The Slap in the Face Has Arrived

  The leaders of Changja County have recently had a surge in meetings, especially after the "Two Li" incident. Provincial and municipal leaders have been coming to Changja one after another. When superiors come, the county always holds various reporting meetings; otherwise, how can leaders "guide" whether you're doing well or not? So, when the county leader at home received a meeting notice today, they didn't seem surprised. It's always good for superior leaders to come and inspect/guide, who knows which leader will take a liking to you, maybe there's an opportunity for promotion! Many local leaders can't wait to frequently burn incense hoping for leaders to come. However, this time is slightly different; those with some sources know that the provincial leader, Yin Shengli, is County Magistrate Yin's uncle - not just any ordinary relationship. Recently, County Magistrate Yin lost in his struggle against Secretary Tang, and his situation is much worse than before. His uncle's visit at this time has an obvious implication! After witnessing the handshake earlier, everyone looked at County Magistrate Ma with a gaze that had a hint of meaning.

  Everyone sat down in the conference room and the meeting began.

  Tang Guoqiang, as the Secretary of Changja County Party Committee, presided over the reporting meeting and introduced to Yin Deputy Director of Provincial Planning Commission and Yu Hongjun, Vice Mayor of Jianan City, the main work of Changja County in the recent stage, the development overview of industry and agriculture, major economic data, social security situation. During the report, he paid close attention to the facial expressions of Yin Deputy Director and Yu Vice Mayor, seeing them frowning and not taking his speech seriously, so he cut short his speech and gave the opportunity to Yin Mingquan.

  After Yin Mingquan started reporting, the expressions of Deputy Director Yin and Vice Mayor Yu became richer. During County Magistrate Yin's report, the two occasionally nodded slightly, occasionally lightly tapped their fingers on the table, as if they had a sense of appreciation.

  It is often said that every leader is an excellent actor, and this statement is not deceiving.

  After Yin Mingquan's report ended, Yin Shengli spoke first. He briefly mentioned the work of Changjia County Party Committee and Tang Guoqiang, but focused on the work done by Changjia County Government in terms of economic development and social stability. He also made many explanations and requirements for the current governance and rectification in the economic field, and fully affirmed the role of Yin Xianzhang as county magistrate over the past few years.

  When talking about the unity of the county government, he said sternly: "Comrades, every level of organization is a fighting collective that implements democratic centralism. What is democracy? What is centralism? Everyone is a cadre trained by the party for many years, so I don't need to say more, do I? Democracy, democracy, in the end, it's still about centralism! In the county government, the county magistrate is the highest leader, and the final decision of the county government must be centralized through the county magistrate!

  Before I came to Changjia, I received many reports saying that the combat effectiveness of the government team had weakened. After detailed investigation, I finally found out that there was a deviation in the democratic centralism principle. Comrades, this is not a small problem, it's a major issue in the development process of Changjia County. As a member of the government team and as a party cadre, we must clearly recognize our position and role, and cooperate well with the county magistrate's work.

  To be honest, I am satisfied with Yin Xianzhang's work ability and attitude, but I have some opinions on the overall awareness of some leaders in the county government. I hope everyone will take this as a warning and quickly correct the wrong practices with this meeting as an opportunity."

  This speech was said with a strong momentum, cold and stern, although no one was named, everyone knew who it was referring to. Ma Tiancheng's face turned green, and he felt suffocated in his heart.

  Yu Deputy Mayor spoke next, although he was a member of Yin Shengli's faction, after all, he was the direct superior leader of Changja County, so his speech couldn't be as casual as that of Yin Deputy Director. It was okay to criticize subordinates, but it also couldn't be raised to the level of system and principle. He said: "Changja County Party Committee and County Government have made significant achievements in social stability, economic construction, and social security in recent times, which is well-known to Jianan City Party Committee and Municipal Government. Comrade Tang Guoqiang, as the leader of Changja County Party Committee, has cooperated very well with Yin Mingquan, and Changja's current achievements are sufficient to explain the problem. However...

  He picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, then swept his eyes over the leaders present before slowly putting down the cup. Apparently to draw everyone's attention and focus on his next speech, he grasped the rhythm of his words like a storyteller in a book hall.

  However, Comrade Yin's speech cannot but attract everyone's attention. Comrades! We can't just raise our tails because we've achieved some results and neglect unity. As Comrade Yin said earlier, whether a team has combat effectiveness depends on whether it is closely united around its leader. In the county party committee, Secretary Tang is the leader; in the county government, County Magistrate Yin is the leader. I hope everyone can correctly understand the spirit of the provincial planning commission's leadership speech, correct the shortcomings in their work, unite around the county party committee and county government, make the construction of Changsha better, society more stable, and people happier.

  Tang Guoqiang let out a slight sigh of relief after listening to Yu Deputy Mayor's speech. He was most worried that Ma Tiancheng would make excuses when the leader criticized him severely, which would give Yin Deputy Director more room for maneuver. Once things got out of control and a dispute broke out between superiors and subordinates, not only would Ma Tiancheng get into even bigger trouble, but Tang Guoqiang himself as county party secretary would also lose points in the eyes of the municipal leaders, because this would show that his controlling ability was problematic.

