Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1217 - Chapter 1217 Chapter 1173 Different Levels of Arrangement

Chapter 1217: Chapter 1173: Different Levels of Arrangement Chapter 1217: Chapter 1173: Different Levels of Arrangement After speaking with Zhang Fangwen, Nie Zhenbang rarely left work on time. By six o’clock, Nie Zhenbang had returned to the Provincial Committee Guesthouse.

After finishing dinner, Nie Zhenbang sat on the living room sofa, watching television during his free time. Watching the daily news was a must for him.

Local leaders, like Nie Zhenbang, watched “News Broadcast” and the local news to understand the nation’s dynamics and the trends and inclinations of higher-level leaders. From the news, one could discern a lot. The speeches given by leaders during inspections and the frequency of their media exposure served as references for changes in higher-level decisions.

Naturally, Nie Zhenbang was no exception. He watched the news to understand the country’s dynamics and the central government’s policy trends, which helped him grasp the direction from above and maintain alignment with his superiors.

At seven-thirty, just as the news ended, the doorbell rang with a ding-dong, ding-dong outside.

When he opened the door, there stood Liu Xiaomin.

“Secretary, I hope I’m not disturbing you,” said Liu Xiaomin with a smile.

Surprised, Nie Zhenbang smiled and responded, “Secretary-General, is there something you need?”

As they spoke, he let Liu Xiaomin into the room and walked over to the water dispenser to pour her a cup of tea.

Then, Nie Zhenbang also sat down, looking at Liu Xiaomin and falling silent.

At this moment, Liu Xiaomin naturally understood what Nie Zhenbang meant. Being closely connected was one thing. Although Secretary Nie was quite satisfied with her work, there was still some way to go before reaching the level of a trusted core associate.

After pondering for a moment, Liu Xiaomin said, “Secretary Nie, I’ve heard that the province has started conducting assessments for some personnel adjustments.”

Liu Xiaomin had to speak up about this. As a leader of the Provincial Committee, not only did others have their confidants, but Liu Xiaomin had her own as well. Within the system, every official has their subordinates. This isn’t about forming cliques; it’s a normal practice.

Actual cliquism refers to the behavior where certain leaders involved in corruption and other disciplinary infractions collude with each other for mutual benefit, forming a network and a shield, protecting one another. Such practices are greatly harmful to the country, society, and the people, and must be firmly eradicated.

However, there are officials who are upright and clean, who work for the people’s benefit. Among higher-level leaders, there are those with the same aspirations. Such close relationships are not something that organizations and the national level can easily define.

Now, with Longxi Province undergoing such extensive personnel changes, Liu Xiaomin, as the leader of her small circle, needed to step up. Only by being able to bring benefits to others could these relationships be strengthened. Regardless of the outcome, the gesture was necessary.

“Oh? What are your thoughts, Secretary-General?” Nie Zhenbang asked, keeping his composure.

Liu Xiaomin smiled and said, “Secretary, I personally think that Tian Xiaogang, the current head of the Finance Division at the Department of Land and Resources, would be quite suitable for the deputy director position.”

…

Like catching glimpses on a passing horse, after Liu Xiaomin left, Li Hongying promptly came over. Li Hongying naturally had similar thoughts. After reporting on the Propaganda Department’s work, she steered the conversation towards personnel matters and eventually shared her own personnel suggestion after circling around the topic.

The entire evening was busy; starting from seven-thirty and lasting until midnight, successive waves of people came to report on their work.

After Li Hongying, Luo Qiuliang came over. Then Chen Zhewen visited, followed by Liu Yueguang.

Nie Zhenbang was well aware of all this. In Longxi Province’s current personnel adjustments, his position was detached because he had not been in office long enough to establish his own circle. Many people were still observing and considering their options.

As such, he was indifferent toward the personnel changes, but his position also meant that his opinion would play a crucial role in the formal personnel appointments and dismissals.

Today, with the launch of the personnel assessment and adjustment plan, other leaders in the province specifically made visits with the intent of indirectly influencing him to gain some leverage.

After seeing off Liu Yueguang at midnight, Nie Zhenbang returned to the sofa and picked up his phone to make a call.

After two beeps, a seductive tune came from the other end of the line. This made Nie Zhenbang frown and pull the phone away slightly before speaking into it, “Feeling merry? The lesson learned in this matter was deep enough. I can hardly believe you’re still so enthusiastic; don’t you have the slightest psychological barrier?”

The words were quite impolite. At that moment, a voice came from the other side: “Nie Zhenbang, what a sanctimonious act you’re putting on. Lust is a natural urge. Now that I’ve left the system, I actually find my life quite comfortable. Living behind the scenes, yet feeling like I have a grip on the big picture. I’m always standing from the perspective of a spectator. I see things clearer than you do. Irony me? You’d better start worrying about yourself. Ling Baodong has been like a mad dog lately, jumping all over the place. I don’t believe he won’t bite off a chunk of your flesh.”

