Chapter 421: 402: Eastern Development Forum_1

Nie Zhenbang wasn’t at all surprised by Ning Shouchang’s statement. He had his own sources of information, and Ning Shouchang, as the governor of Jiangbei, had been able to take advantage of the changing political landscape and become attached to the Nie family. Nonetheless, Ning Shouchang was no ordinary person, regardless of circumstances.

Nie Zhenbang understood the strict standards his grandfather had for people. Although his uncle Nie Guodong’s ability was only average, his judgment of people was inherited from their grandfather.

Every rat has its path, and every cat has its way. Could Ning Shouchang, without a source of information, remain in his position as governor under such fierce competition in Jiangbei Province?

Nie Zhenbang then responded with a faint smile, “Governor, you are aware as well. What is your view on the appointment of our city’s organization department minister?”

This showed Nie Zhenbang’s intelligence. Despite his deep background, he was constantly wary of relying on it.

Others may be wary of his family background, but if he flaunted it, it would inevitably convey a sense of disdain. Although people wouldn’t say anything upfront, they might view him negatively in private.

At this point, Li Guohua made such a mistake, which led directly to his passive situation.

Ning Shouchang pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, “Don’t concern yourself with this matter.”

Seeing Nie Zhenbang’s calm demeanor, Ning Shouchang’s eyes revealed a hint of admiration. Nie Zhenbang knew when to advance or retreat, without arrogance or impatience. His own son was an outstanding talent, but he still fell short when compared to Nie Zhenbang.

In Liangxi City, three families vied for power, and the views of Fan Changsheng were to be overthrown by a coalition of Zhu Zhuozhen and Nie Zhenbang. This is what led to the trip to the provincial capital by the three major figures of Liangxi City. However, things in the province were similar, only elevated to a higher level.

It wasn’t impossible to secure the position, but the cost would certainly not be small. Wang Daan wouldn’t willingly relinquish the position without setting some terms.

However, it would be difficult for Nie Zhenbang, as the city’s mayor to get the job. Firstly, Nie Zhenbang was an outsider with little foundation in Liangxi City. Secondly, as a mayor, this inherent defect would limit his ability if he got the job. People would rather work with Zhu Zhuozhen, who as the deputy secretary general commits full-time to personnel affairs, and teams up with the Minister of Organization.

Nie Zhenbang was a different case. If he gets his hands on the position of Minister of Organization, there’s a chance he could be marginalized if the Party Secretary and the Deputy Secretary put pressure on him. Instead of that, it would be more beneficial to negotiate terms with Wang Daan. Therefore, from the outset, Ning Shouchang clearly told Nie Zhenbang that we should not consider this position. It’s not in the plan.

Originally, Ning Shouchang thought he would need to spend some time explaining this, but Nie Zhenbang had already seen the situation clearly.

In light of this, Ning Shouchang continued, “However, I believe that Wang Daan can offer some favourable conditions. Now that you’ve brought it to the province, it’s out of your hands.”

Nie Zhenbang chuckled, “Governor, I have no opinion on who takes up the minister’s position, as long as it isn’t one of Fan Changsheng’s people.”

After pausing briefly, Nie Zhenbang suddenly changed the topic and said, “Governor, although the matter of the Minister of Organization is a side issue, this trip primarily aims to discuss my ideas on the development of Liangxi City with you.”

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang was modest and didn’t mention any specific plans, but only discussed ideas. These could be adjusted based on the leaders’ preferences, but a plan would give the impression that things were already settled, making it hard for the leaders to voice their opinions. As a result, their support for future actions would likely diminish.

“Oh? I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas,” Ning Shouchang responded, seeming genuinely excited. Nie Zhenbang had a reputation as a skilled economist, and Ning Shouchang sincerely wanted to hear his thoughts.

The economic development of Liangxi City was thriving, but it had hit a bottleneck. Maintaining this growth rate was not easy, let alone seeking innovation. Ning Shouchang was also facing the same problem in Jiangbei Province. Conditions in Jiangbei were not much different from those in Liangxi City.

Nie Zhenbang was facing issues similar to those encountered by Ning Shouchang. Inside the system, there was a rumor that officials all wanted to serve posts in poor and remote areas. This was not false but true. The poorer a place, the easier it was to achieve political results. Even a three billion yuan investment was considered minor in Jiangbei Province. In contrast, in poorer provinces, it would be a significant investment that could drive economic growth immediately.