Reborn as a Noble s Son

Chapter 557: Chapter 514 Harmony Among The Team_1
 

Politics is not solely about competition and confrontation, nor does it require a life-or-death struggle, where one party opposes anything the other proposes, and vice versa. If such a situation were to occur, it wouldn’t resemble a state anymore. In that case, society shouldn’t even dream of development.

The dynamics within the system are quite mysterious. Today, there could be a spirit of cooperation concerning a particular matter, while tomorrow, the same issue could turn the people involved into adversaries. Politics is a game of constant cooperation and competition. It relies on backing, capability, personal morality, and, most significantly, who survives the longest!

A skilled political player must understand the importance of alliance. Only this way can one become an outstanding statesman. Politicians are shameful, as they lack morality and consider only their vested interests. Such people, devoid of integrity, are scorned universally. However, a statesman, while steadfastly pursuing his political goals and dreams, is also capable of bettering the world at large. That is the key difference.

Nie Zhenbang’s goal is to become a statesman. In the past, he may not have been highly qualified to discuss politics, but ever since his promotion to the position of Mayor of Wanghai City and his entry into the ranks of deputy minister-level officials, he has undeniably become a senior cadre within the party. Now, he is fully qualified to discuss politics.

To rectify the atmosphere of anxiety within the Wanghai officialdom, it is imperative to make adjustments across all units of the city first. The Wanghaishi Municipal Party Committee and the municipal government need to have a unified understanding. These are all obligations that must be fulfilled. They fall within the purview of Secretary Li Taishi. After all, the party is managed by the secretary, and the city’s affairs by the mayor. That’s the rule. If this line is crossed, it would be considered overstepping by Nie Zhenbang. If it creates rifts within the team, it could have an ill effect on Wanghai City. This would not be a wise move. Therefore, Nie Zhenbang took the initiative to pay a visit.

Nie Zhenbang’s disposition is such that he doesn’t provoke anyone unprovoked. In other words, if you respect me, I respect you more. Since Li Taishi assumed his position in Wanghai City, his relationship with Nie Zhenbang has been harmonious. Besides, Taishi, a smart man, has clearly stated he won’t interfere in the specific affairs of the city government. Furthermore, his affable and cooperative demeanor in recent times has fostered a positive working relationship. Given this, Nie Zhenbang pays attention to even the smallest of details. A tiny hole might sink a giant ship—seemingly minute matters could jeopardize their relationship if not handled well. Therefore, it is essential not to let any cracks form.

As he reached the office door, which was slightly ajar, he saw Li Taishi’s new secretary, Han Qiang, sitting at his desk. Knocking lightly, Nie Zhenbang pushed the door open, smiling, “Han, is Secretary Taishi available?”

To have earned Li Taishi’s trust, Han Qiang must have considerable capability and a good personality. Seeing Nie Zhenbang enter, he stood up immediately and warmly said, “Mayor Nie, you’re here. Please come in. The secretary instructed me earlier that you can go straight in whenever you arrive.”

Regardless of whether Li Taishi had genuinely given such instructions to Han, or whether it was just a respectful gesture, hearing these words was incredibly pleasing to Nie Zhenbang. It was an acknowledgment of his status and position.

At that moment, the office door opened from the inside, and Li Taishi, wearing a warm smile, stood at the entrance. “Mayor Zhenbang, please come in. I was about to head over to city hall to find you.”

Entering the office, Nie Zhenbang remembered that he had visited it once before. Quite disappointingly, during that previous visit Shi Yiwu had been incredibly domineering—a stark contrast to the present. Consequently, his mental state now was completely different too.

This time, Nie Zhenbang felt utterly at ease. Seating himself naturally on the sofa, he observed Taishi pouring tea for him. After placing it on the coffee table, Taishi, instead of returning to his desk, chose to sit next to Nie Zhenbang—an indication of friendly relations.

Both of them held positions of the same rank. The only difference was that Li Taishi was a standing committee member of the provincial party committee, while Nie Zhenbang was only a member of the provincial party committee. They had slightly different roles within the party. If Taishi were to sit behind his desk, it would appear as if he were pulling rank.

“Mayor Zhenbang, is there something important you would like to discuss?” Li Taishi said, displaying a very pragmatic attitude. Their relationship was cordial, so there was no need for pretentious formalities. They were both straightforward and plain-spoken.

Nie Zhenbang pondered for a moment before saying straightforwardly, “Secretary Taishi, this visit is mainly prompted by the current situation in Wanghai City.”

This statement took Li Taishi by surprise, and he chuckled, “Indeed, great minds think alike. In recent days, I’ve also been visiting various parts of the city. From what I’ve observed, Wanghai City is currently in a state of disorder, with its officials running around like headless chickens. If this situation isn’t rectified, it would be difficult to resolve the city’s current predicament.”

