Chapter 702

After consensus was reached on the candidates for the four secretaries, Organization Department Head Shang Youyang again proposed six mayoral candidates, namely Li Chengjing, Deputy Secretary of the Ik Municipal Party Committee; Han Shangjun, Deputy Secretary of the Jiuyuan Municipal Party Committee; Chen Kai ming, Deputy Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department; Guo Xiao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Provincial Government; Wei Ruodai, Deputy Secretary of the He Lun Municipal Party Committee; and Li Zhengyang, Deputy Secretary of the Ximeng League Municipal Party Committee.

The candidate for deputy secretary of the Yike Municipal Party Committee is Vice Mayor Jiang Yeke, the candidate for deputy secretary of the Wuda Municipal Party Committee is Deputy Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department Xu Yaoshan, the candidate for deputy secretary of the Qiu Ling Municipal Party Committee is Deputy Minister of the Provincial United Front Work Department Li Hongbo, the candidate for deputy secretary of the Jiuyuan Municipal Party Committee is Director of the Provincial Party Committee Supervision and Inspection Office Ren Longteng, the candidate for deputy secretary of the Haiwu Municipal Party Committee is Deputy Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission Ge Wei, the candidate for deputy secretary of the Helun Municipal Party Committee is Deputy Director of the Provincial Audit Department Lai Ruihua, the candidate for deputy secretary of the Ximeng League Party Committee is Secretary-General of the Provincial People's Congress Cai Jinjun.

Besides the cadres favored by Lu Fan, there were also candidates recommended by Luo Shiyu, Shang Youyang, Wang Jianming, Wu Xiaohua, and Mou Yue, which had been deliberated multiple times, and the meeting unanimously approved.

Next, Lu Fan proposed that the Organization Department quickly devise a plan to rotate the heads of provincial departments and some municipal party secretaries, to invigorate cadres with new energy.

Lu Fan emphasized that cadre rotation is an urgent need in anti-corruption work. From corruption cases, they share a common trait: long-term tenure in an important post fosters corrupt thinking and creates opportunities for ill-intentioned individuals.

Long-term tenure as a top official in a certain place leads some comrades to overemphasize territorial control and strengthen their grip on power; over time, they come to view the duties of their post as personal power, continually inflating themselves, giving rise to formalism and bureaucratism, severely affecting work style and generating huge integrity risks.

Excessive concentration of power also facilitates ill-intentioned individuals, who need only to secure a few cadres to reap huge returns, prompting them to use every means to court corruption. Misaligned self-perception plus various temptations lead many leading cadres step by step onto the irreversible path of corruption, causing immeasurable damage to our cause.

Finally, Lu Fan proposed that Provincial Finance Department Head Sun Guoren be transferred to become Provincial Audit Department Head, Provincial Natural Resources Department Head Liu Qingyun be transferred to become Provincial Finance Department Head, and Deputy Department Head Yu Weihong be promoted to become Provincial Natural Resources Department Head.

Luo Shiyu was also somewhat dissatisfied with this finance department head, feeling constrained in her work, but despite her dissatisfaction, since he was a cadre she promoted, she was reluctant to replace him.

Helplessly, after several talks with Lu Fan, who also offered her a mayoral post and two bureau chief positions, Luo Shiyu could only agree, since this was Lu Fan's first cadre reshuffle after his formal confirmation, a time to establish authority. Moreover, their cooperative relationship was still in the honeymoon phase; it wasn't worth spoiling over this minor matter, and the top leader's authority still needed to be upheld.

Lu Fan's focus was on the heads of provincial departments, municipal party secretaries, mayors, and deputy municipal party secretaries, at most adding an executive vice mayor, plus a few outstanding leading cadres; thus the scope of this adjustment fell within this list.

After the personnel adjustment plan was unanimously approved, Lu Fan emphasized: 'Please have the Organization Department promptly file with the superior authorities; in urgent matters, act first and report later. The adjusted cadres should be issued documents immediately so they can assume their posts right away. Promoted cadres should expedite the procedures and can first take up their posts to preside over work. Once Shang Youyang returns from Yancheng, we will convene the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting.'

Moreover, the adjustment of subsequent vacant positions should also be included in the agenda; the Organization Department should promptly identify suitable candidates, fully solicit opinions from Governor Shi Yusheng and all standing committee members and deputy provincial governors, ensuring fair, just, and open selection and appointment of personnel.

On the morning of June 27, the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee dispatched six inspection teams to various cities and provincial direct departments to conduct personnel inspections. The head of the Organization Department, Shang Youyang, personally led the team with the personnel adjustment plan to Yancheng and returned smoothly in the afternoon.

This personnel adjustment came extremely suddenly, and all were major reshuffles, beyond everyone's expectations; nobody had time to react, and could only watch helplessly as the dust settled.

However, everyone had some mental preparation; since Lu Fan took charge of work, when has any personnel adjustment not been like this? "Running around to pull strings" seems to have lost its market on the steppe; trying to go through the back door with Secretary Lu is pure wishful thinking, a pipe dream. On the contrary, if you excel at your work, the official's cap can fly onto your head.

On June 28, the Provincial Party Committee convened a standing committee meeting to discuss matters related to the provincial representative conference, studied the personnel issue, and the Organization Department's plan was unanimously approved.

It is worth noting that this adjustment of cadres was quite substantial, yet it did not involve the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission or Qincheng City. Consequently, the leading cadres of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission are complaining bitterly, because even the United Front Work Department has dispatched a deputy municipal party secretary, let alone other standing committee units. The cadres privately grumble, "An incompetent general exhausts the whole army!"

