40: Chapter 40 Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee

The First Conference Room, Linjiang Municipal Party Committee Office Building.

Around the heavy mahogany round table, the twelve members of the Standing Committee sat according to their nameplates.

Secretary Tian Limin sat upright in the host seat.

This was the exclusive seat of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, the throne of power that ruled over this city.

He enjoyed this feeling, the feeling of being in control of everything; power truly was addictive.

The meeting agenda proceeded step by step.

When it was time for the Municipal Government's work report, Mayor Su Changming opened a document in front of him and spoke.

“In the second half of the year, the Municipal Government plans to make adaptive adjustments to the issuance scale of urban investment bonds.”

“The real estate dividend period of the new millennium waits for no one. The city needs to launch a batch of large-scale infrastructure projects to stimulate investment and take larger strides in urban construction!”

The only sound left in the conference room was the rustling of turning pages.

Secretary Li Li, the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, held her teacup, her gaze deep and unreadable.

Organization Minister Zhao Donglai held a pen, unconsciously drawing meaningless circles on his notebook.

Suddenly, a discordant voice cut in.

“Mayor Su.”

Secretary Zhu Tianhe leaned forward slightly, looking directly at Mayor Su Changming.

“We discussed the expansion of urban investment bonds at the executive meeting of the Municipal Government.”

“The Capital has just issued a warning on strictly controlling local government debt. At the last executive meeting, you suggested shelving the dispute. Why did you bring it directly to the Standing Committee meeting today?”

Mayor Su Changming did not show even a hint of panic.

“Comrade Tianhe, I already gave a special report on this matter privately to Secretary Tian yesterday.”

“Secretary Tian believes that since this concerns the grand development plan of Linjiang, it is necessary to bring it to the Standing Committee so everyone can discuss it together.”

Adding an agenda item on short notice!

This was the privilege of the number one leader, but it was also a double-edged sword. If used poorly, it would only hurt oneself.

Secretary Tian Limin took over the conversation at just the right moment to endorse Mayor Su Changming.

“Mayor Changming indeed communicated with me. Urban investment construction concerns the people's livelihood and is also beneficial to the city's economic data. It is necessary to bring it to the table for discussion.”

He looked around the room. “We must look at issues in combination with the actual situation of Linjiang, rather than being rigid and dogmatic.”

The number one and number two leaders had already reached a consensus in advance.

Everyone present knew exactly what this implied at a Standing Committee meeting.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe tapped his finger heavily on the table, just about to speak.

However, the next core agenda item flashed through his mind—personnel appointments.

If he completely fell out with the top two leaders over the urban investment bonds at this moment, complications would surely arise in the subsequent personnel voting.

Between two evils, choose the lesser.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He withdrew his gaze, picked up his teacup, and focused inward like an old monk in meditation.

Seeing that the biggest obstacle had vanished, Secretary Tian said, “Since everyone has no objections, this resolution is approved in principle.”

“Next, we will proceed to the next agenda item.”

The main event had arrived.

Organization Minister Zhao Donglai cleared his throat and read out the proposed candidates.

“...It is proposed to recommend Comrade Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang to serve as the Executive Deputy Mayor of Linjiang City, to be reported to the Provincial Party Committee.”

“...It is proposed to recommend Director Liu Yuejin to serve as the Director of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission.”

“...It is proposed to recommend Police Chief Li Jianguo to serve as the Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.”

“...It is proposed to recommend Political Commissar Wang Haitao to serve as the Political Commissar of the Municipal Public Security Bureau.”

Read out item by item, each was passed unanimously.

Like a pantomime rehearsed countless times, it was orderly and without any surprises.

The meeting ended.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe reviewed the meeting minutes delivered by the staff word by word with a gel pen.

He recalled his son Zhu Yuntong's warning: in officialdom, whatever you do, you must leave a trail for future verification.

He called over the meeting recorder, Xiao Chen.

“Make a copy of these minutes for me.”

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's finger tapped heavily on the section regarding the expansion of urban investment bonds.

“Clearly mark my exact words of opposition on the original document.”

Xiao Chen nodded repeatedly and quickly left with the document in hand.

Having done all this, Secretary Zhu Tianhe looked up.

At the other end of the conference room, Secretary Tian Limin was walking side-by-side with Mayor Su Changming. The two were chatting happily, their laughter sounding exceptionally grating in the empty room.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe engraved this scene deeply into his mind.

He would have his son come home tonight so the two of them could thoroughly review this game of chess.

...

As night fell, inside Villa No. 4 of the Municipal Party Committee Family Compound.

In the study, a single lamp flickered like a bean.

The study door was pushed open, and Secretary Zhu Tianhe walked in carrying a wave of exhaustion.

“You're back.”

Zhu Yuntong closed his book and looked up.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe sat down on the mahogany chair opposite him and slapped the copied meeting minutes heavily onto the table.

