130: Chapter 130 Spark Class Graduation

Applause echoed through the vast auditorium.

Short and powerful.

Secretary Lao Liguo stepped out.

The dull thud of his leather shoes on the wooden floor struck directly at the hearts of the examiners in the first row.

Deputy Director Wang Qiang's body left his chair halfway, his buttocks hovering in mid-air, unsure whether to stand or sit.

The fingers of Deputy Director-General Li Guodong, resting on the table, curled uncontrollably.

Below the stage, the Spark Class students did not dare to make a sound.

The pen in Study Committee Member Cao Rui's hand rolled onto the floor, but he didn't dare to look down to pick it up.

Minister Qi Tian and Executive Vice President Zhou Zhengming reacted extremely quickly; they both pushed their chairs back, stood straight, and vacated the center of the podium.

Secretary Lao Liguo did not sit in the main seat.

He walked steadily to the side of Deputy Director Wang Qiang's podium and stopped.

His gaze swept across the faces of Deputy Director Wang Qiang and Deputy Director-General Li Guodong.

"Using both the kingly way and the hegemonic way, using both kindness and power."

Secretary Lao Liguo repeated the conclusion Zhu Wenhao had just made.

"These eight characters are spoken thoroughly."

Deputy Director Wang Qiang squeezed out a few words dryly: "Secretary Lao... we just wanted to examine the ideological bottom line of the young cadres before graduation and see their understanding of the construction of the rule of law..."

"The bottom line is waded out in the mud, not debated in the exam room." Secretary Lao Liguo cut him off.

Secretary Lao Liguo turned around and faced the audience.

"Some of our comrades sit in government buildings, blowing air conditioning, reading a few theoretical books, and then like to go to the grassroots to conduct this kind of black-and-white text test. Separating the rule of law from the rule of man and forcing grassroots cadres to choose sides. What kind of work style is this?"

"This is book worship, this is alienation from the masses!"

A heavy label was pressed down.

Deputy Director Wang Qiang's legs went soft, and finally unable to hold on, he fell back into his chair.

Deputy Director-General Li Guodong tried to make up for it, his tone carrying a bit of caution: "Secretary Lao's criticism is correct. However, although Comrade Zhu Wenhao's theory is solid, the grassroots situation is often complex. With only grand theories, when you really go down, it is easy to be unacclimated..."

"Comrade Li Guodong is worrying too much."

Secretary Lao Liguo did not leave him any face.

"The internal reference that exposed the dark screen of the Jiangnan Red Star Machinery Factory a few days ago was drafted by him. Not only does it have theory, but even the underlying data of capital penetration has been investigated clearly."

Secretary Lao Liguo pointed at Deputy Director-General Li Guodong.

"Isn't the Department of Justice currently conducting grassroots legal popularization education throughout the province? I think it would be better to take that internal reference as a teaching material. Let the comrades in the department take a good look at what is called the flesh and blood of the grassroots."

Deputy Director-General Li Guodong nodded repeatedly, unable to say a word of rebuttal.

Taking advantage of a graduation exam, Secretary Lao Liguo slapped Yang Jianhua loudly from afar.

He criticized these two department-level cadres planted by the Yang faction to pieces in front of the core young cadres of the province.

The difference in standing was as different as heaven and earth at this moment.

After the admonition, Secretary Lao Liguo turned his head, his eyes falling behind the podium.

Zhu Wenhao stood there.

He did not change his standing posture because of the sudden appearance of the Provincial Party Committee leader.

His hands were flat on the edge of the table, his shoulders and back like a pine tree, his gaze calm.

"Zhu Wenhao." Secretary Lao Liguo spoke.

"Here."

"You mentioned Zhang Juzheng just now." Secretary Lao Liguo looked at him from a distance of two meters. "Master Taiyue promoted the 'Examination of Accomplishment Method', used strict laws to rectify officialdom, and offended officials all over the world. In the end, he ended up with his home raided and stripped of his rank. You know history, do you think his account is worth it?"

This was a test.

Not only testing theory, but also testing character.

The reform of Jiangnan Province has entered the deep water zone, and Secretary Lao Liguo needs a sharp knife that is not afraid of breaking.

Zhu Wenhao met Secretary Lao Liguo's gaze.

"If it benefits the country, I will die for it, how can I avoid it because of fortune or misfortune?"

Zhu Wenhao spoke slowly.

"Zhang Taiyue knew it was impossible but did it anyway. The world is full of abuses, and strong medicine must be used. The infamy behind him is the clamor of mediocre officials. The longevity of the country and the society, this account, Master Taiyue calculated very clearly."

Secretary Lao Liguo stared at him for a full ten seconds.

Then, he clapped his hands and laughed.

"Good calculation! Good spirit!" Secretary Lao Liguo pointed at Zhu Wenhao, "You young people should have this kind of spirit of not being afraid of offending people and not being afraid of taking responsibility!"

He turned to look at Minister Qi Tian on the side.

"Comrade Qi Tian."

Minister Qi Tian stood straight immediately: "Secretary Lao, please instruct."

"The training of the Spark Class this time has achieved remarkable results. Especially the ideological arming of this batch of young cadres is very solid."

