Chapter Seven: The Duel (Part Two)

In a burst of excitement, Teng Deming paid no heed to Zhang Maolin’s shifting mood. He turned his body dramatically to the side, hands pressed firmly on his hips, and resumed his speech:

“Heh, for those engaged in disciplinary inspection work, the first principle to embrace is this undeniable truth: no one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes! Even great men can only appraise themselves with a seventy-thirty split, so how much more so for us mere mortals with all our flaws?

The banking industry is inherently high-risk; encountering risk incidents during daily operations is normal. Otherwise, why bother setting aside those ‘risk reserves’ in the accounting books? They exist precisely to cover operational losses and unpredictable expenses! So, let’s not habitually attribute objective risks to operational or managerial failures, nor exaggerate so-called background factors without cause. What does a rational mindset mean? At its core, it’s a healthy philosophy of not seeking trouble when there is none, and not fearing it when it arises.

Of course, your disciplinary team must never lose vigilance—that’s negligence. But excessive sensitivity, baseless suspicion, and undue magnification of risks? That’s classic neurosis. Such behavior will surely strangle the vitality of any team. When managing this balance, one must guard against both extremes, but especially the ‘left’!

From the perspective of the entire Songyang City Banking jurisdiction, as the chief commander of disciplinary inspection, you, Brother Maolin, hold the highest authority on this front. Though you are not yet the top leader, a county official is no match for a current administrator. In certain matters, you wield sufficient decision-making power. I believe your President Wei Xin understands this well. The provincial bank’s appointment letter for second-tier branch disciplinary secretaries explicitly states: the city branch disciplinary secretary has the authority to independently determine the nature of cases and handle issues. If necessary, you may bypass the city branch party committee and report directly to the provincial party committee. This was specially emphasized by President Tan Yiwu at the second-tier branch presidents’ meeting.

Therefore, mastering the ‘timing’ in handling internal violations is undoubtedly a test of your personal comprehensive qualities and your resolve to control the situation. Pay close attention: I said resolve—not ability. Although these words differ by a single character, their meanings could not be more distinct.

What is ability? It is performing a task nearly flawlessly through one’s own effort—that shows good ability. But to command others to execute your vision perfectly, that demonstrates your resolve! Ability at best reflects your individual identity; resolve reveals the true breadth of your network.

At this point, I want to clarify a concept: the difference between connections and popular support.

From your standpoint as disciplinary secretary, can connections and popular support be equated? Speak honestly!”

Teng Deming suddenly posed this question, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward, listening intently to Zhang Maolin.

“Oh, oh, old Zhang here is shallow and unlearned—please, President, enlighten me! Heh heh...”

Taken aback by the abrupt halt, Zhang Maolin instinctively adopted a defensive posture in response.

“Heh, heh heh...”

Teng Deming smiled somewhat forcedly. Taking the teacup Zhang Maolin offered, he hesitated briefly.

After a moment’s thought, Teng Deming continued:

“You are a man who swallows gold in your sleeves, harboring countless unspoken words. Very well, you bear the patient role, and I the remonstrant.

Popular support—these four words are like a talisman for one’s career, long cherished by those in power. But don’t be fooled; it’s just a grandiose phrase on meeting room tables! Tell me, what power do mere heads in the crowd possess? No matter how many rats there are, they ultimately feed the cats! If you reduce building connections to simply blending with the common people, you will end up both bedraggled and fragile! You may need the grassroots to support you, but relying solely on those country bumpkins to cheer you on is even worse. Popular support sometimes serves as a touchstone, but more often it’s just footbath water!

Since ancient times, all dynasties have revered wealth and official rank. There is an old saying: ‘The poor do not contend with the rich, and the rich do not challenge the officials!’ Think about it—how profound, how grounded in reality! Remember, the masses are always the denominator, and the ultimate significance of that denominator depends entirely on the magnitude of the numerator.

The legacy of the Wei Hu Mountain bandit has left but one mark on history—the Mountain Eagle himself! Whether glorified for eternity or damned forever, what future generations truly remember are those at the very top. The dust and remnants at the base are nothing but scraps!

Take you, the disciplinary secretary, as an example—you yourself are a variable factor that can be great or small. To put it plainly, whether you embody ability or resolve depends on how you wield your influence within the nest of Songyang Commercial Bank!

The greatest distinction between disciplinary inspection and other professional work is this: you must always maintain subjective harmony between superiors and subordinates, guiding with the current and aligning with the greater trend. As long as you uphold this approach, your results will seamlessly mesh with the higher-ups, creating a harmonious and pleasant working relationship for yourself and others.

At this crucial juncture, you must understand the importance of ensuring your leader’s ‘satisfaction.’ Remember, in many cases, ‘satisfaction’ does not merely reflect a leader’s stance; it carries an emotional significance!

You should know: across the entire provincial Commercial Bank system, there are hundreds of section-level cadres. Although disciplinary actions at this level require provincial approval, do you really think each case is personally signed off by President Tan? Impossible. In fact, such approvals are generally delegated to a few deputy managers, ourselves included. So, for personnel decisions like these, once the deputy managers agree, the matter is settled. Need I elaborate further?”

At this moment, Teng Deming’s animated smile grew even brighter; his gestures became more elaborate and exaggerated. To Zhang Maolin, it seemed as if he were performing a solo dance of expressive hand and footwork...