165: Chapter 165 Another instance of sowing discord

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang's face flushed to the color of a pig's liver, and the masseter muscles on both sides of his jaw were tightly clenched.

Those two documents, stamped with bright red official seals, were like two searing slaps across the face of this Executive Deputy Secretary, delivered firmly in front of a crowd of his subordinates.

However, Director Li Qiang of the First Office of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection lacked the sense to see the gravity of the situation.

Having spent years charging into battle behind Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang, he was accustomed to bullying others. Seeing his master in a tight spot, he pointed at the official document and raised his voice high.

"I need to verify this document!"

Director Li Qiang put on a show of a loyal retainer protecting his master.

"If this was truly signed by Secretary Pang himself, why didn't the County Commission for Discipline Inspection office breathe a word of it before we left? Who knows if someone tampered with this document behind our backs?"

With that, Director Li Qiang pulled out his phone to dial and verify its authenticity.

Zhu Wenhao couldn't even be bothered to refute him.

He stood where he was, looking at this Director of the First Office with the gaze one might reserve for an idiot.

In the court of the ming dynasty, there was never a shortage of such fools who couldn't read the wind and only knew how to butt heads blindly.

"Put the phone away and step back," Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang barked.

Director Li Qiang froze mid-motion, his hand holding the phone caught in a dilemma. Scolded publicly by his master, he sullenly shoved the phone back into his pocket and took half a step back.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang cursed Director Li Qiang thoroughly in his heart.

How had he not noticed before that this blade under his command was actually such a brainless oaf?

How could the other party dare to slam a red-headed official document onto the table at such a critical moment, right in front of him, the Executive Deputy Secretary, if it were forged?

Even if you gave Zhu Wenhao ten times the courage, he would not dare to forge the signature and official seal of the head of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang's mind raced.

This was clearly Secretary Pang Jianguo making a mountain out of a molehill.

He had dominated the County Commission for Discipline Inspection for too long, relying on the backing of Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, and had almost completely marginalized Secretary Pang Jianguo, the head of the commission, in daily approvals. Secretary Pang Jianguo usually kept a low profile, acting like a clay bodhisattva, but in reality, he had long been waiting for an opportunity to bite back.

This young man, Zhu Wenhao, had correctly identified Secretary Pang Jianguo's urgent need to make his voice heard and establish his authority, using the case of Village Secretary Zhang Dahai as bait to successfully pull Secretary Pang Jianguo into the fray.

Borrowing a knife to kill, going with the flow.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang collected his thoughts and let his gaze fall back on Zhu Wenhao.

For the first time, he truly scrutinized this twenty-four-year-old Deputy Town Party Secretary.

At such a young age, he could not only see through the rifts in the upper echelons of Qingjiang County but could also precisely utilize this rift to counter him. This boy was no ordinary fish in a pond; if allowed to take root in Heishi Town, he would surely become a major threat in the future.

The case could not be taken away today, but he absolutely could not lose face.

"Secretary Pang is busy with a thousand tasks," Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang found a high-sounding excuse. "This document was signed in a hurry, and perhaps there was no time to touch base with me. I will naturally ask the Office Director to get to the bottom of this when I return, to investigate exactly where the breakdown in communication occurred that led to such an absurd mix-up."

He enunciated the word "mix-up" heavily, attempting to downplay this struggle for power as a mere administrative error.

Zhu Wenhao did not commit to an opinion, waiting quietly for what was next.

"Since Secretary Pang has already spoken and entrusted the case of Village Secretary Zhang Dahai to the Town Commission for Discipline Inspection," Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang shifted his tone, "organizational rules cannot be ignored. However, as the vertical supervisory body for the Town Commission for Discipline Inspection, the County Commission for Discipline Inspection has the right to supervise and guide the case-handling procedures of its subordinate units."

He used this as a pretext to sweep his gaze toward Secretary Chen Jianjun, who was standing to the side.

"Especially what happened this morning." Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang pointed at the cluttered office desk. "During working hours, a town cadre was fast asleep in the office. This leaves me with great doubts about the work style, and even the case-handling capability, of the Heishi Town Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"Here is the arrangement." Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang looked at Director Li Qiang behind him. "Director Li Qiang, you don't need to return to the county today. Take the two people under your command and station yourselves here in Heishi Town."

He set the tone: "Guide the Town Commission for Discipline Inspection in organizing the case files for Village Secretary Zhang Dahai, and you must thoroughly rectify the work atmosphere of the Heishi Town Commission for Discipline Inspection. Heishi Town falls under the supervisory scope of your First Office of the Discipline Inspection Commission. You are duty-bound to take on this assignment."

Failing to seize the case, he planted people here instead. It was called guidance, but in reality, it was supervision.

As long as Director Li Qiang was guarding the Town Commission for Discipline Inspection, any testimony Secretary Chen Jianjun extracted regarding the mines and the protective umbrella would be known to Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang immediately, allowing him to even forcibly hit the brakes at a critical moment.

Even if Director Li Qiang was slow-witted, he could taste the flavor of the situation now.

This wasn't about investigating some village secretary; this was Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, who stood behind Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang, battling with Secretary Pang Jianguo of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. When the gods fight, mortals suffer; as the pawn charging at the very front, he had no way back.

