Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

"Local work in peacetime is more complicated and more troublesome than in wartime. That's why there is a saying that it is easy to conquer the world but difficult to rule it." Chen Shuai waved his hand.

Then he finished his drink and sighed.

Everyone has their own opinions, and different positions lead to different interests and perspectives. The Central Committee is considering using the "Three Antis Movement" to conduct a large-scale Party rectification, as many Party members and cadres are currently feeling hesitant.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, people suddenly had power and didn't know what to do. This led to all sorts of problems. At that time, many cadres made minor mistakes or showed signs of misguided tendencies.

Promptly educating them at this time can save a large number of cadres. However, if they are ignored, they will slowly drift into the abyss of further mistakes. Therefore, the Central Committee currently attaches the greatest importance to the upcoming Party rectification work, hoping to use it to awaken a large number of Party members and help them re-establish their revolutionary faith.

But local governments have different ideas from the central government.

They pay more attention to local interests.

What if the Party rectification affects local stability and economic development? This is the contradiction between the central and local governments.

Wei Hongjun couldn't say that Chen Shuai and his colleagues' ideas were wrong. However, as a cadre sent by the Central Committee to East China to oversee the "Three Antis Movement," he couldn't follow Chen Shuai and his colleagues' thinking. However, Wei Hongjun didn't express his position directly.

Because today is Wei Hongjun's first day here, he has not yet fully grasped the specific situation.

Wei Hongjun did not understand the economic structure, economic situation, and workers' situation in East China. Besides, Wei Hongjun had no roots in East China, so he could not express his views on many issues casually.

Mr. Chen, East China is indeed different from Northeast and North China. There are more private enterprises and fewer public enterprises. Workers have a hard time getting jobs. How do workers in private enterprises in East China work, including the work of trade unions?

Chen Shuai is open-minded and has a good personality.

But he was, after all, one of the "Three Giants of Jinggangshan." From the formation of the Red Fourth Army in Jinggangshan, he experienced internal strife within the army, political struggles in the Central Soviet Area, and even being kicked out by Rao Shushi. Having experienced so much, he must be a shrewd person.

Chen Shuai likes to drink, but he invited Wei Hongjun to dinner not only to welcome him, but also to get to know him.

Chen Shuai had been observing Wei Hongjun since he arrived. He worried that Wei, young as he was, might come to East China solely to achieve political success. He feared that Wei would then carry out Party rectification according to his own ideas, which would cause chaos in East China's work. Chen Shuai had seen too many young special envoys like him over the years.

However, General Chen hopes that Wei Hongjun is not such a cadre.

Chen Shuai said, "After liberation, the future of trade unions is currently a hotly debated topic. We've recently met with many private business owners to discuss these issues, and they're very resistant to establishing trade unions in their companies. They worry we'll use the same tactics we used in the workers' movement against them. Some of our cadres also believe that now that we've been liberated, there's no need for a workers' movement, and therefore no need for trade unions."

The Chinese Communist Party originated from the labor movement.

But after liberation, no one could find the exact location.

After the CCP became the ruling party, its understanding of the workers' movement began to change, and it began to consider many more issues.

Wei Hongjun had originally thought that the debate was primarily about the status of unions in state-owned enterprises. Unexpectedly, the debate was even more intense regarding unions in private enterprises. However, Wei Hongjun disagreed with this.

So Wei Hongjun said, "General Chen, our party is a party based on the alliance of workers and peasants. Workers and peasants are the foundation of our party. With the founding of New China, there is currently debate about the status of trade unions. But this debate is only about the status of trade unions and their work, not about whether they should exist or not. I believe we should not give in too much on this point."

"Well, that makes sense."

Mr. Chen nodded.

Wei Hongjun was a little confused about what Chen Shuai was thinking, but he didn't care.

After all, every political figure is complex, and it's impossible to know their thoughts after just one or two meetings. "Comrade Wei Hongjun, would you like to call a meeting tomorrow to plan the 'Three Antis Movement'?"

Chen Shuai asked Wei Hongjun. Wei Hongjun shook his head.