"For the graduation assessment results, you and the Party School should study together and come up with a plan as soon as possible. We must put the seedlings who can really carry things and dare to carry things into positions where they can play a role."

"Understood, the Organization Department will definitely implement it in place." Minister Qi Tian responded loudly.

Secretary Lao Liguo said no more, lifted the red curtain, and walked away along the backstage passage.

Until that tall back completely disappeared, the air in the auditorium began to circulate again.

Deputy Director Wang Qiang and Deputy Director-General Li Guodong slumped in their chairs, their eyes empty, no longer having any arrogance.

This literary inquisition, instigated by Yang Jianhua and originally intended to encircle and suppress Zhu Wenhao, eventually turned into a public execution for themselves.

Their promotion channel in the officialdom of Jiangnan Province was completely welded shut because of Secretary Lao Liguo's two comments today.

Offstage, in the phalanx of the Spark Class.

The family background that Class Monitor Liu Yu was proud of was not even qualified to be mentioned in front of such absolute wisdom and high-level appreciation.

Zhou Xu took off his black-rimmed glasses and wiped them with a velvet cloth.

On the last page of that black leather notebook, he wrote four characters: Dragon emerging from the abyss.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui looked at Zhu Wenhao on the podium, his throat dry.

He was glad that he had conceded at the class committee meeting some time ago.

Minister Qi Tian stepped forward and took over the hosting rights of the scene.

"Everyone should deeply understand the instructions of Secretary Lao just now."

Minister Qi Tian opened the roster, his voice loud.

"In today's graduation defense, all students have shown their respective levels. The Organization Department will issue the final graduation assessment based on the evaluation of the class committee, combined with the research report and today's defense results."

"Dismissed."

The crowd dispersed.

The students walked in an orderly manner under the leadership of Zhu Wenhao and the class committee.

Executive Vice President Zhou Zhengming walked to Zhu Wenhao's side.

"Zhu Wenhao, that response just now was extremely steady."

"Principal Zhou is overpraising." Zhu Wenhao let Study Committee Member Cao Rui continue to command.

"Secretary Lao rarely praises people in public." Executive Vice President Zhou Zhengming lowered his voice, "Your argument about the kingly and hegemonic way today. The transfer order from the Provincial Organization Department will probably come down in these few days. What are your plans?"

"Staying in the organ to write materials is not my wish."

Zhu Wenhao looked at the half-open door of the auditorium, and the daylight outside shone in.

"Prime ministers must rise from the state departments, and fierce generals must come from the ranks. Only by going down can one make contributions."

Executive Vice President Zhou Zhengming looked at him, nodded, and said no more.

Three days later, Jiangnan Provincial Organization Department.

In the office, Minister Qi Tian took a red-headed document that had just come out of the printer and carefully checked the seal on it.

He raised his head and looked at Zhu Wenhao sitting on the sofa.

"Zhu Wenhao, among this batch of graduates, you are the only student who was personally approved by Secretary Lao to end the internship period early and was exceptionally granted deputy section-level treatment."

Minister Qi Tian put the document on the coffee table and pushed it over.

"According to the original intention of the Organization Department, we wanted to keep you in the Provincial Party Committee Office, hang a deputy section rank first, and familiarize yourself with the province's business for two years. The Provincial Party Committee Office is short of writers."

Minister Qi Tian lit a cigarette, "But Secretary Lao spoke, saying you want to go to the grassroots."

Zhu Wenhao picked up the transfer order.

It was stamped with the bright red official seal of the Provincial Organization Department.

"Minister Qi, towering trees cannot be grown in a greenhouse."

Zhu Wenhao did not look at the option of the Provincial Party Committee Office.

"I want to go to the most complex place."

"I knew you would choose this way." Minister Qi Tian exhaled a smoke ring and pulled another document from the drawer.

"Qingjiang County, south of Linjiang City." Minister Qi Tian pointed to the place name on the document, "That is a notoriously poor county in the province. In recent years, in order to protect people's livelihood, the financial hole has been huge. The clans in the townships below are intertwined, and private mining and digging are repeatedly banned."

"The second Supervision Team of the Provincial Anti-Gang Office is currently investigating cases in Linjiang City. As for Qingjiang County, the emperor is far away, and all parties are watching."

Minister Qi Tian pressed out the cigarette butt, "The Deputy Secretary of Heishi Town in Qingjiang County was taken away by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection for economic problems a while ago, and the position has been vacant. If you want to go, the Organization Department can put you down."

A twenty-four-year-old deputy section-level deputy secretary.

This is an unprecedented precedent in the system of Jiangnan Province.

This is also a touchstone given to him by Secretary Lao Liguo.

Talking about the way of the king and hegemon in the Provincial Party Committee Compound is theory. When you really get to the poor countryside and face those unreasonable local snakes, whether you can still push this hegemonic way is the real skill.

"I will go to Qingjiang County." Zhu Wenhao did not hesitate at all.

Minister Qi Tian nodded.

"The procedures will be completed in these two days. You prepare. When you get to the place, be careful."

"Understood."

Zhu Wenhao stood up and walked out of the Provincial Party Committee Compound.

A fine autumn rain began to drift in the sky.