Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 61 Personnel Adjustment Motion

The next day at work, Wu Zhiyuan reported to Xu Youwei about how Liang Dandan had used her beauty to seduce him the night before but ended up humiliating herself. He also specifically mentioned that the car driver, Mr. Huang, was a relative of Geng Dongqing.

Xu Youwei frowned: "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease."

With Zhiyuan and Geng Dongqing in these positions, we're like blind men riding blind horses, approaching an abyss in the middle of the night. We must replace them as soon as possible!

The driver must be replaced immediately; the loyalty of those around you is the bottom line.

This matter is entrusted to you. Make sure you find a mentor with a clean background and unwavering loyalty.

Wu Zhiyuan quickly agreed: "Okay, Secretary Xu, I'll get started right away."

Shen Chenlin, member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Minister of the Organization Department, has arrived.

Shen Chenlin was in his early forties, about the same age as Xu Youwei.

He came from the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee. Xu Youwei knew him when he worked at the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Provincial Party Committee.

Although the two were not exactly close, they were old acquaintances.

After making tea for Shen Chenlin, Wu Zhiyuan returned to his desk.

The city plans to promote or adjust a number of department-level leading cadres, and the Organization Department of the Municipal Party Committee has proposed candidates.

After reviewing the list, Xu Youwei said, "Minister Chenlin, your organization department did a lot of work on this adjustment plan in the early stages. Thank you for your hard work."

Shen Chenlin respectfully said, "Secretary Xu, this is what we should do. The plan is a preliminary draft based on the needs of the leadership structure of the municipal and county-level departments, the performance of individual cadres, and the principle of rotation and exchange. Please review and approve it."

Every personnel reshuffle is a redistribution of power and a power struggle among various factions.

Xu Youwei had just arrived in Longcheng and was still getting to know the cadres. Such a large-scale personnel change undoubtedly reflected Mayor Ai Kun and Deputy Secretary Zhang Xiaotian's intention to place their cronies in order to consolidate their influence and even expand their territory.

This was an important power maneuver undertaken while his position was still unstable.

This won't do. We must firmly grasp the initiative in personnel matters.

Xu Youwei then changed the subject: "Cadre work is the fundamental guarantee for the development of our cause. It is related to the long-term development and overall stability of Longcheng, and requires utmost caution."

I have only been in Longcheng for a short time, and I need more time to conduct in-depth investigations and understand the abilities, performance, and public support of many cadres.

My suggestion is to postpone this major adjustment for a while.

Alternatively, we could make minor adjustments. What do you think?

Shen Chenlin looked troubled: "Secretary Xu, the situation in Longcheng is somewhat special. After He Jiaping's incident at the beginning of the year, personnel adjustments have been frozen until you took office."

Another full postponement could disrupt the normal operations of some units and potentially affect the stability and morale of the cadre team.

Xu Youwei pondered deeply. Completely freezing and adjusting the situation was unrealistic and would give others a handle to use against him. He needed to find a balance that would both break Ai Kun and Zhang Xiaotian's pre-set plan and take into account the interests of all parties.

So he slowly said, "Minister Chen Lin, the situation you described is objectively true."

Here's the suggestion: a full-scale adjustment can be postponed, but priority can be given to positions that have been vacant for too long or where employees have served in important roles for too long.

Please have the Organization Department re-examine the situation and propose a small-scale adjustment plan.

Shen Chenlin immediately understood that Xu Youwei's agreement to make small-scale adjustments was a way to ensure he maintained control over cadre adjustments while demonstrating flexibility.

Xu Youwei is the municipal party secretary, so he naturally has this power.

So he said, "Okay, Secretary Xu, we will re-examine the situation and come up with a new adjustment plan as soon as possible."

After a pause, Shen Chenlin tentatively asked, "Secretary Xu, when revising the plan, did you have any fundamental requirements or specific considerations regarding the specific positions or candidates?"

Xu Youwei said solemnly, "Minister Chenlin, the core standard for selecting and appointing cadres is both moral integrity and competence, with moral integrity being the priority. Your organization department should strictly adhere to this standard."

Furthermore, those who have served in important positions for a long time should be rotated.

Okay, let me think through the specific adjustments first, and then we can discuss them in detail in a few days.

Shen Chenlin immediately understood Xu Youwei's intention.

