81: Chapter 81 Provisional Standing Committee

In the third small conference room of the Provincial Party Committee office building, an oval mahogany conference table occupied the center.

This was the true center of power in Jiangnan Province, where the Five-Person Group meetings had always been held.

Secretary-General Zhao Rui, accompanied by two confidential secretaries from the General Office, was focused on taking the meeting minutes.

The first half of the meeting was calm and uneventful.

Secretary Lao Liguo presided over the proceedings, reviewing the recent daily work briefings of the Provincial Party Committee in turn.

He listened to the summary from Governor Zhou regarding the province's economic development indicators for the third quarter.

Several routine financial allocations and industrial plans were quickly approved with the nods of the few giants present.

When the agenda moved to major issues within Jiangnan Province, Secretary Lao Liguo picked up the white porcelain teacup in front of him.

"Recently, the first Young Cadre Training Class, spearheaded by our Organization Department, was held with complete success."

"Gathering the outstanding talents from across the province for tempering—the starting point was good, and there have been results."

"However, during the preparation and selection process, some problems that cannot be ignored were exposed."

He turned his gaze to the right.

"Secretary Chen, please brief everyone here at the Five-Person Group meeting on the information the Discipline Inspection Commission has gathered."

Secretary Chen opened the black folder in front of him.

"Recently, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection received a lead transferred from the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau regarding a serious incident of exam question leakage during the selection period for the Young Cadre Training Class in Linjiang."

"Through a report from criminal suspect Liu Xiaolei, we have obtained conclusive evidence that Deputy Director Zhang Ming, formerly a liaison for the Organization Department, is suspected of job-related crimes."

"The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection acted decisively and placed Deputy Director Zhang Ming under detention."

"Upon investigation, Deputy Director Zhang Ming not only participated in the illegal sale of these exam questions, but also repeatedly used the banner of the Organization Department to reach downward, accepting huge bribes and illegally interfering with personnel files for grassroots cadres."

"Following the confession provided by Deputy Director Zhang Ming, we followed the vine to find the melon and discovered a much larger worm hidden within the Organization Department."

"The Discipline Inspection Commission has officially placed the former Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing under detention."

"During a lawful search of a highly concealed, unregistered residence of Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing, investigators found a large amount of cash and valuables in the wall cavities and under the bed frame."

"The amount was staggering."

Secretary Chen closed the folder.

"Currently, the case is undergoing further investigation."

"Regardless of who is involved, the Discipline Inspection Commission will investigate to the end."

Secretary Lao Liguo crossed his hands and placed them flat on the table.

"The organization has always maintained a zero-tolerance attitude toward corruption."

"Secretary Chen, the Discipline Inspection Commission should have no reservations; you must dig deep and completely excise this tumor."

After setting the tone, Secretary Lao Liguo looked at Minister Xiao Dingyu, who was sitting at the end.

"Minister Xiao Dingyu."

"Regarding these serious problems discovered by the Discipline Inspection Commission, the Provincial Party Committee requires you to make a profound written self-criticism at the upcoming Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting."

"Of course, the organization's purpose has always been to learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones and to cure the sickness to save the patient."

"The problem with Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing is a matter of personal corruption and degeneration, but the Organization Department indeed has loopholes in its internal supervision."

"I hope Minister Xiao Dingyu can learn from this painful lesson, lead the team well again, and re-establish the rules."

These words effectively drew a bottom line for Minister Xiao Dingyu's situation.

A written self-criticism was mandatory, but the head of the Provincial Party Committee was willing to protect him and let him pass.

Minister Xiao Dingyu nodded.

"Secretary Lao Liguo is right to criticize me; I accept it completely."

"With such scum emerging from the Organization Department, I, as the Minister, cannot shirk my responsibility. After I return, I will immediately rectify the situation, and I will certainly make a profound self-criticism at the Standing Committee meeting."

With matters having reached this point, according to common sense, this topic should be passed over.

They moved on to the next agenda item.

However, Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua took over the conversation.

"Secretary Lao Liguo, Governor Zhou."

"Regarding the recent work of the Organization Department, I must say a few words."

"Minister Xiao Dingyu, you all have really not been paying enough attention to the assessment and appointment of cadres recently."

"Take Linjiang City, for example."

"The position of Executive Vice Mayor of Linjiang is vacant and is currently being temporarily held by Secretary Zhu Tianhe."

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe has to handle Party affairs and manage the government's routine work; his energy is limited after all, and the Provincial Party Committee should lighten his burden as soon as possible."

"Some time ago, the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee recommended Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang from the High-Tech Zone to take over as Executive Vice Mayor."

"The candidate was submitted, but what did your Organization Department do?"

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua's gaze bore down on Minister Xiao Dingyu.

"The Organization Department did not consider the current economic difficulties and actual needs of Linjiang City, nor did it delve into the shortcomings in the recommended cadre's resume; you just blindly wrote the recommendation materials and submitted them directly!"

"This kind of sloppy and irresponsible work style is irresponsible to local development and irresponsible to the cadre himself!"

"Minister Xiao Dingyu, I am issuing a serious criticism of your work attitude!"

A few days ago, Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua had rejected Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang's appointment, and now he was using it directly as ammunition to attack Minister Xiao Dingyu.

"Not only that."

"I discovered that in today's Five-Person Group meeting agenda, there is actually an item to recommend a new Municipal Party Committee Secretary for Linjiang!"

He raised his head and looked around the room.

"Since when did the Organization Department have a new candidate for the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee Secretary?"

"Why was this material placed directly on the conference table without first being reviewed by me, the Deputy Secretary in charge of Party affairs and personnel?"

"Moreover, I just took a rough look at the resume of this Secretary Lin Weimin."

