Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

Li Dakang slowly nodded in response to Zhao Lichun's cold questioning.

He then turned off the microphone in front of him, and the red indicator light went out. This action was his entire answer.

Governor Liu Changchun, sitting to the left of Zhao Lichun, observed the situation discreetly.

When he saw Li Dakang's sudden statement, he understood that this was the true source of Shen Zhong's confidence.

The opportunity is coming!

Liu Changchun tapped his finger lightly on the table, then decisively pressed his speak button.

"I agree with Comrade Dakang's proposal."

Liu Changchun's voice was calm and measured, carrying a mature and steady penetrating power.

"I have been paying close attention to Comrade He Xia's work in Hexi District."

"It is truly commendable that she was able to accurately find the balance between people's livelihood and economic development in a complex grassroots environment and deliver a satisfactory result."

His remarks immediately elevated the debate from a simple contest over candidate selection to a matter of governing philosophy.

"Everyone is aware of the current situation in Luzhou; everything is in need of rebuilding."

"What is needed is a well-rounded cadre who knows how to deal with ordinary people and how to revitalize the local economy and attract external investment to take charge."

"I believe Comrade He Xia is suitable."

After Liu Changchun finished speaking, he turned off the microphone, leaned back, and remained composed.

His words were like a boulder thrown into a lake, making the already chaotic situation even more turbulent.

The members of the Zhao family's standing committee who were about to speak exchanged glances. Zhao Lichun's face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.

Just then.

Shen Zhong, who had been silent all along, reached out and pulled the microphone in front of him a few inches closer.

The microphone stand made a slight scraping sound on the table.

This subtle movement made everyone's hearts leap into their throats.

"Let me say a few words too."

Shen Zhong spoke up.

"As a participant and defender of local development in Handong, the Provincial Military Command also has its own perspective on the comprehensive qualities of local cadres."

His words left everyone somewhat bewildered.

Military regions observing local officials? What kind of logic is that?

"The Provincial Military Region believes that Comrade He Xia has always been at the forefront of the province in the work of supporting the military and giving preferential treatment to families of servicemen."

"Hexi District has set an example, especially in the resettlement and preferential treatment policies for veterans."

"Last year alone, Hexi District received and resettled more than 300 demobilized officers and retired soldiers, and not a single person complained or petitioned."

"A cadre who can do this job well has the people in her heart, and also has us soldiers in her heart."

His words were weighty and resounding.

"Therefore, on behalf of the Handong Provincial Military Region, I support Comrade He Xia in taking office as the Secretary of the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee."

He directly carried out the military region's banner.

The air in the conference room became incredibly thick and sticky.

Chen Huai, the Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee, had sweat beading on his forehead.

He knew that if no one spoke up on his side, the situation would completely spiral out of control.

"I object!"

Chen Huai practically rushed to press the microphone button.

"Secretary Shen, Governor Liu, Secretary Dakang, I respect your opinions, but organizational and personnel work has strict procedures!"

"Comrade He Xia's current rank is deputy director-general level, and she has been serving as the district party secretary for less than two years."

"In terms of qualifications, there is still a lack."

"To be directly promoted to a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and a municipal party secretary at the ministerial level—such a speed of promotion is almost unprecedented in the history of Handong!"

Chen Huai was somewhat agitated, and his voice rose eight octaves.

"This is inconsistent with our Party's consistent principles for selecting and appointing cadres!"

"If we are to make an exception, we must provide more detailed and convincing evaluation documents and sufficient reasons for the appointment!"

Chen Huai finished speaking in one breath, his chest heaving violently.

He felt that his rebuttal was reasonable and well-founded, and that he had grasped the biggest procedural loophole of the other party.

However, Shen Zhong didn't even bother to look at him.

Shen Zhong turned his head and looked at Wu Chunlin, the Minister of the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee, who was sitting silently behind the side of the conference table.

Wu Chunlin's heart skipped a beat.

He met Shen Zhong's calm gaze, and at the same time, his peripheral vision caught sight of the black military notebook that Shen Zhong had casually placed on the corner of the table.

That notebook was like a black abyss, containing secrets that could shatter him to pieces.

It was only by bowing his head at the last provincial party committee meeting that he escaped a disaster.

He also knew that he had to make a statement this time, otherwise neither side would tolerate him anymore.

Wu Chunlin clenched his fist under the table, then took a deep breath and bent down.

He unzipped the black leather briefcase that he had placed at his feet.

Under the astonished and uncertain gaze of everyone.

Wu Chunlin took out a sealed document in a kraft paper bag from the deepest compartment of his briefcase.

The document bag was stamped with a red "Confidential" seal.

"drop."

Wu Chunlin also pressed his speak button. He tore open the seal on the file bag and pulled out a stack of documents.

"Secretary, members of the Standing Committee."

Wu Chunlin's voice carried an unusual calmness.

"Regarding the issue of assessment documents mentioned by Secretary-General Chen Huai, I would like to take this opportunity to inform you about the recent progress of our Provincial Party Committee Organization Department's internal assessment work."

A strong sense of foreboding rose in Zhao Lichun's heart.

Wu Chunlin adjusted his glasses, opened the document in his hand, and began to read it aloud.

"In accordance with the regulations on dynamic evaluation of the comprehensive capabilities of provincial-level cadres, the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee completed a comprehensive review and assessment of Comrade He Xia, Secretary of the Hexi District Committee of Jingzhou City, a week ago."

What?!

Zhao Lichun's body involuntarily leaned forward slightly.

Wu Chunlin ignored the reactions of the crowd and continued to read aloud word by word in his emotionless tone.

"The assessment covers eleven major categories and thirty-seven sub-categories, including personal conduct, leadership ability, public support, development plans, and integrity."

"After final evaluation by the assessment team, Comrade He Xia was rated as 'Excellent' in all evaluation indicators."

"His overall personal qualities and governance capabilities fully comply with the relevant policy provisions regarding the exceptional promotion of cadres in the 'Regulations on the Selection and Appointment of Party and Government Leading Cadres'."

"The Organization Department's final opinion is: This comrade has the ability and potential to take on more important and demanding work in a more important position."

The reading is complete.

Wu Chunlin closed the document and waved to the conference staff behind him.

"Circulate the original of this assessment report among all the Standing Committee members."

A young conference staff member immediately stepped forward, carefully took the weighty document, and distributed it to Zhao Lichun and others in turn.

Zhao Lichun looked at the neatly printed assessment report that had been delivered to him, with the bright red seal of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department affixed at the end.

His fingers turned slightly white from the pressure he applied to the table.

He raised his head and stared intently at Wu Chunlin.

"Minister Wu, how come I didn't know that the efficiency of our Organization Department's cadre assessment had become so high?"