Chapter 2687
The Emerging Problem of 'Redundant Staff'
Chapter 2687 The Emerging Problem of 'Redundant Staff'
Two days later.
Li Hongfeng stood at the tunnel entrance, watching the handcarts come out one after another. The joy on the faces of the people pushing the carts was as sweet as eating a peach.
The people around her, including Sister Shan, were equally overjoyed at the sight, almost bursting into celebration by dancing the Yangko.
The original tunnel entrance was smaller than the tunnel boring machine (TBM), so after adjustments by the technical staff of the First Ministry of Machinery Industry, the TBM was able to start operating again on the existing tunnel foundation.
Of course, such consequences might require some effort, which Li Bing and others were somewhat reluctant to accept.
After all, this was a tunnel they dug out one hammer blow at a time, and the specifications were strictly in accordance with the requirements of their superiors.
How can you just start digging again whenever you want?
Isn't this a disregard for their hard work?
pity.
All these complaints and grievances were useless in front of Li Hongfeng.
They could only watch as the colossal machine began to rumble forward, utterly destroying the fruits of their hard work over the past six months.
Just when everyone was feeling upset, the tunnel boring machine finished in just half a day and silenced all their complaints.
This works on the basis of the existing tunnel, and the tunnel boring machine can move much faster.
During the three hours of work in the morning, I can move forward an average of more than 30 meters per hour.
And this is only the beginning of unfamiliarity.
Once the coordination is perfected, the speed will be even faster.
At this rate, the tunnel boring machine should be able to reach the area they previously excavated before the end of today.
"Secretary Li, I've really learned a lot, a lot!"
Captain Yu sighed and patted Lao Ma on the shoulder from time to time, "If we keep going like this, this three or four hundred-meter tunnel can probably be finished in less than a week."
"If we were to use people to dig this out, it would be quite an achievement if we could finish it before the end of the year."
Old Ma nodded repeatedly as he listened, watching the workers carry out the soil excavated by the tunnel boring machine. He quickly nodded and said, "That's right. If we had more tunnel boring machines, we could definitely have finished digging this tunnel a few years earlier and opened it to traffic ahead of schedule."
Upon hearing this, Captain Yu's expression suddenly changed. "Now that you've said that, I'm under a lot more pressure."
"The tunnel is finished, but our bridge isn't even built yet. What will our superiors say when they see this?"
"No, I have to go back immediately and urge them to get the bridge built."
As Lao Yu was about to turn back, Li Hongfeng grabbed him, saying, "Lao Yu, it won't make a difference if we wait a little longer. I've prepared some food. Eat first, then we can go back."
"This time, I brought two bottles of Erguotou, from Beijing. Let's all try them."
Upon hearing that there was wine, and since it wouldn't make a difference if he waited a little longer, Captain Yu stopped and turned around, smiling, "Alright, Lao Li, it's been so many days since you brought this out, that's good."
Li Hongfeng just smiled and looked at the people running out of the room.
The tunnel is getting deeper and deeper, and relying solely on wheelbarrows to transport the soil out is not enough.
Inside the tunnel.
Director Hu was inspecting the working conditions of the tunnel boring machine.
Li Bing led two people inside to look around, and they were all amazed.
"Director Hu, how did you make this huge thing?"
Li Bing watched as the cutterhead continuously shredded the rocks and soil, then, after a series of operations, transported them from below to the back, where workers finally hauled them out using wheelbarrows. Compared to the previous work, this was incredibly easy.
Moreover, being inside the tunnel boring machine, with steel overhead for protection, makes people very safe.
Unlike before, when a tunnel collapse meant that people inside would be facing certain death.
"This thing, oh, hehe."
Director Hu's smiling face made Li Bing feel particularly warm and friendly, and Director Hu also knew Li Bing's identity.
Although he is a team leader now, his father is the First Secretary of the Ninth Department. Once his work here is over, he will definitely be transferred to Beijing.
There's no need to guess at all.
Once the other party has achieved 'political success' here, they will definitely rise rapidly in rank.