"He has spent most of his time working in the Provincial Party Committee organs and has absolutely no experience in governing a region or struggling in the grassroots."

"Putting such a comrade who lacks practical experience in such a critical position as the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee Secretary, I have to doubt whether he can handle such a complex work situation!"

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua closed the file and turned to look at Secretary Lao Liguo.

"Secretary Lao Liguo."

"The recent Party building work of the Organization Department has had huge problems."

"Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing's corruption case, coupled with the sloppiness in cadre recommendations, is definitely not an accidental phenomenon."

"As the Deputy Secretary in charge of the province's Party affairs, I must make a profound self-criticism to you and to the Provincial Party Committee."

"It is because I did not supervise strictly enough, and failed to discover in time that the Organization Department had made such a big oversight."

Retreating to advance.

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua used his own "lack of oversight" to confirm the "incompetence" of the Organization Department.

"In order to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua sat back in his chair.

"I request that an item be added to the next Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting: a comprehensive strengthening of the inspection of the Organization Department's Party building work."

"At the same time, given that Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing has been detained, the position of Executive Vice Minister cannot remain vacant for long."

"I suggest that the Provincial Party Committee should consider as soon as possible selecting and sending a comrade with strong Party spirit and a tough work style to take over as Executive Vice Minister of the Organization Department to assist Minister Xiao Dingyu in stabilizing the situation."

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua not only wanted to block the path for Secretary Lin Weimin to go to Linjiang to become the Municipal Party Committee Secretary.

He also wanted to take advantage of the opportunity of Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing's downfall to reach into the Organization Department and seize the position of Executive Vice Minister.

Governor Zhou, who had been silent, flipped through the materials in his hands twice.

"I agree with Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua's opinion."

"The Organization Department is the department that manages cadres; to forge iron, one must be strong oneself."

"The situations that have emerged one after another recently really should be strengthened with internal education and rectification work."

Governor Zhou and Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua pressured Secretary Lao Liguo.

No one in the conference room spoke.

Minister Xiao Dingyu had previously communicated privately with Secretary Lao Liguo, intending to use this opportunity to push Vice Minister Qi Tian up to replace Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing.

Qi Tian was part of his old team, so the power of the Organization Department would remain firmly in his own hands.

He did not expect Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua's firepower to be so fierce.

He directly made trouble at the Five-Person Group meeting, completely denying Secretary Lin Weimin's appointment, and even openly interfered in the selection of the Executive Vice Minister.

Everyone's eyes converged on Secretary Lao Liguo, who was sitting in the main seat.

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua and Governor Zhou joined forces to apply pressure; the second-in-command and third-in-command had reached a tacit understanding.

According to common sense, the first-in-command, in order to maintain the unity of the leadership team, would usually choose to compromise and temporarily shelve the controversial issues.

Secretary Lao Liguo met everyone's gaze.

"Since everyone has relatively large differences of opinion regarding the cadre adjustments in Linjiang City and the internal personnel arrangements of the Organization Department."

Secretary Lao Liguo pressed his hands on the edge of the table, "Things that cannot be decided at the Five-Person Group meeting should not be repeatedly debated here."

"Let's put the cadre adjustment issues in Linjiang, along with the selection of the Executive Vice Minister, all to the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting, and let all Standing Committee members discuss and vote democratically."

Once these words were spoken, Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua and Governor Zhou paused slightly.

Pushing highly controversial issues directly to the Standing Committee.

This violates the common sense of the officialdom.

The Standing Committee is a place that emphasizes the final word; bringing issues to the meeting without reaching a consensus beforehand, once the vote goes out of control, is a huge blow to the prestige of the first-in-command.

Before the two could recover, Secretary Lao Liguo picked up the file.

"In addition, I have one more temporarily added agenda item here."

Secretary Lao Liguo handed the document to Secretary-General Zhao Rui, signaling him to distribute it to the people present.

"Director Qi Shan of the Provincial Public Security Department has submitted a special report to me."

"According to the latest instructions from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of The Capital and the Ministry of Public Security, and combined with the recent public security situation in our Jiangnan Province."

"The Provincial Public Security Department strongly requests that, under the unified leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, we establish the 'Jiangnan Provincial Party Committee Anti-Gang Office'."

"Fighting gangs and eliminating evil is a political task to ensure the safety of the region; it is the bottom line and even more so a red line."

"This document concerns the stability of the overall situation in the province."

Secretary Lao Liguo looked at Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua and Governor Zhou.

"I will take this document on establishing the Anti-Gang Office to the Standing Committee meeting for discussion as well."

Anti-Gang Office.

These three words landed on the table.

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua's brow furrowed tightly.

Governor Zhou's action of flipping through the document stopped in mid-air.

Under the banner of responding to the spirit of The Capital, who would dare to raise objections at this juncture?

To oppose fighting gangs and eliminating evil is to have a problem with one's political stance, and one might even be suspected of being an umbrella for gang-related evil forces.

And once the Anti-Gang Office is established, it must be equipped with a strong leadership team.

Director Qi Shan of the Public Security Department taking this opportunity to rise to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission would be a logical conclusion.

Secretary Lao Liguo would directly have an iron army in his hands that could cut through local interest networks at any time.

Secretary Lao Liguo did not give them any time to think of countermeasures.

He turned to look at Secretary-General Zhao Rui in the observer's seat.

"Secretary-General."

"Yes, Secretary Lao Liguo." Secretary-General Zhao Rui stood up immediately.

"Since the matter is urgent, do not delay the time for the Standing Committee meeting. Move it up."

Secretary Lao Liguo stood up, finalizing the decision.

"Go and notify all the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee members who are in town right now, and have the relevant materials prepared."

"At three o'clock this afternoon, we will hold the enlarged meeting of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on time!"

Meeting adjourned.