39: Chapter 39 Qi Shan Takes Action, Political Landscape in Linjiang Turns Around

Jiangnan Province's provincial capital, Nanhu Teahouse.

In a quiet booth by the water on the second floor, Li Juan was dressed in a dark blue silk cheongsam. Her fingertips pinched the lid of a white porcelain teacup, gracefully skimming off the foam.

Opposite her sat a burly middle-aged man.

Director of the Provincial Public Security Department, Director Qi Shan.

Director Qi Shan was fifty-four this year, in the prime of his life.

A veteran-turned-official, he had risen rapidly through the ranks by solving major cases with a fearless, reckless drive. He had been personally handpicked by Li Juan's father. If not for the significant age gap between him and Li Juan, Old Master Li might have even recruited him as a son-in-law.

This secret connection was a piece on the chessboard that the Li family had buried deep within the political and legal system of Jiangnan Province.

Li Juan personally refilled Director Qi Shan's tea.

"Director Qi, it's been a few years. You're looking better and better."

Director Qi Shan accepted the tea with both hands, tapping his index finger twice on the table as a gesture of return respect.

"Miss Li is too kind. It's rare for you to visit the provincial capital. Is the Old Chief still in good health?"

"Very good."

"He spends every day in the courtyard tending to his precious flowers and plants; his spirit is even more vigorous than a young person's. Not long ago, he was still talking about you, saying that back in the day, you were the only one who dared to charge into a bandit's den alone and capture three fierce criminals alive. He said that the public security in Jiangnan Province today is largely thanks to your primary contribution."

A single sentence clarified the purpose of her visit while also giving him plenty of face.

Great families never go straight to the point when doing business; they value the concept of "sentiment."

Director Qi Shan placed his teacup down steadily.

He knew clearly that Li Juan would never visit his temple without a reason.

He had long heard about the recent personnel earthquake in Linjiang City. Secretary Zhu Tianhe had just been promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, and the reason Li Juan had made a personal trip at this critical juncture was self-evident.

"The Provincial Public Security Department is currently brewing a plan for cadre exchanges and mutual transfers to strengthen grassroots forces."

Director Qi Shan went with the flow and passed the topic over to her.

"If Miss Li has any good suggestions, feel free to share them. Matters that the Old Chief cares about are the top priority for our Provincial Public Security Department."

Li Juan pulled a neatly folded note from her Hermès handbag and pushed it toward Director Qi Shan.

"Political Commissar Zhang Qiang of the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau has worked at the grassroots level his whole life. He's a real workhorse with a wealth of experience."

"I heard that the Provincial Public Security Department's Public Security Corps is missing a deputy captain in charge of team building? It would be a great thing for the province's team building to have such a veteran comrade transferred over to pass on his experience."

Director Qi Shan picked up the note and glanced at it.

A lateral transfer.

From Political Commissar of the Municipal Public Security Bureau to Deputy Captain of the Provincial Public Security Department's Corps.

The rank remained unchanged, but the platform had jumped from the municipal level to the provincial level. This was a promotion that no cadre within the system could refuse.

For the Provincial Public Security Department, it was nothing more than a sentence at a Party Committee meeting and a piece of official documentation.

Using a favor that cost him nothing to return a massive favor to the Li family.

This deal was a guaranteed win.

Director Qi Shan wanted to advance further in the future, perhaps to become the Executive Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission or a Vice Governor. He had to keep this connection with the Li family firmly in his grasp.

Director Qi Shan folded the note and tucked it securely into his inner pocket.

"The Provincial Public Security Department certainly needs to focus on and utilize capable veteran comrades at the grassroots level."

"The department is holding a Party Committee meeting in these next two days to discuss the list of cadre exchanges. I will have the office add the situation of the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau to it."

The matter was thus settled without a sound.

The two chatted for a while longer about the anecdotes and customs of the provincial capital, then Li Juan rose to take her leave.

Two days later.

The Linjiang Municipal Party Committee office building, the office of Secretary Tian Limin.

The confidential secretary walked quickly, knocked open the door, and handed over a red-headed document that had just been faxed from the Provincial Public Security Department with both hands.

Secretary Tian Limin took it.

With just one glance, his gaze froze.

The document was very short, only a few lines, but the content was like a thunderclap.

"Decision on the Exchange and Appointment of Cadres in Certain Municipal Public Security Organs in Jiangnan Province."

Decision: Transfer Comrade Zhang Qiang, member of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, to serve as Deputy Captain of the Public Security Corps of the Provincial Public Security Department.

Signed by: Jiangnan Provincial Public Security Department.

Effective immediately for handover and assumption of office.

No consultation with the Municipal Party Committee.

No advance notice.

A transfer order, dropped directly from the provincial capital, smashed onto his desk.

While the Provincial Public Security Department had absolute authority over personnel transfers for vertically managed departments, according to convention, they would always respect the opinions of the local Party Committee.

Today's transfer order, however, had completely skipped the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee.

This was a warning, a demonstration of power, and a counterattack against what he and Mayor Su Changming had done a few days ago.

Secretary Tian Limin's hand gripping the fountain pen had protruding knuckles.

He placed the document heavily on the desk, picked up the internal phone, and dialed Mayor Su Changming's number.

"Mayor Su Changming, come to my office."

Twenty minutes later, Mayor Su Changming pushed the door open and entered.

Secretary Tian Limin pointed at the document on the desk without saying a word.

Mayor Su Changming picked it up to read, and after a while, he put the document back where it was.

The two looked at each other and sat down on the sofa.

The situation was already clear.

Two days ago, they had joined forces to completely block Secretary Zhu Tianhe's path.

Today, Secretary Zhu Tianhe had directly called in external reinforcements from the provincial capital to slap them in the face.

