159: Chapter 159 Xu Jie Reports

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan held a coarse porcelain teapot in both hands.

Ten minutes ago, he had put on the airs of a superior and used Tai Chi to deflect Village Secretary Zhang Dahai's case.

Now, that phone call from Secretary Gao Ming, the top secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, had shattered his defenses.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan set down the teapot and sat firmly in his chair.

He clasped his hands and rubbed them together twice.

"Zhu Wenhao, I was overstepping just now."

"Let's talk things over properly. I've been spinning my wheels in this backwater of Qingjiang County for years, and I'm cut off from the news. I truly didn't know that you and Secretary Zhu of the Municipal Party Committee were..."

"County Mayor Gu." Zhu Wenhao's voice was steady.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan paused.

"Secretary Zhu is Secretary Zhu, and I am I."

Zhu Wenhao looked at him.

"Work is work, and family matters are separate. Does the County Mayor understand what I mean?"

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan nodded repeatedly.

He pulled his back away from the chair and leaned forward.

"I understand. I know the rules."

The problems in Qingjiang County would be solved within the rules of Qingjiang County.

Zhu Wenhao picked up the wet towel on the table and wiped his knuckles.

"Before I came to Qingjiang County, I spent some time in Division Two of the Municipal Organization Department of the Linjiang Municipal Committee."

"I've handled many files of cadres managed by the city. I've looked at the County Mayor's resume very carefully."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan sat up even straighter.

"You were previously the Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Government, and you were able to secure the position of County Mayor of Qingjiang County because of the recommendation of the former mayor, Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou."

Zhu Wenhao laid the old accounts out on the table.

"Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou later got into trouble and fell from power. When the radish is pulled out, the mud comes with it, implicating many people. But not only did you land safely, you were also able to continue governing in Qingjiang County."

Zhu Wenhao picked up his teacup and scraped away the foam.

"This shows that in terms of economic accounts, you, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan, have kept your hands clean."

"Your character and bottom line can be considered to have passed the test. In today's world of fame and fortune, that is the greatest 'letter of intent' to join the team."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan felt his throat tighten as he heard these words.

Since Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou's fall, he had been branded as part of the old faction and was restricted everywhere in Qingjiang County.

"My parents were teachers, and they taught me from a young age that I must never reach out for what I shouldn't." County Mayor Gu Mingchuan said, "In the two years I've been in Qingjiang County, although I haven't achieved much, I have never taken a single cent of dirty money."

"Integrity is the bottom line. But relying on integrity alone cannot break the stalemate in Qingjiang County."

Zhu Wenhao put down his teacup.

The porcelain base clinked against the wooden table.

"Do as I say next, and if it goes well..."

He left the sentence unfinished.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan understood. If he solidified his political achievements and reshaped the political ecology of Qingjiang County, he could wash away the mark of the old faction and re-enter the Municipal Party Committee's field of vision for promotion.

"Zhu Wenhao, what specific plans do you have?" County Mayor Gu Mingchuan stopped probing.

Zhu Wenhao leaned back in his chair.

"As far as I know, Secretary Pang of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection was your classmate in the same term at the Provincial Party School."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan nodded: "Yes, Secretary Pang and I have a deep friendship."

"Secretary Pang manages discipline inspection, and you manage administration. When you two first arrived in Qingjiang, you were squeezed out by the local faction led by Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, and Secretary Lu Guoliang watched coldly from the sidelines. You two joined forces and indeed withstood the pressure, and even handled a few impressive discipline inspection cases."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan gave a bitter smile.

That was two years ago.

"Unfortunately, you violated the taboo of fighting alone."

Zhu Wenhao continued.

"Your alliance posed a threat to the local faction and also touched Secretary Lu Guoliang's bottom line. A top leader seeks balance; he cannot tolerate the County Mayor and the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission forming an ironclad alliance."

"So, Secretary Lu Guoliang personally stepped in."