  Tang Guoqiang did not expect that Ma Tiancheng had already prepared himself psychologically after being cold-shouldered at the county border. He thought: Although Deputy Director Yin is very high-ranking, he is still one level away and cannot directly control him, Ma Tiancheng. He was just taking advantage of the situation to suppress himself a bit, to show off to other leaders in the county, thinking that he was a "rooster" and others were a group of "monkeys". He could completely tolerate it, isn't there a saying: take a step back and the sea and sky are wide open?

  "After the speeches of Director Yin and Vice Mayor Yu, Tang Guoqiang summarized: "Comrades, the speeches of Director Yin and Vice Mayor Yu are very important and have practical guiding significance for the development of Changsha. After this meeting, the county party committee will organize another study session to deeply understand the spirit of the superior leaders, grasp the work well, and make the construction of Changsha reach a new level." He adjusted his thoughts and continued: "Comrades all know that our country is currently implementing economic rectification and regulation, suppressing inflation, clearing up some disorderly competition in economic construction, adjusting product structure, with the ultimate goal of achieving long-term and better economic development. Reform and opening up are the trend of the times, and the economic reform we are doing now is pressing, we must seize the time, open up our thinking, and firmly grasp the theme of reform on the basis of social stability."

  Vice Director Yin interjected, "Secretary Tang mentioned this issue, I'd like to add that currently our country's work, stability is the most important thing. It doesn't matter if we take smaller steps, but we must ensure steady progress."

  The words now have a different meaning, and everyone can understand them. Vice Director Yin was in a hurry to jump out and make this statement after hearing Tang Guoqiang repeatedly emphasize the need for economic reform. In fact, economic reform must necessarily touch on the controversy between planned economy and market economy, which is also the current struggle between conservative forces and reformers at home.

  Tang Guoqiang can understand the thoughts of Yin, the deputy director who has been engaged in planned economic work for most of his life. They worry that after the main body of the national planned economy is weakened, the economic order will be disrupted. If we look at it from a political perspective, the debate between planned economy and market economy is actually a debate between socialism and capitalism. This kind of debate cannot have a result in a short period of time.

  At this time, it was impossible not to refute Vice Director Yin's words, as it involved Tang Guoqiang's principles. He also knew that the leaders of the county party committee and government were all watching his reaction at this moment.

  Tang Guoqiang thought for a moment and said: "Director Yin's instructions are very important, social stability is related to the ruling foundation of our party, and its importance goes without saying. However, stability and reform are not contradictory. Our Changja County Party Committee must work under the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee and the Municipal Party Committee, while grasping both economic reform and social stability."

  This statement is quite strong! When the provincial planning commission leaders emphasized the importance of stability and said that they would rather have stability than speed, Tang Guoqiang's words were a bit like a slap in the face to them. Moreover, it was the leaders of the provincial planning commission who got slapped. The county committee and government leaders all looked at Tang Guoqiang with surprise. Is this... isn't it a bit too aggressive?

  Tang Guoqiang finished speaking and didn't give Yin Deputy Director time to respond, directly asking Yu Deputy Mayor: "Mayor Yu, do you think the meeting is over? Do you have any further instructions?"

  Due to the intense rivalry between Tang Guoqiang and Yin Deputy Director over major route issues, Yu Deputy Mayor, who is from the same faction as Yin Deputy Director, also dare not say much. After all, before the Central Committee makes a clear judgment, saying more may lead to more mistakes. For high-ranking officials like him, once they make a mistake on the route, no one can save them.

  Yu Deputy Mayor sought Vice Director Yin's opinion first: "Director Yin, we still need to take a look at the agricultural production base and Ma Shi Township Economic Zone. Is the meeting report going to be like this?"

  Yin Deputy Director finally restrained his temper, nodded and said: "Okay." He knew that if he had an argument with Tang Guoqiang in front of the officials from the Provincial Government, it would be embarrassing for his colleagues in the province and city. After all, there was a big difference in their status! He was a high-ranking official in the Provincial Planning Commission, while Tang was just a small county party secretary, he couldn't lose face. This Tang Guoqiang didn't know how to behave properly, but he would have his chance to teach him a lesson and make him stumble.

  Yu Deputy Mayor then said to Tang Guoqiang, "Alright, let's do that. After the meeting, we'll go visit a few places. The provincial planning commission's leadership attaches such importance to Chang Jia, which is also a huge support for Jianan City."

  Tang Guoqiang said: "Then I'll walk with you together with Yin Xianchang."

  Yin Deputy Director still had a grudge in his heart, and before Yu Deputy Mayor could speak, he said: "No need to bother you, let County Magistrate Yin and Deputy County Magistrate Ma accompany him."

  Let County Magistrate Ma accompany him? Tang Guoqiang took a look at Ma Tiancheng, who was full of helplessness on his face. It seemed that he still didn't want to let go of Ma Tiancheng!

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