The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 275 Joint Recommendation
After hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Tian Wenguo from the CNC division couldn't help but wipe away non-existent cold sweat.

These words were utterly merciless. In a typical county or city, these branch factory directors and secretaries would be roughly equivalent to county officials or county heads.

But today in the meeting room, it was almost as if Zhou Zhiqiang was going to call him out by name and berate him.

"Director Zhou, that's not how it is."

Chai Wansheng, the Party Secretary of the supporting factory, was about to explain something, but Zhou Zhiqiang interrupted him, saying, "Secretary Chai, I haven't finished yet."

"Moreover, what problems does your factory have? Don't you, as the Party Secretary, know them? The main factory asked you for the production plan for the second half of the year. Director Wang submitted a copy, and you, as the Party Secretary, also submitted a copy."

What does this mean? Are you two dividing the factory up, each managing half?

After hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Tian Wenguo from the CNC branch and Wu Jun from the Changping branch both looked at Chai Wansheng with surprise.

That's amazing! To actually do something like that in a factory!
Since you've already done all that, why don't you just fight it out?

"Director Wang, stop being silent and explain what happened. Before this meeting, I clearly asked my superiors for instructions: whoever delays production will be fired."

Zhou Zhiqiang tapped on the table in the conference room, a sound that seemed to strike the hearts of the Party committees of the two branch factories.

Zhou Zhiqiang then continued, "Speak up. If you don't, you can all go back now. I'll have someone buy you train tickets today."

Wang Yonghe, the factory director of the supporting plant, spoke up only after Zhou Zhiqiang called his name: "Director Zhou, it's not that I'm being unreasonable, it's that Secretary Chai has no intention of working with me at all."

According to the division of responsibilities, as the factory director, I should be in charge of production, but Secretary Chai insists on getting involved. Last time I had a meeting with several production departments, Secretary Chai insisted on attending.”

“Okay, that’s understandable. Everyone has a responsibility to care about the factory’s production. But after Secretary Chai’s visit, he still insisted that the factory’s production plan be made according to his wishes.”

The changes weren't significant, and in fact, completely unnecessary, but Secretary Chai wouldn't listen and bypassed me, issuing orders directly to departments like production planning and scheduling.

Wang Yonghe, the factory director, vented his dissatisfaction with Chai Wansheng in a series of remarks. He had never seen such a difficult comrade before, even in the ministry. It was as if Chai Wansheng had come to the branch factory specifically to argue with him.

Chai Wansheng immediately tried to defend himself, saying, "I was just making reasonable corrections to an unreasonable production plan."

"What are you talking about? Do you even know anything about production? Chai Wansheng, I'm giving you all a chance today, and now you're not even taking it?

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he waved to Deputy Factory Director Liu, and then Liu Wenzhou handed Zhou Zhiqiang four production planning documents for the two supporting branch factories.

After receiving it, Zhou Zhiqiang first pulled out the production planning report for the supporting plant, and then asked:
"Come on, Secretary Chai Wansheng, explain why we need to reduce production by 10% in November, but increase it by 8% in December?"

Chai Wansheng was momentarily speechless when asked the question, then racked his brains to come up with a lame excuse: "To ensure that the factory workers have reasonable rest time."

"Don't talk nonsense. You haven't even looked at the production plan reference that the head office sent to your branch factory. What right do you have to interfere in production management?"

Seeing that this person was still unrepentant, Zhou Zhiqiang's anger grew stronger with each word he spoke.

He then slammed the two production planning reports onto the table, pointed at Chai Wansheng, and said, "You've given me this kind of thing less than a month after the factory was built. Do you know how busy I am every day?"

During the time I spent resolving your problems, I was able to advance the factory's major engineering projects by one or two percent.

"You've wasted so much of the factory's Party Committee's time because of your problems, and you're still being stubborn! You're such a scoundrel! You think I can't handle you?!"

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, and seeing that Director Li of the trade union had not come, he said to Zhang Yaoguo in the meeting room: "Go and inform Director Li and Director Wang of the Women's Federation that we can discuss this here. Secretary Li is sick and hospitalized, and we will discuss this while he is away."

I am temporarily in charge of all affairs of the factory's Party Committee. However, Comrade Chai Wansheng, the Party Secretary of the supporting factory, is unfamiliar with production and yet still interferes arbitrarily, showing a tendency to vie for power. He has shown no sign of remorse at the factory's Party Committee meetings.”

