110: Chapter 110 Secretary Lei, Please Be a Good Mud Buddha

Jiangnan Provincial Party Committee office building, Meeting Room No. 1.

All five members of the Provincial Standing Committee were seated.

Secretary Lao Liguo sat upright in the main seat, glancing at both sides without any unnecessary pleasantries.

"Comrades, today we are holding this emergency meeting of the Five-Person Group. There is only one topic on the agenda."

Secretary Lao Liguo cast his gaze toward Director Qi Shan in the corner.

"Director Qi, why don't you introduce the latest developments in the Linjiang case to the Standing Committee members?"

Director Qi Shan stood up. "Leaders, the night before last, Su Qinghan of the Linjiang Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection was subjected to an organized and premeditated violent ambush while escorting important physical evidence back."

"The suspects openly snatched the key account books on the street and violently assaulted Su Qinghan, leaving her in a severe coma. Even more brazenly, early yesterday morning, the gang bribed a nurse inside the hospital, attempting to silence her in her ward. Fortunately, the Provincial Public Security Department had deployed surveillance in advance, thwarting their attempt on the spot."

After finishing his report, Director Qi Shan gathered his materials and sat down.

The series of assassination attempts against discipline inspection cadres had crossed the bottom line.

"Comrades, that is the situation. Let's discuss it." Secretary Lao Liguo picked up his white porcelain teacup.

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua of the Provincial Party Committee was the first to act.

"Secretary Lao." Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua spoke up. "I truly didn't expect that such outrageous things could happen in broad daylight. This profoundly reflects that the public security issues in our Jiangnan Province, especially in certain cities, have reached an urgent point."

"This also confirms from another perspective the necessity and foresight of the Provincial Party Committee's decision to establish the Provincial Anti-Gang Office some time ago."

As if he hadn't been the one opposing the establishment of the Anti-Organized Crime Office not long ago, Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua continued.

"Regarding this vicious case involving multiple fronts, I think, shouldn't we invite Secretary Lei Zhen of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission to attend this meeting?"

"Secretary, after all, this matter concerns the overall coordination of political and legal work in the province, don't you think?"

Secretary Lao Liguo did not reject it. He turned his head and instructed Secretary-General Zhao Rui, "Comrade Zhao Rui, go make a call to Secretary Lei Zhen and invite him over."

Secretary-General Zhao Rui responded and left the room.

While waiting, Secretary Lao Liguo did not let the meeting room go cold. He looked at Governor Zhou Zhiwen.

"Governor Zhou Zhiwen. Some time ago, an article written by a student in the Spark Class of the Provincial Organization Department was personally recommended by Executive Vice President Zhou Zhengming of the Party School for the internal reference. After reading it, I found it very inspiring."

"That article deeply analyzed the issue of asset loss during the restructuring of the Jiangnan Red Star Machinery Factory, and it hit the nail on the head. The author of the article is named Zhu Wenhao. What are your thoughts after reading it at the Provincial Government?"

Governor Zhou Zhiwen was stunned for half a second.

He had indeed received the recommendation about Zhu Wenhao from his nephew, Zhou Xu, and had flipped through that internal reference document. But in his view, a fledgling Party School student was merely talking on paper. State-owned enterprise reform was an old, messy account, and such problems would always arise. During this period, he had been busy taking over all the resources left behind by Liu Family and had no time to pay attention to the trivial details of an internal reference article.

But at such a high-level meeting, he had to give a response.

"Secretary Lao." Governor Zhou Zhiwen responded skillfully. "I have also carefully studied that internal reference. The issues reflected in the article are thought-provoking. The Provincial Government is preparing to hold a regular meeting in the near future to hand over the specific content reflected in the internal reference to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, letting them go down to conduct specific special research, draw inferences from one instance, and verify whether this is the actual situation."

Governor Zhou Zhiwen continued, "In the next step, the Provincial Government intends to let the audit department directly intervene in the account inspection of the Red Star Machinery Factory."

