wind vane, effectively carry out guidance on hot issues, strive to uncover the bright spots in the grasslands' economic operation, tell the grassland story well, and develop publicity work with high quality."

Lu Fan suddenly asked, "How strong is your control over Haiwu City? Do you have any usable people at hand?"

Wang Jianming thought briefly and said, "Secretary, Mayor Fu Yujie is a cadre transferred from elsewhere; he is usually low-key, respects me greatly, his work is pragmatic, and we get along fine. Deputy Secretary Wen Chaozi, Executive Vice Mayor Yuan Zhijun, Organization Department Head Zhang Wentong, and Municipal Party Committee Secretary Zhang Bingkun are cadres I strongly recommended and put to use; they should be reliable. The Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary was promoted by Yun Zhangsheng, the Propaganda Department head and the standing vice mayor were promoted by Gu Yunhao, and the rest are local cadres who cannot form any significant force."

Lu Fan pondered, then instructed, "You investigate Fu Yujie for me; if he is usable, you can let him preside over the Haiwu Municipal Party Committee work. As for the others, I intend to meet them personally; you handle the arrangements."

"Okay, secretary, I know what to do!"

Listening to their words, observing their actions, and probing their hearts—this is an essential skill for leading cadres. Through face-to-face communication, Lu Fan can rely on his keen insight and rich experience to discern people's minds, roughly judge a cadre's character and ability, and, with the Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation, basically confirm whether they are fit for use.

To achieve something great, one must have a large group of like-minded, steadfast people around you, who unswervingly carry out your orders and realize your intentions.

However, finding the right people is not easy; it depends on ability, fate, and luck. When the people are right, they unite with one heart, think in one direction, and exert effort in one direction, then things can succeed. If you encounter a team of "pigs", they will not only drag you down but also require you to wipe their backsides; thus, selecting and employing people is the key to success.

After Wang Jianming left, Propaganda Department Head Shang Youyang came to report work.

Lu Fan didn't beat around the bush with him, went straight to the point and said, "When we met in Yancheng, I proposed to Minister Zhou Xi that the Organization Department head position be adjusted; Minister Zhou thought you were suitable for organizational work, and I also acknowledged your ability. I estimate the inspection team will come to the grasslands next week."

Shang Youyang expressed his stance: "Please rest assured, secretary; no matter which post I hold, I will prioritize the provincial Party Committee's overall situation, firmly implement the provincial Party Committee's various decisions and deployments, and wholeheartedly cooperate with your work."

Lu Fan continued, "After you take office as Organization Department head, there are several matters to note; you can start planning now. First, select the strong and assign the weak to the leadership teams of each city and league, especially Haiwu City; Comrade Jianming should be transferred away."

"Second, firmly establish clear standards for cadre selection; work hard to build a cadre team that is loyal, clean, responsible, and effective, rather than a 'private army' serving certain individuals."

"Third, reform the evaluation method, applying elimination of the lowest performers to municipal, county, and provincial direct departments, fostering a strong atmosphere where heroes are judged by results, allowing unqualified leading cadres to step down directly."

"Fourth, firmly resist formalism and bureaucratism, genuinely solve the problem of poor work effectiveness; I will focus on this work."

Shang Youyang replied without hesitation: "Secretary, I will follow these four requirements, strengthen organizational leadership, carefully plan and deploy, exert my utmost to implement, and ensure that organizational work serves the overall situation of the provincial Party Committee."

December 28, the head of Cadre Bureau Two, Bai Chengzhi, led a team to the grasslands, communicated with Lu Fan about cadre inspection matters, and determined the inspection targets.

In the afternoon, the inspection team formally conducted an organizational inspection of Haiwu Municipal Party Committee Secretary Wang Jianming and Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Executive Vice Secretary Du Wenlong, and held an organizational talk with Propaganda Department Head Shang Youyang.

The leadership teams of the provincial Party Committee and provincial government had no vacancies, but superiors would not inspect personnel for no reason; this abnormal move sparked much discussion among the grasslands' leading cadres.

Du Wenlong is still okay to say, after all Lu Fan concurrently holds the post of Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary, so it's likely he will make room for him; then what is the purpose of inspecting Wang Jianming? Is it to promote him to another province? Or does the grasslands need someone to make room for him?

Governor Luo Shiyu also had some doubts; she went directly to the provincial Party Committee and communicated with Lu Fan the details of this personnel adjustment.

Lu Fan did not conceal anything; he laid it all out, because uniting the governor is a top priority.