He said, "General Chen, my idea is to first distribute the spirit of the Central Committee's 'Three Antis Movement' to Party committees at all levels. I will first follow Comrade Zhan Tong and Comrade Ke Qingshi to see and understand the situation in East China." "Okay, it's a good thing to know more."

809 East China "Three Antis Movement" Conference

Upon arriving in East China, Wei Hongjun did not immediately launch a bold campaign to oversee the "Three Antis Movement." Instead, he approached the region with considerable caution. This was because, on his first day, he had already witnessed the divisions within the East China Bureau.

And it's not just any disagreement.

It is a disagreement on the grand strategy of how to develop East China.

Wei Hongjun was unfamiliar with East China, and having just arrived, he couldn't readily express his views on such a major event. After all, in addition to overseeing the "Three Antis" campaign, he was also an alternate member of the Politburo and Vice Premier of the State Council, so he couldn't speak carelessly. Therefore, Wei Hongjun continued to accompany Zhan Tong, Ke Qingshi, and the others, interacting with various sectors of East China and attending various meetings there, in order to quickly understand the situation there.

Watch more, listen more, and understand more.

About ten days later, Wei Hongjun had already recorded all the data. Only then did he convene his first "Three Antis" campaign work meeting since arriving in East China. All the leaders in charge of the "Three Antis" campaign in East China attended.

The meeting was also attended by Chen Shuai, the first secretary of the East China Bureau, and Tan Zhenlin, the second secretary.

"Comrades, after these twelve days in East China, I have some opinions of my own about the 'Three Antis Movement' in East China. I will share them and let's discuss them together." Although it was an unfamiliar East China.

But Wei Hongjun was not at all embarrassed.

After all, Wei Hongjun did not get to his current position through the back door or by helicopter. He had previously presided over the work of the local central bureau and local regions.

Wei Hongjun flipped open his notebook and said, "Let me start with the first point. I've been looking through the Public Security Bureau archives and have been traveling around Shanghai with our police officers. It's been over a year since Shanghai's liberation, but the opium problem remains severe. I'd like to ask how those opium dens still operating so brazenly in Shanghai are able to continue operating. Didn't the Central Government and the Ministry of Public Security issue a notice regarding the 'smoking ban'? Didn't East China receive any notification?"

Shanghai's economy is indeed very good in China.

But the problem is also serious.

Wei Hongjun had never imagined that there were still opium dens in Shanghai. This was truly out of the question.

It's not like we've just been liberated.

During the Jin-Cha-Ji period, when Marshal Nie was still serving as Secretary of the North China Bureau, Wei Hongjun had already deployed opium crackdowns in North China. He executed countless opium dealers and arrested numerous internal officials. Because he personally oversaw the anti-smoking efforts in North China, he was well aware of the countless checkpoints it would take for so much opium to enter Shanghai.

It is unknown how many cadres have been corrupted.

This is no small problem.

The current "Three Antis Movement" is a party rectification movement. Matters involving problems of party members and cadres are actually within the scope of the "Three Antis Movement".

Li Shiying, Deputy Minister of the Social Affairs Department of the East China Bureau and Director of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, spoke up, "Vice Premier Wei, this isn't just a Shanghai problem. The opium currently flowing into Shanghai is primarily through Yangtze River shipping and railways. These drugs are able to pass through these routes because they involve different military and public security systems."

"Correct."

Pan Hannian, Minister of the Social Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, spoke.

"This is not just Shanghai's problem. We in Shanghai cannot solve this problem on our own." Wei Hongjun was a little angry.

This is too much of a blame game.

But before Wei Hongjun could lose his temper, General Chen slammed his hands on the table and said, "What are you talking about? We can't cut off the influx of drugs, so can't we control the opium dens in Shanghai?" "Secretary Chen, we don't have enough staff right now."

Pan Hannian answered.

Ke Qingshi saw Pan Hannian's answer and snorted coldly, "If you don't do anything, you'll never have enough manpower. But as long as you're determined to work hard, you'll always have enough manpower. If the Public Security Bureau is short on manpower, can't we also use the public security forces established by the East China Military Region? It's just an excuse for inaction."

