latelenovela Chapter 1069 Restructuring of Hansteel (2)
Chapter 1069 Restructuring of Hansteel (2)
Qi Tongwei couldn't quite understand Xia Guanglei's thoughts.
Indeed, the successful restructuring of Hansteel brought them enormous benefits.
But Hansteel is no pushover; successfully reorganizing this company will be no easy task.
Think about it, if even a bunch of capable people in the country couldn't handle it, how could a small prefecture-level city like theirs achieve such results?
Is the other party desperate for good grades? Or do they have other methods? Qi Tongwei, unable to hold on any longer, tentatively asked:
"As for me, I basically have no objections. Over the past six months, I have come to know Comrade Guang Lei quite well. Comrade Guang Lei never fights a battle unprepared."
I think that since Comrade Guanglei, you dared to take on such a heavy responsibility at the Provincial Party Committee, you must have already prepared a plan. I just don't know if you can share it with everyone.
Xia Guanglei waved his hand with a smile, "Hey, what kind of plan could I possibly have? I just feel that Hansteel, as the most important enterprise in Beishan, should be under the responsibility of Beishan."
If it didn't have the title of a central state-owned enterprise today, would we just ignore it?
Ultimately, the children of Hansteel are also children of Beishan, and we cannot shirk this responsibility.
Besides, if Beishan wants to develop, the restructuring of Hansteel is always unavoidable.
"We can't have the economy of Beishan develop while the city center is left with a large area of old urban areas and factories; that would be imperfect."
After a pause, he turned his gaze to Qi Tongwei and said very solemnly, "Comrade Tongwei, you have experience in reforming in Beishan, so I hope you can take the lead and shoulder the responsibility for Hansteel."
Of course, don't worry, the municipal party committee and I will be your strong support, including myself, at your command.
Xia Guanglei's words were already very straightforward: as long as you, Qi Tongwei, are willing to take on the responsibility, you can be the top leader of Beishan City.
Looking at Xia Guanglei's sincere face, Qi Tongwei had many thoughts running through his mind.
For the past six months, this municipal party secretary has kept a very low profile, and apart from secretly getting along well with a group of standing committee members, he has basically done nothing on the surface.
They were even very cooperative.
Working together with Qi Tongwei, they vigorously attracted investment.
At the Standing Committee meeting, he became a yes-man, always the first to raise his hand in agreement with Qi Tongwei's proposals.
Of course, it can pass even if he disagrees, unless the other party uses their authority as the top leader to veto it.
But this very attitude only made Qi Tongwei more wary.
He didn't believe that this scion of a prominent family could remain subservient to others for long.
But then again, anything is possible in officialdom.
Ultimately, what everyone is striving for is to get promoted and climb the ladder.
A moment of patience brings peace. As long as you can achieve results quickly and gain the qualifications for promotion, what does it matter if you sacrifice your dignity and endure a period of dormancy?
However, aren't these young masters a bit too impatient? They dare to take on such a mess as Han Steel.
All the Standing Committee members looked at Qi Tongwei, their eyes filled with longing.
They believed that among all the people in Hanjiang who could successfully reorganize Hanjiang Steel, there was absolutely no other candidate besides Qi Tongwei.
Looking at the hopeful eyes of the crowd, Qi Tongwei felt as if he had been lifted up.
To be honest, he wasn't very confident about reforming Beishan.
There's no other reason than that the scale of the business is such that achieving anything significant is not easy.
Xu Lian is right. This is a new cake, and redistributing it will cause a lot of trouble.
There might be a few more petitions or mass incidents.
Petition? Mass incident?
Qi Tongwei wondered if Xia Guanglei would resort to the same old trick again.
Being cautious, he decided against taking on the task.
Beishan's achievements are already outstanding; he should proceed steadily and surely.
I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry.
Moreover, China's political arena is different from that of Europe and America; it not only requires achievements but also has age restrictions.
To be able to reach the deputy provincial level before the age of thirty-five is already extremely young.
Why take that risk?
"Comrade Guanglei, it's not that I, Qi Tongwei, am afraid of difficulties, but the burden of Hangang is too heavy, so heavy that I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it and it will be a disaster."
At that time, we will not only have failed the trust of the municipal party committee, but also the expectations of tens of thousands of employees at Hansteel.
Qi Tongwei leaned forward slightly, his tone sincere, his gaze sweeping over the Standing Committee members present before finally settling on Xia Guanglei's face. "In the past two years, Beishan's investment attraction efforts have begun to show results, and the industrial chain has just begun to take shape. It is precisely the time to proceed steadily and surely."
