Chapter 1121: Chapter 1077: The Leader Summons Chapter 1121: Chapter 1077: The Leader Summons Nie Zhenbang acted very swiftly. After speaking with Hong Feng, the next day, on behalf of the organization, Li Wei formally approached Hong Feng for a talk. Following the standard procedural process, an announcent about Hong Feng’s proposed appointnt was published on both the website of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Departnt and in the Red River Daily, among other dia outlets. Comrade Hong Feng was nominated to serve as the Deputy Director of the Hongjiang Provincial Committee Office and as a Deputy Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee.
The positions within the Provincial Committee’s organs are quite interesting. The Secretary-General of the Office of the Provincial Party Committee is a position at the deputy ministerial level. However, do not assu that the Director of the Office of the Provincial Party Committee is the sa as the Secretary-General of the Provincial Committee; these are completely different concepts. Generally speaking, the Director of the Office is usually one of the ranking Deputy Secretaries-General serving concurrently.
Hong Feng’s situation was different. He was first the Chief Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and then the Deputy Director of the Office. As for the Deputy Secretary-General, that was a position at the head, which was a gimmick to resolve the treatnt of a deputy departnt-level rank.
Hong Feng was also deeply concerned. The arrangents made by Secretary Nie were unexpected to Hong Feng, and the possibility that Secretary Nie might leave made it sowhat difficult for Hong Feng to adapt.
Nevertheless, in terms of work, Hong Feng beca even more diligent. Nie Zhenbang was accustod to working late, and Hong Feng was also committed and responsible. Basically, he would leave work only when Nie Zhenbang finished for the day.
As for the office work, everything proceeded in an orderly manner.
At seven fifty in the morning, Nie Zhenbang appeared in the corridor, always very punctual. This had been a habit of Nie Zhenbang for many years.
When it ca to going to work, unless there was so special urgent situation, Nie Zhenbang generally arrived at the office ahead of ti.
When he entered the office, Hong Feng had already finished cleaning. The desk was organized with the day’s newspapers and so docunts laid out on it.
Just as he hung up his coat, the red telephone on the desk began to ring. Nie Zhenbang was montarily startled, and Hong Feng, who had just walked in holding a teacup, also stopped in surprise.
Hong Feng was no longer the greenhorn he once was. After years as the Chief Secretary of the Provincial Committee, his horizons had broadened. The red telephone was directly connected to the Central authorities; it usually did not ring, and if it did, it indicated an ergency.
Hearing this, Nie Zhenbang did not dare to delay. He walked over to the phone, picked it up and said, “Hello, this is Nie Zhenbang.”
From the other end of the line, a voice ca through: “Hello, Secretary Zhenbang. I am Feng Haiqiang, the confidential secretary to Leader Number Five.”
Leader Number Five?
Upon hearing this, Nie Zhenbang indeed was taken aback. He had thought of many possibilities for the call—it might be from President Qiao, or perhaps President Mu, or even Wang Suzhou—but Leader Number Five was not soone Nie Zhenbang had considered.
However, Nie Zhenbang quickly realized the implication. Leader Number Five was in charge of organizational work. The transfers and promotions or dismissals of personnel at the provincial and ministerial level were areas where Leader Number Five held significant influence. It seed that Leader Number Five was contacting him likely for reasons related to these matters.
Nie Zhenbang then replied with a smile, “Hello, Secretary Feng.”
As Feng Haiqiang was not very familiar with Nie Zhenbang, his words were quite formal. After so perfunctory pleasantries, Feng Haiqiang spoke earnestly, “Secretary Zhenbang, by order of the Leader, I have been entrusted to make this call. Within the next couple of days, could you please find so ti to co to Jingcheng for a talk with the Leader?”
Feng Haiqiang’s tone was very formal and serious, which Nie Zhenbang understood and did not find any issues with Feng Haiqiang’s manner.
After all, at this mont, Feng Haiqiang was representing Leader Number Five. Although he was rely conveying a ssage, he was speaking on behalf of the Leader. It was natural for him to speak in such a way. Since the two were not acquainted, this made it quite normal.
Nie Zhenbang pondered for a mont before responding, “Secretary Feng, please convey to the Leader that I expect to arrive in Jingcheng around three o’clock in the afternoon.”
After hanging up the phone, Nie Zhenbang turned to Hong Feng and said, “Hong, go arrange it imdiately, book a flight to Jingcheng. Also, give Dai Fei a call to have the car prepared.”
Once Hong Feng left, Nie Zhenbang picked up the phone and dialed Chen Le. As soon as the call connected, Nie Zhenbang spoke directly, “Old Chen, I’ve just received a call from Leader Number Five. I’ll be heading to Jingcheng ahead of ti today. With only two days left until the National Council etings, I won’t be returning to join the delegation.”
The Red River Delegation for the National Council etings had already been established. By making a call to Chen Le’s side, Nie Zhenbang’s intention was clear. With his departure from Hongjiang, he needed to make arrangents here to be at ease.
Hearing this news, Chen Le was quite surprised; however, he quickly responded, saying, “Secretary, please be assured, I will contact you by phone at any ti should there be any issues.”
Following that, Nie Zhenbang made a call to Qin Guanghan and the deputy head of the delegation, Fang Yuanshan, to explain the situation. This procedure was necessary. As the head of the Red River Delegation, with the Two Sessions about to convene, if Nie Zhenbang left for Jingcheng without making any sound, it would certainly lead to an untenable situation. By communicating his plans, things were less complicated.