This made the officials from the Social Department of the East China Bureau, the Social Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, and the Shanghai Public Security Bureau frown. It didn't matter how everyone fought behind closed doors.

This meeting is being chaired by Wei Hongjun. If you jump out at this moment, you're exposing your family's dirty laundry. Ke Qingshi isn't a native East China cadre. His transfer from the North China Bureau to East China had already displeased many East China cadres. After all, Ke Qingshi had just been transferred from North China when he began serving as mayor and secretary of the Nanjing Municipal Party Committee. Nanjing was the capital of the Nationalist government, and its status in East China was as important as Shanghai's. For an outsider to take up a position in such a crucial city was inherently offensive.

After Ke Qingshi came to East China, he had no intention of making friends with the local cadres in East China.

You usually keep to yourself and do things your own way. Your only contact with the East China officials is work-related, with virtually no personal communication. So, what's going on now? Your old boss from the North China Bureau is here, and you're becoming active again? Chen Shuai was also having a headache.

After Ke Qingshi came to the East China Bureau from the North China Bureau, he was quite capable. After the capture of Nanjing, he quickly stabilized the situation in Nanjing amidst such chaos. He was quite a skilled man.

But he is too stubborn and has a bad temper.

But Chen Shuai knew this wasn't the right time to start an argument. So he said, "Comrade Ke Qingshi has a point. We can't look for objective reasons; we must take the initiative. Gangs are behind prostitution, gambling, and drugs. Places with many gangs and a mixed crowd are the most likely to harbor Kuomintang spies. Therefore, we must eradicate prostitution, gambling, and drugs, and completely eliminate those gang members. Comrades Guo Huaruo and Liao Rongbiao, your public security forces must closely cooperate with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Public Security Bureau."

"Yes."

Seeing Marshal Chen's deployment, Wei Hongjun did not interrupt, because this was the East China Bureau's business.

Wei Hongjun simply raised questions and then supervised the East China Bureau in doing things.

After Chen Shuai finished speaking, Zhan Tong, the former head of the Social Department of the East China Bureau, spoke up, "Comrade Wei Hongjun, we must also take seriously what Comrades Pan Hannian and Li Shiying just said. If we don't resolve the problems in these transportation channels, the opium problem will never be eradicated."

"I understand." Wei Hongjun nodded.

He said: "I will report this situation to the Central Committee and the Ministry of Public Security, and carry out a large-scale rectification operation in the shipping public security forces and railway public security." Wei Hongjun also felt the problems of the railway public security team.

Currently, large quantities of opium are circulated through the railways in major cities across the country. The only individuals capable of transporting opium on such a large scale are those within the Railway Police. Therefore, a large-scale overhaul of the Railway Police is necessary.

After discussing the opium issue, Wei Hongjun continued, "Secondly, there's the issue of bribery by businessmen. I've been in contact with quite a few businessmen these past few days, discussing this issue, and I've found the situation to be less optimistic. Some large businessmen offer bribes in the hope of securing more policies and support. Others use this method to maintain relationships with government officials. Of course, many small businessmen voluntarily pay so-called protection fees to avoid extortion. This is an extremely abnormal situation, and it must be changed."

Wei Hongjun initially did not express his opinion on the issue of bribery and corruption.

But after going around in circles, Wei Hongjun realized that this problem must be solved.

Because the biggest beneficiaries of bribery are big businessmen and powerful government officials. Ordinary and small businessmen, especially small industrialists, are the ones who suffer the most from bribery.

Many of them are ordinary citizens, just small vendors.

Their lives were already difficult. The founding of New China didn't bring about a fresh, new image. Because the old society's scum hadn't been thoroughly eradicated, and the government wasn't doing enough, the situation remained largely unchanged. For their own profit and livelihoods, small vendors could only continue paying "protection fees."

This is a problem of social atmosphere.

If bribery is not eradicated, what difference will there be between the old and new China? "Vice Premier Wei, the crackdown is too broad and could easily lead to a market depression."

