The Official Ladder: I ascend to the pinnacle of power, wielding the power of life and death.

"Do you think I don't want to? I mentioned it to Secretary Wei, but Secretary Wei really likes Jiang Yiming and won't listen to my advice at all."

Jiang Xuangui said, "I had no choice but to settle for second best and get rid of the people around him."

“Due to the Agricultural Bank loan case, many people in the public security, procuratorate, court and county departments have been implicated. The vacant positions need to be filled as soon as possible. Previously, Zhao Zhenlin and Zhang Yuntao were on Jiang Yiming’s side. I also have to consider his feelings regarding some personnel issues.”

"No need for that anymore. The new head of the Organization Department, Hua Wentao, is a subordinate of my old leader. We met a few days ago, and he stated in front of my old leader that after arriving in Xinping County, he would keep pace with me."

"Once Hua Wentao takes office, I will make a motion regarding personnel matters. At that time, Hua Wentao will report directly to me, bypassing Jiang Yiming. I will then have complete control over personnel matters. Without the power to make personnel recommendations, Jiang Yiming will be a toothless tiger as the deputy secretary. He will have no prestige whatsoever. I'd like to see who will still work for him then."

"Secretary, old ginger is spicier, and your methods are superior. Jiang Yiming is no match for you at all."

Wang Xianming gave a thumbs-up and immediately praised him.

…………

After leaving Jiang Xuangui's office, Chen Xujian called Jiang Yiming to complain: "Secretary Yiming, I went to report to Jiang Xuangui, and he only allowed me to deal with one or two section-level cadres. He said it was for the sake of the image of the entire Xinping County, and that if we dealt with too many cadres, it would make the higher-level leaders and people from other places think that the cadres in our county are all corrupt."

"Does this mean that as long as we don't investigate, we won't have any corrupt officials?"

"Didn't you try?"

“We tried, but Jiang Xuangui said to put it on hold for now.”

Chen Xujian said angrily, "I reckon once it's released, who knows when it will be."

“With their intervention, those people will become even more unscrupulous. I think we should give up on this work of optimizing the business environment. It’s all just a bunch of empty promises. They talk a good game at the conference, but when it comes to implementation, it’s a completely different story.”

"No wonder the people are criticizing our officials for not doing their job. With leaders like these, how can we possibly do anything?"

“Secretary Xu Jian, don’t be discouraged. Things haven’t reached a dead end yet. There’s always a way to solve it.”

Jiang Yiming comforted him.

"I'm unhappy. The public will definitely criticize our discipline inspection commission for not doing its job, but what's the reality? I want to do something, but I can't get it implemented."

Chen Xujian sighed.

"It seems you can't calm down unless I reveal something to you."

Jiang Yiming smiled and said, "When you went to report this morning, Secretary Wei of the Municipal Party Committee personally called me to discuss the city's efforts to optimize the business environment. I asked him for a responsibility, which is to assist the supervision and inspection team in charge."

"According to the plan, the main responsibilities of the tracking and supervision team are to track and guide the implementation of various policies, measures and tasks such as the action to innovate and improve the business environment, and to coordinate and resolve difficulties and problems in the implementation process; to investigate and supervise typical cases and outstanding problems that affect the business environment, such as those that affect enterprises, employment and entrepreneurship of the public; to study and propose suggestions for transferring clues of disciplinary and legal issues to the discipline inspection and judicial departments; to establish a collaborative mechanism with the municipal government's supervision office; and to complete other tasks assigned by the leaders."

"With this responsibility, I can supervise and guide the inspection team to investigate the inaction and slow action of Xinping County."

"Secretary Yiming, you should have said so earlier! You made me worry for so long."

Chen Xujian laughed and said, "Don't worry, I will immediately arrange for people to intensify the investigation and gather sufficient evidence so that they have nothing to say."

