207: Chapter 207 Xiao Dingyu is dumbfounded again

In Jingjiang City during winter, the cold wind, carrying fine snowflakes, lashed against the glass windows of the Provincial Party Committee compound.

Outside the Minister's office on the third floor of the Provincial Organization Department building.

Qi Tian held a thick kraft paper file folder in his hand, standing quietly before the door.

He straightened the hem of his suit and raised his hand to knock lightly on the door twice.

"Come in." Minister Xiao Dingyu's voice came from inside.

Qi Tian pushed the door open and entered; Minister Xiao Dingyu was looking down, reviewing documents on his desk.

Seeing Qi Tian walk in, he put down his fountain pen and pointed to the sofa on the side.

"Sit down." Minister Xiao Dingyu picked up his purple clay teacup.

Qi Tian did not sit on the sofa but walked straight to the desk and handed the file folder to the desk with both hands.

"Minister Xiao, this is the comprehensive democratic assessment and investigation material regarding the backup candidates for the Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, as per your instructions from a few days ago."

Qi Tian stood straight with a respectful tone, unable to hide the sense of composed confidence in his heart for having accomplished an important task.

Minister Xiao Dingyu reached out to untie the file folder and pulled out the forms and report sheets inside.

Qi Tian spoke at the right moment, beginning to explain how he had carried out the "superior's intent" to the end.

"A few days ago, you specifically called me to give me pointers on two crucial matters." Qi Tian leaned forward. "First, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it; the power of the people is infinite. Second, you asked me to show concern for the current Director of the Development and Reform Commission, Director Luo, regarding his future placement."

"Your words enlightened me."

Qi Tian recounted the practical details: "Before the democratic assessment, I met with Director Luo for tea privately in my personal capacity."

"Director Luo is fifty-four this year. He has served in this full-bureau-level position for three full years and is in his prime. By conventional logic, his next step should at least be to enter the Provincial Government leadership team or serve as the Municipal Party Committee Secretary in a certain city."

"However, Governor Zhou has not mentioned a single word about the future placement of Director Luo."

"This clearly means he intends to temporarily shelve him and wait for a vacancy."

The four words "wait for a vacancy" often mean being frozen out.

"I tactfully revealed Governor Zhou's intention to 'shelve' him to Director Luo." Qi Tian continued his statement. "Even a clay figurine has a bit of temper. Governor Zhou is eager to push Deputy Director Liu Qiang to the top but ignores the fate of his predecessor; this chills people's hearts."

"I also took the opportunity to disclose the latest recommended candidates determined by the Organization Department to him. I clearly informed him that in this list of candidates, besides Deputy Director Liu Qiang, there is also Deputy Director Zhao Bingzhang."

"After listening, Director Luo silently held his teacup and remained silent for a full five minutes without expressing his stance."

Qi Tian characterized this silence: "But that seed had already been planted."

Qi Tian continued his report: "Subsequently, I talked to the second candidate, Deputy Director Zhao Bingzhang. We didn't discuss business; I just told him he had been listed as a recommended candidate to succeed as Director. I also passed on your words, 'The power of the people is immense,' to him. Deputy Director Zhao Bingzhang is an extremely smart person and understood immediately."

Pages turned; Minister Xiao Dingyu's gaze fell on the assessment forms.

"Two days later, the Development and Reform Commission held a general meeting of all cadres to conduct a democratic assessment." Qi Tian pointed to a record in the materials. "The situation completely deviated from Governor Zhou's expectations."

"According to past practice, such assessments involve the investigation team distributing ballots during interviews, with checks made openly. Everyone knows who voted for whom."

"However." Qi Tian emphasized his tone. "Director Luo, as the top leader, broke convention at the assessment meeting. He did not distribute ballots during the interviews but required that the process be conducted anonymously."

"Director Luo specifically had a sealed ballot box brought in and gathered all the staff in the large conference room. The stated reason was: to protect personal privacy, let everyone put down their burdens, better exert their subjective initiative, and reflect their truest thoughts to the Organization Department."

Having lost the constraint of open voting, the voting became strange.

Minister Xiao Dingyu lowered his eyes to look at the statistical data.

In the comprehensive evaluation column for Deputy Director Liu Qiang, most were marked as "Competent," and there were even quite a few "Basically Competent."

Conversely, on that anonymous assessment form, Deputy Director Zhao Bingzhang garnered more than half of the "Excellent" ratings.

"It wasn't just the popular vote that had unexpected changes." Qi Tian turned to the investigation conclusion on the last page of the file. "The comments written by Director Luo for these two candidates are even more significant."

