booktalesy Chapter 313 Protecting Our Own People
Chapter 313 Protecting Our Own People
The county people's congress has come to a close.
Ding Yiyi was elected county magistrate without any major incident.
Longcheng City.
Lin Xue's office.
Wen Changcheng took the initiative to meet with Lin Xue to exchange opinions on the election turmoil in Qingshan County.
In fact, Wen Changcheng was very arrogant and resented Lin Xue's appointment as the municipal party secretary.
But Geng Dongqing and Cheng Tanzhi are both considered his people.
Now that the election almost went wrong, given Lin Xue's style, she will definitely hold some people in Qingshan County accountable, so Wen Changcheng will naturally try his best to protect his own people.
If a leader cannot protect his own people at critical moments, those who follow him will become disheartened, his circle will crumble, and his authority will be damaged.
Over time, who would still be willing to work for him?
Therefore, Wen Changcheng humbled himself and took the initiative to visit Lin Xue, hoping to gain leniency in the case through struggle and compromise.
"Comrade Changcheng, you have also read the investigation materials. The problems exposed in this election in Qingshan County are shocking."
This is not a typical work error, nor a simple leak; it is a planned, unorganized activity, egregious in nature, with a very negative impact, and must be dealt with seriously as a warning to others.
She paused for a moment, then continued, "Cheng Tanzhi's political ambitions have swelled. Through hints, tacit approval, and even indulgence, he has instructed others to solicit votes and bribe voters for him, attempting to manipulate the election and achieve his own ulterior motives."
Such people must be severely punished to uphold discipline and maintain organizational authority!
And Geng Dongqing, as the county party secretary, failed to supervise and fulfill his responsibilities regarding election fraud, and must bear leadership responsibility!
Wen Changcheng replied, "Secretary Lin, I understand your emphasis on election discipline and agree that those responsible must be held accountable."
However, our Party's consistent policy is to learn from past mistakes to avoid future ones and to cure the disease to save the patient.
Comrade Cheng Tanzhi is usually diligent in his work and has done a lot of practical things in Qingshan County. This time, he made a mistake due to a moment of confusion. Shouldn't we give him a chance to correct his mistakes?
Lin Xue said solemnly, "Comrade Changcheng, there are no exceptions before discipline and no privileges before the law."
Cheng Tanzhi's problem was not a momentary lapse of judgment, but the inevitable result of a long-term relaxation of self-discipline, a breach of political bottom lines, and a distorted view of power.
The election of the National People's Congress is a power granted by the people, not a tool for individuals to seek personal gain, much less a platform for the exchange of interests among small circles or groups.
We are both Party cadres, and we should both understand that what we are protecting is not the future of any one person, nor the interests of any particular group, but the image of the Party, the credibility of the organization, and the trust that the people have in us.
Wen Changcheng argued, "But, Secretary Lin, when we deal with problems, we must also consider the political effects, social effects, and overall stability."
Qingshan County is a national-level poverty-stricken county, and it faces heavy tasks in reform, development, and stability.
If this matter is handled too harshly, causing a political earthquake, creating panic, or even being sensationalized by outsiders who say that our political environment in Longcheng is terrible and that such a big mess can occur during the election, will it affect the superiors' evaluation of us?
Will this affect external investor confidence in us? Will it hinder the progress of our overall work?
Lin Xue listened calmly without interrupting.
Wen Changcheng continued, "In my opinion, the hundred or so votes for Cheng Tanzhi were not entirely the result of bribery."
To be fair, Cheng Tanzhi has accomplished a lot in recent years, especially during his tenure as executive deputy county head, where he did many commendable things.
Those who voted for him were not entirely motivated by bribery.
Some people genuinely believe they want to do things, are capable of doing things, and can accomplish things.
Lin Xue picked up her teacup, took a sip, and retorted, "Comrade Changcheng, I don't deny that Cheng Tanzhi did some practical things."
As leading cadres, doing practical work is our duty.
Besides, does doing something meaningful justify violating regulations?
Can merits offset mistakes?
Does the representatives' approval of his work justify his engaging in unauthorized activities?
Wen Changcheng was speechless for a moment.
Lin Xue continued, "If we say today: Although Cheng Tanzhi bribed voters, he has political achievements and can be given a lighter punishment."
What about tomorrow? The day after? Will someone follow suit—first get things done, accumulate achievements, build political capital, then harbor wicked intentions, cross the line, and use their past accomplishments as a shield when their misdeeds are exposed?
Wen Changcheng replied, "Secretary Lin, you are right. Merits cannot offset mistakes, and discipline must be strictly observed."
However, let's look at this issue from a different perspective.
Shouldn't the organization's intention, its starting point and ultimate goal, be for the better development of a place?
In order to select the most suitable cadres who can lead the masses to work hard and start businesses?
If the organization's intentions themselves deviate from the local reality and the true wishes of the majority of cadres and the masses during the execution process;
Or, if we didn't select the most suitable candidate, shouldn't we also reflect on the scientific and fair nature of the organization's intentions?
