300: Chapter 300 Father-Son Conversation, Zhang Zhiqiang's Whereabouts

The study door closed, shutting out the sound.

The heating pipes in the room emitted a low, humming sound.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe sat down at the tea table.

He picked up the freshly boiled kettle and poured water over the body of the purple clay teapot.

Steam rose, blurring the spout.

"We held a Five-Person Group meeting a few days ago." Secretary Zhu Tianhe picked up a teacup with bamboo tweezers and scalded it with boiling water. "The motion for Secretary-General Lin Zhichao to succeed as the Secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission was passed unanimously."

He pushed a cup of tea in front of Zhu Wenhao.

"Mayor Su Changming was very cooperative; he didn't raise any objections at the meeting and voted in favor directly."

"Not surprising." Zhu Wenhao took a sip of tea and set the cup down steadily.

"Secretary Lei Zhen has been suspended from his duties at the Provincial Party Committee, so Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang's backer has collapsed. Municipal Party Committee Secretary Lin Weimin, plus you as Deputy Secretary, and Secretary Li Li from the Discipline Inspection Commission, three votes are already in hand."

"Mayor Su Changming is a mature politician. The situation is settled; voting against it would serve no purpose other than offending Secretary Lin Weimin."

"However, Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang cannot stay."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's hand, in the middle of pouring tea, paused in mid-air.

"Zhu Wenhao, what do you mean?"

"Since Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang dared to betray us at the last minute and run over to Mayor Su Changming's side to pledge allegiance, he must pay the price." Zhu Wenhao's voice was devoid of inflection.

"The position of Committee Secretary, although ranked last at the Standing Committee meetings, is, after all, a genuine Standing Committee seat. Letting him continue to sit in that position is just leaving behind a loudspeaker that can sing a different tune at any time during meetings."

Zhu Wenhao stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and his gaze fell on the row of local chronicles.

"We are going to Jingjiang tomorrow to pay a New Year's visit to Minister Xiao Dingyu; this is an opportunity."

"After the New Year, the Provincial Party Committee will adjust a batch of local cadres. We should add Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang to this adjustment list, find an idle position in a provincial-level department, transfer him laterally, and remove his Standing Committee hat."

Zhu Wenhao turned around and looked at Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

"We must let the cadres in Linjiang City see clearly what the consequences of betrayal are. For cadres who follow us, like Political Commissar Wang Haitao, we will ensure his safety even while he is under pressure from Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao."

"By comparing the two, the people below will know which side to stand on. Without thunderous means, relying solely on personal relationships cannot win over hearts."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe placed the teapot on the tea tray.

"Good, I will bring this up at Minister Xiao Dingyu's home tomorrow. Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang took a wrong step, and he has no one else to blame."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe poured another cup of tea and took a sip himself.

"The matter of Chairwoman Lin Yulan taking the position at the Audit Bureau was also on the Five-Person Group meeting today." Secretary Zhu Tianhe changed the subject, his tone becoming somber.

"Although it was discussed and passed, Mayor Su Changming, as the supervising leader, made a decision to reserve his opinion at the meeting; he cast an abstention vote."

Zhu Wenhao walked to the chair and sat down.

"Mayor Su Changming is preparing to take a hard line at the Standing Committee meeting."

"According to the rules, personnel motions already passed by the Five-Person Group are basically just a formality when they go to the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee. Mayor Su Changming won't be stupid enough to stand up himself at the Standing Committee meeting and slap the face of the Five-Person Group." Secretary Zhu Tianhe raised his concerns.

"Of course he won't step forward himself." Zhu Wenhao crossed his hands on his lap. "But by casting an abstention vote, the person he is waiting for is Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe looked at him.

"Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming is a direct subordinate promoted by Governor Zhou Zhiwen. A while ago, Governor Zhou suffered a setback regarding the position of Director of the Development and Reform Commission."

"Deputy Director Liu Qiang betrayed the Li Faction and switched to Governor Zhou's camp. Governor Zhou intended to force the appointment of Deputy Director Liu Qiang to succeed as Director of the Development and Reform Commission. Secretary Lao Liguo directly used the results of the democratic assessment as an excuse, pointing out that Deputy Director Liu Qiang's assessment score was not as good as Director Zhao Bingzhang's. Secretary Lao Liguo used this to halt the personnel recommendation from the Provincial Organization Department and demanded a full re-assessment."

