250: Chapter 250 Security Check

The corridor of the Linjiang Municipal Government building was bright.

Fang Jianping's leather shoes clicked against the floor tiles with a steady rhythm.

He was over forty, with neatly trimmed temples and a crisp, well-pressed suit.

As Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping of the Municipal Government, he held a deputy-division-level rank.

Years ago, when Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou was in power, he had been at the end of the line of deputy secretaries-generals, sitting on the bench.

The reason was simple: he was branded as a die-hard loyalist of Mayor Su Changming.

Over a decade ago, when Mayor Su Changming was governing at the grassroots level, Fang Jianping was his liaison.

Later, Mayor Su Changming was promoted to Executive Vice Mayor and sent him down to Qingjiang County to serve as the deputy county magistrate in charge of political and legal affairs. At that time, the executive deputy county magistrate of Qingjiang County was Secretary Lu Guoliang.

The two had worked together.

When Mayor Su Changming was promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Secretary Lu Guoliang took over as County Magistrate of Qingjiang County, and Fang Jianping was promoted to Executive Deputy County Magistrate.

When Fang Jianping was deputy county magistrate, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan was still the chief of the County Public Security Bureau, under Fang Jianping's jurisdiction.

Later, Fang Jianping took charge of executive affairs, and Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan took over as Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

To check Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou, Mayor Su Changming forcibly transferred Fang Jianping back from Qingjiang County to the city, inserting him into the Municipal Government General Office as a Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping to act as a thorn in their side.

Sitting on the bench for a few years, Fang Jianping cultivated his character and never uttered a word of complaint.

Now that Mayor Su Changming had ascended to the position of Mayor, this chess piece had finally made it.

Recently, he had been sent to the Provincial Party School for further studies, adding a layer of prestige, which was paving the way for him to take over as Secretary-General of the Municipal Government next year.

He walked to the door of the Mayor's office and pushed it open.

The room was heated, and Mayor Su Changming sat behind the desk, reviewing documents with a red and blue pencil.

On the guest sofa, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan was perched on the edge of his seat.

Seeing Fang Jianping enter, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan stood up: "Hello, Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping Fang."

Fang Jianping nodded slightly.

He didn't answer but picked up Mayor Su Changming's purple clay teapot, steadily refilled it with hot water, and placed it gently on the desk.

Mayor Su Changming set down his pencil and took a sip of tea.

"Jianping, your time at the Party School has made you more steady and composed," Mayor Su Changming said with a familiar tone. "With you back, the burden on my shoulders will be a bit lighter."

"Starting tomorrow, you will take charge of the daily operations of the Municipal Government."

Mayor Su Changming pushed two documents aside.

"Also, go find a candidate for my next secretary. Use your ability to judge people; don't hold back or slack off. Do you understand?"

The authority of the chief steward was, at this moment, fully handed over to Fang Jianping.

Fang Jianping didn't offer a grand statement, simply replying in a down-to-earth manner: "Please rest assured, Mayor, I will handle this well."

Mayor Su Changming leaned back, his eyes fixed on Fang Jianping.

"Let's save the reminiscing for later." Mayor Su Changming went straight to the point. "In Qingjiang County, the situation in Heishi Town has been turned upside down. This Zhu Wenhao acts without any scruples. Jianping, what do you think?"

Fang Jianping sat on the sofa, hands folded on his knees.

He had already heard about the changes in Heishi Town while at the Party School.

Fang Jianping spoke slowly: "Zhu Wenhao is breaking through and establishing new order in Heishi Town, relying on his sharp edge and the banner of removing evils for the people."

"He holds the moral high ground; a direct confrontation would easily give others leverage, and we wouldn't be in the right."

Mayor Su Changming nodded.

Fang Jianping continued: "However, grassroots work is complicated. If he takes steps that are too large, oversights are inevitable. He is eager for quick success, wanting to reshape Heishi Town's industry, attract investment, build roads, and manage water resources—the scope is massive."

"Mayor, at the end of the year, what does the province value most?" Fang Jianping posed the question.

"Work safety—that is a red line that cannot be crossed."

A gleam appeared in Mayor Su Changming's eyes.

"I propose," Fang Jianping lowered his voice, "that we use the pretext of checking year-end hazards to conduct a carpet-style supervision of work safety across the city."

"Since Heishi Town is a key point in Qingjiang County, their projects should be listed as core items for municipal-level inspection."

"In name, it's about caring for the grassroots; in reality, it's about setting rules for them."

"Check mining pollution, check illegal mining, check project safety records. If you look for trouble, as long as you find the right entry point, even the best livelihood project can be characterized as blindly aggressive and ignoring safety."

Fang Jianping laid out this scheme.

