Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

Sha Ruijin started practicing Tai Chi.

"Secretary Yuliang, don't rush, sit down, let me finish my investigation first."

Before Sha Ruijin came to Handong, after Zhao Lichun, there was another provincial party secretary in Handong named Yu Huicheng.

Yu Huicheng suddenly fell ill and had to leave Handong.

A group of cadres recommended by the provincial party committee, including a group recommended to the central government, have been put on hold.

Gao Yuliang's purpose was actually quite simple: to convene a meeting of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee to discuss the appointment of 125 cadres.

Only by convening a provincial party committee standing committee meeting and putting things back on the table can there be any hope for Qi Tongwei to be promoted to vice governor.

Gao Yuliang was worried that things might get complicated if things dragged on.

In case Sha Ruijin's inspection takes a long time, some cadres in the political and legal system of Handong Province are also waiting for promotion, not just Qi Tongwei.

Gao Yuliang thought Qi Tongwei's performance at the airport today was acceptable. He decided to strike while the iron was hot. With Sha Ruijin nodding, things would be much easier.

This question is actually a bit of a poor choice.

How could a newly appointed provincial leader be in a hurry to promote cadres left over from the previous administration?

Even if all of them are approved, I doubt anyone will remember Sha Ruijin's good deeds.

Sha Ruijin would definitely not agree.

Verbally, they avoid offending anyone or making any promises.

Upon arriving in Handong, Sha Ruijin had not yet decided who to win over and who to suppress.

Gao Yuliang felt it was better to make a symbolic private dinner invitation. "Secretary Sha, I've asked my wife, Wu Huifen, to arrange lunch. I wonder if Secretary Sha has time to come and have a chat?"

Gao Yuliang didn't really want to talk to Sha Ruijin anymore; they couldn't see eye to eye.

That's just a polite way of putting it.

Sha Ruijin flatly refused, "Secretary Yuliang, thank you, but I just arrived in Handong today and I'm very busy. Let's talk another day."

That's fine too. Gao Yuliang said goodbye and left.

Back to the office of the Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Secretary He quickly poured tea for Gao Yuliang.

Then, he wisely withdrew.

Gao Yuliang raised his hand to take off his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes, and pressed his fingertips against his brow.

From picking someone up at the airport to attending a meeting in the conference room, scenes replayed in my mind, and the more I thought about it, the more annoyed I became.

Sha Ruijin's style of operation is not typical of a top leader parachuted in from the ground up.

It seemed deliberate, as if it had been planned in advance.

Gao Yuliang thought of his old leader Zhao Lichun, picked up the non-confidential phone, and quickly dialed.

Two beeps, and the call was connected.

Zhao Lichun's hoarse, aged voice came through the receiver, "Yuliang, Sha Ruijin has arrived in Handong. Are you unhappy about it?"

Gao Yuliang gripped the receiver, unwilling to give up. "Secretary Zhao, what exactly is the variable in this matter?"

Gao Yuliang was certain that Zhao Lichun had helped him, but he didn't know exactly where the problem lay.

Zhao Lichun sighed softly, "Yuliang, I've done my best for you. Perhaps it's fate."

That's all we can say; Zhao Lichun himself doesn't know why.

Gao Yuliang's Adam's apple bobbed as he pressed on in a low voice, "Secretary Zhao, why is it Sha Ruijin, and not me?"

"Man proposes, God disposes." Zhao Lichun's tone turned serious. "Yuliang, Secretary Yu suddenly fell seriously ill and was hospitalized. The incident happened too suddenly. The Zhong and Cao families took advantage of the situation and Sha Ruijin intercepted the deal."

The central government has the final say on personnel appointments at the vice-ministerial level and above.

Zhao Lichun also felt that although his position was higher after he went to Beijing, his power seemed to have decreased.

Gao Yuliang leaned back slightly, his eyes filled with despair. "Alas! It's all been for nothing."

In the end, it was all for naught.

"Don't be discouraged, Yuliang," Zhao Lichun reassured him. "Your foundation is in the political and legal system of Handong. As long as you persevere, you'll have plenty of opportunities in the future."

Gao Yuliang twitched the corner of his mouth.

Empty words of comfort are useless.

"Thank you for your trouble, Secretary Zhao."

After hanging up the call, Gao Yuliang's pent-up frustration did not dissipate at all; on the contrary, it intensified.

Relying on Zhao Lichun seems ultimately unreliable.

Progress is virtually impossible.

Gao Yuliang has already made plans to resign from his sinecure.

Open your phone's contacts and swipe with your finger.

Wu Chunlin, Wan Changhai, Li Dakang, Qi Tongwei... one name after another flashed by.

I want to find someone I can confide in.

Gao Yuliang's finger finally landed on Song Yunhui's number and dialed it.

Ministry of Energy Resources.

Office of the Executive Vice Minister.

Song Yunhui answered the phone, "Yuliang."

Gao Yuliang held his phone. "Squad leader, you were absolutely right. The provincial party secretary who was parachuted in is none other than Sha Ruijin."

"Yuliang, life is full of disappointments." Song Yunhui leaned back in his office chair. "You have a doctorate in law and have worked in the political and legal field for many years. Stay true to your profession, and you will have opportunities in the future. Don't be discouraged."

Gao Yuliang gave a wry smile. "Squad leader, I heard that Sha Ruijin has the Zhong and Cao families backing him up. I might have a hard time establishing myself in Handong in the future."

