Chapter 72: Enduring is Necessary

  Liu Zhihua's face turned iron-green. At this moment, he hated to slap Zhao Deli out of the office, but he couldn't do that. He wanted to verify the intelligence that Zhao Deli and Xu Shaojie had discussed together, but it was obviously impossible. Neither side would admit it, and investigating further would only lead to embarrassment. Liu Zhihua had already sensed that Xu Shaojie had thought of a way to deal with it, which was to sacrifice the pawn to save the general, but Zhao Deli insisted on taking responsibility. Liu Zhihua refused to give up.

  "Lao Zhao, you are a veteran cadre now and the secretary of the township party committee. You must be responsible when speaking. Now, I represent the organization to ask you to speak out the actual situation. As long as you can speak out the actual situation, the organization will definitely consider it. Your ability is very outstanding, and the work in Yulin Township has been done very well. In the future, there is still a promising prospect."

  "Secretary Liu, it's precisely because I'm an old comrade that I've come to the district office today to report the true situation to you. Everything I've said is factual, and you can investigate."

  "Zhao Deli, I'm asking you, Xu Shaojie is the leader of the detachment. How could he not know about such a big thing? Didn't you report to him?"

  "Secretary Liu, I've already said it's my own decision. Even Township Head Dong disagreed with me. If I reported to Secretary Xu, I would definitely not get support. So, I didn't report it. As the Party Secretary of the township committee, I can make decisions on matters concerning Yulin Township Government. Today we're resting, and Secretary Xu is still out in the countryside, unaware of this situation."

  "Zhao Deli, you must take responsibility for every word you say."

  "Secretary Liu, I take responsibility for what I said."

  "Be responsible, what a big deal, be responsible, the district committee and government have repeatedly asked, to implement the tobacco planting area during this period, we must work hard, all cadres and staff in the whole district are working, no one is on holiday, where did you get the guts, I'll see how capable you are, be responsible, hum, you wait for responsibility, I now announce that your position as Party Secretary of Yulin Township will be revoked, specific handling will be notified later, get out of the office."

  Zhao Deli's face turned bright red as he walked out of Liu Zhihua's office. Liu Zhihua's voice was loud, and it was likely that the officials in the offices downstairs had heard him. Outside the office, Zhao Deli calmed down slightly and slowly made his way downstairs. Today's goal had been achieved, and Liu Zhihua's anger was the best proof of this. At this moment, Zhao Deli suddenly felt that Xu Shaojie would definitely be the one to laugh last. This was the first time Zhao Deli had suffered humiliation at the hands of Liu Zhihua. In Yudu District, there were not many officials who had suffered such humiliation, and now he was one of them.

  Liu Zhihua paced back and forth in his office, cursing nonstop. At this moment, no one dared to enter his office, no one wanted to look for trouble. Liu Zhihua was furious, a carefully planned action had been disrupted by Zhao Deli, all the methods and strategies were rendered useless. The decision made at the secretary's meeting just now suddenly seemed so ridiculous. Liu Zhihua was unwilling to give up, even if he couldn't find any fault with Xu Shaojie, he would still make life difficult for Zhao Deli, skinning him alive without killing him. Liu Zhihua didn't believe that Xu Shaojie would remain unmoved.

  The next day, Liu Zhihua couldn't help it anymore and sent someone to notify Xu Shaojie to return to the district government office for a meeting. The first meeting held was still the Secretary's Office Meeting, and all the deputy secretaries were greeted by Liu Zhihua one by one. He wanted to take drastic measures to make Zhao Deli completely unable to get up. Sun Kaisen, the secretary of the District Discipline Inspection Commission, attended the Secretary's Office Meeting as a non-voting delegate.

  "The situation in Hualin Township, I've already mentioned earlier. The township party secretary Zhao Deli has committed a serious mistake. Today's secretary office meeting is to discuss how to deal with it. Damn, I didn't expect that Zhao Deli, an old comrade, would dare to deceive and lie, take unauthorized leave, and ask subordinates to tell lies and cheat the organization. This mistake is extremely serious. Everyone, let's discuss how to handle it."

  Liu Zhihua didn't look at Xu Shaojie, and Xu Shaojie also didn't look at Liu Zhihua. Xu Shaojie was smoking alone with his eyes level, while Liu Zhihua looked towards Zhang Shiqi.

  "Secretary Liu, Zhao Deli is the party secretary of the township. I suggest that first, the position of the seven township party secretaries be revoked; second, the district discipline inspection committee investigate and give a certain disciplinary punishment; third, Zhao Deli make a self-criticism at the meeting to recognize his mistakes. As for the work in Yulin Township, I suggest that Comrade Dong Guihua temporarily take charge."

