34: Chapter 34 Su Changming's Counterattack

Ten minutes after Section Chief Ma Jiancheng was hauled away, even the office gossipers, who usually loved to wag their tongues, kept their mouths tightly shut, eyes fixed on their computer screens, mice clicking aimlessly.

No one knew where this fire would eventually burn, nor did they know who would be the next person called out by the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Only Su Qinghan sat quietly at her workstation, neatly filing the reports she had just organized into the steel cabinet.

She knew very well that Team Leader Qiu Rui's tactic of "beating the grass to scare the snake" was executed with pinpoint accuracy.

Section Chief Ma Jiancheng was merely the fuse; the real targets were the massive crocodiles lurking in the deep water.

For a time, the Municipal Party Committee Guest House, where the Provincial Inspection Team was stationed, became the King Yama's palace for the Linjiang bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, at the Municipal Government office building.

Organization Minister Zhao Donglai, clutching his briefcase, appeared directly outside the office door of Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

Secretary Gao Ming was sitting at the desk in the outer office, organizing materials.

Looking up and seeing the visitor, Secretary Gao Ming's eyelid twitched.

The rules for interaction between members of the Standing Committee were very subtle.

Although they didn't need to go through layers of appointments, it was still customary to give advance notice.

If someone just showed up at the door, and the leader happened to be seeing a guest inside or handling confidential documents, would you leave him standing outside, or just push the door open?

Secretary Gao Ming, having been with Secretary Zhu Tianhe for five years, was quick to react.

"Minister Zhao, what brings you here in person?" Secretary Gao Ming stepped forward quickly, casually brewed a cup of high-quality Longjing tea at the tea cabinet, and handed it over with both hands.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe just received a phone call. Let me go in and announce you; please take a seat for a moment."

These words were watertight.

It gave face to the Standing Committee member while using a fabricated "phone call" to block any possibility of the visitor barging in.

Organization Minister Zhao Donglai took the teacup and smiled.

"It doesn't matter. I'll wait until Secretary Zhu Tianhe finishes his call."

Secretary Gao Ming walked to the door of the inner office, knocked twice with a rhythmic cadence, and pushed the door open.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe was sitting behind his desk, reviewing the financial briefing of the Municipal Government.

After hearing Secretary Gao Ming's report, his brows furrowed immediately.

For the Organization Minister to visit without notice, there must be something fishy.

"Ask Minister Zhao to come in."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe closed the briefing.

Secretary Gao Ming retreated, invited Organization Minister Zhao Donglai into the office, and closed the door behind him.

The two sat down on the leather sofa in the reception area and exchanged a few polite, inconsequential pleasantries.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe, I've come today to submit the list of candidates for the Director of the Development and Reform Commission." Organization Minister Zhao Donglai put down his teacup, pulled a red-headed document stamped by the Organization Department from his briefcase, and handed it over.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe took it and opened the first page.

After just one glance, his face darkened.

The name of Political Commissar Wang Haitao, who had been the top recommendation focused on by Division Two of the Organization Department, had completely disappeared.

In his place was the Director of the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, Director Liu Yuejin.

Who was Director Liu Yuejin?

He was a staunch loyalist whom Mayor Su Changming had personally promoted during his early years as a township secretary.

"Minister Zhao," Secretary Zhu Tianhe pressed the document onto the coffee table, "I saw the first draft submitted by Division Two after their research a few days ago. Political Commissar Wang Haitao has done solid work at the Development and Reform Commission, especially in stabilizing the situation after Zheng Jianguo's incident. Why is he gone when it comes time for the ministerial meeting to finalize the list?"

Organization Minister Zhao Donglai leaned back slightly and began to play Tai Chi.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe, recommendations from grassroots comrades are indeed one aspect. But the Development and Reform Commission is, after all, a key department aligned with the Municipal Government. Mayor Su Changming specifically sought me out to exchange opinions. He believes that the Development and Reform Commission is now in a state of decay and needs an experienced veteran with overall planning skills to take the helm."

Organization Minister Zhao Donglai shifted the responsibility cleanly away from himself.

"Director Liu Yuejin has served as the top leader at the Civil Affairs Bureau for six years; he has deep seniority and can hold down the fort. Mayor Su Changming strongly recommended him, and the Organization Department ministerial meeting finalized this list only after comprehensive consideration."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe understood everything.

Mayor Su Changming was counterattacking.

He would never allow the Development and Reform Commission, a project approval department, to fall under Secretary Zhu Tianhe's control.

Therefore, he bypassed Secretary Zhu Tianhe directly, forcibly pressured Organization Minister Zhao Donglai, and stuffed Director Liu Yuejin into the list.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe felt a surge of anger and was just about to reject the list on the spot.

The phone on his desk rang.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe walked over and picked up the receiver.

The voice of Secretary Tian Limin came through, steady and composed.

"Tianhe, put aside what you're doing for a moment and come to my office; there's a situation we need to discuss."

"Okay, I'll be there immediately."

After hanging up the phone, Secretary Zhu Tianhe took a long look at Organization Minister Zhao Donglai sitting on the sofa.