The position of Political Commissar was now vacant.

The reason Secretary Tian Limin had used to reject Political Commissar Wang Haitao had become a resounding slap in the face.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe's reach doesn't extend to the Provincial Public Security Department." Mayor Su Changming picked up his teacup. "This is the Li family's connection."

Secretary Tian Limin was noncommittal.

In the arena of power, it doesn't matter whose influence you borrow.

Getting things done is the real ability.

This time, Secretary Zhu Tianhe not only got it done, but he also used an extremely overbearing method to demonstrate the unfathomable power network behind him to the entire Linjiang officialdom.

"Old Han, the head of the Public Security Bureau, submitted his report for early internal retirement to the Organization Department this morning."

"He's reached the age, and he probably caught wind of the situation early. He didn't want to get involved in our muddy waters, so he just went with the flow and retired."

The Bureau Chief retires, the Political Commissar is transferred.

The Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, the power center symbolizing the violent apparatus, had lost two people overnight.

Mayor Su Changming put down his cup.

"Secretary Tian, is the Five-Person Group meeting… still going to be held?"

"Yes."

Secretary Tian Limin's tone had no fluctuation at all.

"The matters regarding the Development and Reform Commission and the Executive Vice Mayor cannot be delayed any longer. Since Secretary Zhu Tianhe has already put his price on the table, if we don't accept it, this game of chess will completely become a dead end."

This was the arithmetic of power.

Cold, cruel, yet fair.

Mayor Su Changming wanted the Development and Reform Commission, and Secretary Tian Limin wanted the Executive Vice Mayor position.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe had flipped the table; what he wanted was the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau.

Each taking what they needed, dividing the spoils evenly.

No one would be allowed to take it all.

The next morning.

In the small conference room on the second floor of the Municipal Party Committee, the Five-Person Group meeting was held on time.

Secretary Tian Limin, Mayor Su Changming, Deputy Secretary Zhu Tianhe, Secretary Li Li of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and Organization Minister Zhao Donglai.

The five people sat around the round table, their expressions varied.

Organization Minister Zhao Donglai was responsible for announcing the personnel recommendation plan. He took out a new document that had been revised overnight and read it word for word.

"After evaluation and research by the Organization Department, it is proposed to recommend Comrade Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang, the current Secretary of the High-tech Zone Party Working Committee, to serve as Executive Vice Mayor of Linjiang City…"

"It is proposed to recommend Comrade Director Liu Yuejin, the current Director of the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, to serve as Director of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission…"

Reading to this point, Secretary Tian Limin's gaze turned to Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe, do you have any opinions on these two recommendations?"

"These two comrades have rich work experience and solid grassroots backgrounds; they meet the requirements of the positions."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's tone was so calm that not a trace of emotion could be heard.

"I agree with the Organization Department's opinion."

No dissenting opinion.

No slamming the table or glaring.

The resistance had disappeared.

Secretary Tian Limin nodded slightly, and Mayor Su Changming also picked up his teacup to moisten his throat, as if nothing had happened.

The first step of the transaction was achieved.

Organization Minister Zhao Donglai understood and continued to read the remaining documents.

"In view of the fact that the former Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, Han, has applied for early internal retirement due to physical reasons, and the former Political Commissar, Comrade Zhang Qiang, has been transferred by the Provincial Public Security Department… after preliminary screening by the Organization Department, it is proposed to recommend Comrade Police Chief Li Jianguo, the current Deputy Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, to succeed to the position of Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"It is proposed to recommend Comrade Political Commissar Wang Haitao, the former Executive Deputy Director of the Development and Reform Commission, to succeed to the position of Political Commissar of the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

The document was finished.

Only the faint sound of turning pages remained in the conference room.

To let a cadre who handles economic approval take charge of the ideological work of the Public Security Bureau.

Such an unconventional cross-sector transfer would normally never be brought to a meeting.

But at the poker table today, this was a tacit understanding.

"Comrade Police Chief Li Jianguo has been at the Municipal Bureau for many years, has sufficient experience in handling cases, and can hold down the fort."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe spoke first, explaining the reasons for his recommendation.

"During his time at the Development and Reform Commission, Comrade Political Commissar Wang Haitao had excellent political literacy. The Political Commissar mainly focuses on team building and ideological work; he is very suitable. The ideological work of the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau needs to be injected with some fresh blood."

Secretary Li Li of the Discipline Inspection Commission looked at the materials in her hand and stated her position: "The Discipline Inspection Commission has not received any relevant negative reflections on these two comrades, so I agree with the Organization Department's recommendation."

Secretary Tian Limin's gaze finally fell on Mayor Su Changming.

"Mayor Su Changming."

Mayor Su Changming looked at the three characters "Wang Haitao" on the document, and the corner of his eye twitched imperceptibly.

This traitor who betrayed Zheng Jianguo was now being forcibly protected by Secretary Zhu Tianhe and even stuffed into the key department of the Public Security Bureau.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe was setting up a signboard for himself in front of all the officials in Linjiang City:

Mayor Su Changming secretly gritted his back teeth, but his face remained calm.

"I agree."

He spoke slowly.

"Both Comrade Police Chief Li Jianguo and Comrade Political Commissar Wang Haitao are comrades who do practical work. With public security in their hands, we in the government are at ease."

The vote was concluded.

Unanimously passed.

A bloodless strangulation was settled on a few thin meeting minutes.

Secretary Tian Limin obtained the leadership over the routine affairs of the Municipal Government.

Mayor Su Changming kept the most important Municipal Government department, the Development and Reform Commission.

And Secretary Zhu Tianhe held the entire Linjiang Municipal Public Security system firmly in his own hands.

The tripartite balance of power in Linjiang City was officially formed.