Sha Ruijin arrived in Handong

At Jingzhou Airport in Handong Province, all the members of the Handong Provincial Party Committee leadership team who were in the province were chatting in small groups in the VIP lounge when the airport director approached Governor Liu Changhe.

"Governor, Secretary Sha's plane is about to land."

After hearing the airport director's report, Governor Liu rose to his feet, drawing everyone's attention.

Liu Changhe swept his gaze over everyone present before speaking.

"Comrades, the plane carrying Secretary Ruijin and the central leadership is about to land. Let's get ready to welcome them."

As his words fell, the quiet conversations in the lounge stopped instantly. All the provincial Party leadership members quickly straightened their appearance and naturally formed a welcoming line in order of Party rank.

Governor Liu stood at the front, with Gao Yuliang, Tian Guofu, Li Dakang, and the others lined up in sequence. Everyone adjusted their expression to convey anticipation and welcome.

Soon, the special aircraft carrying Handong Province's new helmsman and the Central Organization Department leader taxied smoothly to its designated position, and the boarding bridge slowly approached.

The cabin door opened. The first person to appear was the executive deputy head of the Central Organization Department. Smiling, he looked over the welcoming delegation.

Governor Liu immediately stepped forward warmly, clasped his hand in both of his, and shook it firmly. "Minister, thank you for making the journey! On behalf of the Handong Provincial Party Committee and provincial government, I extend our warmest welcome! Once again, we thank the central leadership for sending Handong such a capable team leader. We've been eagerly awaiting his arrival!"

The department leader replied with a smile, "You're too kind, Governor Liu. The central leadership selected Comrade Ruijin for Handong after careful consideration. I believe that under his leadership, Handong will certainly break new ground in every area of its work."

Then the department leader pointed to Sha Ruijin beside him. "Old Liu, this is Secretary Sha. Let me introduce you."

With that, he shook hands with Gao Yuliang, Tian Guofu, Li Dakang, and the others in turn.

Governor Liu immediately released the deputy head's hand and turned to Sha Ruijin, again clasping his hand in both of his. "Secretary Ruijin! Welcome, welcome to Handong! Everyone across the province has been looking forward to having you as our team leader!"

Sha Ruijin shook Governor Liu's hand firmly. "Comrade Changhe, thank you for your efforts, and thank you and our comrades for such a warm welcome." His voice was resonant, carrying a compelling strength.

Then, guided by Governor Liu, Sha Ruijin shook hands with every member of the provincial Party leadership present, including Gao Yuliang and Li Dakang.

When he shook Gao Yuliang's hand, he said, "Secretary Yuliang, I've long heard of you." To Li Dakang, he said, "Comrade Dakang, Jingzhou places a heavy responsibility on your shoulders." When Tian Guofu's turn came, the two exchanged a knowing look, and their handshake was noticeably firmer.

The entire welcoming ceremony was recorded by Handong's official media. That evening, the lead news story on Handong Satellite Television would cover Sha Ruijin's arrival for viewers across the province.

Afterward, guided by Governor Liu, the deputy head of the Central Organization Department, Sha Ruijin, and the rest of the party headed toward the Coaster minibus waiting nearby.

Led by police cars, the motorcade drove smoothly out of the airport toward the Handong Provincial Party Committee compound.

Inside the vehicle, beneath the seemingly harmonious pleasantries, undercurrents of competing thoughts stirred.

Everyone understood that from this moment on, Handong Province had officially entered the "Sha Ruijin era." Every step ahead would unfold under his watch and direction.

A new chapter had already begun.

When the vehicles arrived at the Handong Provincial Party Committee compound, staff on every floor watched the motorcade below through the windows, filled with curiosity and anticipation about the new secretary.

At three that afternoon, a grand conference of leading officials from across the province convened in the provincial Party committee auditorium. On the dais, the executive deputy head of the Central Organization Department and Sha Ruijin sat in the center, with the provincial Party standing committee members seated in order on either side.

Below the dais, the first row seated deputy-provincial-level officials and provincial- and ministerial-level leaders from the people's congress, the political consultative conference, and other bodies. From the second row onward, a dense sea of principal officials from the province's cities, provincial agencies, and major enterprises and public institutions filled the seats.

Everyone's expression was controlled to perfection, but their thoughts were probably already surging like storm-tossed waves.

Governor Liu Changhe chaired the meeting. First, the executive deputy head of the Central Organization Department announced the central leadership's decision.

