Chapter 1115: Power in the political arena

Two days after leaving Xia Yujia's home, a welcome banquet for Su Xingjian was held at the Peninsula Hotel by the political and business circles of Xiangjiang.

As the owner of the Peninsula Hotel, Xia Yu naturally did not miss the event. At the banquet, Su Xingjian and Xia Yu's close relationship made everyone envious, and the mindset of the vast majority of people changed as a result.

After the welcome ceremony, Su Xingjian finally devoted himself to organising his own team.

The first major reshuffle in the political arena was officially announced!

The current officials began to show off their talents. Some just wanted to keep their positions, some wanted to change positions, and more wanted to go further.

Except for the heads of various departments, who needed to be directly appointed by the British government, the other deputy positions and even lower positions could be directly appointed by the governor. Su Xingjian was a local warlord.

Before indirect elections were held, members of the Executive Council and Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Government were directly appointed by the Governor.

Many large families or business tycoons wanted to place their own people in the two councils or other key departments of the Hong Kong Government, so that they could be the first to know if there was any turbulence in the Hong Kong Government.

The speed with which political information could be obtained greatly affected the acquisition of interests.

And having people in politics always made you feel safer.

Previously, the political landscape was stable during the MacLehose era, and it was difficult for many people who were unwilling to accept the situation to take action.

But as the saying goes, once the emperor changes, so do his ministers. Now that So Hang-kin has taken office as the new official, the opportunity has arrived!

For this reason, various congratulatory notes have flown into So Hang-kin's office like snowflakes, all trying to curry favour with him or engage in covert activities.

For a time, there was a surging undercurrent in the Hong Kong political arena, which in turn affected the business world.

Under these circumstances, Xia Yu received a call from Liang Dingbang, who told him that the legislators in his faction were being squeezed and the situation was somewhat critical.

The team members were also at a loss. Considering that he had already dealt with the British government and the Governor of Hong Kong, and that the constraints on himself in Hong Kong politics had completely disappeared, Xia Yu thought it was also time to make a big move.

As the mastermind behind the scenes, he should also gather everyone below together for a group meeting to stabilise the troops!

and avoid a situation where the king's temple is washed away by a flood.

Of course, Xia Yu also did not want to expose his power in politics and cause a commotion in Hong Kong.

Therefore, on the evening of May 28, Xia Yu specially held a party in one of his large, hidden sea view villas. The rules of the party were that only the invited person could come, and no other outsiders were allowed, including female companions!

In the evening, politicians in formal attire entered the villa with invitations. Liang Dingbang and Wang Qi greeted them. The former was Xia Yu's first agent in the political world, and the latter was his right-hand man, representing his will. The Evergreen Foundation, which served exclusively for political figures, was also managed by Wang Qi, who knew most people.

Xia Yu himself had actually arrived early, but he did not appear early, but instead chatted with people on the second floor of the villa.

The people he was chatting with were none other than Li Junxia and Xia Jun.

To this day, Li Junxia no longer treats Xia Yu as an equal in the face of Xia Yu's high status and the great help he has given his son, but wisely places himself in the position of Xia Yu's subordinate.

Therefore, during their conversation, Li Junxia addressed Xia Yu as 'Mr Xia', while Xia Yu called him by his first name.

'Junxia, I heard that there are going to be big changes in the police department again, is that right?'

Xia Yu asked casually, leaning back on the sofa and leisurely sipping his tea.

Li Junxia nodded and replied truthfully, 'Yes, Han Yili, the Chief of Police, won't be moved, but Liu Yusi from the Management Department is rumoured to be moving, preparing to return to the UK next year, and Yan Liguo from the Operations Department is very stable.'

'Because of this, the two senior assistant directors of the Personnel and Training Department, the Supervision Department and the senior assistant director of the Operations Department all have ideas about the position of deputy director.'

'The turmoil at the top has caused a series of repercussions below, and many people hope to move up.'

Xia Yu nodded slightly and said after thinking about it, 'I remember there is also a senior assistant director in the Criminal and Security Department. Does he have no ideas?'

Li Junxia shook his head and said, 'He doesn't, because he knows his own limitations. He is the oldest of the four Senior Assistant Directors, and his background is not deep enough. His current position is the highest he can go, so he just wants to stay in his current position until he retires.'

'Is that so...'

Xia Yu's eyes narrowed slightly as he thought to himself.

Suddenly, he added, 'Junxia, how many years have you been in your current position?'