Therefore, building good relationships now will only benefit you in the future, and will not do you any harm.
"The design blueprints for this thing were created by Yang, the head of the Ninth Department."
"That is the Ninth Department where Secretary Li works."
"Then he handed the design drawings to our First Ministry of Machine Building, which is how we were able to make them."
Director Hu spoke frankly, and of course, that was all he knew.
Li Bing listened thoughtfully. He had learned about the differences between the Nine Departments from his father's conversation over the past two days, and he also knew that the Nine Departments were a very powerful place.
Putting everything else aside, the things they brought back from the Nine Departments were an eye-opener for them.
"Then why doesn't the Ninth Division do it themselves?"
Li Bing asked again.
Director Hu, who was standing to the side, immediately laughed and said, "Well, perhaps the Ninth Department has a more important task to do."
Li Bing opened his mouth wide, unable to understand what other mission could be more important than this.
As night fell, a campfire was lit in the camp.
Workers, exhausted from a long day, gathered around a bonfire.
Li Hongfeng held a gray bowl filled with diluted Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), constantly toasting those around him and drinking with his close friends and family.
"Old Li, I've been looking at this all day and I've noticed a problem."
Old Ma sipped his liquor from his bowl, thinking that even if the Erguotou from Beijing was diluted with water, it was still quite potent.
Li Hongfeng was talking to someone when he heard Lao Ma say this, and immediately asked, "What's the problem?"
Old Ma said with a smile, "Look, the tunnel is getting deeper and deeper. If we keep using people to transport the soil, it won't be able to keep up."
The others around him burst into laughter.
Because the problem that Lao Ma mentioned is not a problem at all.
Compared to carving through mountains and opening roads, what kind of work is pushing things out with a car?
It's just a matter of making a few more trips; it's very easy.
Of course, when Lao Ma said this at this time, it was a "happy problem," which was more of a compliment to the tunnel boring machine.
But Li Hongfeng didn't think so.
Because he genuinely felt that this was a problem that needed to be solved.
"Old Ma, you know what, this is a real problem."
Li Hongfeng spoke seriously, but Lao Ma and the others laughed, thinking he was joking.
However, Li Hongfeng's next words made them stop laughing.
“I think this mountain road is difficult to travel, and ordinary vehicles cannot get in.”
"Okay, I'll get a few tractors to try it out. If it works, we'll use tractors from now on."
Instantly, everyone's expressions turned solemn, unable to believe it.
"Dad, a tractor, can you get one?" Li Bing asked cautiously.
Before Li Hongfeng could speak, Wang, the cadre who came with him, immediately said, "You may not know, but this Red Star tractor was manufactured by our Ninth Division."
"We have been operating a factory in the Northwest for several years now."
"This place is closer to the Northwest, so we can just submit a report and it will be delivered."
As Officer Wang spoke with a relaxed expression, the expressions on the faces of those around him were quite interesting.
However, everyone still looked at Li Hongfeng.
Li Hongfeng, however, remained calm and simply smiled as he said, "I had thought about this before, but I hadn't made up my mind."
"Firstly, there's the adaptability of tractors, and secondly, tractors need fuel to run. I'm thinking about whether to send two steam tractors to try."
"I'll submit an application later and see what they think."
"However, it should be fine."
After Li Hongfeng finished speaking, Li Bing immediately clenched his fist excitedly, and his heart was filled with anticipation.
The Red Star tractor is a nationally renowned and high-quality product.
However, there aren't many of them in the southwest region.
He had previously submitted an application to the authorities, but it was never received.
Last year during the Spring Festival, he asked his superior about it, and his superior said that the report had been submitted and should still be under review.
He immediately understood that there was a high chance that the higher-ups wouldn't agree to it.
Otherwise, why wouldn't there be a message from above?
"Old Li, if you can really get a tractor, we can increase the speed of paving roads and building bridges by another 20%."
"At least 20%."
Captain Yu immediately held up two fingers, looking excited.