In the afternoon, the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee issued the following document:

Comrade Sun Xujia appointed as head of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department, Comrade Sun Guoren as head of the Audit Department, and Comrade Liu Qingyun as head of the Finance Department;

Comrade Ke Chang Qing appointed as secretary of the Camel League Party Committee, Comrade Zou Benji as secretary of the Yike Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Yuan Zhijun as secretary of the Jiuyuan Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Xu Rongliang as secretary of the Zhelimu Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Li Peilin as secretary of the Hetao Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Guo Wen as secretary of the Yungu Municipal Party Committee, and Comrade Wang Tian as secretary of the Qiu ling Municipal Party Committee;

Comrade Jiang Yike appointed as deputy secretary of the Yike Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Xu Yaoshan as deputy secretary of the Wuda Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Li Hongbo as deputy secretary of the Qiu ling Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Ren Longteng as deputy secretary of the Jiuyuan Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Ge Wei as deputy secretary of the Haiwu Municipal Party Committee, Comrade Lai Ruihua as deputy secretary of the Halun Municipal Party Committee, and Comrade Cai Jinjun as deputy secretary of the Tin League Party Committee.

Moreover, Li Chengjing, Han Shangjun, Chen Kai ming, Guo Xiao, Wei Ruodai, and Li Zhengyang are undergoing the mayoral inspection process; the political landscape of the steppe for the coming years has basically taken shape, with Lu Fan essentially in control of the overall situation, and the next goal is to focus on 'conquering' the provincial capital, Qincheng City.

On June 29, the entire Provincial Party Committee was unusually busy, all engaged in 'seeing off and welcoming,' because after Secretary Lu requested the Organization Department to issue the document, everyone involved had to report to their posts immediately; even a deputy section chief of the Organization Department's office was dispatched to see officials off to their new posts.

From July 1 to 2, the Steppe Province's Representative Conference was held in the provincial government auditorium. The conference elected 42 representatives from the steppe to attend the national congress, as well as the nominees put forward by superiors, Comrade Chen Deming and Comrade Liu Congfeng.

The conference was expected to have 668 delegates, but 652 actually attended, which meets the required number.

The conference was presided over by the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, with Secretary Lu Fan delivering the speech.

The conference conveyed the 'Notice on Election Work,' and the member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and head of the Organization Department, Shang Youyang, gave an explanation of the situation regarding the reserve candidates.

The conference adopted the election measures and the list of scrutineers. Based on thorough deliberation, the conference, by secret ballot, produced the steppe representatives.

When the results and the list of elected candidates were announced, the venue erupted in warm applause.

In his speech, Lu Fan emphasized answering with concrete action and repaying with actual performance. All cadres across the province, especially leading cadres at all levels, must strengthen their sense of accountability, of delivering results, and of achieving outcomes—speak and act immediately, get things done well, never make excuses when faced with a task, think of more solutions, say less 'cannot do' and more 'how to do'; with a vigorous and decisive work style, they should accelerate the pace of undertaking and entrepreneurship, establishing a good image of the new-era steppe cadres taking responsibility and making contributions.

After the conference concluded, the Steppe Province's investment promotion conference was in full swing preparation; the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Provincial Commerce Department, and other departments, along with all cities and counties, redoubled their efforts, seeking to stand out in the first project planned after Secretary Lu's formal confirmation.

On July 5, Lu Fan went to Yancheng, accompanied by Secretary-General Wu Xiaohua, Deputy Provincial Governor Zhang Rongqiu of the Standing Committee, Director Liu Xianhao of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Director Zhang Yuliang of the Provincial Transportation Department, Director Wen Chaozhi of the Provincial Education Department, and Director Liu Qingyun of the Provincial Finance Department, among other relevant leaders. The purpose was simple: to secure projects and funding.

Lu Fan's first visit was to the transportation department; Minister Mo Xuan specially set aside an hour and gave a grand reception to Lu Fan's entourage.

Looking at the steady and mature "Secretary Lu," Mo Xuan couldn't help but recall the "little Secretary Lu" of years past, and exclaimed, "Time flies, years slip like a shuttle—ten years in a flash! I have witnessed your growth and transformation; I am delighted that you have reached your present height. Lu Fan, congratulations on taking this solid step; you are now able to shoulder responsibility alone and bear heavy duties. Work well, the future is certainly promising!"

Lu Fan replied with gratitude: "Every step of my growth has been inseparable from your wholehearted support, Minister. I have kept in mind your many selfless assists. Rest assured, I will forge ahead with all my strength and strive vigorously, never failing to live up to everyone's expectations!"

Mo Xuan nodded approvingly, smiling, and said, "Go ahead, tell me how you want me to support you—just give me the straight talk; there's no need for pleasantries."

Lu Fan, without any hesitation, reported: "Minister, over the next five years I plan to build the 'Four Horizontal, Twelve Vertical' comprehensive transport corridor, significantly enhancing the supply level of the steppe's comprehensive transportation infrastructure. The total highway mileage will reach 220,000 kilometers, of which expressways will reach 8,800 kilometers; railway operating mileage will reach about 16,000 kilometers, and high-speed rail 1,200 kilometers; we will construct three comprehensive passenger hubs and eleven comprehensive freight hubs; and achieve full coverage of league-city express logistics parks, county distribution centers, township distribution points, and 'village-to-village express delivery.'"

The province will focus on implementing six major projects—the infrastructure construction improvement project, the national and provincial major strategic support service project, the passenger service quality enhancement project, and others—totaling 128 items; specific measures are as follows: in the highway sector……

After presenting at length for half an hour, Mo Xuan sighed, "From these 128 items I can see your grand ambitions; I will certainly give my full support to what ought to be supported—this might even be the last time I back your work! Leave the materials, I will promptly convene a departmental meeting to study them and strive to give you sufficient support."