Reborn as a Noble's Son

Bazhou City Party Committee and Municipal Government Office Building

At this moment, the meeting room on the top floor of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government Office Building has become the focus of attention for all the leaders and cadres in Bazhou City.

Because at this regular Standing Committee meeting, two important positions will be finalized. Both of these positions are related to New Pear City – one being the Party Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of the New Pear City Municipal Party Committee, and the other being the Deputy Mayor acting as the Deputy Secretary of the New Pear City Municipal Committee.

Of these, the latter position is particularly important as it is a position at the Deputy Department level. For any division or county level cadre, and for any cadres in Bazhou city qualified to compete for this position, the final choice for these two posts is of high interest.

Many active and aspiring officials are waiting in the urban area of Bazhou, vying to be the first to know the resolution of the standing committee meeting.

Nie Zhenbang arrived from New Pear City at around 8:30 in the morning to ensure that he wouldn’t be late. He had set off just after seven.

This was the first time Nie Zhenbang had entered the meeting room on the top floor of the Municipal Committee. The entire meeting room, approximately eighty square meters in size, had a wooden ceiling, crystal chandeliers, an elliptical conference table in the center with several fresh flowers and plants on it. Leather chairs surrounded the table with the national and party flags hanging on one side.

Next to the conference room was a small room, which was the refreshment room of the meeting room. Sometimes, for long meetings, it’s necessary to refill the tea.

When Nie Zhenbang entered the meeting room, there were already quite a few people seated – the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Committee, Cheng Xinhua, the Secretary of the Municipal Disciplinary Committee, Bai Weimin, and the Secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Committee, Li Yong, who were all sitting in their respective seats. They each nodded with a slight smile upon seeing Nie Zhenbang, as a way of greeting him.

Next to them, when Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Committee Zhao Weihong saw Nie Zhenbang, his expression changed and he turned his head away with a cold snort. The Executive Deputy Mayor, Ali, also seemed a bit embarrassed. There had been some underhand dealings between Ali and Zhou Chen in Lixian. Now, Nie Zhenbang was skyrocketing in his career, and he was on par with them. Their meeting at this moment was bound to be awkward.

The Minister of the Organization Department, Fang Gushan, smiled and said, “Secretary Nie has come, sit here. Let me introduce you. This is Secretary Zhang Dan from Kucity. This time, you two have been promoted to the Municipal Committee simultaneously. You could say there is a bond between you now.”

Fang Gushan’s statement gave the feeling of the ancient imperial examination system, where everyone obtained their official titles in the same year. Nie Zhenbang also laughed. His gaze fell on the middle-aged man next to Fang Gushan. Zhang Dan, around forty years old, was not particularly tall – about 173 cm. His heavy brows gave a sense of innate authority.

Nie Zhenbang sat down next to Zhang Dan and said with a smile, “Secretary Zhang, I’ve admired you for a long time. I’ve wanted to build a relationship with Secretary Zhang since the last National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, but never had the time. This time, we have finally met.”

Zhang Dan also smiled, extended his hand, and shook Nie Zhenbang’s hand, replying, “Secretary Nie, you’re too kind. The development of New Pear City is well-known to all. I’ve always wanted to visit New Pear City to study their experiences, but never got the chance. This time, since we have this opportunity, we need to make a good agreement. I plan to organize a study group to visit and learn from New Pear City.”

In front of Nie Zhenbang, Zhang Dan didn’t dare to show any signs of seniority. Zhang Dan was very clear that his promotion to the municipal committee was due to his position as the Party Secretary of Kucity, the city where the municipal committee and government are located. It is a convention within the system that the Party Secretary of the capital or provincial city is granted a standing committee membership.

However, Zhang Dan was aware that his appointment as a member of the municipal committee was largely due to Nie Zhenbang’s impact. New Pear City had been elevated to a sub-provincial-level city, half a level higher than Kucity. Nie Zhenbang’s candidacy for the Standing Committee was inevitable, but the number of Standing Committee members could only be odd. It was not appropriate to remove anyone currently on the committee, so they incorporated him.

Therefore, Zhang Dan’s words contained no traces of pretense. He was truly sincere. On the other hand, with the development of New Pear City, the Bazhou Municipal Committee and Municipal Government were planning to relocate. They were moving closer to New Pear City. The Kucity Municipal Party Committee and municipal government’s organ would also move to New Pear City, which would bridge the gap between Kucity and New Pear City.

According to the considerations of the Bazhou City Party Committee and Municipal Government, the Bazhou City Committee, the Municipal Government, and various direct municipal departments would relocate in one direction, the Ku City Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government would move towards another direction. Together, they would form a triangle-like structure, which could stimulate the vast area between Ku City and New Li City. If they managed it well, Bazhou would become nationally acclaimed. The political achievement would be remarkable enough for the officials in Bazhou to benefit from it in their lifetime.

Just as Nie Zhenbang was about to speak, Ding Aiguo walked in from outside, followed by Liu Wenqing, the Secretary of the Municipal Committee, carrying his own tea cup.