"It is good that the government has this intention." Secretary Lao Liguo pushed the boat along with the current. "Then we look forward to seeing detailed reports submitted by relevant government departments at the next regular Standing Committee meeting."

Governor Zhou Zhiwen had to nod in agreement, though he understood in his heart that this was equivalent to Secretary Lao Liguo forcing the Provincial Government to wade into the muddy waters of the Red Star Machinery Factory.

Just as they were speaking, the heavy wooden door of the meeting room was pushed open. Secretary-General Zhao Rui led Secretary Lei Zhen of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission inside, who pulled out a chair at the end of the table and sat down.

"Secretary Lei Zhen has arrived; let's continue the meeting."

"Secretary Chen, you have also heard Director Qi Shan's report just now. The victim is a staff member of your Discipline Inspection Commission. What are your thoughts?"

Secretary Chen was a person who protected his own.

"Secretary Lao, this gang of organized crime is not only a provocation to the bottom line of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, but also a blatant trampling on the Discipline Inspection Commission."

"It must be thoroughly investigated! I propose that the Provincial Party Committee immediately send a special working group to Linjiang. Since the Provincial Anti-Gang Office has already been established, I think we should just let them go directly and cut the Gordian knot!"

Secretary Chen's stance completely aligned with Secretary Lao Liguo's original intention.

Secretary Lao Liguo did not comment, turning to look at Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua. "Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua, what is your opinion?"

"I fully agree with Secretary Chen's statement about a thorough investigation." Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua first threw out a posture of agreement, then shifted the topic. "However, regarding the composition of the working group, I believe it would be safer for the Political and Legal Affairs Commission to take the lead, integrating the forces of the court, the Procuratorate, and the Provincial Public Security Department to enter. Of course, it is necessary to invite comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission to participate in the supervision throughout the whole process."

He gave a seemingly unassailable reason.

"After all, the Provincial Anti-Gang Office is a newly established agency, and the coordination between various departments is still in the running-in period. Moreover, they still have unfinished cases on their hands. Facing such a serious case with extremely bad social influence, it is more in line with organizational procedures and more assured for the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which has fought several hard battles, to come forward and coordinate."

Borrowing the signboard of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission to marginalize the Provincial Anti-Gang Office, thereby regaining control of the Linjiang City case for his own camp.

After listening, Secretary Lao Liguo did not comment, throwing the question to Governor Zhou Zhiwen. "Governor Zhou Zhiwen, what is your opinion?"

Governor Zhou Zhiwen weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

During the personnel adjustments a few days ago, Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua supported him at the Standing Committee meeting, helping Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming secure the position of Executive Vice Mayor of Linjiang City. To return the favor, he had to give a response.

"Secretary Yang's opinion is very pertinent." Governor Zhou Zhiwen stated his position. "The Provincial Government also feels that major and important cases must be led by experienced departments. It is reasonable for the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission to come forward to coordinate resources from all sides, and it is also more conducive to the rapid detection of the case."

With the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and the Governor reaching an agreement, the situation of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission taking the lead seemed to be a foregone conclusion.

Secretary Lao Liguo did not ask for the opinion of Minister Xiao Dingyu of the Organization Department, but looked directly at Director Qi Shan, who was sitting in the observer's seat.

"Director Qi Shan." Secretary Lao Liguo named him. "As the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department, and also concurrently serving as the Deputy Director of the Provincial Anti-Gang Office and Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Tell us who should lead this case."

Director Qi Shan stood up. Before coming to the meeting, Zhu Wenhao's deduction had already been thoroughly rehearsed in his mind.

"Secretary Lao, leaders. I believe the case should still be handled by the Provincial Anti-Gang Office." Director Qi Shan's tone was steady. "Regarding the team coordination problem that Secretary Yang is worried about, it actually doesn't exist at all. The team is ready-made."