"It has now been decided that Comrade Chai Wansheng will receive a warning and will be required to submit a written self-criticism at the branch factory's Party Committee meeting. If he shows no remorse or willingness to admit his mistakes, then the matter will be reported to the relevant ministry."

For a branch factory at the division level, the Party Committee of the main factory can make all decisions regarding them.

If this were reported to the relevant ministries, it would mean that Secretary Chai Wansheng would be forced to resign.

"The secretariat will issue a disciplinary report, which will then be sent to all members of the factory's Party Committee for review and signature. If anyone disagrees, they must also write down their reasons."

Zhou Zhiqiang paused for a moment, then, seeing Chai Wansheng's face turn as red as a pig's liver, continued, "Comrade Chai Wansheng, if you are not satisfied, then try to appeal to a higher level."

"Next up, Secretary Fan and Director Li from the supporting factory No. 2, what's going on with you two?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Zhi, from the supporting factory No. 2, was startled and quickly said, "Director Zhou, it's my fault for not communicating well with Director Li regarding work."

Next, I will try my best to understand the production schedule, learn more from Factory Director Li, and then discuss and arrange factory matters after achieving good communication.

Tian Wenguo, Wu Jun, and others standing nearby almost couldn't help but laugh when they saw how quickly Secretary Fan had changed.

They're like donkeys; they won't move forward unless they're given a beating, and only then do they behave themselves.

However, upon further reflection, they realized that they had done similar foolish things to Secretary Fan before. It's just that Tian Wenguo changed his mind quickly. Seeing that Deputy Factory Director Sun was unreliable, he immediately slid down to kneel before Factory Director Zhou.

"This is just a verbal warning for you. Don't make me hold meetings about this kind of thing again, or I'll settle all the old scores with you."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, he warned everyone, "I'll say it one last time: now is the time when Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory is developing the fastest. From me, the factory director, to every ordinary worker, everyone is working hard for the factory's development."

Secretary Li from the factory is currently recovering in the hospital due to overwork, so anyone whose mind isn't on production development can leave. I'll report them directly!

"This is my last warning. I won't hold any more factory party committee meetings next time. If someone needs to be punished, they should be punished; if someone needs to leave, they should leave. There's no need for all this fuss."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, Tian Wenguo was the first to agree, saying, "I agree with the factory director. All our branch factories should take the head office as the core and work together to complete this year's foreign trade order worth over 100 million US dollars."

This is the most important thing. If we fail to complete the task and foreigners come knocking on our door, it won't be a simple warning or punishment.

Wu Jun echoed, "Yes, the most important thing is to work together towards a common goal. When Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory achieves glory, don't our branch factories also benefit? Developing well is the most important thing." Putting aside everything else, can other factories be as saturated with orders as their branch factories?
Other factories had to reduce production in the previous two years, but their branch factory continued to expand after achieving success at the head office.

Wu Jun felt that those who were still fighting for power and profit were out of their minds.

Before you came, you should have found out about Director Zhou's temperament. Once he dismisses you, you won't fight anymore.

"Since the branch factory's Party Committee is all here, let's talk about the production plan for the second half of the year. The reason we asked you to keep some production time at the end of the year was to make plans for next year."

"The main factory has been developing composite machining CNC machine tools this year, and has already achieved great results, which is of great help to industrial production. By the end of the year, we might even showcase our country's industrial R&D capabilities at the Canton Fair."
Even if it's not showcased at the Canton Fair, it will be used to replace older domestic machine tools, increasing production efficiency by about 17% to 20%...

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished talking about the two supporting branch factories, he immediately went on to tell everyone about the main factory's actions.

They were asked to complete this year's production tasks by the end of November to prepare for the new composite machining CNC machine tool.

But if anyone delays production, Zhou Zhiqiang will start cursing.

Work styles were not as standardized as they would be decades later, and beatings and scoldings were common. Zhou Zhiqiang had seen Director Ren curse several machine tool factory directors as "sons of bitches" because of production tasks.
Zhou Zhiqiang rarely curses because of the way things are done in later generations. They feel that cursing is not a good thing. However, if he is pushed too far, he will definitely curse until the other party does not dare to utter a sound.

------

Inside the office of Leader Sheng at the Ministry of Machine Building.

Almost all the relevant members of the Party Group of the Ministry were summoned.

After listening to Ren Licheng's report, everyone else fell silent for a moment, still wondering why Leader Sheng had called them here.