"Leave this list with me for now. I'm going to see Secretary Tian Limin."

At the same time, Division Two of the Organization Department.

Zhu Wenhao was sitting at his workstation; the phone in his hand had just hung up.

Division Chief Zhao said on the phone that the recommendation materials for the Development and Reform Commission they submitted had been returned by Organization Minister Zhao Donglai.

Wu Dehai, holding his water cup, took the opportunity to get water to lean over to Zhu Wenhao's desk and lowered his voice.

"Brother Yuntong, the situation isn't right. A buddy of mine in the First Division said there's a new instruction from the department to rewrite the recommendation opinion, and the recommended candidate has been changed to Director Liu Yuejin from the Civil Affairs Bureau."

Zhu Wenhao stopped typing on his keyboard.

He took out his phone and sent a message to his father.

"The list has changed; Mayor Su Changming is counterattacking."

The message was sent, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea.

With sixty years of political intuition from the Great Ming, Zhu Wenhao immediately realized that Mayor Su Changming was not only counterattacking but had also found an ally strong enough to suppress Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

For a newly appointed mayor like Su Changming to force through the candidate for the Director of the Development and Reform Commission, he had to rely on the power of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary.

The office of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary.

When Secretary Zhu Tianhe pushed the door open, Mayor Su Changming was already sitting inside.

Their eyes met; Mayor Su Changming nodded slightly, his face wearing that calm look of someone who had already secured victory.

The weakness and compromise seen in The Su Family study a few days ago were long gone.

"Tianhe is here, sit down." Secretary Tian Limin pointed to the empty seat opposite.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe sat down, keenly sensing that the atmosphere in the room was not right.

This was not a meeting for discussion.

This was a meeting for dividing the spoils.

"I called you both here today to resolve the burden issue on the Municipal Government side." Secretary Tian Limin held his teacup and got straight to the point. "Secretary Zhu Tianhe, now that you've come to the Municipal Party Committee, although the province has allowed you to hold the position of Executive Vice Mayor as a transition, running between both sides is too much, and your energy is spread too thin, which is detrimental to work."

Secretary Tian Limin looked at Mayor Su Changming: "Mayor Su Changming, do you have any thoughts on this?"

Mayor Su Changming took over the conversation: "Secretary Tian Limin is right; there are a thousand tasks to attend to in the government. The position of Executive Vice Mayor is crucial. Although the final decision on the candidate rests with the Provincial Party Committee, the Municipal Party Committee has the right to recommend. I suggest that the current Standing Committee member and Secretary of the High-tech Zone Party Working Committee, Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang, concurrently hold this position."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air.

Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang was Secretary Tian Limin's absolute confidant.

Mayor Su Changming's move was extremely vicious; he voluntarily handed over the fattest piece of meat—the Executive Vice Mayor position—to Secretary Tian Limin.

"Comrade Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang has had enough experience at the grassroots level and has sufficient seniority. I agree with this proposal. Later, let the Organization Department prepare the materials, and we will hold a meeting." Secretary Tian Limin nodded with a smile, then immediately changed the subject.

"However, for the core bureaus and offices of the Municipal Government, Mayor Su Changming, as the team leader, you need to use people you are comfortable with to open up the situation. The Development and Reform Commission, the Finance Bureau, and the Audit Bureau—these areas need to have their leadership teams filled out quickly."

"For the Development and Reform Commission, I recommend Director Liu Yuejin from the Civil Affairs Bureau." Mayor Su Changming pushed the boat with the current and directly revealed his trump card.

The map was unrolled, revealing the dagger.

Mayor Su Changming used the throne of the Executive Vice Mayor to exchange for Secretary Tian Limin's full support.

The two joined forces, directly bypassing Secretary Zhu Tianhe, the Deputy Secretary in charge of personnel.

Secretary Tian Limin wanted the candidate for Executive Vice Mayor, while Mayor Su Changming wanted absolute control over financial power departments like the Development and Reform Commission and the Finance Bureau.

They reached a tacit understanding to swallow up all the key departments of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government.

Political Commissar Wang Haitao's path to promotion was completely blocked.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's tentacles reaching into the Municipal Government were also ruthlessly severed.

The taste of power he had just savored was shattered by these two old foxes joining forces.

In the face of such high-level power interest exchange, he, the newly promoted Deputy Secretary, had actually become an outsider.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe, you are in charge of Party affairs and personnel. Speed up the process for Director Liu Yuejin on your end. We will convene the Five-Person Group meeting as soon as possible, and then take it to the Standing Committee for implementation."

Secretary Tian Limin made the final decision.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe clenched his fists.

If he were to forcefully object, he would be offending both the top two leaders simultaneously, making it impossible for him to move a single step in the Standing Committee in the future.

"Secretary Tian Limin, Director Liu Yuejin going to the Development and Reform Commission is too big a jump; I reserve my opinion." Secretary Zhu Tianhe bit the bullet and retorted.

"Reserving your opinion is fine, but the work must move forward; the overall situation is paramount."

Secretary Tian Limin remained unmoved, hammering down the final decision.