Chapter 523: Included in the Candidate List!

Nie Kai was investigated by the Discipline Inspection Commission. After three days of interrogation, Nie Kai confessed to the facts of his crimes without reservation.

The most unfortunate person was Liu Jia, who had only just made contact with him and dreamed of getting rich every day.

Liu Jia thought that under the introduction of Xiao Zi'an, he had latched onto a cash cow, but the investigation team ended up finding tea canisters filled with banknotes in Nie Kai's home, using this as key evidence to break Nie Kai's psychological defenses.

The Municipal Party Committee convened an emergency Standing Committee meeting.

At the meeting, Xia Hong, Minister of the Municipal Organization Department, announced the removal of Nie Kai from his posts as Standing Committee Member of the County Party Committee and Executive Deputy County Magistrate.

After Xia Hong finished stating the personnel appointment and removal decision, Zhou Chengwu said in a deep voice, "Nie Kai's issue is not an isolated case; I hope all comrades will take this as a warning. Society is progressing, the rule of law is constantly being perfected, and we must be stricter with ourselves and avoid violating party conduct and party discipline. I have just received news that Comrade Xiao Jingyu suddenly lost contact while on an inspection in Hong Kong. Relevant national departments have determined that he has fled abroad. Although Xiao Jingyu has left Hanzhou for some time, he once worked with us; if any comrades can provide clues, you may report them to the higher-level departments."

"In addition, some comrades had close dealings with Xiao Jingyu previously; if there are any issues, you may confess to the organization in a timely manner. I believe the organization will handle things with leniency."

After Zhou Chengwu finished speaking, Mayor Li Chaoyang said with unusual excitement, "I never expected that the Old City Commercial Reform project in Suiyuan would implicate such a huge pest. I worked with Xiao Jingyu for many years and offered him advice many times, but this comrade was stubborn and self-opinionated, corrupted by money, and has fallen from a city hero to a street rat that everyone wants to beat. This matter must alert the comrades!"

Zhou Chengwu glanced at Li Chaoyang indifferently.

Li Chaoyang had fought with Xiao Jingyu for so many years; seeing Xiao Jingyu reduced to a fugitive official, he felt not only joy but also emotion.

Judging from Xiao Jingyu's resume, he was far more outstanding than Li Chaoyang, which was also the key reason why Li Chaoyang was always suppressed by Xiao Jingyu.

However, many of the political achievements Xiao Jingyu attained hid dark, unseen secrets.

Therefore, at this moment, Li Chaoyang felt that his persistence back then had been correct.

He had also faced temptations, but relying on his strong willpower, he had not colluded with that group of people, and thus, at critical moments, he was always suppressed by Xiao Jingyu.

"Next, we enter the second stage of the meeting. After Nie Kai was investigated, the position of Executive Deputy County Magistrate became vacant. I invite everyone to express their opinions and see if there are suitable candidates," Zhou Chengwu said softly.

Du Chengfeng looked around expressionlessly; his heart was actually a bit nervous.

The position of Executive Deputy County Magistrate was very critical; one step further and it would be the Five-Person Group of the Standing Committee. Although Tang Ye had been a member of the County Party Committee Standing Committee for less than half a year, he had sufficient political achievements to support him, especially in the renovation and upgrading of the Suiyuan Industrial Park, where he had built a ten-billion-level platform—a resume that was unique in Hanzhou.

However, Tang Ye also had disadvantages. Officialdom emphasizes seniority; he was currently ranked thirteenth among the County Party Committee Standing Committee members, and rushing to the fourth or fifth position all at once was an act of breaking the rules.

Moreover, in this setting, it was difficult for Du Chengfeng to express his stance.

Song Weiping, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, spoke first, "I believe the position of Executive Deputy County Magistrate can be filled by Comrade Kang Jiayi. Kang Jiayi has worked in Suiyuan for many years and is particularly steady in his work. He previously handled organizational work and is very familiar with the party members and cadres in Suiyuan. If he serves as Executive Deputy County Magistrate, he can better utilize his experience to bring stability to the personnel arrangements of the Suiyuan Government."

