Chapter 49

On November 21, 1984, the Wushan Municipal Committee made adjustments to the members of the Guangning County Party Committee Standing Committee and some deputy county-level cadres. The new members of the Guangning County Party Committee Standing Committee were seven in total: Party Secretary Qiu Dahuo, County Party Secretary and County Governor Jiang Haiyan, County Party Secretary and County Organization Minister Shang Ronghua, County Party Secretary and County Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Peng Hongjun, County Propaganda Minister Ding Jiayin, County Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary, Public Security Bureau Chief, and Deputy County Governor Lu Zheng, and County People's Armed Forces Minister Guo Jiang (a serving military officer).

Qiu Dahuo remained firmly in his position, while Ma Weiguo was unexpectedly transferred. This was something no one had anticipated. The term "old and cunning" might well describe Qiu Dahuo. Despite Ma Weiguo's aggressive approach and the rumors that Secretary Qiu's patron had fallen, in the end, Secretary Qiu quietly sent Ma Weiguo away. The mid- and high-level cadres who had once flocked to Ma Weiguo now deeply regretted their decision.

What was most unexpected, however, was Lu Zheng's meteoric rise. How long had he been the Public Security Bureau Chief? He was then promoted exceptionally, entering the Standing Committee as the County Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary, becoming one of the seven most powerful figures in Guangning County. Moreover, he was the most independent among the seven Standing Committee members, aside from the top two leaders.

Many people couldn't understand this, but in the political arena, those outside the circle could only see the fog and couldn't discern the underlying reasons.

Even Lu Zheng himself couldn't fully explain it.

The compromises and confrontations at the municipal level were beyond his reach.

However, it seemed that both the circles behind Qiu Dahuo and Liu Baojun, who were fundamentally at odds, had given the green light to Lu Zheng's appointment, which might have been a key factor.

In the Wushan region, after the party rectification, the trend of appointing Public Security Bureau Chiefs as deputy county-level cadres gradually became common. Although Lu Zheng was young, Qiu Dahuo strongly recommended him to also serve as Deputy County Governor, and the Municipal Organization Department had already sent personnel to conduct an assessment.

Who would have thought that Liu Baojun was suddenly transferred to the Municipal Research Office (Policy Research Office) and appointed as Deputy Director (at the county level). Liu Baojun repeatedly recommended Lu Zheng to the Municipal Party Committee leadership for the position of County Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary. Qiu Dahuo, though his thoughts were unclear, ultimately did not oppose it. When the Municipal Party Committee made the final decision, Qiu Dahuo strongly recommended that Lu Zheng also serve as Deputy County Governor.

It's worth noting that Gao Peichen, who was appointed as the Executive Deputy County Governor, did not enter the Standing Committee. Lu Zheng's entry into the Standing Committee was due to his role as the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary.

The strong recommendations from both Liu Baojun and Qiu Dahuo for Lu Zheng might have added many points to his favor. After all, few cadres could be so well-regarded and supported by representatives of different interest groups.

Moreover, from the perspective of some key municipal leaders, Lu Zheng was young and full of energy, had been featured in the People's Daily, and was a combat hero and a model public security official. Promoting such an outstanding young cadre would demonstrate their own decisiveness and add points to their standing in the higher levels of power.

Of course, Lu Zheng also believed that there must be other reasons, some unknown to him.

After all, what impression he left on Zhang XX during their meeting was hard to say.

...

Dongmiyuan, a place of toasts and sparkling lights.

In recent days, Lu Zheng had been repeatedly invited to celebratory banquets, and he couldn't refuse any of them.

Today was better, as it was Hou Jianjun who paid for the dinner, inviting Hong Tao, Du Xiaohu, and Wang Yuguo, along with the driver Jiao Lei. As Hou Jianjun put it, "It's a family celebration for Director Lu."

Although Lu Zheng had entered the Standing Committee and was also the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary and Deputy County Governor, in the eyes of these old subordinates, what did it matter if he was the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary or Deputy County Governor? The weight of being the Public Security Bureau Chief was far greater. The Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary and Deputy County Governor positions were a result of being the Public Security Bureau Chief, not the other way around.

Hou Jianjun, now, was very cautious when toasting, and he no longer dared to make jokes, even though he considered himself part of "the family." How could he really treat himself as part of Director Lu's family?

Wang Yuguo was even more moved. In just two years, he had seen Director Lu rise from obscurity to meteoric heights. To say that Director Lu's success was purely due to luck would be too shallow. Director Lu was truly enigmatic!