  Others did not speak because Xu Shaojie did not speak, including the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission Sun Kaisheng would not speak. Liu Zhihua looked at everyone and was somewhat dissatisfied. His original intention was to hold a criticism meeting in the secretary's office meeting, directly targeting Xu Shaojie, but now he couldn't find an opportunity.

  "Director Zhang's opinion can be considered, I think it's still a bit lenient, not strictly handled. How are we going to manage cadres in the future? Dammit, Yu Du District has always been calm and peaceful, but recently, some annoying things keep happening. In my view, one option is to revoke Zhao De Li's position, two is for the district discipline committee to start investigating immediately. My opinion is that someone like Zhao De Li should be considered for removal from the cadre team."

  No one thought Liu Zhihua would say something like this, which was obviously a bit too much.

  Xu Shaojie would not miss such an opportunity.

  "I have a few opinions to share, the matter is clear, everyone knows about the whole process, Comrade Zhao Deli made mistakes and should be dealt with. However, our principle for handling cadres is based on the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the Disciplinary Regulations of the Communist Party of China. All disciplinary actions must be carried out strictly in accordance with the regulations, not just based on some leaders' opinions.

  It's been many years since the special period has passed, and the Central Committee has repeatedly asked us to seek truth from facts. Why do we still have such situations? Is the district committee and government our personal private property?

  I'm deeply grieved, we must strengthen our learning and party spirit cultivation. The district committee is a primary party organization, and the district government is a primary government agency. If we can't follow the rules, how can we ask lower-level cadres to do so?

  Regarding Comrade Zhao Deli's mistakes, they are very serious. Organizational handling has already removed him from his position as secretary of the township party committee, which is enough. As for disciplinary action, I don't feel it's necessary. It seems that there's no regulation in the Disciplinary Regulations that says taking a day off without permission or lying to leaders should be subject to disciplinary action.

  If our district committee plans to study and give disciplinary action, my understanding is that the district discipline inspection commission is higher than the central discipline inspection commission. That's all I have to say."

  The conference room was as silent as death, Liu Zhihua confirmed

  It's actually wrong to say that such behavior is not subject to disciplinary action. Even if it must be disciplined, it must be handled from other aspects, and the district committee's opinions must be highly unified. At the same time, the district discipline inspection commission does not have the qualifications to expel cadres' party membership and public office, this is the most basic regulation, Liu Zhihua should know why he would say such words, letting Xu Shaojie grasp his weakness. What Xu Shaojie said was very serious, it's not a small matter, any one of the opinions that were implemented, Liu Zhihua would be unable to bear the consequences.

  Liu Zhihua has been silent for a long time.

  "I think it's like this, Secretary Office Meeting will remove Zhao Deli from his position as Township Party Committee Secretary, other matters will be studied at the next meeting, what do you all think."

  It was Zhang Shiqiu who came out to resolve the situation, now no one dares to mention disciplinary action easily, this hat is not small, and no one wants to wear it. After Zhang Shiqiu finished speaking, Liu Zhihua spoke up.

  "So be it, Zhao Deli was transferred to the Qinghua Township government to work and did not hold any position. At the same time, he told the cadres of the Qinghua Township government to help Zhao Deli correct his mistakes in his work. The meeting was dismissed."

  Xu Shaojie was the first to walk out of the conference room. In the past, it was always Liu Zhihua who came out first, followed by Zhang Shiqiu, and then Xu Shaojie. At this point, Xu Shaojie had no mood to notice these things anymore. Liu Zhihua's quality was too poor, such a person could actually take office as district party secretary. By this time, the last layer of veil between Xu Shaojie and Liu Zhihua had been torn apart, and what followed would be a face-to-face battle.

  The district committee meeting and the team meeting were held immediately, and Liu Zhihua began a lengthy speech. Countless words ultimately fell on Xu Shaojie's body, of course, it was implicit. Zhao Deli's affairs were highly publicized by Liu Zhihua, but in the end, Liu Zhihua did not mention disciplinary action. On the one hand, Liu Zhihua would not give Xu Shaojie a chance to speak, and on the other hand, Liu Zhihua would belittle Xu Shaojie as much as possible, reducing his prestige. Liu Zhihua wanted everyone to understand that he was the secretary of the Yudu District Committee, and everything was decided by him. The entire meeting lasted more than two hours, except for Zhang Shiqiu's announcement of the Secretary Office Meeting's decision, all the time was spent on Liu Zhihua's speech.

