Right path to power

"Here's the thing, County Head. Currently, the County Government Office has a total of ten directors and deputy directors, and eleven departments, with a total of fifty employees, not including temporary and seconded personnel. Some departments have overlapping functions and some redundant personnel. I suggest we carry out targeted integration."

For example, the three secretarial departments could be merged into one, thus integrating the secretarial staff, which would facilitate unified management of personnel and coordination of various documents and reports.

In addition, the General Duty Room, Emergency Response Office, and Civil Defense Section can be merged into the Comprehensive Section, the Government Affairs Disclosure Office can be incorporated into the Supervision Section, and the Foreign Affairs Section and Finance Section can be merged into one section. Overall, the number of departments will be reduced to six, which will facilitate work coordination and personnel allocation.

Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen the staffing of the inspection department, enhance inspection work, and implement various tasks to improve execution.

Finally, I think it is necessary to set up a dedicated investment promotion office to take full responsibility for and promote all investment promotion work in the county, so as to lay a solid foundation for economic development.

With this adjustment, the county government office's work priorities are more clearly defined, its responsibilities and powers are more clearly defined, and internal work coordination will be more agile and efficient.

Gong Lei listened attentively and nodded from time to time. He said, "Xiao Lin, your suggestion is very good. The office is a core department, and it has always been a situation of overstaffing. On the surface, there are rules and regulations and everything is taken care of, giving people the feeling that everyone is doing their own job. In fact, it is precisely because of this that it is easier to shirk responsibility and do nothing."

In my opinion, if we streamline the department into six sections, you can then be in charge of the Supervision Section, which would allow you to oversee all aspects of the county's work.

"Yes, County Head."

"Do you have any suggestions for the heads of the remaining five departments after the streamlining?" Gong Lei continued to ask.

Lin Xiao smiled slightly and said, "Boss, aren't you putting me in a difficult position? I don't dare to say anything about personnel matters."

"It seems you've already thought about this. It's alright, just speak your mind. I'll listen casually. This centralized system is meant to gather wisdom from all sides!" Gong Lei said dismissively.

In fact, Lin Xiao did take a comprehensive approach when preparing this plan, and he also considered the adjustments to the relevant personnel, because only in this way could the integrity of the plan be reflected.

But as he said, this is indeed not a topic he should bring up for discussion, especially in front of his superiors.

In officialdom, following the rules is extremely important, whether it is explicitly stipulated or unwritten.

Lin Xiao, who had returned to the county government, was well aware of this.

"Then let me share my thoughts, and I welcome any criticism and corrections from the leadership."

Seeing Gong Lei nod, Lin Xiao slowly began, "First, Comrade Zhou Tianxiao will continue to oversee all aspects of the office's work; second, Comrade Luo Sushu will be in charge of the General Affairs Section; third..."

Subsequently, Lin Xiao reorganized the six streamlined departments and nine deputy directors. Some continued to be in charge of their original departments, while others were jointly managed. The newly established investment promotion office was also managed by a deputy director.

After Lin Xiao finished speaking, Gong Lei thought for a moment before offering his opinion: "Overall, it's feasible and reflects your pragmatism and overall perspective. However, there are a few points that need further consideration; personnel adjustments within the system are not suitable for overly drastic changes."

Okay, you should quickly draft the plan, and I'll call a meeting to discuss it. As for the specific departments responsible for it, we'll make a final decision after the discussion.

"Yes, County Head."

Actually, Lin Xiao was delighted when he heard the last sentence, since he shouldn't be the one to make the decision.

Adjusting personnel within the system can be a simple matter, with a single notice making the final decision. However, it is also a very complex matter. Sometimes, the personal will of the leader may not be fully reflected, even if it is the top leader, because the system requires sufficient "balance".

"Knock knock knock..."

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Enter!"

Office Director Zhou Tianxiao pushed open the door and walked in. "County Head, this is...?"

