Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 80 There are no permanent enemies in officialdom.

Xu Youwei said sincerely, "Mr. Zhou, your earnest reminders and guidance are very important and very inspiring. Thank you for your concern for the work in Longcheng and for your care for me."

Please rest assured that the Longcheng Municipal Party Committee will resolutely implement the decisions and plans of the Provincial Party Committee, adhere to the principles of acting in accordance with laws and regulations and combining leniency with severity, properly handle the relationship between combating organized crime and maintaining stability, base everything on facts and the law, and ensure the unity of political, legal and social effects...

Xu Youwei disliked using official jargon and clichés when writing articles or giving speeches, but sometimes he had to use some principled but flexible official language to deal with situations. This was a necessary political wisdom and self-protection.

Zhou Mingxuan was clearly not satisfied with Xu Youwei's official reply, but he still maintained the gentleness of an elder: "Youwei, you are good in every way, but sometimes you are too serious and too principled."

I remember back then at the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, when they were discussing your promotion to the position of director, there were some dissenting voices at the meeting.

Some comrades feel that you are young and inexperienced, and worry that you are not tactful enough and may not be able to handle complex issues well.

At the time, I overruled the objections of others and said that although you are young, you are politically steadfast, have strong professional skills, upright conduct, and insightful views on issues. You are exactly the kind of promising talent that our political and legal system needs to cultivate. We cannot always prioritize seniority; we must look at potential and a sense of responsibility.

Looking back now, I was right. You made a name for yourself in Dragon City, proving your abilities.

Zhou Mingxuan's words, seemingly reminiscing about the past and praising Xu Youwei, were actually a veiled criticism, implying that he had shown Xu Youwei kindness and support.

How could Xu Youwei not understand Zhou Mingxuan's implied meaning?

He said respectfully, "Mr. Zhou, I will always remember your kindness in nurturing and guiding me, and I will never forget it."

Without your trust and support back then, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to hone my skills and grow on a more important platform.

You taught me to uphold principles and be courageous in taking responsibility, and these have always been my motto and the driving force behind my hard work.

Please rest assured that we will adhere to the principles of seeking truth from facts and acting in accordance with laws and regulations in handling the follow-up of Zhang Wanlin's case.

The materials seized from Zhang Wanlin's gang will be strictly examined and verified to ensure that every clue can withstand the test of law and history. We will never engage in baseless accusations or exaggeration.

For cadres whose problems are of different nature, we will treat them differently and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.

Zhou Mingxuan's tone revealed a hint of disappointment: "I'm relieved that you have such understanding and confidence."

I believe you can handle relationships well and maintain a good pace and intensity in your work.

Okay, you're busy with work, so I won't bother you any longer.

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zhou. Please take good care of yourself as well," Xu Youwei said respectfully.

……

Wu Zhiyuan placed the work report submitted by the Municipal Forestry Bureau on Xu Youwei's desk.

Xu Youwei glanced through the list and asked casually, "Zhiyuan, how much do you know about Gan Semiao, the director of the Forestry Bureau? What's he like?"

Wu Zhiyuan answered objectively: "Secretary Xu, Director Gan previously served as the district head of Longxi District. He has a certain amount of courage in his work, but the Forestry Bureau is not the main economic sector after all, so its room for maneuver is relatively limited."

As for his character, there are some rumors circulating about his personal lifestyle, but these have not been confirmed.

He was my former superior, and several times he privately approached me, saying he wanted to report to you in person, or hoped you would conduct a special investigation on forestry work.

Xu Youwei listened, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Since he's so eager to report, let's make arrangements for him to come over at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. It'll be good to hear his thoughts on the city's forestry work."

Gan Simiao arrived early the next morning.

Xu Youwei has not arrived yet.

Upon seeing Wu Zhiyuan, Gan Simiao grasped his hand tightly, her face beaming with smiles: "Zhiyuan, thank you so much this time! Secretary Xu is so busy with work, yet you still gave me this opportunity to report in person."

Wu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "You are my former boss. I will definitely do my best to help you if I can."

In officialdom, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

This is why Wu Zhiyuan not only didn't hold a grudge after being suppressed by Gan Simiao, but also wanted to help him.

Gan Simiao said in a low voice, "Zhiyuan, what suggestions do you have for the report later? What aspects has Secretary Xu been focusing on lately?"

After a moment's thought, Wu Zhiyuan said, "What Secretary Xu values ​​most is pragmatism and a sense of responsibility."

When reporting on work, the key is to have a clear line of thought and solid data. You should not only talk about achievements, but also objectively analyze existing problems and make feasible plans for the next step.

In particular, it is necessary to integrate this with the overall strategy of green development in Longcheng, highlighting the unique role of forestry in ecological protection and sustainable development.

Gan Simiao nodded and said, "Okay, I've got it. Green development, ecological protection, sustainable development..."

Wu Zhiyuan checked the time and reminded him, "Director Gan, Secretary Xu should be arriving soon. Please prepare yourself a little more, relax, and just report the facts."

Xu Youwei has arrived.

Gan Simiao quickly stepped forward to greet her.

You could tell he was a little nervous.

Gan Simiao was fifty years old and Xu Youwei was forty-two, but in officialdom, rank and status were not determined by age, but by position and power.

Gan Simiao gave a report that lasted for more than ten minutes.

After leaving, Xu Youwei called Wu Zhiyuan to his office and said, "Zhiyuan, your old boss is a master of reporting skills and knows what leaders want to hear."

But his biggest problem is that he spends too much time on interpersonal relationships rather than on getting things done.

His main purpose in coming today wasn't to report on his work, but rather to express his stance, to take sides, and to test my attitude towards him.

Xu Youwei then changed the subject: "Zhiyuan, do you know why some emperors or brilliant politicians in history, even knowing that a certain official had this or that problem, would still appoint or even promote him?"

Wu Zhiyuan thought for a moment and replied, "Perhaps it's because this person has outstanding talent in some area, making it necessary to use him? Or is it to balance the power among the various factions in the court?"

Xu Youwei smiled and said, "You're right about part of it, but the deeper reason lies in the word 'control'."

For example, Cai Jing, the prime minister during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, had a bad reputation. However, Han Zhongyan, the prime minister who initially promoted him, saw that Cai Jing had a feud with his political enemy Zeng Bu and was resourceful, so he wanted to use him to attack his opponent.

This is a necessity in political struggles; in order to counterbalance opponents, it is sometimes necessary to appoint capable but flawed officials.

Xu Youwei continued, "Leaving aside these extreme examples, even in normal times, the mystery of how those in power use people lies in this."

An official who is morally perfect, exceptionally capable, and without any faults is sometimes difficult for those in power to control completely.

Because he can establish himself based on his own talent and reputation, he may not be so dependent on his superiors. But officials with tainted records are different.

An official's stain, held in the hands of those in power, is like an invisible noose around his neck.

He knows you have leverage over him, so he will be more obedient and less likely to disobey your will.

Because he knows that once he loses your protection, his stain could become a deadly weapon that brings him down at any time.

This is why some emperors would even intentionally indulge or cultivate some harmless habits in their subordinates, because it makes them easier to control.

Xu Youwei then spoke about Gan Simiao: "At this stage, people like Gan Simiao can be used, but not given important responsibilities, much less relied upon as confidants. This is also a temporary measure."

We must use his experience and connections to quickly familiarize himself with the situation and stabilize the situation. We must use systems to restrain him, and once we find that he has overstepped his bounds or that his harm outweighs his contribution, we must deal with him decisively and never tolerate him.

In the long run, we still need to rely on cadres who have genuine talent and skills, upright conduct, and the ability to work diligently.