Reborn as a Noble's Son

Nie Zhenbang then said with a smile, “Minister Sun, it’s not really something new. I’ve tried this plan before when I was in New Li City, and it worked well. But this time, it’s more detailed.”

Upon hearing this, Sun Minghao fell into thought. After a while, he opened his mouth wide in surprise: “Mayor Nie, are you referring to the public reception regulations that were piloted in New Li City and are now implemented throughout the Xibei Autonomous Region?”

Sun Minghao had conducted extensive research on Nie Zhenbang’s achievements. He was a cadre from the Party School and had a keen interest in theoretical research. The public reception regulations that had made a big stir in the Northwest Region were naturally a subject of his research.

However, seeing Nie Zhenbang nod in acknowledgment, Sun’s expression turned serious. He was familiar with these regulations, which were essentially norms for Party and government officials, primarily in controlling public funds for official receptions. He could imagine that if this plan was implemented, it would definitely draw opposition. Whether it could withstand this pressure was hard to say.

But Nie Zhenbang seemed very calm, smiled slightly, and continued, “In part, but it’s not entirely about official receptions. This time, my consideration is to set up a clear behavioral standard for all party and government officials in the city.”

According to Nie Zhenbang’s plan, strict rules would first be set for official receptions, official cars and official investigations funded by public money. For instance, based on the living cost in Liangxi City, official receptions should strictly be limited to fifty yuan per person per meal. For accommodation, it should not exceed a hundred yuan per person per night. In terms of official cars, there should be a mandatory rule that Party and government officials are strictly prohibited from using official cars outside of normal working hours. Any private use of official cars would be investigated and punished. For official investigations, any out-of-province investigation involving more than five people must have a detailed plan and purpose.

Hearing all these rigid rules, Sun Minghao was stunned. At this moment, he felt Nie Zhenbang was out of his mind. This wasn’t just a plan; it was like declaring war on all the officials in Liangxi City. He could imagine the massive shock to all city officials once this plan was announced.

In this era, the concept of separation between public and private affairs was still blurred, especially for leaders with certain ranks who are allocated dedicated vehicles. They considered these vehicles their own. Going out for a social engagement in the evening, having a little networking – weren’t all these part of their job duties? And now it’s suggested that they should be punished for this? Was this some kind of joke?

“Mayor Nie, I must say, this plan is quite shocking. If it is really implemented officially after being announced, I’m afraid…the pressure will be immense,” Sun Minghao voiced his concern after a moment of silence.

This was something Nie Zhenbang was quite satisfied about. Sun Minghao’s forthrightness showed his character. After all, speaking one’s mind could potentially offend people.

Nie Zhenbang knew this well – a plan devoid of resistance would surely not be a good one. What did it mean to harm the interests of the majority? In Nie Zhenbang’s concept, the interests of the general public were the real majority. When comparing to the stunning amount of “Three Public Expenses” that he remembered from his past life, the resistance at this moment might still be relatively small.

Those who wish to achieve great things must possess the courage and determination to forge ahead. If one just played follow-the-leader, then that person wouldn’t be Nie Zhenbang. Of course, he couldn’t make it alone. Man is mortal; he certainly wasn’t a god. Taking on the world single-handedly was still beyond his capability.

Nie Zhenbang then added with a smile, “Minister Sun, my plan is to formally discuss this at a Municipal Party Committee meeting in a few days. If it passes, we will officially implement it citywide. Moreover, my intention is to set up a special supervisory group jointly led by the Organization Department and the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission. If any cadre violates the regulation, penalties, from deducting points in the Organization Department’s assessment to administrative demotion, could be imposed based on the circumstances. If the violation involves illegal activities, it would be referred to the law enforcement authorities for prosecution. Minister Sun, this is the same principle as when our national predecessors established the country. Without bloodshed or sacrifice, how could chaos be rectified, and unhealthy tendencies be reversed? If I, Nie Zhenbang, don’t even have this courage, I might as well sit comfortably in the office of a ministry, waiting for promotion.”

This last sentence struck a chord with Sun Minghao. It was said that Nie Zhenbang had an extraordinary background, with several of his elders being high-ranking provincial and ministerial officials, and his grandfather was a founding figure of the country. It seemed that the rumors were true. Such a earth-shattering plan would make any ordinary official break into a cold sweat just thinking about it, let alone discussing it. This wasn’t just a plan – it was a path to professional suicide. A misstep in execution could lead to public outrage and ruin one’s political future.

However, Sun Minghao saw an opportunity for himself in this plan. The formation of a supervisory group jointly led by the Organization Department and the Discipline Inspection Commission meant that he could decide on the group members from the Organization Department’s side. This was his opportunity to turn the tables.

At this moment, Sun Minghao hesitated, pondered a bit and made a decision. He nodded and said, “Mayor Nie, I support this plan. Although the “Three Public Expenses” seem insignificant now, I predict that they will become a malignant tumor for our party in the future. If we can find a solution at the budding stage, I believe this would be beneficial for the entire nation.”

Hearing Sun Minghao’s words, Nie Zhenbang was somewhat moved. There was no lack of talent. The fact that Sun Minghao could predict so far into the future wasn’t something that he, with his memories of a past life, could match. This was a real skill. However, it seemed that most of the talented individuals were being stifled within the system.

With Sun Minghao’s support, Nie Zhenbang then discussed the plan with Lei Dingguo. Unlike Sun Minghao’s reservations, Lei Dingguo showed excitement upon hearing the plan and quickly agreed with Nie Zhenbang’s idea. He also promised to support it at the upcoming Secretary’s Office Meeting. Afterwards, Nie Zhenbang discussed the matter with Zhao Xintian and Peng Kaibao.

Upon seeing the plan, both were shocked by Nie Zhenbang’s bold idea, even more so than Sun Minghao. Peng Kaibao, after all, was still part of the military system. Although he was a member of the Municipal Party Committee, his organizational affiliation was still with the military. With regard to the affairs of the Municipal Party Committee, Peng Kaibao was more of a spectator. At this moment, he was shocked and looked at Nie Zhenbang, saying, “Mayor, this is a very bold initiative. If this plan is put forward, it will likely cause an uproar.”(