246: Chapter 246 Secretary Lu's Schemes

The minutes of the County Party Committee standing committee meeting had not yet finished their circulation, but the news had already grown wings.

Secrets could never be kept in the County Party Committee compound.

The notice regarding Secretary Qiu Dehai being placed under investigation took only half an hour to spread throughout every office in Qingjiang County.

Some gasped, others calculated in secret.

In the County Party Committee Secretary's office, the scent of tea lingered.

Secretary Lu Guoliang sat before the tea table.

The water boiled; he lifted the pot, scalded the cups, and rinsed the tea leaves with deliberate, unhurried movements.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; tea brewing is much the same. If the heat is off by even a fraction, the taste becomes astringent.

A knock sounded at the door.

Deputy Minister Li Ming of the Organization Department pushed the door open and entered.

Because the incumbent minister was unwell and recuperating, the daily work of the department was entirely managed by him, the deputy.

"Secretary Lu."

Deputy Minister Li Ming stood by the door, his posture slightly bowed.

Secretary Lu Guoliang lifted his eyelids slightly and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Little Li, come, sit."

Deputy Minister Li Ming complied, walking forward and sitting on the front third of the chair, his back straight.

Secretary Lu Guoliang picked up the fair cup, twisted his wrist, and poured half a cup of orange-yellow, clear tea into the guest's porcelain cup.

"Taste this. It's this year's new tea."

To have the head of the County Party Committee personally pour tea—this kind of above-standard treatment, when bestowed upon a deputy, carried immense weight.

Deputy Minister Li Ming almost sprang up; he took the cup with both hands, held it in his palms, and sat back down.

He took a sip, but it tasted bitter.

Secretary Lu Guoliang picked up his own cup and blew on it.

"You attended the standing committee meeting just now. You must be clear on the mission."

Secretary Lu Guoliang spoke in a steady tone: "The leadership of Heishi Town has rotted at the roots. Secretary Qiu Dehai and Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong have fallen one after another. This kind of collapse-style corruption serves as a profound lesson."

Deputy Minister Li Ming listened intently.

"This doesn't mean that adjusting one or two people will plug the hole."

Secretary Lu Guoliang placed his teacup back on the table: "The selection of personnel in the leadership team needs to be expanded. I am considering that the members of the Heishi Town leadership team are carrying too heavy a burden, and their power and responsibilities are too concentrated, which makes it easy for problems to arise. It is time to lighten their load."

Lighten their load.

These three words, falling into Deputy Minister Li Ming's ears, were a test question.

Who is the real power-holder in Heishi Town now?

Zhu Wenhao.

The "lightening of the load" in Secretary Lu Guoliang's mouth was specifically aimed at curbing Zhu Wenhao's power.

Deputy Minister Li Ming had been struggling in the bureaucracy for many years; he understood the subtext immediately.

"Secretary, your insight is profound." Deputy Minister Li Ming leaned forward: "The Organization Department has been studying the reserve cadre candidates for Heishi Town."

He carefully chose his words: "This case has exposed the hidden dangers of having too much power concentrated at the grassroots level. Based on this, we are considering expanding the Heishi Town leadership team and refining the distribution of power and responsibilities."

Secretary Lu Guoliang said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

"Additionally, the Organization Department has an immature suggestion that I haven't reported to you before." Deputy Minister Li Ming stated the key point: "Given that the current province-wide campaign to combat organized crime and root out local mafias is of utmost importance, the Organization Department believes it is necessary to strip the position of Political and Legal Affairs Commissioner of Heishi Town from the Deputy Secretary who currently holds it concurrently. It should be a dedicated position."

Strip the Political and Legal Affairs Commissioner.

This was an open attempt to seize the "blade" from Zhu Wenhao's hands.

"At the same time, to strengthen the administrative coordination efficiency of the grassroots Party Committee, I suggest promoting the Director of the Party and Government Office directly into the town committee leadership team." After saying this, Deputy Minister Li Ming waited for Secretary Lu Guoliang's judgment.

A glint of approval appeared in Secretary Lu Guoliang's eyes.

This acting head of the Organization Department understood the rules well and was even better at adapting.

"Not bad. This approach shows a sense of the big picture." Secretary Lu Guoliang set the tone.

"Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan is the main leader responsible for the county's political and legal work. We should listen to his opinion on this new candidate for Political and Legal Affairs Commissioner. You go make a trip and consult him more."

A slap, then a sweet date.

Having just humiliated Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan at the standing committee meeting, he was now handing him the hat of the Heishi Town Political and Legal Affairs Commissioner. In order to recover his losses, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan would inevitably arrange a loyal confidant to go down there.

Once the Qin faction took root in Heishi Town, Zhu Wenhao's days would no longer be so peaceful.

"As for the matter of the Director of the Party and Government Office joining the leadership team." Secretary Lu Guoliang tapped his fingers on his knee: "The current Director of the Party and Government Office is Director Xu Jie, right?"

"Yes, it is her."

"When I went to Heishi Town for an inspection last time, I had an impression of her. The young comrade handles things efficiently, follows the rules strictly, and gets real work done. Let her join the leadership team."