Following deliberation, the central leadership had decided:

Comrade Sha Ruijin was appointed member, standing committee member, and secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee. He was relieved of his posts as deputy secretary, standing committee member, and member of the Communist Party of China's Biannan Province Party Committee, and approval was granted for him to cease serving as governor of the Biannan Province People's Government.

This appointment was a decision made by the central leadership with the overall work situation in mind, based on work requirements and the actual needs of building Handong Province's leadership team, following comprehensive consideration and careful deliberation. It fully reflected the central leadership's great attention to and warm concern for Handong's work.

Comrade Sha Ruijin was politically steadfast and conscientiously maintained a high degree of alignment with the central leadership in thought, politics, and action. He had extensive leadership experience, was familiar with Party affairs and economic work, and possessed strong organizational leadership and overall coordination abilities. He was pragmatic in his work style and had a strong sense of dedication and responsibility.

The central leadership considered Comrade Sha Ruijin suitable to serve as secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee. It believed that, under the firm leadership of the Party Central Committee, Comrade Sha Ruijin would surely unite the provincial Party leadership closely, lead the province's officials and people in forging ahead with determination and working diligently, advance every undertaking in Handong Province toward new and greater achievements, and live up to the central leadership's trust and the expectations of the people throughout the province.

Party organizations at every level and all Party members and officials across the province must conscientiously align their thinking and actions with the spirit of the central leadership's decision, firmly uphold that decision, and fully support Comrade Sha Ruijin's work. They must thoroughly implement the Scientific Outlook on Development, fully implement the overall "five-in-one" framework of economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological development, unswervingly advance reform and opening up, focus on accelerating the transformation of the economic development model, effectively safeguard and improve people's livelihoods, comprehensively raise the scientific standard of Party building, and strive to open a new chapter in Handong's reform, opening up, and socialist modernization.

Attached: Comrade Sha Ruijin's résumé:

Sha Ruijin, male, Han ethnicity, born in November 1953, a native of Penglai County, Shanlu Province. He began working in August 1973 and joined the Party in April 1976. He held a postgraduate qualification from the Central Party School and a master's degree in economics.

Current position: secretary of the Communist Party of China's Handong Provincial Party Committee.

Employment history:

1973.08-1975.12: Sent-down youth, Fengjiatun Commune, Yanshui County, Jinxi Province.

1975.12-1978.03: Soldier and squad leader, People's Liberation Army.

1978.03-1982.01: Studied political economy in the Department of Economics, Capital University.

1982.01-1985.05: Official and deputy principal staff member, Shanlu Provincial Party Committee Policy Research Office.

1985.05-1991.12: Deputy director and director of the Secretariat, Shanlu Provincial Party Committee General Office.

(During this period: 1987.09-1990.07, attended the three-year training program in the Training Department of the Central Party School.)

1991.12-1994.08: Deputy secretary, Rongcheng Municipal Party Committee, Shanlu Province.

1994.08-1998.02: Secretary, Rongcheng Municipal Party Committee, Shanlu Province.

1998.02-2001.07: Vice governor, Shanlu Province.

(During this period: 1999.03-1999.07, attended the advanced training program for provincial- and ministerial-level officials at the Central Party School.)

2001.07-2003.04: Party leadership group member and director of the Department of Personnel and Education, National Audit Office.

2003.04-2007.02: Deputy auditor general and Party leadership group member, National Audit Office.

2007.02-2011.05: Deputy secretary, Biannan Province Party Committee.

2011.05-2013.01: Deputy secretary, Biannan Province Party Committee; governor and Party leadership group secretary, provincial government.

2013.01-: Secretary, Handong Provincial Party Committee.

The moment the department leader finished speaking, enthusiastic applause rang out from the audience, while murmured discussions rose one after another.

"Shanlu Province and Biannan Province are both revolutionary heartlands in every sense. Looks like another man with red roots and a proper revolutionary pedigree."

"Promoted right on schedule, never missing a step. Looks like his backing isn't simple, either."

"How many people who started as sent-down youths and made it this far could be ordinary?"

Amid the enthusiastic applause, Sha Ruijin delivered his inaugural address. His gaze swept across the audience, and those who had just been discussing him fell silent.

Sha Ruijin did not use a prepared script. "Comrades, the central leadership has sent me to Handong to work alongside all of you. I feel deeply the weight of this responsibility and the honor of this mission."