“Indeed, that is what I am thinking too. After the Yuhai smuggling incident, many officials in the city have become restless. Of course, the Yuhai case was a factor, but I think ultimately the unease is due to these vacant positions. I believe we should settle these personnel arrangements as soon as possible. In addition, a city-wide party political education campaign should be launched to quickly stabilize the people’s mindset and shift their focus to economic and social development.” Nie Zhenbang nodded. If Li Taishi could not see this situation, then his years of work as a cadre would have been in vain.

Li Taishi nodded in agreement. There are three urgent situations in officialdom or, to put it plainly, three types of chaos. The first one is the uncertainty and tension during the re-election of the leadership team. The old leadership is bound to have quite a few people stepping down, and everyone is eyeing these positions as new leaders are coming up. This inevitably leads to restlessness, sleepless nights, poor eating habits, and more often than not, rising tension.

The second one is the anxiety caused by the arrival of the Disciplinary Committee, which is synonymous with anti-corruption. Those not implicated are busy clearing their associations and looking for ways to gain advantages. Those entangled also try to cover up and protect their positions. When it gets urgent, they can’t focus on their work and devote all their attention to these issues. Chaos ensues.

The third one is the anxiety during the promotion of cadres. Many positions are vacant, and the higher-level party organization hasn’t decided on a solution or hasn’t announced who will be the successor, it’s all up in the air. Everyone, be it Zhang San or Li Si, is after these positions, naturally leading to chaos.

Currently, Wanghai City seems to be experiencing all three situations simultaneously. Chaos is inevitable. After a moment of ponderance, Li Taishi agreed, “Absolutely. I think your plan is feasible. We can initiate a city-wide discussion to study the spirit of the two conferences in order to stabilize their minds. Afterwards, personnel issues should be settled as quickly as possible. Once some people’s misplaced expectations are quashed, I predict the situation will improve.”

Li Taishi continued, “Today is already the end of March. I propose this: tomorrow we convene a small meeting for the Secretary to discuss this issue and develop a policy to present to the standing committee for formal approval. As the old saying goes, ‘In troubled times, use heavy punishments.’ Given the current situation in Wanghai City, doing this is imperative to deter these officials. Mayor Zhenbang, what do you think?”

The first and second top leaders of the municipal party committee were making statements and had almost settled on a plan. Nie Zhenbang was pleased with this state of affairs. Any development in a region requires unity among leadership. Judging from Li Taishi’s personality, when he was the party secretary of Minzhou City, he was not power-hungry, and now, after the team was assembled, Nie Zhenbang was happy to find that the harmonious condition was quite comforting. Thoughts unified, efforts concerted — this was the way to reverse the decline of Wanghai City as quickly as possible.

The next day, April 1st. Thursday.

It was the traditional Western Fool’s Day, a holiday that is now also widely observed in China. At 9 a.m., the first secretarial meeting of the new Wanghai Municipal Party Committee was being held in a small meeting room on the top floor of the Wanghai City Committee Office Building.

In the central seat, the Municipal Party Secretary Li Taishi sat in the middle. To his left was Nie Zhenbang, and to his right was Qi Siyuan. Next to them were Jiang Huguang and Gu Dongliang.

Li Taishi’s secretary, Han Qiang, poured each leader a cup of tea and then exited. The Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee, Yi Chang, was also attending the meeting, but he was present as a minute-taker and not participating in the discussions.

Li Taishi surveyed the room and broke the ice with a smile: “Ahem, this is the first secretarial meeting of our new leadership team in Wanghai City. Let’s all relax. We will work together in the future. I believe that through greater communication and understanding, we can definitely turn the tide in Wanghai City.”

Li Taishi, calm and smiling, exuding a strong sense of affinity. Such a person was born to be a leader. No wonder he became a vice-ministerial-level official at only 47 years old.

The atmosphere in the meeting room lightened a lot. Qi Siyuan also injected humor by saying: “Secretary Taishi is right. With united hearts, we can shift a mountain. I believe that our new team in Wanghai City is united and harmonious. Secretary Taishi, as the captain, will steer the course of Wanghai City along with Mayor Nie.”

Then, Jiang Huguang made a statement. Among those present, he and Li Taishi were the newcomers. But Li Taishi was the municipal party secretary, appointed by the central government, unlike Jiang. So since his arrival, Jiang Huguang had kept a low profile, and his humble speech further contributed to a harmonious atmosphere.

After Gu Dongliang had spoken, Li Taishi turned to Nie Zhenbang: “Mayor Zhenbang, everyone has spoken. You, as the expert in economy, should also voice your opinion. Without your token of commitment, us amateurs would be totally clueless.” (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to qidian.com and vote for it as a recommendation, a monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)