314: Chapter 314 Fang Jianping Goes to Qingjiang County

The black Audi A6 drove away from the International Convention Center, merging into the traffic flow of Linjiang City's main thoroughfares, and the interior of the car was extremely quiet.

Mayor Su Changming leaned back into the leather seat, completely shedding his facade of gentleness and refinement, the lines on his face looking as if they had been quenched in ice.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping, sitting in the passenger seat, merely glanced through the rearview mirror, and the hairs on his back stood on end.

Having followed Mayor Su Changming for so many years, he knew that once the mayor showed this posture, it meant he was about to deal a fatal blow.

Mayor Su Changming took out his mobile phone and dialed a string of numbers.

The phone rang three times before it was connected.

"Secretary Lin, is it convenient to talk right now?" There was not a trace of fluctuation from his recent setback in Mayor Su Changming's voice, which still retained that calm and unflappable mayoral demeanor.

On the other end of the line, Linjiang Municipal Party Committee Secretary Lin Weimin paused for half a second.

"Mayor Su, what is it?"

"I've been considering the recent personnel situation in the city and wanted to exchange some views with Secretary Lin."

Mayor Su Changming cut straight to the point.

"I think Comrade Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang might no longer be suitable to continue staying in the position of Secretary of the Development Zone Management Committee."

As soon as these words were spoken, Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping's eyelids twitched fiercely in the front row.

Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang?

That was the capable general who had been charging into battle for Mayor Su Changming at the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee meeting just two days ago!

Tossed away like an abandoned piece just like that?

This maneuvering was simply ruthless!

Mayor Su Changming did not pause, dissecting the core interests: "When former Municipal Party Committee Secretary Tian was here, he once had the intention to promote Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang to Executive Deputy Mayor.

But at that time, Provincial Party Committee Secretary Yang had already given clear instructions, stating that Comrade Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang's ability to handle the economy was somewhat lacking."

He brought out the words of the Provincial Party Committee heavyweights as endorsement: "In recent years, the development of Linjiang City's development zone has stagnated, and various indicators are far from satisfactory, which indeed corroborates the judgment of the Provincial Party Committee leaders.

Letting a cadre who doesn't understand economics hold sway over the development zone is detrimental to the overall development of the city."

With a single sentence, he handed Secretary Lin Weimin a justifiable excuse to replace the general.

Most crucially, he actively handed the knife over to the Municipal Party Committee.

Secretary Lin Weimin on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment.

Tacit understanding is often reached precisely within this moment of pause.

"Mayor Su's perspective on the issue is very pragmatic."

Secretary Lin Weimin's tone softened a bit.

"Then, who do you think is suitable to shoulder the burden of the development zone?"

The secretary of the Development Zone Management Committee was a solid Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee member quota.

Mayor Su Changming looked at the street trees retreating outside the window and spat out a name: "Comrade Secretary Lu Guoliang of Qingjiang County, I think he's not bad.

He is experienced, prudent, and has a strong sense of the overall situation."

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping's brain roared upon hearing this in the front.

Elevating Secretary Lu Guoliang to deputy departmental level, stuffing him into the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee lineup, and taking over the development zone!

Secretary Lin Weimin showed deep interest in this proposal.

Secretary Lu Guoliang was a slippery character, but he indeed had seniority; pulling him into the Standing Committee lineup would greatly benefit Secretary Lin Weimin in digesting local forces.

"Comrade Secretary Lu Guoliang has held down the fort in Qingjiang County for many years and has indeed made great contributions."

Secretary Lin Weimin went with the flow, turning to ask, "However, if he comes to the city, does Mayor Su have a recommended candidate for the vacancy of Qingjiang County Party Committee Secretary?"

Mayor Su Changming was pulling in his net.

"I think Comrade Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping is very suitable."

"Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping has served as Deputy Secretary-General in the Municipal Government for many years and is diligent in his work."

Mayor Su Changming placed his chips on the table.

"I originally intended to let him succeed as Secretary-General.

But considering the current situation in Qingjiang County, with Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan just having been taken away for investigation by the working group from The Capital, the cadres below are restless in their hearts."

"Qingjiang County now urgently needs a comrade who is familiar with the situation and can stabilize the overall situation to preside over the big picture.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping previously served as the Executive Deputy County Magistrate in Qingjiang County; he knows the people well and has a clear foundation.

For him to take on this burden is best able to soothe people's hearts."

Secretary Lin Weimin did not immediately agree over the phone.

Qingjiang County was now the eye of the storm; with Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan having fallen, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan down below, Secretary Zhu Tianhe would inevitably want to plant his own people in Qingjiang County.

"Mayor Su's proposal does make sense from the perspective of stability."

Secretary Lin Weimin began to play tai chi.

"However, the candidate for Qingjiang County is of great importance.

I still need to touch base with Secretary Zhu Tianhe and discuss it at the Five-Person Group meeting.

I have another meeting shortly, so let's talk here for now."