Shanghai Vice Mayor Sheng Pihua spoke.

Because of Shanghai's unique status, the composition of the Shanghai Municipal Government was also quite unique. After Rao Shushi's transfer to the central government, Chen Shuai assumed the dual roles of Municipal Party Secretary and Mayor. Among the officials in charge were former Party members Pan Hannian and Wei Que, as well as Sheng Pihua, a pro-democracy figure and businessman.

Many people are familiar with the Shanghai Rong family.

But in fact, when it comes to their relationship with the CCP, the Rong family cannot compare to the Sheng family.

Not only was Sheng Pihua the Vice Mayor of Shanghai, but his son, Sheng Kangnian, also had close ties to the Communist Party. After Shanghai's liberation, Sheng Kangnian was the go-between for many of Shanghai's prominent businessmen, facilitating their connections with high-ranking CCP leaders.

Both men made great contributions during the early years of liberation and socialist transformation. It is a pity that they both died of illness in the early 1960s.

Wei Hongjun nodded and said, "Yes, we must maintain Shanghai and maintain social stability and economic development in East China. But what we must maintain is normal economic development, not distorted economic development. Comrades, we are a new China, not the old society. We want a clean environment, an environment where government workers are honest and businessmen abide by the law, not a smoky and chaotic environment. We have all experienced the old society. If we don't control it now, then the new China will soon be the same as the old society. Government workers are corrupt, collusion between government and business, and resource monopoly will make the entire economic environment worse and worse. How can we win the trust of the people and develop the economy normally then? So no matter how difficult this tough battle is, we must fight it."

"Of course, our goal in cracking down on bribery isn't to target businesspeople or disrupt business development. We can't attack blindly, or even indiscriminately. Nor can we kill every businessperson who has bribed. We need to analyze and categorize them. We must resolutely crack down on those who deliberately corrupt our cadres and then extract benefits from them. However, for those who bribe simply to stay safe, to comply with so-called unspoken rules, or even under duress, we must criticize and educate them, and not expand our crackdown. We must let them know that New China is not the old society. Businesspeople don't need to use these methods to stay safe. As long as they are legitimate businesspeople who abide by the law and regulations, New China will protect them."

"As for our cadres who accept bribes, we must combat corruption in the same way we did during the Three Antis Movement. I know that our Party discipline and national laws against bribery are somewhat flawed and not entirely complete. But this does not mean that our cadres can accept bribes. This is a serious crime."

Chen Shuai nodded.

Sure enough, the thing he had been worried about finally happened. Things were not that simple.

Although the goal was to protect businessmen and not expand the scope of the crackdown, as long as this kind of political movement continues, it is inevitable that it will expand. Before liberation, many wealthy people in Shanghai had already fled, and this "Three Antis" campaign will surely cause another large number of people to flee.

Compared with Northeast China and North China, the economy has stabilized.

For over a year, the economy in East China has been unstable. To stabilize prices in major cities across the country, the central government has been transporting supplies from across the country. At the same time, it has been engaged in several battles with speculators in East China. Ultimately, the war ended with a large number of speculators going bankrupt.

But these have a huge impact on East China.

In East China, not to mention economic development, prices had only just been brought under control for a short time. But Chen Shuai understood.

Wei Hongjun arrived in East China with a powerful imperial sword. He oversaw the "Three Antis Movement" in East China, concerned that officials there were too closely connected to the local powerful families. East China was affluent, so there were many powerful families and wealthy businessmen.

If nothing else, just look at the origins of Jinshi (imperial examination) candidates during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, and the southeastern provinces of Jiangxi and Fujian are all renowned provinces for their strong imperial examination programs. Behind these provinces lie the great families whose traditions are steeped in poetry and literature.

Such a large family, unless the entire clan is wiped out, will not really die. At most, it will decline for a period of time.

But they will soon rise again. This is because these families have been passed down for hundreds or even thousands of years, relying on generations of education to establish themselves. Even in the new era, their children still rely on education to become successful. Therefore, many family power in East China is deeply intertwined.

Many cadres are unable to do it.