That afternoon, the city issued a notice in the name of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government regarding the convening of the first meeting on optimizing the business environment and the establishment of the Municipal Leading Group for Optimizing the Business Environment.

The notice required city leaders, heads of municipal departments, heads of county, district, and industrial park party committees and governments, as well as some business representatives to attend the meeting. Additionally, Jiang Yiming, Deputy Secretary of the Xinping County Party Committee, and Lou Yan, Professor of the School of Public Administration at Yiyang University, were specially invited to participate.

Jiang Xuangui and Zhang Yuntao were both a little annoyed after receiving the notice. Other counties only had the county party secretary and the county head participating, but their Xinping County had three people participating, which felt strange.

“Secretary Xuan Gui, the meeting is scheduled for 9:00 tomorrow. Our Xinping County is quite far from the city center. I personally suggest that we go there tonight to avoid being too rushed tomorrow morning.”

Zhang Yuntao approached Jiang Xuangui and offered his suggestions.

"Okay, then let's go there tonight."

Jiang Xuangui said, "County Chief Yuntao, do you know why the city notified Secretary Yiming to attend the meeting?"

"I don't know, I haven't heard of it before."

Zhang Yuntao shook his head and said, "I'll ask him in person when we meet later."

Jiang Xuangui nodded.

Zhang Yuntao then notified Jiang Yiming to pack up so they could take a car to the city together later.

"County Chief Yuntao, I still have some things to take care of. I'll go to the city later. You can go ahead."

Jiang Yiming was too lazy to ride in the same car with them.

"When will this matter be resolved? If it won't take long, we'll wait for you. The Party Secretary hopes we can travel together in one car."

Zhang Yuntao naturally understood that Jiang Yiming didn't want to ride in the same car as them, so he brought up the Party Secretary.

"I estimate it won't be finished in a short time, so how can I keep the two leaders waiting for me? You should go first."

Jiang Yiming didn't care whose idea it was.

Anyway, he had a reason, and the other party couldn't verify it.

"Okay, let's go to the city center first. Call us when you arrive."

Zhang Yuntao didn't know what else to say, so he reported it to Jiang Xuangui.

"Never mind, it's easier for us to talk if he doesn't want to come with us."

Jiang Xuangui then took Zhang Yuntao to the city.

Jiang Yiming called Ding Li an hour late and they headed to the city.

When we were almost in the city, Zhang Yuntao called.

"Secretary Yiming, Secretary Xuangui is out socializing. I'm alone in the room. Let me know when you arrive, and we'll arrange to meet Minister Qiyun and Standing Committee Member Long."

“Standing Committee Member Long and Minister Qi Yun are quite busy. I didn’t make an appointment with them when I came, so I don’t know if they have time.”

Jiang Yiming said, "You're the leader, why don't you make an appointment now?"

“Well, I haven’t been in touch with Standing Committee Member Long for a while, so he might not give me that kind of face. It would be better if you made the first move. You two were on good terms back in the training course, so maybe he’ll do you a favor.”

"Okay, I'll give it a try."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yiming did not contact Long Shaolin or Ma Qiyun.

Unless Ma Qiyun and Long Shaolin have extremely special circumstances, he can usually get them to come out with just one phone call.

But he didn't want to make that call.

After all, he and Zhang Yuntao were no longer on the same path, and Long Shaolin and Ma Qiyun also disliked Zhang Yuntao's character.

If we were to meet up, it would be awkward for both of us.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Yiming called Zhang Yuntao back.

"County Chief Yuntao, we called too late. Standing Committee Member Long and Minister Qiyun already have arrangements and don't have time to see us today."

Jiang Yiming thought for a moment, then decided that he couldn't just sit idly in the room. He suggested, "How about I call Director Jiang of the Finance Bureau and invite the other students from the training courses to get together?"

"Never mind, I'm a bit tired after the long drive. Let's get together again next time."

Zhang Yuntao had no interest in meeting Jiang Wenjing, after all, Jiang Wenjing was only a deputy director.