Upon seeing Lin Xiao, Zhou Tianxiao paused for a moment, then gave a somewhat stiff smile and said, "Director Lin, you're already here. I thought you'd have to wait a while to report for duty. That's perfect. I was just about to report to the county head about the office division of labor. What are your thoughts?"

"Comrade Tianxiao, Xiaolin just reported some of his ideas and approaches regarding the division of labor in the office. I think they are quite good. I asked him to put together a detailed plan as soon as possible, but you can communicate with him first."

Zhou Tianxiao's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself that this kid had acted first and informed the other party later, clearly not taking him, the director, seriously. Not only that, could it be that he was thinking of undermining him as the director?

"Yes, County Head."

Afterwards, the two of them nodded to Gong Lei and then left the office together, heading to the secretary's office outside.

"Please, take a seat, Director Lin."

During this period, Zhou Tianxiao temporarily assumed the duties of the county magistrate's secretary, and therefore temporarily worked in the secretary's office.

"Director Lin, now that you're here, I can relax a bit. Come, have some tea grown by my relatives back home."

As he spoke, Zhou Tianxiao poured Lin Xiao a cup of hot tea, a smile always on his face.

"Thank you for your hard work, Director Zhou," Lin Xiao said, taking a sip of tea. "Hmm, this tea is quite good. It has a light, refreshing fragrance and a sweet aftertaste. It's very nice."

"I told you, you would like it. The ones I left here are all gone. I'll bring you some more later."

"Then I won't be polite, thank you Director Zhou."

"Why are you being so polite with me? We'll be working together from now on, and we'll need to support each other a lot in our work."

Zhou Tianxiao laughed and said that he had been quite uneasy ever since Gong Lei took the stage. After all, he had been betting on Hong Feng, and he rarely contacted Gong Lei. If Gong Lei had any dissatisfaction with him, his future would probably be bleak.

At his age, it would be a pity to just step aside like this, so he still longed for the opportunity to climb to a higher level.

Lin Xiao smiled and said, "Director Zhou, rest assured, I will do my best in my work. As a Party member and cadre, obeying superiors and upholding the authority of the unit's leader are the most basic requirements and qualities. In the county government, we will work together to serve County Head Gong; in the county government office, we will follow Director Zhou's instructions. This is everyone's organizational responsibility and the most basic manifestation of everyone's political awareness. I think there's no objection to this!"

Hearing this, Zhou Tianxiao breathed a sigh of relief. Although these words were very official, the young man had indeed spoken to his heart. He was the director of the county government office, the "chief steward" of the county government as outsiders called him, but in reality, all the work was still carried out around Gong Lei, the county magistrate.

The reason he had placed all his bets on Hong Feng was twofold: firstly, Hong Feng was in charge of the work as the executive deputy county head, and secondly, he felt that Hong Feng's promotion to the official position was a foregone conclusion.

Now that Hong Feng has lost the competition and Gong Lei has become the county magistrate, he naturally has to turn his attention to the new magistrate. However, in the past few days, while he was acting as the "county magistrate's secretary," he could feel that Gong Lei was somewhat distant from him, which made him quite worried.

"Director Lin is absolutely right. As expected of a provincial party committee selected graduate from a prestigious university, he has explained the essence of our county government office's work very clearly in just a few words."

You're right. We must shoulder our responsibilities and be politically aware. As the director, I especially need to set a good example, uphold the county head's authority, and serve all the leaders well.

Seeing Zhou Tianxiao's relieved expression, Lin Xiao sighed inwardly. Being in the system may seem glamorous to outsiders, but often one is not in control of their own destiny.

Lin Xiao had been somewhat annoyed with his boss before, but now that he's back in the county government office, he's become more open-minded about some things, and he understands that many things have priorities.

For example, the most important thing right now is to advance the various tasks of the county government office, while also taking the opportunity to find out the truth about Gao Dayong's death, which is very likely to be related to Hong Feng, the executive deputy county magistrate.

Therefore, we should try our best to unite and win over those who need to be united with. It is always better to have one more friend than one more enemy within the system.