Chapter 78: Turmoil at the Close of the Meeting

After obtaining permission from Wu Xinkai and Hou Yong to continue investigating Tian Guanghan, Guan Mushan now felt more confident. As long as Tian Guanghan and Gu Santong’s group of cadres could be taken down, his prestige as the newly appointed Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission would be established, opening up his work in Lingyun City and creating an extremely favorable situation. This was the strategy he had been actively planning during this period, starting from Yang Dong’s investigation into Yin Tiejun; he had been orchestrating this scheme all along.

Now, the momentum was almost fully formed. By working further with Mayor Hou Yong, he could implement this plan to a satisfactory degree. Tian Guanghan had essentially run straight into his trap; as the Municipal Discipline Inspection Secretary, he had no choice but to make use of him.

“Secretary Wu, Mayor Hou, there is another matter I need to report to you,” Guan Mushan spoke again as the meeting was about to end.

“Another matter?” Wu Xinkai frowned. This newly arrived Discipline Inspection Secretary was proving to be quite troublesome. He missed the days of Old Lu; when Lu Zheng served as Discipline Inspection Secretary, Lingyun City truly achieved harmony among the people and camaraderie among cadres—with genuinely excellent conduct. There had never been any major violations, and even if there were, they were just a handful.

Stability should always be the priority for any locality. But now, both Guan Mushan and Hou Yong, these two young and vigorous cadres, seemed intent on lifting the lid off Lingyun City. This made Wu Xinkai very dissatisfied; what did they want to achieve by exposing everything? Did they intend to negate everything he had accomplished over the years as mayor, or embarrass him now as Party Secretary?

Nevertheless, Guan Mushan was the Discipline Inspection Secretary, and Wu could not show his displeasure; otherwise, he would completely push Guan Mushan to the City Government side, which would be unwise. After all, this was just a private meeting, not the official Standing Committee. The official meeting was the Lingyun Municipal Party Committee’s Standing Committee, with eleven members in total. If he failed to secure at least half the votes, his position as Secretary would be lost.

Guan Mushan, as the new Standing Committee member and Discipline Inspection Secretary, must be won over.

“Mushan, please go ahead,” Wu Xinkai suddenly smiled, his face gentle as he looked at Guan Mushan.

Guan Mushan was forty-seven, while Wu Xinkai was fifty-six—a difference of nearly ten years, a full generation apart. So, as the junior, by both rank and age, Guan Mushan owed Wu Xinkai respect.

“Secretary Wu, the Director of the Second Prosecutor’s Office of the Municipal Procuratorate, Che Jinpeng, has taken away Comrade Yang Dong, leader of our Discipline Inspection Investigation Team’s Tenth Special Case Group, for reasons unknown. I am very angry, extremely angry. Yet I restrained myself and kept calm; I did not confront the Procuratorate.

“Secretary Wu, you are our leader, the head of Lingyun City; the Procuratorate also works under your authority. Please communicate with some colleagues there and see what issue, if any, exists with our Discipline Inspection Team’s Yang Dong.

“Comrade Yang Dong is an outstanding young man, energetic and full of a sense of justice. I cannot believe such a young comrade would commit any wrongdoing.

“Some people will not rest until they muddy the waters.”

“But our Discipline Inspection Commission will not be shrimp in murky waters, to be used by others!”

“Secretary Wu, the Discipline Inspection Investigation Team was established at the suggestion of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission. Such disturbances and minor issues should not arise.”

Guan Mushan ended his remarks and looked at Wu Xinkai.

Hearing mention of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, Wu Xinkai’s heart sank. Tian Guanghan was already finished; he and Hou Yong had actually lost this confrontation. Tian Guanghan failed to hold out to the end, whereas Yang Dong endured. This was not surprising—after all, Yang Dong truly had no issues. The allegations against him, such as embezzling thirty thousand yuan, were pure malicious slander, baseless and fabricated.

