Chapter 856: Chapter 812: Sun Jialuo Pays a Visit Chapter 856: Chapter 812: Sun Jialuo Pays a Visit When Nie Zhenbang arrived ho, he had just stepped through the door when An Na greeted him at the entrance, taking from Nie Zhenbang’s hands his briefcase and coat, and whispered, “Zhenbang, Governor Sun is here.”
Upon entering the living room, Sun Jialuo had already stood up, smiling, and said, “The governor has returned.”
Sun Jialuo’s visit this ti surely ant that he could not stay put any longer; at this mont, officials throughout the province were privately restless.
Following the deaths of Zeng Taiping and Lu Qingyu, Bashu Province’s political scene was thrown into disarray. From the grassroots level, both n had operated in Bashu for many years, with nurous followers and associates under their wing. Their sudden passing was a disaster for those under their influence.
The impact at the county and division levels wouldn’t be too significant, but it was far more substantial at the prefecture and bureau levels. Those who were previously under the two n now found themselves like laid-off workers, urgently needing to seek new employnt, a new boss.
The greatest impact was at the provincial and ministerial level. This mishap left two positions as standing committee mbers of the provincial party committee vacant, as well as one full ministerial post and one deputy ministerial post. Now, anyone in the province remotely qualified to vie for these positions naturally beca restless.
At such tis, who isn’t desperately leveraging connections and seeking patronage? When everyone else is making moves, if you don’t, you fall behind. It is just the way of the system—miss one step and you’ll miss the next. In such a situation, it was quite normal for Sun Jialuo to have his own thoughts.
Looking at Sun Jialuo, Nie Zhenbang managed to deduce sothing: Sun Jialuo must have co to probe for news. Regardless of the circumstances, he himself was a strong contender for Zeng Taiping’s position. It was a tradition within the system for the governor to succeed the party secretary—a common occurrence and a logical progression at all levels of party committees. If he harbored such ambitions, Sun Jialuo naturally would have his sights set on the governor’s position.
Waving his hand warmly, Nie Zhenbang said with a smile, “Old Sun is here, sorry for the inconvenience. I had so engagents and went out for the evening. Let’s go to the study.”
After ushering Sun Jialuo into the study, Yang Anna soon followed, serving a cup of tea and placing Nie Zhenbang’s personal teacup on the coffee table. An Na said, “Zhenbang, Governor Sun, please take your ti to talk.”
Having been born into a family of officials and married to Nie Zhenbang, she was quite adept at the decorum required in official circles. Once Yang Anna left the room, Nie Zhenbang picked up the teacup and leisurely took a sip.
Looking at Sun Jialuo, he then smiled and asked, “Old Sun, sothing on your mind?”
Sun Jialuo appeared sowhat embarrassed, nodded slightly, and said with a faint smile, “Governor, does the central governnt have any specific arrangents or thoughts regarding this incident?”
As the first high-ranking official to die unexpectedly in peaceti, Zeng Taiping’s case had shocked the nation. There was surprise throughout Bashu Province, and equally, at the central level, there was no doubt a contention brewing about the situation.
After a pause, Nie Zhenbang replied with a smile, “Old Sun, you seem a bit anxious. That’s not good. We aren’t in a position to speculate about the central governnt’s attitude and thoughts. Besides, regarding this matter, the upper echelons’ stance remains quite vague. Whether to promote soone within Bashu or to parachute soone from outside, it’s still unknown. I do feel, however, that we can’t let up on our work in Bashu. We must earnestly and ticulously continue our current tasks, as the favorable economic situation has not been easy to co by.”
Although the conversation seed purely about work, the implicit ssage was quite clear. This is the nature of politics—the higher up one goes, the more distinct the style and thod of communication becos.
At the township level, dialogue and actions are direct—slamming the table and cursing during committee etings are common. If you don’t like soone and they don’t like you, such feelings are almost visible on the faces involved.
However, at the county division level, and particularly at Nie Zhenbang’s level, conversations and exchanges beco more like solving riddles.
The few words spoken just now seed simple, but in fact, Sun Jialuo was truly trying to find out whether Nie Zhenbang had any aspirations for the secretary position.
Of course, Nie Zhenbang also conveyed his stance and attitude clearly. Regarding the position, Nie Zhenbang maintained a calm approach, neither expressing a lack of interest nor overt desire. Nie Zhenbang’s ssage was to focus on economic construction and developnt. For now, he would not consider this issue.
Hearing these words, a fleeting look of disappointnt crossed Sun Jialuo’s face. It was entirely normal for Sun Jialuo to harbor such thoughts.
Currently, Sun Jialuo was already fifty-nine by the traditional reckoning and the next year would be a major reappointnt year. If he couldn’t take advantage of this excellent opportunity to move forward, to cross the gap from deputy ministerial level to full ministerial level, he would have no hope next year. By then, Sun Jialuo could only consider stepping down to the second line, either to the People’s Congress or the Political Consultative Conference.