Mayor Su Changming slapped the edge of the table.

"Good," Mayor Su Changming praised. "Jianping, your consideration is very meticulous."

Mayor Su Changming issued the order: "Draft a notice yourself and send it to all bureaus and commissions."

"Tomorrow morning, we will hold a Municipal Government executive meeting. The topic will be 'Citywide Work Safety and Key Project Winter Special Inspection and Supervision'."

Fang Jianping acknowledged: "Very well, Mayor."

After the discussion, Fang Jianping stood up and left the office.

Inside, only Mayor Su Changming and Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan remained.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan leaned in: "Mayor, once this inspection team goes down, how should our Qingjiang County Party Committee respond?"

Mayor Su Changming picked up his teacup: "Old Qin, you've worked with Secretary Lu Guoliang for many years; you know his temperament better than I do."

"When you go back, you don't need to say much. Just relay the proposal that Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping Fang made at the meeting today to Secretary Lu Guoliang exactly as it was."

"Someone like him, who seeks stability, will never vouch for Zhu Wenhao once he hears the city is investigating work safety."

"You can go now." Mayor Su Changming waved his hand. "Fang Jianping is waiting for you outside. He will tell you what to do."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan walked out of the office, his mind full of doubts.

The wooden door closed behind him.

At the corner of the corridor, Fang Jianping was indeed standing there.

Seeing Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan come out, Fang Jianping beckoned him into an empty secretary's lounge.

The door was tightly closed, cutting off outside noise.

Fang Jianping took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out for Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, and lit one for himself.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan hurriedly took out a lighter to light it.

Fang Jianping exhaled a pale blue smoke ring.

"Old Qin, we are old acquaintances." Fang Jianping said with a familiar tone. "Back in Qingjiang County, we worked well together. Now, the chaotic situation in Heishi Town is roasting you on a fire, and the Mayor sees it."

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan complained repeatedly: "Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping Fang, you don't know, that Zhu Wenhao relies on people behind him and doesn't take us old comrades in the county seriously at all."

"Secretary Qiu Dehai is inside, and he has total control down there. If this continues, the political and legal team of Qingjiang County will be completely purged by him."

"Complaining won't solve the problem." Fang Jianping held his cigarette. "To cure a disease, you need strong medicine."

"The work safety inspection I proposed inside is just a precursor. To really finish Zhu Wenhao, there needs to be a real, bloody incident."

"You know the details of Heishi Mining in Heishi Town under your jurisdiction, as well as that Ma Yunlong, right?" Fang Jianping lowered his voice.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan nodded.

Ma Yunlong was a prominent mine owner in Heishi Town, and he had visited him often in the past.

"Since Ma Yunlong is anxious, let him put in some effort." Fang Jianping calmly flicked the ash.

"Using the pretext of this municipal-level supervision team going down, if Heishi Mining makes some noise—like a sudden work injury or a conflict in the mining area—the bigger the momentum, the better."

"Mining operations are inherently dangerous. If an accident really happens, as long as it is controlled as a non-extraordinary accident with fewer than three casualties, the municipal-level supervision team can intervene directly."

"At that time, the hat of ignoring safety and being profit-driven can be firmly placed on Zhu Wenhao's head."

Sweat beaded on Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's forehead.

He understood.

Fang Jianping wasn't making a prediction; he was issuing an order. Using a mining disaster to cause trouble, using the lives of low-level miners to fill this hole of political intrigue.

"Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping Fang, this... isn't this too risky? What if it's found out that it was staged..."

"Staged?" Fang Jianping flicked his ash. "The mining team under Ma Yunlong is a mix of good and bad; who can clearly say whether things happening under the mine are natural disasters or man-made?"

"As long as you keep your mouth shut, the investigation conclusions of the safety supervision and public security departments will ultimately be determined by your county, right?"

Fang Jianping stubbed out the remaining cigarette butt in the ashtray.

"Old Qin, kindness doesn't command soldiers, and righteousness doesn't manage wealth."

"You've been forced to this point by Zhu Wenhao, and you're still thinking about protecting yourself? In this game of chess, if you don't play a deadly move, he will take your life."

"Do you understand what you need to do now?" Fang Jianping exerted immense psychological pressure.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan weighed the pros and cons, hardened his heart, and gritted his teeth: "I understand. I will arrange for Ma Yunlong to do it when I go back. I won't leave any trails."

"The time is set for next week." Fang Jianping threw out the specific node. "The first day of the New Year's holiday. During the holiday, vigilance is lax, and a surprise inspection by the supervision team will be most effective."

"Alright, go do it."

Fang Jianping didn't stay any longer, opened the door, and strode to the other end of the corridor to issue the meeting notice.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan stood in the empty secretary's room, his back already soaked with sweat.