As for the other classmates, they weren't doing as well as him, and he had no interest in seeing them.

Jiang Yiming hung up the phone and shook his head: "Reality is truly terrifying."

After dealing with Zhang Yuntao, Jiang Yiming called Long Shaolin.

"Brother Long, I'll be in the city soon. Do you have time to have a drink together?"

"Director Song Tao of the Municipal Bureau is picking me up for drinks tonight. I'll finish up here as soon as possible and then we can have a late-night snack together."

"Okay, then you go ahead and get busy. I'll wait for your call."

Although Jiang Yiming and Jiang Songtao were acquaintances, he certainly couldn't just ask to participate in this kind of situation.

"Standing Committee Member Long, who has such a big face that they need you to personally accompany them for a late-night snack?"

Jiang Songtao asked with a smile.

“Jiang Yiming, the deputy secretary of the Xinping County Party Committee, and I have a good relationship. He came to the city for a meeting and just called to invite me to get together.”

Long Shaolin laughed and said, "Director Songtao, don't have any ideas. I will definitely go to see him after I finish what I'm doing here."

“Secretary Yiming, I’ve had dinner with him a few times and we’re quite familiar with each other. I didn’t expect him to be such a good friend of yours, so I invited him over.”

Jiang Songtao then picked up his phone and called Jiang Yiming.

“Secretary Yiming, I heard from Standing Committee Member Long that you came to the city. Standing Committee Member Long is here with me. If you don’t mind that I invited you late, please come over for a get-together. It’s just a private gathering.”

"Since Director Jiang personally summoned me, how could I dare not refuse?"

Jiang Yiming smiled and said, "I'll be there in half an hour. You all proceed first. When I arrive, I'll punish myself by drinking three cups and apologizing to the leaders present."

"Okay, I'll send the address to your phone. See you later."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Songtao smiled and said, "Standing Committee Member Long, Secretary Yiming said he's coming over."

"It's getting late, shall we start eating while we wait for him?"

Jiang Yiming's notification was given at the last minute, and they had agreed to have dinner at six o'clock. Now it was already six o'clock, and with Standing Committee member Long Shaolin and other department leaders still there, he naturally couldn't wait for Jiang Yiming.

Long Shaolin glanced at the time and smiled, "It's still early, and I'm not too hungry. Let's chat for a while and wait for Secretary Yiming."

"Of course, this is just my personal suggestion. If you're hungry, let's start."

"No hurry, no hurry."

Since Standing Committee Member Long said they had to wait, how could they dare say they wouldn't wait? They all waved their hands.

Jiang Songtao's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected Long Shaolin to value a deputy secretary of the county party committee so much.

"It seems I should spend more time with Jiang Yiming in the future. I might be able to help him out when the time is right."

Jiang Songtao thought to himself.

Long Shaolin is not only a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee, but his father is also the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. The Long family has a certain influence in the capital.

Those favored by such a person will naturally have a bright future.

He definitely needs to make some connections; they might come in handy in the future.

Half an hour later, Jiang Yiming rushed over.

"Standing Committee Member Long, Director Jiang, and all the leaders present, I am truly sorry for being late. I will punish myself with three drinks later."

Jiang Yiming said apologetically.

"The drinking party hasn't started yet, so it's not too late."

Long Shaolin smiled and said, "Now that everyone is here, let's begin."

As the group sat down at the table, Jiang Yiming, despite being the deputy secretary of the county party committee, was the lowest-ranking among them and naturally sat at the end.

After everyone was seated, Jiang Songtao introduced the other three people.

"This is Chu Ling, Director of the Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau; this is Li He, Director of the Municipal Urban Management Bureau; and this is Cao Minrui, Director of the Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce."

Jiang Songtao smiled and said, "You may have met on some occasions, but I guess you don't know each other well enough, so let me introduce you to each other again."