Reborn as a Noble’s Son - Chapter 607

Chapter 607: Chapter 563 Walking with the Mayor (Request for Monthly Ticket)_1
 

Looking at the number displayed on the incoming call, Lin Mohan didn’t dare to slack off, he straightened up, picked up the phone and greeted, “Mr. Mayor.”

The voice of Nie Zhenbang came through, “Mohan, are you currently available? Can you come to my office?”

Caught off guard by his words, Lin Mohan hesitated for a moment. Meanwhile, Nie Zhenbang had already hung up, a habit that Lin Mohan didn’t pay much mind to. He began to wonder if the matter was related to the Department of Propaganda. Yet, he was certain that the mayor would not phrase the situation this way if that were the case.

Immersed in his thoughts, he stood up and stepped out of his office, instructing his secretary, “Xiao Song, take care of things here while I head to the city government office.”

Upon reaching the mayor’s office, Lin Mohan simply pushed the door and entered. Outside, Li Jupeng also stood up, the door to the inner office was slightly ajar.

Being from the same faction, Li Jupeng and Lin Mohan were quite familiar with each other. With a smile, he said, “Minister Lin has arrived. Please, come in.”

Upon entering the office, Nie Zhenbang also stood up, sitting on the couch, and after Li Jupeng served Lin Mohan a glass of ice water, Nie Zhenbang began, “Mohan, I asked you here mainly to discuss an important matter.”

Despite Lin Mohan being older than Nie Zhenbang, the hierarchy still stood. As in, regardless of age, status was still prioritized. In front of Nie Zhenbang, he was the leader. Lin Mohan didn’t find it strange to address him intimately and was actually quite pleased.

“Mr. Mayor, you may speak directly. I’m fully committed to complying with your arrangements,” Lin Mohan said with a smile. In the end, he didn’t forget to express his loyalty subtly.

Then, without beating around the bush, Nie Zhenbang paused for a moment and said, “Mohan, I called you here today mainly because there’s a situation, and I’d like to seek your opinion. The secretary of the Liaodong Province, Gangcheng City’s committee, has stepped down early due to certain issues. I’m considering sending you there to succeed him. I’m now interested in your thoughts on this matter.”

After a pause, Nie Zhenbang continued with a smile, “Of course, although Gangcheng City is the third-largest city in Liaodong and is famous as a heavy industrial base in our country. However, it is still a prefecture-level city after all. If you go there, it will simply be a lateral reposting. In terms of living conditions, you may encounter some disadvantages. After all, you’ve been a Minan local your whole life and might not be accustomed to the northeast lifestyle. We’re just considering this, no final decision has been made. For now, it all depends on your thoughts.”

This came out of the blue for Lin Mohan, leaving him a bit overwhelmed and deep in thought.

He was somewhat shocked, Mayor Nie’s networking was like the tip of an iceberg appearing before him. Even though Nie was only in Wanghai City, he knew clearly about the dismissal of a secretary of a prefecture-level city in Liaodong Province. More importantly, he was thinking about sending him there; this sort of capability only reinforced Lin Mohan’s confidence in following Nie.

In the system, it didn’t matter if you picked the wrong door; what mattered was not following the wrong person. Clearly, following Mayor Nie meant a bright future and unlimited prospects.

Although Gangcheng City is only a prefecture-level city, and he was already a cadre of the division level, it meant completely different concepts. In Wanghai City, he had been a director of the Department of Propaganda, responsible for the city’s propaganda work. Yet, to be the secretary of the Gangcheng City Committee meant being the top executive.

Comparing it to ancient times, it would mean going from being a servant to being the Family Head. And here in Wanghai City, he was more like a maidservant.

Moreover, Lin Mohan was aware of some issues concerning local cadres. Once they reached a certain level, their chances of promotion were slim. The Central Committee had its considerations, the tenure of local cadres in their own localities usually provoked numerous questions. Typically they were assigned to other positions. Looking at a province, out of the ten-plus leading members of the provincial committee, it would be considered excellent if three to five were local cadres. Many stopped at the division level and couldn’t progress any further.

Now, to be sent to Liaodong was a rare opportunity, an ideal chance to express loyalty. Even though it was a lateral move, the role of top executive was significantly different. Naturally, it was easier to make achievements as the Secretary of the Gangcheng City Municipal Committee.

However, this raises a question — he had no grasp of the conditions in Gangcheng City. He had no idea how to get things done once he was relocated. Would he be able to find his footing? These were the things Lin Mohan was considering.