But Tian Guanghan was riddled with wounds; even the slightest poke hurt. The two were fundamentally different, and naturally, Tian Guanghan lacked confidence; just a bit of bluff from Discipline Inspection investigators was enough to break him. Yang Dong, though young, was cunning; the Procuratorate still hadn’t managed to break his psychological defenses, and it was clear this wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

But the issue now was not about breaking him or not—it simply could not continue any further. Everything must be done with rules; without rules, there is no framework. When smearing and framing fail, it must stop immediately. If things get out of hand, it will not look good for anyone.

Moreover, Guan Mushan, the Discipline Inspection Secretary, personally spoke up for a mere staff member; Wu Xinkai could not deny him this courtesy.

“This happened? This is nonsense!” Wu Xinkai ‘surprised’ looked up at Guan Mushan.

Then he stood up, walked to the desk, picked up the black landline, and dialed several numbers.

“Connect me to the Municipal Procuratorate!”

A few seconds later, Wu Xinkai, his face stern, spoke: “Old Zhou, regarding the questioning of Discipline Inspection Team’s Yang Dong by your Second Prosecutor’s Office Director Che Jinpeng, is there a result?”

“No issues with Yang Dong? If there’s nothing, why not release him? This is nonsense!”

“Release him immediately!”

With a snap, Wu Xinkai put down the phone, turned to Guan Mushan and said, “Some colleagues at the Procuratorate are perhaps a bit too eager to make achievements.”

“Yes, law enforcement officers are devoted to Party discipline and law; it’s understandable,” Guan Mushan replied with a smile.

Both men smiled, everything understood without words.

Old fox!

Young fox!

“Actually, speaking of this Comrade Yang Dong, I have something to say as well.”

The Minister of Organization, who had never spoken, now sat up straight and spoke with a smile.

Hou Yong’s gaze sharpened, staring in disbelief at the Minister of Organization, Gu Tong, seated to his right. Not only him, but also Party Secretary Wu Xinkai and Discipline Inspection Secretary Guan Mushan turned to look at Gu Tong. Only the Deputy Party Secretary and United Front Minister Wei Liming remained unfazed.

The other three leaders were all surprised. Gu Tong, Minister of Organization, was almost invisible in this office, never saying a word, quietly sipping from his insulated mug.

But now that Yang Dong was mentioned, he actually spoke up?

“Oh? Minister Gu, you know Comrade Yang Dong?” Guan Mushan raised his eyebrows and looked at Gu Tong, his demeanor calm. He was mainly puzzled why Gu Tong would suddenly speak up at the end of the meeting—what purpose, what intent?

Although Guan Mushan, as Discipline Inspection Secretary, ranked one place higher than the Organization Minister on the Standing Committee, Gu Tong was not at all intimidated. As the Organization Minister, managing personnel affairs, he was truly one of the five key figures not to be ignored.

Wu Xinkai said nothing, but turned slightly to look at Gu Tong.

Gu Tong set down his mug, a faint smile on his face.

“Last year, Comrade Yang Dong got into a dispute with city management officers on the street over a vegetable seller.”

This was indeed true. Guan Mushan understood; Yang Dong had mentioned this when he visited his home.

The others, Hou Yong and Wu Xinkai, were both bewildered, unsure what Gu Tong was getting at.

“That vegetable seller was my third uncle from my hometown.”

“I’ve always wanted to thank Comrade Yang Dong for this, but due to my sensitive position, if I casually approached him, it might actually harm him.”

“So the matter was left unresolved.”

“Today, the reason I bring it up is to offer a timely favor.”

“Secretary Guan also said Yang Dong is excellent, with strong investigative abilities.”

“Especially his sense of justice—I agree with this.”

“Mayor Hou also mentioned that Yang Dong is an outstanding secretary in the City Administration Office; whether in the Discipline Inspection Commission or the City Government Office, he can be effective.”

“As someone in charge of personnel, the organization should focus on promoting such young, outstanding cadres.”

“Of course, this is just my personal opinion, not the official stance of the Organization Department—merely my appreciation for Comrade Yang Dong.”