"First, I would like to express my sincere thanks for the achievements of Handong Province's successive leadership teams and its officials and people."

His tone then shifted, turning solemn:

"However, we must also clearly recognize that under these new historical conditions, our Party faces many grave challenges. In particular, some individual leading officials have wavered in their ideals and convictions, grown lax in discipline, and even abused their power for personal gain and engaged in embezzlement and corruption, severely damaging the organization's image and the people's interests!"

He quoted important statements on the fight against corruption.

"Building clean government is a journey without end. The fight against corruption has no final rest! The Handong Provincial Party Committee will resolutely implement the decisions and plans for fighting corruption. With an attitude of 'zero tolerance,' we will firmly punish corrupt elements, root out the black sheep, and foster a clean and upright political environment!"

This forceful declaration against corruption made quite a few officials in the audience with deep ties to Zhao Lichun's network feel their hearts tighten and a chill run down their backs.

Then Sha Ruijin returned to development. "Of course, while one hand must crack down hard on corruption, the other must hold firmly to economic development as our central task, without wavering! Development is the foundation and key to resolving all problems. As a major economic province, Handong cannot fall behind, much less stand still!"

At this point, he specifically mentioned Jingzhou, his gaze seeming to pass almost imperceptibly over Lin Yanzhou's seat.

"I've noticed that Jingzhou City has recently proposed some very good ideas and plans for promoting high-quality development, particularly for the transformation and upgrading of the Guangming Peak Project. For example, 'industry-city integration' and 'fine-grained development.' These align with the central leadership's guiding principles and suit Handong's actual conditions. The provincial Party committee supports them! I hope Jingzhou will explore boldly, blaze a new trail, and provide experience that can be replicated and promoted throughout the province!"

This was the first time Sha Ruijin had publicly expressed clear support for Lin Yanzhou's reform ideas. Although his tone was calm, the signal he sent was extremely strong.

Seated in the audience, Li Dakang felt the stone weighing on his heart over the Guangming Peak Project settle, at least for now. Lin Yanzhou remained composed, listening intently without any unnecessary expression.

Gao Yuliang adjusted his glasses, the same inscrutable smile still resting on his lips. No one knew what he was thinking.

After the conference ended, Sha Ruijin immediately chaired an introductory meeting, bringing together all deputy-ministerial-level officials in Jingzhou and the heads of provincial agencies and departments.

Sha Ruijin did not dwell further on broad principles. Instead, he went straight to the point. "Comrade Guofu, you're the 'imperial commissioner' sent by the central leadership. You need to get the discipline inspection commission's work moving immediately, establish the full picture, and make preparations. On issues that draw strong public complaints and come with specific leads, you must dare to take on tough opposition and investigate them to the very end!"

Tian Guofu nodded steadily. "Rest assured, Secretary Ruijin. Under the firm leadership of the provincial Party committee, the discipline inspection commission will fulfill its duties and live up to its mission."

Sha Ruijin looked at everyone again. "I've only just arrived and am unfamiliar with the situation. My immediate priority will be fact-finding visits.

"Over the coming period, I'll visit the various cities and sectors to see and listen for myself. I hope everyone will speak the truth and report the actual situation."

His gaze finally settled on Lin Yanzhou.

"Mayor Yanzhou, Jingzhou is the provincial capital, Handong's window and public face. The burden on your shoulders is no light one. The provincial Party committee has high hopes for the Guangming Peak Project. You must make it substantive, keep it steady, and deliver results. If you encounter any difficulties, you may report directly to the provincial Party committee."

"Yes, Secretary Ruijin. I'll spare no effort," Lin Yanzhou replied, concise and firm.

This brief introductory meeting established the two main themes of Sha Ruijin's early tenure: keeping the sharp sword of anti-corruption suspended overhead, and beginning with fact-finding visits to establish the true situation.

After the meeting, Sha Ruijin returned to his office. The provincial Party committee's secretary-general had already placed a thick stack of documents awaiting approval and a roster of officials on his desk.

Standing by the window, he watched the vehicles leaving one after another below and spoke to Tian Guofu, who had followed him.

"Comrade Guofu, has the provincial discipline inspection commission still made no progress?"

"Secretary, we still have no leads," Tian Guofu replied helplessly. He had been in Handong for almost half a year, but he still did not have full control of the provincial discipline inspection commission, so he could not obtain any useful information at all. Any information that reached him had already been filtered by the people below.