The phone hung up, and the car interior returned to a dead silence.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping's brain was buzzing.

He understood now: Mayor Su Changming had gotten Secretary Lu Guoliang promoted, and then used the vacant County Party Committee Secretary throne left by Secretary Lu Guoliang to squeeze himself in!

What a maneuver, what boldness!

In a single advance and retreat, he ruthlessly wedged a nail into the heart of Qingjiang County!

The car smoothly drove into the Municipal Government courtyard and stopped in front of the administrative building.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping gathered his thoughts, pushed the door open to get out, walked around to the back row, and respectfully pulled open the car door for Mayor Su Changming.

The two of them stepped into the mayor's office one after the other.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping brewed a cup of hot tea for Mayor Su Changming, placing it on the wide mahogany desk.

He was just about to back out according to custom.

"Stay for a moment."

Mayor Su Changming sat settled in his chair and unbuttoned his suit jacket.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping stopped his footsteps, turned around, and stood straight.

Mayor Su Changming picked up the teacup, blew away the floating leaves on the water's surface, and stared at him with sharp eyes: "You heard everything that was said in the car just now.

I want you to go to Qingjiang County to be the County Party Committee Secretary.

What are your thoughts?"

Qingjiang County, Heishi Town.

The sunlight outside the Town Government courtyard was just right.

Zhu Wenhao sat on a stone stool in the yard, holding a coarse porcelain teacup in his hand, watching the construction team not far away unload the last batch of greening saplings from the truck.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the cold-chain logistics park was scheduled for next week, and everything was progressing step by step.

The mobile phone in his pocket vibrated.

The caller ID showed Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

Zhu Wenhao answered the phone with a casual tone: "Dad, is there another new play being performed in the city?"

"Mayor Su Changming has made his move, and it's a ruthless one."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's voice came through the earpiece, exuding a bit of sternness.

"Secretary Lin just touched base with me.

Mayor Su Changming took the initiative to propose replacing Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang from the development zone and pushing Secretary Lu Guoliang into the Standing Committee lineup to succeed him."

Zhu Wenhao took a sip of tea, the corners of his mouth curving into an elusive arc: "A brave warrior cutting off his wrist, sacrificing the chariot to save the general.

He is using Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang's life to exchange for Secretary Lin Weimin's favor."

"Not just that," Secretary Zhu Tianhe said in a deep voice. "His core purpose is Qingjiang County.

He proposed letting Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping take over Secretary Lu Guoliang's post and serve as the Qingjiang County Party Committee Secretary."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's words carried a hidden worry: "We originally planned to make a move at the Standing Committee meeting and laterally transfer Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang to establish prestige.

Now Mayor Su Changming has taken the lead and cleaned house himself, which instead makes him appear utterly selfless.

If Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping really goes to Qingjiang County, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan down below will be suppressed tightly.

Heishi Town will also face the Municipal Government's most direct reckoning."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wenhao didn't get angry and instead laughed.

He steadily placed his teacup on the stone table.

"Dad, 'to destroy someone, one must first make them mad.'"

Zhu Wenhao's eyes were clear.

"Mayor Su Changming thinks this is a brilliant interlocking strategy, but in reality, it's a terrible blunder."

"How so?"

"Does Mayor Su Changming really think that the Qingjiang County Party Committee Secretary is some kind of lucrative prize?"

Zhu Wenhao analyzed step by step.

"Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan has just been taken away; the old accounts of the reservoir and the underground bank cases are all held tightly in the hands of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Secretary Pang Jianguo is following the vine to get the melon and could unearth more radishes at any moment.

At this juncture, whoever goes to Qingjiang County to be the top leader is sitting on a volcano."

He tapped his fingers lightly on the stone table: "Furthermore, although Secretary Lu Guoliang has left, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan has already gained a firm foothold in Qingjiang County.

County-wide key project scheduling and financial circulation—County Mayor Gu Mingchuan knows them inside and out.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping is just a deputy secretary-general who has stayed in the city for many years; parachuted down here with no people under him and no knife in his hand, what is he going to use to govern?"

"You mean, let him come?"

Secretary Zhu Tianhe understood a bit.

"He can come, but let's see what sincerity he brings out."

Zhu Wenhao gave his conclusion.

"Secretary Lin wants to use Secretary Lu Guoliang to balance the Municipal Party Committee, so let's do a favor along the way.

As for Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping... since he wants to stick his hand into this pan of boiling oil in Qingjiang County, we will seal the pot lid and trap the beast inside."

His tone was casual: "As long as Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping makes a mistake in Qingjiang County, we can follow his trail and burn straight to Mayor Su Changming.

This is called setting a trap for them."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe on the other end of the line let out a long breath: "Alright, I understand.

At the afternoon meeting, I'll go with the flow."

Hanging up the phone, Zhu Wenhao stood up.

Sunlight poured over the streets of Heishi Town, and the common people's lives were becoming more and more promising.

But the power struggles on this land were destined not to be peaceful.