“Heh, if it isn’t the great young master of the Li family, brother Guohua, always so sharp with your words. Ling Baodong is nothing but a jumping clown. If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have touched Lingxiao Coal Mine. You know my personality: Either I don’t act, but once I do, it becomes unstoppable. Haven’t you experienced it firsthand?” Nie Zhenbang retorted just as forcefully.

“You… Alright, Nie Zhenbang. I won’t engage in a war of words with you. Why are you calling me so late? Is there something you need from me?” Li Guohua asked, sounding somewhat exasperated, but he quickly calmed down.

Li Guohua’s demeanor made Nie Zhenbang secretly sigh in his heart. Truly the most promising man of the Li family back in the day. If only Li Guohua hadn’t been so arrogant and complacent in his youth, having achieved success too early, to the point of getting carried away. By now, he would definitely be my most formidable opponent.

Speaking of their relationship, it was like fire and water, incompatible. Nie Zhenbang was the main culprit who had ruined Li Guohua’s career. However, within the system, there were no irreconcilable enmities overnight. Whoever seized the opportunity reigned supreme, and if someone fell on hard times, they couldn’t blame anyone else but their own lack of capability.

Years had passed, and Li Guohua had since leveled his mindset. Setting aside that grudge, there might not be much in terms of friendship between them, but cooperation was still possible. Previously, Nie Zhenbang had secured Li Guohua’s support in exchange for a deputy director’s position at the Development and Reform Commission for his arrangements in Jiangbei Province. This was one example.

After pondering for a moment, Li Guohua straightforwardly asked, “Nie Zhenbang, are you looking for me for some matter?”

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang laughed: “Brother Guohua, always to the point. In Longxi Province, there happens to be a vacancy for a vice-provincial-level position. If you’re interested, feel free to make your own moves. As for me, I won’t be recommending any candidates.”

Generally, for local positions, reaching the level of vice-provincial usually required appointments and arrangements from above. However, the local leaders still had a say in recommendations, and most of the time, those at the top would consider the local leader’s preferences. After all, if local officials were dissatisfied, problems were bound to arise.

“Nie Zhenbang, what are your conditions?” Li Guohua asked directly.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Pie doesn’t just fall from the sky. With such a tempting offer laid out, Nie Zhenbang was no Lei Feng. Li Guohua felt this deeply.

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang said with a smile: “Straightforward. It’s very simple. My elder brother, Nie Jialei, wants to come down to the local level. My request is that you don’t stand in his way.”

…

Not long after Nie Zhenbang and Li Guohua finished their phone call, in the family compound of the Longxi Provincial Committee, Courtyard No. 2, the home of Longxi Province Deputy Secretary and Governor Liu Zhentao was lit up despite the late hour.

It was late into the night, but the lights in the second-floor study were still on.

There was a sound of the study door being pushed open, and Liu Zhentao’s wife, He Mei, walked in carrying a bowl of late-night snacks: “Old Liu, it’s late; you should get some sleep. Work never ends, but your health is more important.”

“Little Mei, heh, you go to sleep first. I’ll rest after finishing these materials,” Liu Zhentao replied with a smile.

The situation in Longxi was changing day by day, and Liu Zhentao’s motivation was fully activated. Working overtime had become routine for him.

Just at that moment, Liu Zhentao’s phone on the desk suddenly rang. The phone number made Liu Zhentao pause: a Jingcheng number, his younger brother’s personal phone.

After picking up the call, Liu Zhentao immediately said: “Little brother, it’s late. What’s the matter?”

“Big brother, I’ve just received news. Nie Zhenbang has made his move. He and the old Li family’s Li Guohua have reached some kind of understanding. The Li family is maneuvering for the vice-governor vacancy in Longxi Province, while Nie Zhenbang is working on his elder brother Nie Jialei’s transfer to a local position,” a voice came through the phone.

The speaker was Liu Zhenhai, Liu’s second brother, currently the Director of Jingcheng City Public Security Bureau. He was well-informed about the circles within Jingcheng, and when it came to matters related to Longxi, Liu Zhenhai was naturally very concerned.

Hearing this, Nie Zhenbang would have certainly burst into curses if present–Li Guohua was too shameless, deliberately leaking the news with extremely malicious intent. People within the circle would inevitably try to block it, especially Ling Baodong.

After hanging up, He Mei had already approached him anxiously: “Old Liu, what’s wrong? Is there trouble in Jingcheng?”

At that moment, Liu Zhentao’s mood was far from calm. The disparity in their strategies was now glaringly evident. If previously, during Nie Zhenbang’s appointment, Liu Zhentao had somewhat underestimated him, now, that notion had completely vanished.

With a sigh, he patted the back of his wife’s hand on his shoulder and said, “What a man, Nie Zhenbang. His strategies are simply on a different level. I truly don’t stand a chance against him.”(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)