Xu Youwei is going to personally take the helm of this personnel reshuffle, disrupting the original balance and reorganizing the structure.

After Shen Chenlin left, Xu Youwei called Wu Zhiyuan over.

"Zhiyuan, Ai Kun and Zhang Xiaotian wanted to make a large-scale adjustment of cadres, but I stopped it and changed it to a small-scale adjustment."

They took advantage of my unstable foothold to force a deal and expand their own territory. This is unacceptable!

The key positions are all held by their people, which will put us in a very passive position in our future work.

Wu Zhiyuan nodded solemnly: "Secretary Xu, I understand. This personnel reshuffle is indeed a key step for them to test and expand their sphere of influence."

You must firmly grasp the initiative in the appointment of cadres, especially in key positions.

Minister Shen comes from the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, and his background is relatively detached; he generally doesn't take sides.

Xu Youwei asked with a smile, "Zhiyuan, do you have any outstanding comrades to recommend?"

Wu Zhiyuan was both surprised and delighted.

Xu Youwei's question demonstrated his high level of trust in him.

Of course, Xu Youwei's promotion of the person recommended by Wu Zhiyuan, when he didn't have many acquaintances in Longcheng, was essentially a way of strengthening his own power.

Wu Zhiyuan thought for a moment and said, "Lang Wenping, the head of the First Secretariat Section, has been a section chief for many years. He was originally going to be promoted to deputy director, but He Jiaping got into trouble, so it was delayed."

Xu Youwei nodded, wrote it down in his notebook, and then asked, "Anything else?"

Wu Zhiyuan said solemnly, "Secretary Xu, I would like to recommend to you Zhou Wei, one of my former leaders."

Zhou Wei was previously the deputy director of the Municipal Forestry Bureau. Last year, he was transferred to the position of deputy director of the Municipal Statistics Bureau. He is capable, has excellent character, and is a good official, but due to bad luck, he has been at the deputy division level for seven or eight years and is still stuck in the same position.

Wu Zhiyuan used the phrase "bad luck," but in fact, he knew Zhou Wei very well. Zhou Wei had no background and was neither good at nor interested in flattery, so he couldn't get promoted.

In officialdom, the most important factor that determines whether a person can be promoted is not ability, reputation, or political achievements, but connections. You need someone to speak up for you at crucial moments.

If your boss says you're capable, you're capable, even if you're not; if your boss says you're incapable, you're incapable, even if you are.

What defines excellence? There is no standard.

When a leader uses you, your shortcomings can also be seen as strengths. For example, your domineering style and tendency to make decisions unilaterally can be described as decisive, daring to take charge, and having strong execution capabilities.

If your leader doesn't use you, your strengths can also become weaknesses. For example, your steady and reliable work style can be described as indecisiveness and a lack of decisiveness.

Xu Youwei asked, "How are his writing skills and overall coordination abilities?"

Wu Zhiyuan replied, "He was very good. He worked as a secretary and also as the director of the office of the Municipal Forestry Bureau when he was young."

Xu Youwei stared at Wu Zhiyuan and asked, "Zhiyuan, do you think Zhou Wei is capable of handling the position of Director of the Municipal Party Committee Office?"

Wu Zhiyuan cautiously replied: "Secretary Xu, the director of the Municipal Party Committee Office is the 'chief steward' of the Municipal Party Committee. He needs to have strong comprehensive coordination ability, writing skills and political acumen, and even more so, absolute loyalty to the main leaders."

Based on this core requirement, I believe that Comrade Zhou Wei possesses the basic qualities and potential to assume this position.

However, Zhou Wei lacks experience working in core and pivotal institutions such as the Municipal Party Committee Office and the Municipal Government Office. Whether he can quickly adapt to the high-intensity and highly complex work pace remains to be seen.

These are just my preliminary analyses. Whether they are appropriate or not requires your personal decision, Secretary Xu.

Xu Youwei nodded and changed the subject: "Zhiyuan, call Lin Xue and ask if she's in her office. If it's convenient, come over here."

Wu Zhiyuan returned to his office and dialed Lin Xue's landline.

The call was connected.

Upon hearing the voice, Lin Xue knew it was Wu Zhiyuan calling, and she felt a strange excitement in her heart.

This man looks so much like my first boyfriend!