Chapter 26: The Secretary of Defense's Drastic Measures

  Qu Xue resigned as deputy secretary of the county party committee, followed by County Court President Zhang Minghua, Xiji Township Party Secretary Jia Peiming, County Hospital Deputy Director Liu Tao, County Public Security Bureau Deputy Director Wang Hao, Xiji Township Police Station Director Deng Dacai, and Instructor Gao Xiaobing were successively removed from their posts. This storm that swept through the officialdom of Qinglong in just one month left people aghast.

  March 20th, Qinglong County Committee issued a notice on "Plan for Achieving Fundamental Improvement in Party Conduct Throughout the County"

  Deng Qihong, deputy secretary of the county discipline inspection commission, was removed from his post as head of the county rectification office.

  In fact, at the beginning of this year, one of the young members of the Central Five rejected the idea of relying on internal rectification to fight corruption. He believed that in order to solve the problem of cronyism, the most fundamental thing is still to strengthen social supervision and democratic supervision. If these are not implemented, other methods will not work, and rectification will also be ineffective.

  At present, at the provincial, municipal and county levels as well as the grassroots level, the discipline inspection commissions and rectification offices are still the main organs for supervising unhealthy tendencies within the Party.

  County Magistrate's Office, County Education Committee Director Shi Guangren is reporting to Lu Zhong on the specific measures that the County Education Committee is preparing to take against the "four evil winds" of worshiping gangsters, smoking, drinking and early love among some young people.

  "For ideological education of young people, we must persist in it." Lu Zhong nodded in agreement and then said: "However, simple political education can no longer meet the trend of social development, but will instead provoke the rebellious psychology of young people. I think you should study it, moral education should also be combined with reality, make it interesting and enjoyable. According to my principle, can your colleagues in the Education Committee compile a small booklet as teaching material for our Qinglong's ideological and moral course?"

  Shi Guang Ren was taken aback, "The county itself compiles small booklets as teaching materials?" This really had never occurred to him.

  Lu Zhuo thought for a moment and said: "Our Qinglong's educational level is not high, the teacher's strength is not strong, to say that education wants to change, there are indeed some difficulties. I think we can contact scholars in Beijing's education sector and ask them to help us out. Later, I'll get in touch with you."

  Shi Guangren nodded and smiled in agreement.

  At this time, the phone on the office desk rang, Lu Zhong answered the phone, and Shi Guangren stood up, pointing to the door of the office. Seeing Lu Zhong nod slightly, he slipped out quietly.

  "Partner? Hello hello, no, should call you Secretary Feng now!" Lu Zhong heard the thick male voice on the phone and smiled happily.

  It was Feng Lianying, the former deputy director of the Municipal Party Committee Organization Department, who was close to Zhang Yugong, just like Lu Zhong. After Director Zhang's downfall, Lu Zhong emerged unscathed and was even promoted to be the county head of Qinglong County, while Feng Lianying experienced a period of silence for some time.

  However, half a month ago, Feng Lianying was transferred to the post of Secretary General of the Municipal Party Committee (at the departmental level), although his administrative rank has not changed for the time being. But with the gradual adjustment of the political structure at all levels in the country, and the further standardization of the party committee's standing committee members, many prefecture-level cities have already included their secretary generals in the standing committee.

  Obviously, Feng Lianying is not a simple person.

  "Zhuangzi, you're still the same." Feng Lianying chuckled twice. Compared to before, his voice and tone had a few more unspoken flavors, that kind of solemnity and severity of those in power.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "I heard that your position will be adjusted? Congratulations indeed." Although Feng Lianying temporarily has no hope of entering the Standing Committee, it is said that he will be given a deputy mayor position to raise his administrative level and political treatment.

  Feng Lianying chuckled again and didn't pick up on this topic.

  "Zhengzi, this is also a word that Secretary Zhongyuan asked me to convey to you, asking for your opinion on Comrade Wang Baogang. Last week, Ma Weiguo submitted a report to Secretary Zhongyuan, expressing some views on Comrade Wang Baogang. Secretary Zhongyuan made some inquiries from the side and believes that Comrade Wang Baogang is indeed not suitable to continue working in the Qinglong Discipline Inspection Frontline. However, before the municipal party committee makes a decision, he wants to hear your opinion."

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "Secretary Wei Guo has indeed kept me in the dark."

  Feng Lianying also burst out laughing, saying: "I just found out too." After officially conveying the instructions of Secretary Duan Zhongyao of the Municipal Party Committee, his tone also relaxed.

  Lu Zhong said, "Tell Secretary Zhongyuan that I disagree with adjusting the candidate for Qinglong Disciplinary Committee Secretary at this time. Pingnan Secretary is a negative example. Following that, our Qinglong Party Committee has carried out a self-examination and self-correction movement within the party, which has now entered its second phase of battle. We have begun to rectify the county's cadres' party conduct and purify our party's ranks. At this critical juncture, I disagree with changing generals mid-battle. Yes, perhaps Comrade Wang Baogang has his shortcomings, but in terms of rectifying party conduct, he has rich experience. In the past, it was just that he couldn't let go of his hands and feet, which is also a historical reason. Our disciplinary inspection work has only recently been restored and is still gradually exploring experience."

  Feng Lianying listened to Lu Zhong's talk, seemingly stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said: "Zhongzi, are you explicitly opposing Secretary Zhongyuan's opinion? I advise you to reconsider carefully. Let me temporarily report to Secretary Zhongyuan that you've gone out and can't be found. You should think this matter over carefully."

