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

Wu Chunlin met Zhao Lichun's questioning gaze but deliberately avoided eye contact.

His gaze fell on the square table nameplate in front of him, the three characters "Wu Chunlin" sounding incredibly heavy at that moment.

"Secretary, this assessment is strictly implemented in accordance with the annual cadre dynamic evaluation plan formulated by our Organization Department at the beginning of the year."

His voice was not loud, and his tone was as calm as if he were giving a very ordinary work report.

"It's routine work within our department."

"Comrade He Xia performed outstandingly, so it is reasonable that the inspection team made progress faster."

This impeccably official response only intensified the tense atmosphere in the meeting room.

Zhao Lichun's gaze slowly shifted away from Wu Chunlin's downcast face.

He scanned everyone in the conference room.

Li Dakang, the capable lieutenant he had personally promoted, sat upright with his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Liu Changchun, the provincial governor who had always been suppressed by him, wore a perfectly composed expression, as if everything was irrelevant to him.

Shen Zhong, that barbarian from the military, leaned back in his chair the whole time, relaxed, yet he controlled the rhythm of the entire scene.

And there's also Wu Chunlin, that traitor.

Zhao Lichun understood.

From the very beginning, today's Standing Committee meeting was a carefully prepared trap for him.

There's no point in arguing any further.

That would only make his embarrassment even more obvious.

He lost control of the situation.

"Thump!"

Zhao Lichun tapped his fingers heavily on the mahogany table.

The crisp sound made everyone's nerves tense up.

"Since the opinions of the comrades cannot be unified..."

Zhao Lichun's voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation; it was as cold as ice.

"Then let's proceed according to the organizational principles."

"We will vote by show of hands."

He stopped looking at anyone and went straight to the final procedure.

"The first topic."

"Those who agree that Comrade Qian Shouyi should serve as the Secretary of the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee, please raise your hands."

The voice just fell.

Chen Huai, the Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee, was the first to raise his right hand, his arm taut and straight.

Immediately afterwards, Zhou Guichun, the Party Secretary of Lincheng City, also raised his hand.

Minister of Publicity.

Minister of the United Front Work Department.

There is another core member of Zhao's troupe.

One, two, three...

Five hands, raised high.

Zhao Lichun himself did not raise his hand; as the meeting's chairperson, he usually speaks last.

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the empty seats.

The conference staff immediately stepped forward and whispered the report in his ear.

"Secretary, five votes."

Five votes.

With only 12 members on the Standing Committee and five votes, the committee did not receive a majority.

Zhao Lichun's expression remained unchanged, but his other hand, which was under the table, quietly clenched into a fist.

He suppressed the surging anger in his heart.

"Okay, put your hands down."

He gestured for the meeting staff to take notes, and then continued to preside over the meeting.

"The second topic."

His voice was even colder than before.

"Those who agree to appoint Comrade He Xia as the Secretary of the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee, please raise your hands."

The meeting room was eerily quiet.

One hand was raised first.

It is heavy.

His arm was raised high, his posture upright and dignified, like a javelin piercing through the gloom.

Followed by.

At almost the same time, Li Dakang also raised his right hand.

His movements were swift and decisive, without any hesitation.

It was as if the pent-up emotions that had been building up for so long were finally released at this moment.

then.

Governor Liu Changchun.

Tian Guofu, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission.

There is also another vice governor who is aligned with the provincial government.

Three hands, as if rehearsed, were raised in unison.

Their actions, firm and powerful, demonstrated that this was an unbreakable political alliance.

Five votes to five votes.

draw.

Everyone's eyes instinctively focused on the remaining few people.

Zhao Lichun's gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing straight at Wu Chunlin.

Wu Chunlin sat there, leaning slightly forward.

His forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

His hands, resting on the table, had knuckles that had turned white from the force he was exerting.

He could feel the gaze emanating from the person in the main seat, a gaze that seemed to want to tear him apart.

You can also feel the immense, unspoken pressure from the military on the other side.

This was the most difficult decision of his political career.

one second.

two seconds.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely.

Under everyone's gaze, Wu Chunlin slowly raised his right arm.

His movements were somewhat stiff, even with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

But in the end, that hand was still firmly raised above the head.

The Sixth Hand!

Zhao Lichun's pupils contracted in an instant.

His gaze lingered on Wu Chunlin's pale face for a full three seconds.

There was no anger, no roar in that gaze, only a deathly cold silence.

Under that gaze, Wu Chunlin's body trembled uncontrollably, and his face became even more pale.

There is only one person left.

Gao Yuliang.

This "Tai Chi master" of the Han Dong political arena placed his hands, fingers interlaced, steadily on the meeting documents in front of him.

With this gesture, he demonstrated his neutrality to everyone.

He didn't offend anyone, but that also meant he gave up the opportunity to cast a decisive vote in this crucial game.

The staff counting the votes quickly stepped forward and checked the number of people raising their hands again.

He walked over to Zhao Lichun and, in a voice that was almost a whisper but loud enough for everyone at the table to hear, reported the final results.

"Reporting to the Secretary."

"Comrade He Xia's nomination received six votes in favor."

"Comrade Qian Shouyi's nomination received five votes in favor."

"There was one abstention."

"According to the organizational principle of majority rule..."

The staff member didn't say anything more, but the outcome was already obvious.

Six to five.

It was a difference of one vote.

He Xia's nomination received the support of more than half of the Standing Committee members.

Zhao Lichun slowly withdrew his gaze from Wu Chunlin's face.

He picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip of water, as if trying to moisten his dry throat.

When he put down the teacup, everyone could see that his hand holding the cup was very steady.

He adjusted his breathing rhythm, and it seemed that in a second, he suppressed all his emotions back into his heart.

He picked up the microphone, spoke into it, and announced the final decision in a detached, formulaic tone.

"Based on the voting results of this Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting, I hereby announce..."

"The appointment of Comrade He Xia as Secretary of the Lüzhou Municipal Party Committee, member of the Municipal Party Committee, and member of the Standing Committee has been formally approved."

The resolution was announced.

Staff immediately distributed the printed meeting minutes to each member of the Standing Committee present.

signature.

When the last name was written down, this personnel change, which overturned the officialdom of Handong, was completely completed and all legal procedures were finalized.

Zhao Lichun leaned back in his chair, his face showing an undeniable weariness.

He lost.

They lost so decisively.

However, before he could recover from this crushing defeat...

Governor Liu Changchun, who played a key role in this victory, has no intention of giving him any chance to catch his breath.

Liu Changchun closed the personal file about He Xia in front of him and struck while the iron was hot.

He spoke calmly, with the composed smile characteristic of a victor.

"Secretary, now that the candidate for Luzhou has been decided..."

"So, shouldn't we discuss the arrangements for the replacement of the Party Secretary of Hexi District in Jingzhou City?"