"I already have a lot on my plate. If I were to divert my attention to the restructuring of Hansteel, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to manage either side properly, and in the end, I'd have gained nothing."
He paused, then said:
"Let's talk about Hansteel. Hansteel is a state-owned enterprise with a complex and intertwined internal structure. You could say that if one part of it is moved, the whole thing will be affected."
Over the years, the central and provincial governments have sent special working groups to the area multiple times, but after all this effort, they still haven't been able to crack this tough nut.
As a prefecture-level city, we have limited human, material, and financial resources. If we rush into action, we're afraid we'll suffer heavy losses.
Comrade Xu Lian is absolutely right. Restructuring is not simply about changing a signboard; it involves touching on vested interests and winning people's hearts.
Employee resettlement, debt restructuring, and asset liquidation—which of these isn't a hot potato? A slight misstep could pose a threat to stability.
Beishan has worked hard to achieve its current stability; I cannot gamble with this hard-won result.
Xia Guanglei was taken aback.
This is not the script he had in mind.
"Comrade Tongwei," Xia Guanglei drawled, his tone tinged with affection, "I completely understand your concerns."
That's why I'm making this clear—the municipal party committee and I will be your strongest support.
If you need policies, I'll go to the provincial level and ask for them with great fanfare; if you need resources, I'll run myself ragged to the central government to fight for them. I will never let you fight alone.
There's something I've been deliberately keeping quiet about until now. This time, as we've taken on the responsibility of restructuring Hansteel, I've secured 2 billion yuan in special restructuring funds from the central and provincial governments. Not a single penny will be allocated; it will all be used where Hansteel truly needs it!
Moreover, the province has set a clear bottom line: it does not expect Hansteel to regain its former glory overnight. As long as it can revitalize its assets, reach the scale of a state-owned enterprise at the provincial level, and turn losses into profits, we will have delivered a satisfactory report card!
This is your forte. I have inspected the state-owned enterprises in Beishan City, and many factories were facing the same predicament as Hansteel.
But now it is developing very well, especially our Shibei Steel Group.
Their steelmaking level has reached the top level in China, and they would even have a place on the international stage.
This is what I'm thinking: if all else fails, we can merge our company with Hansteel; I think that would be a pretty good solution.
Qi Tongwei never expected Xia Guanglei to have this idea.
“I disagree. Beigang is a trump card for Beishan. To be honest, I plan to make it a flagship of Beishan’s heavy industry, or even replace Hangang.”
Xia Guanglei stepped forward, "Isn't this the same thing I meant? The integration of Beigang and Hangang will only accelerate this process."
"No, no, no." Qi Tongwei waved his hand. "Integrating Hansteel would mean bringing non-performing assets into Beisteel."
What I want, what Beishan wants, is a fully-fledged, healthy, and vibrant Beigang, not a Beigang burdened with decay and a heavy weight.
Xia Guanglei laughed and said, "I understand. You still think Hansteel is a heavy burden and are afraid that it will affect the development of Beisteel."
It's that simple. We just need to cut our losses and survive. We should decisively cut off any side businesses that need to be cut and completely divest any non-performing assets that need to be divested!
Regarding the resettlement of tens of thousands of workers, we can selectively choose to keep them. For those we don't want to keep, we can buy out their years of service within the scope of regulations and compensate them accordingly.
How about we just keep the core profit-generating projects and merge them with Beigang?
"This..." Qi Tongwei hesitated.
If this approach is followed, it would be a good way to both reform Hansteel and strengthen Beisteel, while also gaining a political achievement.
A win-win-win situation.
Seeing Qi Tongwei hesitate, Xia Guanglei pressed on, "Comrade Tongwei, don't forget, the central government and the province gave us two billion yuan. With that two billion yuan backing us, what are you still hesitating about? Huh?"
Xia Guanglei appeared impatient, seemingly desperate for this achievement.
Since the other party wants it, it is necessary for us to expand our gains.
"Comrade Guanglei, I need to think about this matter carefully. Today's meeting may not be able to give you an answer."
Mada couldn't hold back any longer and jumped out, saying, "Comrade Tongwei, what's there to consider? I've already figured it out, haven't you?"
The provincial party committee wants to give Beishan a boost and provide a stepping stone for our comrades to advance.
Otherwise, why would we, Beishan, be given the opportunity to restructure Hansteel?
Can't they see whether we have the ability to successfully reorganize?
If you're hesitant and unwilling to take the lead, then let me do it.
Not to brag, but back in the 1970s I was already the head of a military industrial enterprise.
