203: Zhao Liqiang, who was cowardly before the battle even began

After Lin Zifeng returned to Yushu County, he continued to throw himself into his busy work, just as he always had.

Time quickly arrived at the beginning of April, and the annual personnel adjustment work began once again.

The Organization Department of the County Party Committee synthesized the annual comprehensive assessment of all county Cadres and drafted a list of personnel appointments.

Minister Zou Dekai of the Organization Department took this long list and first went to the Office of the deputy secretary of the county party committee, Zhao Liqiang.

While handing the list prepared by the Organization Department to Zhao Liqiang, he began a detailed report.

Zhao Liqiang looked at the list while listening to Zou Dekai's report, and soon more than half an hour had passed.

When Zou Dekai finished his report, Zhao Liqiang nodded and said, "Minister Zou, this Li Weixin, the Organization Committee Member of Heping Town, is proposed as the First Deputy Director of the County Finance Bureau, and he is the only candidate. Is this not open to debate?"

"Although it looks like a lateral transfer at the deputy section level, the difference in the value of these two deputy section level positions is not the same, is it?"

"You and I both know that the Director of the County Finance Bureau will reach retirement age in a little over half a year."

"It is very obvious what this First Deputy Director position means."

"Our County Finance Bureau is a crucial department! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the God of Wealth for our county."

"Do you think it is appropriate to let an Organization Committee Member from a town serve as the Director of the Finance Bureau in the future? The professional background doesn't even match! Isn't this a bit rash?"

Facing Zhao Liqiang's questioning, Zou Dekai calmly said, "Secretary Zhao might not know, but Comrade Li Weixin was the head of the Finance Office in Heping Town before becoming the Organization Committee Member of Heping Town."

"Furthermore, this Comrade is a top student who graduated from a university of finance and economics, so there is absolutely no problem with his professional capability."

"Oh, it seems I have been working in Yushu County for too short a time and have not yet fully grasped the personal situations of all the Cadres in the county!"

"That is very normal, Secretary Zhao. With so many Cadres in the county, and you having been in Yushu County for less than a year, how could you possibly grasp everything?"

"Even I, the Organization Minister who is in charge of the assessment of all county Cadres, could not fully grasp it without looking at the files."

Zou Dekai gave Zhao Liqiang a way to save face, but he couldn't help thinking that he had already consulted County Head Lin Zifeng and Executive Deputy County Mayor Xu Minghao regarding this personnel appointment.

The County Finance Bureau is under the jurisdiction of the County Government. Since the top two leaders of the County Government have already spoken, you, as the deputy secretary of the county party committee, should stop causing trouble.

If you want to veto this proposed personnel appointment, you won't be able to do it, and I will not agree to your approach.

While Zou Dekai was lost in thought, Zhao Liqiang spoke again.

"Minister Zou, having only one candidate for a position is still somewhat inappropriate."

"According to my understanding, Jiang Lin, the Section Chief of the Budget Section of the County Finance Bureau, works actively and is quite excellent. Let's list him as one of the candidates!"

Hearing Zhao Liqiang's proposal, Zou Dekai felt a sense of relief, but he couldn't help thinking that this deputy secretary of the county party committee had been dormant for so long, and now he wanted to make his voice heard at the Standing Committee meeting to highlight his status as the number three leader!

However, he did not have the capital to compete with the highly influential Lin Zifeng.

But fortunately, he did not directly veto Li Weixin; adding one candidate was not a big deal.

Thinking of this, Zou Dekai did not choose to refuse, but said, "Very well, Secretary Zhao. I will list Comrade Jiang Lin as a candidate when I return."

"I wonder if you have any other suggestions regarding this list?"

"For the Organization Committee Member of Heping Town, two candidates have been proposed: one is the Office Director of Heping Town, and the other is the head of the Finance Office of Heping Town."

"Could it be that the promotion of Cadres in Heping Town can only be limited to Cadres within Heping Town?"

"I feel that is too limited. The adjustment of Cadres across the county should be carried out with the mindset of the entire county as one big game of chess."

Zhao Liqiang raised his objection once again. Zou Dekai was stunned and couldn't help but think: What is wrong with him today? Does he want to extend his reach into Heping Town?

Secretary Wei of Heping Town is also a County Party Standing Committee Member, and everyone knows she is a loyal supporter of Lin Zifeng.

Heping Town is Lin Zifeng's starting point and his home base.

Even Secretary Wan Guoliang very much respects County Head Lin Zifeng's opinions regarding personnel appointments in Heping Town.

The man in front of him had already raised objections twice. Could he be wanting to challenge Lin Zifeng at the Standing Committee meeting?

Wouldn't that just be inviting humiliation? What is the point? He could not understand Zhao Liqiang's actions.

What he did not know was that Zhao Liqiang was acting this way because, due to certain matters, he had no choice but to do so.

This was because his backer had secretly told him something.

That is, after November of this year, it is very likely that Wan Guoliang will be transferred. If he wants to compete for the position of County Party Secretary, he must make his voice heard; at the very least, his influence in Yushu County cannot be too far behind Lin Zifeng's.

Only in this way, even if he cannot win the seat of Secretary, if Lin Zifeng becomes the new Secretary, he might have a chance to succeed Lin Zifeng as County Head.

Otherwise, neither of these positions will have anything to do with him, a Deputy Secretary with no influence at all.

That is why he is so urgent, because it is already April, and there is only a little over half a year left until November.

He also did not want to compete with Lin Zifeng because he did not have the strength, which is why he raised objections and only added candidates.

In fact, he had already thought it through: he could not compete with Lin Zifeng for the position of Secretary, but if he could settle for the next best thing and smoothly succeed to the position of County Head, he would be satisfied.

At this moment, Zou Dekai tentatively asked, "Secretary Zhao, do you have any other suitable candidates?"

"I think Sun Qiang from the Secretary Section of the County Party Committee is not bad. Although Sun Qiang is not a full-time correspondent for leaders, he is one of the most active staff members in the Secretary Section."

"He writes very good speeches. As leaders, shouldn't we create some opportunities for such young people?"

"Even if he can't win this time, he can still leave a good impression in the minds of the leaders, right?"

Zhao Liqiang was one step away from directly saying that he just wanted the other person to be a filler candidate.

This Deputy Secretary was strange enough today; he seemed to want to make his voice heard, yet in every aspect, he revealed a cautiousness, as if he were afraid of offending the County Head.

Was it really necessary to go to such lengths just to have someone be a filler candidate? This left Zou Dekai completely baffled.

Zou Dekai's mind raced like lightning, and finally, he had some guesses.

This man wanted to make his voice heard, win over people's hearts, and increase his influence in the county, but he did not want to compete with that person and offend him.

Thinking of this, Zou Dekai found it funny and muttered to himself, "Such an approach will be hard to achieve anything; being timid before the battle, he will never reach the goal he wants to achieve."

Therefore, Zou Dekai said, "Very well, Secretary Zhao. Your consideration is correct; we should indeed fight for some opportunities for young Cadres. I will follow your instructions and list Sun Qiang as a candidate."

Seeing that Zou Dekai agreed without hesitation, Zhao Liqiang nodded with satisfaction.

Subsequently, the two discussed some work regarding party building, and then Zou Dekai took his leave.

Zhao Liqiang accompanied Zou Dekai all the way to the stairwell before turning back to his Office.