"The Inspection Team is currently stationed in Linjiang City. As long as the Inspection Team hangs up a sign of 'Second Steering Group of the Provincial Anti-Gang Office', the forces of both sides will be integrated, and a powerful combat capability will be formed immediately. Moreover, Deputy Captain Zhang Lin of the Criminal Investigation Corps of the Provincial Public Security Department has already led capable police forces into Linjiang and can be put into frontline combat at any time."

"Director Qi Shan's statement is very pertinent." Secretary Lao Liguo did not hesitate at all and made a final decision on the spot. "Soldiers value speed; integrating existing resources is the most efficient approach. Let's do it this way."

The matter was settled.

Governor Zhou Zhiwen held his teacup without raising any objections. Who handled the Linjiang case didn't matter to him anyway; Linjiang City had never been his territory, and it wasn't worth it to provoke Secretary Lao Liguo for this.

"Secretary Lao." Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua spoke again. "Since it has been decided that the Second Steering Group will handle it. In order to demonstrate the Provincial Party Committee's determination to combat organized crime, I propose that Secretary Lei Zhen be sent to personally take command as the Commander-in-Chief of the Steering Group."

Pushing Secretary Lei Zhen to the forefront would ensure they had great say in the subsequent setting of the tone.

Upon hearing this, Secretary Lei Zhen immediately expressed his stance.

"I obey the arrangements of the Provincial Party Committee. I will definitely do my job well and will never let down the trust of the organization."

Secretary Lao Liguo agreed.

This contest surrounding Linjiang City was finally concluded at the conference table. Relevant documents were quickly drafted into resolutions, ready to be issued, and the Second Steering Group was officially established.

The meeting ended, and everyone packed up their files and left the meeting room one after another.

Director Qi Shan deliberately slowed down his movements and walked at the end. When he stepped out of the meeting room, Secretary Lei Zhen was preparing to walk toward the elevator.

"Secretary Lei, please stay." Director Qi Shan called out and walked up quickly.

Secretary Lei Zhen stopped, turned around, and looked at this subordinate who had just stolen the spotlight at the meeting.

"Director Qi, is something the matter?"

Director Qi Shan walked up close and lowered his voice.

"Secretary Lei, it's like this. Regarding the case where Lei Zhenzi is suspected of participating in a series of illegal activities at the Jiangnan Red Star Machinery Factory, the Provincial Public Security Department has already sorted out some preliminary clues. I was thinking, whenever you have time, I will bring the special investigation team to make a special report to you."

The muscles in Secretary Lei Zhen's face twitched slightly.

Asking the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department to report the details of his son's crimes to the father was not only heart-wrenching, but also blackmail.

Director Qi Shan ignored him and continued.

"The organized crime forces in Linjiang City are extremely rampant, and the case is intricate and complicated." Director Qi Shan looked directly at Secretary Lei Zhen. "This time you are personally taking command of the Steering Group, and the responsibility is heavy. We, the Provincial Public Security Department, are charging at the front line, all counting on you to coordinate the overall situation from the rear. I also ask you to give more support to the specific work of the Steering Group."

Support the work of the Steering Group.

The translated meaning was clear: Your son is in my hands. When you get to Linjiang, just honestly be your nominal commander, a high-and-mighty mud bodhisattva. Don't interfere too much with the arrests and case handling on the front lines.

Secretary Lei Zhen naturally understood Director Qi Shan's meaning.

He not only understood it, but also knew that he had no power to say no at all.

As long as he dared to tamper with the Linjiang City case, Lei Zhenzi's case file would be submitted to the desks of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Secretary Lao Liguo as quickly as possible.

He could only swallow this breath.

"Don't worry, Director Qi Shan." Secretary Lei Zhen squeezed a few words out through his teeth. "Combatting organized crime, there is absolutely no privilege. The Steering Group should go all out on the front line, and I will fully support it."

Director Qi Shan got the satisfactory reply, nodded slightly, turned around, and strode away.