…
The flight from Hongjiang to Jingcheng was set to arrive at Jingcheng City International Airport around two-thirty in the afternoon. Accompanied by Hong Feng and Dai Fei, Nie Zhenbang exited the airport.
At the airport exit, a middle-aged man in his forties saw Nie Zhenbang and walked straight over, smiling as he said, “Secretary Zhenbang, hello, I am Secretary Feng Haiqiang of Leader No. 5.”
Nie Zhenbang had not expected Feng Haiqiang to co directly to the airport. This gave Nie Zhenbang so pause. It seed that Leader No. 5 was in a great hurry. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for Feng Haiqiang to co to the airport to pick him up.
Nodding, Nie Zhenbang smiled and said, “Secretary Feng, you’ve gone to great lengths.”
Following Feng Haiqiang into the car, a black Red Flag sedan drove straight out of the airport and onto the highway. At this mont, Feng Haiqiang said to Nie Zhenbang, “Secretary Zhenbang, you’ve had a tiring journey. It was quite sudden to have you co over. How should we arrange for these two comrades?”
Nie Zhenbang glanced at Dai Fei and Hong Feng and then nodded, saying, “Let them stay at the Red River Building. The Two Sessions will begin in a couple of days, so I won’t be in a hurry to go back.”
After passing through layers of security and inspection, the car entered the core area of the Forbidden Sea. The vehicle stopped in the Central Office District.
Under Feng Haiqiang’s lead, Nie Zhenbang went directly to the second floor and entered an office. Feng Haiqiang smiled and said, “Secretary Zhenbang, please wait a mont, I will go in and report.”
Nie Zhenbang didn’t mind this; it was quite normal. As a core mber of the Jiuding, Leader No. 5 indeed had the status and capital to warrant such a procedure.
Nie Zhenbang did not have to wait long as Feng Haiqiang soon ca out and beckoned, saying, “Secretary Zhenbang, please co in.”
Walking into the office, Nie Zhenbang surveyed the room; its decor was very ordinary, with a wooden desk in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties and a wooden armchair. At this mont, an elderly man, around sixty-five years old, was deeply engrossed in writing at the desk.
Seeing Nie Zhenbang enter, Leader No. 5 also lifted his head and nodded slightly, saying, “Comrade Zhenbang has arrived, please take a seat.”
As he spoke, Leader No. 5 also set aside his work and looked at Nie Zhenbang, saying, “Comrade Zhenbang, this ti, I wanted to discuss with you matters concerning Jiangnan Province. Comrade Zhenbang, what do you know about Jiangnan Province?”
This question caught Nie Zhenbang off guard. He had anticipated many possibilities and had considered why he had been summoned so abruptly; one reason might be the matters concerning Hongjiang Province, another could be the issues of Yu State that Wang Suzhou had previously ntioned to him. He had also considered the possibility that the higher-ups were thinking of appointing him to work in Yu State. However, Nie Zhenbang had not expected Leader No. 5 to inquire about Jiangnan Province.
After reflecting for a mont, Nie Zhenbang organized his thoughts and chose his words carefully, then said, “Leader, with regards to Jiangnan Province, I do not know much. I only know so general information, such as Jiangnan Province bordering Hucheng City and being adjacent to Jiangbei. At the sa ti, Jiangnan Province is also one of the economically developed regions in our country. I’ve heard that last year’s GDP of Jiangnan Province exceeded three trillion yuan, ranking it fourth in the nation, just behind Ludong Province, Yuedong Province, and Jiangbei Province.”
After Nie Zhenbang finished speaking, Leader No. 5 also nodded slightly, agreeing and adding, “Indeed, soone with an economic background is sharp regarding these figures. You are right. Generally speaking, that is the situation in Jiangnan Province. However, the current work in Jiangnan Province is quite complicated. Comrade Sun Houzhao from Jiangnan Province has been in poor health. Based on his recomndation and after comprehensive consideration of various factors, the Central Committee also has this consideration in mind. The Central Committee hopes that you can take over Comrade Sun Houzhao’s duties in five to six months’ ti and lead Jiangnan Province forward.”
The frank words of Leader No. 5 left Nie Zhenbang sowhat stupefied. Although he had t Sun Houzhao a few tis, they were not closely acquainted. Nie Zhenbang found it hard to understand why Sun Houzhao would recomnd him for a position in Jiangnan Province, leaving him sowhat perplexed.
Moreover, the words of Leader No. 5 rited contemplation. Logically speaking, an early transition would be preferable given Sun Houzhao’s health, so why choose to wait two to three more months? This was another doubtful point. The combination of these two factors made Nie Zhenbang feel uneasy. It seed that Jiangnan Province was not so simple after all.
Yet, with a serious tone, Nie Zhenbang said, “I will resolutely obey the organization’s arrangent. Wherever the leader instructs to go, I have no personal objections.”
Hearing Nie Zhenbang’s words, Leader No. 5, who had maintained a serious expression, finally showed a trace of a smile, satisfied with Nie Zhenbang’s attitude. He nodded and said, “Good. What is needed from a leading cadre is precisely this kind of indomitable spirit.” (
Reviews
All reviews (0)