After a moment of silence, Lin Mohan decided to give it a shot. He knew that if he didn’t take this step forward, Mayor Nie wouldn’t say anything. But in doing so, he would inadvertently lose points in Mayor Nie’s eyes, losing the chance to progress with him. Despite the risks, Lin Mohan believed that even once he had made the move, Mayor Nie wouldn’t leave him to fend for himself.

Then, he nodded and said, “Mayor, I comply with the arrangements. Wherever you want me to go, I will go.”

Although his words weren’t explicit, the meaning was clear enough. It all depended on Mayor Nie’s wishes — whether he wanted him to go or stay.

Nie Zhenbang pondered for a moment, then nodded: “My opinion is that you should not give up on this opportunity. Take hold of it – it’s your chance.”

Pausing a beat, Nie Zhenbang continued: “Mohan, do you have any suitable candidates to replace you in the propaganda department? Publicity work is a priority for our city and concerns the image of the government. After your move to Gangcheng, you should also pay attention to this aspect. Considering the importance of publicity, the handover work needs to be well done.”

These words put Lin Mohan at ease, because he saw this as an opportunity to nurture his subordinates. Having such a leader was truly a comfort. An ordinary person would be content just to get a posting out of the city. As for the position he was leaving behind, the leaders naturally would have their own considerations. However, Nie Zhenbang was giving him this golden opportunity. This move demonstrated just how magnanimous Nie Zhenbang truly was.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Mohan replied, “Mayor, for the position of head of the propaganda department, I recommend the current vice head, Zhou Zihui. Comrade Zihui is very fitting in terms of age and meets all the requirements for cadre promotion. Moreover, Comrade Zihui has a background in arts and is very familiar with the work of the propaganda department. He is a true expert in the field. I believe that if Zhou Zihui is appointed as head of the propaganda department, he will certainly live up to the position, and dutifully complete all tasks assigned by the mayor and the organization.”

The kind of language Lin Mohan was using could usually be seen during organization inspections or in the recommendations of the organization department. Recommending Zhou Zihui implied that Zhou Zihui was accepted by Lin Mohan. The most important part of his sentence was the last one, which showed his absolute confidence in Zhou Zihui.

“Hmm, since you have made such a recommendation, I now have a general idea of the guidelines to follow. In the next few days, sort out your work. Be ready to leave at any time,” Nie Zhenbang said after a moment of contemplation.

After Lin Mohan left, Nie Zhenbang made a phone call to Yang Shengli, discussing the candidate he had recommended. Yang Shengli ended the call quite decisively. He had substantial reservations about his son-in-law, and this act of reaching out was the best Nie Zhenbang could do.

With Yang Shengli involved, the matter concerning Gangcheng city was quickly settled, demonstrating the powerful influence Yang Shengli held.

Meanwhile, the Central Organization Department issued a transfer order without any records of previous discussions. A deputy director of the Organization Department of the Provincial Committee of Minan Province announced the decision to dismiss Lin Mohan as a Standing Committee member and Propaganda Department Head of the Wanghai Municipal Party Committee, promising another assignment for him. The Deputy Director of the Wanghai Municipal Publicity Department, Zhou Zihui, would take his place as a member and Standing Committee member of the Wanghai Municipal Party Committee, and head of the Propaganda Department.

No need to mention that Lin Mohan and his family were planning their move to Liaodong Province for work; at that moment, the entire Wanghai City was in ferment. For the city’s officials under the reality of powerful evidence, Mayor Nie’s current attitude towards his subordinates was fully exposed due to Lin Mohan’s transfer. Now, a consensus had been reached in Wanghai city: following Mayor Nie would lead to a promising future. Seeing how Lin Mohan had been appointed for a resounding position within a short time of knowing Mayor Nie, they realized that promises and conditions inside the system meant nothing – only obtaining real tangible benefits mattered. Undoubtedly, Lin Mohan’s appointment at Gangcheng City was clear proof.

Even though the rank didn’t change, the difference in the positions was known to everyone. The commonly saying, “Better to be a chicken’s head than a phoenix’s tail” applies to this situation.

Though a chicken’s head is weak, it can control its own movements and may one day suddenly rise to greatness, becoming a phoenix. Even though a phoenix’s tail is bright and strong, it has to follow others and whether it can rise or not depends on others’ whims. Most officials prefer working as a Municipal Party Secretary in a local city.

Before long, various officials looking to report work to Mayor Nie have increased significantly. Li Jupeng, the mayor’s secretary, was now more sought after. Being close to the mayor, Li Jupeng received special privileges and was invited to countless feasts almost every day. If not for Li Jupeng’s strong self-control, he certainly would have gained substantial weight by now. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to to vote for a recommendation, a month ticket and your support would be my biggest motivation.)