  Zhao Deli has completed the handover and is about to leave the Yulin Township Government. According to convention, everyone should see him off, but Zhao Deli refused. Now, many cadres in the township government have been thinking of ways to avoid him. Zhao Deli knows that after he goes to Qinghua Township Government, the environment will be even more hostile, and he will be sent to the most remote and poorest villages. For now, it's not a big deal, but when tax collection time comes around, the trouble will become apparent.

  "Old Zhao, you've suffered."

  "Secretary Xu, don't say that. I haven't even had a chance to thank you yet. Liu Zhihua wasn't trying to ruin my career, was he? If it weren't for your opposition, the district disciplinary committee would probably be asking me to confess my mistakes by now, and then they'd be looking for ways to punish me. It's not like I'm some kind of big shot. Didn't Liu Mu go through something similar too?"

  "Secretary Zhao, after arriving at Qinghua Township, stay for a while and take care of your body."

  "Director Dong, Liu Mu, we've already been branded, so we must follow Secretary Xu and do a good job. After I leave, the situation will likely become more complicated. The cadres in the township government are now worried and fearful, but this can't be blamed on them. Who isn't afraid of trouble? When there's conflict between leaders, it's always the people below who suffer first. Secretary Xu, don't take this matter to heart. Do whatever needs to be done, I may not be able to help anymore, but I'll definitely support you."

  "Lao Zhao, don't say anything more, you've already helped as much as you can. I've said it before, a leader who can't protect his subordinates isn't a good leader and doesn't deserve to be one. Remember my words."

  Xu Shaojie's words are what a few people love to hear most.

  Xu Shaojie at the district office, truly understood the taste of being deserted in front of the gate. All the tobacco seedlings in the district have been transplanted on a large scale. The current important work is mainly the technical staff of the tobacco station. Xu Shaojie's time going to the countryside has decreased relatively. Whether it is Xu Shaojie's office or dormitory, no one visits him. Xu Shaojie has arranged Song Tao to Yulin Township Government to help inspect and supervise the transplantation of tobacco seedlings. The rest will not come to visit.

  Xu Shaojie knew that it had reached the stage of bayonets seeing red, and he was unwilling to directly seek help from Secretary Ding Yuan. That would be too cheap for Liu Zhihua and make himself appear lacking in sufficient ability. This was Xu Shaojie's first severe game since joining the workforce, with a low level but high intensity. From the start of this game, Xu Shaojie had always been in a weak position due to job restrictions. However, Xu Shaojie clearly understood that he couldn't stay in such a weak state for long and must come up with a fatal blow.

  Liu Zhihua was also considering the next step, and he couldn't squeeze out Xu Shaojie. Liu Zhihua wouldn't be at peace if Xu Shaojie continued to work for another year. He had inquired with the municipal party committee and found that there were no plans to transfer Xu Shaojie. Therefore, Liu Zhihua would not tolerate Xu Shaojie continuing to work for another year. Xu Shaojie's arrival in Yudou District had already ruined many good things for him. If it weren't for Zhao Deli's intervention last time, Liu Zhihua would have directly handed Xu Shaojie over to the municipal party committee's organization department by now. Liu Zhihua didn't care; his qualifications were old and well-known to the municipal party committee and government. He couldn't let Xu Shaojie get away with it, and handing him over to the organization department was their problem to deal with. Unfortunately, this step hadn't been taken yet, but Liu Zhihua wasn't discouraged. Xu Shaojie would eventually make a mistake, and when that happened, he could be caught and not let go.

  The cadres of the district government have a very subtle mentality. They dare not directly contact Xu Shaojie, and everyone knows how formidable Xu Shaojie is. For so many years, he has been the first to dare to confront Liu Zhihua head-on. Not to mention others, from last August to now, the district committee has not made any large-scale personnel adjustments, which is extremely rare. Therefore, everyone has some admiration and sympathy for Xu Shaojie. In their view, Xu Shaojie does not have much hope. Liu Zhihua has been in Yudu District for too long, familiar with everything, and is also the district party secretary. Even if Xu Shaojie has backing, he cannot shake Liu Zhihua for a while. Many cadres believe that as the situation develops to this point, Xu Shaojie may have to leave Yudu District. There are also those who are gloating, with Song Tao's feelings being the most profound. Before Xu Shaojie came to Yudu District, he was unknown. After Xu Shaojie arrived, he quickly became active, but unfortunately, his active period was too short. No one thinks that Song Tao will try to curry favor in the future.