Secretary Lu Guoliang changed his tone: "However, do not change her administrative rank; keep it at the section level. When we use cadres, we must focus on team building. Follow the length of service; once she has enough seniority, we will go through the formal evaluation procedures."

Joining the leadership team, but not getting the administrative rank.

This was the carrot hanging over Director Xu Jie's head. If she wanted to be official, she would have to obediently listen to the County Party Committee's arrangements.

Deputy Minister Li Ming took notes and agreed repeatedly.

"The vacancy for Executive Vice Mayor is a real job managing the economy." Secretary Lu Guoliang continued to deploy: "Go and consult County Mayor Gu Mingchuan. The affairs of the government should be decided by the county government; that is the proper procedure."

Deputy Minister Li Ming understood perfectly.

Political and legal affairs to Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, executive affairs to County Mayor Gu Mingchuan.

The various forces were like nails, hammered one by one into the territory of Heishi Town by Secretary Lu Guoliang.

The new landscape where Zhu Wenhao had sole control was immediately carved up into a gladiatorial arena for warlords by these few light-handed personnel appointments.

"Then... the candidate for Town Party Committee Secretary?" Deputy Minister Li Ming probed.

This was the anchor.

"The position of Secretary is temporarily vacant. Town Mayor Luo Xingbang will act as the interim, presiding over all work of the town committee."

Secretary Lu Guoliang refilled the water: "There aren't many days left until the end of the year. At the year's end, stability is the priority. The final decision will wait until after the new year. I believe Town Mayor Luo Xingbang has the ability to manage Heishi Town during this period."

Acting.

A second-in-command who had languished in the position of Town Mayor for many years was now only half a step away from the main seat.

In order to remove that "acting" label, Town Mayor Luo Xingbang would inevitably do his utmost to seize power, perform, and even squeeze out anyone who might threaten his position.

"Go and do it." Secretary Lu Guoliang issued the dismissal: "Later, have Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang go with you. You go to Heishi Town and officially announce the County Party Committee's decision."

Secretary Lu Guoliang explained the deep meaning behind this arrangement: "Secretary Qiu Dehai is, after all, a high-ranking official. To detain him, we need the Executive Deputy Secretary of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection to come forward to suppress the situation, which is in accordance with the regulations."

"My original intention was to let Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan go personally to suppress the situation." Secretary Lu Guoliang looked at Deputy Minister Li Ming: "But I thought, this is a heavy responsibility. Giving it to you is to put some pressure on you and give you an opportunity to show your face and gain experience in the whole county. You must perform this play well."

Deputy Minister Li Ming's body shook slightly.

"Also." Secretary Lu Guoliang played his final trump card: "The report on the old minister of the Organization Department retiring due to illness has already reached my desk. The County Party Committee Organization Department cannot always be without a leader. If you implement this leadership team construction in Heishi Town properly and hand in a satisfactory answer, I will be able to recommend you to the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee in the next step."

Entering the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and wielding the power of personnel management.

This big pie made Deputy Minister Li Ming's heart beat like a drum.

He immediately stood up: "Please rest assured, Secretary Lu! I will resolutely complete the tasks assigned by the organization and will never let down the cultivation of the County Party Committee!"

Secretary Lu Guoliang waved his hand, letting him leave.

The door closed.

The office returned to silence.

Secretary Lu Guoliang picked up the half-cold tea and drank it in one gulp.

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window with his hands behind his back, looking down at the ant-like flow of people below.

Zhu Wenhao had used the power of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection and the masses to send Secretary Qiu Dehai into the detention room. Young as he was, his methods were ruthless; even he, the County Party Committee Secretary, had been used as a pawn to cross the river.

He thought that by clearing the obstacles, Heishi Town would henceforth belong to Zhu.

However, in this game of chess, winning the pieces does not necessarily mean winning the overall situation.

A cold smile curled the corners of Secretary Lu Guoliang's lips.

Would this Town Mayor Luo Xingbang, who had already chosen to bow his head and take a side with Zhu Wenhao, still be willing to be a puppet to be manipulated at will after tasting the flavor of being an "Acting Secretary"?

He, Zhu Wenhao, wanted to stir up trouble in Heishi Town? He was still too green.

One hour later.

Two black official cars with County Party Committee license plates drove out of the Qingjiang County Party Committee compound, one after the other, driving along the national highway straight towards Heishi Town.

In the front car, Deputy Minister Li Ming sat in the back row, clutching a freshly printed red-headed document from the County Party Committee, reciting the speech he would give later over and over again.

He had to make a big splash in this play.

In the rear car.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest.

As the Executive Deputy Secretary of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, being sent to take Secretary Qiu Dehai this time was a loss of face.

Going to Heishi Town was to stamp the record of Secretary Pang Jianguo and Zhu Wenhao's achievements, to publicly admit his own failure.

The wheels rolled forward, kicking up a cold wind all the way.

The power transition in Heishi Town was about to turn a new page with the reading of this official document.

And beneath that seemingly calm storm, a more brutal slaughter had just begun.