Choosing a New Secretary

The next day, there was a knock on Lin Yanzhou's office door.

Zhou Minze, head of the municipal Party committee's Organization Department, entered with a respectful smile. "Mayor Lin, sorry to trouble you. Regarding Comrade Chen Mo's appointment as executive deputy district head of Guangming District, the provincial Party committee's Organization Department has approved the filing, and the public notice period has ended. When would be convenient for me to personally escort Comrade Chen Mo to take up his post? The leadership team in Guangming District is waiting."

Lin Yanzhou looked up from a pile of documents.

The investigation had entered its toughest phase, and losing Chen Mo at this point did leave him feeling somewhat hampered. Placing Chen Mo in the crucial position in Guangming District was an important move toward opening things up at the grassroots level and gathering accurate information, far more important than keeping him by his side as a secretary.

"Let's make it tomorrow morning. Arrange it. I'll escort him there myself."

Zhou Minze froze briefly. For the mayor to personally escort his secretary to take up a post was an exceptionally high honor, and it undoubtedly sent a powerful signal to Guangming District and even the entire city.

Chen Mo is my secretary, Lin Yanzhou's secretary, and someone I value.

Zhou Minze hastily nodded. "Of course, Mayor Lin. I'll arrange it and notify the Guangming District Party committee right away."

"Wait," Lin Yanzhou called out as Zhou Minze was about to turn away. "Minister Zhou, compile a copy of Guangming District Head Sun Liancheng's detailed résumé, along with his work summaries and performance evaluations for the past three years, and send it to me."

Zhou Minze stopped, rapidly weighing things in his mind.

The mayor suddenly wanted to learn about Sun Liancheng. This district head, whom Li Secretary Dakang had repeatedly criticized for "inaction" because his "heart embraced the cosmos," had now entered the mayor's sights. Whether that was good or bad remained unclear.

He answered cautiously, "Of course, Mayor Lin. I'll compile everything as soon as I get back and bring it to you before the end of the workday."

After a brief pause, he added, "Regarding Comrade Sun Liancheng, based on the information available to the Organization Department and general feedback, his working style has certain distinctive characteristics."

"Secretary Dakang has pointed out on various occasions that he lacks a sense of responsibility and shows a tendency toward administrative sloth."

"Deputy Mayor Ding Yizhen has also described him as lacking boldness and being afraid to move either his hands or his feet when getting things done."

"As a result, his annual performance evaluations in recent years have not been outstanding. When it comes to advancing certain major projects, given the need for strong execution, the district's key projects have primarily been led by Deputy Mayor Ding Yizhen. He has not participated in core decision-making."

Lin Yanzhou's expression remained calm. "Mm. Send the materials over as soon as possible."

"Of course, Mayor Lin." Zhou Minze bowed slightly and withdrew, still pondering the deeper meaning behind the mayor's move.

Just after Zhou Minze left, the municipal government's secretary-general led three people in, looking somewhat cautious. "Mayor Lin, following your instructions, we screened several comrades from the General Office's Secretariat and the districts and counties below. Here are their résumés. Please take a look and see whether any of them might be suitable. We can bring one over on a trial secondment to temporarily take over some of Comrade Chen Mo's duties."

Lin Yanzhou took the three résumés and studied them carefully.

Naturally, the people selected by the secretary-general would have had their backgrounds vetted, and their writing skills and basic qualifications should all have been adequate.

But as he went through them one by one, he kept feeling that something was missing.

Perhaps it was the unspoken understanding he shared with Chen Mo, which needed few words. Perhaps it was the sharp edge that allowed Chen Mo to voice a different opinion at a critical moment. More than anything, they lacked the absolute loyalty forged by weathering storms together.

In the end, he pointed to one résumé. The candidate had graduated from Peking University's philosophy department, making him a junior fellow alumnus. "This one, then. Comrade Li Ze from the municipal Policy Research Office. Bring him over on secondment and give him a try."

The secretary-general hurriedly had the young man named Li Ze step forward.

Li Ze looked to be in his early thirties. Wearing glasses and looking scholarly and refined, he greeted Lin Yanzhou somewhat nervously. "Hello, Mayor Lin!"

Lin Yanzhou looked him over, his tone even. "Mm. A secretary's work involves countless details, high standards, and a fast pace. Above all, you must strictly observe discipline. Follow along and familiarize yourself with things first. The secretary-general will arrange your specific duties. If there's anything you don't understand, ask more, observe more, and speak less."

"Yes, Mayor Lin. I'll study hard, work conscientiously, and strictly observe discipline!" Li Ze hastened to pledge, looking somewhat ill at ease.

Lin Yanzhou waved a hand, and the secretary-general led them out.

The office fell quiet again. Lin Yanzhou leaned back in his chair and sighed softly.

He had chosen Li Ze mainly because, of the three, Li Ze was his junior fellow alumnus. That alone had been the basis of his choice.

Deep down, however, he had been satisfied with none of the three secretary candidates. But to avoid affecting the bigger picture, he had not made any further fuss.

At least Li Ze looked reasonably steady. But compared with Chen Mo, he was still a long way from being fully seasoned, both in spirit and in quick-wittedness.

In choosing personnel, especially for a crucial position such as secretary, neither ability nor loyalty could be lacking.

But these are extraordinary times. I can't keep demanding perfection. My main priority now is to get Chen Mo down there first. This is the most important link in the current strategic deployment.

So, for the sake of the bigger picture, using a secretary who isn't quite satisfactory yet is a necessary transition and a price that must be paid.

He picked up the phone and dialed Chen Mo's number.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll escort you there to take up your post. Once you're in Guangming District, keep your eyes sharp, your ears keen, and your hands and feet busy. Especially that Sun Liancheng..." Lin Yanzhou paused. "Observe him closely. See whether he really is carefree or merely feigning nonaction."

On the other end of the line, Chen Mo's voice was firm. "Understood, sir. Rest assured, I know what to do."

After hanging up, Lin Yanzhou lit a cigarette. The investigation team's progress, the murderous threats lurking in the shadows, the adjustment to a new secretary, and Chen Mo's new journey kept surging through his mind. Every one of them was full of uncertainties.