"This matter is not that simple." Zhu Wenhao continued, "Last month, Deputy Director Liu Qiang's daughter, Ruobing, just held an engagement banquet with Wang Lei, the son of Governor Zhou's wife's sister. The two sides became in-laws. By blocking Deputy Director Liu Qiang, Secretary Lao Liguo is completely slapping Governor Zhou in the face."

"Having suffered humiliation in the province, Governor Zhou will inevitably want to make up for it from below."

Zhu Wenhao nodded.

"Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming must have received instructions from the province. At the Standing Committee meeting, he will act as a pawn and stand up to sing a different tune."

Zhu Wenhao picked up the teacup on the table; the tea had gone a bit cold.

"At that time, if the head and the second-in-command of the Municipal Government simultaneously raise objections to the appointment of a bureau director within the Municipal Government framework, it will create immense resistance for the Standing Committee."

"Even if we eventually force Chairwoman Lin Yulan into the position by relying on a majority of votes, her days won't be easy."

"The Audit Bureau is not decided by one person. If the deputy directors and the chiefs of the various divisions below see that the attitude of the Municipal Government leaders is wrong, they will unite and resist. Chairwoman Lin Yulan's orders won't even make it out the door of the Audit Bureau."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe pushed the tea set to the side.

"Then what should we do? If Chairwoman Lin Yulan cannot obtain real power, then all the effort we put into this Audit Bureau will have been in vain."

Zhu Wenhao did not answer immediately. He watched the tea leaves in the cup, sinking one by one to the bottom.

"I have spoken with Chairwoman Lin Yulan on the phone," Zhu Wenhao began. "She is actually quite optimistic. She used to be the director of the Finance Bureau, and her professional ability is impeccable. But she has been away from the front lines for some years, and her methods in personnel matters are still lacking; she cannot suppress those local tyrants."

Zhu Wenhao set the teacup on the table.

"If she can't suppress them, then find someone who can to loosen the soil for her."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe raised his eyes.

"Increase support for the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection," Zhu Wenhao said. "Let Secretary Li Li blow this wind of inspection even more fiercely, blowing directly from the Finance Bureau to the Audit Bureau."

"Once the Inspection Team of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection goes in, they will directly audit the Audit Bureau's internal accounts and case files from previous years. Find some faults with the disobedient deputy directors and division chiefs inside; talk to those who need talking to, and suspend those who need suspending."

"Once this group of people is beaten into a state of terror by the Discipline Inspection Commission, then Chairwoman Lin Yulan will take office. By then, the people below will be afraid to act rashly, so who would still dare to cause trouble for her?"

Secretary Zhu Tianhe thought for a moment.

"That's the only way. Tomorrow, after we go to Jingjiang, we will straighten out the relationships in the province. Later, I will go to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to find Secretary Li Li and finalize the name of the special inspection."

The two of them cleared up all the personnel and discipline inspection layouts at both the provincial and municipal levels in the study.

Zhu Wenhao stood up and picked up the coat hanging on the back of the chair.

"It's getting late, let's go out."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe also stood up and pulled open the wooden door of the study.

First-floor living room.

The evening news was playing on the TV.

Su Qinghan was sitting on the sofa, watching the TV screen.

Li Juan walked out of the guest room on the first floor, holding several empty hangers in her hand.

She had just gone in to make the bed.

"Qinghan, Zhu Wenhao." Li Juan walked to the center of the living room and looked at the two of them.

"I have cleaned up the room; the sheets and quilt covers have all been changed to new cotton ones. It's so late, and it's cold outside, so you two should stay here tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will all go to Jingjiang together by car."

Su Qinghan's gaze passed over Li Juan and fell on Zhu Wenhao, who was coming down the stairs.

Zhu Wenhao walked down the last step, met her gaze, and nodded slightly.

Su Qinghan stood up and looked at Li Juan.

"Okay, Auntie, we will stay tonight."

A genuine smile appeared on Li Juan's face.

"Okay, I'll go get you two new sets of toiletries. You should rest early; you have to travel tomorrow."

Li Juan turned and walked towards the storage room.

Zhu Wenhao walked to the side of the sofa.

"Go get some rest."

Su Qinghan turned off the TV and followed him towards the guest room on the first floor.

The light in the guest room was warm yellow, and the curtains were drawn tightly.

Zhu Wenhao hung his coat on the hanger by the door.

Su Qinghan placed her bag on the table.

Tomorrow, at the Provincial Party Committee Compound in Jingjiang City, there was still a tough battle to be fought.