Chapter 534: Enemies Become Direct Superiors!

After learning of the recent personnel changes in the county, Director of the County Finance Bureau Yang Guoliang had been in a terrible mood.

He did not have a single good impression of Tang Ye.

Previously, because Yang Guoliang had paid the salaries of all county civil servants in advance, Tang Ye had specifically invited Gao Hong over, which resulted in Yang Guoliang receiving a disciplinary sanction.

This matter seemed to have little impact, but in reality, it basically cut off any room for Yang Guoliang to advance.

Although Yang Guoliang had never thought about climbing any higher, he hated Tang Ye to the bone in his heart.

Now, his enemy had actually become his direct superior!

"County Magistrate Gao, with Tang Ye serving as Executive Deputy County Magistrate, I'm afraid my days won't be easy from now on."

"Guoliang, you don't need to worry too much. I'll say it again: just endure this period, and once Tang Ye leaves Suiyuan, the situation will naturally improve." Gao Hong was quite wary of Tang Ye.

Gao Hong was an insider regarding the investigation into Nie Kai.

He had not expected that it would force Xiao Jingyu to become a fugitive official.

Although Gao Hong hated Tang Ye to the bone, he was clear about Tang Ye's background and strength.

When Xiao Jingyu was still around, he had not been willing to confront Tang Ye, wanting only to win him over.

Now that his backer had fallen, he would certainly only be even more forbearing.

Yang Guoliang saw through Gao Hong's thoughts and sighed inwardly; no wonder those around him were now deeply disappointed in Gao Hong.

"Tang Ye recently proposed to reorganize and streamline all state-owned assets in the county and divest some non-profitable assets; this move of his will surely touch the interests of many people."

A cold glint flashed in Gao Hong's eyes. "Since he wants to stir things up, then let him go ahead. Although he is in charge of finance, he is also supposed to cooperate with my work. Some documents must be signed by me to count."

Hearing Gao Hong say this, Yang Guoliang finally felt a sense of security.

"Since Tang Ye took charge of the Old City Project, the progress has been very fast, and ninety percent of the demolition and relocation has been completed."

Gao Hong curled his lip and smiled disdainfully. "The remaining ten percent is the hardest part."

Yang Guoliang nodded slightly and sighed, "The Dong Family Ancestral Hall is a thorny place. If Tang Ye really wants to touch that, he will be poking a hornet's nest."

Gao Hong frowned and reminded him, "Does your brother-in-law have any cooperation with the Dong Family?"

Yang Guoliang nodded slightly. "My brother-in-law hasn't read many books; he took out a loan to buy a few dump trucks to transport construction waste. However, this business isn't easy to do now; the competition is quite fierce."

Gao Hong said, "There are many municipal projects in Suiyuan now, and no one pays attention to the transport of slag and waste, so it's quite good. Sometimes, it's not the most glamorous industries that make the most money."

Yang Guoliang complained, "It was indeed very profitable before, but ever since Secretary Han came to Suiyuan, business has become increasingly difficult."

Gao Hong understood what Yang Guoliang meant; projects like these generally relied on connections and resources.

Now that Han Guangyao was in charge, his power had gradually permeated to the grassroots level.

Gao Hong said softly, "Remember not to cause any major incidents; Suiyuan cannot afford any more turmoil."

After returning to the office building, Yang Guoliang went back to his own office.

He first brewed a pot of tea for himself, and then his cell phone rang, with a sweet, coquettish voice coming from the other end.

"Director Yang, are you free this afternoon? Let's play mahjong together; we're one short."

Yang Guoliang said with a smile, "You all go ahead and play; I'll be there shortly."

It was rumored throughout the Suiyuan officialdom that Gao Hong liked to play mahjong.

But those who knew the inside story were aware that Gao Hong used mahjong as a means of forming alliances.

As for Yang Guoliang, he genuinely loved playing mahjong.

Moreover, he especially liked playing mahjong with married young women.

On December 16, County Party Committee Standing Committee Member and Executive Deputy County Magistrate Tang Ye presided over the county's fiscal and tax revenue operation analysis and the scheduling meeting for the disposal and revitalization of idle state-owned assets.

County Party Committee Standing Committee Member Wu Yang, and the main responsible comrades from the County Government Office, Finance Bureau, Bureau of Natural Resources and Planning, Development and Reform Bureau, Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, Xinlv Company, State Investment Company, and Urban Construction Investment Company attended the meeting.