Upon learning that Du Wenlong would assume the post of Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary, Li Yuenning would be transferred away, Shang Youyang would be reassigned as Organization Department Head, and Wang Jianming would take the Propaganda Department head post, Luo Shiyu's heart was already stirred by shock and awe; she secretly marveled that the superiors' support for Lu Fan was simply beyond imagination, wondering what it signified.

In this way, Lu Fan united more than half of the standing committee members, thereby fully grasping the overall situation; next, he should boldly carry out work, and Luo Shiyu needs to consider her own inclination and direction.

She well knows that on the ever-changing stage of officialdom, every step is nerve-wracking; one mistake leads to another, and in the end everything is lost—such examples are all too common.

Sensing Luo Shiyu's emotional shift and ideological fluctuation, Lu Fan felt the moment was nearly ripe and planned to have a heart-to-heart talk with her.

After cultivating the right mood, Lu Fan spoke earnestly: "Governor Luo Shiyu, I have some words from the bottom of my heart I want to share with you!"

Luo Shiyu blinked slightly, her gaze toward Lu Fan unconsciously revealing a hint of sternness.

Lu Fan continued, "To treat the common people as fish on a chopping board to be slaughtered at will can only increase their resentment, ultimately causing public anger to boil over; this is undoubtedly digging one's own grave, a suicidal path!"

Everyone can see that the history of the anti-corruption struggle has been tumultuous and grand, achieving worldwide acclaim. Yet we must also clearly see that the situation remains severe and complex; our contest against corruption is a life-or-death battle—we can only advance, never retreat; we can only win, never lose.

So-called local protectionism, at its core, merely serves the private interests of a tiny few; it is a tumor harming the people's interests. Times are different now; we all know that as the anti-corruption struggle deepens, local protectionism will lose its foothold, and anyone with a bit of insight or sense will no longer support their unlawful misrule.

Resolutely investigate and punish corruption intertwining political and economic problems; resolutely prevent certain leading cadres from becoming spokespeople or agents of interest groups and power cliques; resolutely manage the collusion between government and business that damages the political ecosystem and economic development environment; never allow the power entrusted by the Party and the people to become a tool for a few to seek profit; I will keep sounding this charge's bugle, and this is also my mission in coming to the grasslands.

Governor Luo Shiyu, between people there must be mutual trust, understanding, and support to build a win-win cooperation; if each goes their own way, when will the grasslands see the light of day again?

"Only by not extinguishing others' light can we illuminate our own path; only through cooperation can we achieve mutual benefit!"

Luo Shiyu suddenly asked, "Secretary Lu, what kind of grasslands do you have in mind?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Fan pondered for a moment, then said with a determined gaze, "The grasslands have proven coal reserves, onshore wind energy capacity, and proven natural gas reserves accounting for 27%, 57%, and 18% of the national totals respectively, all ranking first nationwide. The main energy varieties have low development costs and significant cost advantages; the momentum for development must be raised, and at the very least the gross domestic product must enter the national upper tier."

After removing development barriers, the province's cadres and masses toil diligently, forge ahead courageously, struggle, struggle, and struggle again, pressing forward without let, making this scenic line of the grasslands even more splendid; wholeheartedly building a happy homeland where labor is rewarded, housing is secure, illness has good doctors, the elderly are cared for, children are well nurtured, the weak are supported, affairs are handled, and leisure enjoys refined music.

"I sincerely hope to join hands with Governor Luo Shiyu, work together with one heart and one direction, overcome difficulties, and build this place into what the grasslands' people truly desire."

Luo Shiyu also said, "Secretary Lu, I want to separately report work to Secretary Hong Tao; can you act as an intermediary?"

Lu Fan smiled slightly and said, "As long as the secretary has time, I see no problem!"

Luo Shiyu slowly rose to her feet, her expression solemn and resolute, her gaze fixed on Lu Fan, and she said, "Please rest assured, Secretary Lu; the provincial government will, under the strong leadership of the provincial Party Committee, consistently maintain a high level of political awareness, prioritize the overall situation, put the grasslands' cause first, and through solid, down-to-earth work, strive to deliver a satisfactory answer sheet!"

Lu Fan rose and said, "Love the grasslands, build the grasslands, let us unite our hearts and efforts, sweep away all 'demons and monsters', and continue striving for a beautiful future for the grasslands!" His face beamed with confidence and heroism.

Their gazes met in the air, colliding to produce invisible sparks that conveyed an indescribable trust; their hands clasped firmly together, symbolizing their shared resolve to join hands, advance together, and create brilliance.