Minister Xiao Dingyu's gaze swept over the appraisal materials personally signed and approved by Director Luo.

Regarding Deputy Director Liu Qiang, the entire document lacked the usual conventional qualitative comments such as "Strong sense of the big picture" or "Profound political determination."

Director Luo used only the phrase "This comrade has decent professional capabilities," brushing over his past achievements lightly.

Immediately following this, in the subsequent recommendation, Director Luo changed his tone and wrote a conclusion: "As the core hub of the province's economic coordination, the future Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission must be a leader capable of uniting people, daring to take responsibility, and skilled at opening up new situations."

As for the comments for Deputy Director Zhao Bingzhang, Director Luo avoided discussing his professional level: "This comrade has a very strong sense of the big picture, is good at uniting the masses, and uniting the team's cohesion."

In the final section for designating the recommended official, although Director Luo was constrained by rules and circled Deputy Director Liu Qiang's name, he left a final note in the blank space: "The long-term construction of the Development and Reform Commission leadership team still requires the Organization Department to make a comprehensive consideration in light of the overall situation of the province."

This was an extremely shrewd and implicitly negative comment.

After reading this ornate yet murderous file, Minister Xiao Dingyu closed it.

Qi Tian stood at the desk, waiting for his superior's approval.

However, Minister Xiao Dingyu's thoughts had long drifted back to the phone call with Zhu Wenhao a few days ago.

On the other end of the line, Zhu Wenhao had listened to the conversation between Minister Xiao Dingyu and Qi Tian, as well as Qi Tian's own assumptions at the time.

"Minister Xiao, Qi Tian has ability, and his execution is not bad. However, his wisdom and methods are lacking. Governor Zhou's will to push Deputy Director Liu Qiang to the top is firm; Qi Tian alone cannot change the result."

"The next day, call Qi Tian again." Zhu Wenhao had instructed him at the time, "Don't say too much; just entrust him with two things."

"First, the power of the people is infinite. Have him find a way to utilize the public opinion of the grassroots cadres."

"Second, have him show concern for Director Luo's future placement. Tell him that Governor Zhou has not arranged a retreat for the veteran comrade."

This was the origin of the two "highest instructions" that Qi Tian spoke of.

But this was not enough.

Zhu Wenhao was well-versed in the art of controlling people; relying solely on Qi Tian's hints was not enough.

Zhu Wenhao continued to deploy his strategy on the phone, "Minister Xiao, you should call Director Luo personally."

"Don't ask anything, and don't mention the recommendation list. Just say one sentence: 'Secretary Lao has been very concerned about the work of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission recently.'"

Minister Xiao Dingyu did as instructed.

Director Luo was a veteran official. Governor Zhou Zhiwen was eager to help Deputy Director Liu Qiang rise to power and ignored his fate, which had already created a rift.

At this juncture, the Minister of the Provincial Organization Department called personally, bringing up the top leader of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary Lao Liguo.

To Director Luo, this sentence meant that Secretary Lao needed his pledge of allegiance.

He was an extremely smart man. What Minister Xiao Dingyu said was indeed the truth; Governor Zhou really did not bother to consider his placement.

Thus, there was the subsequent democratic assessment that used the name of protecting privacy to carry out subversion.

These actions were to present the most significant pledge of allegiance to Secretary Lao Liguo.

Minister Xiao Dingyu came back to his senses, looking at Qi Tian, who stood straight before him with eyes full of admiration.

Qi Tian thought he had achieved a remarkable feat.

Director Luo thought he had climbed a high branch.

And he, Minister Xiao Dingyu, suddenly discovered that the originally extremely thorny personnel problem had become effortless at this moment.

As long as this material was submitted to Secretary Lao Liguo's desk, Secretary Lao would surely seize this opportunity.

Everything was completed in the undercurrents.

The most wonderful thing was that none of this was done by his own hand.

Using strength against strength, going with the flow, he had completed the sniping of Deputy Director Liu Qiang without spending a single soldier.

Everything was logical and airtight.

"You did very well." Minister Xiao Dingyu collected his thoughts and put the file into the drawer.

He gave a promise: "This set of materials is very solid. I will find a suitable opportunity to report to Secretary Lao Liguo personally."

This was the sentence Qi Tian wanted.

Hearing the three words "Secretary Lao," the wild joy pressed in his heart could no longer be contained.

"It is only right to share the burden for the Organization Department. Well, Minister Xiao, please continue with your work; I won't disturb you any further."

Having obtained the answer he wanted, Qi Tian turned and left, feeling satisfied.

The solid wood door closed behind him.

Inside the office, only Minister Xiao Dingyu remained, still savoring the moment.