It's certainly not a small matter that a factory party official at the ministerial level is sick and has surgery, but it's not enough to warrant convening a meeting of the party committee of a ministry and calling them all in to discuss it.

Moreover, no matter how much the ministry discusses, it's useless. At most, they can only meddle in the appointment of deputy director-level personnel.

Li Younian's problem needs to be considered by the Organization Department of the Central Committee. At most, they have the right to make suggestions, but the power to appoint him is no longer with them.

After finishing his cigarette, Leader Sheng said, "Comrade Lidong, you're from the Personnel Department of our ministry, why don't you share your thoughts?"

"My idea is that since Comrade Li Younian can no longer return to his post, we should arrange for him to retire early and take care of all the necessary things."

He's not younger than me, and he collapsed from exhaustion on duty; it's truly remarkable."

Before Chen Lidong, the director of the Personnel Department, could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Leader Sheng, who said, "Comrade Lidong, let's get down to business."

Upon hearing this, everyone else couldn't help but look at Chen Lidong, the slippery old eel, who was unwilling to get involved in anything.

I heard that Comrade Li Younian had the same personality before, and even made Comrade Ren Licheng angry. When you, Chen Lidong, say you're taking care of Comrade Li Younian, it's as if you're talking about taking care of yourself.

"Leader, the party officials at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Plant are beyond the scope of our personnel department's jurisdiction. Even a suggestion from them probably wouldn't be taken seriously by the Organization Department."
However, I will compile a research report in the next couple of days, concluding that Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang is the most suitable candidate for a Party official.

Chen Lidong paused for a moment, then continued, "This is all we can do in the personnel department. Otherwise, no matter how much we say, it's useless if the other party doesn't read it."

Deputy Leader Wu said with a smile, "It's really not easy to get you, Old Chen, to say something. You never used to say a word."

Chen Lidong quickly said, "What kind of talk is this? I also want our Ministry of Machine Building to develop better, but the timing is indeed awkward."

It would have been easier to do it a few years earlier or later, but it just happened to be this year.

Two years earlier, when policies were still being adjusted, there were some companies across the country where the Party Secretary and Factory Director held both positions. The First Ministry of Machine Building could have taken advantage of this situation and let Zhou Zhiqiang become the Factory Director as well.

However, at that time, Zhou Zhiqiang was often busy with major engineering projects, and he couldn't even take care of things at the factory, let alone manage everything. So he didn't even think about it at that time.

Two years later, Zhou Zhiqiang's prestige and achievements at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory will reach their peak, and at that time, these achievements and prestige will allow the higher-ups to make an exception for Zhou Zhiqiang.

But now things are a bit awkward.

"Let's submit our opinions first. We can't keep Li Younian's matter a secret forever."

Deputy Leader Wu said, "Based on the joint decision of the Party members of our department, we applied to the higher authorities for special approval for Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang to concurrently serve as a Party official at Jiuzhou Machine Tool Plant. As long as the China Ocean Academy approves it, this matter may be approved."

Those two are both currently at the Zhonghai Institute, and they have a good impression of Comrade Zhou Zhiqiang. As long as they intervene, there shouldn't be any problems.

Suddenly, Leader Sheng asked, "After all this talk, is Comrade Zhiqiang unwilling? I remember when he gets busy, he also asks others to help him with his work."

Upon hearing this, Ren Licheng immediately spoke up, "He can take on the responsibility, and compared to being busy with affairs, Comrade Zhiqiang is probably more annoyed by internal power struggles."

When I visited Comrade Li Younian before, Comrade Zhiqiang told me that the factory director and the party secretary of the two newly built supporting branch factories of Jiuzhou Machine Tool Factory did not get along.

Deputy Leader Wu shook his head and said, "This is not an isolated case. If you travel around the country, you might be able to find a third of the examples."

Previously, the division of responsibilities and powers between the factory director and the party secretary was unclear, which led to the re-establishment of the factory director responsibility system under the leadership of the party committee. However, this system is also somewhat ambiguous.

"What is Comrade Li Younian's opinion?"

Chen Lidong suddenly spoke up, reminding, "Don't ignore the person's thoughts; their recommendation is also a very important reference in personnel appointments."

Ren Licheng said, "Comrade Li Younian's recommendation has been prepared. We can submit it together later."

When I visited Comrade Li Younian before, I confirmed this with him repeatedly.

(End of this chapter)