Li Hongfeng just smiled and nodded, but at the same time he was a little uneasy. If this really worked, wouldn't that mean he had given the Ninth Department a big mission?
And it's a losing proposition?
Nine parts.
Yang Xiaotao received Li Hongfeng's telegram the following afternoon.
While chatting with Lao Hong, Yang Youning, and a few others, Chen Gong walked in with Li Hongfeng's telegram and casually handed it to Yang Xiaotao.
"Old Li's telegram said he wanted a few tractors to help transport the stones for the tunnel."
Chen Gongchong was talking to the others when Yang Xiaotao glanced at the information and finished reading it.
That's pretty much what Chen Gong said.
Yang Xiaotao didn't ask any more questions; to everyone else, a few tractors were a small matter.
"Old Chen, please make arrangements to send it over as soon as possible."
Chen Gong nodded, "I'll make the arrangements later."
Yang Xiaotao put the telegram aside before looking at the people in the room.
Except for Li Hongfeng, all the high-ranking officials from the other nine departments came.
"I've called everyone here today to discuss something."
Yang Xiaotao spoke first, then looked at Lao Hong beside him, "Lao Hong, tell me about your discovery."
Old Hong nodded, then picked up a document from the table. “Comrades, I initiated this meeting today. The main reason is that while checking the accounts from various regions this year, I discovered some problems and wanted to discuss them with you.”
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this.
Everyone was wondering what the problem was.
As he spoke, Lao Hong opened the document and continued, "This is the Tianjin Electronics Factory, which is responsible for the production of our electronic calculators. It is also a very important factory in China. Its production profit exceeded ten million last year alone."
"But even in such a factory, according to my calculations, more than two million yuan has been used for personnel arrangements."
"I find it strange. I remember that there were only more than 3,000 workers in the entire Tianjin electronics factory, and their average salary was only 35.8 yuan. The monthly salary expenditure was at most 110,000 yuan, and more than 1 million yuan a year."
"How did they come up with those two million?"
Old Hong shook his head speechlessly, and then, before everyone could guess, he immediately gave the answer: "After a careful investigation, I finally understood the reason."
"In the Tianjin electronics factory, there were actually three departments that made the final decisions."
"There are twelve departments responsible for the procurement of logistics supplies."
"Those in charge of administrative work, it's a bit ridiculous, but a single seal requires the signatures of three department heads to be used."
"Moreover, the division of labor within the administrative departments is even more detailed than our nine ministries."
Old Hong placed the document on the table and laughed, "In this report, I don't see the project's completion status, nor the accounts' income and expenditure."
"What I see is that many departments have overlapping responsibilities and it is difficult to distinguish between them."
"Incompetent, irresponsible, and lacking in energy, knowledge, and efficiency in their work."
"It not only dragged the factory down, but also increased the financial burden!"
After Lao Hong finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Chen Gong and Yang Youning both kept their heads down, and Chen Gong could be seen wiping away sweat from time to time.
Yang Xiaotao twirled a pencil in his hand, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the group.
He glanced at Lao Hong one last time, and the latter smiled indifferently.
He knows that if this matter is exposed now, many people may not be able to have a good New Year.
But there's nothing I can do; that's just his temperament.
When problems arise, solve them; never let small problems escalate into big ones.
He wanted to cut the Gordian knot!
"What Lao Hong just said about the problems of redundant staff and bureaucracy is quite right!"
"Moreover, I believe that this is not a problem unique to the Tianjin electronics factory."
"There might even be more."
At this point, Yang Xiaotao looked at everyone present and said in a serious tone, "There must be a reason for the problem."
"As for the specific reasons, I think they are no longer important now."
"Because of its existence, it has already affected our future revolutionary construction."
"Therefore, we must solve it!"
Yang Xiaotao slammed his fist on the table to show his determination.
Old Hong was naturally the first to agree.
Wang Guodong, a staunch supporter of Yang's faction, immediately raised his hand in agreement.
Finally, Yang Youning and Chen Gong both raised their hands.
They all understood that only by doing this could the Ninth Division go further.