Li Junxia replied without hesitation: 'It's been almost three years since I became an assistant director. I was just transferred to my current department last year.'

'Almost three years,'

'Well, the next major reshuffle will be the year after next, and that will be your chance to move on,'

Xia Yu said with a light smile, as if a transfer was just a matter of a finger's flick.

Li Junxia was taken aback, but then his heart leapt with joy. He asked with a look of excitement, 'Mr Xia, what do you mean?'

Xia Yu didn't hide anything and said with a smile, 'In the Police Department, there are fourteen Assistant Commissioners of Police and four Senior Assistant Commissioners of Police, but there are only two Deputy Commissioners of Police.'

'In fact, the powers of an Assistant Commissioner of Police are not small, but they are not great either.'

'Your current powers are still not commensurate with your abilities. Since Liu Yuxiang wants to return to the UK, then give him a push. No matter who takes his place, there will be a vacancy for a Senior Assistant Commissioner. I will give you a push from behind, and push you into that position. After two years of honing your skills, when the major reshuffle takes place in 1985, I will find a way to push you into becoming Deputy Commissioner of Police.'

Hearing Xia Yu's plan for himself, Li Junxia was overjoyed. Completing such a short-term leap to such a high position was not an easy task, and he had never dared to think about it before.

But he had confidence in Xia Yu, and since Xia Yu had said so, it was certain that it could be done.

Thinking that in a few years the position of Deputy Commissioner of Police was beckoning to him, that he would become the third-in-command of the Police Force in one leap, and enjoy boundless prospects, Li Junxia once again felt fortunate to have followed the right person.

He is only 45 years old this year, and is in his prime. With Xia Yu's energy, it is very possible for him to become the first Chinese Commissioner of Police in Hong Kong!

Thinking about this, he stood up with a solemn face and bowed to Xia Yu to thank him: 'Mr Xia, thank you for your trust in me. I will definitely not let you down.'

Xia Yu laughed heartily, waved his hand to indicate that Li Junxia should sit down, and said teasingly, 'It's not even eight characters yet. Don't thank me so quickly, what if I can't do it?'

Li Junxia smiled and said in a very certain tone, 'If you can't do it, who else in Xiangjiang can?'

'Haha...' Xia Yu laughed.

Watching Xia Yu set Li Junxia's political course in just a few words, Xia Jun, who had been silent, felt a lot of emotion in his heart. Unconsciously, Xia Yu's energy was already so terrifying.

He didn't know when he would be able to help Xia Yu...

At this moment, Xia Yu turned his head and noticed Xia Jun's complex expression. He smiled and patted Xia Jun on the shoulder, saying, 'Brother Jun, Jun Xia's position is more difficult to handle, but yours is a bit better. You have been an inspector trainee for a year, and you should get a bar on your shoulder.'

After saying this, Xia Yu looked at Li Jun Xia and asked, 'Jun Xia, can you handle it? If you can't, I'll find someone else.'

Li Junxia said without hesitation, 'Mr Xia, I can handle it, in a month at most!'

After all, he was now a chief superintendent, five ranks higher than Xia Jun, so he could handle not only the promotion of an inspector to senior inspector, but also the promotion of a more senior chief inspector to superintendent.

In fact, he was already planning Xia Jun's promotion. Even if Xia Yu hadn't said anything, he would have created a suitable opportunity for Xia Jun in two months at most.

However, now that Xia Yu has mentioned it, he will have to bring forward his plan. It is just that he will have to rack his brains to find a suitable opportunity for Xia Jun and minimise the discussion behind the scenes. After all, Xia Jun is only 22 years old this year, and he is already the highest ranking person in the police department of the same age, which is already very dazzling.

This is destined to attract a lot of attention every time he is promoted, and it would be better if there was less criticism.

As a relative of Xia Yu, and since he is dependent on Xia Yu, Xia Jun naturally has to protect him.

'Yu, Li sir, thank you!'

Xia Jun gathered his thoughts and sincerely thanked him.

'Brother Jun, we are brothers, helping you is the same as helping me, what's there to talk about thanking...'

After chatting for a while, Xia Yu heard footsteps coming from the stairwell and then saw Wang Qi walking up.

'Chairman, everyone is here. Shall we go down now?'

'Everyone is here?'

'It seems they are all punctual!'

Xia Yu looked at the time on his watch and smiled.

Then he got up and led a few people to the stairwell.

'Let's go down...'