219: Chapter 219 Jingjiang Attends the Banquet

Early the next morning, a sedan drove out of Heishi Town and onto the expressway leading to Jingjiang City.

Today was the weekend, and tomorrow was the day for Liu Ruobing and Wang Lei. Invitations had long since been sent to all members of the Spark Class. As the branch secretary of the Spark Class, it was only natural for Zhu Wenhao to attend.

Wang Lei was no ordinary scion.

He was the son of Governor Zhou Zhiwen's wife's sister. In his younger years, he had a notorious reputation in The Capital circles, relying on the legacy of his elders to stir up quite a bit of trouble.

Zhou Xu's evaluation of this person was extremely concise: "Scum."

Yet, for the sake of her husband Deputy Director Liu Qiang's future, He Mei had resolutely pushed her daughter into this transaction.

Trading the marriage of her own flesh and blood for the throne of the director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission—this was a highly profitable deal.

Outside the Linjiang City toll station.

Zhu Wenhao stepped on the brake and pulled the car over to a stop.

The door opened, and Su Qinghan sat in the passenger seat. Having not seen her for a while, the contours of her cheeks looked slightly thinner, and there was a look of fatigue under her eyes.

The confrontation between the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Supervision Team from the Provincial Anti-Gang Office had already reached a fever pitch. Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao was relying on the authority of the province to create obstacles everywhere in the case of Political Commissar Wang Haitao. As a liaison, Su Qinghan was caught in the center of the conflict between two powerful agencies, making every step difficult.

"Why don't you rest for a day in Linjiang?" Zhu Wenhao said, gripping the steering wheel.

Su Qinghan leaned back against the seat, turned her head, and declined the kind offer.

"I'll just doze off in the car for a while."

"Liu Ruobing's invitation specifically requested that I bring a partner; it's clearly a trap. If I don't go, I'll just be a laughingstock for no reason. Besides, with you here..."

This invitation was full of treachery.

The Zhou Faction had won the recruitment and was throwing a grand banquet. Inviting him, the grandson of the Li Faction, to witness the ceremony was meant to humiliate him.

Specifying that he bring a partner was clearly intended to see him bow his head in embarrassment in Jingjiang City.

"Then let's go," Zhu Wenhao said, not trying to dissuade her.

Bringing her to Jingjiang was part of the plan anyway.

Having been together this long, some thresholds had to be crossed. He needed to let her show her face to Old Master Li.

More importantly, by returning to the provincial capital this time, he needed to personally push open that door that had refused to open for him.

His eldest uncle was about to be parachuted into Jiangnan Province to serve as the Deputy Minister of the Provincial Organization Department.

This was a grand strategy concerning the family's lifeline. Even an outsider like Director Xu Jie could sniff out the rumors, yet his mother, Li Juan, and even his grandfather, Old Master Li, had kept him completely in the dark.

Su Qinghan closed her eyes, her breathing becoming steady and rhythmic.

Zhu Wenhao looked straight at the road ahead, his thoughts cutting into the complex chess game of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee.

The three giants of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee were currently engaged in a new round of wrestling over personnel changes.

The position of Director of the Municipal Audit Bureau had become scorched earth for all parties.

In accordance with his previous promise, Secretary Zhu Tianhe had recommended the current Chairwoman of the Women's Federation, Lin Yulan, to the Municipal Organization Department. Lin Yulan had once been the head of the Finance Bureau but was demoted for offending Mayor Su Changming.

Back when Su Qinghan's incident occurred, she had withstood immense pressure to buy time for Zhu Wenhao.

To return the favor, Secretary Zhu Tianhe had to push her back into the core hub.

How could Mayor Su Changming sit by and watch his political rival rise? He had brought out the current Deputy Director of the Municipal Finance Bureau to snatch the high position at the Audit Bureau.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Lin Weimin, remained unmoved.

As the head of Linjiang City, he held the veto power. While his subordinates fought until they were bruised and battered, it ultimately depended on how he manipulated the scales.