At that time, together with Governor Zhao, they successfully transformed this military industrial enterprise into a state-owned enterprise in Wenshan.
Back in the 1980s, it created a glorious period, a miracle, in Wenshan.
At that time, our products were in high demand and short supply in the Han River region and even in the north.
Based on my experience, I am confident in reorganizing Hansteel.
Seeing that Ma Da dared to talk back to his boss like this, Xu Lian immediately stood up and said sarcastically, "Secretary Ma, you'd better stop talking."
Your glories and miracles are just fooling Mayor Qi and Secretary Xia.
Which of us comrades from the Han River region here doesn't know this?
Your so-called glory and miracles were nothing more than securing a good project?
Then, turning to Xia Guanglei, Qi Tongwei laughed and said, "You two leaders, do you not know what the company that Secretary Ma was in charge of back then produced?"
It's a color TV!
"A color TV from over a decade ago—let alone having Secretary Ma create brilliance or miracles on it—even if you put a pig on it, I think it could still create brilliance and miracles."
Everyone was happy.
In the 1980s, color TVs were still an emerging industry, and the domestic market was full of promise.
Back then, color TVs weren't just home appliances; they were like freshly minted gold nuggets. Calling them money-printing machines would be an understatement.
The production line had barely taken shape, and before the products even rolled off the line, letters from various departments started flying in like snowflakes.
Purchasing agents, clutching cash, crowded the county's industrial bureau, hoping to pry a delivery note from Ma Da's hand.
At that time, Ma Da was just the deputy director of the county industrial bureau. In terms of rank, he was a nobody, but his demeanor was more imposing than that of the heads of the municipal bureau.
When city and municipal leaders see him, they all have to put on a smile. If anyone dares to show his disrespect or act arrogantly in front of him, well, forget about getting a TV delivery order, and their employee and personal benefits will fall behind.
Ma Da retorted, "Hey, Comrade Xu Lian, what do you mean by that? What do you mean I got a good project? Did I know it was a good project at the time?"
Isn't this just like feeling our way across the river by touching the stones? It just so happens that we found the right ones. If we had found the wrong ones, would you be saying today that we don't even know how to find projects? Huh?
Risks and opportunities always coexist.
Who can say that Hansteel won't be a good project today? I've got my eye on it, but you can't.
"When I finally get it going, will you guys say I, Mada, snagged a great project? Huh?"
Xu Lian wanted to say something, but Qi Tongwei spoke first, going along with it: "Since Comrade Mada is so confident, Comrade Guanglei, I think it would be better to hand it over to Comrade Mada."
He's the deputy secretary of Beishan, a high-ranking official, and he represents the Beishan Municipal Party Committee's emphasis on this project. He's also experienced; I think he's a good candidate.
Xia Guanglei frowned. Why did this motor have to come at this particular time of year?
"Comrade Tongwei, I still lean towards you. The restructuring of Hansteel is no small matter. Although Comrade Ma Da has some experience, a heavy industrial group with the foundation of a central enterprise is not something a small color TV factory can compare to."
A large ship is hard to turn around.
"If Comrade Ma Da is at the helm, we might run aground if we're not careful. Who will clean up the mess then? It will be our municipal party committee, won't it?"
Qi Tongwei sensed that Xia Guanglei's attitude was a bit strange, so he cautiously said, "Comrade Guanglei, but I really can't be in two places at once."
How about this, let's vote by raising our hands on whether Comrade Mada should be in charge. Let's see what everyone thinks, what do you say?
Xia Guanglei hesitated.
If a vote is taken, given Qi Tongwei's influence, he will likely allow Ma Da to succeed. Then how can the next steps of the plan be implemented?
This is definitely not what Xia Guanglei wanted to see.
Xia Guanglei tried to find the words to persuade Qi Tongwei, but when he looked up, he saw Qi Tongwei's cautious gaze.
He immediately stopped talking.
Qi Tongwei became suspicious!
If we continue, it might backfire.
"Alright then, let's vote, but I need to give you all a heads-up beforehand."
If Comrade Ma Da's reorganization can't proceed, our municipal party committee must intervene; we absolutely cannot stand idly by.
We must act when necessary and work together with collective wisdom and effort.
Upon hearing this, Xia Guanglei immediately received a grateful look from Ma Da.
Regardless, this leader is quite broad-minded; despite the lack of trust, he still demonstrates a sense of responsibility.
Everyone nodded.
As expected, under Qi Tongwei's guidance, Ma Da was elected with almost unanimous votes.
Faced with an overwhelming vote, Xia Guanglei could only raise his hand.