Liu Wenqing sat in the main seat. As the Secretary of the Bazhou Municipal Committee, he appeared quite pleased. His contributions to the achievements in New Li City also provided him with new career advancement possibilities. Liu Wenqing glanced around at everyone, rhythmically tapping his finger on the table.

This action made all the members of the City Committee stand solemnly, sitting upright. This was a sign that Liu Wenqing was about to speak. As expected, Liu Wenqing slowly said: “First of all, congratulations to the addition of two new comrades to the Standing Committee, the Secretary of Xinli City, Nie Zhenbang, and the Secretary of Ku City, Zhang Ziniu. I think everyone here is familiar with these two comrades already, so I won’t introduce them in detail.”

Hesitating for a moment, Liu Wenqing went straight to the point: “At this Standing Committee meeting, we will mainly discuss two personnel issues related to Xinli City. One is the candidate for the Deputy Secretary of Xinli City and Acting Mayor. The other is the candidate for the Secretary of the Legal and Political Committee and member of the Standing Committee of the Xinli City Committee. Minister Fang, as you are in charge of the organization, responsible for the entire city’s officer assignment, are there any views from the Department of Organization on this matter?”

At this moment, Fang Gushan also nodded: “Secretary Liu, Mayor Ding, leaders, and comrades, reassigning officials in Xinli City is also a test and a brand new topic for the Organizational Department of the Municipal Committee. Xinli city is classified as a vice-provincial city, its finances alone managed by the autonomous region. Personnel administration is entrusted to the Bazhou Municipal Committee and Municipal Government. This is the first time for our Organization Department to decide on the appointment of a departmental-level official. We have taken a very careful and detailed consideration of this.”

Fang Gushan’s words seemed very cautious. The appointment of a departmental-level official, especially when Fang Gushan himself was also at department-level but was to decide on the appointment of another departmental-level official, added weight to the challenge at hand.

“Well, leaders, first of all, regarding the personnel issue of the Secretary of the Xinli City’s Legal and Political Committee, the Municipal Committee’s Organization Department has carefully considered and decided on two suitable candidates. One is Comrade Peng Jianhui, who is currently the Deputy Director of the Bazhou City Public Security Bureau. Comrade Peng Jianhui takes charge of political work in the Bazhou City Public Security Bureau and supervises personnel propaganda, education, and police officer training. He can be described as a very conscientious and capable comrade. Another candidate is Comrade Chen Le, the Chief of the Public Security Bureau of Xinli city. Since Chen Le took the position of Director of the Xinli City Public Security Bureau, he significantly increased the intensity of organizing civilian police and joint defense work, which helped Xinli City become the city with the best public security record. This comrade, a graduate of the police academy with a strong political backbone, is valiant and capable of fighting tough battles. If Comrade Chen Le were to serve as the Secretary of the Xinli City Committee and Legal and Political Committee, I believe that the political and legal work in Xinli City would reach a new level under his leadership.”

Fang Gushan’s words were very steady, as if he was carefully balancing a scale. However, everyone present was experienced enough to understand Fang Gushan’s underlying intentions. Peng Jianhui was merely mentioned in passing as a dedicated comrade with strong working ability. On the other hand, Fang Gushan spent more time discussing Chen Le, even suggesting that if Chen Le were appointed as the Secretary of the Legal and Political Committee, Xinli City’s political and legal work would be elevated to a new level. This was a notable difference in the importance Fang Gushan gave to each potential candidate.”

In the bureaucracy, leaders’ speeches often have different meanings. Just like when someone claims to have financial approval from the leader, they can’t receive the money simply because the leader is unwilling to pay—in such situations, the true intention behind the actions requires some discernment and understanding.

As soon as the sound of his voice fell, Zhao Weihong softly said: “Hmm, Secretary Liu, Mayor Ding, may I speak? On the personnel issue of the Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee, I personally favor Comrade Chen Le.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire meeting room fell silent. Even Liu Wenqing looked at Zhao Weihong somewhat startled. What on earth was happening? Had the sun risen from the west? It was common knowledge that Zhao Weihong and Nie Zhenbang were arch-enemies, and Chen Le was known to be affiliated with a certain group. Could it be that Zhao Weihong and Nie Zhenbang had come to some private agreement?

Nie Zhenbang’s face sank. What was Zhao Weihong’s game? Was he deliberately creating a false impression of coalition and thereby making Liu Wenqing and Ding Aiguo suspect him? If that was the case, then his method was very immature. If Liu Wenqing and Ding Aiguo were so easily deceived, then they didn’t deserve their current positions.

Zhao Weihong, however, kept a straight face and continued: “I know Comrade Chen Le well. He’s in the prime of his life and his work capability is undeniable. I feel reassured with Chen Le in Xinli City. Therefore, I agree with the idea of letting Comrade Chen Le assume the position of Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of Xinli City.”

Meanwhile, Cheng Xinhua chimed in: “I agree with the words of Deputy Secretary Zhao. An attitude of impartiality, disregarding personal grudges like Deputy Secretary Zhao does, is a quality that a genuine party member should have. I also agree with letting Comrade Chen Le serve as the Secretary of the Legal and Political Committee of Xinli City.”

PS: I recommend a book called “Supreme Urban Prince”, book number: 2187529. Those who are interested can go have a look.