Even trickier was the vacancy for the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang had seniority. Secretary Zhu Tianhe had reached an agreement with him earlier, promising to help him secure the power of the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Although Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang lacked deep experience in political and legal work, the resistance to his lateral transfer as a Standing Committee member would not be great.

The crux was that one cannot have both fish and bear's paw.

The Audit Bureau was the gatekeeper of the Municipal Government's purse; the Political and Legal Affairs Commission was the knife in the hands of the dictatorship.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe wanted to eat up both key departments, which was a major taboo in the political ecosystem.

Once Secretary Lin Weimin moved to check him, Secretary Zhu Tianhe would face a desperate situation of betrayal.

If he broke his promise to Chairwoman Lin Yulan, those old subordinates in the municipal agencies who were watching would feel disheartened; if he broke his promise to Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang, he would create a mortal enemy in the Standing Committee for no reason.

A minister must first be trusted by his lord before he can stand in the court.

For those in power, if trust collapses, the team falls apart.

There were only two paths to untangle this deadlock.

First, use existing benefits to satisfy Secretary Lin Weimin's appetite. What did Secretary Lin Weimin need? He needed the right to speak in Linjiang City and to strip away the remaining wings of Mayor Su Changming. If he could marginalize Mayor Su Changming and concede some of the fat meat of the Municipal Government to Secretary Lin Weimin's confidants, he might be able to trade for his tacit approval of Standing Committee Member Zhang Zhiqiang and Chairwoman Lin Yulan.

Second, apply pressure from a higher dimension. Have Secretary Lao from the Provincial Party Committee personally pass the word.

Secretary Lao Liguo was leveraging strength to strike in the province, supporting Deputy Director Zhao Bingzhang to disgust Governor Zhou Zhiwen, and Minister Xiao Dingyu of the Organization Department had already made great contributions. In return, Secretary Lao Liguo giving the Li Faction some consideration in the personnel layout of Linjiang City was a trade of interests.

Both of these paths required face-to-face maneuvering in Jingjiang City to be decided.

This was the core of his trip to the banquet.

As his thoughts returned, Zhu Wenhao's gaze darkened.

The difficult situation in Linjiang City could still be navigated with means and strategy.

But the undercurrents within the Li family concerned his very life and livelihood.

His eldest uncle was parachuting into Jiangnan Province.

This was undoubtedly a comprehensive reshuffling of the Li Faction's resources.

Old Master Li had retreated to the second line; the old connections he held in his hands were being used up bit by bit.

With the eldest son and grandson entering the game, those protégés and former subordinates would naturally change their allegiance to carry the sedan chair for the true successor.

As the grandson, his weight on the scales of family power seemed as light as a feather.

Since ancient times, there has been no affection in the imperial family.

The juncture of power handover has always been blood-soaked.

Li Juan keeping her mouth shut was the most dangerous signal.

They hadn't forgotten to tell him; they were waiting.

Waiting for the big picture to be set, waiting for the wood to be carved into a boat.

Be a chess player, or be a discarded pawn?

His knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, the texture of the leather feeling cold.

This trip to see his grandfather was to sound out the cards.

If the Li family truly intended to slaughter the donkey after the mill was finished, then don't blame him for being ruthless.

On the chessboard of Jiangnan Province, he had long since deeply cultivated his position; he was by no means a puppet to be manipulated.

It wasn't just the political infighting between the province and the city; the livelihood of Heishi Town also required his coordination.

The mining restructuring plan had already been launched, and General Manager Zhou Shutong's capital entry aimed to cut off the black money chain of the old forces.

Once the funds arrived, the repair of the old river embankment and the road south of the town would be put on the agenda. He had already communicated with Town Mayor Luo Xingbang that this road repair fund would be set up with three-party supervision to cut off any retreat for embezzlement.

To govern a chaotic world, first kill the evil; to govern a poor village, first facilitate wealth.

Letting the common people have meat in their bowls and fixing bridges and roads was the foundation of an official.

