In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 106 Taking Office as Border Station Chief

That evening, a farewell party was held at the station. Chen Hongtao got extremely drunk, laughing and crying at the same time.

He put his arm around Lu Zhao's shoulder and confided, "Sometimes I envy you. You're so capable, young, and handsome. Even with that old dog Lu suppressing you, you still managed to get promoted half a rank in a year."

"I toiled for nine years as a clerk, then five years as a deputy clerk, working diligently every day, and finally... finally I became a chief clerk! Waaaaah..."

Chen Hongtao burst into tears.

Most people might only be clerks in their entire lives, and becoming a deputy clerk is the highest they can achieve, while becoming a chief clerk is considered a meteoric rise.

Lu Jinshan, a mere clerk, was able to lead his fellow villagers to prosperity, achieving a genuine leap in social class.

midnight.

Chen Hongtao was carried back to the dormitory. Lu Zhao and Zhang Like were smoking in the corridor, discussing who the higher-ups would send to be the next border station chief.

Zhang Like said, "Old Lu, could you ask Team Leader Lin to make an exception and promote you to the position of border station chief? It would be too much trouble if we brought in another person to oppose us."

I didn't feel anything before I had power, but now that I have it, I never want to go back to the way things were.

Sometimes Zhang Like even suspected he was on drugs, because he seemed to be walking on air.

“There’s nothing we can do.” Lu Zhao shook his head and said, “She’s not a god; no matter how far she can reach, she can’t control Zhao De.”

Even with great power, rules and regulations still apply. Lin Zhiyan wanted to transfer himself to a good unit, but even finding Ding Shoujin, who was only one step away from becoming a Wuhou (a high-ranking official), would require some compromise, and he himself would have to wait until next year to leave.

It's not like a big shot can get promoted with just a word; everything has to go through procedures.

Fangshi is Zhao De's territory, and only he can temporarily appoint the border station chief. The actual appointment of officials is handled by the Organization Department, but only Zhao De, as the local top official, can temporarily finalize the positions through some maneuvering.

If the conditions are met, temporary positions are likely to be converted to permanent positions.

The only solution is to find Zhao De...

The moment the thought arose, Lu Zhao immediately extinguished it.

This wasn't the first time I'd had this thought; it was like a curse constantly whispering in my ear.

'No wonder Zhao De pointed this out to me; he clearly had ulterior motives.'

Lu Zhao lit a cigarette, feeling increasingly that the officialdom was full of temptations.

Most of the time, he doesn't need to break the law; he can get benefits simply by helping others with a small favor.

It was this kind of thinking that corrupted many cadres. At the beginning, no one was aiming to embezzle or break the law; everyone had ideals.

If Lu Zhao helps out today, he can save a year's worth of work.

Zhang Like asked, "Have you thought of a way?"

Lu Zhao said sincerely, "No, what can I, a mere lieutenant, do?"

Zhang Like said confidently, "There must be. You always have this face when you lie."
-
Meanwhile, on the other side, Mo Kun and his subordinate financial assistant were on their way back to their dormitory.

The assistant said with a worried look, "Brother, will Lu Zhao let us go? The things he did in the city were like those of a mad dog."

How could someone in logistics not be corrupt? Lu Zhao's upright character was already well-known at the border station, in addition to what he did in Fangshi.

If Lu Zhao were to become the border station chief, aside from whether the logistics department could continue to live a comfortable life, it's probably...
“As long as he’s not the station chief, he can’t do anything to us. He’s just a training staff officer, and Zhang Like is a battalion commander. They don’t have the authority to manage our logistics.”

Mo Kun maintained a calm expression, but his heart was in turmoil.

Lu Zhaolian, the mayor, wanted to drag him into this mess, let alone himself.

The assistant said, "Your uncle is the deputy mayor; I doubt he would dare to act recklessly."

Upon hearing this, Mo Kun immediately had a plan. He remembered having dinner with his uncle yesterday, during which the uncle told him after drinking, "Uncle, I'm going to become a city magistrate."

My uncle is the city's chief executive officer, why would I be afraid of Lu Zhao?

No matter how well-connected the task force is, they have no jurisdiction over the border station. The advantage is with me!
-
July 13th, morning.

The Municipal Enforcement Office issued a document, which, after being passed through several levels of bureaucracy, was delivered to Lu Zhao at 10:10.

Notification Regarding the Exceptional Promotion of Comrade Lu Zhao

All border management detachments, stations, offices, and departments of the General Headquarters:
In light of the complex and severe situation and special needs of our city's border flood control work, and after discussion and deliberation by municipal departments, a decision was made on July 12, 3242:

Comrade Lu Zhao of the Mayiling Border Station was promoted to the position of temporary station chief, a promotion made exceptionally.

After reading the notice, which was about a thousand words long, Lu Zhao frowned slightly, unable to understand Zhao De's intentions for a moment.

This is clearly not due to the smuggling case; any achievement is delayed and requires review by higher authorities.

After Lin Zhiyan's explanation, Lu Zhao gained a clearer understanding of the factional power dynamics in Nankaido.

The Nankaido region can be roughly divided into the Chen and Liu factions.

The Liu faction, led by Liu Hanwen, is the traditional establishment and advocates maintaining the existing system.

In recent years, the pro-establishment camp has split into two factions: one is the "steadfast faction" that upholds the current order, and the other is the "Taoyuan faction" that advocates building an underground city.

The Chen faction, led by Chen Wuhou, was the opposite of the surrender faction; they preferred to call themselves reformers.

They advocated abandoning the distinction between Chinese and barbarians, demanding the shrinking of borders, and no longer defending the mountains and rivers as the country, but instead building city-states surrounded by high walls.

Lu Zhao is now cooperating with Lin Zhiyan and belongs to Liu's faction, which is completely opposed to Zhao De.

Unable to figure it out, Lu Zhao didn't dwell on it further, as it was at least to his advantage.

Lu Zhao convened an emergency meeting, which was attended by all the leaders of the border station, including heads of various departments, company commanders, and officers of military rank.

He conveyed the appointment from the city office.

This did not surprise anyone.

Generally, federal officials are notified of job changes six months to three months in advance. Lü Jinshan was dismissed suddenly, and the Organization Department would not directly parachute in a leader.

Instead, a junior manager within the station is selected to serve as the temporary station manager, thus eliminating the need for a work handover.

As for the candidates, there are only three people: Lu Zhao, Zhang Like, and Mo Kun.

Others either lack the rank or the prestige.

Lu Zhao glanced at Mo Kun, who was middle-aged and overweight. Mo Kun's body was tense and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat.

He said, "That's how it is. My original position as training staff officer was concurrently held by Major Zhang Like."

Zhang Like stood up, saluted, and said with a broad smile, "I will certainly not let the leader down!"

In this way, he was in charge of both military and political affairs in the company, being responsible for both company command and company assessment.

Normally, this wouldn't be arranged, but he's Lu Zhao's sworn brother. Zhang Like deserves at least a third of the credit for Lu Zhao getting to where he is today.

Everyone understood perfectly, and no one refuted it.

"There are also some job transfers."

Lu Zhao's voice trailed off, and everyone present, except for Zhang Like and other company officers, immediately tensed up.

One of them was already pale-faced; that was Liang Fei, the platoon leader of the reinforced platoon.

"The platoon leader Liang Fei has been transferred to the position of director of the health clinic, and Liang Chao will take over his original position."

Both men share the surname Liang and have two-character given names. Liang Fei is Lü Jinshan's lackey, while Liang Chao is Zhang Like's man.

(End of this chapter)