The only path was to go all the way to the end and cling tightly to Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang's thigh.

"Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang, I understand." Director Li Qiang stood to attention. "I will contact the comrades from the First Office right now and have my bedding and luggage sent over. I will not withdraw until the work style issues of Heishi Town are clearly rectified!"

After hearing this declaration, Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang nodded slightly. "Secretary Zhu, what is your take?"

He raised his eyelids, his gaze colliding with that of Zhu Wenhao. It was a look of scrutiny that treated the other party as an opponent of equal caliber.

"I couldn't ask for more." Zhu Wenhao brushed off his sleeves. "It is the honor of Heishi Town that the County Commission for Discipline Inspection is willing to come to the grassroots level to guide our work; we support this with both hands."

"However, for such a major matter, we really should inform the person in charge of our Heishi Town." Zhu Wenhao's gaze swept past the window. "It is truly strange. Usually, even if a bird lands in the Town Government courtyard, Secretary Qiu Dehai would come out to see it himself. Today, with such a big formation from the county, how come we haven't seen a shadow of Secretary Qiu Dehai?"

Han Feizi says: "Using people is like using tools; each has its own strengths." The essence of the strategy of sowing discord does not lie in speaking ill of others to their faces, but in inadvertently pointing out the rifts in interests.

Zhu Wenhao turned his face toward Director Xu Jie, who had been standing quietly to the side.

"Director Xu Jie, please take the trouble to make a trip." Zhu Wenhao ordered. "Go and notify Secretary Qiu Dehai. Tell him that the County Commission for Discipline Inspection is preparing to send a working group to be stationed at the Town Government to 'rectify the overall work style and discipline of Heishi Town'."

By simply switching a few words, the concept was completely swapped.

What Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang originally said was to rectify the work style of the "Town Commission for Discipline Inspection," but in Zhu Wenhao's mouth, it directly became rectifying the work style and discipline of "the whole of Heishi Town." A difference of a single character, and the error is a thousand miles.

Director Xu Jie did not hesitate at all, crisply replied "Understood," turned around, and walked out of the office with capable strides.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang sat in his original seat, the corner of his eye twitching violently twice. This kid's intentions were truly vicious.

Although Secretary Qiu Dehai belonged to the faction of Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, ultimately, he was the head of Heishi Town. The Town Government was his own private territory. For the County Commission for Discipline Inspection to bypass him, the Town Party Secretary, and send people to be stationed here to rectify the overall discipline under his governance was tantamount to giving Secretary Qiu Dehai a hard slap in the face in front of all the town cadres.

Under pressure from Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, Secretary Qiu Dehai might have to hold his nose and agree on the surface, but a thorn that could not be pulled out would inevitably be buried in his heart.

And this thorn was also stuck in the heart of Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang.

He had brought people to Heishi Town early in the morning, charging to the front line to clean up the mess and plug the holes for Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan. Yet, this local snake, Secretary Qiu Dehai, who had caused the trouble, was now hiding in his office like a turtle, not even showing his face. It was clear he wanted to protect himself and leave him, Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang, to take the heat.

An alliance is inherently a combination of interests; once someone holds back, the rift can never be healed.

Zhu Wenhao had gauged the thoughts of both sides perfectly, and with a casual flick, he had stirred the water even more muddily.

"Secretary Chen Jianjun." Zhu Wenhao did not look at Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang's ever-changing face, but turned to Secretary Chen Jianjun and said, "Please, take the trouble to go to logistics and take a look. Arrange the food and accommodation for Director Li Qiang and his comrades. Since people from the county have come, the reception standard cannot be lowered."

Secretary Chen Jianjun agreed and was about to head out the door.

The phone in Zhu Wenhao's pocket vibrated at the perfect moment. He took out his phone, glanced at the screen, and pressed the answer button.

"Zhu Wenhao."

From the other end of the line, the cool and calm voice of Su Qinghan came through.

"I have arrived downstairs at your Town Government. Is it convenient for me to come up and find you now?"

Zhu Wenhao held the phone with one hand. "Su Qinghan, just come straight up. Second floor, the Discipline Inspection Commission office at the very end."

With that, he disconnected the call.

He reached out his right hand and pressed down on Secretary Chen Jianjun's shoulder, stopping his movement toward the door.

"Secretary Chen Jianjun, stay your steps." Zhu Wenhao turned around. "As for the food and accommodation, hold off for now. I reckon Director Li Qiang and his group won't be needing it."

Director Li Qiang was already harboring a belly full of anger, and seeing Zhu Wenhao acting so arrogant, he immediately flared up.

"Secretary Zhu, what do you mean by that?" Director Li Qiang stepped forward. "We from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection are staying to handle the case; could it be that your Heishi Town cannot even spare a few dorm rooms? Are you planning to openly defy the orders of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection?"

"I naturally do not have the guts to defy my superiors."

Zhu Wenhao stood there, his back straight, his gaze like ice, looking at him coldly.

"My meaning is: wherever you came from, go back there."

"You!"

Director Li Qiang laughed in his extreme anger and was about to erupt.

Outside the corridor, a rhythmic sound of high heels approached from afar. The footsteps were composed, exuding an unquestionable authority.

Before the person was seen, her voice was heard.

The door was pushed open by a fair yet powerful hand.