"Director Lu, I heard that this morning, Ma Weiguo was appointed as the County Governor in Qinglong," Hou Jianjun said with a smile.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, "Yes, he was transferred to Qinglong."

Hou Jianjun laughed, "I also heard that Gao Zhikai wants to leave."

Lu Zheng hummed in response, picked up his glass, and said, "Let's drink. Thank you all for your support. Jianjun is right; we're all family, so no need to be formal." He then drank his glass in one go.

Hou Jianjun, Hong Tao, Wang Yuguo, and Du Xiaohu quickly followed suit, while Jiao Lei, sitting in the corner, slowly sipped his water. Lu Zheng called out to him, "Xiao Jiao, today is an exception. Have a couple of drinks. We don't need you to drive tonight."

Lu Zheng was very relaxed today, knowing that he might not have many more opportunities to drink with these people. The higher his position, the fewer close friends he would have.

So, Lu Zheng frequently urged them to drink, and after a few rounds, not only Hou Jianjun and Hong Tao but even the usually steady Wang Yuguo became more tipsy, his eyes starting to glaze over.

Hou Jianjun suddenly chuckled, "Director, I heard that County Governor Jiang Haiyan was a great beauty in her youth and even joined our province's military and political arts troupe. Is that true?"

Lu Zheng smiled but didn't respond. In his mind, an image of a middle-aged female cadre with glasses and a stern expression appeared.

Jiang Haiyan, whose age was unclear, was likely not too old but also not young, perhaps in her thirties or forties. Her wide, black-rimmed glasses made it hard to guess her age. She wore a light-colored, open-collar suit, the typical image of an enlightened cadre.

At today's Party Secretary meeting, Lu Zheng had experienced her authority firsthand. Propaganda Minister Ding Jiayin, who had interrupted a few times, was directly asked to leave by her, turning old Ding's face red with anger.

Jiang Haiyan also told Qiu Dahuo that in the future, only the Party Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries should attend the Party Secretary meetings, and those not directly involved should not participate.

This naturally included himself, the County Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary.

Clearly, in Jiang Haiyan's view, the seven members of the Guangning County Party Committee Standing Committee were almost all Qiu Dahuo's people, and a small-scale Party Secretary meeting would better reflect her will.

This woman, she meant business!

After the meeting, Qiu Dahuo called Lu Zheng into his office and said with a smile, "Jiang Haiyan is a cadre sent by the Provincial Party Committee. Although Ma Weiguo has been transferred, Jiang Haiyan might be even more assertive and more willing to challenge Qiu Dahuo's authority."

The premise was that if Qiu Dahuo still refused to delegate power and return administrative authority to the government, Jiang Haiyan would be a formidable opponent.

Lu Zheng thought about it and felt helpless. Qiu Dahuo had faced two opponents, one of whom wasn't even a county governor yet, and had already caused him significant trouble. Now, another, more assertive cadre sent by the Provincial Party Committee, was even more challenging! Perhaps it was because Secretary Qiu was getting old and nearing retirement?

But sometimes, the older one gets, the more one clings to power. Qiu Dahuo had always held both party and government power in Guangning, like a tiger in the mountains, highly sensitive to any challenge.

Some things couldn't be blamed on Ma Weiguo and Jiang Haiyan, but emotionally, he would inevitably stand by Qiu Dahuo.

Qiu Dahuo's insistence on having him serve as Deputy County Governor was also a way to plant a stake in the government on his behalf.

At today's Party Secretary meeting, Qiu Dahuo even suggested the division of responsibilities for the Deputy County Governors. In addition to overseeing public security, petitions, justice, national security, emergency management, and foreign affairs, Qiu Dahuo also suggested that he oversee development and reform, as well as economic and price control, using his appearance in the party newspaper as a reason to enhance his credibility.

Jiang Haiyan, being new, did not oppose this, as she was meeting most of the deputy county governors for the first time and could gradually adjust the work assignments.

Thus, he was responsible for the Planning and Economy Commission, Public Security Bureau, Justice Bureau, Foreign Affairs Office, Commerce Bureau, and its newly separated Price Bureau, State Tax Bureau, Local Tax Bureau, and other departments, as well as liaison units such as the Procuratorate, Court, Petitions Bureau, Armed Police Brigade, and Railway Station. In fact, in the liaison units, he also led several, such as the Armed Police Brigade, where he served as the First Political Commissar.

Although Jiang Haiyan did not explicitly oppose Qiu Dahuo's suggestions, working under her would not be easy.

Thinking of the cold gaze behind Jiang Haiyan's thick glasses, Lu Zheng felt a headache.