“At the Standing Committee meeting today, Secretary Tian Limin and Mayor Su Changming joined forces to force through the resolution to expand urban investment bonds!”

He poured a cup of tea that had long since gone cold and drank it in one gulp.

“The Capital has repeatedly ordered deleveraging, yet they dare to act in defiance! That old fox Mayor Su Changming even said he would shelve it during the Municipal Government executive meeting, only to catch me completely off guard right after!”

Zhu Yuntong picked up the meeting minutes, his gaze sweeping over the passage specially marked in red ink.

“Father, you played this move well.”

“By leaving a written objection, when this urban investment bond bomb explodes in the future, not even a single spark will touch you.”

He pushed the minutes aside, a cold glint in his eyes.

“Why is Mayor Su Changming in such a hurry that he didn't hesitate to use Secretary Tian Limin's privilege to force it onto the agenda?”

“It's actually very simple. At the Municipal Government executive meeting, with you, the Executive Deputy Mayor, opposing it, he had no way to force the resolution through.”

“Zheng Jianguo may be dead, but the bad debts he left behind are still there. The Municipal Government's lack of financial funds is the root cause. Taking advantage of the last remaining heat of the real estate market, they want to issue urban investment bonds to fund infrastructure, make another fortune, and solve their funding problems at the same time.”

“The money is gone, but the projects cannot stop. Once they halt and trigger mass incidents, the Inspection Team will definitely investigate to the very end.”

“The only way for Mayor Su Changming to fill the hole of the Chengnan Project is to issue new debt.”

Secretary Zhu Tianhe understood instantly.

“Using newly borrowed money to fill the holes of old projects! As long as the pool of urban investment bonds is large enough, these holes won't even make a splash! What a clever move of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, eating next year's food today!”

“Then why would Secretary Tian Limin agree?” Secretary Zhu Tianhe was still puzzled.

“An exchange of interests.”

Zhu Yuntong's reply was cold and direct.

“Mayor Su Changming handed over the position of Executive Deputy Mayor to Secretary Tian Limin's confidant, Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang. Secretary Tian Limin returned the favor by helping him clear the path. Besides, the GDP growth brought by large-scale infrastructure is his political achievement as the Municipal Party Committee Secretary. This deal is a guaranteed win for him.”

Secretary Zhu Tianhe leaned back in his chair, feeling dejected.

“Furthermore, Father, don't forget that he has already been in this position for five years.”

“If he still has no political achievements, Secretary Tian's next step will definitely be to sit on a cold bench.”

There was not a single ripple in Zhu Yuntong's eyes.

“Father, if they want to issue bonds, let them. The wider they spread the net, the more loopholes there will be in the future.”

“What you need to do now is guard the personnel line and keep a tight grip on the Public Security Bureau.”

“Today, all the personnel appointments passed. Police Chief Li Jianguo and Political Commissar Wang Haitao's positions are secured.” There was finally a trace of confidence in Secretary Zhu Tianhe's voice.

Zhu Yuntong nodded slightly.

This game of chess has only just begun.

...

The next day, the Municipal Organization Department Building.

The red-headed resolution document of the Standing Committee was distributed to various relevant divisions through confidential channels.

In Cadre Division 2, Wu Dehai stood by the printer, which was humming.

Pages of documents with red-headed stamps were slowly spat out from the paper exit.

He picked up the latest personnel appointment announcement, his eyes quickly scanning the rows of names.

When he saw the name 'Political Commissar Wang Haitao' firmly attached to the title of 'Political Commissar of the Municipal Public Security Bureau', he couldn't help but freeze.

Just a few days ago, a storm had suddenly risen in the Development and Reform Commission, and Political Commissar Wang Haitao was stuck in the mire, seemingly on the verge of being completely marginalized and sacrificed.

Who could have thought!

In just a matter of days, Political Commissar Wang Haitao not only escaped unscathed but also pulled off an unbelievable comeback, directly parachuting across fields into a vital department of the political and legal system!

Wu Dehai suddenly turned his head to look at the young man sitting at a workstation not far away, who was unhurriedly organizing cadre evaluation materials.

Zhu Wenhao.

His expression was calm, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

Wu Dehai swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

He was certain that the most correct decision he had made in his life was betting his entire livelihood in that small private room of Sanweiju Restaurant.

Wu Dehai composed himself and, holding the document, walked quickly to Zhu Wenhao's desk.

“Brother Hao, the Municipal Party Committee's latest personnel appointments... are out.”

Zhu Wenhao took the document, casually flipped through a couple of pages, and set it aside.

“Understood.”

He didn't even look at the document again, his gaze returning to the computer screen.

“Go on with your work.”

Wu Dehai respectfully retreated to his workstation.

Looking at that young yet unfathomable back, an unprecedented surge of hot blood rushed straight to his head.

His path to rapid promotion lay right beneath his feet!