"Secretary Liang, your move is truly masterful!"
In the county party secretary's office, Cheng Gang, the director of the county party committee office, immediately began flattering him. "County Chief Qin is now in a bind; he has no choice but to give him money."
"Don't jump to conclusions. That kid might have some other ideas!"
Although Liang Guan's face was filled with smugness, he slightly waved his hand, appearing to remain calm and observe the situation.
"County Chief Qin does have some cleverness, but you are in the central leadership, wielding absolute power. Cleverness is ultimately a crooked path; how can it withstand your upright and open strategy?"
Cheng Gang wasn't stupid. While the leader seemed to be reminding him not to flatter, his beaming smile clearly showed that the leader was very pleased and satisfied with the flattery.
Since that's the case, then naturally, he had to continue flattering!
Until the leader was all smiles!
A perfectly legitimate and open scheme!
Liang Guan was very satisfied with Cheng Gang's description and smiled slightly, "Director Cheng, no wonder Yu Xuewen admired you so much before. You're indeed quite capable; you're knowledgeable, competent, and your speaking skills are excellent! Very good!"
Sure enough!
Liang Guan's praise told Cheng Gang that his flattery had been spot-on, and Secretary Liang was very pleased!
"If Yu Xuewen had half your skill, he wouldn't have ended up so tragically, sent to jail by Qin Mu."
Cheng Gang, openly and subtly praising Liang Guan, immediately said, "With you in charge of Huaining, County Magistrate Qin will likely never escape your grasp."
"Hopefully!"
Liang Guan nodded slightly and said, "Go and find out more about County Magistrate Qin's movements. I know him too well; he certainly won't sit idly by."
"No problem!"
Cheng Gang readily agreed, nodding repeatedly, and said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go and investigate. I'll report back to you immediately!"
After speaking, he bowed carefully and left.
Liang Guan waited patiently in his office, feeling a slight sense of satisfaction as he considered his carefully laid plans.
He knew very well that getting rid of Qin Mu in the short term was unrealistic. What he needed to do now was to suppress Qin Mu's rise, at least preventing him from getting away too easily.
Qin Mu needs government funding to achieve political success. If he spends Qin Mu's funds ahead of time, what will Qin Mu use to achieve anything?
This is the simplest and most effective method!
The key is that the reason he came up with this time is perfectly legitimate; Qin Mu definitely won't be able to refuse.
"Secretary Liang!"
Just twenty minutes later, Cheng Gang returned. "I just asked around, and it seems County Chief Qin is completely silent. Do you think he's chosen to give up resistance and is preparing to do as you said?"
Very silent?
Liang Guan felt something was off. Was Qin Mu usually such a quiet person?
This kid is usually so full of tricks; why is he so quiet this time?
"By the way, Secretary Liang!"
Cheng Gang thought for a moment and said, "There's been no word from County Chief Qin, but a rumor has started circulating again in the county committee compound. It says you proposed giving everyone a subsidy of over ten thousand yuan, and that County Chief Qin agreed!"
Uh…
What?!
Over ten thousand yuan per person?
That's a bit too much!
Liang Guan frowned. This news definitely didn't come from him. He himself didn't make that request. Everyone knows what a subsidy of over ten thousand yuan means!
"Isn't this just nonsense?"
Liang Guan said, dissatisfied, "Who's spreading this nonsense…wait…could this news have been spread by Qin Mu?"
In the entire county committee compound, besides Liang Guan, it's Qin Mu.
It couldn't have just started circulating without warning, could it?
"But the problem is… what's the point of County Chief Qin spreading such rumors?"
Cheng Gang, equally puzzled, asked, "If they really spread these rumors, won't the government funds be depleted even faster?"
Exactly!
That's the problem!
"Let's not think about that for now."
Liang Guan waved his hand slightly and said calmly, "Pay close attention to any changes in the county government compound. Report any new developments to me immediately."
"Yes, Secretary Liang."
Cheng Gang nodded in agreement and then left.
Liang Guan sat in his office, contemplating his next move.
This alone certainly wouldn't be enough to deplete the county government's 35 million yuan fund; he needed to come up with another plan.
Near the end of the workday, Liang Guan received a call from Mayor Qiu.
"Liang Guan, what are you doing now?"
Before Liang Guan could even greet Mayor Qiu, the other party suddenly launched into a tirade, his tone so furious that Liang Guan was stunned.
"Mayor, what...what's wrong with you?!"
Liang Guan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly stammered, "I...I didn't...didn't do anything!"
"You still have the nerve to say you didn't do anything?"
Qiu Xiangqian asked impatiently, "Was it you who proposed giving subsidies to all comrades in Huaining County?"
"Ah...that was my suggestion!"
Liang Guan was taken aback, but still admitted it. There was no need to hide such a thing. He thought to himself: Wasn't he just implementing Mayor Qiu's instruction to completely suppress Qin Mu?
Why was he being criticized in the end?
Could it be that Mayor Qiu didn't see through his true intentions?
Surely not...a mayor who doesn't understand such a small strategy?
"You're quite the clever one, aren't you? I understand you want to squander Huaining County's government funds and deny Qin Mu a chance, but why did you propose a subsidy of over ten thousand yuan per person? Do you think the country's money grows on trees?"
Qiu Xiangqian launched into a tirade over the phone. "Do you know that all the officials in the city are saying Huaining County's subsidy standard is high? If this continues, all the officials in the city will be jealous. Are you trying to sow discord?"
"A poor county issuing such a high subsidy, what do you think of the city leadership? What do you think of the comrades in other counties and districts?"
This tirade finally made Liang Guan grasp the crux of the problem.
"Mayor, I need to explain to you, that mention of a ten thousand yuan subsidy, that wasn't me. I didn't mention it at all."
Liang Guan quickly explained.
"Does this matter?"
"Everyone in the city knows now that Liang Guan, the Party Secretary of Huaining County, is giving subsidies to the county's civil servants—over ten thousand yuan per person! You're really generous, you're a good leader who cares about your subordinates, you're so magnanimous!"
Qiu Xiangqian became increasingly angry as he spoke. He just couldn't understand why Liang Guan, who had accomplished nothing in Huaining County, kept causing him trouble.
His office phone was ringing off the hook!
Everyone was asking if Liang Guan's statement was at his behest!
What an undeserved disaster!