233: Chapter 233 The Clash at the Standing Committee of the Jingjiang Municipal Committee

At the entrance of Tingyu Pavilion.

Zhu Wenhao stood under the corridor, his gaze sweeping over the group.

"Let me say a few words," Zhu Wenhao began, his tone flat.

"Taking advantage of today's gathering, I want to say some honest words. Most of you have no backing; you relied on test scores to get into this Provincial Party Committee Compound. The children of powerful families have big trees to shade them, and elders to cover for them when they make mistakes. You don't have that. One wrong step, and you'll fall into an abyss."

"Organizing this gathering isn't about asking you to pledge allegiance or form cliques. I, Zhu Wenhao, don't lack lackeys to pour tea and serve water, and the officialdom of Jiangnan Province doesn't lack people who only know how to flatter."

"Today, I am setting three rules."

"First, do not accept dirty money. If you take even a cent of corrupt money, your spine will bend. When you face the storms of this provincial capital in the future, what will you have to stand tall?"

"Second, do not stand on the wrong side. In the Provincial Party Committee Compound, factions are fighting, and it's like gods battling. You are at the bottom, so just focus on your work. When you can't see the situation clearly, shut your mouth and work, and never become cannon fodder for others' infighting."

"Third," he continued, "do not forget the common people. Every document you approve and every official seal you stamp represents the food rations of millions of farmers. The rice in the bowls of the common people is heavier than the official caps on your heads."

Shen Zhe took a deep breath. "Secretary, we will carve these three rules into our bones."

Lin Yan from the Provincial Department of Water Resources added, "Secretary, the old river embankment in Heishi Town needs repair. I checked the files at the department, and we can process it under 'Post-disaster flood control hazard investigation.' As long as the town's report is solid, I will be responsible for monitoring the process at the department."

Li Mingyuan from the Development and Reform Commission also said, "I manage the old archives. I can find a few abandoned special approval cases for mining restructuring from years ago; they might be of reference value for the industrial transformation of Heishi Town. I'll organize them and send them to you later."

Zhu Wenhao nodded slightly.

"Be discreet in your actions, and make sure your paper trail is compliant," Zhu Wenhao established the rules. "Meeting adjourned."

Zhu Wenhao pulled open the car door and was about to get in when his private phone in his coat pocket vibrated.

Caller ID: Mother.

He paused for a moment and answered the call.

"Wenhao, I heard you arrived in Jingjiang?" Li Juan's voice came through. "Why didn't you stay at Changfeng Street?"

Zhu Wenhao held the car door with one hand, his gaze landing on the dim streetlamp across the street.

"The eaves can shelter you from the rain, but they can also crush you."

The other end of the phone fell into a long silence.

After a long while, Li Juan's voice rang out again: "We are family, don't speak like strangers. Come back to the old house for a meal tomorrow at noon; your grandfather misses you."

"Alright, I'll be there on time tomorrow at noon."

Zhu Wenhao hung up the phone.

The next morning, Jingjiang Municipal Committee building, Standing Committee meeting room.

Around the long, oval conference table, all the members of the Jingjiang Municipal Committee sat down. The air was filled with a faint scent of tobacco and the steam from tea.

Secretary Gao Zhiyuan sat at the head of the table, the mayor sat to his left, and Deputy Secretary Cao Hang sat to his right.

Secretary Feng Zhiyuan of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission was flipping through the notebook in front of him.

"Comrades, let's begin the meeting," Secretary Gao Zhiyuan cleared his throat. "There is much to do at the end of the year, so let's pick the important items to discuss. First, I want to emphasize one point: as the end of the year approaches, the overall situation of the city must prioritize 'stability' above all else. No department should cause trouble or escalate things at this time."

This was setting the tone in advance.

Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming chimed in at the right moment: "Secretary Gao Zhiyuan is correct. The government is busy implementing measures to ensure supply and stabilize prices, and all fronts are sprinting toward year-end assessments; we really can't afford any major upheavals."

Deputy Secretary Cao Hang opened the folder in front of him.

"Secretary Gao Zhiyuan, Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming, I fully agree with the talk of stability," Deputy Secretary Cao Hang sat up straight. "But stability is not about muddling through, nor is it a fig leaf to hide dirt and filth."

"I propose adding a temporary agenda item to today's Standing Committee meeting: to initiate a special accountability procedure for Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and to request the suspension of his duties pending organizational investigation."

As soon as these words were spoken, the faint sound of files being turned in the meeting room came to an abrupt halt.

Secretary Gao Zhiyuan's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, his face tightening.

Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming frowned and turned to look at Deputy Secretary Cao Hang.