"He took advantage of the Municipal Party Committee's personnel adjustments to promote Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang to the position of Deputy Secretary of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang is a veteran, and this was like mixing sand into Secretary Pang's rice bowl, splitting half of his authority."

"As for your side." Zhu Wenhao looked at County Mayor Gu Mingchuan, "He replaced the head of the Party and Government Office with his own confidant. The Party and Government Office is the throat; with your throat being squeezed, your instructions cannot be implemented. You have become a hollow idol that has been sidelined."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan picked up his teacup and took a sip to mask his dry throat.

He had always thought he was restricted by the general environment, but he had never thought that every struggle was within Secretary Lu Guoliang's calculations.

"Zhu Wenhao, your insight is too sharp."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan sighed deeply.

"Now, Secretary Pang and I have been divided and surrounded. The sky over Qingjiang County is entirely in the hands of Secretary Lu Guoliang and Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan. Regarding Village Secretary Zhang Dahai's case, Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang is forcing a takeover at a higher level, and Secretary Pang cannot even voice his opposition."

"Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang is grabbing the case simply because he wants to cover up the festering sore in Heishui Village."

Zhu Wenhao straightened his cuffs.

"I will resolve Secretary Pang's predicament. The sword of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection will return to Secretary Pang's hands."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan looked up abruptly. As long as the Discipline Inspection Commission could move, the stagnant water in Qingjiang County could be stirred up.

"As for the internal affairs of the Municipal Government." Zhu Wenhao's tone turned cold, "That is a courtyard you should clean up yourself. If you can't even replace the head of the Party and Government Office, how will you be able to handle future political achievements?"

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan gritted his teeth.

"Give me some time; I will pull out that nail in the Party and Government Office and replace them with someone I can trust."

"Good."

Zhu Wenhao stood up.

"Go back and prepare, steady your footing, and wait for my news."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan followed him up and personally saw Zhu Wenhao out of the private room.

Watching the back disappear around the corner of the stairs, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan let out a long breath.

This dead game of Qingjiang County now had a living eye.

Night deepened.

Zhu Wenhao walked out of the narrow alley, the cold wind blowing away the smell of food and wine.

He walked to the next street, opened the car door, and sat in the driver's seat.

The car started and merged into the sparse traffic of the old city.

After passing two intersections, the mobile phone in the passenger seat vibrated.

A strange number from Linjiang.

He pressed the answer button.

"Who is this?"

"Secretary, it's me, Director Xu Jie."

The female voice was cold and concise.

Director Xu Jie.

The woman who always quietly took meeting minutes in the Spark Class at the Provincial Party School. Her household registration was in The Capital, and her resume was clean without any impurities.

"Director Xu Jie." Zhu Wenhao controlled the steering wheel with one hand, "You're moving fast. This is a newly opened mobile number, right?"

"I arrived at the Municipal Organization Department of the Linjiang Municipal Committee this afternoon." Director Xu Jie reported her progress, her words concise, "The procedures for my transfer to the position of Director of the Party and Government Office in Heishi Town have all been completed."

"Director Zhou Mei's vacancy needs someone to fill it." Zhu Wenhao looked at the traffic light ahead, "When are you arriving?"

"Tomorrow morning, I'll report to you."

Zhu Wenhao did not inquire about the instructions behind her. Since she had come, she was a knife entering the game.

"You've come." Zhu Wenhao stepped on the brake, and the car stopped behind the white line. "It's just as well; Heishi Town has not been peaceful lately."

The clan in Heishui Village, the night coal trucks from Heishi Mining, the financial deficit in the meeting minutes.

Under every stone in this town, there were poisonous snakes.

On the other end of the phone, Director Xu Jie's voice had no fluctuations.

"If it were peaceful, there would be no point in going."

The green light turned on.

Zhu Wenhao released the brake, and the Audi crossed the intersection.

"See you tomorrow."

Hanging up the communication, the interior of the car returned to silence.

Zhu Wenhao looked at the thick night outside the windshield.

The dark night of Qingjiang County had just begun.