This foundation for benefiting the people could not be shaken by anyone using political infighting.

The car drove past the Jingjiang expressway exit.

Su Qinghan woke from her light sleep, adjusted her sitting posture, and looked at the unfamiliar street scene outside the window.

"Did you sleep well?" Zhu Wenhao asked.

"I only dozed for a moment; my mind is full of case files." Su Qinghan reached out and rubbed her brow. "On the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection side, Deputy Team Leader Liu Hao's actions are getting more and more outrageous. He bypassed Secretary Li Li and directly obtained a request for assistance from the Provincial Anti-Gang Office, forcing the Special Investigation Team to interrogate Political Commissar Wang Haitao. This kind of cross-level command has made the people below complain endlessly."

"He's anxious," Zhu Wenhao judged. "Over in Jingjiang City, Lei Dong was caught by the Provincial Public Security Department's special police, and Lin Wan has also been found. Secretary Lei Zhen's house is leaking, and they urgently need to open a breach in Linjiang City, using Political Commissar Wang Haitao as a sacrifice to exchange for bargaining chips with the province."

The high-rise buildings of the city appeared in the mist.

"Besides attending the engagement banquet, do you have any other arrangements for this trip to Jingjiang?" Su Qinghan asked.

Zhu Wenhao's fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

"To see my grandfather," he said bluntly.

Su Qinghan was sharp-witted and guessed a few things.

"Because of your eldest uncle's business?"

"You heard the rumors."

"There are rumors within the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection that the Provincial Organization Department will have a major personnel adjustment soon." Su Qinghan did not hide it. "Some say that Old Master Li's eldest son is going to be transferred back to Jiangnan from another province to serve as the Deputy Minister of the Provincial Organization Department."

Deputy Minister of the Provincial Organization Department—that was a key position that held the throat of all officials in the province.

"News travels fast." Zhu Wenhao sneered. "The ridiculous thing is that I, the grandson of the Li family, only learned of this heaven-shaking plan from someone else's mouth."

"Old Master's move is very steady. He is using his remaining influence to push his eldest son into this position to fully take over the personnel board of the Li Faction in Jiangnan Province. Once my eldest uncle stands firm, the Li Faction can complete the power handover and continue its glory for another ten years."

"Isn't that a good thing for you?" Su Qinghan asked.

"A good thing?" Zhu Wenhao's tone was cold. "There cannot be two suns in the sky, and the people cannot have two masters. The Li family can only have one core. Once my eldest uncle enters the game, he will inevitably gather all resources. By then, my father's planning in Linjiang City and my breakthrough in Heishi Town will all have to give way to him. To balance the various forces, I fear I will be treated as a discarded pawn and kicked out of this game directly."

How can one allow others to snore beside one's bed?

"Then what should we do?" Su Qinghan's voice deepened.

"Go find Minister Xiao Dingyu," Zhu Wenhao gave an unexpected answer.

Minister Xiao Dingyu of the Provincial Organization Department, a protégé of the Li Faction.

"My eldest uncle parachuting in to be the Deputy Minister is not the most uncomfortable for me, but for Minister Xiao Dingyu." Zhu Wenhao analyzed. "Minister Xiao finally managed to take exclusive control of the Organization Department by investigating Executive Deputy Minister Liao Changxing. Now Old Master sends his own son to be the deputy, ostensibly to assist, but actually to supervise. How could Minister Xiao Dingyu be willing to be a puppet?"

"The enemy of an enemy is an ally. As long as Minister Xiao and I reach a tacit understanding and form a counter-balance within the Provincial Party Committee Compound, even if my eldest uncle is a dragon from across the river, he will have to coil up obediently."

The car fell into silence.

Only the faint sound of airflow from the car's air conditioning could be heard.

Su Qinghan looked at the man beside her; his side profile was taut, and his eyes hid a depth she could not understand.

Every move was thunderous; every step of planning calculated the human heart to the fullest.