"Deputy Secretary Cao Hang, that is too harsh," Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming interjected. "Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo has worked in the public security front for many years; even if he has no great achievements, he has put in the hard work. To propose suspension at a Standing Committee meeting based merely on a bit of friction in work is against the rules and will easily dishearten the cadres below."

"Work friction?" Deputy Secretary Cao Hang sneered. "Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming calls this friction?"

He pulled a file summary from his folder and laid it flat on the table.

"The Provincial Public Security Department has officially issued a supervision letter. In black and white, it explicitly names the Municipal Public Security Bureau for having serious problems in handling organized crime cases, including 'procedural irregularities, abnormal evidence management, and damage to the credibility of law enforcement.'"

Deputy Secretary Cao Hang's gaze swept across the room.

"A supervision letter from the Provincial Public Security Department is sitting on the Municipal Party Committee's desk. The Municipal Public Security Bureau has been covering up and indulging in the old case of Lei Zhenzi, and has turned a blind eye to the pleas of victims like Lin Wan. You call this friction?"

Secretary Gao Zhiyuan put down his teacup, ripples forming on the surface of the water.

"Deputy Secretary Cao Hang," Secretary Gao Zhiyuan began to play tai chi. "The Provincial Public Security Department has its considerations, and our Municipal Party Committee has its difficulties. The comrades in the Public Security Bureau are under great pressure, and it is inevitable that there are procedural flaws when it comes to gathering evidence for some old, cold cases. The Municipal Party Committee can issue a letter of criticism and order Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo to write a profound self-examination. Isn't suspending him directly too drastic? Who will take responsibility for the overall security situation in Jingjiang?"

This was an attempt to make a big issue seem small.

"I agree with Deputy Secretary Cao Hang's proposal."

The long-silent Secretary Feng Zhiyuan of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission suddenly spoke up.

Everyone's gaze converged on him.

"Secretary Gao Zhiyuan, the overall situation is not supported by any one person; it is supported by the rule of law," Secretary Feng Zhiyuan looked directly at Secretary Gao Zhiyuan. "Under the control of Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo, the Municipal Public Security Bureau has long bypassed the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and practiced authoritarianism."

Secretary Feng Zhiyuan dropped a heavy hammer.

"If the Standing Committee cannot give an account to the Provincial Public Security Department or the people of Jingjiang today, it will be too late for the Municipal Party Committee to take a stance once the Special Investigation Team from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection arrives to make arrests!"

Deputy Secretary Cao Hang and Secretary Feng Zhiyuan, two major Standing Committee members, joined forces to attack.

"The atmosphere is too heated today," Secretary Gao Zhiyuan attempted to exercise his veto power as the top leader. "Let's shelve it for now. After the meeting, the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Political and Legal Affairs Commission will set up a joint investigation team to look into the situation before we discuss it again. Let's not put it in the minutes."

"That won't do," Deputy Secretary Cao Hang leaned forward.

"Secretary Gao Zhiyuan. Is 'stability' about protecting the umbrella for organized crime, or about stabilizing the trust of the common people in the rule of law?"

Deputy Secretary Cao Hang turned his head and looked at the scribe.

"Record my words word-for-word in the meeting minutes. I, Deputy Secretary Cao Hang, propose the suspension of Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo from his position as Bureau Chief of the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

Secretary Feng Zhiyuan followed up: "I, Secretary Feng Zhiyuan, second the motion."

Secretary Gao Zhiyuan's knuckles turned white. The supervision letter was on record, and two standing committee members were forcing it into the minutes; if he suppressed it, it would be ironclad proof of him shielding organized crime.

"Since the two of you are so determined," Secretary Gao Zhiyuan gritted his teeth, "then we will establish a special Municipal Party Committee investigation team. Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming will serve as the team leader and enter the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

He took half a step back, but handed the investigation power to his trusted aide, Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming, intending to turn the investigation team into a shield.

Deputy Secretary Cao Hang was prepared for this.

"When it comes to matters of the legal system, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission cannot be absent," Deputy Secretary Cao Hang countered. "I propose that Secretary Feng Zhiyuan serve as the deputy team leader and participate in the investigation throughout. The Municipal Public Security Bureau's archives are to be sealed immediately, and no one is to access them."

The situation was settled.

Secretary Gao Zhiyuan sat at the head of the table, feeling a splitting headache.

At the same time, in the office building of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, in the Bureau Chief's office.

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo received a secret message from an acquaintance in the Municipal Party Committee Office: Deputy Secretary Cao Hang and Secretary Feng Zhiyuan have joined forces; the investigation team is moving in today.

The telephone receiver in his hand slipped and crashed onto the desk.

He hurriedly grabbed another backup phone and dialed Secretary Lei Zhen's number, but the only response was a long busy signal.

The storm in Jingjiang City had officially begun.