"As for the position of Minister of the County Party Committee Organization Department, it can be handed over to Comrade Zhang Siyi. Comrade Zhang Siyi performed very excellently as the Executive Deputy Minister of the Suiyuan Organization Department, and she is very young and also a female comrade."

Li Chaoyang glanced at Song Weiping.

He knew that Song Weiping had always been very close to Gao Hong.

The Suiyuan officialdom was actually a microcosm of the power games at the Municipal Party Committee level.

Kang Jiayi was Han Guangyao's man.

Song Weiping appeared to be entrusting Kang Jiayi with a heavy responsibility, but in reality, he wanted to push Zhang Siyi into a position on the County Party Committee Standing Committee.

It seemed that the Executive Deputy Minister was only one step away from being the Minister.

In reality, it was very difficult for Zhang Siyi to become the Organization Department Minister.

If Zhang Siyi successfully ascended, it would mean that Gao Hong would have one more key helper among the County Party Committee Standing Committee members.

Li Chaoyang said calmly, "Comrade Weiping's nomination plan has been carefully considered. However, I have a different opinion. During this investigation into Nie Kai's suspected illegal assistance to the Anyu Group in participating in the Old City Commercial Reform case, one comrade's performance was very prominent; if it weren't for him turning the tide, it would likely have caused even greater losses. This comrade is familiar to everyone present, and that is Tang Ye."

"As everyone knows, at the provincial investment promotion conference not long ago, he successfully signed the bid-winning project with the Guohao Group."

"He is a very good candidate!"

Zhou Chengwu looked at Li Chaoyang thoughtfully.

As for Jiang Jing, he was somewhat surprised.

Originally, he had intended to nominate Tang Ye.

He did not expect Li Chaoyang to have gotten there first.

However, Li Chaoyang recommending Tang Ye was actually a good choice, as it saved others from thinking that Jiang Jing was only forcefully recommending him because Tang Ye had once been his Secretary.

Zhou Chengwu did not express his stance, "Are there any other suitable candidates?"

Xia Hong knew what Zhou Chengwu meant; generally speaking, for such core positions, it was best to reach a probability of one out of three, which complied with the laws of personnel arrangement.

Xia Hong then recommended a Deputy Division Level Official from a municipal-level unit; compared to Zhang Siyi and Tang Ye, there were no particularly striking political achievements.

However, at a meeting of this level, mentioning someone more often meant that the next time a suitable position was encountered, they could ascend naturally.

Other Standing Committee members also gave their own candidates with the same mindset.

After everyone finished their recommendations, Zhou Chengwu said softly, "Next, we will proceed to a show-of-hands vote."

Du Chengfeng took the initiative to say to Zhou Chengwu, "Secretary Zhou, I need to recuse myself from this vote."

Zhou Chengwu nodded at Du Chengfeng, "You may recuse yourself!"

Du Chengfeng exited the conference room.

This vote involved Tang Ye.

Tang Ye was his son-in-law, so he could not be present during the voting process.

Du Chengfeng was full of confidence in Tang Ye.

However, he was still a bit nervous inside.

Because he had expectations for Tang Ye.

It is unknown how much time passed before someone found Du Chengfeng, "Secretary-General, the vote has concluded. You may return to continue participating in the meeting."

Du Chengfeng nodded slightly and returned to the conference room expressionlessly.

Zhou Chengwu glanced at Du Chengfeng, "Following the show-of-hands vote by the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee, Comrade Tang Ye has successfully passed with 8 votes and has been included in the list of candidates. Next, the Municipal Organization Department will deliver the recommendation list to the Suiyuan Organization Department, and after being nominated by the Suiyuan County Party Committee, the process will continue."

The stone in Du Chengfeng's heart finally landed!