Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 356 The Broker 2

Yuan Jin said very respectfully, "Mr. Qin, please speak."

Qin Jihao said in a serious tone: "First, we must stabilize Qingyan's fundamental position."

Before the promotion is finalized, this is a critical period; safety in production and social stability must be maintained, and no major problems can be allowed to occur.

Yuan Jin nodded.

Qin Jihao continued, "We must maintain good relations with the city's main leaders."

The selection of provincial-level cadres rests with the provincial government, but the municipal government, especially the main leaders of the municipal party committee and government, has the right to make recommendations. At the very least, you cannot allow them to object to your nomination.

Third, special attention should be paid to personal matters.

Issues of conduct and economic matters are now red lines.

During this period, it is important to be discreet and keep a low profile.

Don't go to places you shouldn't go, don't take things you shouldn't take, and keep an eye on the people around you.

Don't let anyone catch you red-handed at this critical juncture.

Let me remind you again, if your personal conduct leads to a failed promotion, the deposit will not be refunded.

Yuan Jin listened very attentively.

Qin Jihao is a man of discretion in speech and method in action, unlike those liars who spout nonsense.

Most importantly, all three of his suggestions were spot on, demonstrating that he truly understood the rules of officialdom.

Perhaps, as Liao Chenggong said, this guy is just a middleman, not a swindler.

Of course, even if he was a scammer, he didn't lose anything.

Anyway, Liao Chenggong paid for it and brought the people in. If they are really scammers, Liao Chenggong can only accept his bad luck.

"Mr. Qin's golden words are etched in my mind. I will certainly follow his teachings and act with caution."

Everything we discussed today, and all subsequent contacts and arrangements, I hope to keep to the knowledge of the three of us only.

Qin Jihao laughed heartily: "In our line of work, we make a living by maintaining a good reputation and ensuring safety."

Those who shouldn't know will never know. Things that shouldn't be left behind will never be left behind. Please rest assured of this.

I, Qin Jihao, have been living in the provincial capital for so many years, and all I've relied on is this tight-lipped mouth.

Since Lao Liao was able to find me, he must have already mentioned my rules to you.

Liao Chenggong smiled obsequiously from the side: "That's right, that's right. Everyone in the industry knows Mr. Qin's rules; they're absolutely reliable."

Qin Jihao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Secretary Yuan, you are Lao Liao's friend. Since we've come this far today, I won't hide anything from you."

During my years in the provincial capital, I can't speak for everything else, but I do recognize a few of the doors to the homes of provincial leaders.

Do you know why the Party Secretary of Jiangzhou City hasn't appeared in public for so long?

Yuan Jin shook her head.

Jiangzhou is the provincial capital, and the municipal party secretary is concurrently a member of the provincial party committee standing committee.

The Party Secretary of Jiangzhou City is very young, just turned fifty, and has a bright future, but he has not made any public appearances for several months.

Rumors circulated that he had been placed under investigation by the Party's disciplinary body.

Come to think of it, when a leader hasn't appeared in public for a while, all sorts of rumors start circulating.

Qin Jihao pretended to be profound and said, "He was not actually 'double-regulated' (a form of internal party discipline). This does not mean that he had no problems, but that his problems were not serious. The gifts and money he received were only one or two million yuan."

For someone of his rank, even if he were an honest official, this kind of problem would usually not be investigated.

His problem still lies in his lifestyle; he had an illegitimate child with a female subordinate, and his wife went to the disciplinary committee to make a scene.

He was demoted to a non-leadership position at the deputy division level and transferred to a department in another province.

Yuan Jin listened, completely absorbed.

The fact that the Jiangzhou Municipal Party Committee Secretary has not appeared in public for a long time has been the biggest mystery in the province's political arena in recent months, with various speculations running rampant.

Qin Jihao spoke with great conviction, even mentioning details such as "one or two million," "a non-leadership position at the deputy division level," and "a department from another province," which didn't sound like he was just making things up.

This approach, while ending the official's political career, seems to conform to certain conventions compared to "double regulation" or even "expulsion from the party and public office."

"Mr. Qin is really well-informed. We people below only heard some unsubstantiated rumors about these inside stories."

Qin Jihao smiled smugly: "I have many friends in official circles and attend many dinner parties, so I am better informed than others."

Is the position of Director of the Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development a lucrative one? Of course it is.

This year, a case that shocked many people came to light: an ordinary staff member at the provincial housing and construction department's government service center accepted more than 10 million yuan in bribes over five years.

Unbelievable, isn't it? Just an ordinary window worker, when receiving documents at the window, will process those who pay money on the same day, and will make excuses to delay and deliberately make things difficult for those who don't. He earns two million a year.

What does this show? It shows that the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department has too much power.

Even a regular window worker can earn two million a year; you can imagine the rest yourself.

Getting back to the main point. What did the director of the Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development do before that?

As you probably know, he was previously the director of the Provincial Fisheries Bureau.

Secretary Yuan, as you know, the director of our provincial fisheries bureau is not at the level of a full-fledged department head, but rather a deputy-department-level public institution under the management of the provincial agricultural commission.

The director is at the deputy provincial level. To go from the relatively obscure deputy provincial level of provincial fisheries director to the highly prestigious provincial level of provincial housing and construction director—that requires connections, right?

Yuan Jin nodded thoughtfully: "Indeed, that's quite a leap. There's also talk circulating that this director has a powerful backer."

Qin Jihao chuckled a few times: "A master? Of course there are masters, and this master is no ordinary master."

This director's surname is Gao, Director Gao. Back when he was in the Provincial Fisheries Bureau, he was just a routine deputy director-level cadre with no special connections.

If someone had a powerful background, they wouldn't be working in an obscure industry in their fifties.