Two fists can't beat four hands, and even a hero can't withstand a crowd.

After a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, Song Yunhui said calmly, "Yuliang, let me introduce you to a friend. Ding Jianguo, the Standing Committee Member and Vice Governor of Handong Province, was my college roommate."

This short sentence contains a lot of information.

Ding Jianguo is the most transparent member of the Standing Committee of Handong, who does not take sides, rarely speaks out, and does not get involved in factional struggles.

The undisputed invisible man among the Thirteen Protectors of Handong.

Gao Yuliang never imagined that this person was actually Song Yunhui's man planted in Handong.

In this game of chess, Beijing may have already made its moves.

Gao Yuliang finally smiled. "I understand. Thank you, squad leader."

Back when I attended the training course at D School, Song Yunhui was the class monitor.

There's nothing wrong with this way of addressing someone.

On the contrary, it felt very friendly.

A single vote from a Standing Committee member can sometimes be enough to reshape the Standing Committee's structure.

The call ended.

Gao Yuliang immediately contacted Su Jingfeng, the secretary of the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee.

The call connected instantly, though the background noise was clearly audible.

"Secretary Gao, I'm on the highway now, heading back to Lüzhou."

Gao Yuliang said bluntly, "Jingfeng, turn around and come back. We'll have dinner together later, and I'll introduce you to another friend."

Without the slightest hesitation, Su Jingfeng replied, "Understood, Secretary Gao. I'll head back immediately."

If it weren't for Gao Yuliang's strong recommendation back then, Su Jingfeng might not have become the top official in Luzhou, let alone a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee.

The gratitude for being recognized and rewarded is equivalent to a career rebirth, and one must obey unconditionally.

After hanging up, Gao Yuliang dialed a second number, this time to Ding Jianguo.

When the call connected, Ding Jianguo was sitting in the vice governor's office, tending to the flowers and plants. "Secretary Gao."

"Governor Ding, let's have a small get-together later, please take some time to sit down." Gao Yuliang felt that as long as he had the votes of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, there was a chance for things to turn around.

Having a ticket gives you confidence.

Sha Ruijin's office.

Tian Guofu sat opposite Sha Ruijin. "Secretary Sha, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for this day for so long, and it's finally here."

After lying low for half a year, the top leader has finally arrived.

Sha Ruijin put down his pen, looked up at Tian Guofu, and said, "Secretary Guofu, tell me about the current situation in Handong."

Tian Guofu leaned forward and began to dismantle the local factions in Handong. "Secretary Sha, after Zhao Lichun left for Beijing, he left two major legacies for Handong."

First, Gao Yuliang was in charge, controlling the Han University clique within the public security, procuratorate, and judicial system, with his protégés spread throughout the political and legal system of Handong.

Secondly, there was the secretarial clique led by Li Dakang.

Li Dakang was once Zhao Lichun's secretary.

Sha Ruijin casually picked up the list of potential drivers and secretaries submitted by Secretary-General Wan and quickly flipped through the pages.

Nearly 90% of the participants graduated from Handong University.

Does this mean that the entire group consists of people from the Han Chinese gang?

Therefore, no one on the list is trusted.

Sha Ruijin tore the list to shreds and threw it into the trash can. "Whether it's a secretary or a driver, no one who graduated from Handong University will be used."

They directly cut off the opportunities for advancement for Han University graduates, leaving them no chance at all.

Tian Guofu gave a thumbs up, "Secretary Sha, that's brilliant, absolutely brilliant."

Before you came, I spoke privately with Wu Chunlin, Wan Changhai, and Ren Zhimin, and all three expressed their unconditional support for your leadership.

Sha Ruijin was very satisfied and smug. "Guofu, plus you, that makes a total of five votes."

With five votes from the Standing Committee in hand, Sha Ruijin felt that he was about to take control of the Standing Committee of the Handong Provincial Party Committee.

"That's right, Secretary Sha. We can continue to try to get other members of the Standing Committee." Tian Guofu nodded in agreement.

The Handong Provincial Committee has thirteen standing committee members, which are also jokingly referred to as the Thirteen Protectors of Handong.

If you get seven or more votes, you can practically do whatever you want in Handong.

Sha Ruijin tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Secretary Guofu, notify the three of them to assemble downstairs in two hours and come with me to conduct research."

Tian Guofu stood up and immediately went to make arrangements. "Okay, Secretary Sha, I'll go right now."

The investigation not only allows us to understand the most authentic Handong, but also helps us distinguish between the genuine article and the imposter.

The Sha family gang has set sail.

Four Nine Cities.

Ministry of Energy Resources.

Zhao Dehan walked to the door of the Executive Vice Minister's office. "Director Zhou, Minister Song wants to see me."

Privately, Zhao Dehan has not spoken to Song Yunhui alone yet.

I don't know why Minister Song is looking for me, and I feel very uneasy.

Song Yunhui's secretary, Zhou Haoyang, raised his hand and said, "Director Zhao, come with me. The leader is waiting for you inside."

Upon seeing Song Yunhui, who sat upright and exuded an air of integrity, Zhao Dehan was very excited. "Minister Song, hello, I am Zhao Dehan, the director of the Project Approval Department."

Song Yunhui gathered the documents on the table. "Oh, Director Zhao, I heard you wouldn't trade your position for a ministerial post. How about we switch?"

Song Yunhui recalled a jingle: "I am Zhao Dehan, the section chief; I wouldn't trade him for a ministerial position."