Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 94 Power Struggles and Historical Lessons

Wu Zhiyuan felt a vague unease.

When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact? As Xu Youwei's personal secretary, he was bound to be among the first to be impacted.

People like Zhao Zhao fawn over him because they value his position as the chief secretary of the municipal party committee. Once he loses that position, they will quickly change their attitude.

Wu Zhiyuan thanked him, saying, "Secretary Lin, I understand. Thank you for reminding me."

He knew that Lin Xue's words were a subtle reminder to prepare for the possible storms that might come.

He was unsure whether Xu Youwei knew about the rumors that Secretary Sha had stepped down to the second line.

Lin Xue seemed to see through Wu Zhiyuan's thoughts and said, "The Discipline Inspection Commission is a bit special. The Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission has a considerable say in the selection of the Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission. This is mainly to ensure the professionalism, independence and authority of the Discipline Inspection Commission's work."

"If anything happens, you can come to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. Don't worry, no matter who is the Municipal Party Secretary, they will all think highly of me, the Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Lin Xue put it tactfully, meaning that if Xu Youwei were transferred and Ai Kun took over, Wu Zhiyuan could use the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection as a safe haven.

According to Wu Zhiyuan's understanding, Xu Youwei would not have any economic problems or lifestyle issues. However, if Chiang Kai-shek came to power, he might nitpick and transfer Xu Youwei to a low-level government office.

Putting aside the relationship with Ai Kun, Xu Youwei's takeover of Zhang Wanlin already made Chiang Kai-shek's army very unhappy.

At that time, Chiang Kai-shek personally supported Zhang Wanlin.

But Xu Youwei clearly didn't listen to him and still took action against Zhang Wanlin.

And then there's Zhou Mingxuan, who, though he doesn't say it out loud, is also very unhappy with Xu Youwei.

The two went downstairs and put the cardboard boxes and plastic boxes into the trunk and back seat of the car.

Lin Xue sat in the passenger seat.

She was a great beauty in her youth, and although she has entered middle age, time does not seem to have left many marks on her face.

"Zhiyuan, you've been following Secretary Youwei for a while now. What do you think of him?"

"Secretary Xu is a leader I greatly respect. He is decisive, principled, and selfless. He is a role model for me to learn from."

Lin Xue gave a soft "hmm" and said casually, "Secretary Youwei is upright and intolerant of any wrongdoing."

This is his strength, and in many cases, it's key to his success. I respect him very much.

Longcheng had some deep-seated problems, and needed cadres like him to address them thoroughly.

Secretary Sha appreciated him precisely because he valued his willingness to tackle tough challenges.

She paused, then subtly changed the subject: "However, too much clarity leaves no room for fish. Being too rigid and angular can easily lead to setbacks and offending people in complex situations."

Take Zhang Wanlin's case, for example. Although he succeeded, he also completely aligned himself with Chiang Kai-shek's army. That's clear.

Wu Zhiyuan listened silently, not daring to interrupt.

Lin Xue continued, "On the other hand, Ai Kun was a secretary by training. He followed Chiang Kai-shek's army in his early years and was well-versed in the ways of welcoming guests and managing relationships."

He is capable at work, but he probably spends more of his energy on building connections and scheming.

His greatest skill is being able to keep his superiors happy while also winning over a group of people below.

He is very smooth in his dealings with people, or rather, slippery.

A person like him may not achieve great political success, but he knows how to avoid making mistakes, how to use the rules to maximize his own interests, and how to seize opportunities.

Lin Xue turned her head and looked at Wu Zhiyuan: "A person with a strong sense of justice often feels that as long as he acts uprightly and sits straight, he is not afraid of wind and rain."

But often, the storms aren't directed at whether you're honest or not; they might just be because your presence is blocking someone else's path.

People like Iain are adept at using, or even creating, storms to clear obstacles for themselves.

These words were spoken very frankly and clearly.

Xu Youwei is a "tactician of the open," relying on open strategies and strength; while Ai Kun is more adept at "underhanded tactics," relying on relationships and methods.

In the impending power reshuffle, the clash between these two styles will have an unpredictable outcome.

Lin Xue added, "Zhiyuan, what I just told you were some of my true feelings. Maybe I said something wrong, but just keep it to yourself."

The temporary housing is located in the municipal government's staff quarters, and the property rights belong to the municipal government. The environment is quiet and peaceful.

The house is an old one. It has two bedrooms and a living room, and has been cleaned in advance. It is fully equipped with beds, appliances and furniture.

Wu Zhiyuan made two trips and successfully completed the moving task.

"Take a break," Lin Xue said, handing him a bottle of mineral water.

Lin Xue also opened a bottle of mineral water.

The cardboard box contained many books, mostly Party discipline regulations, case studies, and policy documents, but there were also history and literature books.

She picked up a copy of "Fifteen Years of Wanli" and said casually, "Sometimes when you look at history, you will find that many things are the same in ancient and modern times."

Whether in the highest halls of power or the farthest corners of the world, the operation of power and the interplay of human nature—the core elements may change, but they remain the same.

Look at Hai Rui, he was upright and incorruptible, and acted in accordance with the law, but in the officialdom of that time, he was like an incompatible stone.

It's not that being upright is wrong, but things in officialdom are often not simply a matter of right and wrong.

As described in the book, Zhang Juzheng wanted to implement reforms, but he first needed to balance the relationships between various parties. He needed to gain the emperor's trust while also maintaining stability among his officials. If he took any hasty steps, he would be attacked by everyone.

Lin Xue gently put down "Fifteen Years of Wanli," her gaze distant, as if she could see through the pages and witness the overlapping shadows of history and reality.

She continued, "Hai Rui was an upright official and a role model, but his life was full of hardships and his ambitions were difficult to realize."

Zhang Juzheng implemented reforms with astonishing boldness and achieved remarkable success, but he ended up with a tragic fate after his death, with his family property confiscated and his descendants exiled.

Why? Because they all infringed upon the interests of too many people, or, in their methods, they lacked tact and compromise.

She looked at Wu Zhiyuan and said slowly, "Longcheng is now, in a sense, at such a critical juncture."

It's not wrong for a capable Party Secretary to want to take decisive action and eliminate long-standing problems; it's a sign of responsibility.

But touching vested interests is often harder than touching the soul.

Ai Quentin and his group represent a complex web of relationships, where a single move can have far-reaching consequences.

A capable Party Secretary is like a warrior trying to push a boulder; if he uses his strength in the right direction, he can open up new horizons.

However, if one only knows how to charge forward recklessly without understanding how to use leverage or avoid sharp edges, one may also be injured by the reaction force of the boulder.

Wu Zhiyuan listened attentively. He knew that Lin Xue was using historical allusions to subtly evaluate Xu Youwei's current situation and strategies, reminding him to pay attention to the art of struggle and the potential risk of backlash.

At this point, Lin Xue stretched her neck and shoulders, frowned slightly, and sighed wearily, "Alas, age is catching up with me. Lifting a little bit of stuff makes my back and waist ache."

Seeing this, Wu Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Secretary Lin, I worked part-time during my university years and helped out at a blind massage parlor near the school. I learned some basic techniques for relaxing muscles and bones from the master.

"If you don't mind, shall I give you a massage to relieve your fatigue?"