  As he spoke, he hesitated for a moment and asked: "Wang Baoguang, are you very close?"

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "Tomorrow is Sunday, I'll go to the city for class, we can meet then." In fact, Lu Zhong was going to Wushan this afternoon to pick up Wei Xiangxiu's plane.

  "Alright, then. Anyway, Zhēnzi, you should think this matter through carefully and handle it well. You know that Secretary Zhōngyuán has always had a good impression of you." Féng Liányíng was advising Lù Zhēn with a bitter tone, which was rare for the two officials to be so sincere with each other.

  Of course, Feng Lianying still paid attention to his words and only vaguely reminded Lu Zhong not to destroy the Great Wall himself.

  Lu Zhuang had just hung up the phone when there was a gentle knock at the office door. Cheng Hong, the director of the county party committee's office, pushed open the door and smiled: "Director Lu, Secretary Wei Guo has asked you to come to his office."

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly.

  Cheng Hong is forty years old, wearing a western-style suit and leather shoes, tall and thin, looking very spirited. He currently serves as the deputy secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, after Ma Weiguo took down Wang Baogang, he naturally hoped that this county party committee office director would concurrently serve as the discipline inspection commission secretary and enter the standing committee.

  This was also an idea Ma Weiguo had long had. If it weren't for Lu Zhong's arrival, perhaps it would have already become a fait accompli.

  Looking at the smile on Cheng Hong's mouth and the fleeting pride in his eyes, Lu Zhong knew that Director Cheng must have received some wind.

  Ma Weiguo's office, Minister of Organization Department Hao Baishan was also present.

  "Director of the Rectification Office, I think Yang Nan you proposed last time is not bad, and I also consulted with Minister Bai Shan. Let's just let Yang Nan take on the role." Ma Weiguo said with a smile.

  He smiled with joy, apparently having learned from some channels that his suggestion to replace Wang Baogang had been initially approved by Secretary Zhongyuan.

  Lu Zhong nodded. Well, let's look at Ma Weiguo. If the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission has been replaced, who will be in charge of the rectification office and what does it matter? Agreeing to one's own recommended candidate is also a kind of consolation for the defeated after winning.

  Ma Weiguo continued: "Also, at 5 pm this afternoon, Zhu Mingze's private assistant will arrive in Wushan. He will come to Qinglong to understand the preparatory work of the golf course project, and also conduct a final market survey. To show our sincerity as people from Qinglong, I hope that the team picking him up can make it a bit more grand, County Magistrate, can you arrange for someone to go pick him up on behalf of our county committee and government?"

  "He added, 'Don't underestimate this Assistant Li, General Zhu trusts him very much and listens to his opinions. So we must treat him well, the key to our cooperation with General Zhu depends on his attitude. Why don't we arrange for him to rest at a hotel after picking him up today? Tomorrow, take him around Wushan, it would be best if he could visit Changming, let him have an overall understanding of Wushan's development, I believe this will greatly benefit our cooperation.'"

  It's clear that the other party is a representative of a large enterprise, Ma Weiguo hopes that Lu Zhong will take the lead and bring this Assistant Li to experience the development of Wushan, take a look at Changming, this behemoth, and as the county magistrate of Qinglong County also serves as the Party Secretary of the Changming Group, to some extent, it will also enhance the political status of Qinglong, so that the other party will not only stay in the impression of Qinglong as a poor and remote place.

  Lu Zhong, who is now a senior executive of a large enterprise, has become a business card for Qinglong in the eyes of Ma Weiguo.

  Lu Zhong nodded slightly and said, "Alright then." Anyway, he had to go pick up Wei Xiangxiu. It had been two months since they last met, and he actually missed her quite a bit.

  Wei Xiangxiu attended a training class in Hong Kong to learn about the operation of security companies, went for more than a month and returned today, taking the 5 o'clock flight.

  No wonder, Wushan is a small airport with only a few domestic routes. Wei Xiangxiu should have taken the flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai and then transferred to Wushan. The flights from Shanghai to Wushan were increased to one in the morning and one in the afternoon at the beginning of this year. If she took the afternoon flight, she would arrive at Wushan at 5 pm.

  However, Wuyi Mountain is developing rapidly and the airport expansion project is already in the preparation stage.

  Lu Zheng nodded, Ma Weiguo smiled and said: "Okay, let's cooperate happily, I hope we can satisfy the guests from Hong Kong."

  Cheng Hong glanced at Lu Zhong in surprise, he knew that Secretary Ma had only casually mentioned it and didn't think Lu Zhong would agree. After all, Lu Zhong had always held a different opinion on the golf course project. Moreover, Lu Zhong was proud and arrogant, how could he possibly go to pick up a small assistant? No matter how big this company was, he would probably refuse immediately.

  But unexpectedly, Lu Zhong agreed so nonchalantly.

  "Then take a look, who else are you going to bring along? Come on, hurry up." Ma Weiguo waved his hand.

  Lu Zhong smiled and said, "As for me, after all, I went to Wushan to pick up the plane, we went in a row of cadres, it's not good for our image. I went to pick him up myself, with a bit of private nature, not losing courtesy, and showing that we attach importance to it."

  Ma Weiguo smiled and said: "Alright, that's what I meant. However, in this case, you'd better bring along Cheng Hong to help you drive the car."

  Lu Zhong nodded indifferently, knowing that Ma Weiguo was worried about him saying something privately to Assistant Li, affecting the cooperation between the two parties. But Ma Weiguo's worry was unnecessary and a bit boring.