This was the first time Tang Ye had met with the main responsible persons of the departments under his jurisdiction since he became Executive Deputy County Magistrate.

"Comrades, all levels and departments must fully recognize the grim situation currently facing fiscal and tax work, earnestly enhance our sense of responsibility and urgency, and treat fiscal and tax revenue as an important way to break through the current financial predicament.

At the same time, we must emancipate our minds, innovate our thinking, firmly grasp the policy window and opportunity period, and go all out to promote the revitalization of idle assets to achieve real results."

Yang Guoliang's expression became grave.

Tang Ye had released many signals at the meeting today.

According to Tang Ye's intentions, some state-owned assets were to be pushed to the market through sales and leasing.

In the list drafted by Tang Ye, the first to bear the brunt were the Finance Hotel under the Finance Bureau and the Grain Hotel under the Grain Bureau.

That was where County Magistrate Gao Hong often privately organized people to play mahjong.

These state-owned hotels generally had prime locations, and if handed over to private owners to operate, they would certainly generate good profits.

But because they belonged to government departments, not only could they not generate income, but they also required large amounts of funds to be allocated from the budgets of various departments every year.

More importantly, these hotels did not serve the common people, but were specifically for the leaders of county-level units.

For example, if one wanted to stay at the Finance Bureau's Finance Hotel, one could stay for free with a note from a leader.

And the expenses for a leader's food and lodging at the Finance Hotel could be reimbursed just by signing their name.

Other expenses could also be secretly funneled through the Finance Hotel's accounts.

When he heard Tang Ye pointing at the mulberry tree while cursing the locust tree to expose the shady dealings existing in the Finance Hotel, Yang Guoliang's face turned red and then white.

He had not expected Tang Ye to make him lose face at such an important meeting.

When it was Yang Guoliang's turn to speak, he wore a fawning expression on his face.

"County Magistrate Tang, you have just taken on the role of Executive Deputy County Magistrate and are not yet fully aware of the situation at the Finance Hotel. The situation you mentioned is only an isolated phenomenon; the overall operation of the Finance Hotel is scientific and standardized. As for some of the accounts, those are historical legacy issues. I suggest that the idea of leasing or selling the Finance Hotel and the Grain Hotel needs to be considered in the long term, because this involves personnel placement and severance issues, and any slight carelessness could trigger a huge uproar and affect social stability."

Tang Ye glanced at Yang Guoliang coldly.

He knew clearly that Yang Guoliang was Gao Hong's confidant.

The reason Gao Hong was able to sit firmly in the position of County Magistrate was mainly because the heads of important departments were mostly people he had promoted.

Gao Hong had previously served as the Organization Department Minister of the County Party Committee, so he occupied a significant advantage in personnel arrangements in Suiyuan.

Although he and Han Guangyao currently appear to be at a disadvantage, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

Regarding many policies, Gao Hong adopts a facade of compliance while secretly defying them, and Han Guangyao has no way to deal with it.

Therefore, the way Han Guangyao and Gao Hong get along is to try their best to keep out of each other's way.

Yang Guoliang is Gao Hong's right-hand man.

Promoting the revitalization of state-owned assets—this is the first of the three new initiatives Tang Ye is launching upon taking office.

Secondary institutions like the Finance Hotel appear to be independent entities operating externally, but in reality, they touch the "purse strings" of the Finance Bureau.

Therefore, he must make his stance clear.

Tang Ye cast a glance at Lin Heng, who was sitting behind him.

Lin Heng took the materials out of his bag.

Tang Ye said indifferently, "Since Comrade Guoliang does not agree with my proposal, let us take the Finance Hotel as an example to discuss it. This material is something I received recently; everyone can study it together."

Yang Guoliang was greatly shocked after seeing the materials.

It contained a detailed record of the Finance Hotel's irregular expenditure channels over the past six months.

All the details, such as entertaining and gift-giving, wining and dining, and the indiscriminate issuing of bonuses, were included.

During the meeting that followed, no one dared to stand up and question him.

No one knew what other leverage Tang Ye might be holding.

Everyone knew Tang Ye's background.

This kid looks young, but he is extremely devious.

After the meeting adjourned, Yang Guoliang returned to his office in a fit of rage.

Yang Guoliang stroked his chin, pondered for a long time, and dialed a string of phone numbers on his desk phone...