But he has a niece who is very beautiful, has an outstanding temperament, is smart and quick-witted, and is the campus belle of a key university in the provincial capital.

Director Gao then introduced this niece to the son of an important leader in the province.

The son of a provincial leader has very high standards and looks down on ordinary people, but he has taken a fancy to Director Gao's niece.

The two fell in love and later got married.

This marriage brought them closer, didn't it? Director Gao became a relative of this provincial leader.

Although she's a niece, she's still a proper relative.

With this relationship in place, many things become much easier.

It just so happened that the position of Director of the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department was vacant, and various factions were vying for it fiercely.

Finally, the leader spoke up, saying that Director Gao had worked at both the grassroots and departmental levels, was knowledgeable in the business, and had grassroots experience, so he could be considered.

With just that one sentence, the wind direction was set.

Director Gao went from the relatively insignificant Fisheries Bureau to the highly sought-after Housing and Construction Department.

So sometimes, choosing the right route is much more effective than just working hard blindly.

Yuan Jin expressed her strong agreement.

Indeed, choosing the right route is much more effective than simply working hard without taking action.

Back then, he was promoted from deputy director of the municipal government office to director of the municipal finance bureau all at once. Wasn't that also because he clung to Ai Kun's coattails?

Unfortunately, Ikun's powerful patron, Chiang Kai-shek's army, ran into trouble.

Otherwise, Ai Kun would likely be a vice-provincial level official now, and he wouldn't need to buy his position through Qin Jihao.

Fortunately, after Ai Kun's incident, he quickly clung to Wen Changcheng's coattails.

Without a powerful backer, let alone getting promoted, you might not even be able to keep your position as the head of the finance bureau.

Qin Jihao got more and more excited as he spoke: "Let me tell you another piece of gossip, just to relieve your boredom."

The Provincial Party Committee Organization Department, as you all know, is the place that manages cadres. It has great power and fast promotion, making it a desirable unit for many people.

The First Cadre Division is a core division, specifically responsible for provincial-level cadres.

There was a young man in his early thirties who had already been promoted to deputy director. He was young and promising, handsome, eloquent, and adept at social maneuvering. He was recognized as a rising star in the ministry, and many people had high hopes for him.

It's a pity that this kid is smart, but he didn't use his intelligence in the right way, or rather, he used it in the wrong place.

The vice minister trusted the young man greatly, and it was his strong recommendation that led to his promotion to deputy director level.

The young man also frequently visited the vice minister's home. The vice minister's wife was in her forties, well-maintained, and possessed a mature and elegant charm.

He relied on his good looks, sweet talk, and social skills, and before long, he started an affair with the boss's wife.

Liao Chenggong asked in surprise, "Really?"

"Why not?" Qin Jihao said dismissively. "Do you think this is just a plot in online novels about officialdom? It happens quite often in real life too."

Just like a male boss having an affair with a female subordinate, or a male subordinate having an affair with the boss's wife, that's normal.

Yuan Jin agreed: "This situation does indeed exist."

Qin Jihao continued, "In the end, the vice minister caught the two in bed together."

You can imagine how he felt at that time.

He's definitely furious; he probably even has murderous intent.

But can this kind of thing be blown out of proportion? If it is, where will he put his face? Family scandals shouldn't be aired in public.

Yuan Jin nodded in deep agreement.

This was an utter disgrace to that vice minister, but the more humiliating it was, the more he had to cover it up.

Qin Jihao said, "So, we have to swallow our pride and bear the pain."

The deputy minister used his power to deal with the young man swiftly and decisively.

Of course, this is not the reason that can be stated publicly.

They found a pretext to directly assign the young man to the provincial archives bureau.

The difference between being a deputy director of a core department of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department and holding a sinecure position in the Provincial Archives Bureau is like heaven and earth.

Many people actually know about this. That young man will probably be sidelined for many years.

Qin Jihao spoke eloquently, talking about the leaders' hobbies, inside stories of officialdom, and the intricacies of personnel changes.

"Alright, let's just treat these rumors as casual conversation. Listen to them and forget about them, but don't spread them around."

Qin Jihao explained how to pay the earnest money, and then left.

Liao Chenggong watched Qin Jihao's departing figure and asked softly, "Secretary Yuan, do you think Qin Jihao is a reliable person? The inside stories he shared are not things that ordinary people would know."

Yuan Jin said calmly, "Whether it's a mule or a horse, we'll have to put it to the test."

However, what he said did reassure me.

At least, he's not the kind of liar who just talks big.

As for whether it will work out, Lao Liao, I'll leave the rest to you.

The earnest money must be handled as quickly and securely as he instructed.

Liao Chenggong patted his chest and assured him, "Secretary Yuan, you can rest assured. I will personally handle the money matter."

Yuan Jin nodded, paused for a moment, and then spoke again: "Old Liao, eight million is no small sum. I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Liao Chenggong quickly waved his hand: "Secretary Yuan, you're too kind. It's my honor to be able to contribute to your future."

Besides, we're friends. My child and I have both received your care these past few years.

I, Liao Chenggong, have never been an ungrateful person. If there's ever anything I can do to help you, just let me know.

Yuan Jin said solemnly, "Old Liao, I've remembered your kindness."

I've always been the kind of person who, if someone treats me with respect, will treat them with even greater respect.

You solved such a big problem for me, so I can't leave without showing my appreciation.

Jin Shen is indeed a good kid; he's a promising talent.

With an overseas education, a quick mind, and several years of experience in key engineering bureaus, it's time to give him more responsibilities.

You know how things work in officialdom; if you're slow on one step, you'll be slow on every step of the way.

The sooner I resolve the deputy section chief issue and get promoted, the easier my future path will be.

There are minimum years of service requirements for promoting cadres. The sooner you get to that position, the sooner you accumulate experience and lay the foundation for the next step.