Seeing that Lin Xue did not interrupt, Wen Changcheng continued, "Take Qingshan County for example. Comrade Ding Yiyi has long been engaged in discipline inspection and propaganda work, and political work is his forte."
But Qingshan County is an impoverished county with a weak economic foundation. What is the most urgent task at present?
It is about developing the economy, consolidating poverty alleviation achievements, launching projects, developing industries, increasing tax revenue, and protecting people's livelihoods.
These jobs require people who understand economics, are familiar with the county's situation, have practical experience, and can quickly establish a foothold.
Cheng Tanzhi studied economics in university and worked in various departments, including the Municipal Bureau of Statistics, the Municipal Development and Reform Commission, and the Municipal Party Committee Office. Later, he served as deputy county head, executive deputy county head, and deputy secretary of the county party committee in Qingshan County.
He is very familiar with the mountains and rivers of Qingshan, its industrial bottlenecks, its cadre team, and the people's sentiments.
The industrial park development and specialty agricultural projects he promoted during his tenure have indeed yielded positive results. This is an indisputable fact.
What do ordinary people value most? It's tangible development, having money in their pockets, and having jobs right at their doorstep.
They may not understand sophisticated political theories, but they can see who is working diligently and who can bring about change.
In this election, setting aside those unscrupulous tactics, weren't there any of the more than one hundred votes cast for Cheng Tanzhi based on recognition of his abilities, affirmation of his past work, and expectations for his leadership in developing Qingshan?
In my opinion, not only are there some, but there may be quite a few.
Lin Xue slowly spoke: "Comrade Changcheng, I understand what you mean."
What you're trying to say is that Cheng Tanzhi might be a more suitable candidate for county magistrate because he's more familiar with Qingshan, has experience in economic work, and even has a strong grassroots support.
Comrade Ding Yiyi, however, was unfamiliar with economics and the place.
The delegates' choice of Cheng Tanzhi was, to some extent, a more pragmatic one, even suggesting an intention to detach from reality. Is that right?
Wen Changcheng neither admitted nor denied it, and gestured for Lin Xue to continue.
"First, I want to correct a misconception. Organizational intentions are never made behind closed doors, much less detached from reality."
When considering candidates for the position of County Head of Qingshan County, the Provincial and Municipal Party Committees conducted thorough deliberations, investigations, and comparisons, taking into account factors such as political qualities, work abilities, integrity and self-discipline, development potential, and team composition.
Comrade Ding Yiyi may not be as familiar with the situation in Qingshan County or with economic work as Cheng Tanzhi, which is her shortcoming. However, she is politically firm, principled, has a broad vision, and strong execution ability, which are also valuable qualities that Qingshan County urgently needs for its current development.
What Qingshan County needs is not just a skilled operator familiar with the situation, but a navigator who can bring fresh ideas, uphold the bottom line, and lead long-term development.
Familiarity with the situation can be gained through learning, research, and immersion in the community, but some fundamental things cannot be easily acquired over time.
She paused, then emphasized, "Secondly, regarding the question of who is more suitable."
To evaluate whether a cadre is suitable, we must not only look at what he has done in the past, but also at how he did it, what his purpose was, and ultimately, who he was working for.
Cheng Tanzhi was indeed familiar with economics, but where did he apply that familiarity?
It's used to cultivate one's own clique, and to manipulate elections by crossing disciplinary red lines for personal advancement!
The more capable and higher the position of such a capable official, the greater the potential harm he may cause!
Today he might bribe his way into becoming county magistrate, but tomorrow, once he becomes county magistrate, will he engage in vanity projects and image-building projects to advance his career more quickly?
Could they engage in even greater transfer of benefits in order to consolidate their power?
Is this kind of development what Qingshan County and its people truly need? Is it sustainable?
Finally, regarding the selection of representatives.
I do not deny that some delegates voted based on their approval of Cheng Tanzhi's work.
However, acknowledging someone's work does not equate to condoning, tolerating, or participating in non-organizational activities.
The power of people's representatives is a sacred power bestowed by the people. Every vote carries the will of the people and must never be swayed by personal relationships, induced by interests, or distorted by backroom deals.
Comrade Changcheng, we've worked together for a while, and I know you cherish your cadres and value local development; I understand that sentiment.
However, protecting cadres does not mean covering up their shortcomings, and maintaining stability does not mean condoning violations of discipline.
If we give Cheng Tanzhi a break today, tomorrow a second or third Cheng Tanzhi will jump out and trample on organizational discipline and election rules.
At that point, what will be destroyed will not just be one cadre or one election, but the entire political ecosystem of Longcheng and the people's trust in our Party Committee and government.
Qingshan County is poor, but poverty cannot be a reason to cross the line.
Heavy development tasks cannot be used as an excuse for violating discipline and laws.
When Comrade Ding Yiyi first arrived in Qingshan, she did face challenges, but her integrity and incorruptibility were exactly what Qingshan County needed most to eliminate old malpractices and purify its atmosphere.
Economic work can be learned, county conditions can be understood, and leadership teams can be built, but once the political bottom line is crossed, it can never be repaired!