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However, if he could succeed this ti, both emotionally and logically, the central governnt wouldn’t replace a governor who has only been in his senior ministerial position for one year. Moreover, according to the central governnt’s regulations, senior ministerial-level officials can postpone retirent until the age of sixty-five. This was indeed Sun Jialuo’s last chance, and he couldn’t help but feel anxious.
After a mont of silence, Nie Zhenbang laughed and said, “Old Sun, rest assured, I will keep this matter in mind. Isn’t there a saying that goes, ‘If one door shuts, another opens’? Sotis, surprises do happen.”
Nie Zhenbang’s words were profound. He was primarily offering comfort. From an investnt point of view, Sun Jialuo’s value had diminished significantly.
In terms of age, Sun Jialuo already had no advantage to begin with. The position of a senior ministerial-level official isn’t sothing that’s given just because soone wants it; the complex entanglents between the different factions an that if you gain sothing, you are bound to lose sothing else in return. For soone younger, perhaps fifty-one or fifty-two years old, who could still serve two or even three terms, that would be a different story. But for just one term, weighing the costs against the benefits was a question worth pondering.
Hearing this, Sun Jialuo also beca contemplative and stood up, saying, “Governor, it’s getting late, I won’t disturb your rest anymore.”
After seeing Sun Jialuo to the door, Nie Zhenbang closed the door. Turning around, An Na had also co out of the bedroom and said to him, “Zhenbang, is Sun Jialuo after your position?”
Nodding, Nie Zhenbang seed sowhat helpless at the mont, “Yes, with Zeng Taiping gone, now everyone in the province has their eyes on this place. A tree is stable only when it is still; once it moves, people thrive. If I make a move, it’s inevitable that Li Yunhe will also move. The vacancy that erges will cause others to move, and consequentially, there will naturally be a chain reaction.”
An Na could understand Nie Zhenbang’s feelings very well. She had seen a lot of such situations. It may seem like only one or two positions are being vacated, but if managed skillfully, it involves deep understanding and strategy.
For instance, if Nie Zhenbang moved up and Sun Jialuo beca governor, the position of executive vice governor would be a promotion for soone below. That person’s vacancy would then also be a promotion opportunity for others. Sighing, An Na expressed her confusion, “Zhenbang, didn’t father discuss this with you? Why don’t you just tell Sun Jialuo the truth straight up?”
On this matter, Nie Guowei had discussed this issue with Nie Zhenbang during his visit to Bashu, in addition to Yang Shengli, who had specifically communicated and discussed this with Nie Zhenbang for this purpose.
This ti, there was no hope left for Nie Zhenbang to beco the Party Secretary of Bashu Province. This had already been a consensus. Whether it was Director Shen or Comrade Qiao Yiren, they all shared the sa attitude.
Nie Zhenbang was at a disadvantage due to his age. A thirty-eight-year-old taking on the role of a provincial Party committee’s top leader was sothing sensational. That was one point.
Secondly, Director Shen had plans for Nie Zhenbang, and Bashu Province was not the ultimate destination. After next October’s national party congress transition, Director Shen would retire, and Nie Zhenbang was likely to move beforehand. The specific province was unknown, but it would definitely be a province with distinct characteristics, either a major industrial province, an agricultural powerhouse, or an economically strong province. Assuming the role of Party Secretary now would tie him down, impacting Nie Zhenbang’s prospects of entering Central in the next term.
Therefore, for this occasion, Nie Zhenbang had completely given up any hope. After a pause, Nie Zhenbang smiled bitterly and said, “An Na, it’s not easy to talk about this matter. After all, work still needs to continue. Considering the progress of work, it’s better not to say anything at this ti.”
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While Nie Zhenbang was worried about how to deal with Sun Jialuo, at that mont, Long Genghua was staying at the Bashu Province Beijing Office hotel.
The work Long Genghua had done that day wasn’t very effective. There was a knock on the door, followed by the voice of his secretary Wang Shouzheng, “Secretary, it’s Shouzheng.”
Hearing Wang Shouzheng’s words, Long Genghua looked up and said, “Co in. The door is unlocked.”
Upon entering, Wang Shouzheng went straight to the water dispenser, brewed a strong cup of tea for Long Genghua, placed it on the coffee table, and then said, “Secretary, please have so tea. Just now, I received a call from Young Master Li, who wants to et with you tomorrow evening.”
Upon hearing Wang Shouzheng’s words, Long Genghua imdiately stood up, as this news was like welco rain after a long drought for him.
That day, Long Genghua had run into walls everywhere in Jingcheng. Political news spread the fastest in Jingcheng, and while everyone knew why Long Genghua had co, no one dared to speak about it, which had left him feeling disheartened. Suddenly hearing this news, Long Genghua naturally beca extrely pleased. He pondered for a mont and said, “Alright, Shouzheng, go ahead and arrange the eting. Book the best club.”
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